Favorites of 2018:Picks for My Top 9 Designs

Happy New Year!

I have had a busy year and did not make as many layouts as I did in 2017,

 but I need to count up my stacks before I get them into albums

 to see what my final count is for the year!

As for my favorites, that is always hard to choose.

These are similar to what the Instagram top 9 ended up being for me as well!

Here are my top layout designs choices of 2018.

Notice my go-to choices??

Three were made with Paper Issues swag bag kits! 

They are absolutely my favorite kit to create with each month.  

Have you tried one?

My top 9 from Instagram posts:

Things I notice as I browse through them all-

Yes, I still love a good woodgrain background!

  Yes, I still love some rainbow color on my designs. 

Yes, to free PI cut files.

Yes, to kits to speed up the design process!

 Yes, to paint and painted stripes.

Yes, to sprinkling on enamel dots and shapes!

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve!

Here's to more creative play in the new year!!

Check out more at Paper Issues.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stacie

Free File Friday: Sweet Moments

Hello! Deccember is flying by and it's time to document 

more sweet moments of the season. I am up on the Paper Issues blog today 

with a free file Friday post.

The December Paper Issues kit, Hard Candy is absolutely fabulous

 and so easy to create pretty pages or projects with! 

The Candy Cane Hearts cut file is the perfect addition

 to the sweet treats my son was decorating with in the photo. 

The Kaisercraft ephemera pieces are so lovely for layering

 and adding details to add to the holiday vibes!

How about the sweet gingerbread cookie ephemera?? 

 I mean how could I not add the perfect sized Amy Tangerine mini bow to the gingerbread person!?

Yes, you need mini bows.  They are so cute on everything!

The woodgrain paper included in the December kit was so easy to match up with this gingerbread themed page. I used machine stitching around the border to off-set the backgrounds with the powerful red polka dots behind this layer.

I released the compound path on the candy canes and created a solid layer for the candy canes. To tie in the white, I added the white acrylic paint splatters and the snowflakes for a visual triangle. The cut file snowflakes are from Snowflake Grid free file.

Thanks for stopping by the blog.  I can't wait to see how you use Paper Issues free cut files in your holiday projects.

There are so many ways to layer cut files, alter them, super-size the design... the ideas are endless.

Here's to hoping your Friday is fabulous!

Happy Holidays!

Stacie

Swanky Swatches: Magical

Hello! Today I am up on the Paper Issues blog with a new layout based on this month's swatch colors!  I couldn’t wait to look through my holiday photos to find one to coordinate to the swatch and use the new Paper Issues December scrapbook kit "Hard Candy"!  I drew inspiration from the swatch colors as well as the wreath image!  Scroll to the end of this blog post for the December swatch!

 The Lawn Fawn patterned paper trees are so much rainbow fun and a great option away from the typical green and red!  I love mixing the enamel dots in to further add colors to the design.

I layered the free PI cut file bud wreath, which included the inner circle to cut the Lawn Fawn patterned paper to size. Get out that thread and add messy strings as well as stitching to add texture.

The watercolored Kaisercraft ephemera pieces are so beautiful and mix right in with other collections.  I recommend stocking up on extra Kaisercraft items in the store before it's gone. 

 It is such a pretty holiday collection.

 The December kit includes Pinkfresh wooden alpha stickers and they are the cutest!

 The small size is perfect for smaller titles and using to layer just as I did on top of the photo. 

I also layered the Magical title word on top of the photo and it is from the Joyful free cut file.

I wanted to remember this sweet story of a giving man

 who noticed us at church Christmas Eve and

 asked if we would enjoy a day at the nearby LegoLand since he works there. 

He rounded up six tickets for us and it was a fabulous

 95 degree day in LegoLand to end our holiday vacay in FL.

Some people are truly magical!!

 I hope you will check out the December challenges

 on Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook album and play along.

  Swanky Swatches is a great place to start. 

The color swatch and images are instantly inspiring!!

Thanks for visiting today!                       

Play along with all of the December challenges and tag us on social media. 

I love to see what you are creating!  

