..:: chicago with mom : no place I'd rather be ::..

Hi Friends!  I am up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a layout for the Mother Knows Best challenge over in the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} FB group. For this layout I also used the #StaySketchy sketch for today.

Here is the sketch:

For this layout I used a bunch of papers mostly from Heidi Swapp's Storyline Chapter collection, which can be found here in the Paper Issues Store.

I am telling the story about my mom and I going to the musical called Chicago. It was a fun time together!

Here are a few close ups of the flower clusters:

I altered the sketch a bit by using a card instead of a second photo. I added some Nuvo drops to my floral clusters for a pop of color. 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 May Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until May 31, 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.

..:: 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.

..:: awesome moments ::..

Hi Friends! Hope the first week of 2018 has been kind to you! I'm here to share my Hip Kit Club assignment with you for this week. I got to work with the 2017 December Kits and a sketch by Irit Landgraf. Here is the sketch:

And here is my take on the sketch:

The December kits are full of items from Crate Paper's Good Vibes collection, Pink Fresh Studio stars, and Vicki Boutin's ephemera pack -- AND I USED THEM ALL!  (well, not literally all of the embellishments, but several items from each pack)! 😀 As I was looking through the embellishments from both packs, I kept finding oranges and greens. And then I found this butterfly!  

Those colors, the cork items, and this butterfly helped me find a color focus. There are so many items in the kits to use, it was nice to have a focus. 😀 I pulled out everything I could find in those colors and got busy. Scroll to the bottom for my process video, or continue if you want to read about it. 

The layers in the sketch inspired me to create a LO with a ton of layers behind my photo. Die cuts, frames (love those frames) and stickers! I didn't use any patterned paper on this layout! Here are a couple more close ups:

For the title I used a die cut and a sticker -- Awesome Moments. And this was an awesome everyday moment. As much as I have enjoyed creating Christmas projects over the last couple of months, it was great to get back to scrapping the everyday moments that I love!

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

Thanks a lot for stopping by! See you again soon!

..:: birthday glider girl ::..

Hello friends! I'd like to share a layout I made using an amazing sketch by Missy Whidden. I used the September Hip Kit Club Kits for this layout.  Here's a look at my final product.

And a few close-ups:

Lots of Paige Taylor Evans Turn the Page collection! 💗

THESE ALPHAS! The coral alphas are a Hip Kit exclusive and I LOVE THEM! I used the g-i-r-l from the word "glitter" found on the Shimelle Phrase Thickers  - both are in the September Embellishment kit.

I made a process video if that suits your fancy!

Thanks for stopping by -- see you again tomorrow with another layout using the September HKC kits!

:: fantastic ::

Hi!  It's Round 2 of the latest issues at Paper Issues and I got to play along. Here is my take on the theme this month.

This month is all about the Unbe-leafable Great Outdoors! I chose this photo of my daughter outside with cattails. She was so excited about them! Here are a few suggestion about how to play along:

• Share your projects about fall, camping, hiking, back to school, etc.
• Use leaves or outdoor items as embellishments.
• Show us those cute back to school photos of your kiddos, grandchildren, even yourself.

Details on how to play along on the Paper Issues Blog today! I can't wait to see what you share with us!

:: Sketchy Saturday : Summer Vibes ::

It's Sketchy Saturday over on the Paper Issues blog!  This month Stephanie Buice's True Friends Layout for Doodlebug Design caught our eye!

It's it fab?  You can see why the PI ladies just had to lift it!  Here is the sketch created based on the layout.

I used this sketch as inspiration for a card!  (I KNOW!  I can't believe it!  Maybe I'm a card girl after all?)?!

You can see what the rest of the ladies created based on Stephanie's lovely inspiration piece by visiting the Paper Issues Blog.

I am simply loving the Simple Stories Summer Vibe Collection! I made another layout using this collection (and the sketch as inspiration).  I will be sharing that here soon!

Don't forget to use the code orangegearle if you want to grab Simple Stories Summer Vibe collection, or anything else at the Paper Issues Store!.

:: sibling smooches :: with a sketch

Good Morning!

Some of the PI girls are playing with a sketch today over on the Paper Issues blog!  I was all sneaky and grabbed this photo of my grandson and his big sister from my daughter's Facebook page so I could do this layout!  I love this photo!

I'm using a lot of "Dream in Color" by Webster's Pages on this layout!  I totally love this combination of colors and designs! Brandin O'Neal hit this collection out of the ballpark.  It's available in the Paper Issues Store here.

The sketch is used was inspired by layout we spied on the Fancy Pants blog by Nicole Nowosad.

