Hello! I am so excited to share first blog post as part of the Paper Issues team! 

I figured I would start out sharing a few things that I love. Some of them are obvious (like family and creating), but there are several other things that I am passionate about. 

I used the Posh collection from Simple Stories to create this layout. It has several of my favorite colors and designs, so I thought would add to my "love it" theme. I am also a sucker for wood grain paper. 

           One of my most favorite things is to wake up to the sweet lyrical sound of the birds. 
       There is just something about listening to their songs and chatter that makes my heart happy. 
Our home has several clusters of birds/bird related items, but nothing that is overkill. Thankfully my husband likes birds, too. 

I try to walk anywhere I can. I wake up and immediately take a walk. I listen to a lot of pod casts and news as I walk. Generally it is early in the morning and dark, so it limits where I walk, but I don't mind. I enjoy watching the world wake up.

And then there are flowers. Flowers just make me happy. We have a small balcony off of our apartment and I have several hanging baskets and rail baskets that I fill with flowers. 

I am enamored with floral print patterned paper. Always my favorite. I have a slight fabric obsession with floral prints, too. Surprisingly, with my adoration of flowers, we don't have a lot of floral decor in our home. 

When I am not creating, I can usually be found with my nose buried in a book. I carry them everywhere with me. I am a slow reader though, as I like to absorb the details and try to step into the story. I also read a lot of online medical journal articles. Every morning it's one of the things I do after my walk while I am sipping on some coffee. 

What are some things that you love? Have you created a layout sharing them? If so, I'd love to see! Just post your layout in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group and tag me. :)

Don't forget to check out all the new arrivals in the Paper Issues store! If you shop, you can use the following code to save some cash so you can buy more! 

wild & free

Hello! There's a new challenge up today at The Studio Challenges. The theme for this one is Inspired by a Song. Create a layout inspired by a Song, up to you which one, it could be the song title or the lyrics that you like.

I took a backwards approach to this challenge- nothing popped out to me aside from wanting to use the world Wild so I did a quick google search and came out with Wild & Free by Ziggy Marley. Wild & free perfectly captures the spirit of my daughter, Skylar. She is spontaneous and prone to do things a little on the wild side with her carefree spirit driving her.

The 'Wild & Free' cut file from JustNick was a perfect addition for this page. I just cut a few of the words off to work for my needs. 

supplies: 

cardstock

patterned paper: AC one Canoe two Hazelwood

Heidi Swapp and Bo Bunny mists

Come on over to The Studio Challenges blog to share your work for this challenge! 

toothless grin

It's time for the Product Spotlight at Paper Issues and this month we are featuring the oh-so-lovely and versatle heart <3 a="" can="" crate="" day="" find="" from="" href="http://paperissuesstore.myshopify.com/collections/crate-paper" paper="" which="" you="">right here in the Paper Issues store
.

Here is a layout I created with this lovely collection: As you can see, this collection does not have to be linited to Valentine's day or even a love theme. 

I used the Heart Target Free Cut File and backed each section with patterned paper. 

To give it a grounded look and color, I added some hand stitching. The hearts were also hand stitched. 

A few yummy embellishments from the PI February Swag Bag were added added for additional detail. 

other supplies: 

Paper Issues February Swag Bag and cut file

cardstock, spray mists, DMC Floss, and twine

To play along with this challenge, link your finished project to the Product Spotlight album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group by February 5th to be in the running to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. 

totes adorbs

The newest January Paper Issues post is live! The theme this month is New Year's/Stash Busters, and this is Round 2 (you can see all the beautiful work from Round 1 here).

What is Stash Busters about? Here are some ideas to get you started (use one or use them all). Feel free to use any product you'd like. Projects can be new or old and you're welcome to share as many as you'd like.

• It's a new year, so make a dent in your stash! What are you hoarding? Is it an old collection? Is there a paper you think is too pretty to cut into? Do you have embellishments you haven't even opened? Get to work creating a project that includes something you haven't used yet or finishes off a collection by using up the scraps.
• Show us anything about your New Year's celebrations.
• Scrap a photo of yourself.

Here is mine:

I have been siting on these beautiful papers from Pinkfresh studio that were a perfect color match for these adorable photos of my sweet granddaughter, Aubree. I wanted to add some pink and other fun elements, so I started digging through my misc. trinkets and found several playful and pretty embellishments that worked wonderfully with the vision I had. A few snippets of Crate Paper Cute Girl paper and die cuts were the icing on the cake to complete this layout. 

I may not have dug far back into my stash, but I did use several pretties that I had been saving for something special (who knows how long I would have sat on these if not for this challenge. ;). 

To play along with our new issue, create a project that goes along with the issue theme. Make sure you check out all of the details on the PI blog! 

Don't forget you can use the code RAE20 t0 save 20% off your entire order in the Paper Issues store! 

feel the love

It's time for the second sketch challenge this month from The Memory Nest. Make it Mon. No. 80 is full of possibilities and can easily be dressed up or down.

I opted to fill the empty spaces with some hearts cut files, but kept true to the sketch otherwise.

supplies:

cs: DCWV, pp and epoxy words: Crate Paper, Twine, rubons: Doodlebug. enamel dots: I made, cut file from Clique Kits, tissue paper

Here is the wonderful sketch- you can see how versatile it is: 

Please join us over on The Memory Nest blog! We'd love to see your take on the challenge. 

she loves to slide

Hello! Welcome to the January 15th sketch from Stuck?! Sketches. 

