..:: Swag Bag ::..

Hi!  I'm up on the Paper Issue Blog today with a couple of layouts that I made with the December Swag Bag. One of the things I love to do with all the goodies is create tons of layers with the included cards.

This story is all about Bea and her art!  We had an art day together, and she made all kinds of things -- one of which is actually included on this layout!  (See the far back reddish-pink layer?  That's hers)!

See that die cut right behind the bow?  That's one of Jen Chapin's FREE cut files, available here.)

  

So believe it or not, I made this layout about a fall visit to one of our favorite parks using the same kit I used with the first layout. I'm telling you, these kits are so versatile.  One of my favorite things included in the kit is that piece of polka dot burlap that is in the top left corner.  I liked it so much, I had to buy a whole sheet of it from the Paper Issues store!

I'm kinda digging the fox trend.

And I love this wood veneer!  Once again Cassie Box completely outdid herself when she put together this kit!

A Paper Issues Swag Bag subscription would be an awesome Christmas gift, just sayin'! :-)  And if you use the code 'orange gearle' you will get a 20% discount off your entire order!  

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

✮☆★ 2014 December Documented ★ ☆ ✮

Hello! Are you ready to begin that crazy month of December??? Or maybe your crazy started last week?! Either way, I'm glad you are here!

Once again I am going to attempt to start and finish (and share) my version of "December Daily". I've purchased various (expensive) kits over the years, but this year I've decided that I am using items from two main sources:

1. Gossamer Blue's Get Happy collection
2. The Merry Memories Limited Edition SWAG bag 

(both linked above and available in the Paper Issues store -- and 20% off with the discount code 'orangegearle')

My goal is to live, enjoy, and document the season. My hope is to be able to share my progress over the course of the month here on the blog. In that order. But that doesn't mean I won't be sharing things. I have a bunch of DT assignments this month (YAY!) so I will be sharing those here for sure.  If I have time to take photos and share my DD I will also do that!

{my process} Some people totally prep their DD.  I cannot.  I have no idea why.  It sure seems like there would be significant advantages to doing so. But alas, I don't really work that way. This year, though, I have been able to make a few more things in advance and I definitely have a flexible plan. I'm using a Handbook from Studio Calico -- 6x8 -- with a bunch of different page protectors!  Some I've "made" and some I'm using as-is. I also made a Photoshop 6x8 template for those days where I have a ton of photos that can be easily put into a photo collage. Here are a couple of my "prep" pages! I apologize in advance for the less-than-stellar photos.  I had to take them at night!  Also they are on a dark table, and I'm using a bunch of see-though elements, so you will see the table! ;-)  Finally, as I finish each page, I will likely stitch many of these pockets closed so that the fun little items won't fall out!

 title page (front)

For my title page I decided that I really wanted to use see through elements.  Most of the items on both the front and the back of my title page are from the two sources linked above.  I am also throwing in a few items here and there from the Gossamer Blue Gramercy Road and On My Desk collections (both of which I keep going back to the shop and ordering more of)! A couple of trends that you may notice as I share today: sparkle, color, see-through elements, wood veneer.

title page (back)

The above page protector is one that I altered.  Originally it was a 12x12 that had four, 4x6 pockets (two at the top and two at the bottom) and twelve, 2x2 pockets in the middle. I cut the top left corner (a 4x6 and 1/2 of the 2x2s).  This gives me a rough 6x8 page.  As you can see there are extra holes punched.  They didn't quite line up, so I used one of the page protectors meant to go in the album as a guide to punch holes in the right places (I used my crop a dile).  The original page protectors came with the Just Add Color PL kit.

day one 1/2 page (front)

As part of my "plan" I would like to add (usually) smaller inserts to signify a new day.  To do this, I had to alter some page protectors! The above was originally a Project Life 12x12 page protector that had nine 4x4 pockets.  I just cut it up, fixed the holes and ended up with a 4x8! The back of the "believe" card will contain journaling about Day 1 (I think).

day two 1/2 page (front)

Another altered page protector for Day 2 (I'm noticing a theme here).  I used the same process as my title page, except I cut this one to 4x8 instead of 6x8.  I added washi for fun, and to strengthen where I needed to punch new holes (because I messed up the first time)!

day two 1/2 page (backside)

Day 2 will likely be my tree day, so I added a bunch of tree things.  :-)  Two stars for "2", and some fun confetti that I punched out of Doodlebug vellum and added some sequins for good measure. The tree at the top is a wood veneer piece that came in the Get Happy collection.  I embossed one side with red embossing powder and the other side with gold. That little wood veneer frame is something that I found at Michael's (spoiler alert, you will see more of those).

So, I think you get the idea of the "fun" pages at least.  Most of my photos and journaling will go in more standard page protectors (the ones that came with the Handbook)!


More fun things coming to the blog soon -- check in Tuesday for some news!

:: halloween cards ::

Cards?  Did I say cards??  Yep. Outta my comfort zone for today!

There's a new issue up at Paper Issues this week -- "Witchin' You a Happy Halloween", sponsored by SRM stickers.  One of the things that I love about Paper Issues link parties is that they really are open.  You can get the details for this link up here.  You will see that it doesn't even have to be about witches or Halloween -- so many options!

I'm not a theme-y kinda gearle when it comes to scrapbooking, and I am certainly not a card maker.  But when I saw this awesome collection by Simple Stories called Frankie and Friends, I had to have it all (well, most of it anyway).  I may not be a theme-y gearle, but I do have Paper Issues, yo!

