Puppy Pals: Kali and Ryan

Hello! I'm on the Paper Issues blog with the Secret Life of Pets
 is always a fun challenge to capture the cuteness!

My seven year old absolutely adores spending time with our friend's

 mini-petite golden doodle.  They definitely enjoy

 each other's company and all the extra attention that comes along with it!

The Carta Bella Our House woodgrain heart paper was the perfect color to coordinate with the focal point of a pet page--the puppy!  I also love that Carta Bella is such a thick textured paper that I could rough up the edges because what puppy doesn't like to tear stuff up! The rough stitched layered edges also bring in more texture and dimension to the page besides the heart cut file in the center!

If you haven't gotten a Paper Issues swag bag, be sure to check them out each month.

Be warned- they sell out quickly once they hit the shop!

  It made coordinating this page design come together soooo quickly. 

 I adore these monthly kits that are so full of items to use immediately! 

I used the February swag bag kit for the photo paper layers and the embellishments. 

The hearts in the Love You Hearts cut file were watercolored

 to match the variated striped Heidi Swapp Color Fresh paper border.

 I add watercolor, dry it with a heat tool, then reapply lighter

 and darker colors in various spots immediately drying

 to minimize warping. The final step was flicking water onto the paint

 and letting that do its magic of taking away color in those spots.

Have you tried it?  If not, get out those paints and play!!

  It adds such cool colorations and subtle design within the cut file. 

 Next, I used white cardstock that was painted using the packaging technique

 and then backed the cut file with it. I popped the whole cut file with foam dots.

I adore that I could tuck two 3x4 pics on this page and they fit right into the cut file hearts!

I love that the sweet wooden Pinkfresh alphas that are in the

  December Hard Candy PI scrapbook kit, and how they worked so well

 with this design.  I added some white acrylic paint splatters to

 the background and called this design done! 

I think it speaks to the sweetness of these two!

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you're inspired to get creating!

Stop by the Paper Issues Facebook group to play along with the

 Secret Life of Pets and all of the other March challenges!

While you are browsing the Paper Issues store, 

grab all of the new items that were just added and save 20% with code: Stacie

Free File Friday Together

Hello, I am on the Paper Issues blog today with a new cut file design! 

I grabbed the new February PI kit and the Love You Hearts cut file to create this lovey-design! 
 I love that this cut file can stand out, but it isn't the entire background!

For this cut file, I wanted the mixed media colors to peek through the vellum layer on the cut file and be a splatter of colors around the edges.  I found acrylic paints that matched the Crate Paper background colors and watered them down to use the packaging technique. I couldn't resist and also added some gold Heidi Shine mist drops!  Gold makes everything sparkly and fun!

Hello, rose gold mini Pink Paislee alpha included in the February kit!!  I love how these can be used in small spaces such as on top of a cut file as a fun mini title or added dimension to your project!

Pop up your cut file off your background with foam dots.  This helps it to standout from a patterned paper background and adds a shadow effect that adds interest to a simple design! 

Have you checked out all of the new free downloads at Paper Issues??

 This new free PI cut file is Love You Hearts.

Grab this free cut file or any of the 100s of other ones from the Paper Issues store

 and hopefully you have this amazing February kit!! 

It is so easy to pull together a layout or project when you have all you need

 gathered up in one package!

 If you haven't tried a PI scrapbook kit or swag bag, you need them in your craft room!

 I can't wait for March's kit--it is going to be a beautiful blast of color! 

Have an amazing weekend! 

 Share what you create in our Paper Issues Facebook group or on social media!

 Tag our cut files with #PIcutfile and #PaperIssues so we can find you!!

As a thank you for stopping by the blog---

save when you shop!!

Christmas Magic

For Try It Tuesday at Paper Issues today,

Amanda is challenging us to use party products in our design. 

I used a paper treat bag in the layers and a Christmas glittery gift tag is tucked inside

 to document my 5 year old Ryan and his list for the year.

Here's a close up of my "party or holiday party items" that I added to my layers.  I love that I can keep his list tucked into the page for reminding us years from now what he was interested in!

