Hey hey its a favorite day! It's Scraplift Sunday! Boy are you in for a treat because today we are lifting a phenomenal layout by Jennifer McMurtrey. I'm sharing my take on the  Paper Issues Blog.

I gotta tell you I was really intimidated by this LO. It is so freakin' spectacular I wanted to do it justice!

Well, a few ideas began to swirl around in my head. There's rainbow colors, Ombré, decisions decisions... How about Vicki Boutin Color Study! It's bright and oh! oh! the Thumbnail paper is speaking to me. It says the colors will be pretty perfect for all of the photos I took at the tulips fields!  

My photos are vertical and a little larger, so I flipped the sketch. After sifting through all the flowers in the icon ephemera. I realized  there weren't flowers in all the colors in the paper. I've never been so happy that I purchased the Hello Stamp Set! I stamped a bunch of flowers in different sizes, then fussy cut them! Boom. Custom flowers! I tucked, layered and lifted them around the photos to mimic the effect that Jennifer created on her LO. I'm pretty happy with the result!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Head over to our Facebook Group where you can find all of our  May Challenges! Grab some Vicki Boutin  or some new Simple Stories  and the new Distress Oxide Salvaged Patina! It's 20% odd when yours DEVRA at checkout. 

The Story Teller

Hello hello! Im on the Paper Issues blog today! It's still February and we are still working our way through all the things we love this month. For the Love of Books would you look at my reading list. oh wait. Right, Let me back up a bit. The challenge is For the Love of Anything but Pink and Red. That's right. No pink or red on this project. 

Now I can tell you about books! I love to read. eBooks are great, but there is still nothing like holding a book and turning the pages. Could there be any better match for this then Vicki Boutin Storyteller? I think not. I challenged myself to use the First Draft paper for the background. Who am I kidding this is the whole reason I bought this paper. I was still intimidated, but I powered through. I wound up layering the book ephemera, ending up with a stacked design, Appropriate yes? I struggled with how much more stuff to add. I didn't really want to over do it. So there are lots of pieces behind the photo, and a few heart stickers because, well, this is still about love. I couldn't decide what to do around the edges, so at the last minute, tore some holes txobreak it up a bit. And guess what. there is no pink or red!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you are inspired to try a background paper like this. You can grab it and so much more in the Paper Issue shop for 20% off  when you use DEVRA at checkout. Find this and all the February Challenges in our Facebook Group. You have all week to enter for your chance to win a gift card to the shop!  See you next time!

Find Your Dreams

Hey hey hey, it's the 1st of February. That doesn't rhyme. I tried. Well, It's an exciting day around here. All new February Challenges are posted in the Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook group! This months theme is so Lovely. I'm starting the month off on the Paper Issues Blog   with the Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing challenge. This one has all kinds of options. Birds, music, musical notes, favorite songs.  

You know, we're in that weird time, impatiently waiting for new releases to arrive. So stash digging I went. Ohhh! I forgot I had some of this Vicki Boutin Wild Flower and Honey! Even better? There are owls in it! yay! Birds it is. I love rediscovering my stash!  I think the colors are great and the owls are perfect for a Graduation photo! I layered a bunch of everything! Paper, stickers, chipboard and ephemera. I have it all. There were so many inspirational sentiments this really came together quickly.

I highly recommend stash digging. It was so much fun. I wonder what else I have? You know what else I recommend? Shopping. There are some fun new embellishments and tools in the Paper Issues shop that can freshen up what you have on hand. I just picked up some Distress Oxide inks and new stamps!  Use DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase! Remember to share what you make in the February Challenges album for your chance to win a gift card to the shop! Thanks for stopping by! See you next time!

 

 

Everyday Adventures

Well hello there! I'm on the Paper Issues blog again today bringing you another of our awesome sketches! Check this baby out! So many possibilities!

So let me tell you a little secret. I actually started this layout a while ago. If I remember, I got stuck, so I never finished it. I started again determined to finish. 

