..:: mix it up monday ::.. press pause

Hi! Happy Mix it Up Monday!  I'm on the Paper Issues Blog today with a new layout and process video.

I machine stitched throughout the layout, because it's what I do, yo.

I LOVE THIS AMPERSAND! 

I got messy with spray mists, gelatos, and a mask. Here's how it looks all put together.

I also put together a process video if that something that suits your fancy.

Play with us this month and share your page in the February Challenge Album on the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group!  You have until March 6 to play and there are prizes to be had! 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there are all kinds of new goodies in the Paper Issues Store right now!  Check them out, grab a few (or more) and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

..:: mix it up monday ::..

Wow!  I'm super excited to share this fun news with you!  I get to continue to be a part of the Paper Issues Design Team (exciting!) and I was asked to share a new feature on the Paper Issues Blog called Mix It Up Monday!  MIU Monday is an invitation to you to get messy on a project -- mixed media, ink, paint, mist, stencils, stamps, etc. So. Much. Fun.

Here is what I came up with this month:

I played with gesso, water colors, ink, stamps, gelatos and a bit of mist. Most of the patterned papers are by Amy Tangerine. I also made a process video to show exactly how I did it!  Check it out (products are linked below):

Here are a couple of close ups (more included in the video above):

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!


Products Used (links provided when possible):

American Crafts 12x12 white card stock
gesso
watercolor paints
Amy Tangerine Scarlet Metal Dies (Rise & Shine Collection)
Amy Tangerine 6x6 Paper Pad (Plus One Collection
Amy Tangerine 6x6 Paper Pad (Stitched Collection)
Lawn Fawn Ink Pad
Black Thickers (American Crafts, but not sure of the specific collection)
Elle's Studio Stamps -- On the Menu (Let's Eat)
Goldie List Make Roller Stamp (Seven Paper)

Check out the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: top 15 layouts in 2015 ::

Happy New Year!

The Paper Issues Creative Team and a few from the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group are reflecting a bit on 2015 and highlighting our top 15 of 2015.  Here are mine:

From left to right:

:: you are my sunshine :: mad hatter :: time :: 

:: just spokin' :: jumpin' puddles :: lovely :: a splash of fun ::

:: wonderful, brave, and happy spirit :: currently :: what a BEAuty :: from where she stands ::

:: dream, imagine, & explore :: b awesome :: happy fall y'all :: end of an era ::

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

:: christmas wishes ::

It's round two for the Owl I Want For Christmas issue on the Paper Issues Blog -- and I'm super excited to participate! 

This layout includes photos from B.'s letter writing and drawing for Santa this year! The whole story is housed in my December Daily, but these photos were extra cute and needs a layout devoted to them!

I used circles and triangles cut from Fancy Pant's Wish Season collection. I added several little puffy stickers from the same collection and some Heidi Swapp Color Shine for the win. Those little curved banners are from the die cuts that come with the collection as well.  I'm pretty sure that red and white striped paper is my fave (I've used it on several projects, and I may have to buy more)!

So what is Owl I Want for Christmas all about? Here are a few ideas to get you started (use one or use them all). Feel free to use any product you'd like.

• Show us your projects about December holidays and/or your holiday traditions.
• Share a project with an owl on it.
• What's on your holiday wish list?
• Has a child in your life lost any teeth (that may be all they want for Christmas)? Show us those cute toothless smiles or projects about the Tooth Fairy. 
• Download the Remember December free printable from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the cards on your project.

Check out what the other DT members have created -- and link up with us to win!

What do you want for Christmas? There are quite a few new items in the Paper Issues Store -- don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: family leaf walk ::

Happy Thanksgiving! This is a layout that I created for the Paper Issues fall crop that we had in early November. I made so many layouts. There was inspiration everywhere!  Here is a layout I made for my challenge (use some orange).  If you missed the crop this time, don't worry another is coming up in the spring! And if you just can't wait, (and you can't) we have a Scrap and Chat coming up after the first of the year!  Woo hoo! #allfunthings

Since this story captured here is all bout appreciating family time (even in the form of homework), I am linking this layout up to the latest issue at Paper Issues -- Let Me Espresso My Gratitude. 

I used mostly items from Swag Bags, past and present.  The November Swag Bags are in the shop, grab one here. Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

See you soon!

:: happy & blessed ::

I absolutely love Sketchy Saturday at Paper Issues. It's one of my most favorite projects to work on!  This month was no exception! I decided to use Simple Stories Pumpkin Spice collection for this layout about picking out our pumpkin this year!

Here is a look at Becki Adams's fabulous layout (I love the fall layout with non-traditional colors), and the sketch based on the layout.

There is still plenty of time to play along!  Check out this blogpost for details and how you can win (or be featured on IG or Facebook). I am also linking this layout up to the current issue on the Paper Issues blog -- Let Me Expresso My Gratitude.

There is so much awesome in the Paper Issues Store right now!  Check it out, grab some fun, and don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Have a great Thanksgiving! See you soon!

:: mad hatter ::

It's Pinspire Me Monday on the Paper Issues blog and I love this challenge! Here's my take:

This photo shows off my daughters crazy personality. She's reading her assigned reading (which isn't always her favorite thing). She spiced it up a bit on this night -- she came out with two hats on, sunglasses, and a cape! Love these moments captured. 

