Bundle Up! {Scrappy Friends Sketch Challenge + Paper Issues Take 5 Challenge}

I've been dying to use the new Simple Stories Freezin' Season collection by  I got from Paper Issues, and I found the perfect photo of my friend's son to use this cute collection.

I played along over at Rochelle's Scrappy Friends challenge with this awesome sketch: 

I also played along with the Take 5 challenge at Paper Issues. I actually used 8 things from the list: a banner, snowflakes, stripes, a cut file, stickers, fussy cutting, patterned paper, and a label.

Here are some details. I only had one photo, so I decided to use this cute penguin, cut from one of the cut-apart cards in the collection, inside a frame to substitute for the second picture. The little houses were cut from a patterned paper.

I used a snowflake in place of the circle in the sketch. This is a free cut file from Paper Issues called Circles and Snowflakes.

I elevated some of the elements with pop dots for added dimension.

I love these little banners I got at Michael's. I wish they had other colors besides black. They're by Recollections.

I hope you'll come play in the Paper Issues challenge for a chance to win a gift certificate to the PI store, and for sure give this sketch a try too!

While you're browsing at the free cut files at Paper Issues, take a look at all the new stuff in the shop, and use my code Debbi (no e on the end) for 20% off your entire order!

Bee-You-Tiful {Paper Issues Take 5 Challenge}

I played in the Take 5 challenge at Paper Issues and created this page:

To play in this challenge, you pick [at least] 5 things from the list. I used 6 things: chipboard, stripes, fussy cutting, patterned paper, label, and wood bits.

Here are some details. I was so glad to use that cute chipboard October Afternoon bee that I've had in my stash FOREVER. I fussy cut the leaves from an Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste paper to tuck behind these old yellow flowers. I made my own tag and cut a label in half so I could use it on both sides of my page.

I bought that bee paper, by Carolee's Creations a few years ago after a fiasco when yellow jackets had built a nest on my porch seat and I got stung, but I've never made that page. I'm glad I had it in my stash for this page!

The hexagon stencil by Crafter's Workshop was perfect to echo the beehive in the background of the bee paper. I added a little white acrylic paint to texture paste to use with the stencil so it would stand out more.

I'm pretty sure I used a sketch as inspiration for this page, but I couldn't find it again. If you know the source of the sketch, please let me know so I can give credit.

I hope you'll play in this or some of the other many fun challenges at Paper Issues for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Paper Issues store. Don't forget to show your support to Paper Issues by stopping by the shop and check out all the great new products. Use my code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll score 20% off your entire purchase!

The Greatest Gift {Paper Issues' Feeling Sentimental Challenge}

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today. Here's my post:

Calling all crafters!! Card Makers, this is especially for you, but feel free to enter using any form of paper project. Grab those sentiments and put them to paper! Perfect for Christmas Cards. Use a quote of any kind in your project to qualify for this challenge.

I don't fancy myself a card maker, so I decided to create a layout for this challenge. I found this wonderful quote on Pinterest that I thought was perfect for this sweet photo of my friend's children, and wanted to make the quote front and center on my page.

I originally thought of using different colored letter stickers, but that got too busy, so I went with all black letter stickers. Since there were so many words, I didn't want to use too much pattern. Instead, I added watercolor and some stamping to my background. (Paper Issues has loads of awesome stamps in the store). 

I originally had my page designed on the left side, but the right side was too naked, so I tore the paper and added it to a piece of polka dot paper from my scrap drawer. It wasn't quite 8 inches wide, so I left the branding strip on there.

I layered up some more paper scraps behind my photo and added some odds and ends from my stash.

Come play with us for a chance to win one of two gift certificates to the Paper Issues store. Just link your creation in the Facebook Friends and Fans album.

Using a quote like this on your layout is a great way to use up some old letter stickers--and great way to make room in your stash to buy some new alphas! Check out all the awesome letter stickers in the Paper Issues store. Use my code Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire order!

Isn't She Lovely {Paper Issues Winged Things Challenge}

Here's my most recent page I crated for Paper Issues, for the "Winged Things" challenge, which was to use something with wings, so I chose butterflies.

I used the beautiful Monarch Butterfly Wreath free cut file from Paper Issues and fussy cut some butterflies from a One Canoe Two paper. I gave them dimension by lifting their wings with pop dots.

I added some shimmery white sequins. Since I don't put these pages in albums (I store them in boxes), I made one of the butterflies flying off the page.

The blue flowers were cut from an Amy Tangerine paper. I wanted lots of layering under the pretty picture, but I didn't want it to look too heavy, so I folded up some tissue paper and cut it and tucked it at the bottom.

