:: buggin' out ::

There's a product spotlight post on the Paper Issues Blog today.  This week we are highlighting the Illustrated Faith: She Blooms collection.  I got to play along with these great photos of my daughter, "buggin' out."

I stitched a circle with white thread, and then went around a couple more times with that hot pink color. I added some chipboard flowers from the 12x12 chipboard elements.

Here are a few close-ups.

I added several layers of patterned paper from the collection under my photos -- and as usual some watercolors and thread.

I added enamel hearts from the collection as well as some stickers and words from the cut apart pieces included in the patterned papers. I put them all around the stitched circle to further emphasize the stitched circle. 

This was a fun collection to work with! There are so many different things in the Paper Issues Store right now!  Check them out, buy a few, and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: epic ride ::

Paper Issues is spotlighting Cocoa Vanilla's Totally Rad collection and I got to play along.

I love this little guy! This is my grandson, B. He is riding his Big Wheel on one of the first nice days of this spring. Shhhh....don't tell, but I stole this photo off my daughter's Facebook page. ;-)

These splatters are my favorite.  Lots of different colors of Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

I loved working with this collection. The colors are fabulous!

Pick up a little Cocoa Vanilla for yourself -- or just about anything else you want -- in the Paper Issues Store.  Use the code 'orangegearle' for 20 percent off your purchase!

:: hooray you ::

It's product spotlight time on the Paper Issues blog!  Today members of the design team are highlighting Simple Stories : Life in Color collection, and I just had to play along!

I started with some black and white pieces and then added some yellow and red -- colors I pulled directly from the photo. 

I layered tissue paper and patterned papers behind the photo and I also added three flair buttons from {a flair for buttons} Black and White Words 1 flair.

Lots of layers and a few splashes of Heidi Swapp Color Shine and I was done! I loved working with this collection!

You can grab Simple Stories Life in Color and oh so much more at the Paper Issues Store.  Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: joyful breeze ::

Up on the Paper Issues blog today with a C'est La Vie (Pink Paislee) product spotlight!

This one came together rather quickly! It's just a basic grid pattern with little bits of stickers and paper throughout the LO to bring it all together.

I layered these frames, added some puffy stickers, and then some embroidery thread wrapped around the frame for some extra texture.

I really like how this one turned out. Those giant letters are just awesome! Pick up some C'est La Vie in the shop -- and check out the latest, new goodies, too! Use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Thanks for stopping by!

:: bea mine ::

Design Team members at Paper Issues are featuring the We R Memory Keepers Crush collection today, and I got to play along.

I absolutely love the kraft, red, pink, and aqua combo of these papers (not to mention a few pops of black)! I started with white card stock, added a few splashes of pink and aqua water color, and then splattered a bit of black -- all in a diagonal across the page. 

I love going BIG with the title by cutting it freehand out of patterned paper. Then I sewed it all down with dark aqua (teal-ish) thread. 

I just had to add this perfectly matching PaperPOPs arrow by Parker On the Porch and available here in the Paper Issues Store!

You can get, PaperPops, WRMK Crush and oh so much more at the Paper Issues Store. Use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off you order!

Thanks for stopping by!

..:: what's in my planner : fancy pants ::..

Yay for Christmas week!  I'm using items from the Fancy Pants -- Wish Season collection this week (and a Paper POP) -- both available in the Paper Issues Store.

This week the Product Spotlight on the Paper Issues Blog is the Fancy Pants Wish Season Collection.  I've made a layout or two with it already -- and I'm using it in my December Daily. For this spotlight, though, I grabbed the puffy stickers, die cuts and some paper from the 6x6 pad and got busy. I turned circles into ornaments, and squares into boxes. My week wouldn't be complete without some water color (actually Gelatos with a water brush).  This week I used the Gelatos to wrote "joy" and added some color to the days of the week.

As always I am using my Get To Work Book by Elise Cripe. I did cut off the original binding and it fits in my A5 filofax perfectly!

