Paper Issues - Crate Paper's WONDER in the spotlight

morning, chickens!

there's a new product spotlight on the Paper Issues blog today, and i can't tell you how utterly SMITTEN i am with the new WONDER collection from Crate Paper.  it may appear kind of babyish and themey at first glance, but i assure you it's perfect for a KAJILLION types of projects.  heck, i scrapped train tracks!

everything you see here except the white card stock and alphas are from the Wonder collection...  my favourite parts?  the chipboard and acetate sheet, hands down!  but i think i need to stockpile the corrugated patterned sheet, because i absolutely love it!

zoom:

seriously, this collection is SWOON-WORTHY.  for more inspiration, check out the Paper Issues blog to see what the rest of the Creative Team did to showcase it - and then be prepared to covet!

you can grab the goodies i used:

and whatever else is left, but HURRY, it's going fast!  THIS will save you some loot:

you're just a Chip Off The Old Block!

hey chickens!  it's Monday, it's 8 am, it's time for a brand new issue at Paper Issues!  

our theme for this go-round is "A Chip off The Old Block"...  

so we're playing with chipboard, anything to do with boards (surfboards, on board a ship, skateboards, etc.), being bored (or things to keep from being bored), blocks (colour blocking, building blocks, around the block...), chips (the potato or poker kind, or maybe veggie chips or wood chips?)...  family traits, or just go ahead and use the July, August or Chip Off The Old Block free printables from the Paper Issues shop! 

i made the first in a series of paper blocks to decorate my cubicle at work, and i used papers and stickers from the October Afternoon "Summertime" collection, along with some chipboard pieces from older October Afternoon, new Dear Lizzy, Simple Stories, and much older BasicGrey and Echo Park. added some enamel bits and fussy-cut some other bits, adhered them all, and voila!  mood blocks!

i have a pretty roomy cube at work, so i can place these strategically and choose which sides show based on my mood on any given day.  or as messages to passers-by.  i just love adding my personal, crafty little twist to the otherwise-boring decor in there.  

do you decorate your workspace?  i'd love to see what you have in your work area (home office doesn't count - you're not nearly as restricted with fixtures and colours there!)...  

CLICK HERE to see what the rest of the Creative Team have done with this new theme...  there are some seriously fun packs of chipboard frames in the shop right now, so maybe those will help inspire you?   (not like the CT's projects won't wow you enough!)

you're going to want to bust out your chipboard and whatever else might work for this theme, download your free printables (CLICK HERE to see them all!), and get in on the action by linking up on the blog by August 2 and you might be the winner of a $20 gift certificate from Paper Issues!  because have you shopped lately?  er. mah. gerd.  LOADS of new stuff coming into the shop nearly every day.  and THIS will  save you 20% off all of it, ANYTIME.  use code ORANGE whenever you shop - ENJOY!

i scraplifted, because seriously. LOOK at this sketch!

hey hey, chickens!

are you a member of the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook community?
there's, like, a TON of inspiration and we're bringing challenges and free files and fun left and right.

we have a new sketch for you, created with inspiration from the talented Steph Buice, and intended to drum up some mojo for everyone!  because seriously, how can you NOT be inspired by this one?

 

i LOVE the diamond shape, and i love the bits and pieces, and i couldn't wait to jump on this one!

here's my page, with the diamond slightly off-center and my own twist on the sketch:

so, the story with this one...  me and my girl Janice.  photo taken in a club in Buffalo when we didn't have phones with flip screens so you could see what you were shooting.  you pretty much turned a camera around and clicked, hoping something would turn out.  :)  yeah...  not so much in our case!

i used mostly I Am from Simple Stories, plus some ephemera from Crate Paper and Fancy Pants - there happens to be a TON of all of these in the Paper Issues shop right now, with awesome new arrivals from Simple Stories!

zoom to silliness:

LOVE this sketch.  care to join in?  CLICK HERE and play! 
oh, and HOLY WOW, there's a ton of new stuff in the Paper Issues shop.  grab it using this:

it's RAINING CATS AND DOGS at Paper Issues!

okay, my cat is awesome.  and i haven't taken NEARLY enough opportunities to whip up some scrapbook pages featuring my wicked awesome dude.  SO.  because there's a bit of time left to join in the fun at Paper Issues, imma share this one with you.  i'd have shared days ago, but my camera is on its last leg.  finally, SUNSHINE! 

so our theme - "It's Raining Cats and Dogs"...  sponsored by the fabulous Simple Stories, of which there is a TON of new stuff in the Paper Issues shop, in case you haven't already seen it.  a TON!  and it's awesome! 

well this, of course, follows the cat part of the theme, but you can go with dogs, rain, showers (of the weather or celebratory kind, or BOTH!), spring/summer, someone acting catty, or someone being a dog, or hey, go deeper and show us a Slush Puppy theme or something!  we're easy to please!  and link up (just remember to link back to the Paper Issues blog), and you could win one of three fun prize packs from Simple Stories! 

here's Fletcher B. Cat, being cool and collected and not even trying.  he should be in the Dos Equis ads.

i could eat him up.  :)
ZOOM!

LOVE HIM, dadgummit.  he's the coolest cat i know, and i'm SO happy to be his person!  :)

i used some SNAP! goodies from Simple Stories, as well as Studio Calico, Doodlebug, Crate Paper, Bella Blvd, BasicGrey and Panda Eight, plus some spritzing action from Heidi Swapp and Mister Huey's, finished off with embossing paste over an UmWowStudio mask (check out the effect below)...  did i cover all the bases?!  :)

oh, and for the record, there's a whole slew of stuff from the Paper Issues Swag Bags on here, from various months - the June Swag Bag will be available SOON, so you'll want to click HERE to see the fabulosity that is the Swag Bag.