And here's the sketch:

I absolutely love all those circles (I changed a few circles to circles inside squares just to mix it up a bit).

As usual, lots of stitching all over, and I added a few layers under the photo.

This was a fun one!  And it came together quickly with all these awesome papers and a great sketch!

Check out the Paper Issues blog if you'd like to play along with Sketchy Saturday!  And check out the store here if you'd like some of the yummy goodness by Webster's Pages (or anything else)!  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle at check out for 20% off your order!

:: you & me ::

Hi!  I'm here today with a layout about me and my One True Love!

This layout was based on this awesome sketch by Heather Leopard for Gossamer Blue! Here's the sketch!

Most of the products that I used were from the On My Desk Collection by Gossamer Blue (available at the Paper Issues Store -- linked).  I also snuck in a few bits from the Gramercy Road Collection (also GB)!  I loved both of these collections so much. I've pretty much used it all up!

I am digging the gold trend….totally digging it.

See you again soon!

:: pumpkin picker ::

I was going for luscious fall layers to highlight the photos from B.'s pumpkin picking adventure in our front yard. The journaling is hidden in the tabbed pocket on the right.

Have I mentioned how much I love my Scrapbook Circle Kits?  Each month I so look forward to the arrival of that lovely pizza box full of goodies. Sometimes I devour it immediately, sometimes life requires me to wait, but I'm always inspired by the papers, embellishments and the ladies on the blog that provide such inspiration. Most of the items from this LO came from the June kit or the add-on kit that month. Many of the items were from the Basic Grey Hipster collection.

This LO was also inspired by this October sketch by Diana Fisher (also at Scrapbook Circle). You have until October 23rd to play!

I went a little crazy with the stitching on this one!  :-)  But, I liked it so much, I couldn't put the journaling over it!

Thanks for visiting!

:: hello princess rock & roll ::

'Ello Kiddies (sorry, I am still singing Cheap Trick songs from our trip earlier this month)! Back with my second layout from this month's Scrapbook Circle Kit!

For this layout I used this awesome sketch by Diana Fisher for the July Sketch Challenge at Scrapbook Circle. I pretty much always enjoy working with Diana's sketches! Instead of three photos, I used two and placed the journaling where the third photo would go, other than that, I stayed fairly true to the sketch. Since I only used two photos, I scaled down the size of the patterned papers, too. I absolutely love the colors in this kit. Everything you see here (except for the "hello" and "rock & roll" alphas) came from the kit and I still have tons more to work with. I'm telling you, the kits that are put together by the Scrapbook Circle gang, are totally fab. They just keep getting better and better. I love opening the kit when it arrives because usually I will have several ideas right away. What I don't like is getting the kit and having no time to use it! July is the exception - no meetings, and basically off work. Whew! :-)

I love these pics of B. dancing to her daddy's guitar playing. We had to put on the tutu (right over her PJs) and a flashing tiara, all rock and roll princesses need those things, right?

Here are a couple of close ups!

Don't forget: my blogaversary is coming up (it's Sunday)!!! I will be doing a special giveaway on my blog -- check back later this week for the details.

Scrap Your Story :: Hello Cheap Trick

It's FRIDAY!  You know what that means, a great challenge @ the Scrap Your Story Challenge Blog! This week we are working with an awesome sketch!   The sketch (as seen on the right), was a fun one to work with! Two photos, a giant circle,and both a vertical and horizontal line. I stayed fairly true to the sketch, but remember, you can flip, rotate, tweak, whatever you need! I hope to see you play along with us this week!  I grabbed my June Kit from Scrapbook Circle, a few scraps from my scrap box and this is what I came up with :

This past weekend the three of us attended a concert at the zoo in Apple Valley, MN. We had front row seats at this outdoor, all-ages show.  It was Bea's first concert! You will see more photos from this trip at some point; I am currently working on a mini book all about it!

I took the main background paper (Basic Grey :: Bow Ties :: kick the can) and cut a big circle on my Silhouette, then placed another piece of patterned paper (Farmhouse Paper Company :: where ideas take root) behind it. I machine stitched around the circle to define it a bit more, and then added a few stitches in other locations (can never have enough stitches!).  The bright orange arrows are all from the kit as well, they are fuzzy rub-ons (part of the Hipster collection by Basic Grey). I also added some wood veneer shapes that I tinted with orange ink. The "hello" is also from the Hipster Collection, and the "cheap trick" is from Recollections. This was a fun layout to make!

Check out Scrap Your Story and play along this week! I can't wait to see what you come up with!