Tuesday, September 27, 2016

You Are Here! - Paper Issues DT

It's my first blog post over at Paper Issues today! Head on over and check out this layout and all the details. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Everyday Has A Story - Scraplift Sunday at PI

Today we are lifting the fabulous, creative and beautiful layout by Stacie Ebnet-Dietz at Paper Issues in the Friends and Fans Facebook Group. I chose to use the Pinkfresh Studio Indigo Hills collection. I chose a picture of my mom while we opened presents on Christmas afternoon. I love how her sweater matches the paper.

I fussy cut the half circles and layered them. I hummed and hawed over whether I would color block them or mix them and I went with the latter. The background I had to make twice. I tried with acrylic paint and didn't like that the colors didn't match perfectly and I found it hard to mix them. Plus I tried spreading the paint by blowing through a straw and I didn't like how it spread. Definitely not as nice as Stacie's! So I started over with watercolors and had much more success and decided to not use the straw.

 
Supplies
Pinkfresh Studio: Indigo Hills
Blue embroidery thread
Fine tip Sharpie pen
Watercolors
Date stamp
Black ink
 
Need some Indigo Hills? It is available in the Paper Issues Store at 20% off with the code Carolyn.
 
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Happy Moments Layout - Scraplift Sunday PI

Hi there! I love Scraplift Sunday and this one does not disappoint. This layout really got me thinking outside of my comfort zone and I also got to play with a pile of goodies from the Maggie Holmes "Bloom" collection. So really it is a win-win situation. Head over to the Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook page to join in.

 
Here is the fabulous inspiration from Amanda Baldwin.
 
 
Supplies
Crate Paper - Maggie Holmes: Bloom
Date stickers - Crate Paper Maggie Holmes: Gather
 

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget the Paper Issues Store has lots Maggie Holmes supplies. Use the code Carolyn at checkout to save 20%.

Have a great day!

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Going Down Layout - Scraplift Sunday PI

Today we are scraplifting Elodie Lusseau at Paper Issues. This link will take you to the Friends and Fans page where you can post your layout. This is a fun one so make sure to join in! Here is my layout:

 

Here is Elodie's layout:

 
I was used the stitching and repetitive shapes but had to adjust the layout as I had 4 pictures. I changed my mind as to what shape I would use a million times but in the end I'm glad I did an arrow. If you like the arrow, you can download it for free in the Paper Issues store. I added some extra holes so my stitching wouldn't be so large. Make sure to check out what the other ladies have made in the Facebook group. So many neat ideas.
 
Supplies
Simple Stories - Bloom & Grow Collection
White Cardstock
Silhouette Cameo with String Art Cut File
Green letters - Bella Blvd: Lucky Starz
Red embroidery floss
Stampin' Up Arrow Punch
 
Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget the Paper Issues Store has lots of Simple Stories supplies. Use the code Carolyn at checkout to save 20%.
 
Have a great day!

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Best Ever Layout - Cut It Up Saturday Paper Issues

So I FINALLY had a chance to make a layout with the Fancy Free line. I've been wanting to fussy cut these flowers so I'm happy Danielle at Paper Issues made the perfect cut file to highlight them. Head on over to the Paper Issues store to download this awesome file and then check out the blog for some inspiration. Everyone used this file in so many different ways. I chose to rotate it and bring the arrows closer together.

 
Here is what the cut file looks like.
 
 
I cut out the file on white cardstock. Then I put the green paper behind it. I stitched with my sewing machine and built some clusters of flowers. The paper behind the pictures is distressed. Those Thickers! How awesome are they? Finally, I splattered some black paint.
 
Supplies
Pink Paislee: Fancy Free Collection
Black Paint
White Cardstock
White Thread
Tim Holtz Distress Tool
Silhouette Cameo
 

Thanks for stopping by! The Paper Issues Store has lots of Fancy Free supplies. Use the code Carolyn at checkout to save 20%.

Have a great day!

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Pony Ride Layout - Pawsitively Pets Paper Issues

If you have animal pictures to scrap, definitely check out Paper Issues today. It is the new Pawsitively Pets Challenge but really you can scrap any animal you like. I do not have a pet but after seeing these projects, I would love to have a little fur baby. So would my daughter. However, reality says our family just can't do this right now. So I scrapped pony pictures!

