..:: explore ::..

Hello Friends!  I am up on the {a flair for buttons} blog today with a layout I made using 3 pieces of flair from the Watercolor Hearts and Flowers Flair set.  Here is a look at my layout:

My papers and embellishments came from Shimelle's Never Grow Up Collection that I purchased from the Paper Issues Store (use the code Orange Gearle for 20% off your order).  I love that bird paper! The flowers on this flair match the scarlet color of in the patterned papers. They were the perfect addition to the page. Here are a few close ups of the flair:

These papers and flair were perfect for telling the story of our spring visitors!

I used the branding strips off several of the 12x12 papers on the left of side of the layout to add some splashes of color. I combined the Thickers and a chipboard sticker for my title.

This was a fun one to make!  I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy!

Thank you so much for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: enjoying the little things in life ::..

Hello Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout that I made for the Big Ass Title Challenge over in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} facebook group! For this layout I used Shimelle's Never Grow Up collection. Here is a look at my layout :

I used a bunch of the die cuts from the floral ephemera pack to embellish around my photo and at the bottom of my layout.

For my title I used the one of the 12x12 patterned papers from the collection. One side is many alphas! So I cut them out and used them as my title!  I popped some of the letters up with foam adhesive, and kept some of them flat to add a little bit of interest. Here are a few more close ups.

I made a video of my process, if that's something that suits your fancy!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the April Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until May 3, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: cheers of joy ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on The Cut Shoppe blog today with this layout using the Snack Attack cut file from The Cut Shoppe store.

Here is a look at the complete cut file:

I wanted the ice cream cone part of this cut file -- but I didn't want the words on there because they didn't fit my story, so I deleted them in the software before I hit cut! 

I backed the cut file with paper from Shimelle's 6x6 paper pad in her Glitter Girl Collection. I originally chose this collection because it has ice cream cones in it -- and then I didn't use any of them! 😆

I fussy cut a bunch of flowers from the same collection and made clusters across the two page spread. 

My title is a loose take on "tears of joy" but also, in this photo my daughter and I were doing "cheers" with our cones -- AND the paper on the cones say, "Joy". #seewhatididthere

I added some layers behind my photo and some journaling on both pages. This came together quickly and I really love using The Cut Shoppe TN cut files -- they make it so easy to put it all together!  I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy.  I also made a video showing my process if that's something that suits your fancy!

Thanks for stopping by! See you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: piano contest ::..

Hi! I am up on the {a flair for buttons} blog today with a new layout using flair from three different flair sets! I started with a white piece of card stock and I painted my background using several different Shimmerz Paints. Here is my layout:

And here are a few close ups:

I used several Shimmerz Paints to create my background: Creameez Berry Hot, Just Peachy, Daffodil, and Lettuce Get Together as well as Inklingz Blue Lagoon.

I used flair from three different {a flair for button} flair sets: Just Hearts 2 Flair set, Watercolors Flair set, and Take a Picture 1 Flair set.

For my papers I used Shimelle's Box of Crayons that I purchased at Paper Issues.

I had a ton of fun creating this layout and I even made a process video if that suits your fancy!

Thanks so much for stopping by! See you again soon!

..:: spring emerges ::..

Hi! I am up on the A Flair for Buttons blog today with a fun spring layout! 

I used gelatos, mist, and watercolors for the background with a cut file from Just Nick. The patterned papers are mostly from Shimelle's Little by Little collection, along with some fussy cut butterflies from Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams collection. 

The butterfly flair and the 'emerge' flair were perfect for this spring layout documenting spring's entrance in 2017.  Here are a few closeups.

I also made a process video if that suits your fancy! 

Check out the {A Flair for Buttons } blog for more inspiring flair ideas.  Thanks for stopping by!

..:: just chillaxin' ::..

Here's another layout that I did during Paper Issues online crop this weekend!  This was for the stitching challenge. I used both hand and machine stitching (two of my faves)!

For this layout I used items from Shimelle's most recent collection Little by Little.  I fussy cut those circles out -- and stitched them down with my machine. But before that I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut stitching holes for my title!  So fun!   Here are a few close ups!

This crop was so much fun! It's been great seeing all of the different takes on each challenge!

:: tick tick tick boom! ::

I am super excited to share that I am up on Shimelle Laine's blog today as a guest designer!  Here are a couple of closeups!

