:: swagbag spotlight ::

Today I'm up on the Paper Issues blog sharing a layout that was created with cards and little bits from several past Swag Bags, as well as the current June Swag Bag.

I love finding all the little bits to add to the page.  The Swag Bags are always full of the best little bits. As I "finish" using up most of the papers and things, I always store the little leftover pieces (like gold stars, wood veneer pieces, flags, etc.) in a little bowl that I have dedicated to my swag bag goodies. Then, when I am ready to do a layout or project that requires some of those little bits, it's ready for me!

There are so many fun things packed into that little package each month. The June Swag Bags are still in stock (at least they are as I write this), and I am pretty sure there is one with your name on it!  Pick up your Swag Bag here. 

Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' to receive 20% off your entire purchase at the Paper Issues store!

:: jumpin' puddles ::

Hello friends!  Today I'm here with a layout that created using mostly Pink Paislee : Citrus Bliss, and AC Dear Lizzy : Fine & Dandy.  These collections go together beautifully and I love the springy-summery feel of them!

The right side of my layout is actually a scrap lift! More on that below! Our B. had been playing in all the puddles in our back yard and we captured a zillion photos (in fact, enough that there will probably be another layout in the future that contains a separate part of today's story). There were so many good ones, that I almost immediately printed them off, grabbed some new(er) patterned papers and got busy!

The hearts are from the Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy collection.  There was a whole sheet of them! I cut out what I needed for this project, but I've used more of that paper in other projects.  I love it!   In fact, the "b" side of that paper is the polka dot paper you see on the bottom half of this page!

To tie the two pages together I did a few things; I took the hearts all across the second page, the patterned papers from the left side are on the very edge of the right side too, and those little bright strips of paper are on both sides.  I am really digging how this one turned out!

The right page is actually a scrap lift of a layout that fellow Paper Issues DT member, .Jana McCarthy  did.  It was the layout that all of the awesome people in the Paper Issues Friends and Family group (PIFF) on Facebook scrap-lifted a couple of weeks ago.  Are you part of the PIFF group?  If you are on Facebook, you should join us, we are a ton of fun!  (click link above)   :-)

Here are a couple of close ups of my LO.

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon!

:: wander :: July PINspire Me Monday

Looking for some inspiration?  How about some PINspiration?  It's PINspire Me Monday at Paper Issues!  Design team member Leah found this to inspire you:

There is so much here that I love. The colors are fab, the window, and…because flamingo. As soon as I saw this, though, I remembered a photo that we took of B. wandering down a path, spring flowers blooming and everything just beginning to 'green up'. So I used Leah's PinSpiration to scrap that photo! Here is what I came up with:

I also let the colors inspire me a bit, but certainly not exact. I have to admit, I am not super happy with the end result. I love the idea of this one. I don't completely hate it, but it pales in comparison to the inspiration piece. :-/  Does that ever happen to you?

The good news:  some of the other DT members created projects too.  You can find them here.

More good news: love it or not, I will always remember this day when I flip to this layout in my album. Story Documented.

See you soon!