Soak up the Sun

Today I am up on the Paper Issues blog with a Working with Water Colors post. 

I used the Sun and Fun free cut file and turned it into a stitching cut file. 

The water colors are the focal point of the sun center and the background, 

as well as a way to add a vintage look to the title word strips.

Here are a few close ups of the layout: If you have never turned cut lines into stitching marks for your needle, check out my cut file stitching tutorial post here to show you more!

The foam adhesive keeps the layers separated and casts slight shadows to create depth above the water color background.  Water colors are also a focal point of the center of the sun cut file. I love how my children's beach sunset photo worked so well with this sunny cut file and water color splash background.

Adding watercolors is easy by using the packaging technique. Here's how it looked under the cut file and photo. It is important to layer the colors and dry the area in between the layers. I use a hair dryer to dry the paper quickly and this minimizes paper warping.

Here's another background showing the packaging watercolor process.  I cut a scrap of plastic packaging and add water color to it. It naturally beads up/pools on the plastic.  Press it onto the paper where you'd like the color layered.

When it is sufficient, I stop and dry the area with a heat device such as a heat gun or hair dryer.

On this example, next I moved onto a golden yellow stripe. You can see slight variations of yellow and gold I layered in varying places before drying it.

I added the light blue-green color after setting the yellow stripe. You can see the small scrap of plastic used for this.

Here's the final tutorial picture of this now dried watercolor packaging technique! Pretty cool look to build a layout design on!

I am excited to see your water color magic! 

 Post your projects on Paper Issues July challenge album 

and have a chance to win gift cards this month.

As always there's a SALE at Paper Issues!  

Grab all of your favorite swag bag kits, 

Christmas in July kit, or collecion favorites for 20% off!

Code to save: Stacie

The Good Life

Today we are up on the Paper Issues blog showing you lots of fun ways to use your Stitch Happy sewing machine or thread to hand stitch.
I used the Stitch Happy twine from the Paper Issues store to hand stitch while I was traveling. This heart cut file from Paper Issues was the perfect size to hand stitch around.

A few close ups of the details on the layout:

The We R twine was the perfect match for the heart cut file paper which is from Amy Tangerine On a Whim.  This leaf paper was a close match to Paige Evan's Oh My Heart collection. I used up lots of scraps from past layouts to fill in the hearts on this cut file.

The rose gold journal card was a great size to be a photo mat. I used the chipboard Oh My Heart Thicker frame as a photo mat layer for dimension. These patterned papers are so versatile.

I scattered Oh My Heart puffy stickers and phrase stickers from Simple Stories. I added WE R Stitch Happy twine stitching in three of the central hearts for a bit more focus on the stitching nearest the photo.

Get all of the newest American Crafts and Pink Paislee collections in Paper Issues store. 

 The newest collection from Paige Evans is coming soon! 

Save 20% on everything you need to have!

Free File Friday titles: Sun & Fun

I am up on the Paper Issues blog with a new installment of Free File Friday!  

We are focusing on using a cut file title this month!  

I used the Sun & Fun title from the Geo Tropical Palms cut file and converted into stitching dots.  See this blog post for the details on how to get the perfect-sized hand stitching holes by converting the cut file--it's so easy! 

Bella Blvd Secrets of the Sea was perfect for documenting my little fish!

After you convert the cut file lines to stitching marks, I usually cut the cut file out as a solid shape.  This helps when it's a scripty title or other intricate shape so you can lay the shape on top to see where the stitches go as well as spots you might want to add a stitch hole to make the stitching more rounded.

I adore this printed quote paper from Bella Blvd Secrets of the Sea.  I had wanted the quote to show--and voila--I realized by showing only the border of it the top and bottom of the paper display the entire quote.  So very sweet! The ephemera pack and sticker sheet worked well together for layering and adding details.

 I just played with Shimmerz brand watercolors for this layout. I love how it worked on the paper and the way it dried is so pretty.  Some colors were shimmery and all colors played off the color scheme of the Secrets of the Seas papers. I got paint into the stitching area in some spots but the twine just soaks it up.

