Keep Your Eyes on the Skies

It's a great way to celebrate New Year's Eve---play along  with Scraplift Sunday at Paper Issues.  Today we are inspired by Cassie's beautiful winter layout.  I loved the whimsical look with the flowy twine and floating snowflakes scattered in the background.  I had wanted to use the kites since the collection came out from Maggie Holmes Carousel and the matching cut files from Paper Issues. Soooo...today is the day to use all the things!

Our morning hike going up the Diamond Head volcano on Oahu, Hawaii was truly magical.  We are not normally up for hiking, but, we knew the views would be worth it, and it was all that and more!

It was the best way I could think of to document a rainbow--by using the quote"keep your eyes on the skies" and to use the clouds and kite cut files in fun colors to remind us to always look up for treasures in the skies!

I double cut the kite cut files in black and white cardstock to give it that slight outline/shadow look.

I hope you join us at Paper Issues each month as we give you lots of challenges to play along with. We hope we inspire you to use your collections, papers, and to scrap your stash!

Swag Bag December: The Magic

It's all about Santa and the magic of the season in our house right now!  We took our youngest two to see Santa this past weekend and I put the expensive mall photo to good use. The Paper Issues December Swag Bag kit was perfect for the page design! I still have so much of the kit left to use on another winter themed page that I will share in January. Check out the Paper Issues blog today for more Swag Bag inspo.

The Maggie Holmes Carousel starry background paper is the off-white cream color that picked up the gold tones of several of the embellishments and papers included in the December kit. I added mixed media to the background to soften the stars around the immediate design and photo cluster. I used the packaging technique to add sparkly green and gold layers.

The December Swag Bag rosettes added such fun depth and texture!  I love the snowy winter whimsy it brings to the design. I love the fun mix of sequins included in this month's kit. I used only the gold stars, but the crimson red,white, and other sequins will be used in another project--tis the season to sparkle!

If you have been wondering about swag bags, now is the time to try one! Cassie packs the kits full of fun possibilities.  This kit worked for the holidays, a visit with Santa, baking cookies, winter outdoors fun, sledding, not to mention perfect for your December albums if you are documenting each day this month!

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.