 

Supplies
Simple Stories: Pumpkin Spice Collection
Bella Blvd: Hello Spring letters
 

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget the Paper Issues Store has lots of goodies to scrap those pets. Use the code Carolyn at checkout to save 20%.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

House of Straws - Dear Lizzy Spotlight PI

Hope everyone is having a fabulous day. I have a fun layout today for the Dear Lizzy "Saturday" spotlight at Paper Issues. I love the paper in this collection with the buildings. I knew I needed to fussy cut the bottom strip and that blue paper makes such a nice border.

 
I looked through my pictures for one that had something to do with buildings and found this one of a straw house my daughter built. I sprayed some Color Shine mist to make it look like my picture is lit from behind. I decided on my title and used some older Thickers from my stash. I thought awhile about what I wanted to do with my picture and then I remembered that I had some straws I had purchased from the Paper Issues store. I wanted to layer them randomly but they are too thick for that so I built a house. I know, super cheesy, literal interpretation of the picture! So I tried to dress it up by doodling. I am not a doodler so it was a risk but I think it paid off. I fussy cut a few flowers out of the paper, made some grass from one of the manufacturer's strips and colored in my doodles with ink. I wrote the journaling over the buildings so the page would stay balanced.

Supplies:
Dear Lizzy: Saturday
American Crafts Thickers: Kitten
Fine tip Sharpie pen
Heidi Swapp Color Shine: Butter, Raspberry & Tea
Mister Huey's Mist: Cash Money
Paper Straws
White Cardstock

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget the Paper Issues Store has the Dear Lizzy Saturday Collection and paper straws. Use the code Carolyn at checkout to save 20%.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Hangin' With My Gnomies - Take 5 Tuesday PI

Ready for Take 5 Tuesday?! I was flipping through my pictures and found this one with my daughter holding Fisher Price dolls on her fingers. I thought it would work well with the Simple Stories Bloom and Grow gnomes and from there the layout began.

 
Here is the inspiration list from Paper Issues. Choose any 5 items from the list. I used buttons, letter stickers, large title, border and red.
 
 
I did some stitching around the triangles for texture. I made the flowers in Silhouette Studio using the flowers in the pattern paper as a guide. The font I chose is called Franciscan.
 
Supplies
Simple Stories: Bloom & Grow
Yellow letters - Fancy Pants: Life Is Beautiful
Buttons - Dollarama
White Card Stock

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget the Paper Issues Store has lots of Simple Stories supplies. Use the code Carolyn at checkout to save 20%.

Have a great day!

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Aurora Layout - Paper Issues Sketchy Saturday

Good morning! I'm so excited to share this month's sketch over at Paper Issues. I scrapped one of our Disney pictures that matched the colour of these papers.


Here is the sketch:


At first I wasn't sure if I should purchase the Pink Paislee C'est La Vie Collection as it is not like the little kid stuff I'm used to. But now that I've made this layout, I'm so glad I did. You can scrap pictures of your kids with this and it is so beautiful. I've never used transparencies before and I like how they look too.

Supplies
Pink Paislee: C'est La Vie
My Mind's Eye: Sleigh Bells Ring date stickers
Heidi Swapp Raspberry Color Shine
Black Embroidery Thread

Thanks for checking out this post. Stop by the Paper Issues Shop for a great selection of products and don't forget to use the code Carolyn to save 20%.

Have a great day!

Friday, September 2, 2016

1st Day Layout - September Mood Board at Paper Issues

Ready for school? Being a teacher means you never feel ready despite all the planning and preparation - there is always more to do. But I still have a few more days before my daughter and I head back so we will make the most of it. If you need some help getting in the mood why not check out the September Mood Board at Paper Issues. It's a good one! I used my first day pic from last year as we haven't had a first day yet this year! I just love that sign we made - make sure you zoom in and check it out.


Here is the mood board. I think I used enough embellishments to say I was inspired by all of it! I tried to color block each section so it wouldn't get too overwhelming.

 
Supplies
Simple Stories: Life Documented & I Am & Carpe Diem
"Write On" sticker - Fancy Pants: Me-ology
"Learn" sticker - Bella Blvd: Tiny Tots
Stampin' Up Label Punch
 
Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget the Paper Issues Store has lots of Simple Stories supplies. Use the code Carolyn at checkout to save 20%.
 
Have a great day!


Thursday, September 1, 2016

Big Announcement!

Hello everyone! I'm so excited to be able to share that I will be joining the Paper Issues Design Team for the next 4 months! I am so grateful for this opportunity. The group is amazing and have lots of great stuff lined up for September so check in often to see what we are all up to! Head on over to the Paper Issues blog to check out links to the other awesome ladies on this team.