I loved working with Pinkfresh December Days.  The chipboard, puffy stickers, ephemera and wooden buttons were the perfect little bits I needed to layer this festive design.

The sequins were included in the Swag Bag kit for December.  Make sure you grab a PI swag bag kit when Cassie releases them as they are the perfect layout finishers!  I mean--it's the go to stash of items to add to those spots you need just a little something!! The epoxy black stars were included in Heidi Swapp mini packs of stickers.The PI store has the Heidi Swapp scripty stickers all in stock and they are adorable to add to pages!

We hope you will join us on all of the January challenges at Paper Issues.  They are open now through Feb 4th.  Don't forget to grab items from the Paper Issues store--it's always on sale and the shipping is fast. Cassie adds the best detailing with each order! Don't miss out!

Thankful: I heart Fall

Today it's all about math on Paper Issues--Add it Up challenge is live on the blog and you need 200 or more points on your projects.
I used Carta Bella Hello Fall and some PI free cut files on my project to get to 200 points.

Here's the chart to help you tabulate!


A few closeups:
Carta Bella Hello Fall was a must to coordinate with my guy's adorable rascal shirt.  The woodland critters had to be used!

Gold shimmer and fall is my favorite! Mist drops for fall leaves. Find the cut files for free in the free files section of the PI shop. I love the Fall is my Favorite cut file--my fave is the i (heart) fall script!

 Add all the fall colors of mist--packaging technique with gesso gold, Heidi Colorshine gold mist drops, tan and orange mist drops. Stickers, puffy enamel stickers, and enamel dots to add movement and dimension! I used the PI swag bag for November for several embellishments as well.

I hope you decide to Add it Up, too this month! Join us and play along!

There's always a sale at Paper Issues use a code and save!

Swag Bag: Together

I hope you are ready to be wowed by the power of a magical swag bag from Paper Issues.  These kits are nothing but bliss each month!  Here's my layout using the April swag bag kit!  I love how it led me to try out a monochromatic layout with neutrals and gold.

A few more looks at the beautiful gold shine and fun patterns included in the swag bag.

The gold binder clips from Heidi Swapp and tags with gold are perfect for layering!

 The Heidi Swapp Magnolia Jane gold script words are so pretty to add a pop of shine in projects.

The black pockets with gold embossing were perfect to tuck journaling into and layer with photos and embellishments.

Go check out the subscription to grab a monthly swag bag for yourself.  This LO only used a portion of this April swag bag.  I still have lots left to use on several projects.  Check out this amazing swag bag kit that Cassie creates each month. You won't be disappointed!  You can purchase one each month if you are fast enough to grab one before they are sold out!

Save 20% at Paper Issues with code: Stacie  Happy Shopping!

Mix It Up Monday: March

Hello and Happy Monday!  It is back to work after a week of Spring Break and it sure inspired me to get out some summer pictures!  Today is Mix It Up Monday on the Paper Issues blog.  The challenge for March is to use texture on your page with mixed media.  I opted for texture paste and I loved how Heidi Swapp's pink metallic texture paste was the perfect match for Amy Tangerine's On a Whim pink foil stickers and ephemera!

Layers of On A Whim patterned papers and my fave Amy Tangerine foam phrases Thickers from a past collection.  I started with gesso, then added the texture paste in a circle over the Heidi Swapp stencil.   I overlapped spots to create more texture and pattern.  When that dried at used the packaging technique with watercolors splatters in greens, blues, and lastly the pinks.

I love the pink foil ephemera and stickers.  They really accentuated my picture with my bright pink sweater.  It was documenting an amazing dinner by the river in historic Stillwater, MN.  In the lower part of the layout you can see the tear-away strips from three On A Whim papers which I added stitching to each one.

Thanks for taking a peek today,  I hope your week is off to a grand start.  Here's to hoping Spring is truly around the corner and that here in MN that means this new snow melts quickly!

Save 20% in the Paper Issues store with code: Stacie

Don't forget about the online Spring Crop with PI in the Facebook group this week Friday-Sunday.  We can't wait for you to see all of the challenges and join us online!

