Sketchy Saturday: January Edition

Hello! It's my favorite way to ease into a scrappy session--use a sketch or find a scraplift to play along with. Ann has a fantastic new sketch waiting for you on the Paper Issues blog. Check out the Paper Issues Design Team and what inspiration they have shared using the January Sketch. 

Here's my take using Crate Paper Good Vibes.

I absolutely loved this cacti paper and pink of course.  I made sure to take lots of cacti pictures this past summer in TX because--duh, I need to use these fun papers!  My husband was all, "Are you for real?  We are at the Alamo and you are busy taking pictures in the back gardens of cacti?"  

Yep.  Sure am.  Somethings just need to be documented for the sake of paper.

Am I right?  Paper Issues has me covered!

The champagne foam Thickers are so pretty! The puffy Thicker words are sooo cool.  I can't wait to use those on more projects! It was my first time using Nuvo drops (linked a different color) for my "splatters  or enamel dots" and I loved the ease of using it!

I am always a fan of Crate Paper collection chipboard and ephemera. It makes layering and design clusters come together so quickly.

Sketchy Saturday: Ferris Wheel Fun

Today on the Paper Issues blog is a new Sketchy Saturday for August hosted by Amy!  Check out this fun sketch:


I used Echo Park Summer Dreams for my take.  I loved the ferris wheel designs that were included in this collection. I just had to pull out my MN State Fair pictures from last summer to find one to work with.  I switched it up and used one photo, but added the 3x4 cards to my design.  I started with an acrylic painted background with the light teal/aqua color in this collection.

Brads, enamel dots, and chipboard stickers to get all of the circles! I added stitching in various layers to add texture. The Summer Dreams collection has the cutest ferris wheel paper in navy. I used both sides of this in the layering because-- rainbow polka dots!!!

The "so much fun" card was a square cut apart that I sized down to fit this LO design. Don't save these cards for pocket scrapping! Use them on your traditional scrapbook pages as well! Machine stitching and enamel dots sprinkled throughout.

Hope your weekend is going well. 

Thank you for taking a peek! 

Save 20% on everything in the Paper Issues store.  

Check out the newest collections-- so much to love in the shop!  

For 20% your total use code: Stacie 

SS July: Hashtag Happy

It's July!  Summer is seriously flying by!  Today there's a new sketch by Amy up on the PI blog.  It was such a fun sketch to create with!  I used Pebbles Girl Squad for my take on the sketch.

My daughter loves being a tween and getting gift cards to shop and go to Starbucks with me! She would love if we could go each day.  The Girl Squad papers are perfect for documenting this fun memories.  The foam Thickers from Girl Squad are definitely a fave of mine this summer.

 I mixed in some of Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams and Simple Stories Whatever collection stickers to coordinate with the Girl Squad papers and sketch details.

Have a great weekend and we are excited to show you more July challenges in the next few days!

Don't forget you can still complete June challenges today too!

Get shopping at Paper Issues for 50% off everything in stock.  It is an amazing sale to stock up.  

I checked and you can still get lots of the same Pebbles Girl Squad papers that I used here.  The side B papers are perfect for layers and to mix with other collections you may have!

Happy half off shopping at PI now through July 9th! (All orders will ship July 10.)

sketchy saturday: beautiful getaway

Today it's Sketchy Saturday at Paper Issues and it's no foolin'!  Grab the sketch and get creating!  Amy has a great multi-photo sketch to try out for April.




I played with Crate Paper Oasis and my spring break photos from West Palm Beach, Florida.  Love the sunset/moon is already out pictures!  Always happy to use chipboard frames for one of the photo spots!

Close ups of this project:

I added watercolors to the wave background paper with the packaging technique and stuck to sunset colors.

 The beautiful chipboard for Oasis and gold script sticker words are so perfect for title work.

I love the little puffy stickers and 6 x12 stickers for embellishing and making clusters around the page.  Kind of in love with the tropical chipboard banner  and golden sunset chipboard sticker as well.

I really love the look of the watercolor, as it's a soft addition to the background, but adds just enough color to wake up that side of the layout from the gradient of color on the right side's paper. The gold embellishments and stickers add just enough sunshine to this travel layout.

Check out Crate Paper Oasis in the Paper Issues store along with so.much.more.  I love all of the new collections that are waiting for me to use this weekend!  Go add them to your cart and always save 20% off with my code: Stacie

Have a great start to April today!

March Sketchy Saturday

Hello! Amy has inspired us once again with a lovely sketch to lift!
I used Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams collection.

These beautiful papers and embellishments can be found at Paper Issues online store.  I love layering the stickers and ephemera with foam dots for dimension.

The pink washi tape sentiment paper is a total favorite.  It is perfect how soft it looks and works well with florals.

 I love all of the gold that is included in this collection, It adds just the right amount of shine!  The cut apart tag paper is absolutely a must to have to layer and add to your projects and greeting cards!

 The Chasing Dreams collection worked so well with my daughter's photos.

Save20% on everything with code: Stacie

Paper Issues

Sketchy Saturday

It's another month of awesome inspiration and challenges at Paper Issues.  Check out the beautiful new February sketch by Amy Coose.  Check out all of the design team inspo on the Paper Issues blog.

I just couldn't wait to try out all of the new collections this month, so this one uses Shimelle's Little By Little to document my cousin's daughter and her sweetest first birthday balloon basket!