There was only one choice of paper for this photo. Vicki Boutin Let's Wander and watercolor foundations paper. Need anything else? Not really.  Want to know another secret? I wasn't feeling the big background circle. Nope. What I did have though were some scraps of the Beach Vibe paper that I have cut some circles out of. Wow. What an awesome background! I cut another paper, layering strips. Then I covered them with a bunch of ephemera, stickers and chipboard. That's all I did. Really. I see the sketch don't you? 

I do not take for granted that he will spend time with me. Not only that, he makes the time to spend with me. We went to one of our favorite spots, Snoqualmie Falls for a morning of fresh air. It's nice to get lost in our own backyard.

Thanks for stopping by today. Find this and the rest of my stuff on Instagram, @thebeachygal. You can find  Vicki Boutin and so much more in the Paper Issues shop. Use DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase. Head over to our Facebook group to join this and all of our August challenges.  Even better, this weekend is our Summer Crop, you totally want to be there for fun & games and more than 20 new challenges.  Hope to see you there!

Buzzed Bros

Oh Boy! It's a new month of challenges and I'm sharing my first one on the Paper Issues Blog today. Did I already say Oh Boy? I meant Oh Buoy! No, there will be no boats or anything nautical. This page is all boy! My boys and their freshly self done haircuts that is. 

I've been so inspired by Danielle and her mixed media mayhems that I decided to give it a try myself. I created the background using Vicki Boutin foundation paper, art crayons, both wet and dry and stencils. 

Once I had finished the background, I had to figure out the rest. Well, I had already chosen Simple Stories Bro & Co to use.I grabbed a couple of papers, mostly Live Out Loud. I even used both sides! I combined some Combo Cardstock Stickers and Journal Bits to created some cool embellishment layers. The Foam Phrase Stickers are ready made titles. Who doesn't love that? 

There you have it.  I hope I inspired you to try mixing the media! I loved it! Head over to the Paper Issues shop to get yourself the things I used here and so much more! Use DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase. Find this challenge as well as many more in the August Challenge album in our Facebook group. We cant wait to see what you make!  See you next time!

So Cheesy

Hey there! I'm on Paper Issues Blog the today with this little number I made for the Make A Splash challenge. Nobody said this had to be about the pool or ocean did they?  This is all about water, or in my case, watercolors. 

I've been sitting on my Dina Wakely gloss sprays. Do I know how to use them? Nope. Was I going to give them a try? Yup. And so I did. I sprayed at the top of Vicki Boutin Foundations paper, then used a paint brush to dribble the paint down the page. I wanted it to look like melting cheese. Cheesy right? 

Then I took some Vicki Boutin Art crayons and stencils to create the rest of the background. I was inspired by CassieBox and Kelly Feldman, the way they used the drips on their paper.  The only thing left was paper. What could be better than all the food themed pieces from you guessed it, Vicki Boutin's Let's Wander

This was easy peasy and so cheesy! Head over to the Paper Issues shop to get yourself all the things I used here and more! Use DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase. Find this challenge as well as many more in the July Challenge Album in our Facebook group. We cant wait to see what you make!  Until next time....

52 Favorites-Be Happy

Hello there! It's Friday which means it's 52 Favorites day! I'm sharing Week 19 on the Paper Issues Blog today.

For most of us, these past few months have been so weird. I haven't been able to do all the fun stuff I like to do during the week or on weekends. Pretty sire most of you haven't either. One of my favorite things about 52 Favorites, is that is makes me stop to find the good things that happened during the week, no matter how small.

This week was my son's birthday. We celebrated with a physically distanced walk by the water. No big celebrations this year, but definitely the highlight of my week.

I'm using a 6x6 album I made filled with all different Vicki Boutin paper collections. I keep it super simple using mostly scraps of paper, stickers and  ephemera. I like to embellish one side, usually with the title and use the other side for the photo and journaling. It never takes me more than 30 minutes to do!

It's never too late to start this project. Make it your own. You can find this and all of the May challenges in our Facebook Group. You have until May 31 to enter to win a Gift card to the Paper Issues shop. Shop the store using DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase. Thanks for stopping by and see you next time!

Special Moments

Hey there! I'm on the Paper Issues blog today sharing my project for the Keep It Sketchy challenge. This is such a fun sketch with so many possibilities! Let me tell you, when I first looked at it, I most definitely did not see Halloween for my page. I had all kinds of ideas. 