I hope you grabbed your December scrapbook or swag bag kit!

 If not, get one today for 20% off, 

use code: Stacie 

Scraplift Sunday- Family

Hello!  It is Sunday, and that means there's an all new Scraplift Sunday to check out at Paper Issues.  Today I am showing my lift of Angie's amazing concentric circles!  I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with more on this lift including Angie's original.

Circles are a design element I am drawn to and I couldn't wait to change up the design slightly by using a circular cut file.  The Concentric Dotty Rings free cut file  was perfect for the base of this design idea. I used the Authentique floral paper from the November PI kit: Family Tradition to peek through the back of the cut file. It was a subtle way to add colors behind my background.

Check out the amazing  Jen Hadfield Patio Party woodgrain Thicker words, and I was drawn to how Angie used them in her design.  I lifted that immediately from the PI November kit (yes, the amazing wood-look Thickers are included!), and started pulling little leaves stickers, chipboard, and fall ephemera items.  This November kit includes so many it was easy to find enough to cover the entire space!

Stamps are something  I have so many of and yet, I rarely pull them out to add them to my page designs.  I adore how Angie had the Heidi Swapp word stamps sprinkled throughout her circles admist the ephemera pieces.  Since the cut file had so many holes, I limited the stamping to just a few in three spaces.  The handwritten stamp words by Heidi Swapp are a must to have if you don't already own them!

The gold mist was the perfect touch to add to the swirly effect of the fall leaves.  I added it at the end and love the added color it brings to the design.  The November Family Tradition kit made this design come together so quickly.  I also snuck in there the October kit: Uma Thurman's PLS Corn Maze paper for my photo mat.  It is definitely not just a Halloween kit. The double sided papers are so versatile for other projects.

We hope you are still playing along with this weekend's Fall Online Crop at Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook group. There are so many fun challenges to get inspired. Hope to see your entries in the crop albums!

This week's SLS will be posted in the November challenge album. Play along all month long on the November challenges.  This one is a great one to play along with and customize like I did by using a cut file, stamps, embellishments or stickers.

Shop at Paper Issues and grab the new November kits or new holiday collections!
   Save 20% off of your entire purchase! code to save: Stacie

Happy Haunting!

Happy first Friday of November!!  Time is certainly flying by. Yes, Halloween has passed, but your spooktacular photos are still waiting to be scrapped! Bella Blvd has the cutest Halloween paper collection Sweet & Spooky and it was perfect for my pic of my littlest Ry Guy and I at school! 

  The PI cut file Happy Haunting was perfect to coordinate with this photo!  It's been awhile since I used a large cut file title and I love the little dangling spider!  The larger bat works great as a photo mat and helped to ground my photo.

 The Uma Thurman October scrapbook kit included Nuvo black, so of course I needed to add little dots throughout the design! Have you tried Nuvo crystal drops instead of enamel dots??  If not, you need to try them out!

The Bella Blvd Sweet & Spooky collection has so many cute ephemera and sticker pieces to tuck into layers and sprinkle throughout the design. Using a cut file title is an easy way to create a unique look and a major statement on your layout!

Messy stitching is a great addition to a spooky design or any border!  A few times stitching around the page provides more definition against a patterned background get this orange scallop "Smell My Feet" paper here!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Do you have plans to create some layouts this weekend? 

 If so, be sure to add your October challenges by November 4th 

or add your new challenges to the Paper Issues November Facebook album!

It's almost the PI Paper Issues crop, November 9th -11th!! 

Have you placed your Paper Issues order to stock up?

Use code: Stacie to save 20% off your entire order.

Take 5: The Boo Crew

Hi! Today I am up on the Paper Issues blog to showcase this month's Take 5 challenge!  

The list had lots of fun options, but I was drawn to using the

 free Paper Issues cut file  patchwork pumpkin and the word, Boo.  

Check out the rich autumn tones and patterns from the  Forever Fall line from Simple Stories. 

It is hitting my heart strings with the Elle's Studio wood grain paper in the background.  

Hello, Fall beauty!!

