Doodlebug: Fairy Tales

Today on the Paper Issues blog it is all about the magical world of rainbows, unicorns, knights, and dragons.  Doodlebug hit the spot with all of these great new lines for kids, celebrating, and so much more.

Grab the rainbow cut file from the free files section of the store.  I added the extra stripe to the rainbow to add the purple.  I just copied the rainbow and used the knife tool on the Silhouette to cut the bottom stripe off of the extra copy and welded it onto the rainbow.  I needed the ROY G BIV bliss to make this rainbow complete!  The rainbow scallop border sticker was too adorable and had to be paired with the striped rainbow ribbons border paper and rainbow striped stickers!

So in love the cardstock stickers that Doodlebug has with all of their collections. 

I used foam adhesive behind some of the stickers to pop them up on the layout.  

The Doodlebug clouds are so stinking cute.  I need more!

The enamel shapes are fun to scatter throughout the design.  I love the sweet hearts in all of the colors!

Grab all of the Doodlebug Dragon Tails or Fairy Tales collections in the Paper Issues store.  Many items have been restocked!  Save 20% with code: Stacie

Thanks for checking out all of the fun inspiration on the newest Doodlebug collections.

Have a grand day!  Maybe even a rainbow and a unicorn?!

Emoji Love

Product Spotlight time on the Paper Issues blog --it's all about Simple Stories Emoji Love!

 This collection worked so well to document my daughter's birthday party from last spring. 

 She had all the girls do a craft and they each made an emoji pillow.  

It was a lot of fun and this photo is perfect for sharing!

The close up of the cool pillows made by the girls.  The cardstock stickers from Simple Stories Emoji Love were so much fun to use for this layout.  I often add foam adhesive under the stickers to pop them up and create layers with the stickers.  I love the skinny rainbow striped paper as a photo mat.

The wide striped paper by Simple Stories is always a favorite in their collections.  

This is the side B to the 2 Cool patterned paper with emoji words on it.

Loving the dimension and shadows it casts on the stripes.  

I seriously love the wide stripe paper as it becomes a base for the design and perfect starting spot for mixed media splashes of color.  Fringe scissors would be fun for this paper as well!

Always be a unicorn!  Yes, always! 

I love the fun layers of stickers and using the technique

 of layering tone on tone whenever possible.

  I kept the splatters of watercolors to the same color stripe area, too.

Have a great day and head on over to Paper Issues 

for the fun Emoji Love paper collection as well as so much more!  

Save 20% on all of your favorites with code: Stacie

Also,  check out the free emoji cut files in the free files section!  

Swag Bag Sunday

Today on the Paper Issues blog we are showing a new round of projects using the monthly swag bag kits.  I combined several kits to coordinate the color scheme to watery teals and a pop of yellow.  Several things were from the February kit.  I love when you can create several LOs or projects with one swag bag kit.

Here are a few close ups to show the pretty papers and little embellishment bits!  I think that little Crate Paper Maggie Holmes tassel is adorable!  I finally used it after hoarding it from an earlier swag bag!

The only thing I added were the foam Thickers for my title and a few enamel dots.  The rest is all swag bag bliss!

I hope you'll check out the Paper Issues store and grab a monthly kit for yourself. You will never be disappointed in all that Cassie packs into a swag bag!  Get the six month subscription or buy them month to month.  It's the best surprise mail!  All of the bags are slightly different with ephemera and embellishments, making these wonderful kits a true surprise each month!
Don't forget to save 20% with code: Stacie

Family & Co: Play

I adore this spotlight for Fancy Pants Designs called Family & Co.  Check out the Paper Issues blog for so many great projects using this new collection.

I loved the wonky star paper and was inspired to back little pieces of Family & Co. paper in this fun cut file free in the Paper Issues store. 

 I bought all of the things with this collection because it is so versatile for family life and all sorts of events!  

This star tag was begging to be layered with this design!  I loved the ephemera pieces and chipboard stickers that I scattered throughout.  The puffy stickers by Fancy Pants are always so easy to use in each layout.

  The chipboard alphabet stickers are so awesome.  Marquee style light alphabet letters make this a super fun touch!

The patterned paper has subtle patterns yet is so interchangeable with each double sided paper. I love that the colors truly blended with each other.

Pick up all of this gorgeous collection in the shop at Paper Issues. Save 20% with my code: Stacie

Roll the Dice: Grad

Today on the Paper Issues blog it's an all new Roll the Dice for April hosted by Rachel.  This month it's 2 tags and 6 (or more) stickers.
I used the new Fancy Pants Designs Family & Co. for my take.  I had a graduation picture that I wanted to document. I was all in with the star paper mixed with the lined paper as it seemed academic!

A few more peeks:

Loving the shape tags and big chipboard alpha!

 A bit of gold mist splatters, puffy stickers, and chipboard to finish off the graduation design.  Simple and documented for the books.

Get ALL the new things--Cassie has the store loaded with new items this week!!  Save 20% with code: Stacie

Mix It Up Monday: Salt Background

Today on the blog at Paper Issues we are all about mixing it up with mixed media.  Orange Gearle is challenging us to try salt with your watercolors or other wet mediums.  Here'e my take using Crate Paper Oasis.

Here are a few close ups to see the salt effect:

I loved playing with Crate Paper Oasis for this summer day at the lake. I always use Crate's chipboard stickers for dimension.  They have the cutest sayings and designs to add to projects.

 Love the Tealightful pink foam glitter Thickers!  Perfect for this summer fun design!