Pawsitively Pets March

Pawsitively Pets is on the blog at Paper Issues for the March challenge.  We are all about the pets and we used the paw print cut file that is free in the PI store.  I used Heidi Swapp Magnolia Jane for the outdoorsy feel of this pic of Ryan and Ranger.

 Ranger is our "cousin" dog.  Ryan  loves when he gets to play with Ranger.  I love when photos have lots of negative space.  I was able to layer part of the title in the evergreen trees and then the Maggie Holmes gold puffy alpha worked perfectly against the snowfall.  Check out the vintage and distressed Dashing green background paper from Heidi Swapp.

I love to pop things up for dimension and this layout was no different!  I popped up with foam dots the paw print and layers of the photo mat are popped up.  I forgot to pack mist or watercolor paints along on vacay when I made this LO, so I had to improvise with the journaling pen scribbles on packaging and lightly misting it to give me marker droplets to work with!

You can find all of the cut files in the Paper Issues store.  Go grab them all and use them in your next project.  I can't wait to see what you create!

I can't wait to see what you make with your favorite pet pics--don't forget they could be a stuffed animal or zoo picture as well!!
 Go check out all of Heidi Swapp's Magnolia Jane.  It is so beautiful to work with!  Save 20% on it all with code: Stacie

Product Spotlight:Magnolia Jane

Today's Product Spotlight at Paper Issues is all about Heidi Swapp's new collection: Magnolia Jane.  It is a stunner!  I love the colors she mixed in this one and the variety of patterns and prints.  I went with a classic gray Antebellum paper and pink color scheme here.  It takes me back to growing up and this was my favorite color combo!  That is fitting as I am documenting a pic of my sister and I. We hadn't lived in the same state since college, so photos like this were so special!  Now, we live down the street from each other, so we can see each other way more often!

I added foam adhesive under the open hearts cut file to add dimension and cast a slight shadow onto the soft Blushed watercolor paper. The paper is gorgeous!  I think this may need to be bought in bulk as a nice alternative to white!

 I added tone on tone enamel dots and the love you phrase is a cut file from PI free files. I used this to balance out the photo in the upper corner and the date stamping along the diagonal down to the Love You cut in black cardstock.  This repetition of black helps the eye to move around the page.

The Heidi Swapp acetate script words in gold are so beautiful.  I think I need more of these since I just used three words for my title! They were so easy to use. I added a little liquid glue behind parts of the gold lettering and they are stuck down!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you click around on the links above and check out all of the Heidi Swapp Magnolia Jane items in the store, I am so excited for her letter boards that are arriving soon!  Get all of the goodness for 20% off with code: Stacie

Light It Up Blue

April is autism awareness month and today is World Autism Awareness Day. Autism Speaks has Light It Up Blue Day to bring light to this event each year on April 2nd.

When I saw The Cut Shoppe had light bulb cut files, I knew I had to make a page about Light It Up Blue. See the blue acrylic script love word? You can find them in the Paper Issues online store or from Color Cast Designs online shop. It adds such fun dimension!

Heidi Swapp's September Skies collection has perfect light bulb paper and bits that tied into my light themed page.

 I watercolored some shades of blue to add a layer and interest to balance the large photo. The drops of blue mist and poked holes add final details to the shining bulb. Thanks for raising autism awareness!

I'm linking this up to Paper Issues new issue sponsored by Color Cast Designs!

Time Well Spent

Loved this cut file from my favorite Etsy shop, The Cut Shoppe: Squared Away cut file
See The Cut Shoppe blog post here

I took Shimelle's online class, Inspired By, and the title piece was included in the class downloads from script expert Jen Kinkade. Check out the Shimelle Inspired By Workshop here: Inspired By

I used the patterned paper from a Studio Calico Kit: Far Far Away and the little bits are from Heidi Swapp September Skies. 

Check out my layout on Paper Issues: Fan Feature Friday: It's Hip to be...

Here's my layout in my Instagram feed.

Have a great weekend!