Preschool Picasso

Check out the blog today at Paper Issues for all of the Amy Tangerine Hustle & Heart inspiration.  I love this bold collection that can be used for documenting so many fun things.  I have used it for travel pages, a page about my son with his cool sunglasses, a beach wavy design, and now an artist layout.

Here's mine using the painting icons as inspiration for this preschool art photo!

A few close ups:

Stitched border and a wonky, freestyle circle for the title and focal area of the layout. Perfect sticker book gold hearts to scatter and ephemera for layering..

White on white letters make me happy! They are the perfect size to add stitching over to ensure that they don't fall off the mixed media background.

The Hustle and Heart layered stickers are beautiful.  The puffy hearts are a sweet size to add to embellishing.

Be sure to stop by the Paper Issues shop for more beautiful Hustle an Heart items. 

 It is worth your time to stop in and shop--new items and so much in stock. 

Save 20% if you need some or all of the store items.

Wonderful Everyday Family Moments

It's Scraplift Sunday at Paper Issues. Go check out the PI Blog for more takes on Cat Martin's inspirational multi-photo design!

I was super excited to use the new Pink Paislee Turn the Page by Paige Evans. I love the fun colors and embellishments that worked so well with my water slide race photos.

A few details:

I love this pic of my 70+ year old Dad going down the slide to impress his grandkids!

I used the packaging technique to water log my background and make it full of water splashes. Layers of ephemera, ribbon, and chipboard.

Turn the page clear stickers and cardstock stickers from the sticker booklet.  Wood veneer pieces painted in coordinating colors are so much fun to layer with ephemera.

The scraplift featured today has a bow and you need one.  Make one!  Get your roll of ribbon out and hand stitch or machine stitch like I did.  I also used Nuvo clear glue to seal the raw edges of the ribbon--no fraying! The little saying is from the mini pads (swatch books).  This is a super heavy cardstock that makes a fun stand-alone mini card for a lunch box or as the perfect embellishment.

The washi booklet had the wonderful word which ties in the ribbon, and helps to ground the title with the birds and smaller words below it.

Get busy lifting Cat's amazing design.

 I can't wait to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by.

Get all of Turn the Page online at Paper Issues.  

It is a beautiful collection to play with! 

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Free File Friday: Cut File Background

It's time for another round of Free File Friday at Paper Issues.  This month we are challenging you to use a cut file background.  I went with the sunburst background as one of my layers.  I painted and smooshed (packaging technique) the sun cut file with gelatos to match the Fancy Pants Hello Sunshine collection.

Close ups of the design:

I stitched a frame of Fancy Pants Hello Sunshine black floral paper on top of the background cut file.  The banners were stitched on next in the upper corner.

The cut file has a layer of gelatos over parts of it from the center outward.  I layered it over the water color blue paper. I love the shimmer of gold on some of the ephemera pieces from Fancy Pants. I used foam adhesive to pop up parts of the ephemera around the photo.

 The rubber paper clips are definitely a favorite with this collection. I love the texture it adds to the layering.

Get the sunburst cut file and 100s more for free at Paper Issues in the Free Files tab. We are excited to see which background you select to use in your crafting this month. Play along now through September 2nd and post your projects in the PIFF August album for Free File Friday.

Use my code: Stacie to save 20% on all of your purchases at Paper Issues online shop.

Swag Bag: Little Explorer Love

Hello!  It's my fave time of the month--a new swag bag is in the house!  Cassie has an amazing kit for August and I hope you are fast enough to buy one before they sell out. Check out the Paper Issues blog for more inspiration from the design team.

I was inspired by the Amy Tangerine Hustle & Heart items that were in the August kit. This prompted me to grab the across the waves paper from this collection as my background.  I really love how this turned out. It is perfect for Ryan running and exploring the beach at Newport Coast. The ombre heart paper is so adorable peeking out in the photo mats.

I mixed in a few embellishments from the June swag bag kit. I loved the Crate Paper Little Explorer title piece and it was the perfect match to my Love from AT Hustle and Heart ephemera pack. The little map stars, blue twine, rubber heart charm all coordinated with my theme.

