bloom

It's been awhile since I have finished off a collection, and that is just what I did with the AC Hazelwood. I had just a few bits and pieces left after completing this layout about how I feel like I started to bloom once I hit my mid-forties. 

I decided to do a lot of fussy cutting which adds texture and dimension, and is hands down my favorite technique. 

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store. I used the gorgeous Hazelwood collection which can be found here. 

do your thing

I decided to step out of my comfort zone and played along with the April Mix It Up Monday at Paper Issues. Due to relocating, I am a little behind on posting this challenge. ;)

The challenge was to add some salt to your paint. I was a fish out of water with this challenge, but the end result was cool! I will definitely try it again, minus too much salt, which I swept up for days afterward. LOL 

I kept it pretty simple so the detail of the paint would stand out. 

you fill up my heart

The April Working Title is all about Flower Power! 

This month we're being inspired by all the budding blossoms of Spring! Feature florals on your title.

Suggested ideas: 

Decorate your thickers with flower ephemera

Use flower stickers to form the letters in your title

Cut your title from floral pattern paper

Stamp a chipboard title with flower stamps

Use paper blooms to form your words

You get the idea. Use the all.the.floral.things!!!

I decided to cut my title from floral patterned paper using the 

Butterfly Heart Love free cut file. I used the same file for the heart outline which I cut the butterfly portion out. 

 A few fringe details give it some movement and visual interest. 

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store. I used the Fancy Pants Sweet Nothings collection which can be found here.

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 April Working Title challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 3oth, Winners announced May 1st!

be kind, sweet & loving

Today I am sharing a layout I created for the April Cut It Up challenge using a fabulous free cut file created by the amazing Stacie Ebnet Dietz for Paper Issues. 

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store. I used the Pebbles Simple Life collection which can be found here. 

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 April Cut It Up album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 3oth, Winners announced May 1st!

hello dreamer

Today I am playing along with the April Pawsitively Pets challenge and this is the first time I am doing so. The challenge this month is to use 3 different Manufacturer's on your project.

Ken has been alone in KY for a month now and has been feeling lonely so he picked up this little guy from the shelter a couple of weeks ago. Ashlyn is looking forward to seeing this little guy when we arrive tomorrow. :)

I dug into my stash and used pp from Crate Paper, Webster's Pages and Cocoa Vanilla Studio. Embellishments are from A Flair for Buttons, Heidi Swapp, Crate Paper, Dear Lizzy, one Canoe two, Trendy Twine, and unknown (stars)

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 April Pawsitively Pets challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 3oth, Winners announced May 1st!

cute moments

It's time for the April Take 5 Tuesday challenge.

To participate you just need to use at least 5 of the following and create a project.

Here is my page:

I used: 3.Color of Choice, 4. Patterned Paper, 5. Polka dots, 7. two or more fonts, 8. bow, 10. layers, 11. wood veneer, 

12. Cardstock, 13. buttons, 14. Washi tape

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store. I used the Pink Paislee Oh My Heart collection which can be found here.

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 April Take 5 Tuesday challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 3oth, Winners announced May 1st!

you make me happy...

Here is the April Quoteable. The challenge is to draw inspiration from this photo and create a project using it as your inspiration. 

I was drawn to the clouds, rain drops. and quote. 

These photos are of Hally, who is our granddaughter. These are the first photos of her that I am scrapping (it's complicated) and they are perfect for this challenge! 

I used the free Cloudy Circle cut file which you can find here. 

I cut it in white and then painted it with a grey watercolor paint and misted with white and grey ink. 

There is a vellum overlay on top of the raindrop paper and all the large clouds have hand stitching. 

The fussy cut raindrops have glossy enamel over them to provide some dimension. 

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store. I used the Shimelle Little By Little collection which can be found here. 

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 April Quotable challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 3oth, Winners announced May 1st!

here we wander

I played along with the April Sketchy Saturday on the Paper Issues blog. 

Here's the wonderful sketch this month:

I deviated slightly from the sketch, but the bones are there. 

I applied some Tim Holtz ink over the white letters, which looks pretty and provided me with the desired color, but it's messy. LOL I do not recommend it. I had ink everywhere. 

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store. I used the Shimelle Little By Little collection which can be found here. 

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 April Sketchy Saturday challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 3oth, Winners announced May 1st!

hello beautiful

Hello! Today I am sharing a new to me idea on a scrappy page. I generally don't use strips of patterned paper on my layouts, but I do love the look of them, so when I sat down to create this layout for today, I decided to step out of my comfort zone a bit.

