..:: beautiful ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout using one of the Free Cut Files available in the Paper Issues Store.  This is a fun one! The cut file is called Stitching Flowers Background and it cuts the holes in your paper so you can stitch! Here is my layout:

The free cut file also includes the "inside" cut so you can add paper to the insides of the flowers. I chose yellow, green, red, and orange. 

I popped up the patterned papers with some foam to add some dimension to the flowers.

Many of the papers and embellishments are from Elle's Studio and can be found here.

This was a super fun layout to make!  I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy!

I am posting this one in the Free File Free-For-All challenge. You can find this and all of our current challenges in the July Challenge album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until August 2, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: joy ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with our Scraplift Sunday #2 of the month! I used the June Kit - Mystery of Love for this layout and a manual die called Rainbow Whimsy available here. This is my take on the lift :

We are lifting Lacey Robin this week! Here is a look at her original layout:

As you can see I stuck with the same basic design, only instead of her beautiful, muted color pallet, I went BOLD!

Lacy's original layout had cute die cut florals peeking out through the layers and behind the photo. That gave me the idea to add some manual die cut rainbows to my layout. I use this die and my Big Shot to cut them out. Then I glued three of the rainbow arches to vellum and added them to my layout!

This was definitely a rainbow of fun to make!  I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the July Challenge album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until August 2, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks so much for stopping by, see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: so excited ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on the {a flair for buttons} blog today with this layout I made using donut flair from the Etsy shop! I also used the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Garden District collection that I purchased from the Paper Issues Store. Here is a look at my layout:

I used papers from the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Garden collection. I loved the pink and thought it went well with the donut flair! I also added a little bit of mixed media to the background. I used a Vicki Boutin stencil and some Vicki Boutin stencils to create a cascade of butterflies in the background.  I used some of the butterflies in the ephemera from the collection and I fussy cut some more from the patterned papers. Here are some close ups of the flair!

The collection also had some stickers that fit the theme of this layout perfectly!

I really enjoyed making this one! I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy!

Thank you for stopping by and I will see you in my next video! XO o.g.

..:: grill skills ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout for the Grill Skills challenge over in the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} Facebook Group! I used the Simple Stories Summer Farmhouse collection and the Whip Up Some Baked Goods free cut file. 

I used the fantastic floral patterned paper for a strip down the center. Next I added some strips on either side from the 6x8 paper pad - and I used my machine to stitch it all down with red thread. Then, I grabbed some floral embellishments from the collection for my clusters.

I backed the cut file with some patterned paper and added some red embroidery floss in the holes of the handle (that's my favorite part!). This cute apron and grill fit the theme perfectly!

I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the June Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until July 5th, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: date night ::..

Hello friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout for the Whiskey Business challenge in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook page. I am using the May kit called Boys of Summer. Here is a look at my project:

My take on the challenge is about my favorite guy, in our favorite Mexican restaurant, drinking our favorite margaritas! 

I used some Distress Oxides, some water, and he packaging technique for a watercolor look behind my photo and layers. 

I added a little cluster in the corner to house my title with Shimelle's Here We Go Thickers included in the kit.

I added some tangled thread, some stitching, and ripped some paper to make this layout fit my style. There were several pieces of wood veneer and sequins in the kit that were perfect added touches to finish off my layout. 

I made a video of my process if that something that suits your fancy!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the June Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until July 5, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: let's go fly a kite ::..

Hello Friends!  I am up on the {a flair for buttons} blog today with a layout using two pieces of flair from the Watercolor Patterns Flair set and once flair button from the Tropical Vacation Flair set. I am also working with papers from Paige Evan's Bloom Street collection and a free cut file from Paper Issues. Here is a look at my layout:

I used a sketch by Devra Hunt that can be found here. Here are a few close-ups of the flair I used:

The piece above is from the Tropical Vacation Flair set and I thought it made the perfect "sun" and pop of yellow. The two pieces below are from the Watercolor Patterns Flair set. I thought they matched this collection so well, and I love that they add the perfect pop of color and even out my triangle and draw my eyes across the page.





I fussy cut a bunch of flowers to make clusters around the flair, and all across the page!  Here are a few more close ups:






I added pop dots behind my kite to pop it off the page a little bit. I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy!

Thanks for checking it out and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: number four ::..

Hello Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a layout I made for the Piece of Cake Challenge over in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} facebook group! For this layout I chose to use Amy Tangerine's Picnic in the  Park collection and some photos of my daughter's birthday cake from 2013!  Here is a look at my project:

B. said she wanted a Batman Rainbow cake. So she got it. I cannot believe I haven't ever scrapped these photos. She was very into making silly faces at the time.  Here are a few close ups:

 I love working with a basic grid design! I used lots of papers to layer behind my photos -- I was going for ALL THE COLOR!  Rainbows everywhere!

I made a video of my process, if that's something that suits your fancy!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the May Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until May 31, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: chicago with mom : no place I'd rather be ::..

Hi Friends!  I am up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a layout for the Mother Knows Best challenge over in the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} FB group. For this layout I also used the #StaySketchy sketch for today.

Here is the sketch:

For this layout I used a bunch of papers mostly from Heidi Swapp's Storyline Chapter collection, which can be found here in the Paper Issues Store.

I am telling the story about my mom and I going to the musical called Chicago. It was a fun time together!

Here are a few close ups of the flower clusters:

I altered the sketch a bit by using a card instead of a second photo. I added some Nuvo drops to my floral clusters for a pop of color. I made a video of my process, if that's something that suits your fancy!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the May Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until May 31, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.