RIGHT.  so.  link up your project (old or new!) by clicking HERE, and join us!  take a look at how the Paper Issues Creative Team used the Simple Stories on their projects (and the prizes  and if you're itching to grab some of the various thingamabobs like those i've used on my page, you'll want to do that with a discount code, right?  take this, off your WHOLE PURCHASE at the Paper Issues store...

we're PITCH PERFECT with Lawn Fawn at Paper Issues!

new link party at Paper Issues!

the theme for this link party at Paper Issues is "Pitch Perfect"...  there's SO much fun to be had with this theme!  music, chorus, camping (pitching tents!), baseball, what you consider perfection, a perfect day, a sales pitch/commercial, quotes from the movie, throwing something, pitching a FIT/tantrum, etc...  LOADS of room for interpretation!

we are sponsored by the fabulous Lawn Fawn, so we Paper Issues girls had some fun working with one of their new stamp sets, "Stay Tuned", which happens to be the prize that's up for grabs, too!  so you can also link up any project using Lawn Fawn products!

so...  my hubbin and i have a band (although we've been on hiatus for a while), and i jumped at the chance to do a music layout using a particularly hipster-looking photo that i took in Seattle last spring.  here's my page:

and there is a TON of Paper Issues product on there.  a TON.  my papers, the vellum, the little chevrons, the hipboard (chipboard), the little title and all kinds of awesomeness from various Swag Bags. 

zoom!

stars!  i totally have a thing for stars.  and i can't get enough of the Doodlebug Sprinkles Vellum.

one more zoom!  this is how our music has been described - consider this our "genre"...

be sure to "like" our awesome sponsor on Facebook by CLICKING HERE, and drop by their blog for loads of inspiration...  oh, and FYI, they have a really fun YouTube channel and are always sharing fun, new ideas, so check it out!  here's the stamp set!

link on up and get in on the action!  and ohhhh, if you're feeling inclined to do a bit of shoppin', you might find some new things in the Paper Issues store, like this:

the new Webster's Pages stuff is HOT, people!  those little lightbulbs are killin' me!  :)  jump on it before it's gone, and don't forget the discount!

happy LURRRRRVE day (although i lurve you EVERY day!)

and a very happy Valentine's Day to you, chickens!  i'm just happy that it's FRIDAY, it's PAYDAY, i've lost a couple of pounds this week since getting my workout mojo back, and i am determined to have some FUN this weekend.  :)  i might even put my shelving together for my craft room!

but FIRST, some lovie-dovie projects to share, made just for the occasion.  these are all loaded up with goodies that came from my Paper Issues SWAG BAG.  the February one sold out, but there may be a Doggie Bag or two left, and you should watch for the March Swag Bag coming soon!  just SUBSCRIBE already (as soon as you see the next one in the shop!), and you don't have to worry about missing out on the action.  so.  things i made.  behold:

okay.  all that you see here is either from the Be Loved collection from Fancy Pants, or the February Swag Bag, or both.  oh, except the button (from an old Fancy Pants collection) and the misty goodness (Heidi Swapp's Color Shine in Sweet Cherry). 

yep, still Fancy Pants...  the candy and tulle are from my stash!  by the time the recipient gets this, the chocolates may be gone.  wonder if they'll enjoy a nice little wad of tulle...

tab and postage stamp stickers still Fancy Pants, the washi is an older roll from Paper Issues, journaling card and sequins from Swag Bag!  alphas - you guessed it (FP). 

then there's THIS:

Swag Bag goodies featured here:  all of it except the green chevvie paper (Elle's Studio) and the felt trim (from my stash).  i am in LOVE with those Pinkfresh Studio hearts.  the wood envelopes are fab (Kaisercraft).  transparent thingies from Studio Calico.  i love it all!

this?

i felt inspired to keep going with the green theme, and used more of the Elle's Studio paper (plus alphas and an old label), added some Doodlebug alphas and Fancy Pants flair.  spoon is from Vegas CHA (the booth behind us was giving out Jelly Bellys in coloured plastic shot glasses, and i stocked up on those little suckers!).  bling.  DONE.

and since this post is long enough, lemme just say that you REALLY should check out the "All New!" section at the Paper Issues shop...  there's a ridiculous amount of new stuff from October Afternoon.  look!

and this.  for an awesome little discount, ALL THE TIME, on everything.  because i love you!  Happy Valentine's Day to YOU!  xoxoxox

yummy Cosmo Cricket CREATIVE GIRL at Paper Issues

i've loved Cosmo Cricket stuff FOR-FLIPPIN'-EVER, and today i am happy to share a card i made using the new Creative Girl line, now available at Paper Issues...  it may be my very fave line of theirs to date, although 2wenty Thr3e is right up there, too.  :)

anywho, i just layered up some of the awesome papers and busted out an embellie from 2wenty Thr3e and they look FABULOUS together...  you need this paper!

so.  the card:

a zoom:

grab this 8x8 pad (i'm a big fan - i've been making bigger cards lately and the 6x6 pads just ain't cuttin' it!):

add some metallic sequins to snazz it up a bit:

 some awesome Cosmo Cricket Tiny Text:

and use THIS to get a sweet, sweet discount!