..:: selfie shenanigans ::..

Happy (inter) National Scrapbooking Day (weekend)! I am up on The Cut Shoppe blog with  this layout using one of the free NSD cut files! Our challenge today is all about stitching!  Here is my take on the challenge:

The free cut file from The Cut Shoppe is available here. I used it in my Silhouette studio software to create holes to stitch!  I used Elle's Studio's Noteworthy collection -- the colors were perfect for these pictures!  Here are a couple of close ups:

I used this perfect flair from {a flair for buttons}.

If it's something that suits your fancy, I also made a process video.

Hope are having a great iNSD -- creating and documenting memories! Thanks for stopping by and see you again soon!

..:: splish splash summer fun ::..

I am up on the {A Flair For Buttons} blog today with this layout using AFFB flair and bunch of Color Cast Designs Goodies. Over the 4th of July weekend we did a little traveling and stayed overnight at a hotel for a couple of nights. My daughter was determined to swim across the pool -- even through the deep end. She practiced and practiced and she did it. So, this story had to be documented and wouldn't you know it? The perfect flair is available in the {A Flair For Buttons} store!

I soon as I saw this flair in the shop I knew that I would use it on a layout with a blue pool picture and some blue and aqua mixed media in the background! I was just waiting for the right story! Then when I saw the Color Cast Designs June releases, I just had to have this and this and these and these to make this layout happen! 

I used one piece of flair and the Splish Splash acrylic phrase for my title -- it was perfect for this layout and the story. The waves in the background were made using a free cut file from The Paper Issues Store. 

And could this Pool Time flair be any more perfect?  I don't think so!  I sprinkled some more hearts and stars from Color Cast Designs to create a cluster! 

I absolutely love these interlocking hearts! So thankful to get this story told. 

I made a video of my process if that suits your fancy!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

..:: baby you're a firework! ::..

Hi!  Happy 5th of July! I'm participating in the July Take 5 Tuesday Challenge over on the Paper Issues Blog today.  I scrapped this photo from the 4th of July, 2013. 

I went all out theme-y for this one (which isn't usually my style, but I kinda like it anyway)! I pulled all of my patterned papers and stickers from Amy Tangerine's Better Together collection. I added some blue and red sequins from Jillibean Soup, and Mister Huey's for the paint splatters!

I created this fireworks cut file and it's available in the shop for free!  I backed the cut file with various papers from the Better Together Collection.

To participate in Take 5 Tuesday, you just need to pick 5 of the things from the list and use them! I used 8 (I've always been an over achiever)! Ha!  

Play along with this challenge, or any of the other July challenges in the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} group! You have until August 1st to enter! Details are also on the Paper Issues Blog!

There are new items in the store (along with that free cut file). Grab 'em quick and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Thanks for stopping by!

:: hot rod lincoln ::

Hellooooooo!  I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today as part of the Cut It Up features!  I got to use this awesome free cut file (found here, in the Paper Issues Store). I paired the cut file with some white card stock and Pink Paislee's Fancy Free collection! 

This photo of my daughter was meant to be scrapped! We went out to eat and this car was parked in the parking lot. My One True Love went to take a photo of the car and B. said, "WAIT!" and then posed. Seriously silly girl.

I love these triangles!  And that ombre paper is awesome behind it! I typed up just a little bit of journaling that ended with the title.

I have seriously loved using all of the products from the Fancy Free collection, but I think the die cuts are my favorite.  Or maybe the 6x6 pad.  Or maybe it's the patterned papers....or the 12x12 chipboard elements.  Ok. I love it ALL.

There are tons of fun things in the shop right now such as the latest Swag Bag, items from Lawn Fawn and Photo Play and much much more.  While you are grabbing that free cut file, if you find a few more things thrown in your cart -- don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: embrace the glam life ::

Hi! It's time for another Mix It Up Monday challenge at Paper Issues. Let's do this thing:

I took this photo of my daughter in the car on our way to the doctor's office, where she tested positive for Influenza A. Even though she wasn't feeling well, she looked so beautiful, and those glasses made me giggle. 

When I received my Paper Issues order with the Fancy Free collection I was immediately inspired by the papers and flowers and made this cut file of wonky flowers (free to you)! 

This layout started a bit differently than it ended, and I ran into a few bumps along the way -- but I made a process video in case you would like to see how it came to be.

I love how this layout turned out, and I have already made another using the Fancy Free collection! Grab it here, or any of your other paper needs in the Paper Issues Store. Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: eggcellent :: pinspire me

It's time for one of my favorite challenges on the Paper Issues blog -- (P)Inspire Me Monday! Here is my take on the mood board.

I created a cut file and backed it with papers from Doodlebug's Spring Garden 6x6 Paper Pad (available in the Paper Issues Store here).  I added a few of the papers behind my photo and a Bella Blvd clip just for fun! 

Speaking of fun -- I made three of these little egg shakers from card stock, sequins, and a few pieces of confetti that I punched out of the same patterned papers. 

You can download the cut file I made here (for free, of course). Make sure you check out what the other DT members have made for this challenge and if you haven't joined the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} Facebook page yet -- what are you waiting for!

