Remember December: SANTA

Merry Christmas, friends!

I am up on the Paper Issues blog with some Remember December inspiration.

A trip to the mall with Ryan to visit Santa was fitting for today's post!
He is always so excited to see Santa and tell him his Christmas list
and to talk about the Gopher football team. 
Santa sure seems to know a lot about MN sports!

I used the December scrapbook kit. The kit is sold out, but many items can be purchased separately in the store or found in the December Swag Bag kit. I love the background of the mall's snowflake cut outs behind Santa, and used the light blue as my first color to bring out in the watercolors. 
(Grab similar flair buttons here from Pretty Little Studio.)
I used glittery snowflakes from an older Pink Paislee collection,
but even a cut file of snowflakes could be used in your design!

The Elle's Studio puffy titles and mini label stickers were the perfect little touches to layer and add the pops of color I needed in the horizontal grouping.  The Pink Paislee Together for Christmas paper number 9 plaid made a beautiful background border!

I love that the Together for Christmas ephemera from Pink Paislee also coordinated with Elle's Studio stickers and Pretty Little Studio Glitter and Ice trees. With little bits of foam adhesive squares, the little bits were easy to layer against the watercolor background. The iridescent acrylic paint added little snowy dots that were scattered over the watercolor layer.

I hope you are inspired to carve out some creative time
 over the next few days to join in the December challenges at Paper Issues!!
Tag us on social media when you complete a challenge.

Post your creative additions to the December challenge album on Facebook
in the Friends and Fans group now through January 5th!

If you missed out on the Pink Paislee Together for Christmas or need a
December Swag Bag (with the Elle's Studio mini labels I used today),
be sure to grab yours today!

Save 20% with my code: Stacie

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Coffee: Starbs Holiday Cups

 Hello, Stacie here with a fun geometric style Scraplift Sunday

                                                       design from talented Kelly Feldman.

I was inspired by her use of several pattern papers in the background squares.  

The Paper Issues December kit was the perfect pair to the Starbucks holiday coffee cups

 that I used as my background squares.

Here's the beautiful Scraplift Inspiration from Kelly using 

Pretty Little Studio (get it before it is all gone!):

The December kit included Pink Paislee sequins and holographic snowflakes which I sprinkled throughout the design in place of the leaves and enamel dots.
Tip for this geometric design:

 to align the squares point to point, 

I lightly drew vertical pencil lines down the page

 for easier placement of the squares. 

 The December kit included these red puffy Rudolph Thickers and they were a fun addition to the scraplift since I had space around my photos for the title.

I can't wait to see how you are inspired to create with Kelly's design.

Post your new lift on the PI Facebook group in December Challenges.

Have a wonderful week ahead and be sure to stop by Paper Issues 

 for their 40% off SALE happening NOW!

Code: TY40

Happy Holidays! 

*(Treat Yo Self!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stacie

Sweet Friends

Hi! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with the new challenge Those Were the Days, My Friend.
I documented my sister and I along with our childhood friends from California. 
I couldn't wait to put this Cocoa Vanilla Studio specialty mosaic heart to use.

I used Cocoa Vanilla Studio Happiness collection and machine stitched with bright pink around the heart and all along the mosaic lines.  It is messy and imperfect, but that is ok!
 I love these die cut title words from CVS for added dimension.

The June Pontoon Scrapbook Kit is sold out, but this CVS heart was included in the kit.  Be sure to check out the kit page in the PI store for kits that are still available (yes, you need them!) and new ones that are for sale each month!

The journaling to this photo story seemed to balance out the dark title words.

Stop by and check out the new November challenges in the Paper Issues Facebook group
 and keep tagging Paper Issues on social media. We love seeing what you create. 
Get inspired to play along at Paper Issues!
Save 20% in the Paper Issues store on every order!
Code: Stacie

Fall is the Best of All

I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with the Take 5 challenge. 

 I used stickers, patterned paper, layers, border, leaves, and orange to create this design.

Here's October's list:

I used the October Tupelo Honey Scrapbook kit for the woodgrain Thickers and the Uma Thurman kit and Family Tradition kit from November for the paper layers. Vellum leaves were in my stash. Another idea would be to use  a PI cut file to cut lots of leaves to mimic the look of  this leaf border.