 I added watered down white acrylic paint for the final drops of mixed media. I love the watery effect it gives the background. The burlap paper was such a fun texture and layer to add to my beachy photo.
  I added layers of 4x6 and 3x4 cards from the August kit. The AT enamel banner pin sticker was the focal piece of the top cluster. They are so cute to add to a project. I love the banner paper clip for wrapping twine and looping the twine into a grouping. Enamel dots were in the June kit and I love the little drops of shine they add.

These swag bag kits are the cutest each month, and each is slightly unique 

based on ephemera you get and variations in embellishments.  

It is so worth it to get a few or a small bit of all the cool things

 in the shop that have caught your eye.  I still have soooo much left of my August kit. 

I have so many ideas of how to use them in other projects.  

It is definitely not a kit for one project!

Get your swag bag subscription or take your chances at month to month.

Save 20% with my code: Stacie 

The Good Life

Today we are up on the Paper Issues blog showing you lots of fun ways to use your Stitch Happy sewing machine or thread to hand stitch.
I used the Stitch Happy twine from the Paper Issues store to hand stitch while I was traveling. This heart cut file from Paper Issues was the perfect size to hand stitch around.

A few close ups of the details on the layout:

The We R twine was the perfect match for the heart cut file paper which is from Amy Tangerine On a Whim.  This leaf paper was a close match to Paige Evan's Oh My Heart collection. I used up lots of scraps from past layouts to fill in the hearts on this cut file.

The rose gold journal card was a great size to be a photo mat. I used the chipboard Oh My Heart Thicker frame as a photo mat layer for dimension. These patterned papers are so versatile.

I scattered Oh My Heart puffy stickers and phrase stickers from Simple Stories. I added WE R Stitch Happy twine stitching in three of the central hearts for a bit more focus on the stitching nearest the photo.

Get all of the newest American Crafts and Pink Paislee collections in Paper Issues store. 

 The newest collection from Paige Evans is coming soon! 

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Fantastic Fun: San Antonio

It's time for Paper Issues August's Add it Up Challenge hosted by Michelle.  It is all about adding more and more until you hit the point totals.  This month the target is 110-120.  Here's my take using Amy Tangerine's Hustle and Heart collection paired with the brush stroke PI cut file. I got to a total of 115 points for this project. See the details on the PI blog.

Here's a closer look:

Do you need these little bitty bows?!  Yes, yes you do!  Get these adorable little babies in the store now!  I added splats of Shimmerz Inklingz in the "paint brush stroke strips".

 I mixed foam Thicker alphas from On a Whim and Hustle + Heart.  I love the fun brush script font that make them interchangeable! I added hand stitching on the photo mats.  It easily adds more texture and dimension.

I love the striped water color paper "The Bright Side" in Hustle + Heart.  I first cut it apart in strips.  I measured the width of the stripe and enlarged the Brush Stroke background cut file to fit this paper.  Simply ungroup the cut file and enlarge the brush strokes you want to use.  Check out those Hustle + Heart puffy hearts.  They are perfect for sprinkling around a page.

Fill up your page and add it up!

I sure hope to see your take on this fun challenge!

Play along now through September 3rd.

Shop for all of Amy Tangerine's brand new collection with American Crafts.

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Too Cool

Today on the PI blog Mary-Ann is wowing us with a new moodboard for August for Pinspire Me.  I love her fun boards.  It is always so easy to play along.
I was inspired by the movie clapperboard and the little boy with candy scattered around him.

 I used Amy Tangerine Hustle + Heart for my take.  I welded the PI cut file letters and sunnies into my title for a fun take on my son's sunglasses obsession. I splattered Inklingz watercolors from Shimmerz throughout the background along with the packaging technique to mimic the Hustle + Heart paper I used for the title letters. I liked how it worked for the colors in the candy image.

Check out some of the fun details:

The PI free files include the open brush alpha which I welded with the sunglasses cut file from the summer cut file. I ungrouped the sunglasses cut file to lift off the lenses as I wanted just the background layer of the sunnies for my O's.

I love the ephemera that is part of the Hustle and Heart collection. It has a shiny layer and adds fun sayings and pops of color. 

 The Hustle + Heart  foam Thickers include shapes and this extra long arrow. The Amy Tangerine sticker booklet is so versatile with pages of clear sticker phrases, shapes--check out the multi colored and wonky shaped hearts I scattered.  The little red scallop sticker prompted me to doodle scallops on my journaling.