There are so many beautiful cut files over at Paper Issues for free. While you're at the store, check out all the new goodies, and be sure to use my code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire order!

The Egg Collector {Paper Issues Scraplift Sunday challenge}

I love making pages for other people, and I've started making pages for a friend of mine, featuring her beautiful daughter. I created this page for Paper Issues Scraplift Sunday challenge.

Here's the fabulous page, by Devra, that we had to lift for this challenge. As always, my pages look a little different because I scrap 8 x 8.

Here are some details. As soon as I decided on this photo, I remembered an old October Afternoon chipboard sheet that had some chickens, so my layout started there. I used mostly October Afternoon papers.

The flair badge in the image below is from A Flair for Buttons.  also rescued some old 7Gypsies photo turns that have been in my stash forever. I get a thrill using older stash!

How fun is that polka dot chicken? It's from the same October Afternoon chipboard sheet.

I hope you'll come play in this or some of the loads of other challenges at Paper Issues. Upload your layout into the November challenge album for a chance to win one of two monthly gift certificate giveaways!

Go check out all the new stuff in the store and the free cut files. And be sure to use my code, Debbi (no e on the end), for a 20% discount on your entire order!

Spooky Fun {Paper Issues Keep It Sketchy Challenge}

ETA: I'm fixing my journaling mistake. Thanks, Tracee, for finding it!

I wanted to scrap these pictures of our first experience carving pumpkins before we got too far away from Halloween, and I just got Bella Blvd's Sweet & Spooky collection in the mail from Paper Issues, so I went in search of a Paper Issues challenge and found that this month's sketch features two photos. Here's what I created:

Here's the sketch that inspired my page:

And here are some details. I mostly used stuff from the Sweet & Spooky collection, plus a few things from my stash. Most everything came from this one sheet of paper and the chipboard from the collection. The black and white papers were scraps from my stash. I fussy the little monsters and spider and adhered them with pop dots for extra dimension and then added a Lawn Fawn puffy star.

The little cat was also cut from that same paper, which is on the back of the orange, so if you buy that orange paper, be sure to get two sheets!

That blue skeleton face was cut off at the bottom of the patterned paper and I thought how cute would he be peeking out from behind the photos, again cut from that same sheet of paper, along with the bats. The phrase stickers are by Tim Holtz. I was walking upstairs to photograph my layout when I stared at it and felt something was missing. I ran back downstairs and added the enamel dots, which added just that little extra touch this simple page needed.

I hope you'll come play in this or another of the many fun challenges over at Paper Issues, for a chance to win a gift certificate to the store!

Paper Issues has a couple of Halloween collections, so grab them before they're gone! And be sure to use my code Debbi (no e on the end) for 20% off your entire purchase!

Make a Splash {Paper Issues Keep It Sketchy Challenge}

The October sketch at Paper Issues is the inspiration for this layout I created:

Here's the sketch:

And here are some details. The flamingo on my friend's daughter's shirt made me think of Jen Hadfield's Patio Party collection. The greens and pinks in the photo were a perfect match for the palette of this collection.

I adhered the four quadrant elements on pop dots to give dimension to my page.

The chipboard Splash, by Crate Paper" was perfect to tie in with the blue pool in the photo. There wasn't any blue to match in the Patio Party collection, so I went to my paper scraps and found an old Ki Memories paper that matched the blue title.

Here's a peek at the bottom left quadrant.

There's still plenty of time to play in this challenge, and the quadrant design makes it so easy to put a page together quickly. Just add your creation to the Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook page. You have until November 4.

Be sure to check out all the awesome new stuff in the store. And if you use my code Debbi (no e on the end), you'll get 20% off your entire purchase!

Bask {Paper Issues Free File Free-for-All Challenge}

Paper Issues has the best free cut files, so it's always fun to play in their Free File Free-for-All challenge. I used the Sunny Day cut file to make this page:

Here are some details. Most of the stuff on my page is from Paige Evans' Turn the Page collection. I adhered the cut file to yellow paper and then cut around the outside to make the sun. I mounted it on cloud paper to give it some lift.

Most everything on the page is lifted with pop dots.

I love these old vinyl Poolside Thickers. The color went perfectly with this collection.

You'll definitely want to get in on the fun for a chance to win one of two gift certificate to the Paper Issues store. Just add your creation to the Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook page. You have until November 4.

While you're perusing all the free cut files, be sure to check out all the awesome new stuff in the store? Be sure to use my code Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire purchase!