A few more close ups: 

I love the look of the leaves tucked into the paper stack under the photo. So many scraps from the past few Paper Issues scrapbook kits were perfect colors for this fall design.

 The gold thread stitching to add texture and to create movement similar to leaves floating down. Woodgrain background paper and woodgrain foam Thickers--total bliss!

 Action shots of my children makes me so happy.  Seeing the sheer joy as they playfully mess around is the best. Bring on the unposed real-life pictures!

Keep up the creating and entering the October challenges or the Monster Bash Fall Crop challenges. Find them all on our Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook page.

If you need more fall scrappy supplies, then 20% savings will be pure gold. Use code: Stacie

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fantastic day!

To the Moon and Back: Ad-spiration Challenge

I am up on the Paper Issues blog today to show you how this Ad-spiration challenge came together!

The dark background was a fun depature into space and away from the normal light or white cardstock base!

Here's the stunning ad for the October challenge:

I love that you could also be inspired by the books, 

stars, reading quote, night sky, latern light,  and colors!

 I took in the night sky vibe and went with it! 

 I layered mix media swirls on the background, splattered paints, and then topped it off with gold thread machine stitching!

So many swirls of stitching! 

 My machine did not like the tacky surface of the paint and

 I ended up re-threading the machine so many times! 

But, in the end, I think the effect of golden circles was worth the extra effort!

 If you haven't tried using a dark background recently, 

I challenge you to try this out-of-this-world background with an outer space vibe!

Thank you for stopping by the PI blog and playing along in the Facebook group with this month's challenges.  The Monster Bash Fall Crop is this week-- are you joining in on the fun?

Crop details here in the Facebook Group

Save 20% in the Paper Issues store on all.the.things!!

Use code: Stacie

Grab the new October kit while you are shopping!

Traveler's Notebook Summer Travels

Hello!  It's my parent's 50th Anniversary today and we just got back

 from celebrating on vacation with them! 

It was definitely a must to document and I am sharing two TN pages

 for 52 Favorites on the Paper Issues blog today-scroll down to see both!

It's so easy to pack a few supplies and document as you go!

This is week 31! Post on social media with #52favorites

I absolutely love the Pinkfresh mini puffy alpha and they are always my go-to for titles in my TN spreads!

I used the Kaisecraft little dots stamp that was included in the PI July Flyover States Scrapbook kit! 

 I love the subtle look it adds to the background! 

Added to the dots was an Amy Tangerine heart stamp to the background.

I took apart the Pinkfresh layered hearts embellishments to add the word together. 

The cut file connected  hearts are from the TN pages free cut file coming soon to the shop. 

Here's the second using a map that I grabbed from a travel brochure 

and the free PI cut file TN Pages Let's Talk about Love!

  

The best part of documenting as you travel??  You can photograph your pages right in the place you are visiting! That's right- set it right on the beach like I did, hold it up to the sun, capture the foliage around you, it's a fun way to remember the actual details you are journaling about!

 The tiny Pretty Little Studio star stickers are from July's Flyover States scrapbook kit! Perfect for noting details and places on a map. The background papers are from PI Kits as well, get the trend here??--all things that come in the kits get used!! 

Did you see that Paper Issues now offers a "Tell Your Story" TN kit as well?  If you are in need of an amazing kit that is ready to go for travels as I used mine or to document your life at home!  It is a perfect thing to try for bite-size memory keeping!! Check the new traveler's notebook kit out here!

I hope you are inspired to play along with all of the new August challenges posted in our Facebook group!  Check out the August fun on FB here!

Need a few things? The store now offers Sezzle for payment plans! Shop now and make payments!
Save 20% on alllllllll the things in the Paper Issues store--including all of the kits!
Code: Stacie 

Thanks for visiting today. Make today great! Create a life you LOVE!

You Color My World

Hello! Brian and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary yesterday and it was the perfect inspiration to document a picture of the two of us last summer!  Today I am up on the Paper Issues blog with my take on this month's ad to inspire- Ad-spiration challenge.
I was so inspired when I saw the McDonalds ad with the paint strips.  My Jillibean Soup stash was immediately put to use!

