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

Dream It, Wish It...

Today I am up on the Paper Issues blog sharing my love for PI Swag bags!
Paper Issues monthly Swag Bag kits are so easy to create with!
Here is how I  used the February "Write It Down" kit

to create my second project.  For this layout, I was inspired by 

the numerous Vicki Boutin "All the Good Things" collection items. 

 I added mixed media paint stripes in the background 

to pick up the minty-blue hues in the butterfly and embellishments.

Here's a pic of the February Swag Bag- the kit I used was a variation of this as all kits are slightly unique!

Here are a few close up views of the mixed media and hand stitching that I added for the butterfly trailing throughout the background. I added Shimmerz watercolor paint splatters and painted the cork star to be color-coordinated.

I attached the butterfly in the center and lifted up the wings with foam pop dots to give it dimension. The background paper is Jillibean Soup. The thread was the perfect match to bring the color across the page!

Time at the hotel pool, means hours of swimming and pretending to be a mermaid.  

Yes, always a mermazing time at the pool!

All of the Swag Bag kit papers become layers and pops of color for the photo cluster.

  The Vicki Boutin ephemera, journaling cards, and bird clip added the perfect little touch at the top.

The bow pin balanced out the pops of black that were scattered throughout the design.  I love the gold paper clip embellishment to group all of the layers together.

Here's how I used the February Swag Bag the first time using a background 

cut file from Paper Issues and the brighter colored swag bag items. 

See how you can create such a different look with the same kit??? 

 I love the versatility of each month! The Jillibean Soup felt bow is adorable to clip on photos!

Guess what...I still have February Swag Bag items left after two layouts!  

This is why you totally need one or both of the kits available in the shop!

Check out the matching watercolor splatters! I loved the rainbow vibes from this kit!

If you are wanting to see more- here's the March Swag Bag kit called- I've Got This! It's so bright and bold! This kit will be so perfect for Spring Break photos or documenting spring fun!

I can't wait to see what you create!  Please share your projects on social media and tag Paper Issues or play along in the Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook group.  

Stop by Paper Issues to grab these new kits or shop all of the new collections in the store.  

So many new releases!  Save 20% on all the things with code: Stacie

Always be the Color

It's Scraplift Sunday at Paper Issues and today we are lifting the amazing design by Amanda!  

Go stop by the blog and check out her awesome

 starry original using Dear Lizzy Star Gazer  

and the PI design team members unique takes on it!

For my take I used a mini paper art spinner

 that was originally designed for little 2x2 pieces of paper, 

I used heavy duty tape to secure my paper and I was in business for spin art background.

Here's a look at the process:

Jillibean Soup Shades of Color paper spinning

 after I added a dropper of Jillibean white watered-down acrylic paint 

to several rings on the background.

After:  Wet paint from the spin art machine.

 Isn't it kind of cool?  It was hard to cover it up!!

 I definitely will be trying out some other colors and layering colors

 to see how rad it can turn out to be for a magical background!

To fill in the burst color areas I added lots of Jillibean Soup Shades of Color ephemera.  I raided my sequin stash and found colors that coordinated in each section of the background.  I also included chipboard bits and Girl Power stickers from Pink Paislee Wild Child, and Dear Lizzy Star Gazer.

The Jillibean word sticker worked so well as a layer over the Wild Child rainbow.  The mix of embellishments wasn't too overpowering in the background as the white edges blended with the white paint spin splatters and they were mostly tone on tone. A part that I love is the "My Girl *bee* heart" cluster, as we often call Brooklyn "B" or busy Bee.

I absolutely love this photo of Brooklyn playing in the fresh powdery snow from Christmas break.  It makes my mom heart happy when she still wants to play outside and lets me take pictures!

So there you have it.  Play--

Play with new methods.  Try new mediums.

Give this a whirl.

Push yourself to use those papers and supplies you haven't touched!

I dare you to play--right now!

Capture your family or friends being playful.

Or take some time just for you--

have some creative play time.

We can't wait to see you play along with the challenges at Paper Issues.

As always, there's a special sale for you!  

Use code: Stacie to save 20% off of everything at Paper Issues!!

Fireworks

The free cut files in the Paper Issues shop were a great way to get last year's 4th of July pictures into albums. 

I started with stitching a red border on the page.

I added white, gold, and a red shimmer mist to the background. 

I added navy Jillibean Soup enamel stars to both cut file cards. Fun and done!

Turning 40

It's that dreaded "next phase", over the hill, fourth decade, 40. You know, the number that sounded so stinking old when you were a kid! I remember my mom despising it, too, telling my dad he best listen and not do a surprise party! Fast forward to the here and now, and I am freaking out (*just a wee little bit) that it is coming fast!

This phases of the moon paper perfectly goes with my sentiment of life change and "the next phase" of life.

I love the "let me count the ways"scripted on the paper.

The top corner is labeled young moon.

It shows the old moon at the lower corner. Love the way the paper works for the story!

So that's me, relishing in the last few days of 39, yet, ready to rock out a new decade!