:: eggcellent :: pinspire me

It's time for one of my favorite challenges on the Paper Issues blog -- (P)Inspire Me Monday! Here is my take on the mood board.

I created a cut file and backed it with papers from Doodlebug's Spring Garden 6x6 Paper Pad (available in the Paper Issues Store here).  I added a few of the papers behind my photo and a Bella Blvd clip just for fun! 

Speaking of fun -- I made three of these little egg shakers from card stock, sequins, and a few pieces of confetti that I punched out of the same patterned papers. 

You can download the cut file I made here (for free, of course). Make sure you check out what the other DT members have made for this challenge and if you haven't joined the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} Facebook page yet -- what are you waiting for!

Get your Doodlebug, Bella Blvd, Simple Stories, Pinkfresh and more at the Paper Issues Store.  Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: celebrate it's your birthday :: free flower cut file

The free April cut file is live on the Paper Issues Blog! Aren't these flowers cute? I shrunk down the file to make this card for my mom!

I started with white card stock and Gelatos to make the background.  As soon as it was dry I cut the file.

We are having a ton of fun in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. We just started a new round of #iSpyWithPI.  Check out all the fun and play along!

:: queen for the day ::

Have you been playing along with the Paper Issues Spring Crop (click link for details)?  There are all kinds of challenges, and even more fun.  And did I mention that there are Gift Cards to the Paper Issues Store up for grabs?

My challenge -- Bling me up Scotty -- is to put a little bling on that thing!

My bling is lots of gold, some Color Shine, sequins and glitter!  Check out what everyone is talking about by clicking on this link and joining the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} Facebook group so you can play along!

I used items from Pink Paislee's C'est La Vie collection and some bits from Maggie Holme's (Crate Paper) Bloom collections.  Get either of those and so much more from the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: remember the moments ::

Hi friends! This weekend is the Paper Issues Spring Crop! Woo hoo!  I thought I would share this layout with out that I made during our last crop. I'm using some Maggie Holmes Shine and Ali Edwards stamps.

I started with white card stock and stamped "little moments' over and over to create my background.  Then I used some papers from the Shine collection to create layers behind my photo and add some circles.  Stitching, of course, journaling, and some fun embellishments. Done!

If you haven't joined the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group yet, do that here! You'll get the most up to date info on new items to the store, the fun challenges that we have every month, and, of course, the Spring Crop!

Join us for the Spring Crop!  There are Gift Cards up for grabs (like $250 bucks worth) and there is a whole bunch of new yummies in the shop!  Check it out and 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!

:: mix it up monday : explore ::

It's Mix It Up Monday on the Paper Issues blog!  Here's what I made this month:

I also made a process video if you are interested (feel free to subscribe to my youtube channel)!

Play with us and share it in the March Challenge Album on the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group and you just might be featured or win a prize, yo!

Most of the papers I used were from the 6x6 pad in the Dear Lizzy Happy Place collection. I also used stickers from the same collection, items from my stash and, of course, a bunch of Heidi Swapp Color Shine. Grab some from the store (or anything else) and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

Here is a free link to the explore cut file (and a couple of other words).

:: bring on spring ::

Have I mentioned it's March??!  YAY!!!!  I'm ready for spring! We've got a super fun Pinspire Me mood board happening on the Paper Issues blog today!

Here's what I came up with:

I took the rainbow paint splatters, the hearts, and the green from the board as inspiration and this popped out!

I used watercolor in the back ground.  Then I made a cut file (you can grab that free cut file from here). I splashed a bit of color on the cut file, and then decided to use some of the inside hearts too -- so I added a bit of uneven color to those.

I backed a few of the hearts with paper from Amy Tangerine's Better Together 6x6 pad -- the colors are perfection for this Pinspire mood board!

I also used some of the same paper pad for my layers behind the photo.

I realize it's not officially spring yet, and it was February when these photos were taken, but it also was 50 degrees in February, in Iowa, so it sure felt like spring.  :-) Bring. It.

Don't forget to check out the new stuff in the shop -- and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: 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!

:: hey, snow day ::

So, we had this "big snow" predicted.  As always, the meteorologists were saying, "It's too early to tell" and then (not so usual)  "It could be as much as 16-17 inches."  We haven't had a snow day this year so we were all rooting for the big snow to happen (except the people who have to shovel it).  Instead we got our snow day with just a bit of snow.  But it was enough for a snowman!

She was pretty proud of her work.

I used the February sketch at Paper Issues, some Crate Paper Hello Love, a few items from the January SWAG bag, and some flair from my stash to put this one together.  Here's my take on the sketch.

The sketch and details can be found here. Check it out and play along!

There are a bunch of new items in the Paper Issues store.  Check 'em out, and when you check out, use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase! 

..:: mix it up monday ::.. press pause

Hi! Happy Mix it Up Monday!  I'm on the Paper Issues Blog today with a new layout and process video.

