Celebrate 14

Hello!  It's all about celebrating today!  I absolutely adore this month's swag bag kit from Paper Issues and couldn't wait to create a fun birthday page with it.  

April is my birthday month, so it's all about throwing the confetti around to whoop it up! 

 Evan my 14 year old may not love the colorful page design, 

but I went with the inspiration from the candles on his birthday pie!

Here's my rainbow confetti birthday celebration:

Here's a look closer at the colorful details:

I printed out a large number 14 from my computer to layer the paper strips over.  I then flipped it over to cut using the dark outline of the numbers as my cutting guide.

 Finished with the paper strips.  These are all from the 3x4 papers included in the April kit. 

 Plus, there are still several I didn't use in this design. 

Gotta love a swag bag and the ability to use it for several projects!

Layout with the "confetti" splatter- Nuvo mists from the Paper Issues store, Heidi Swapp Shine from past swag bags, and Shimmerz mists.I loved the ephemera piece that said "happy" to tuck in above the yellow birthday paper.

I loved the puffy glitter ephemera from Shimelle's Glitter Girl collection.  It adds the perfect dimension in the vertical stack of paper layers.

The Pebbles Happy Hooray chipboard banner stickers worked

 so well to create a banner across the entire middle of the design.

So that's my pop of colorful to start off your day.  I hope you are inspired to grab an April Swag Bag kit from the Paper Issues store and create your own "Party on a Page".

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

XOXO Swag Bag

Swag Bag kits for January "All the Hearts" are in the house!  Check out the blog today at Paper Issues to be inspired on how to use these awesome swag bag kits. As it was such a kit full of heart, I went with it and used a PI free cut file to cut hearts out of the kit papers!

I started by splattering the acrylic paints in a ring shape on the Simple Stories woodgrain paper.

I cut the heart grid background cut file multiple times to use up the paper included in the kit.  I trial and error messed around with placement in the circle before adding a small amount of adhesive and sewing each heart down the middle so they could be lifted for dimension on the page.  See my workspace and the additional swag bag items I didn't use on this project!  So much to still play with!!

Cassie includes so many amazing embellishments with each month's kit.

 I love the tassel heart and rosette heart.  I still have the washi tape roll,wood veneer, and several more paper cards, paper scraps, ephemera, and sequins to use!

I challenged myself to use a lot of this gorgeous January kit in this project and I was successful.  But, honestly there is still always so many beautiful kit pieces left to use on other projects!

I really do "heart" you!  Thanks for stopping by.

Grab this kit before it's gone.  Save 20% off with my code!

I la la love it!  You will never be disappointed these swag bag kits, 

they are packed full each month!

Swag Bag November

Yay!  It's a new swag bag day at Paper Issues!  I love the PI Swag Bag monthly kits that Cassie ships out. They seriously have the best bits in them to create so many projects.  I used only a 1/3 of the swag bag (if that) to create my project. There is so much left to use in other projects which is always a fun go-to stash to have out on my table to use on current layouts that I am working on!

I started with gesso and mixed media colors to go along with the items I pulled out.  I stuck with several ephemera pieces from Echo Park's I'd Rather be Crafting collection and mixed in other swag bag items to create a horizontal design with the larger quote and tag as anchors alongside the photo.

To make the bunting, I cut apart a 3x4 card of chevron that was made with the triangles. The swag bag included enamel dots, so it was an easy embellishment to add dimension and interest along the lower edge!

  I attended this fun crafting workshop in Minneapolis two years ago that was hosted by Amanda Rydell and Maggie Holmes. Two other of my crafty besties also attended and we had so much fun sewing, painting, re-purposing old books into planners, and more. It was such an inspiring day in the arts district of the city!

So there you go! I hope you hop over to the Paper Issues store to grab a new November swag bag or be so smart and grab a 6 month subscription so you don't miss a kit! I love the variety each month and I am always inspired to create when I open these fun swag bags!

Don't delay! Save 20% to try one out!

Swag Bag July: E Monogram

Hello!  It's a fun day at Paper Issues.  We have the new swag bag in the shop for July and we are spotlighting lots of ways to use a swag bag on the blog!  I went with creating a monogram letter for my son Ethan using June's swag bag kit.

Here's how I started the monogram:

Step one: print a large block style letter on your printer on regular printer paper.  Trim away the extra paper.  Cut swag bag cards into strips of varying length.  I kept the width all the same.