From the Take 5 October list, I selected:  Boo (cut file title), patchwork pumpkin cutfile, large title, stitching, border, and a tag

With cut files of this size that dominate the layout design, popping them up with foam adhesive adds a slight shadow and depth to add more interest against the rustic woodgrain background.  I adore when you can paper piece cut files and use up your favorite paper scraps as well!

This cut file and title was cut out of another Simple Stories collection tone on tone patterned paper.

  It adds subtle interest with the slight pattern and is a fun change from standard cardstock.

 I also splattered the cut file with gold mist drops before I added the paper backing pieces.

As for my photo, my crew of trick or treaters was unposed 

and unaware I was snapping their picture.  

Love when you can just capture a small moment in time!

The stitching added to the rustic look of the Elle's Studio background wood grain paper and the colors used in this Forever Fall collection.  It added a basic border around the layout and finished it off. The baker's twine secured the cute fox tag and was easy to add to the pumpkin stem!

Definitely grab this wood grain paper (it's in stock!!) and 

the Simple Stories Forever Fall collection for any kind

 of autumn celebration or photos of fall!  

It is beautiful and so very versatile even for Halloween!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  

Get your October challenges submitted in the Facebook

 group anytime before November 4th!

I look forward to seeing your Take 5 challenge entry or

 any of the others that are waiting for you!

Tag us on social media when you use a Paper Issues

 cut file or play along with a challenge. 

 I look forward to gathering inspiration from you!

Get your SHOP on and stop by Paper Issues for all of the best!

Save 20% with my code: Stacie

Fall Crop is just a few weeks away...

be prepared and get some new items to inspire you!

Happy creating, friends!

Swanky Swatches: Beautiful Ordinary Family Life

Hello! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with a new October challenge!

 It is time to bring out the rich fall colors and this month's

 Swanky Swatches challenge has the perfect set of colors

 to work with on your projects.  I went right for the new Pinkfresh Indigo Hills 2 collection!

Here's the swatch to base your October design off of:

You can see I was inspired by the top three on the paint swatch and the bottom gray tone. 

Another fall paper grouping that would be perfect is Pink Paislee's Auburn Lane!

The Pinkfresh Indigo Hills 2 Eminence paper was the lavender/light blue wash paper used to cut the Paper Issues free circle blooms cut file out of to begin my layers above the wreath design background paper from Pinkfresh.

Next, I stitched on the Paper Issues free  Leaves & Laurels cut file out of golden patterned paper and more Eminence Pinkfresh paper. Check out those sweet coordinating Pinkfresh mini alpha stickers!  They are puffy, cute, and perfect for the little title words or details you want to document!

The Pinkfresh ephemera pack and puffy stickers had several leaves that were perfect for tucking in along the stitched border to create more texture and depth. Add a sprinkling of Pinkfresh Indigo Hills 2 enamel dots and it's complete-- instant fall wreath for your autumn photos! Love that this paper already had paint splatters and inked lines for an amazing base to build up my wreath design.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

I can't wait to see how you interpret the amazing Swanky Swatch challenge this month!

 Don't forget to tag us online and post your creations to our October challenge albums on Facebook.

Play along with October challenges now through November 4th!

While you are checking out Paper Issues, be sure to

add all of the new Pinkfresh,

 October scrapbook kits (that match perfectly with this swatch!),

 and more from Pink Paislee and Pretty Little Studio!

Whatever you'd like is all 20% off with my special coupon code:

Stacie

Paper Issues free cut files used:

Circle Blooms

Leaves & Laurels

Week 39: 52 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! It's week 39 with our series 52 Friday Favorites! 

I am up on the Paper Issues blog today sharing my week in review!

This week I documented how proud I am of Brooklyn as a 7th grader 

playing up in high school tennis. I think she is so brave and has rose to the challenge.

 I think it definitely worthy of a shout out in my family's notable 52 weeks of highlights! 

I stashbusted some of the Pebbles Girl Squad stripe paper, Wild Child by Pink Paislee embellishments, and Thickers by Vicki Boutin for AC from the Paper Issues August kit Blue Ain't Your Color! The Pinkfresh enamel hearts added the perfect amount of color and shine, too! I adore the Crate Paper Rose two-tone alpha Thickers that you can still grab from the store!