Since these photos of our two youngest daughters were in black and white, I decided that the gorgeous Wild at Heart collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studios would be perfect to add some soft details, as well as some pretty {bold} colors. 

The strips of patterned paper were layered to create cohesion, but also an opposite effect to balance the layout. 

I also decided to try adding some partial detail border work, and I think this helps draw the eyes to the photos. 

Some chipboard, a few wooden hearts and some stickers provided the perfect finishing details to keep this layout pretty simple. 

Everything but the button twine is the Wild at Heart collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studios. You can find it here in the Paper Issues Store. 

Don't forget to use the code Rae20 to save 20% off your entire purchase! There are new items rolling in so be sure to check them out! 

2

The March 26th challenge at The Studio Challenges blog is all about Numbers- Use numbers on your layouts whether it is in your title, in your journaling, or as a design element. The more the better! 

I started with a giant "2" in celebration of my granddaughters second birthday that I cut and then backed it with numbered patterned paper. To keep up with the theme of two, I used two photos, two pennants two, flair, two enamal dots by each of two flowers, as well as the number 2 on a photo. 

supplies-

pp, stickers, die cuts: Dear Lizzy Lovely Day collection

flair: A Flair for Buttons

spray mist, twine, DMC floss, enamel dots

Come share your number themed layout with us on The Studio Challenges blog!

we mermaid for each other

Today is New Issues Monday at Paper Issues and this month it's Anything Goes. I played along using the wonderful Mermaid For Each Other free cut file as the focal point which was perfect with the photo of Skylar and Ashlyn.

I added some hand stitching around the anchor, and some die cuts and stickers from Bella Blvd. Secrets of the Sea Girl collection added the finishing touches around it. 

Head on over to the Paper Issues Blog to see the beautiful work from several of the design team members. 

Don't forget, if you pick anything up in the store you can use the code below to save on 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 New Issue Monday challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 2nd, Winners announced April 3rd.

bloom & grow

Hi! It's time for another Product Spotlight at Paper Issues and today we are spotlighting the stunning Wild at Heart collection from Cocoa Vanilla.

I absolutely love this collection! The colors, the prints, the frames, the wood embellishments- all of it and it was well worth the additional expense.

  I had to add some fringe. It's such a great way to bring texture to a page!

You can find the gorgeous Wild at Heart collection here, and the Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors here. 

Don't forget to use the code Rae20 to save 20% off your entire purchase in the Paper Issues Store! 

i love today

It's the March 15th challenge reveal at Stuck?! Sketches! 

My layout came together so quickly and while I kept it pretty simple, the bold vibrant colors make a huge impact. 

This layout is a sister page for the page I shared yesterday. I wanted to incorporate all the photos from this moment and creating two separate layouts using the same collection worked perfectly. 

Make sure you check out what the design team did with this awesome sketch as well as to check out the wonderful sponsors. 

all the feels

I played along with the March Roll the Dice challenge at Paper Issues. This month the dice rolled a 2- use two photos, and 3- use at least 3 different washi tapes on your layout. 

I used the free Scallop Background cut file. I cut the strips and added the washi behind several of the strips. 

The bright and colorful Amy Tangerine On a Whim collection was perfect for this page. Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase of this collection and more 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 March Roll the Dice challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 2nd, Winners announced April 3rd.

chalk joy

The March 12th challenge is up at The Studio Challenges and this time we were challenged with the fun idea of using only half patterned paper - that's right, today we want you to use patterned paper on only half your layout, the rest is up to you!

I immediately had the idea to create some texture and create a lot of contrast by creating the bottom section of my layout with some fun fringe strips. While I love the look of white space, I struggle with it, so this helped me to fill up my page with color and "stuff". 

I used the lovely February kit from Felicity Jane to create this layout. I added some button twine and mist from my stash. 

hello darling

Today I am playing along with Cut It Up March: Inspired by the March Pinspire Me board. Starry background and title words- Count Your Lucky Stars. Use any part of this on a layout or project! 

I used the Starry Background free cut file and the super cute Shimelle Little by Little collection which can be found here in the Paper Issues store.

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase of this collection and more 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 March Cut it Up challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 2nd, Winners announced April 3rd.

sweet

Hello! I had this ready, early last week for the PI March Sketchy Saturday reveal, but things got away from me so I am sharing it now. ;)

Here is a link to the awesome sketch and my take on it:

I used the Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams collection which you can find in the PI store here. Don't forget to use the code Rae20 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 March  Sketchy Saturday challenge album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due April 2nd, Winners announced April 3rd.