Hey there! I'm on the Paper Issues Blog today sharing this project using our incredible FREE cut files. Yep. It's a Free File Free for All!

I used two cut files today. The first is the Leaves and Laurels for the leaves under my photo. I cut them out of 3 different papers from the Paper Issues kits, then layered them. It kinda looks like the photo is sitting in a basket of leaves. I love it! I cut the title, Thankful out of the Gorgeous Ovals .

I've been pretty obsessed with the Paper Issues kits. Here's what I love most about them: 1) They are a great value. There is so much in each kit! 2) They blend well from one month to the next! and 3) The vary in each kit is amazing!  Anyway, can you guess what I used on this page? Yep. I  mixed the October and November kits. I layered several papers behind the photo and added a bunch of the stickers and Nuvo Vintage drops.

Between the cut files and the kits, this was east and fun to put together!

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. When I'm not here, you can find me on Instagram @thebeachygal. Can't wait to show you what's next. 

Our Incredible Family

Wahoo! I made it to Friday. Well. that would be a Free File Friday at Paper Issues. Yessss! Today the focus is on titles. Use our free files in your title, on your title, as a base for your title. Get the idea?

I didn't start this layout for this challenge but I'm really happy it ended up this way. As I was working on the original page, I came across the Thankful for Family cut file, which became part of my title. That's when it took a different direction. 

I don't buy a lot of Christmas papers, but I bought some Crate Paper FaLaLa because I thought I could use it on other types of pages. Case in point. It's kind of a Christmas page, but not really. Especially because I added so many Swag Bag bits! I cut apart one of the chevron strips from the Twinkle paper, then used the remaining pieces for the top and bottom of the page. Ut's really a simple design, but you can see how the title really makes the page!

This was the winter of The Incredibles movie. Our son loved it. He called himself Dash and would run around the house in circles as fast as he could proving it to us. Pajamas for the boys were a must. Eventually, we all ended up with clothing of some sort. Thet title also means so much more, but I wont go into that now. So yes, we became the Incredible family. 

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. Head over to the Paper Issues shop and gt yourself some of this Crate Paper FaLaLa. It's so pretty. It will mix well with many other things you have. I promise. Use DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase!

Picking Apples

Hello there! Ive been neglectful I know. But it's November, so I'll be be posting regularly. There are a whole slew of challenges coming up at Paper Issues. Today is the first  Free File Friday of the month, We are using our FREE cut files to scrap our fall activities. 

Today I used the Apple Wreath cut file for the title of my page. I could have gone very literal with the apple wreath itself, but that would have been overkill. I love the simple patterns in the new Carta Bella Welcome Home collection. I am not into the farm style look for my home, but that papers I can work with! I did add in a paper from HelloFall. I needed a pop of color! I really was feeling the simple thing so I could focus on the photos. Lots of paper, few embellishments!

Picking apples is a family activity we love. We live in an area with many, many apple orchards, and try to find a new one to go to each year. This year we hit the jackpot! There were tons of activities for people of all ages, The apples were just ready to be picked so there were many to grab. Farm animals, corn maze, hay rides and all kinds of food to choose from including apple cider donuts and caramel apples as big as your head. I would go back there again planning ahead to spend more time wandering around. 

Thanks so much for being here at my creative view today. Come back again soon, I will have lots going on this month. You can get Welcome Home as well as many other new collections in the  Paper Issues shop, Use code DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase!

Supplies: PP, die cuts, chipboard-Carta Bella, enamel dots-Simple Stories, Apple Wreath cut file, Silhouette

I Want Candy

Hey hey we made it to Friday! It's not just Friday though, It's Free File Friday at Paper Issues. Today's theme is to use our cut files on your Fall or Halloween projects.

I used the Trick or Treat Sweets cut file on my page today

While trying to decide what I wanted too do, I came across this photo. Bam! Decision made. The title was pretty much hand picked for me. All I did was make it larger and place it vertically on my page. That's the cool thing about cut files. They don't have to be elaborate to be effective. Fancy Pants Spellbound is my Halloween paper of choice this year. The colors are so different form any Halloween collection I've used before. I love it. 

Every year, since he began Trick or Treating, my son would come home, dump his bag of candy on the floor, sort it, then count each pile. The fun part was, when he was little we could take what we wanted and tell him it was icky.  As he got older he was more aware of what kinds of candy he had.

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. I appreciate you being here and hope you'll come back again soon. I always have something to share.

It Grows

Hey hey we made it to Friday! Free File Friday that is! Paper Issues has over 100 cut files in the shop and they are all FREE! Today we are focusing on all the cut files that have leaves on them. 

My layout today all revolved around the leaves. But I didnt have a photo I wanted to use. So I took one!  I searched through all the files and landed on the Better Together bouquet. The best part was Welcome Home by Carta Bella arrived in the shop, then quickly into my hot little hands! Now, I have to say, this is not really what I consider my style of paper collections, but there are some wonderful family sentiments, small patterns, and gorgeous florals, including Gather Flowers, which I used behind the cut file. The page is really very simple, revolving around the cut file. I only added a few pieces of chipboard and tags. It didn't need anything else. 

