..:: and…she's off : woodn't you know it ::..

September was a big month for B.  She learned to ride her bike! I decided to document the occasion using a little Heidi Swapp -- September Skies --  available in the Paper Issues store here.

Don't you just love that title font??  It's a cut by Ashley Horton, available in The Cut Shoppe.

 

I used these awesome wood veneers from Pinkfresh Studio (who just happens to be sponsoring the Current Issue @ Paper Issues) as kind of an anchor for my journaling.  There were several stages of learning to ride her bike, so I wrote a little about each stage.
 

These Pinkfresh Studios wood veneers were perfect paired with the September Skies collection.

I'm linking this up with Paper Issue's Current Issue ::  woodn't you know it.  You still have another week to join the linky party!  Don't forget to link back to Paper Issues to be eligible for some goodies from Pinkfresh Studios.

And don't forget!  If you use the code 'orangegearle', you'll get 20% off your order!

..:: new issue @ paper issues ::..

There is a new issue up at Paper Issues and it's all about one of my favorite things -- FALL.

I took this photo with my iPhone on the way to work one morning.  The colors were lovely and there was a bit of mist, and I couldn't resist trying to capture it.  It was much more beautiful than the photo could capture, but I still love the photo, and thought it was perfect for this issue.  No fall leaves, but man does it look like fall in Iowa!

The issue is officially called "Woodn't You Know, it's Fall.  Some suggestions are to use wood veneer, fall papers, woodgrain paper, etc.  I used fall colors (which are pretty much my favorite), and I thought this bit of flair was perfect for the theme, and the whole idea of this layout.  Also, my alphas are kinda woodgrain-y if you look closely below!

This issue is sponsored by Pinkfresh Studio.  And Oh. Em. Gee, I totally love these new Wood Drop Chevron stickers!  They are perfection, if you ask me! They also completely fit the 'wood' part of the theme, of course!

I always have a difficult time deciding how to adhere those plastic letters!  I love them, but what it the world do you do to make them stick, without being able to see the adhesive??  Well, this time, I think I totally figured it out.  I put them where I wanted them and used a bit of washi tape across the top of the letters.  Then I sewed one line with the sewing machine, took off the washi (carefully) and sewed the second line.  It was easy and totally worked.

Check out the latest issue at Paper Issues and link up!!  Don't forget to link back to PI to be eligible for the awesome prize from Pinkfresh Studio!  And while you are at the PI blog, click on over to the store ( you probably need something). Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your order!

See you again 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! 

..:: sketchy saturday @ paper issues : there's an app for that? ::..

No, there isn't a Paper Issues App (but that's an awesome idea)!  However, there is a new feature at Paper Issues: Sketchy Saturday! You can see the awesome sketch by Jen Chapin on the blog here.  Have I mentioned there is a prize involved????

For this layout I used some awesome papers from We R Memory Keepers : The It Factor, available in the store here.  I cut out some of the speech bubbles from the patterned paper to add a few of the comments that the girls were making while I was taking these papers. I popped them up a bit with pop dots.

I also used these awesome wood drop chevron stickers from Pinkfresh Studio (also in the store).

There are fabulous new things in the store nearly every day (at least that's what it seems like)! Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' at checkout to receive 20% off your order at Paper Issues.

I am linking this up with our Current Issue as well -- You're sew cute, you keep me in stitches.  So many chances to win these days at Paper Issues -- and so much inspiration!  

..:: hello october ::..

Hello October.
Hello orange, brown, yellow, and deep green.
Hello falling leaves.

Hello chilly nights.
Hello misty mornings.

Hello football.

Hello walking at almost one.
Hello first birthday!

Hello Layout A Day.
Hello Week In the Life.

Hello forty-four -
I'm totally owning you.

:: new library book ::

Hi friends!  I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a new layout!



This LO tells the story of B. loving that new book smell!  She made us all smell the inside of the book (it was brand new -- the first time it was checked out from the library)! She's hilarious!

When I saw this cute flair from Fancy Pants, I knew I had to use this collection to document this story!

I'm linking this one up to Paper Issues current link party : anything goes. Last chance to enter from some fun yumminess from Whisker Graphics!

Also, there have been a gazillion things added to the store!  Check it out!  And don't forget to use the code "orangegearle" to get 20% off your order!

Until next time!

:: too hot for blading ::

Today is my last post as a Guest Designer at Scrapbook Circle.  If you are a follower of my blog you know how much I love these kits!  I am so honored that I was asked to be on the GDT this month, and, as always, I have really enjoyed working with this kit!  Each month I am amazed at how beautifully Lisa (et. al) pulls together these papers and embellies to make a perfect kit!