New things are coming into the Paper Issues Store quite frequently -- have you checked it out lately? When you pick up your next order, don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Merry, merry, merry!  See you soon!

:: 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!    

:: 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!

:: end of an era ::

It's product spotlight time on the Paper Issues blog! Today design team members are showing off Dear Lizzy's Documentary collection.

I started with white card stock and used papers mostly from the 6x6 paper pad for this layout. I got a little messy with a few paint spatters and some messy stitching. I added some of the puffy stickers and little wooden bits from the collection as well.  I love the yellow and pink pastel-ish colors with that black contrast!

The story is all about our neighborhood kids playing together on A's last night in the neighborhood (she's moved to a new house)! In this particular photo they were picking who was "it" by saying the "bubble gum, bubble gum, in a dish" rhyme. So I scribbled that rhyme around the outside of the stitching over and over. 

I also used the roller stamp that came in the Dear Lizzy collection -- this one says "follow your heart". Love it!

Cassie is adding new things to the store all the time -- I've seen fall collections and Christmas collections and all kinds of other new yumminess -- check it out here. And don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: be awesome ::

Have I mentioned how much I love Crate Paper?  Have I shared my love for their Wonder collection? Yes, Yes, I have, but I'm sharing again. This time as part of a Product Spotlight over on the Paper Issues Blog.

I also used a Scraplift Sunday Layout by Jen Boumis as design inspiration.  

You can participate in ScrapLift Sunday, Card Sketch challenges, Sketchy Saturday sketches, PinSpire Me Mondays, Lets Plan On It challenges, and oh so much more on FaceBook, in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} group.  If you aren't a member - why aren't you????  

Grab some Crate Paper or just about anything else at Paper Issues Store, use the code for 20% off.

:: a splash of fun ::

Hi friends! I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout created with products from October Afternoon!

Check out the Paper Issues blog today to see more inspiration from the design team.


I super loved working with this product!! There's still some in the store, along with a bunch of newer stuff as well!  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: Frozen : Summer Style ::

Hi!  I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout using the Summer Vibes collection by Simple Stories.  This collection has completely knocked my socks off!

Does the design look familiar?  I used the Sketchy Saturday Sketch (the same one I used for this card).  Don't worry there is still time to play along and win!

Pretty much everything you see here is from the Summer Vibes collection, with the exception of the big  title alphas.  I used the frames to highlight the photos so they wouldn't be upstaged by the beautiful papers. The triangles are part of the 6x6 paper page, and I used the small letter stickers and the phrase stickers from the collection as well.

Check out the Summer Vibes Product Spotlight over on the blog -- the Design Time has left you some awesome inspiration!

While you are over at the blog, you can click through to the shop and pick up some Simple Stories (there are a couple new SS collections, too) and anything else you might need!  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

:: hello sunshine ::

Hello summer, hello June, hello sunshine! I have a feeling I'm going to use up all of Crate Paper's Poolside collection, just sayin'!

There's a product spotlight over on the Paper Issues blog today -- check out what other DT members have done with this awesome collection!

Inspired?  Want to purchase some of this collection (or anything else)?  Stop by the Paper Issues Store and use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: namaste : vampire lotus ::

Hello!!!  I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a product feature.  I absolutely loved working with the Kiss Kiss collection from Crate Paper!

On the way home from a birthday party -- Bea won some bright pink vampire teeth.  At one point I looked back and saw her in a lotus pose, with the teeth. She cracks me up!  

The paper in this collection is just gorgeous, and so are the tags and other ephemera!

I used a bunch of the vellum-y (totally a word) goodness for this layout. And gold. Of course, gold.

A few splatters of paint to pull it all together.  This was a fun one!  Stop on over to the blog to see what the other PI girls have done with this collection!

Use the code orangegearle at checkout in the Paper Issues Store to receive 20% of your entire purchase.

P.S. I'm also linking this one up to Paper Issues latest issue : Hip to be Square!