Here is the Pinspiration that Leah came up with to inspire us this month.

Don't you love it!  I saw all that black and white with pops of aqua and red, and then boom!

Here are a couple of close ups:



I started with papers from Pink Paislee's Memorandum collection, added in some Crate Paper's After Dark.  Of course I used some watered down gelato in the back ground. :-)

These days a layout isn't complete without at least one (or two, or three) flair buttons from {a flair for buttons}.

Click here for a free cut file.

:: just spokin' ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog with a product spotlight!

When I took this photo of my daughter, I knew the After Dark collection from Crate Paper would be the perfect papers to help tell this story.

I started by adding some watered down, orange, gelatos to add a splash of color to the background paper.  Just for fun I added some peach Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

I loved the bats from the ephemera pack, so I designed a cut file of bats to add as my next layer.

I backed some of the bats with patterned paper from the 6x6 paper pad, and others I left open to let the orange shine through.  I also used the 6x6 paper pad and a few pieces from the ephemera pack to create layers behind my photo.

I stitched everything down with black thread, including the little strips of paper at the top and bottom of the layout.

I wanted to tell the story and I needed a place to put it that wouldn’t take away from the design of the layout, so I hid it behind the photo in a vellum envelope that I cut with my Silhouette Cameo. I added a couple of other tags to the envelope, just because! Pop dots pop that photo right off the page to help keep the focus on the photo, even with all the other stuff going on around it. I also think it adds a bit more texture.

To finish this one off, I grabbed some cards, tags, and vellum shapes, also from the After Dark collection.  I added a couple of flair pieces from {a flair for buttons} and placed the title (and subtitle).

Don't forget to stop by the Paper Issues Store and grab some awesome from the store!  While you're at it, use the code 'orangegearle' and get 20% off your order!

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a fun, safe, and spooky Halloween!    

:: happy fall y'all ::

Good Morning! I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a project for the latest issue Fan-actics!  Around here we are big fans of fall.

Most of my papers are from the Simple Stories Pumpkin Spice collection, which I have just loved working with!  The colors are unbelievably rich and completely fall! I believe that orange paper is from Crate Paper's After Dark Collection, which I will highlight in an upcoming post!

Here are a couple of close ups!

I wrote a quote around the outside of the leaf "Every leaf speaks bliss to me, Fluttering from the autumn tree." - Bronte

Here are a few ideas if you'd like to play along for a chance to win a gift certificate to The Paper Issues Store!

• Tell us what or who you're a fan of, whether it be a sports team (or a particular player), TV show (or a particular actor), an activity, a guilty pleasure, something you collect, a scrapbooking manufacturer, etc.
• Show us your Halloween projects.
• Download the Favorite Time of the Year free printable from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the cards on your project.

Grab yourself some Pumpkin Spice -- Christmas is in the store, too!  Use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: love this ::

Each Sunday in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group we feature a layout and encourage you to Scrap Lift it!  This is my take on the most recent ScrapLiftSunday layout by Aleksandra Gadji.

I used a bunch of Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane collection -- they were perfect for this sunset layout!

Grab Cedar Lane and anything else you may need for your paper obsession at the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: today and everyday is a blessing ::

I absolutely love product spotlights on the Paper Issues blog!  This spotlight is no exception.  We grabbed Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane collection and got busy!

From the Cedar Lane collection, I grabbed a couple of patterned papers, the ephemera pack, and the 6x6 pad.  I also grabbed some bits from the September Swag Bag, and created this layout about the perfect marshmallow roasting with family! 

Seriously, this PaperPOP (available here) by Parker on the Porch is perfect for this LO!  (Don't tell anyone, but I may have had this particular little guy in mind when I took the photo)!

Be sure to check out the other projects on the blog!  There are new items in the Paper Issues Store -- so many beautiful things -- check them out, grab what you need and use the code 'orangegearle' to save 20% off your entire order!

See you soon!

:: what a BEAuty ::

Fun. Colorful. Used a lot of stuff.  Got to play.  #winning.

What a BEAuty (<<< see what I did there?).  Quite a bit of Amy Tangerine Finder's Keepers made it on to this layout. Amy Tan's stuff always matches that water color look, which I happen to completely dig. 

Lots of layers, which mostly came from cards in SWAG bags, and I added a flair from {a flair for buttons} that matched perfectly (and reminds me to breathe, which is helpful). 

The story is simple. It's about a girl, dressed like her favorite fairy, watching Batman (and sometimes, she is Batman -- mostly on the weekends).

A splash of color all over the background -- made by me, using gelatos. I love me some gelatos. 

I'm sharing this one with the ladies over in the Paper Issues {friends & fans} Facebook group. They are really a fun group of peeps. Each month there are tons of challenges and ways to play along (and possibly win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store). I based this layout on the Scrap Lift Sunday challenge. Each Sunday a layout is posted, and we get to lift it! This past week's layout was create by PI girl Mary-Ann Maldonado.

Pop in and check out all the goings on! If your looking to purchase some of the new goodies in the Paper Issues Store -- don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!