wild & free

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today sharing a layout using several of my favorite techniques, and one of my most favorite people- my sweet granddaughter, Aubree. 

As I thought about what I wanted to create for my blog post this month, I started with the Polka Dot Wreath cut file that I grabbed from my pile (I generally cut several at a sitting so they are handy) which severed as my base inspiration. I knew that I really wanted to fussy cut these beautiful flowers on the paper from the Dear Lizzy Lovely Day collection, so I went to town and fussy cut most of the page. Several different patterned papers from the collection were backed onto the cut file, which I then machine stitched. 

These are my favorite go-to techniques. What are yours? 

You can find this free cut file here, and the Dear Lizzy Lovely Day Collection here. 

texas

The new challenge at The Studio Challenges blog is up and this time the focus is on you! Create a layout featuring you- anything goes. :)

I took this selfie as we entered the great state of Texas back in July 2014 when we relocated from WA state to TX. Ironically, just after I selected this photo for the challenge, we found out that we will be moving from Texas to Kentucky in early April. I can only hope that our new adventure in KY will be as wonderful as TX has been for us. 

I used the free It's a Beautiful World cut file from Paper Issues and backed it with some cowhide paper from the Jen Hadfield Simple Life Collection. 

I did a lot of fussy cutting of flowers to hide the image on the background paper. A few Texas stickers from Hobby Lobby and some button twine finished it off. 

Come on by The Studio Challenge blog to enter your layout into this challenge. 

lovely

Hi all! I am several days behind posting this page, but those who follow me on facebook know why.

This layout was created for the Bossy Bitch challenge, which was part of a one-night scrap and chat event at Paper Issues (which I missed). The challenge for this was to create a layout using 8 items from a list.

Here is the list of items to choose from:

I used: enamel dots, gold, silver (thread), mist, journaling, paper clip, tag and chipboard. 

While the challenge was closed Saturday morning, the pages from the team and participants are able to be viewed on the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} facebook group page. 

best buddies forever

I played along with Scrap Lift Sunday at Paper Issues. This week's life came from the amazing Becky Stidham. 

Here is my take featuring the Dear Lizzy Saturday collection: 

to see Becky's awesome layout, head on over to the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} facebook page. Where you can also enter your take on it to win a great prize! 

go see do

This week at Paper Issues we are showcasing the rustic and homey Pebbles Jen Hadfield Simple Life collection. Not going to lie, I initially bypassed this collection, but then I went back into the Paper Issues online store and looked with fresh eyes and decided that I had to have it, and I am so glad I did.

I used a free cut file from the PI store to create this page as well as some of the Simple Life 12x12 papers, Woodgrain Thickers, and Ephemera. The coloring is a bit off on my photo, but it's a beautiful collection.

You can find this beautiful collection here. There are a few new arrivals that came in this week, too. Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store.

To play along with this challenge, and for your chance to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. , link your finished project to the February Pebbles Jen Hadfield Simple Life Product Spotlight album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th

sweet & loveable

It's time for the mid-month sketch from Stuck?! Sketches. 

I stretched this sketch a bit, but in the end the bones are still there. 

I used both the November 2016 and January 2017 kits from Felicity Jane to create this. 

The doily and twine are from my stash. 

For your chance to win some fabulous prizes, be sure to play along with us this month at Stuck?! Sketches. 

As always, there are two terrific sponsors:

the prize is 2 large pieces of chipboard

and 

prize is a $20.00 gift certificate to the store. 

you & me

There's a new challenge up at The Studio Challenges blog and this time it's a wonderful sketch.

I have been wanting to scrap this photo of Skylar and myself and this kit and sketch were the perfect inspiration to do so. 

I used the January kit from Felicity Jane to create this. 

hello adventure

Today I am playing along with the Cut it Up February challenge on Paper Issues. For this challenge I used the Heart Tracks Background and the gorgeous Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams collection.

This photo was taken in Mount Rushmore as we moved from WA to TX. Although Ashlyn was exhausted, she had an amazing experience and I am so glad we got this quiet moment captured.

To get your hands on this dreamy collection, you can find it here in the Paper Issues Store. Don't forget to use the code to save on your purchase! 

To play along with this challenge, and for your chance to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. , link your finished project to the February Cut it Up album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th

live today

This weeks Paper Issues Product Spotlight is the delightful Lovely Day Collection from Dear Lizzy.
I used some papers, die cuts, and some of the Phrase Stickers as well as the wonderful free Circle Collage cut file.

It's Tube Feeding Awareness week, so I decided to create a layout about Ashlyn with "ivy" (her feeding pole and pump) since it was such a huge part of her life for the better part of six years, which she handled with remarkable grace. Thankfully she is doing well enough to not require feeds of any kind now. <3 p="">
I opted to focus on the papers that had blues and sprinkled a few other colors in. Some of the words on the papers were perfect for my overall theme, so those became focal points.

a few chipboard embellishments and stitching finished this page off. 

You can find this beautiful collection here. Some lovely new arrivals came in yesterday as well as several newer collections from the past couple of weeks. Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store.

To play along with this challenge, and for your chance to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. , link your finished project to the February Dear Lizzy Lovely Day Product Spotlight album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th

p.s. i love you

It's Take 5 Tuesday at Paper Issues! 

All you need to do to play along is to pick at least 5 items from the list and add them to your project (more than 5 is fine, too). 

The Fancy Pants Sweet Nothings collection was perfect for this challenge! I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and go a bit bold with the yellow and I just love the end result. 

I used the following: 

1. Red. 2. White, 3. Yellow, 5. Stitching, 6. Heart. 8. Banner, 9. Numbers, 10. Cardstock, and if you count the die cut sequins, then no. 7 as well. 

To get your hands on this collection, you can find it here. 

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store.

To play along with this challenge, and for your chance to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. , link your finished project to the February Take 5 Tuesday album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th

hello winter

It's time for the first sketch challenge this month from The Memory Nest. Make it Mon. No. 81 is a fun sketch and I can see so many possibilities with this one! 

I kept things pretty true to the sketch, aside from the elements on the bottom. 

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

adorable

Today is Sketchy Saturday on the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group and I played along. Here is the awesome sketch:

and here is my take:

everything is from the beautiful Pink Paislee Moonstruck collection with the exception of the wooden button (Target) and mist. I have been hoarding this collection and so glad I used it! 

There are only a couple of things left from this beautiful collection in the PI store, but you can find all of the newest Pink Pailsee here. 

Don't forget, you ca n use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase.

To play along with this challenge, and for your chance to win a gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues store. , link your finished project to the February Sketchy Saturday album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th