More stitching and Shimmerz paint close ups on the cut file title. So, here's my "secret of the seas"--I started this stitching layout in June and just completed it in August!!!  Anyone else have page designs that you start and don't finish or take you forever to finish?!

One last view of the title in full. I added lots of splatters as you can see he was all splashed by the waves in the photo. I love the look of the ombre colors in the letters. The Bella Blvd fish were so cute with this design.

 

I hope you are inspired to use a cut file title in your projects this month.  

Paper Issues has so many words, titles, alphabets, and quotes to use to help you with your page designs. 

Create a title and submit your project in the August Challenge thread in PIFF (Paper Issues Friends and Fans on Facebook.)  

Who knows, you might be the lucky one to win a PI store gift card?!

Grab some cut files to download and get ready to create. 

Bonus if you create a title that you converted to a stitching file.

I love seeing what you create.  Tag us on social media so we can share some love!

Save 20% on all of your purchases at Paper Issues.

Free File Friday: Stars

July is here and it is all about the stars for Paper Issues Free File Friday.  It's fun to see how many different cut files are offered in the store that incorporate stars.  Check out the PI blog for more inspiration from the design team!

I used Pink Paislee Sweet Freedom for my son's football LO.  I love how the blue ombre paper looks behind the cut file. I layered the star stitching background and used the starring you cut file over Evan's photo.

I hope you'll play along at Paper Issues with any of the star cut files between now and Aug 1. Here are just a few of them.

As always shop the PI store use the code: Stacie for 20% off.  If you shop soon (now through July 9th) you can save 50% off in the store.  Go get it all!

Working Title Challenge

It's our second new challenge for the new year!  We  are excited to have you try out Working Title. It's all about titles for your pages.  This one is all about going BIG in the new year.  Check out all of the challenge details on the Paper Issues blog.  I went with mega title and New Year's vibe for mine.

The Simple Stories Happy New Year mini collection went quickly in the Paper Issues store, but you can still get this Countdown paper that I used for my background.

I had the perfect thread colors to use on this *coming soon* to the PI shop--a free cut file.  The title was easy to connect into the paper as it was all about the countdown to the new year.

 It was fun to destash some enamel dots to add to the sticker and patterned paper colors.  I busted out the white acrylic paint to add some excitement and splatters to the black tone on tone paper.

 Another look---I love how handstitching looks.  I am glad I took the time to sit and do this!

I love the star flair from Cassie.  She has the coolest surprises in swag bags!

 His little face at age 2!! It was perfect to have a snapshot of the cutest NYE hat by the tree for extra sparkles!!

I hope you are having a great week and you are inspired to try out one of the many challenges for January!  We can't wait to see your big titles this month!  Post those creative project photos in our Facebook group.

Happy shopping!

Code: Stacie for 20% off!

My Girl-Scraplift Sunday

Today it's Scraplift Sunday at Paper Issues and we are lifting the creative Kathy Skou and this amazing layout of hers with gorgeous handstitching that she made for the Knock My Fox Off issue at Paper Issues.

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I love how she used Doodlebug Flea Market for this sweet layout.  I was inspired by the woodgrain background and her handstitching.  I went with Crate Paper's Cute Girl for my take.

We took these beautiful fall photos at my friend's house and I am such a sucker for birch trees. I love the look of the bark on the photos.  The golden leaves behind my daughter make autumn just glow in beauty!  I followed Kathy's design almost exactly as I wanted this layout to come together fast for me after stitching the flowers to match the colors on the Rainbows striped paper.

 I sketched a floral design similar to the Cute Girl ephemera pieces and then just added more stitching to make them look different. It was fun to mix up the colors of the flowers.  I fussy cut the Be You patterned paper black scallops for the top edge.  The Be You paper from the collection was one of my favorites.

The Cute Girl ephemera pack was my go to for the florals as well as the 6x12 sticker sheet for hearts, title banner, phrase strips, and  flower stickers. 