I machine stitched throughout the layout, because it's what I do, yo.

I LOVE THIS AMPERSAND! 

I got messy with spray mists, gelatos, and a mask. Here's how it looks all put together.

I also put together a process video if that something that suits your fancy.

Play with us this month and share your page in the February Challenge Album on the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group!  You have until March 6 to play and there are prizes to be had! 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there are all kinds of new goodies in the Paper Issues Store right now!  Check them out, grab a few (or more) and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

..:: what's in my planner : crate paper hello love ::..

This month I used Crate Paper's latest collection, Hello Love, to prep my planner.  I used some of the stickers, die cuts, and patterned paper. Simple. Pretty. Ready for February.

I also used these Elle's Studio stamps to keep my One Little Word visible. 

I am totally still digging my Get to Work Book, and this month I am housing it in my Simple Stories Carpe Diem planner.

You can get the stamps, planner supplies, the Crate Paper collection, and many other fantastic (and new!) items in the Paper Issues Store, and you get 20% off with the code 'orangegearle'.  

:: hello february, hello one little word® ::

Doesn't Ali Edward's One Little Word® start in January?

Why, yes, yes, it does, why do you ask?

Well, the title of this blogpost....I'm confused.

Yep, it's already February and it took that long for my word to find me. If you've hung out at my blog at all you know that I have participated in One Little Word® for several years now.  I have never had a difficult time deciding on my word for the year.  Never.  In fact, most of the time it finds me before December. Yet, here I was, a few days before February was to begin, and I had not found a word. In fact, I was just about to settle on a word that I thought would "work", but I knew it just wasn't it.

Then, it popped in my head.

I'd seen the word a zillion times and many people have chosen this word as theirs for the year, but still it didn't click for me until this past weekend. Then BAM!

Hello February.  Hello Choose.  Hello One Little Word®.

More information on Ali's One Little Word® can be found here.

..:: mix it up monday ::..

Wow!  I'm super excited to share this fun news with you!  I get to continue to be a part of the Paper Issues Design Team (exciting!) and I was asked to share a new feature on the Paper Issues Blog called Mix It Up Monday!  MIU Monday is an invitation to you to get messy on a project -- mixed media, ink, paint, mist, stencils, stamps, etc. So. Much. Fun.

Here is what I came up with this month:

I played with gesso, water colors, ink, stamps, gelatos and a bit of mist. Most of the patterned papers are by Amy Tangerine. I also made a process video to show exactly how I did it!  Check it out (products are linked below):

Here are a couple of close ups (more included in the video above):

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!


Products Used (links provided when possible):

American Crafts 12x12 white card stock
gesso
watercolor paints
Amy Tangerine Scarlet Metal Dies (Rise & Shine Collection)
Amy Tangerine 6x6 Paper Pad (Plus One Collection
Amy Tangerine 6x6 Paper Pad (Stitched Collection)
Lawn Fawn Ink Pad
Black Thickers (American Crafts, but not sure of the specific collection)
Elle's Studio Stamps -- On the Menu (Let's Eat)
Goldie List Make Roller Stamp (Seven Paper)

Check out the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: top 15 layouts in 2015 ::

Happy New Year!

The Paper Issues Creative Team and a few from the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group are reflecting a bit on 2015 and highlighting our top 15 of 2015.  Here are mine:

From left to right:

:: you are my sunshine :: mad hatter :: time :: 

:: just spokin' :: jumpin' puddles :: lovely :: a splash of fun ::

:: wonderful, brave, and happy spirit :: currently :: what a BEAuty :: from where she stands ::

:: dream, imagine, & explore :: b awesome :: happy fall y'all :: end of an era ::

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

..:: 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!

:: christmas wishes ::

It's round two for the Owl I Want For Christmas issue on the Paper Issues Blog -- and I'm super excited to participate! 

This layout includes photos from B.'s letter writing and drawing for Santa this year! The whole story is housed in my December Daily, but these photos were extra cute and needs a layout devoted to them!

I used circles and triangles cut from Fancy Pant's Wish Season collection. I added several little puffy stickers from the same collection and some Heidi Swapp Color Shine for the win. Those little curved banners are from the die cuts that come with the collection as well.  I'm pretty sure that red and white striped paper is my fave (I've used it on several projects, and I may have to buy more)!

So what is Owl I Want for Christmas all about? Here are a few ideas to get you started (use one or use them all). Feel free to use any product you'd like.

• Show us your projects about December holidays and/or your holiday traditions.
• Share a project with an owl on it.
• What's on your holiday wish list?
• Has a child in your life lost any teeth (that may be all they want for Christmas)? Show us those cute toothless smiles or projects about the Tooth Fairy. 
• Download the Remember December free printable from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the cards on your project.

Check out what the other DT members have created -- and link up with us to win!

What do you want for Christmas? There are quite a few new items in the Paper Issues Store -- don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!