My son gave me this plant for Mother's Day.  I do not have a green thumb. I don't even try. Plants are not my thing. I have no idea how often I'm supposed to water it, when it needs transplanting, or if its an indoor or outdoor plant. Somehow, it has not only survived but grown and flowered multiple times.

Thanks so much for being with me all week. I'm not done yet so come back again soon. 

Supplies: CS & alpha-American Crafts, PP-Carta Bella, Dear Lizzy, Fancy Pants, Chipboard, Tags-Carta Belam Mist-Heidi Swapp, Studio Calico, enamel pieces-Fancy pants, 

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School Day!

Well hello there! Yes! we survived the first week of school! It's Fri-Yay!  It's Also Free File Friday at Paper Issues. We have 2 new FREE cut files going into the shop today. I used the new School & Sports file on my page today

I wanted to do something little different. After staring at this for a while, I came up with the idea to create my own background. I decided to dig out the old Silhouette sketch pens and start there.  My first idea was quickly becoming too complicated. I stuck with the sketch pens, only adding more colors. I cut the title, gluing it down, only laying the word sophomore over it's sketched version for emphasis. Like this so much I just may do the same thing for my older son's first day photos!  

I purposely bought the new Elle's Studio Family Fun for this years back to school photos. If you haven't figured me out by now, I love bright colors! I am a sucker for primary colored papers and basic easy patterns! This collection is just that. 

First day of school morning are a blur around here. This year seemed more crazy than usual and I was only getting one out the door. There was no time to get any before school photos so we had to wait until after school. He was so happy getting off the bus!  He cooperated. For the most part. He smiled. That's a win.  Another first day is in the books.  I can't believe he's a sophomore already. Hope its a great school year for him!

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. Now that school is back in session, I can get back into my routine. that means consistent craft time, and consistent blogging. This new  Elle's Studio is pretty fantastic. Get some in the shop while you can for 20% off using code DEVRA at checkout. See you soon

Supplies: Cs-American Crafts, PP-Elles Studio, Simple Stories, Silhouette, Silhouette sketch pens, Die cuts-Elle's Studio, enamel pieces-Elle's studio, Bella Blvd, Fancy Pants, Doodlebug Design, KaiserKraft

ABC, XYZ

Happy Friday! Today isn't just any Friday.  It's Free File Friday at Paper Issues. We have so many FREE cut files in the shop. We also have the best file designer who just keeps on cranking them out!

Today we are focusing on our background cut files. I used the Diagonal Stripes background cut file today, combining it with the Thick Paint Alpha for the title. I layered both of these with the newest AmyTangerine collection, Hustle & Heart. Both the cut file and the Bright Side paper I chose are bold in style. I love the colored stripes peeking through the cut file! It does help tone the paper down. I used only stickers from the Sticker book and a few flair as embellishments around the title and journaling so there wouldn't get lost.

This guy goes in spurts with his interest in his books and toys. He recently rediscovered this book on his shelf. It had been quite some time, but he went straight to the back of the book where the complete alphabet is. He had no interest in the individual pages of letters. We would spend hours going over all the letters if I let him. He setttled on several times a day instead. 

Thanks so much for hanging out at my creative view. There is a ton of new stuff in the Paper Issues shop including Amy Tangerine, Maggie Holmes and Pink Paislee and they are all amazing! Grab some for 20% off using my code DEVRA at checkout. 

Supplies: CS-American Crafts, PP-Amy Tangerine, BoBunny, stickers-May Tangerine, flair-A Flair fir Buttons, Cut files,  Paper Issues, thread-DMC

Dude is Chillin'

Wahoo! We made it to Friday! Free File Friday that is! Paper Issues has a library full of FREE cut files. Today we are highlighting any cut file that can be used as a title. 

My title comes from the Freestyle Skate cut file. To be honest, I use 'dude' daily so it was easy for me to choose this. What I didn't expect to choose was Pink Paislee Summer Lights for this page! When I took a closer look at the Thickers, stickers and die cuts, I found icons and sentiments that were perfect! The peace sign hands, the 'chillin' die cut? I had to use them. To tie it all together, I sewed a border with the WRMK Stitch Happy using the grey Twine

I turned around one morning and found him on the couch like this. The funniest thing about it is he never sits on the couch like that! Everything about this is classic, and shows he pays attention to everything we do. That's where his brother usually sits!  

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view this week. Come back again, I have so much more to share!  There's so many new collections in the shop. Treat yourself and get 20% off your purchase when you add DEVRA at checkout.

