:: 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!

..:: all smile ::..

Hi! It's been a while! Far too long since I've been able to play with paper -- but I'm back today with a layout for Paper Issues' Mix It Up Monday!  This layout features a missing tooth!

I used a bunch of Cocoa Vanilla's recent collection Love Always and I am loving it! The challenge this month is to make something mixed media-ish (I used acrylic paint, water, and water colors) and then CUT IT UP! You can use your die cut machine, your scissors, or punches. I created a 'background' using orange watercolors and pink paint. Then I used several sizes of circle punches to punch out these circles! Here's a process video if that suits your fancy!

And here are a few close ups!

Check out the Paper Issues Blog for more inspiration and details on how to enter your project!

..:: happy girl ::..

It's that time again --- Mix It Up Monday on the Paper Issues blog.  Here's my project:

Watercolors, stitching, and thread, oh my!

This title work is my favorite part of the layout -- except the photos, of course! I used my Silhouette Cameo to create the title (it poked the holes for me!) and then I stitched. I cut the whole thing out by hand and then used pop dots for some added height.

The uke that Bea is playing in these photos and the flamingos just seemed to match! I love these clips that came in the Swag Bag. And that PI card (below) fit the whole theme beautifully!

Water color background and lots of thread, and lots of color.  Seems to be what I do these days.  Oh, and layers...lots of layers.

Wanna play along this month?  It's anything goes! The details are all here.

Grab some fun papers and embellishments from the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your order! There are tons of new releases that have been added to the store recently. Check them out here.

..:: got tapas? ::..

I'm back with layout inspired by a great sketch that's up on the Paper Issues Blog today!  Here's my take on the sketch:

Here's  a look at the inspiration sketch:

I stuck pretty closely to the sketch this month. Wanna play along?  You can find the details here. 

I used Dear Lizzy's most recent collection, Saturday, and I totally love it! These colors! Grab some Dear Lizzy or any of the other awesome collections in the Paper Issues Store today!  Use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

..:: let's roll ::..

It's time for a bit of (P)Inspiration!  Here's my take on the August mood board at Paper Issues.

Here's a look at the gorgeous mood board. 

I took inspiration from the colors (specifically black, white, grey, with pops of pink and yellow) and the "transportation" theme of this beautiful board. The new Cute Girl collection by Crate Paper was perfect for this!

I treated each square like a little mini-layout. This one I used yellow acrylic paint by Dylusions as part of my base layer!  Here is a close-up look at the other sections.

Details of how to play along with us this month can be found here on the Paper Issues Blog. 

Crate Paper also has a Cool Kid collection that is perfect for more of a boy theme. Grab some of Crate Paper's latest collections at the Paper Issues store today and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your order. (PS, there are tons of other things in the store, and the code works for all of it)!

..:: happy day ::..

Time for a Product Spotlight over on the Paper Issues Blog. The Design Team got to play with one of the new Simple Stories lines called Sunshine & Happiness. I love it! It's so bright and exactly the colors I love.

Perfect fit for this photo of my daughter eating ice cream on our deck.

I used alphas from the sticker sheet and a couple of die cuts from the ephemera pack for my title. 

The 6x6 pad, a piece of 12x12 striped patterned paper, and some tissue made up my layers behind the photo.

More ephemera, stickers, and enamel dots for this cluster.  I loved working with this collection! I have already made a couple of layouts and use some of the stickers and ephemera in my planner! 

We just received a big shipment in the Paper Issues Store, Pink Paislee, Crate, American Crafts....run don't walk and grab some before it's gone! Use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: tick tick tick boom! ::

I am super excited to share that I am up on Shimelle Laine's blog today as a guest designer!  Here are a couple of closeups!

Each year we watch fireworks at my brother's house (it's all legal -- he's got a license) and they are better than any fireworks I've ever seen. He sets them to music, and "Tick Tick Tick Boom" by The Hives happens to be one of the songs he has used it a couple of times over the years. I thought it fit perfectly!

The look on my daughter's face -- all lit up by the fireworks --  just cracks me up every time I see it! I cannot believe I have never scrapped it! It's two years old.

I made a process video if videos are something that suits your fancy!

Thanks for stopping buy! Be sure to check out the full layout at Shimelle.com!

..:: Love Our View ::..

It's Product Spotlight time over at Paper Issues!  This week we are spotlighting Pink Paislee's Outfitters collection. Here's my take:

You just knew I was going to use that orange houndstooth paper, right? I love how it compliments these photos of a sunset that just keeps getting more intense. The colors in this collection are so rich, woodsy, and fabulous!  They would be perfect for capturing memories of camping, hiking, boating, or anything outdoorsy. These photos are from my own back yard!

I used the free cut file that I designed (available here) for some circles behind my photos (I previously used the same file as flowers, but who cares, right?). I also added some flair from {aflairforbuttons}.

Check out what the other members of the team created here and play along with us!

Need some Outfitters? Or just about anything else?  Grab what you need at the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your order! 

Thanks for stopping by -- and another super exciting post is coming later today! Stay tuned....

..:: sparkle & shine ::..

I am super excited to be up on the Paper Issues Blog today as part of this months issue : Gleam Catchers. Here is my take on the theme:

I love this photo that my One True Love took of my daughter with her swimming goggles on! If you look closely you can see his reflection in the glasses and she looks SO. HAPPY. which makes me happy! :-)

I paired the photo with items mostly from Shimelle's Starshine collection. If you would like to play along with us this month you have until August 1st to join any of our challenges, which can be found here in the July Challenges Album.

There continues to be more and more new items posted in the Paper Issues Store. Check them out, fill your cart, and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon!

..:: for the love of summer ::.. Mix It Up Monday

It's one of my most favorite Monday's of the month -- Mix it Up Monday on the Paper Issues blog!

This month you need to grab your water colors (or your child's water colors) and use them on a project. Play along with us, won't you? Get all the details in the July Challenge Album and on the blog!

I started by designing a mosaic heart cut file (which you can grab for free here), and I also had my Silhouette Cameo "cut out" the word summer. Actually instead of having it cut out the word summer, but I designed it to poke holes so that I could use thread to stitch around the title. 

Here are a few close ups:

I made a process video if that's something that you fancy! I'd love it if you'd subscribe to my You Tube channel.

For this layout I used mostly items from the Sunshine & Happiness collection by Simple Stories.  Grab that or any of the other new stuff from the store, and don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

..:: wiggin' out school's out ::..

It's Sketchy Saturday on the Paper Issues Blog and I am playing along!  Here is my take on the sketch:

And now for the close ups:

This is the fantastic sketch that I based my layout on.

Check out this blogpost to see inspiration from other Design Team members and how you can play along!

..:: tragic s'mores mishap ::..

Woo hoo!  I'm back today with a layout inspired by Paper Issues July Pinspire Me challenge! Here's my layout all about an unfortunate, tragic, s'mores mishap. 

Sometimes, the marshmallow just jumps into your hair, right? Here are a few close ups.

I pulled my inspiration from this mood board. I was inspired by the s'mores and other tasty treats, and I loved the colors here!

Play along with this challenge, or any of the other July challenges in the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} group! You have until August 1st to enter! Details are also on the Paper Issues Blog!

Grab some new yumminess from the Paper Issues Store, and don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!