Get your Doodlebug, Bella Blvd, Simple Stories, Pinkfresh and more at the Paper Issues Store.  Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: celebrate it's your birthday :: free flower cut file

The free April cut file is live on the Paper Issues Blog! Aren't these flowers cute? I shrunk down the file to make this card for my mom!

I started with white card stock and Gelatos to make the background.  As soon as it was dry I cut the file.

We are having a ton of fun in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. We just started a new round of #iSpyWithPI.  Check out all the fun and play along!

:: strike a pose ::

Amy Tangerine Finder's Keepers collection + free cut file from Paper Issues = 

Shopping at Target with Daddy -- these are the photos that get texted to me. I am so lucky to have them both.

I love it when I get to use a direct "B. quote" as part of my journaling!

In this case, I also couldn't resist a bit of Madonna. Look at B. ham it up! So lucky to have her. 

I'm sharing this to our Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} group, because those stars are from a free cut file used in the most recent Cut it Out Saturday on the Paper Issues Blog.

Want to grab those free files?  Want some Amy Tangerine? There are also some super fun fall lines in the shop (it's starting to cool off here, is it where you are?)!  Grab what you need in the store and use the code orange gearle for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: soaking up the sun and relaxing ::

It's Cut-It-Out Saturday over on the Paper Issues blog.  Do you know what that means?  It means FREE cut files and a LINK party!!  Can I get a woo-hoo?!?!

I love all these, don't you?!  Perfect for summer! For my layout, I stuck with the "soaking' up the sun" because it totally fit my photo.  :-)

Soakin' up the sun must be followed up with relaxing.  ;-)

Charlie captured this photo of Bea and I totally love it.

I used mostly Crate Paper Poolside for this layout, along with a bit of October Afternoon's Summertime collection,  Visit  The  Paper Issues Store to grab some of these goodies for yourself.  There are also a bunch of new items hitting the store often!  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle to receive 20% off your order!

Thanks for stopping by.  Make sure you check out the Paper Issues Blog for more inspiration and a chance to win! 

:: park love ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today!!!  Woot woot! I never get tired of saying that!  I'm lucky to be a PI girl! Paper Issues is my online happy place. 

  

There have been a zillion new things coming in to the Paper Issues store, and I buy all the things, so I grabbed the Color Chaos collection from Bella and got to work!  These photos are of my daughter's first park visit of the year! I love the bright & happy colors in this collection and I extra love how they worked with the photos!

To get in a little more fun, I made 5 of the 6 squares on the layout flip up to reveal either journaling, another photo, or just some fun papers and embellishments. I did this by using a cut file that I made in the Silhouette software.  Because I love you, that file is available to you for free here.  Here are a few photos of the flaps closed, and then opened:

 

(don't you love that shaker!!!! vellum + sewing + embellishment + sequins + fun)

 If you are interested in the Color Chaos collection (or just about anything else) I bet Paper Issues has it!  And rumor has it that there are a few more Swag Bags left!  Grab what you need (including the free cut file) and use the code orangegearle at checkout for  20% off your entire purchase!

:: sewing with dad ::

Hi ! I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout that I created using Dear Lizzy's Serendipity collection and the January Sketch by Jen Chapin. 

I love the aqua, navy and pinks in this collection! If you limit the pink and add a bit of the yellow included in the collection you can get a more masculine feel to your layout, too. I love the versatility of this collection!

I also used the free cut file from the shop that is based on Jen's sketch -- which made this come together quickly.

Pop dots and stitching to add interest and texture. I also added a few things from my stash (most of which were actually from past Swag Bags).

I love these alphas!  Gah!  I may need to purchase some more!

And finally, it's all about the story. I used my new-to-me typewriter with some vellum to document the story that goes with these photos. I added the vellum over the patterned paper and sewed it in to place. The vellum helps tone down the paper a bit so that the text is more visible.

You can link your layout based on Jen's sketch to the Paper Issues blog, too. You could win a gift card to the Paper Issues store.  While you're there, you can use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you again soon!

:: un-BEA-LEAF-ably YOU ::

Did you know that there are free cut files at the Paper Issues store?  Did you know that each month there are new ones -- with a chance to win stuff? Now that I've got your attention, I'll show you what I made with some of this months files.  See that awesome, squiggly circle?  I was in love the moment I saw it! 

Then I took this photo of my daughter being SO. BEA, and I knew that I needed to use those fab leave cut files too!

For this layout I used a bunch of stuff from the Sweater Weather collection by Simple Stories (you can get it in the shop, here). I threw in some Elle's Studio cork shapes, some scraps from Fancy Pants, True Friend collection, a few things from my stash, and a bunch of stuff from past SWAG bags!  A little bit of stitching and away we go.

You can get any of the above products (and much more) at the Paper Issues store.  Use the code orangegearle and save 20%, yo!

Are you getting excited for the holidays?  I started working on my December Daily this past weekend, and it's helped put me in the mood!  Here's an 'in progress' sneaky sneaky and I'll share more soon!

Thanks for stopping by!