Each year we watch fireworks at my brother's house (it's all legal -- he's got a license) and they are better than any fireworks I've ever seen. He sets them to music, and "Tick Tick Tick Boom" by The Hives happens to be one of the songs he has used it a couple of times over the years. I thought it fit perfectly!

The look on my daughter's face -- all lit up by the fireworks --  just cracks me up every time I see it! I cannot believe I have never scrapped it! It's two years old.

I made a process video if videos are something that suits your fancy!

Thanks for stopping buy! Be sure to check out the full layout at Shimelle.com!

..:: sparkle & shine ::..

I am super excited to be up on the Paper Issues Blog today as part of this months issue : Gleam Catchers. Here is my take on the theme:

I love this photo that my One True Love took of my daughter with her swimming goggles on! If you look closely you can see his reflection in the glasses and she looks SO. HAPPY. which makes me happy! :-)

I paired the photo with items mostly from Shimelle's Starshine collection. If you would like to play along with us this month you have until August 1st to join any of our challenges, which can be found here in the July Challenges Album.

There continues to be more and more new items posted in the Paper Issues Store. Check them out, fill your cart, and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon!

..:: picking puzzle grass ::..

:: on target for kindergarten ::

It's new issue Monday on the Paper Issues Blog! I love me a new issue, and I absolutely loved working with Shimelle's True Stories collection.

The new issue, called You Rule The School, was perfect for this photo of my daughter when we went back to school shopping!

All the primary colors in this collection were perfect.  I used the heart vellum and my Silhouette Cameo to cut out an envelope for behind the photo and card.  See that little piece of yellow? If you pull that out, B.'s school supply list, and the receipt from our adventure are attached and years down the road we should be able to see how much everything cost. Which is cool, yo!

Some other ideas for the You Rule the School issue: School supply shopping, first day of school school portraits; use a ruler, book patterned papers or embellishments; tells us about school related awards or achievements; use the issue title as the title of your project; use a free printable from the Paper Issues store!

Carpe Diem, folks!  See you soon!

:: live in the moment ::

Pinspire me Monday over on the Paper Issues Blog!  Here's the inspiration:

And here is my take on it:

I'm using Shimelle's True Stories collection.



The colors in the collection were perfect for the (P)inspiration. Don't you love those alphas?



I also used a couple of die cuts and the wooden buttons from the collection. I cut one of the patterned papers (english breakfast) -- tons of stripes -- and placed it over the yellow patterned paper.  Then I machine stitched through each strip -- this is inspired by stripes on the quote part of the (p)inspiration piece.

And the story. The story is all about B. singing and dancing and jumping "in the rain" with her umbrella (I chose this story and photo because of the cutie with the umbrella in the (p)inspiration piece).


This was a fun one to make!  Want to play along?  Get the details here.

Pick up Shimelle's latest collection or just about anything else you can think of at the Paper Issues Store.  Use the code orangegearle and get 20% off your entire purchase!

See you soon!

:: too hot for blading ::

Today is my last post as a Guest Designer at Scrapbook Circle.  If you are a follower of my blog you know how much I love these kits!  I am so honored that I was asked to be on the GDT this month, and, as always, I have really enjoyed working with this kit!  Each month I am amazed at how beautifully Lisa (et. al) pulls together these papers and embellies to make a perfect kit!

This month a two pager was born!  (I haven't done these for a while, but I have done a few lately)! We celebrated my daughter's birthday (the second celebration) with my extended family on the hottest weekend of the summer!  B. got some great gifts; among them, roller blades!  We practiced a bit at Grandma and Grandpa's house (they are the ones that purchased the skates) and then after returning home, she practiced a bit more!  IT WAS SO HOT!  We even had to have a clothing change in between skating because there was a bunch of water play in between!

The challenge at Scrapbook Circle was all about stitching!  So. Awesome. that I was asked to do that!  I love stitching, as you know. So I got out my machine and stitched all around the page.

But, to live up the challenge I also did a bit of hand stitching!  Here are a few more close ups (and they include a lot of GOLD; I am so loving this trend)!

I would like to thank Lisa and Tessa at Scrapbook Circle for welcoming me in to the Scrapbook Circle Family this month!  I had a great time!!!!

Until next time!  :-) O.G.