A few close ups:  Get all of the Shimelle Little By Little.  Yes, you totally need this collection and all of its cuteness.

I layered vellum over the top layer of clouds, I wanted the pictures to pop and look like they were in the clouds!  The embossed clouds are fabulous!

 Ther Thickers, little puffies, wooden buttons, and the ephemera together make a quick layout.

Give me all the polka dots!

Have a wonderful weekend. Hopefully you can play along with the sketch!

Save on everything in stock at Paper Issues!

Sketchy Saturday January

I love starting off with a sketch.  This is so helpful when you are down on creative mojo!  This month's sketch from Amy Coose has so much to love.  Check out the PI blog to be inspired by design team members.

I am in full stashbusting mode knowing that many amazing new paper collections are being shipped out in the next few weeks.  It was great to cut into several more Maggie Holmes papers.  I love the picture of my daughter and niece in the matching pink tulle dresses that their grandmother made them!  The pink On Point dance paper was a perfect fit for this layout.

I love the Blessed chipboard Thickers and chipboard that was included in the Maggie Holmes Gather collection.  The pieces worked so well as the sketch elements for layering clusters.

More close ups: 

Layers  of pink!

The new date stamp is included in Hazelwood collection by American Crafts designed by 1canoe2, the floral border around it makes it a perfect match for Maggie's papers and prints.  Love the pops of gold glitter on the chipboard pieces.

Grab all of Gather by Crate Paper or anything else that makes you happy! Save 20% with my code: Stacie

Sketchy Saturday

Today is a gorgeous new sketch at a Paper Issues!  Check out the Paper Issues blog today for Amy's sketch and the design team's take on this fun, multiple photo sketch.

I went with Merry and Bright by Fancy Pants Designs.  This is all about the December tradition of the elf.

I have a vintage Elf on the Shelf that was passed along to me from my grandmother.  This golden elf is named Twinkle and my youngest two think it's the funniest thing in the world to search for this elf each morning!

I mainly stuck to the sketch this month and added lots of Fancy Pants Designs Merry and Bright for easy coordination!

Here are some close ups of the beautiful Merry and Bright!

I love these Tall Tyle letters from The Cut Shoppe. I backed them and then added white papers behind it!  I loved the pack of  Merry and Bright tags and used many of them on this LO.  

These tags by Merry and Bright are the cutest.    I used some as gifts, as shown above by the LO title.

Thanks for checking out my blog today.  I hope you'll take some time this weekend to get crafty!  Use this sketch and post yours in the Sketchy Saturday thread on Facebook PIFF for a chance at a PI giftcard!

So many new collections and supplies!  Get all of it for your gifts to yourself!  Get 20% off with code: Stacie.

November Sketchy Saturday: Wonder Fall

Today is a new sketch for the month at Paper Issues.  Check out this fun sketch by Amy Coose:

Here's my take using Echo Park Fall Is In The Air:

I love this background wood grain paper with the collection. 

The acorn paper prompted me to get the acorn cut file that I bought last year from The Cut Shoppe and put it to use in the embellishment spots on the sketch.  I also used the leaves from The Cut Shoppe and watercolored and misted them. 

I added photo mat papers from the same Echo Park collection.  I backed the acorn cut files with the rich brown patterned paper which is the side B to the acorn patterned paper.

I stitched around the patterned papers before I layered them to add texture

 and interest to the design.

I scanned in my handwriting for the title

 and turned it into a cut file for this "wonderful" leaf page.

The background wood planks paper is such a fave of mine with fall pictures!  I hope you join us in using the sketch for November and post it in our Facebook group for a chance to win!

Save 20% off everything you buy at Paper Issues!  My code to share with you to save: Stacie

Sketchy Saturday October

Today is Sketchy Saturday on the Paper Issues blog!  Amy has created a fabulous new sketch for us to use for the month of October!

I am always inspired to try out the sketch!  It is also fun to think of it flipped or rotated as another way to make the sketch your own.  This month, I kept the sketch as is and worked with Crate Paper Cute Girl.

I love the cute Cool Girl mermaid chipboard sticker and pink acetate ephemera heart!

My daughter took a summer vacation with her grandparents, and they sent me pictures of her swimming with the resort mermaids!  How cool is that?! That honestly became the inspiration for working with Crate Paper Cute Girl and this sketch!

 Also, they have the cutest ephemera bucket list with "swim with the mermaids" listed.  This piece was too cream colored, so I cut this version out of a pocket page card Sweetheart paper since it was white. For the sketch circle, I went with stitching multiple circles in the teal color to tie in the mist "water drops." For my title I used the accent sticker LOVE and Puffy Thickers.

I added the black chipboard scallop to the bottom where the sketch had a banner placed.  I also added the puffy Thickers sticker scallop under the title to define it more against the bright yellow "mermaid scale" Cheery paper.  The clear acetate pieces in the ephemera packs can be a bit trickier to use, but in this case, I loved how they showed the patterns through in the layers. I am crushing on these versatile little cardstock "washi tape" look text/phrase accent stickers. I used my fave paper from this collection--the gorgeous "Rainbows" stripe.  I used it across the yellow paper and as a photo mat layer.  The puffy hearts scattered throughout are from the Thicker pack and they help connect the LO from top to bottom.
     Thanks for taking a peek at the details. I can't wait to see how YOU use the sketch! Have fun shopping at Paper Issues for all of this cuteness and so.much.more.  You know you need it! Always a sale--- 20% with code Stacie