This month a two pager was born!  (I haven't done these for a while, but I have done a few lately)! We celebrated my daughter's birthday (the second celebration) with my extended family on the hottest weekend of the summer!  B. got some great gifts; among them, roller blades!  We practiced a bit at Grandma and Grandpa's house (they are the ones that purchased the skates) and then after returning home, she practiced a bit more!  IT WAS SO HOT!  We even had to have a clothing change in between skating because there was a bunch of water play in between!

The challenge at Scrapbook Circle was all about stitching!  So. Awesome. that I was asked to do that!  I love stitching, as you know. So I got out my machine and stitched all around the page.

But, to live up the challenge I also did a bit of hand stitching!  Here are a few more close ups (and they include a lot of GOLD; I am so loving this trend)!

I would like to thank Lisa and Tessa at Scrapbook Circle for welcoming me in to the Scrapbook Circle Family this month!  I had a great time!!!!

Until next time!  :-) O.G.

:: toni from designs : new flair shop ::

Hi friends!  A friend of mine just opened up a new Etsy shop, and she gave me some flair to play around with!

This flair is from her back to school set!  It was the inspiration for most of the colors in my layout!

I grabbed the colors from the flair (and added one from B.'s dress) and found ink in my stash.  I used Ali Edward's new stamp set, on textured white paper and stamped on the diagonal across the page. Viola, patterned paper.

I also stamped on the insert between this two page layout to pull it together.

(more awesome flair from Toni)!

This LO is really a few stories that happened the same morning.  The morning that B. turned five, happened to coincide with her first day of AK (alternative kindergarten) and she got an awesome present!  So I put the stories in the middle in a 6x12 pocket, so I had more room for photos!  :-)

Thanks Toni for letting my play with your new flair!

Toni will be adding new flair to her Etsty shop every Monday!  You can follow her here:

Blog :  http://tonifromdesigns.blogspot.com
IG: tonifromdesigns http://instagram.com/tonifromdesigns
Twitter: @ToniFrom https://twitter.com/ToniFrom]
Pinterest: Toni From http://www.pinterest.com/tonifrom/


PS.  I'm also linking this one up to the Current Issue at Paper Issues!  Anything goes!  Have you linked up yet?

:: 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!

:: sharing secrets ::

Hi!  I'm on the Scrapbook Circle blog today with a new layout using the Here + There September kit!

A. (our neighbor) and B. enjoyed so much outside time together this summer!  On this particular day, I caught them telling secrets and giggling with each other while having a coloring party on the blanket in our yard.

There were so many awesome GOLD goodies in the kit this month, including these Scallop Boarders from Pinkfresh Studio!

I love that the phrase, "We Have the Best Stories" was included on the My Minds Eye Market Street stickers (in the "This Place" September add on kit).  It fit this story so perfectly!

Until next time…..

..:: Paper Issues New Issue :: anything goes ::..

I'm on the Paper Issues blog today with my first feature in the latest issue!  So. Fun.

I've been looking for a way to document some of the lovely flowers that my One True Love plants for us each year.  This year, he took a bunch of photos (often times it's just me), I think because they were particularly beautiful. When I received my package from Paper Issues for the current issue (did I mention that it starts today?), I knew that these bags, stickers, twine, and tags would go together quite nicely for a little mini book! 

I used one of the bigger bags for the front and back covers (it's just folded around some card stock).  Inside the bag I created a shaker for the cover (totally fun)!

Next, I printed photos of flowers that included an array of colors (2.5 inches by 2.5 inches) and paired the photos with the bags, tags, and stickers from Whisker Graphics. I also used Gelatos throughout the book (one of my favorite things, of course)!

I received some twine in my Whisker Graphics bundle of goodies.  So I used those for some added embellishment on some of the pages and with the tags.

I found some quotes about gardens and flowers to pair up with each photo.

I did use some washi, alphas, and punches from my stash, a few other little items here and there (and gelatos) but all the big stuff you see is from Whisker Graphics.  I love how this turned out!

I had to change my thread and bobbin A LOT for this project.  LOL

The theme for this issue over at Paper Issues is "anything goes" and the sponsor is….you guessed it….Whisker Graphics!  Did you know that you can post old or new projects to each of our issues to be eligible for the prize??  YOU CAN! :-)  Just don't forget to link back to the issue!

OMGoodness…I just got an awesome package from Paper Issues!  Check this out:

Don't forget, if you order from Paper Issues and use my code (orangegearle) you can get 20% off your order!