..:: right now this girl ::..

HI Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today layout and process video for the February Sketch Challenge! Here is a look at my layout :

Here is the sketch : 

I followed the main idea of the sketch -- a wreath design with two overlapping photos and some embellishments in two clusters. I didn't follow it exactly, but I think you can tell I used this sketch as inspiration for sure. I also used my Silhouette Cameo software and a sketch pen to journal around the circle!

I cut the Heart Wreath free cut file out of white card stock, then I backed some of the hearts with papers from the 6x6 Doodlebug Love Notes paper pack.  Before putting it down on the page, I added some pink and read Vicki Boutin paint behind the cut file. 

I stitched some of the hearts using some yellow embroidery floss. I also added some to my photo, because the sketch indicates some embellishment on the photo. 

I used a couple of banners and speech bubbles from the Chit Chat Ephemera pack as embellishment along the wreath and also in the top left and bottom right of the page. 

For my title I cut "This Girl" free hand out of the same 6x6 papers I used to back the cut file. Each sentence in my journaling starts with the words, "Right now this girl", so that's what I used as my title.

I did make 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 February Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until March 1, 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. Thank you for stopping by!  See you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: world kindness day ::..

Hello Friends!  I am up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a layout for the Take 5 Challenge going on over in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group.  For this challenge I used 2 photos, silver, sequins, black, and enamel dots.  Here is a look at my layout:

Here is the challenge:

I started with the Heart Multiplied free cut file from Paper Issues. I used white card stock to cut it out, with the idea that I would back it with pretty papers!  There are hearts included in the cut file that you can cut to back the file -- it works perfectly. I used papers from the 6x8 pad in the Unforgettable collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio to cut out hearts to back my file, and a few extras to layer. Here are a couple close ups:

Once I had the file backed, I sewed down the of the filled hearts using my sewing machine.  I also layered some extra hearts, sewing them down the middle, to use as embellishment across my page. I grabbed some flowers and leaves from the embellishment package and clustered those around the page as well.

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 January Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until February 2, 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 today, and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: for the love of music ::..

Hello friends! I am up on The Cut Shoppe Blog with a spread in my Traveler's Notebook using the Love Rules cut file.  Here is a look at my two page spread using mostly Dear Lizzy's latest collection. 

Here is a better look at the cut file!

I cut the file using white card stock and then I backed it with a beautiful green patterned paper. The other side was full of hearts -- that I thought went well with the XOXO pattern of the cut file! I added my journaling to the left side of the spread with a few stickers from the collection. 

The right side houses my title and my photo. This photo is of some books in our living room!  I was dusting and as I was putting the books back, I realized they had a theme, so I took a photo!

I love using the Cut Shoppe cut file for TNs. It helps the project to come together so quickly!  I also made a video of my process!

Thank you so much for stopping by! XO o.g.

..:: totally clawsome ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on The Cut Shoppe Blog today with a layout using the Photo Album cut file. I shrunk down the file so that it wasn't a full page -- and I made my photos about 2x2 inches. Here is a look at my layout :

And here is a look at the cut file : 

I backed the cut file with papers from Pretty Little Studio's Document Life Collection. I love these bright colors!  I popped up each of the photos with some craft photo to add dimension.

I added some banners to just about every photo. These banners are from a cut apart from the Bohemian Dreams collection also by Pretty Little Studio. 

I used a hexagon punch to embellish to my layout. I made three clusters with these, using all the colors!  I added tangled thread through out for texture and more pops of color!

I printed my journaling on photo paper and cut it into strips! I also made a video of my process, if that's something that suits your fancy!

This was a fun one to put together! I hope you are inspired to create with this cut file. Thanks for stopping by! 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.

..:: shine on ::..

Hi! Happy July! I am up on The Cut Shoppe Blog with a layout using the Shine On cut file. Here is a look at my layout:

I cut the file as big as I could, in fact, when I set it up in the software I had parts of it going off the page. I knew I wanted it to look like the stars were falling off the bottom of the page.  Next, I backed the open stars with blue and red papers. I also used a Shimmerz mist to make more red stars out of the leftover stars after cutting. I added those to the page.

I set up my software to cut just the bows out of blue papers, and glued those on to add a bit more color, texture, and interest.

Finally, I used a punch to punch out a few smaller, blue stars and scattered them about the page.

The title comes from a line in a song -- and it is also on the girls's shirts in the photo!

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

..:: i love you this much ::..

Hi friends, I am up on The Cut Shoppe blog today with this layout in my traveler's notebook.  I am using the This Much cut file and the June Clique Kit-- here's a look at the layout!

And here is a closer look at the cut file!

This spread was all about how much I love the ocean -- the sounds, the smells, and how it allows me to exhale deeply and relax!  

I love the mix of papers from Pinkfresh Studio, Heidi Swapp, and One Canoe Two in this kit! They have the perfect mix of pinks and yellows!

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

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

..:: delightful day ::..

Hi Friends! I'm up on The Cut Shoppe blog today with a layout using the "delightful" cut file. I used it as part of my title. Here is a look:

And here is a closer look at the file:

I cut the file first with white card stock. Then I used the Silhouette software to take out all the inside pieces, and recut it with the rainbow paper. This made backing the file super quick!

I used a lot of the Crate Paper All Heart collection for this layout. I added some ephemera and puffy stickers around the page. Here are a few close ups:

I loved using this file as a big title!  It made putting the rest of the layout together so easy! Thanks for stopping by and checking it out!  See you again soon! Xo o.g.