The print ad from McDonald's that  I was inspired by:

I kept close to the main design elements including using the "golden arch color" for my border!

I started with the cloudy paper by Pretty Little Studio that is included in the July Kit. 

The color matching with acrylic paints was a fun Netflix watching activity! Anyone else like to mix up paint colors until it's almost perfectly matching?!  

Easier way--just buy the Jillibean paints that are in the PI store!

Then I stitched on the "paint strip" papers and layered my photo and title.

 I love all of Jillibean's foam letter/phase stickers! We even have these black foam phrases in the shop! Grab some before they're gone! I love that Jillibean coordinates their colors so collections are mixable!

I love adding dimension to my photo layers and background elements with foam dot adhesive or foam sheets from the kid's craft section.

Thanks for stopping by today!

I hope you are inspired to join in the July challenges!

 There is still time to play along! 

Try out Ad-spiration and show me your interpretation of the ad.

July Challenges are posted in the Facebook group right here!

As always save 20%  on all of your purchases at Paper Issues!

Code to save: Stacie

Traveler's Notebook Summer Travels

Hello, I am here share with you my spin on 52 Favorites! For those of you keeping track it is already week 27! I wanted to document stops in CA and places I thought were too cool to miss my moment standing there.

I love documenting summer life with my family, especially when I am traveling and taking lots of photos. The TN style fits this type of documenting so well. I used several PI scrapbook kits and Swag Bags to quickly create my cover and inside pages to kick off my "52 faves:summer edition!"

A favorite of mine is to use patterned paper to layer over the thin TN pages.The Carta Bella travel cut apart page from the June PI Pontoon Scrapbook kit was perfect to layer! How about all the cute mini letters from Pinkfresh!? When they arrive in the shop get alllllllll the colors!

So the focus of my photo collage was places I walked to, stood on, cool stuff on the ground and yes, a good pedicure nail color! Does anyone else take pictures like that when you travel?  I especially love the words in the wooden entry way planks that I found in the Unsung Brewery in Anaheim.

Here's my TN cover for summer using Shimelle's Sparkle City globe and Simple Stories summer sticker. Grab a similar traveler's notebook from the store. Mine is from Echo Park Paper.

I have also started prepping other pages for photos, tickets, receipts, and maps from our travels. Don't forget to use those cut off paper branding strips, like this one from Carta Bella Let's Travel.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 I hope you have taken lots of photos to document your summer fun! 

Tag us with 52 favorites when you create your weekly pages. 

Grab your Paper Issues kits like I did for easy summer documenting and creating while on the go this summer. You will be so happy you have coordinating supplies ready to grab and go! 

Stop by the Facebook group to join in the daily posts and upload your creations to the monthly challenges!

Stop by and shop at Paper Issues online and get a 20% discount with my code!

Shine Bright

Hello from the heartland! It is sunny and I am feeling the summer vibes for the Paper Issues June Challenge: Crowning Achievement.  I wanted to use the June Scrapbook Kit: Pontoon and this paper just jumped out at me to document how they got to SHINE in this sweet moment during their dad's speech for the school staff!

Check out that Pretty Little Studio bold yellow paper in the June kit!

 It's from the Bohemian Dreams collection and they called it tie dye, but I will stick with sunburst!!

It looked like the perfect sun paper and the other kit papers from June and April worked as layers.

To add texture to the patterned paper, I machined stitched around the circle layers.

Do you have the tiny Pinkfresh alphas? They worked so well as a mini tone on tone title.

The May Swag Bag kit called Summer Camp provided all of the embellishments for the photo cluster. It had lots of perfect pieces for this sunny-color combination!

A close up of the crazy stitching and the picture.

  Not the best picture, but the memory sure is!!

 Look at his little flip flop feet! 

 I love his nervous look and how he's holding his brother's hand during the speech! So very sweet!

Thanks for stopping by today!

I hope you are inspired to try a new June challenge including Crowning Achievement in the Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook group.  All June challenges are open until July 1st.

Have you tried a Paper Issues monthly kit?  If not, go grab the scrapbook  kit or swag bag kit-you'll be so happy that you did!  They are seriously full of amazing products each month!

Don't forget to save 20% on your whole purchase.  Code: stacie