Get all of the awesome Amy Tangerine Hustle + Heart collection for 20% off in the Paper Issues store.  Cut files are always free! Grab them all and have fun playing around.  Alter them like I did  here to make them work for you!
Thanks for stopping by today, I can't wait to see how you are pinspired by the August moodboard. Play along now through September 3rd.

Free File Friday titles: Sun & Fun

I am up on the Paper Issues blog with a new installment of Free File Friday!  

We are focusing on using a cut file title this month!  

I used the Sun & Fun title from the Geo Tropical Palms cut file and converted into stitching dots.  See this blog post for the details on how to get the perfect-sized hand stitching holes by converting the cut file--it's so easy! 

Bella Blvd Secrets of the Sea was perfect for documenting my little fish!

After you convert the cut file lines to stitching marks, I usually cut the cut file out as a solid shape.  This helps when it's a scripty title or other intricate shape so you can lay the shape on top to see where the stitches go as well as spots you might want to add a stitch hole to make the stitching more rounded.

I adore this printed quote paper from Bella Blvd Secrets of the Sea.  I had wanted the quote to show--and voila--I realized by showing only the border of it the top and bottom of the paper display the entire quote.  So very sweet! The ephemera pack and sticker sheet worked well together for layering and adding details.

 I just played with Shimmerz brand watercolors for this layout. I love how it worked on the paper and the way it dried is so pretty.  Some colors were shimmery and all colors played off the color scheme of the Secrets of the Seas papers. I got paint into the stitching area in some spots but the twine just soaks it up.

More stitching and Shimmerz paint close ups on the cut file title. So, here's my "secret of the seas"--I started this stitching layout in June and just completed it in August!!!  Anyone else have page designs that you start and don't finish or take you forever to finish?!

One last view of the title in full. I added lots of splatters as you can see he was all splashed by the waves in the photo. I love the look of the ombre colors in the letters. The Bella Blvd fish were so cute with this design.

 

I hope you are inspired to use a cut file title in your projects this month.  

Paper Issues has so many words, titles, alphabets, and quotes to use to help you with your page designs. 

Create a title and submit your project in the August Challenge thread in PIFF (Paper Issues Friends and Fans on Facebook.)  

Who knows, you might be the lucky one to win a PI store gift card?!

Grab some cut files to download and get ready to create. 

Bonus if you create a title that you converted to a stitching file.

I love seeing what you create.  Tag us on social media so we can share some love!

Save 20% on all of your purchases at Paper Issues.

Summer Adventure

Today's new challenge at Paper Issues is hosted by Amanda and she is challenging us to work our title!  This month she wants us to use the word SUMMER in our title along with other words!  This was so much fun to look over my stash and the free cut files in the store to create a vertical and horizontal mix title.

A closer look at the mixed media using Shimmerz paints and the beautiful Fancy Pants summer collection, Hello Sunshine to go with my Caribbean cruise pic. The cut file words are found in two different cut file sets.

 Loving the gold details on the Fancy Pants Hello Sunshine ephemera pieces.

Sketchy Saturday: Ferris Wheel Fun

Today on the Paper Issues blog is a new Sketchy Saturday for August hosted by Amy!  Check out this fun sketch:


I used Echo Park Summer Dreams for my take.  I loved the ferris wheel designs that were included in this collection. I just had to pull out my MN State Fair pictures from last summer to find one to work with.  I switched it up and used one photo, but added the 3x4 cards to my design.  I started with an acrylic painted background with the light teal/aqua color in this collection.

Brads, enamel dots, and chipboard stickers to get all of the circles! I added stitching in various layers to add texture. The Summer Dreams collection has the cutest ferris wheel paper in navy. I used both sides of this in the layering because-- rainbow polka dots!!!

The "so much fun" card was a square cut apart that I sized down to fit this LO design. Don't save these cards for pocket scrapping! Use them on your traditional scrapbook pages as well! Machine stitching and enamel dots sprinkled throughout.

Hope your weekend is going well. 

Thank you for taking a peek! 

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Check out the newest collections-- so much to love in the shop!  

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