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

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.

Free File Friday: Winter Wonderland or Winter Woes?

I am up on the PI blog today with a look at winter from a few perspectives!  I hope you are inspired to grab your cutting machines and download all of the free files that you need to get some memories documented this weekend!
I love this black text paper from American Crafts Sweater Weather and it was the perfect base for my wintery skiing pictures from last year!

Grab this winter title from the Very Merry Holiday file and the snowflakes from the Circles and Snowflakes cut file. Both in the Free File section in the Paper Issues store.

 I added stitching to all of the snowflakes scattered throughout the page as I love the white on white look! The added texture it brings the design is perfect.

I love adding mixed media to the background.  This is a mix of white acrylic paint and water to give a light transparent snowy look along with the more opaque drops for variation and depth.

Join us on Paper Issues Friends and Fans to share all of your latest creations.  

Enter your projects in the January Challenges for more chances to win the monthly gift card.

 I hope you'll play along with Paper Issues free files and add to our post full of projects. 

Tag us on social media so we can see your creative takes using free files!

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

Free File Friday: 3 2, 1...Happy New Year!

Today we are ringing in the first Friday of the new year with Free File Friday at Paper Issues. Use numbers with a Paper Issues cut file or use a number cut file to document the new year, past year, list of favorites from the holidays, goals for the new year, top three(five, ten) memories of the past year, use a cut file and layer number stickers or Thickers on it, coordinate a cut file with numbers...anything goes! 

 I played along with Sub Zero by Simple Stories.  My littlest is five and he is obsessed with getting his own skates to play hockey on the pond in our back yard. He definitely has had a countdown to winter of 2018 for months now. I converted the Celebrate 2018 cut file into a stitching cut file.  Grab one or both from the free files. The 'Countdown to' from Top Ten cut file made my title work along with the big numerals. 

Yay for new snow.  Excited for the flakes to fall!

This baker's twine is from the We R Memory Keepers Stitch Happy collection.  I used the baker's twine as the perfect thickness to stitch with!

I used lots of Simple Stories ephemera pieces, stickers and chipboard.  Sub Zero is such a fun collection.

Join us at Paper Issues and grab all of the free cut files while you are looking!  

They are always a free download.

Play along with this challenge and so many more now through Feb 4th.

Free File Friday: Holiday Joy

It's almost Christmas and we are sharing free files at Paper Issues Free File Friday! Get your holiday pictures documented with some fun cut files that are all instant download and free at Paper Issues.  This design is built on the stitching snowflake background and smaller snowflakes are from Circles & Snowflakes.
I adore this photo of my littlest and how he looked in his buffalo check Christmas jammies and how he loves the candy mustaches that I made for a fun treat/photo op!



I hand stitched it with silver and white baker's twine. I added messy silver threads for dimension under snowflake embellishments or cut files. I added more patterned paper from Falala to the grouping at the top and bottom border. The silver watercolor was a soft, subtle way to add shimmer and shine in the splatters!

I loved the buffalo check embellishments including the Joy stickers for my title. I finally used my stash of enamel dots that are glittery.

The cut file is attached to the background but I kept it as is  (lifted up) in some parts to add natural shadows and dimension. The snowflakes with the silver thread look like they could be floating down!

I love this buffalo check paper peeking out from the snowflake cut file.  It adds a vibrant pop of color against the white. The embellishments for Crate's FalaLa are so perfect.  I love the many tags and banners that were included!

So there you have it, turn on your favorite holiday music, NetFlix, or the Hallmark movies and pull out the Silhouette and start creating! Use any PI cut file to create a holiday or winter project.Play along as much as you are able now through Dec. 31st.
There's a huge year end sale at Paper Issues. Be sure to check the PI blog and Facebook rounds for the code to get the 50% discount.

Free File Friday: Snow Thankful

Today we are up on the Paper Issues blog with a Free File post for you!  Snowy, winter, holiday titles! Check out all of the ways to incorporate a cut file word, title or quote into your project design.

I used the Circles and Snowflakes cut file for my title word "Snow" and the snowballs.  The added snowflakes are also from the same cut file.

Gesso and white acrylic paint to blur the edges of the cut file background.  Paint flicks of white all over the design and on the background. Snowy, messy, fun!

Grab this Crate Paper Fa La La La collection and more during the Paper Issues sale--happening now through the holidays!!

Play along with the Free File Friday now through Dec 31st.

So Sweet: My Girl

Today at Paper Issues for Free File Friday we are focused on Thankful.  Allllllllll the people, things, and places that we are thankful for. I love the leaves and glow that autumn brings.  My daughter was captured in this perfect sun flare and it was perfect for some Maggie Holmes Carousel!