I had a few outdoorsy photos of my son and I.  Vicki Boutin Wildflower and Honey was sitting on my desk. I love the large flowers and natural pieces in the ephemera! I kinda thought they were made for each other. But what was I going to use for the shaped part??? Ohhh, I thought I remembered there was a wood grain or tree something or other cut file in the shop. Yup. There are actually a couple! I used the Rings of Life  FREE cut file, trimming the edge off after I glued it down.  I've been playing around with sequins and Nuvo drops lately. I think they pair nicely. I like that there are so many colors to play with.  So there you have it. A super fun sketch that can be used in a bunch of different ways! How will you use it?

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. Catch me on Instagram @thebeachygal to see more of my stuff. Grab Vicki Boutin Wildflower and Honey and so much more in the Paper Issues Shop. It's 20% off when you use DEVRA at checkout. Join the fun in our Facebook Group where you can find this and all our  October Challenges. See you again soon!

Pure Honey

Hey there! I'm on the Paper Issues blog today sharing my layout for the Take 5 challenge. I was really looking forward to this challenge. So many choices! So many ideas!

Well, Let me start with my 5, well, 6 items from the list: Patterned Paper, Orange, Stickers, Stencils, Layers and Leaves. There. Now let me tell you how it came together. Vicki Boutin WildFlower & Honey has been staring at me since it first arrived in my hands. If you don't have this, I don't know what you are waiting for! Get it now while there is still some left!

Anyway, I kind of knew exactly what I wanted to do. That's not always the case!   First I used the stencils with some gelatos and art crayons to create the background. Next I cut the Bud Wreath cut file.  Then is was a matter of deciding which combination of flowers to use, ephemera or stickers, or well, both! I really can't decide if this collection fit the challenge or the other way around. A lot of the Take 5 items are in this collection. I guess it doesn't matter. I love the end result.

I finally had the chance to spend some time with my newest cousin. She was mush more interested in my sister than in me. That's ok. She's as cute as can be and I was happy to see her.

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. Head over to our Facebook Group to find this and all of the  October Challenges. The Paper Issues shop is fully stocked with your favorite Fall and Halloween goodies. Shop using DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase. 

Cherry Picked

Hey there! I'm on the Paper Issues blog sharing my take on today's Scraplift Sunday. This is one of my favorite challenges. It's the perfect 'go to' when the mojo is missing!  Today we are lifting MandaJane's lovely layered page. It pretty much has everything. Lots of photos, patterned paper, layers... so where should I start?

Well, here is my lift.  I started with the photos. I liked the idea of all the small photos, so that stayed pretty much the same. Next up, papers and stuff. Hmmm... what do I have that I can layer up? Well, anything really, but I still can't get enough of Vicki Boutin Color Kaleidoscope, so I went with that. I stuck with a lot of the naturey ephemera pieces...birds, flowers, leaves. 

All I did was matte the photos on one paper, layer another under that one, then tuck and layer all the embellishments. I put them mostly at the sides instead of all around. That's what makes scraplifting so fun. Being inspired by someone else!

Ever since we moved here I've wanted to go cherry picking. We finally did it! I had no idea the trees were so big, or how the cherries grew. I loved every minute of it!

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. Come back again soon! I have more to share!

Hello Friend

Hey there! Im on the Paper Issues blog today sharing my project for the April Showers challenge. I love when our challenges have so much room for interpretation. Did I want to go with flowers, or something else springy? Ooh Baseball starts in spring! I could do that! But sometimes I get so many ideas I don't know what to do! Well, just in time, the daffodils bloomed! I have a small group in my front yard that continue to bloom and grow each spring.

Well, I went right ahead with Vicki Boutin Color Kaleidoscope. How could I not? This collection is my favorite release this year! It's bright! It's colorful and it's inspiring! The water color papers are pretty incredible and made it so easy!  I used the Watercolor Markers to add some more colors. The flowers in the icon ephemera  are beautiful. The stickers and chipboard have all the sentiments I could ever ask for!

ers 

If you are a fan of layering, these are the best! All of the embellishments coordinate and work together beautifully.

