Oh Snow Happy

Today I am up on the Paper Issues blog with their January Sketch and I absolutely LOVE this sketch.  I stayed pretty true to the sketch, but added the patterned Carta Bella woodgrain snow border because it was too good of a paper not to use more of it!
Here's my take on the sketch:

I started off with big drops of white pearl acrylic paint and let that dry while

 I was cutting snowflakes from several Paper Issues free cut files. (Drop Down Stitching, Winter Wisdom, Very Merry Holiday, and Snowflake Grid.)

The beautiful January sketch from Paper Issues:

Have you cut apart Thicker words to create your own?  For this title, if you look closely, I cut the word snow from three different words and it saved me from finding alpha stickers to coordinate!

I love capturing fresh snowfall pictures and printing them in black and white.  

This lended itself to being a neutral monochromatic design.  

The white on white background was a fun change from using lots of color.

 By slightly lifting/lightly gluing the snowflakes, 

they provide depth and texture behind the focus of the photos!

Also, be sure to grab the 3-dimensional snowflakes from Crate Paper FaLaLa collection

 from the PI store, I adore the pop it adds to the snowflakes on the page!

I can't wait to see your take on this month's sketch!  

Swap out the snowflakes for hearts, circles...what else can you add to your background?

Join in on the fun in the PI Facebook group.

The January challenges are sure to spark your creative juices.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Now, onto shopping!!

Stop by the Paper Issues store to check out

 all of the new collections and download free cut files, too!

The best part--everything you purchase is 20% with 

code: Stacie 

Happy New Year! Get in Motion!

Happy New Year!
I am up on the Paper Issues blog with a new challenge.

This January Challenge is all about things in motion.

I don't know about you, but coffee is what signites me into motion each day!

Motion or movement on the page could also be interpreted as the repeated circles and patterns on the page. The Joyful cut file includes circles that I cut in varying sizes and cut the coffee cups and sleeves into circles to layer around the photo.  For this design, I used two large coffee cups.

I started with white gesso on the red patterned paper to soften the edges around the circles.

 Next, I added  the splatters. 

I dry them with a hair dryer after each color of splatters so they don't smear/blend.

 The paint is watered down acrylic paint in red, black, and green.

Yes, total advertisment for Starbucks.  This is my third yearly design using their special cups.

This year, I had to document trying a new flavor: Juniper Latte. 

Also, I love that it shows I was drinking more coffee at 4 pm!! 

Tis' the Season to need

more hours in the day to do all the things!

 Yes, I agree--coffee=magic!

Love these Christmas Thickers in a wood tone color from Crate Paper Merry Days.  The mini foam alpha from Pink Paislee are perfect for secondary title words!

Make the 1st day of the new year a great one with

time to create and play along with the new

  January Challenges in the Facebook Group.

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