I kept my layout pretty true to the sketch, with a few minor skews. I also added some paper strips to the top and bottom edges after sitting on it for a day as it didn't feel grounded to me. 

I really love the white title on this. Photos just cannot do it justice. I stepped out of my comfort zone by doing so, but it was well worth trying. 

Some messy thread adds some movement to this. 

supplies:

Felicity Jane October kit and thread

There are two super sponsors for this challenge:

the prize is a $25 gift card

and 

is offering a themed prize pack

Check out the Stuck?! Sketches blog to see the fabulous work from the team and for your chance to enter your layout for a super fun prize!

snoqualmie falls

The new challenge for The Studio Challenges is live. This time we have an lovely mood board. 

The bottom left photo is what captivated me most on this mood board. The grey, yellow, white and touch of blue along with the linear design were the inspiration for my layout. I added some texture by cutting some fringe and popping some of the flowers with foam. 

supplies: 

Pink Paislee, enamel dots, twine, foam, AC Thickers

Come play along with us! 

winter memories

Hi! It's Sketchy Sketchy Saturday on the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} facebook page. 

I am a big fan of sketches and I pretty much followed this one exactly as is. 

pp and die cuts: Crate Paper, twine, sequins, tag

Here's the wonderful January sketch:

To play along with this challenge, link your finished project to the Sketchy Saturday Challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group by February 5th to be in the running to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. 

so much fun!

I am so excited to share my first official post as a member of the Paper Issues team!

Today I am joining in the January Take 5 Tuesday Challenge at Paper Issues. 

supplies:

cardstock: Recollections, pp and die cuts: Crate Paper, cut file: Laura Whitaker, brad: Simple Stories, Silver Thread, mists: Heidi Swapp, enamel dots: I made

Here's how the challenge works: each month there is a list of items to select from as inspiration, all you have to do it pick 5 items from the list and create a paper crafting project of any kind (card, layout, off-the-page, pocket page, etc.). You are free to add other items, but you must use at least 5 items from the list. 

Here is the list for January:

I used the following on my layout:

2. grey, 3. black, 4. polka dots, 5. cardstock, 6. something silver, 7. more than one photo, 8. patterned paper, 14. tags or label, 15. use word "winter" in title or journaling

To play along, link your finished project to the Take 5 Tuesday Challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group by February 5th to be in the running to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. 

hello adorable

Welcome to the first 2017 challenge from The Memory Nest! Make it Monday No. 79 was a super fun sketch to play along with and I had a great time getting a little artsy with my layout.

Initially this layout was all black and white, which worked, but I felt as if it needed a splash of color, so I pulled out some gesso and watercolors and added a few pops of {messy} color. The 'hello' was stamped. 

supplies:

pp, stamps, alpha and white love flair: Felicity Jane 

black flair: Prima

twine, gesso, and water color paints

here's the sketch:

Go check out the fabulous layouts the team created and share your take on this sketch by visiting The Memory Nest blog. 

Happy New Year to me!

It's been a busy day on my blog, but I have one more awesome thing to share today- I've got Issues- Paper Issues, that is. ;)

I am starting off 2017 as a team member for Paper Issues!!! I am beyond thrilled to be joining this stellar team of amazingly talented scrappers! 

I am so inspired by all these wonderful ladies and I hope to expand my creativity this year and create more often with all the super fun challenges that Paper Issues offers. 

You can view the announcement here. 

family blessings

Happy 2017! I pray that you have a blessed year! :)

It's time to ring the New Year in with a fabulous new sketch from Stuck?! Sketches. 

Charms Creations generously sponsored the team for this challenge and I had a blast playing around with my goodies! I have been a fan for awhile now and oooh and aaah over the work from her team. Thank you so much, Charmane! :)

I added some red mist to this star, and then piled on a transparent die cut and this wooden deer head. I like the layers, and I hope it doesn't detract from the original piece too much (although I don't think it does- lol). 

Some mist and a sheer overlay added some punch to one of these cute pocket shaped pieces (the same technique was applied to the one on the photo as well). 

supplies:

almost everything is from the November Felicity Jane kit with the exception of the fabulous Charms Creations, washi, twine, and doily

For your chance to win some fabulous prizes, be sure to play along this month! There are two wonderful sponsors:

One lucky winner will win a $50 gift certificate to spend on Charms Creations

Another lucky winner this month will win a $25 gift certificate for Accent Scrapbooking

this seriously happened

Happy New Year! Today not only brings a new year, it also brings a new challenge to The Studio Challenges blog; Today we challenge you to ...  Review of the Year - instead of looking forward to the new year ahead, I want you to look back at the year you have just had! It could be a review of the whole year, something special that happened or your favourite thing about the year, or maybe it's one you would rather forget! it's up to you!

2016 was a hard year for us- sure there were many wonderful things that occurred, but what sticks most to my mind was all the medical issues Ashlyn had. After not being able to execute an idea I had planned in my head for a year in review page, I decided to pick the only thing that was actually planned well ahead of time, which was Ashlyn's spinal fusion surgery to correct her scoliosis.

Ashlyn thought that adding the "seriously" to the title was necessary. ;)

It is wonderful to have this surgery behind us, although it has been a rough road for her. Modern medicine is pretty darn amazing. <3 p="">

I used the November Clique Kit for most of this, and bits and pieces from the October Clique kit. 

Thickers, twine, and mist are from my stash

Check out the gorgeous work from the team and share your take on this challenge by visiting The Studio Challenges blog!