I love this format to use small photos that I've printed and it's a great way to use up favorite scraps of paper and embellishments on a smaller scale. Some weeks I document on a single page and other week's like this one I wanted a larger title to create a double-pager entry.

I love these stripes and how they make all of the green in the tennis pictures pop! It was fun to get them to meet up in the middle at opposite angles in a V-design.

Sometimes my journaling is anything but straight when I am done.  

I think it looks pretty intentional when you add messy/wonky lines to your writing!

Let's see what is your favorite memory of the week! 

 Please post your entries in the Paper Issues 

Friends and Fans September Album for 52 Friday Favorites!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Make sure you tag us online when you have completed Paper Issues challenges.

Save 20% on each item you order with code: Stacie

Read It: Pinspire Me

Hello! A fun September mood board is ready for you in the 

Facebook Friends and Fans group. I was so inspired by the stack of books that

 I immediately set out to use my Silhouette to cut books and use them with my son's photo! 

Check out my blog post at Paper Issues to check out the moodboard and other details!

September's Mood Board:

For the book cut files, I grabbed my watercolors 

and chose colors that matched the Simple Stories Lil Dude papers.  

After drying it, I added fine line doodle outlines with my WE R ruler on each of the books 

to give the stack of books more definition.

I love the reflection of the book and my son in the countertop. 

 It was a fun picture to capture because usually they are 

hiding in their rooms when they read!  

I love the text overlay in the Thickers and in the patterned paper.

 It all adds details to the reading theme which is an extra bonus!

Tone on tone stickers and little enamel dots for pops of color.

  I hope you check out the September challenges on Facebook,

 especially the Pinspire Me moodboard challenge.

I have so many challenges I can't wait to try out!

Have you checked out the August kits? The swag bag and the kit of the month are beyond awesome and full of fun!

Blue Ain't Your Color is on my desk right now.  

There is so much included!

Get yours before it's gone!

Don't forget to check out the new cut files

 that are always free in the store.

Save 20% on all of your favorites in stock at Paper Issues!

code: Stacie

Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Page Maps- September Sketch

We partnered with Becky Fleck of Page Maps this month at Paper Issues

 and here's my take on the sketch!

You can see I mixed up the sketch and used stars in place of the hearts. 

 It was so much fun to stitch on a layout using lots of colors to coordinate.

The Simple Stories Lil Dude collection was fun to use

 and it paired so well with Ryan's photos from Hawaii.

Check out more PI Design Team team ups with Page Maps on the Page Maps blog.

You can find all of the Page Maps sketches

 for September and play along! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Free File Friday: Paper Piecing using the Cameo

Hello! Today I am on the Paper Issues blog showing you a fun way to paper piece or pattern-block cut files in an easy way by having your Cameo or cutting machine do the intricate pieces (no hand cutting necessary!) Be sure to visit the Paper Issues blog to see my step by step tutorial on how to separate the pieces and offset them to a slightly larger size to back the cut file.

A few close ups:
The Amy Tangerine Sunshine & Good Times watercolor tags included the HOORAY title. It was super fun to rainbow watercolor these to match the background.  I added bits of Sunshine & Good Times ephemera (hello, holographic foil!!) and Thickers to complete the embellies. I kept it minimal as the background packs a punch with color! Love the repetitive rainbow background for a total burst of happiness. Who else loves the magic of seeing a rainbow??

Popping up a cut file from the background with foam dots is a great way to add some dimension and interest! Rainbow enamel dots, yes please! This rainbow was early in the morning during our hike up Diamondhead Crater on Oahu.  The mist and sprinkles of rain gave way to this beautiful double rainbow that we marveled in! A total Hooray!

Have a wonderful weekend, Paper Issues friends! Happy creating! I hope you fire up your cutting machine and try this technique out! Tag us--we'd love to check out your amazing work!
Save 20% off of all the things in the Paper Issues store:
code: Stacie

Post all of your creations in the August Challenge album on Facebook.