I love the leaf from the November Grateful Leaves cut file.  This is one of the original cut files that Paper Issues offered. Grab it for yourself!  I welded the leaves together in groups of two and three.

I kept it quite monochromatic and added gold gelatos to the roses in the paper as well as the chipboard. I am always a fan of black and white! 

The Maggie Holmes' bows are a fave of mine

 (psst--grab some they are still in the shop!)

I added a second project to my post since it was just Thanksgiving!  Here's my little guy with his colorful turkey.  I was nostalgic as this was our favorite thing to do as kids back in the day waiting for Thanksgiving dinner. 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio Bohemian Dream and the Fall is my Favorite cut file brought this design together.  I added watercolors to the background and to some of the cut file words.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by the blog today. 

Don't forget to shop small at Paper Issues this weekend.

Free File Friday: Little Boo

It's time to check out some Fall Fun for November's new FFF at Paper Issues. 

 What fun things have you been up this autumn?  

 Any pictures from Halloween this year? Any trips to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard? 

We can't wait to see you document it with any of the free files at Paper Issues.

A few close ups of the details: I added the watercolor stems for the pumpkins after I stitched them. I then added more paint over the stitching to make it a layered, deeper green.  I love the Pebbles Midnight Haunting papers. The Pumpkin Patch background layered with the black EEK paper makes a  great "blackboard effect" to layer the pumpkins.

The swirly orange paper I layered with the cut file is Pink Paislee Spellcast.  

It's truly the perfect pumpkin color.

I hope you will share your Fall fun with us on the PI Friends and Fans Facebook group.  

Download the free files and start documenting your awesome autumn adventures.

Post your new projects between now and December 3rd.

Save 20% on all of your order at Paper Issues with code: Stacie

Free File Friday: Boo! It's Halloween!

It's time for a Free File Friday at Paper Issues.  

It's all about the Boo factor!  

Show us your Halloween designs and projects or a festive fall page

using a Paper Issues free file.

Here's my take using new Fancy Pants Designs Spellbound and the web background cut file.

I love the scripty ephemera titles included in Spellbound and how the thin black lines mimic the lines on the spider web cut file background. I love the pops of orange in the pumpkins and in the polka dots which coordinate with the bricks.  The bats and Doodlebug Booville spiders are the perfect spooktacular little bits to add to the design.

The webs background cut file was cut in black cardstock are stuck down in just a few spots to give it dimension.

Join us online on the Facebook Paper Issues Friends and Fans group. Share your projects using free cut files, especially Halloween or Fall projects!  This month your challenge is to use leaf cut files or Halloween or Fall designs.
Save 20% using code: Stacie on all things in stock at Paper Issues.  As always, cut files are all in stock and FREE.  Download one, a few, or ten! Hope you are inspired to play along!

Free File Friday: Super Star Soccer!

It's FriYAY! I am so excited to show you another week of Free File Friday and today we are releasing a new file called Having a Ball! Go check out more details on the Paper Issues blog!

I was excited to get to my niece's soccer game and snap some pics of her in action!  My kids are not soccer players so it's always fun to watch a new sport for a change!

I love how Paige Evan's new Turn the Page collection worked for her soccer pictures! Red and pink is  such a fresh color combo!

The red was definitely a fun color to scrap with. I think Turn the Page is a must have collection!  

The embellishments (hello, stars!!) and mini paper pads are adorable!

Save 20% all all the things in the PI store! Go shop now!

Free File Friday::First Day of Preschool

Hello!  It was my back to school week here in Minnesota, so this is all about getting those school related photos scrapped with a fun free PI cut file.  Check out the Paper Issues blog for more inspiration from the Design Team.

 Here are a few close ups of the cut files I used (Love you to the Moon and Back - stars and the new School and Sports words cut file that's being released today.)

I used lots of Amy Tangerine Hustle & Heart from papers to stickers to tags and cut aparts.

 The School and Sports cut file words were so helpful in spelling out the title. The Hustle and Heart clear sticker booklet always has things to use on each design.  Loved the pen and pencil stickers for this school design.

 The coolest backpack from the Pebbles Girl Squad ephemera.  Stars cut file from the Love you to the Moon....

Amy Tangerine Hustle & Heart ephemera with gold foil and Fancy Pants tags from Family and Co.

 Hustle and Heart layered chipboard stickers.  I love that I was able to reposition these layers to make the sticker work for my design.

Have a wonderful start to your weekend.  I hope you are inspired to play along and download some free Paper Issues cut files.  They are free--download as many as you need!