I added Cute Girl patterned papers for the layers under the photo. I love the colors in this collection and how they truly coordinate from paper to paper.  I love the My Girl patterned papers aqua triangles and Sweetheart soft pink side B of the pocket card paper.  I added more of the Rainbows paper with the stripes of soft yellow-green, as I wanted the colors of the leaves in the photo to pop with the color added behind the photo.

I hope you are ready for next weekend and our PI Fall Crop online on our Facebook Group.

Place your order today at Paper Issues and get your favorite items in time for the weekend crop!  Save 20% with my code: Stacie

Personalize Your Pages

Hello!  I am excited to have my first blog post up today on the Paper Issues blog.  I love to find new ways to use the things I buy and today I am sharing how to personalize your projects with title details and background ideas!

It is sometimes hard to use up all of the ephemera pieces that come with a collection.  I wanted to use several pieces from the new Amy Tangerine Oh Happy Life collection to add details and interest throughout my layout.  Since my daughter was looking over the top of her glasses at the newly fallen hail after a summer storm, I put the glasses from the ephemera in the word 'Look'.  I also used the acetate word crazy as it still allows you to see the hand stitched cloud below it.

I bought the Amy Tangerine stamps and wanted to use the cloud as a background paper design.  I used her 11AM patterned paper as a guide to picking my ink colors and making the white on white stitched clouds as a texture and fun design element to mix up the stamping.  I stamped a cloud on a scrap and cut it out to create my template for where to poke holes for stitching.  I use the Amy Tangerine Embroidery kit to poke the holes and love the foam pad that goes under the paper I am working on.

Stitching is great to do while catching up on your favorite tv series or movie!  It does take a bit of time, but I love the added look they give a layout.

I used the die cut tag as a layer under my photo as a pop of white to draw the eye into the photo detail of the hail.  I added several clear stickers throughout the page from the sticker booklet. I also added a little bitty puffy cloud sticker up at the top to draw attention to the top of the title.  Using a mix of fonts, textures, and alpha stickers can bring colors from the layout together and create a unique look.

Thanks for taking a peek today at how I add to my pages and use my supplies to personalize my page to my photos!  Get all of these Amy Tangerine products and more at Paper Issues with my 20% off code: Stacie

Paper Issues: Roll the Dice

 Hello, here's a summer title with pictures from December!  What??? Yes, it's all about the "summer" weather when it's 90 degrees for Christmas vacation!  Read below for details on the newest challenge at Paper Issues: Roll the Dice.

  Roll the Dice is on the Paper Issues blog with this month's dice roll being 2 pictures and 5 patterned papers.  I used Carta Bella Beach Day for my layout.  I LOVE how textured and heavy the Carta Bella paper is.  It is perfect for summer and vacation photos you have laying around after a busy summer!

This mega title cut file was from Ashley Horton's class in Big Picture Classes.  It was meant for a mini book, but I was all about hand stitching on it and making it larger for this challenge!

To keep the photos the focus along with the fun title, I kept the 5 patterned papers as a minimalist design element.  See how I snuck in the paper's tear strips?  It worked in well to the layout design without overwhelming it!

Thanks for checking out the details on the PI blog Roll the Dice for September at Paper Issues.  I hope you will try it out and join us by posting your creation in Paper Issues Fans and Friends (PIFF) on Facebook. As always, if you want to shop (you know you do!!) use code: Stacie to save 20% on your purchase.

Scraplift Sunday

Today we are on the PIFF group scraplifting Elodie's beautiful stitched heart and fussy cut heart layout.  I decided to cut into my Amy Tangerine Oh Happy Life stash and created this version.

I used the embroidery kit from Amy Tangerine to poke the holes in a flower shape similar to the paper.  I then stitched the flowers with white thread.  I love the white on white look!   I filled it with flower and leaf cut outs from the Good Morning patterned paper.  

I added the Oh Happy Life clear sticker title and Amy Tangerine paper tag die cut.

I added drops of India ink, stamped the date, and called this layout done.

Thanks for checking it out!  Don't forget to add your creation to the Facebook group:  Paper Issues Friends & Fans or tag Paper Issues on Instagram or Twitter.  If you are shopping at Paper Issues don't forget to go for 20% off with code: Stacie