time 4 donuts

Hi! Today I am playing along with the Pinspire Me challenge for Paper Issues. 

I was most inspired by the first image- I really wanted to try to emulate the image as best as I could, but to also incorporate some fun string art which was inspired by the far right middle image. The big heart water "drop" on the blue background and the black and white hearts were also images that lead to my design. And finally, the donuts in the center inspired the theme.  

Our granddaughter Aubree, has a chocolate sprinkle donut every Sunday morning and we facetime with her while she eats it. Grampy decided to eat one right along with her and this made her so happy. Thankfully Kara captured this image on her phone, because mine will not for whatever odd reason. 

I first drew my heart onto while card stock, then punched some circles and hearts in different shades of card stock, and adhered them inside the heart I drew to mimic the first photo. Several mist colors were added to the coordinating cs and then using floss, I stitched around the heart as well as created a few string areas. 

I cut around the outside edge of stitching and adhered the heart to some patterned paper. The scallops were cut free hand to add some whimsy. Then that was adhered to the base patterned paper. The donuts in the title and by Aubree in the photo were fussy cut from patterned paper and the donut and donut hole were cut from a cute card that came from the Paper Issues store along with an order. 

supplies: 

carstock: Michael's

pp: We R Memory Keepers Urban Chic

DMC Floss

mists

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 Pinspire Me album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th

You can find the WRMK papers I used here. There is also tons of new gorgeousness in the store which you can see here. You know yo want to treat yourself. ;)

Use the code Rae20 to receive 20% your entire purchase today!

meeting aubree

The Paper Issues February Working Title Challenge is live and this month it's all about LOVE.

For this challenge, your project title needs to feature either; 

- the word Love or Heart

- include a heart icon OR

- be a romantic song title

I used a heart icon in my title. 

Crate Paper and a couple of goodies from the PI exclusive January Swag Bag Kit were used to create this page. 

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 Working Title album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th

If some scrappy shopping is on your agenda (like maybe the awesome January Swag Bag), here is a little something to help sweeten the deal! 

you are so loved

A new month brings a new sketch from Stuck?! Sketches.

I love this sketch, but I deviated just a tad by making the star, or in my case a flower cut file, quite large and using it as more of a base for these sweet photos of my granddaughter. Sorry about the bluish tint- it's such a challenge to get a great looking white at times. *sigh*

 

Almost everything, including the awesome cut files, is from the January Felicity Jane Kit except the textured background paper, twine, floss, and mist. 

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

As always, there are two terrific sponsors:

One lucky winner will win a $20 gift certificate to spend on Charms Creations

and 

This prize is a $25.00 gift certificate. 

cherish little moments

This weeks Paper Issues Product Spotlight is the Fancy Pants Sweet Nothings collection. For this layout I used several of the 12x12 papers as well as the die cuts.

I also used the You & Me Poppy Flowers cut file which is just one of 13 fabulous new cut files created by Stacie Dietz. The best part, they are FREE! You can find them all here. 

To get your hands on this collection, you can find it here. But, hurry- supplies are flying off the shelf.
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 Fancy Pants Sweet Nothings Product Spotlight album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group. Challenges are due March 5th Winners announced March 6th

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.