Thank so much for stopping by my creative view today. I hope you come back later this week to see what else Im up to! 

When I say you really need this collection, I mean it. It's spectacular. You can get it and so much more right now in the Paper Issues shop. Use DEVRA at checkout for 20% off your purchase. That's a  good reasons shop right? 

Strut Your Stuff

Hello there! I'm on The Cut Shoppe blog today! This Pretty as a Peacock might be one of my favorite cut files ever. But when I saw it, all I could think of was stitching it.  So I did!

I didn't have a photo in mind when I started, but I like bright colors, so I started there with bright blues, greens and pinks. I also had the Strut Yourself flair from A Flair for Buttons.  By the time I finished sewing, I had the photo, and the rest of the product. Vicki Boutin Color Kaleidoscope arrived  just in time! I used the Chasing Rainbow paper behind the body of the peacock. I tried something new, using the WaterColor Markers  and also the Amy Tangerine watercolor set to fill in the feathers. The colors are beyond perfect. I definitely need some practice with the markers, but for a first try I'm really pleased with the results.

You can see more of the stitching in these detail  photos. Like I said, I like bright colors!

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. You can find this and so many incredible cut files in The Cut Shoppe. See you again soon!

Halloween Things

Hey there! I'm on The Cut Shoppe blog today and I'm super excited to share my project with you! Why? Because this is one of those rare times when my page turned out almost exactly as I saw it in my head. 

I'd been wanting to use the Halloween Things cut file since I first saw it. But I didn't have a photo! Lucky for me, I got this gem of a photo of some friends and I dressed up at work. It couldn't be any more perfect for this cut file if I'd tried.

I cut the file out of black cardstock, backing each letter with Vicki Boutin Field Notes patterned paper. Yes, it took some time, but yes, it was also well worth it!  Want to know how I got them placed so well? After I sprayed and dribbled paint down the page, I laid the negative cut space over the white, then placed each letter back into it's original place. I added more black in some of the embellishments, to make sure the title stands out. this page really didn't need much else. I cut a few circles, added some A Flair for Buttons Halloween flair and called it done. I like using a cut file as a title on my pages. This one especially grabs your attention right away don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by my creative view today. Ive got a few more things up my sleeve score back agin soon. Share your projects with us in our Facebook group, The Cut Shoppe Scrap Spot. See you next time.

Who We Are Now

Hello there! I'm back already! I have a layout to share today for today's Get It Scrapped blog article, inspired by OOTD and also  A Flair for Buttons.

OOTD is a current trend. There are Facebook groups, bloggers all kinds of places to see who's wearing what. But have you created a scrapbook page inspired by an outfit? That's what we did today.

The inspiration outfit is one of my very favorites from my own wardrobe. It's easy, comfortable and I always feel good when I wear it. The top is loose and flowy but still shapely. The watercolor of the stripes give it a softer organic effect Jeans are a staple for me. They coordinate with everything, like a neutral. The shoes are also neutral, in color but not style. I love the roping around the wedge, and that they go with everything.

I chose to take most of my inspiration from the neutral and organic aspects of my OOTD. The colors, woodgrain patterned paper and stitching on it represent the texture of my shoes, the organic nature of leather and rope as well. The Vicki Boutin embellishments have a watercolor effect to them which also comes from the stripes in my shirt. The butterflies are not only part of my story, but the design of the leather on my shoe has always made me think of butterflies. The marble flair  and lovely words 7 flair I added are really there to add some dimension and tie all the colors together.

This was a thoughtfully cretive way to draw inspiration from OOTD and I would definitely use this approach again.

Our son recently started college, My husband and I are transitioning to our new parental roles.

Thanks so much for stopping by my creative view today. I promise I'll be back again soon with more to share.

Supplies: Patterned Paper-Webster's Pages, Vicki Boutin, Diecuts, Chipboard stickers, -Vicki Boutin, Flair-A Flair for Buttons, Alpha-American Crafts, mist-Nuvo, Dylusions, pen & adhesive-EK Success, thread-DMC