I started by cutting one 12x12 piece of kraft card stock into 4x6 inch strips.  I used these for my base.  Then I grabbed my Halloween Swag Bag (from Paper Issues) and the Frankie and Friends collection and got to work.

The 3x4 cards that come on a 12x12 sheet in the collection are so cute and simply perfect for what I was going for.

I think this one is my favorite:

If you want to grab the Frankie and Friends collection, or anything else, don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' to get 20% off your entire purchase!

I'm working on Week in the Life this week (my first attempt)!  More on that one coming soon!

:: and…..GO! ::

Hi friends!  I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a new layout spotlighting one of my favorite things -- the Swag Bag!  Have you subscribed yet?

The journaling (around the page in white) reads: "go, beatrice, go. you are always on the go and often in costume. your energy is endless and your imagination runs wild."

A bunch of golden deliciousness in the August Swag Bag!  I paired it with a bit of yumminess from the September Swag Bag and some Glitter Alphas from the Shimelle collection.

It's kinda funny.  I keep thinking I'm going to use the Swag Bag for Project Life, (which would be AWESOME), but as soon as I see it all, a layout comes to mind!  I love layering all of the cards, and fun papers!

I sewed a bunch of the stars included in the swag bag together -- gold and maps (cuz she's going places, yo)! 

I have been receiving lots of goodies in the mail from Paper Issues lately.  You can too! If you'd like to receive a 20% discount, use my code (orangegearle)!  :-)

I'm also linking up this layout with our current issue -- You're Sew Cute, You Keep Me In Stitches! 

:: swag bag spotlight : beach love ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a Swag Bag feature.

I used some Echo Park papers + the September Swag Bag + some goodies from past Swag Bags to create this layout about my B. at the beach.

"BEACH" is from Echo Park's Creative Agenda, and so is the background paper!  I am loving these colors!

Don't you love that vellum!?

Everything above is available at Paper Issues!  In fact, we've gotten quite a few new things in recently! And just because I love you, if you use the code 'orangegearle' at checkout, you will receive 20% off your order!  I know, right?

See you soon!

:: colorful fun ::

I am up on the Paper Issues blog today, sharing an August Swag Bag creation!

I started with white card stock and gelatos (see tutorial below).  Then I got out the Swag Bag, which is particularly yummy this month!

Don't you LOVE all of those stars?? See that chevron stamp?  THE SWAG BAG HAS A STAMP!  Woot!  Love it!

All of those fun layers are created from cards included in the kit. Seriously fun kit this month.  Have you got yours yet?  They are available here.

An extra for today: video about having fun with Gelatos!  :-)  I show you the technique I used on this layout as well as a few others to get you started!


Thanks for stopping by!  See you again, soon!

:: beach friends ::

A few weeks ago we took B. to the "beach".  It's about as close to a beach as we get in the middle of the US.  It's really a river, but there is sand and back channels free of currents that are perfect for wading, swimming and building sand castles.  We went there quite a few times last season, but haven't been there yet this year due to flooding.  Two of my close friends brought their children and grandchildren and they had a blast!  So did the adults!  So. Fun.  Soon after arriving home I had a chance to sit down with my Paper Issues July Swag Bag and I created a LO to share this story.



Nearly everything in this LO (besides the white background paper) came from either the July Swag Bag from Paper Issues (or previous bits and pieces from past Swag Bags).  So fun!  Have you picked up your Swag Bag yet?  The July bags are sold out, but the August bags are now in the shop -- grab one here! Don't forget, if you use my code (orangegearle) you can save 20%!

Thanks for stopping by!  See you again soon!

P.S. I just got my August Swag Bag, and it is awesome (there is even a stamp)!  I cannot wait to create with it. Srsly. Get one, and subscribe while you are at it! :-)

:: darling boy ::

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of babysitting my grandson, B.  He is so flipping cute!

For this layout I used a bunch of Amy Tangerine 6x6 papers and the stamps that are in the Plus One collection. I also used a few random embellishments from some past Swag Bags at Paper Issues.

See that awesome cut file in the background?  I purchased this at a (newish) etsy store that my friend Ashley Horton has called The Cut Shoppe.  Ashley also has a blog of the same name where she frequently has challenges and sketches to go alone with her cut files! I think I'm going to try to play along with the August sketch & challenge.  Don't worry, I'll share!


Thanks for stopping by!

:: hello ice cream man ::

I finally got a chance to dig into my June Swag Bag from Paper Issues.  At first I thought I might use all of the awesome cards for Project Life.  But, as I laid out the cards to see what was included in the kit, this layout was born.

The colors in this kit are awesome!  I used some Crate Paper vellum (backed with white card stock) for my base.  I've been hoarding the vellum for a long time, and I hated to cover it up, but it was perfect for this LO.  The circle die cut behind the main photo also came in a Swag Bag; I altered it by misting with some Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

To be honest, when I saw the "this is the sweet life", I knew I needed to turn this into a layout with B's first ice cream man experience!

For the hidden journal spot, I used some textured white card stock (came in the Swag Bag).  I painted it with gelatos and a water brush for an ombre effect.  Then I printed my journaling on card stock, cut it out and added it.  I forgot a few words, so I added them in pen.  Done!

I'm linking this LO up with Paper Issues current issue.  It's a link-y party!  Join in the fun!