After all of the monogram is filled with paper pieces.  Stitch in place.  I stitched mine separately from the background as I knew I wanted to add mixed media on the background and use foam dots behind the letter.

 
I embellished with stars included in the swag bag, a geotag, and mini alpha stickers included in the kit!  I love all of the small bits that Cassie includes in her month swag bag kits.

 For the photo layers/mats, I added strips of leftover cards and pieces I didn't use on the monogram.  It adds depth and colors against the busy blue mixed media.

I hope you will Swag Bag with us!  These kits are perfect to try out and fall in love with!  Each month is new and unique.  The kits can also be mixed together.  I used just the June kit for this LO and I still have soooo much left to use.  This is my second time using the kit on a LO!  I love that these can be used in so many ways--think traveler's notebook, pocket pages, cards, and scrapbook layouts or off the page paper projects!

Here's the July kit:

Save 20% on this kit with my code: Stacie

Try it and LOVE it!

Toy Box: Sweet Dreams of Dinosaurs

A new product spotlight is on the blog at Paper Issues.  Go check out new Carta Bella Toy Box.  It is in the shop and the colors are bright and fun.  I also combined the new June Swag Bag with this as it had several papers from Toy Box.  I love adding the little bits that coordinated with this collection.  PI Swag bags for the win on embellies!

I added white gesso around the circle center before layering more circles and stitching. This helped to anchor my title onto a busy backgound paper and provided a white space for my journaling.  I used the PI swag bag for June to add the twine, stars, and layers of paper under the photo.  **Grab one now while it is still in stock.  I love a swag bag full of PI awesomeness each month!

Carta Bella has the most amazing paper texture.  It is truly thick and durable to add mixed media onto! The ephemera pieces helped to tell my playful story.

I can't wait to see how you use Carta Bella's new Toy Box collection.  I was happy to use it on a non-playing type of a page.  It worked to tell the story of Ryan's lengthy nap time at school and how he loves this particular spot in the room with the dinosaur protecting him!

Save 20% off Carta Bella Toy Box 

and everything else (including the awesome Swag Bag)!!  

Use my code: Stacie

Swag Bag June: Hey Summer Vibes

It's time to get creative with the sweetest monthly kits! Have you tried a PI swag bag?  Cassie's cool kits arrive once a month and contain so many bits and embellishments to rock out multiple projects.  I dug into May's kit for this layout and there is still so much leftover to use!  I was inspired by Paige Evan's Oh My Heart square paper that was included in the PI May Swag Bag as a 4x6 paper.  The mix of colors and designs side by side prompted this fun take of overlapping paper layers.

I love that you can cut up the swag bag paper 3x4 or 4x6 cards and overlap them. I tucked some pieces under and over other layers. It became like a puzzle to spread out colors and patterns as well as paper sizes across the page.  I sewed the pieces down after using a little adhesive to temporarily hold the layers in place. My title became the summer vibes card that was an Echo Park Summer Dreams frame ephemera piece.

 I layered wood veneer, ephemera, messy thread, chipboard, and stickers onto the patchwork paper pieces.

Don't delay--go check out the Paper Issues store and grab June's swag bag for 20% off while there are still some in stock today. 

They always sell out, so do not miss out on your chance!

Use code: Stacie to save 20% on your swag bag and everything else that is in stock!

  New Fancy Pants collections just arrived, too! They all look amazing!

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!

Swag Bag Sunday

Today on the Paper Issues blog we are showing a new round of projects using the monthly swag bag kits.  I combined several kits to coordinate the color scheme to watery teals and a pop of yellow.  Several things were from the February kit.  I love when you can create several LOs or projects with one swag bag kit.

Here are a few close ups to show the pretty papers and little embellishment bits!  I think that little Crate Paper Maggie Holmes tassel is adorable!  I finally used it after hoarding it from an earlier swag bag!

The only thing I added were the foam Thickers for my title and a few enamel dots.  The rest is all swag bag bliss!

I hope you'll check out the Paper Issues store and grab a monthly kit for yourself. You will never be disappointed in all that Cassie packs into a swag bag!  Get the six month subscription or buy them month to month.  It's the best surprise mail!  All of the bags are slightly different with ephemera and embellishments, making these wonderful kits a true surprise each month!
Don't forget to save 20% with code: Stacie