I love Crate Paper's summery Oasis.  It was perfect for this swimming, playing, jumping in the lake kind of a day!

We hope you will Mix It Up, too this month!  Post your projects in the Facebook group for a chance to win!

Work that Title

Today it is all about the Working Title at Paper Issues hosted by Amanda Baldwin.  She's got us all in the spring spirit with the challenge of decking out your title with beautiful florals. Flower Power that title!

 I used Simple Stories Domestic Bliss collection with this pretty floral paper and lovely teal woodgrain plank paper.  I love the rustic feel which is perfect for our family photo along the wooded path.

Close Ups:

Get your Simple Stories Domestic Bliss from Paper Issues today! Save 20% with code: Stacie

Cut It Up April: Be You

Hello!  Today I am on the Paper Issues blog  along with some Paper Issues teammates, and we are showing you several ways to use the new free cut file: Be You.  I transformed the ampersand into a stitching cut file and this post is all about walking you through the super simple steps!

I wanted to supersize the Be You ampersand and do some hand stitching--I am pretty happy with the results!  Here's the how to on getting perfect needle circle holes to stitch...

1. Once you have your cut file the size you want on your mat, select the text (A) icon.

2.  Select Times New Roman font.

3.  Set the font size to 36.0

4.  Increase the character spacing to 200% if you want longer length stitches as I used in the ampersand.

5.  Start typing periods in the text box.  (if any of the settings reverted back to default, highlight the periods in the text box at this point and select the above settings).

6.  Move the green circle toggle button in the text box so that it snaps onto the cut file line of the ampersand or cut file you are using.  This will adhere the periods over the cut line.  Continue typing periods until the entire shape is covered with the periods (stitching holes).

 7.  After the shape is covered with stitching holes, click on the mat near the shape to select the shape, this will remove the green text box.
8.  Go to the Silhouette cut settings and select NO CUT.  This will instruct your machine to only cut the stitching holes and not the original cut file outline.
9.  If you'd like the original cut file for the inside of the stitching area, reload your mat and cut the shape again with whatever patterned paper you'd like by cutting with the normal cut settings.
Here's what the perfectly round stitching holes look like:

Here's with the stitching completed with several colors of thread/floss and the Pink Paislee Oh My Heart paper number 8 inside with a bit of mixed media.  Have I mentioned how gorgeous this paper is??!!  I love that it looks like it was painted and there's no mess involved!

Close ups of the final project with added ephemera from Oh My Heart and Fancy Free.  A few puffy stickers and enamel dots for added dimension! The Oh My Heart  6x6 paper pad works so well for layering under the photo.

One last picture to show the popped up parts of the florals, photo, and title.

Thanks so much for taking a look at the process I use to transform a cut file into a stitching file by using the Cameo to punch the holes for me.  

I hope you'll try one of the PI free files this month and tag Paper Issues or me so I can check out your awesome projects!  

If you use this tutorial to help you convert a cut file, let me know!  I can't wait to see what cool ideas you have!

You have until May 2nd to post your Cut It Up entries into the Facebook Friends and Fans April Challenge folder.  Winners of the monthly gift cards will be announced May 3rd.

As always, if you are a fan of the products I've used here, go to Paper Issues online store to save 20% off with code: Stacie

Pinspire Me:You Spin Me

Today there's a new Pinspire mood board at Paper Issues on the blog.  I love the bright and colorful options this month from Mary-Ann!


I was inspired by the swirled lollipop, pink color in the cactus photo, the modern alpha, and the round yellow puff!  Here's what that looks like in my project:

Fun, huh?!  I wanted it to be playful and lighthearted to capture the feelings of being in the Midway section of the State Fair.  The kids love going on the rides and winning games (which is why the little creatures are also fitting....stuffed animals always end up joining us!)  

The lollipop swirl inspo came from the Shimelle patterned paper circle of segments and I added the white swirl being a free PI cut file the polka dot wreath.  Love how you can stick little bits in the circles, too.  I added lots of itty bitty puffy stickers from Little By Little!

The Amy Tangerine Thickers from Oh Happy Life have been waiting for me to use them and this mood board was the perfect reason to!  They go right with the alpha style and they matched Shimelle's Little by Little Carousel Dreams paper almost perfectly! Winning at stashbusting when that happens!

I hope you start creating with the inspiring Pinspire Me mood board today!  So many creative ways to interpret the moodboard.
If you haven't checked out the Paper Issues online store, stop by today and look at all of the new collections in stock!  As always, if you use code: Stacie at checkout you'll save 20%.

Pinkfresh:Live More

Today we are showcasing Pinkfresh: Live More collection on the Paper Issues blog.  I love the fun color palette with this collection, it was perfect for spring break pool pics!

Close ups:
I sewed together the two pieces of the Live More paper  and the plus signs Journey paper for the background.  I adore the time the kids have with their dad when we are on vacation.  They love that he is giving them full attention for fun in the pool all.day.long!  We live by the mantra to "work hard" and then provide lots of "play hard" memories like this as a family!

 I love the puffy heart stickers included in The Mix by Pinkfresh.  The colors weren't exact matches, but close enough to work for this design.  I covered the s after the word Laughter as it seemed odd to me to have it spelled that way.  This gave way into the sprinkling of hearts throughout the page.

Those copper alpha stickers are so easy to work with and flexible if you need to move them/line them up multiple times like I do!!  The ephemera die cuts have the same rose gold foil, it was a beautiful shine to add to the vacation page.