Supplies: PP-Pebbles, Pink Paislee, stickers, die cuts, chipboard-PinkPaislee, Silhouette, WRMK Stitch Happy, mist-Heidi Swapp

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Beach Boys

Hello there! Yep, back again with a TGIF edition. well, more like a FFF edition. That would be Free File Friday at Paper Issues . 

Today is all about stars. Here are just a few star cut files you can find in the shop! 

Today I used the Starburst Bubbles cut file as a stencil. I sprayed 2 colors of mist over it. So, so easy! Layers are the key to adding pattern and interest so there are several Bella Blvd papers and die cuts. I love these colors. There is something about navy, turquoise, green and orange that appeals to me. It looked a bit plain and I didn't want to matte the white onto patterned paper. Enter my mew favorite toy, the Stitch Happy Sewing machine! I bought some yellow ombre thread and that's all it took to finish this off!

Going to the beach with these guys isn't alway easy, but this day we had a great time! One loved the water and the other loved the sand. Cant really beat that. 

Thanks again for popping by my creative view this week. Come back again soon! I have so much planned! If you have an electronic die cut machine, head over to he shop to see what we have. While you are there, pick up some things for yourself! use code DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase!

Supplies: CS & Alpha-American Crafts, PP, die cuts, enamel pieces, chipboard-Bella Blvd, mist-delusions, cut file -Paper Issues, Silhouette, Sewing machine-WRMK

Beach, Please

Happy Friday to you! It's  Free File Friday at Paper Issues and today's theme revolves around summer! There are so many great summer cut files in the shop right now and the best part is they are all FREE! 

Today I used the Geo Tropical Palm Tree  cut file as the main focus of my page today. I really don't know what I was thinking. I got the idea in my head to sew around the edge of the trees, then sew over the geo cut outs across all the leaves. It was extremely tedious, with some bumps along the way,  but definitely worth it. I backed the trees with the water side of Summer Lights  Paper #9  The ombre is perfect and I love the end result. 

The rest of the page is filled with paper and bits of Pink Paislee Summer Lights that I couldn't wait to use! I mean all the die cut, sticker and chipboard seashells couldn't have been more perfect to lay across the bottom of the tress!

I've had some fun lately digging into older photos. I found several photos from my honeymoon to play with and this one fit the bill for this page. It was our last day in Jamaica, and I was just enjoying some time staring at the ocean.

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. I hope you find some inspiration from my page today. I love my electronic die cut machine and also the colors in the Summer Lights collection. You might too. Head over to the Paper Issues shop to pick some up for yourself. Use my code DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase.

Supplies: Cs-American crafts, silhouette, thread-DMC, PP, die cuts, stickers and chipboard-Pink Paislee, mist-Heidi Swapp

Say Cheese

Hello there! I feel I have been neglecting my blog this past week. I'm afraid real life had to come before crafting last week. Never fear, I am back today with a layout I created for Free File Friday at Paper Issues. The theme this week is to use any free file in the shop on a project featuring the men in our lives. 

Well, I love our cut files. I can always find one that works with my ideas. Like today. I love this photo. It makes me smile. I scanned my library, finding the Magical cut file. 

The 'smile' was bit obvious, so I skipped over it. The 'say cheese', perfect. I also cut a couple of arrows point towards that photo that is so beautifully framed in the circle. I went digging into my stash for some scraps of Fancy Pants Family & Co. I slipped a few papers behind the photo, scattered some embellishments and called it a day. the cut files and photo are really the star of the page.

Theres nothing better than watching my Dad being Grandpa. He finds ways to play and engage, and always makes him laugh. Now if only we lived closer so we could see each other more often.

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. I hope to see you playing along with our challenges this month. There are so many to choose from. You can find them in our Facebook Group. Remember, you can find our free files in the shop along with so much more. You always get 20% off your purchases when you use my code DEVRA at checkout.

My Mom & Me

Hey there! I'm back today with a layout for the new Free File Friday challenge at Paper Issues.  We are using the new Mom Life cut file. It's so awesome!

I decided to use one of my baby photos of my Mom and I. Pink Paislee Oh My Heart had the right colors and feel for how I wanted this to look.  I put together the 'my mom' by using both the outline and the inner portion of the letters with  I also used the scallop above and below the main band of the page. From there I filled in around the title with embellishment, including the puffy stickers, die cuts  and chipboard pieces. I wanted a light whimsical feel on the page and that it what I got!

I was 3 weeks old in this photo. I should look to see if I have a similar photo of my children about the same age, That would be a nice comparison. Do any of look alike? Do we have the same pose? I might have to do this!

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. I appreciate you being here with me. I also appreciate new goodies. i know you do too. Head over to the Paper Issues shop to get some Oh My Heart or any other new collections that have arrived. Use my code DEVRA at checkout to receive 20% off your purchase.

Supplies; PP, puffy stickers, die cuts  and chipboard pieces-Pink Paislee Oh My Heart, doily-Freckled Fawn, Mist-Heidi Swapp, silhouette, Mom Life cut file