Paper Issues is getting their NAVY on!

new issue, chickens!  Paper Issues has a brand new link party and you're invited!  this one's sponsored by the super fantabulous Echo Park Paper and they are offering up TWO collection packs to one lucky winner!

i created a card for a friend who just had a baby boy, and i was SO excited that the theme of the baby's room is all nautical cuteness.  here's my card:

i threw down some paper from Bella Blvd, added in some alphas from Doodlebug (and the tiny ones from my stash), and wood and cork bits from Studio Calico, then some burlap trim from Maya Road and twine from The Twinery. 

you wanna play along?  link up your projects that follow the theme (they can be NEW or OLD, as long as you link back to the Paper Issues blog!)...  go for some blues in your project, an aquatic or nautical theme (sea creatures, boats, beaches, marinas, the beach, cruises, water, etc.), military subjects, bath time or showers, use water on your project (i.e. WATERCOLORING!), something 4th of July related or anything using Echo Park products!  seriously, we don't mind how loosely related it is, we just want you to share!  CLICK HERE to see what the Creative Team did for this issue, and have FUN!

oh, and if you haven't already grabbed it, the July Swag Bag is available HERE.  AND a bazillion awesome new products (some are even nautical-themed!) like these:

and my code, as always, will save you some big bucks (that can be spent on more crafties!):

linked up for the May 11th issue, too!  because STARS and what better way to get one's party started than with a brand new baby boy?  :)

New at Paper Issues - Food For Thought! Sponsored by Some Odd Girl

it's a new issue at Paper Issues, and this one's rather near and dear to me!

we're sponsored by Some Odd Girl, and, well, it's kinda perfect, dontcha think?  :D

well we're inviting you to link up, and our theme for this go-round is "Food For Thought"...  share your projects (new or old, just be sure to link back to us!) related to food, ponderings/musings, recipes, restaurants, fave dishes, stresses and worries, dreams and things you think about, puzzles (they make you think!), cooking, dieting, etc...  OR anything you've made using Some Odd Girl stamps!  (easy peasy!)

we happen to have a brand new Some Odd Girl stamp release (which you may have seen if you follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our newsletter), but if not, well you're STILL in for a treat!  the prize for this issue?  two AWESOME sets of clear stamps!  i used the Fruit Salad set for my cards for the issue...

EEEEP!  love these little guys!  (there's a nanner in the set, too)  coloured them up with my Spectrum Noir markers, the main panels are from Polka Dot Party from Dear Lizzy, and everything else (EVERYTHING!) is from the May and June Swag Bags! 

so you wanna play along?  join the link party by CLICKING HERE, and see what the rest of the Paper Issues Creative Team did with these awesome stamps...  might give you some ideas how to incorporate the theme into your projects!  ANNNNND you could win these!

join us.  you know you wanna.  how cute would these stamps be for your kids' lunchbags?  or thank you gifts for teachers?  come onnnnnn, play along!  :)  and if you feel up to it, check out the Paper Issues Instagram feed - there's a contest and all you have to do is share photos of your crafty space and use the hashtag #icrafthere and you could win MORE fabulous stuff from Paper Issues! 

Paper Issues and a Pocket Full of Sunshine!

hey there, chickens! 

new issue today at Paper Issues, and i am DELIGHTED to share something slightly out of character!  i don't get tired of making cards, i assure you, but i got this set of photos from my Instagram feed, and i couldn't resist some of the new pretties i got with my last Paper Issues order.  i made a SCRAPBOOK PAGE!  yep.  craziness!

our theme for the next two weeks is A Pocket Full of Sunshine, and there are SO many fun things you can do with this!  sun.  son!  pockets.  pictures of pockets.  something that's FULL.  anything bright and happy.  whatever!

our sponsor?  the very fun Panda Eight Designs - specializing in some of the most AWESOME flair ever!  (go LIKE their Facebook page!)

here's my page...

LOVE the gradient chevron paper from Chic Tags, and you might not be able to tell, but that pink and white polka dotted panel is actually the new Doodlebug Sprinkles Vellum in white over a piece of plain blush cardstock.  i'm in LOVE with the vellum.  i bought it in EVERY. SINGLE. COLOR.  and some multiples.  those cute little chevron stickers are also new from Doodlebug (get 'em here!). 

zoom!

used some goodies from the inimitable Swag Bag (random pieces appear on random projects), and the alphas are from Jillibean Soup (the title is in Grapefruit Pink, and so is the date, layered over Blueberry Teal), little Amy Tangerine stickers, giant Selfie title from some super old Cosmo Cricket stash, and that gold foil paper behind the sun rays cuts is new from Fancy Pants (and it's fabulous)...

zoom again!

loving the Panda Eight Flair!  (and my Dymo label buddy is always within reach)

AND not only is the lovely Panda Eight Designs offering up FIVE flair packs of the winner's choice (she even made one specifically for this issue!), but we have a DISCOUNT CODE for you, too!  use SUNSHINE20 at checkout for 20% off your order!

CLICK HERE to check out the rest of the Paper Issues Creative Team's creations for this issue and to get in on the action!  i'm still kind of in shock over the fact that i SCRAPPED.  :)

OH, and here's a little something for you!

...lastly, i combined the sketch AND the color inspiration challenge at Unity's {be inspired} challenge, because, seriously, how awesome is the sketch?! (i was pretty true to it, which is a first for me!)  and how perfect are the colors?!  the stamps i used are We Click (camera) and Could I Be Any Cuter? (rainbow) - and this is the first time i've used stamps on a scrappy page, too! 

Woodn't You Know, It's Fall! Paper Issues - sponsored by Pinkfresh Studio!

hey chickens!  have you linked up to our current issue yet at Paper Issues?  it's called Woodn't You Know It's Fall - and you can do an autumn theme, or anything to do with wood, wood veneers, the woods, woodland critters, etc... "falling for you" or use anything from our awesome sponsor, Pinkfresh Studio, or you can go wherever you'd like as long as it fits the theme somehow!

i coloured up a sweet little fuzzpaw from the Clever Kittys set from Some Odd Girl...

since he looks like he's just itching to play, i thought the sentiment, an oldie but a goodie from Heidi Swapp, was rather perfect!  a couple of bits of paper from Fancy Pants, some black sparkly paper behind it all, and those AWESOME resin stars from Pinkfresh Studio.  i love their stuff, and the little bit of bold colour these little cuties add!

click here and link up your projects (old or new!) - i know you have a BAZILLION projects that have a coloured image on them, so what's taking you so long?  there's a fab goodie bag from Pinkfresh Studio to be won!

annnnd if you're up for some shopping (for those cute stars, or anything ELSE you can get your paws on!), i have a discount code you are welcome to use ANYTIME!  :)

we're FILLIN' 'ER UP at Paper Issues! $20 up for grabs!

hey there, chickens!  it's time for a brand new issue at Paper Issues, and our theme is "Fill 'er up!"...  we love seeing what you creative people come up with to fit the theme (and remember your project does NOT have to be new!), and i kinda went for a two-fer... 

here's my card, featuring the YUMMY new Be Loved collection from Fancy Pants (CLICK HERE to check it all out in the Paper Issues store!):

those papers!  OH MY GOOMIE!  i love the shades of pink, and the awesome touches of grey throughout the line!  and the watercolor hearts are just fabulous!  the flair and alphas are from Be Loved as well.  all i added from my stash was the ribbon and sequins.  now all i want to do is make lovey-dovey Valentine's cards. 

SO.  to fit our theme, i make a little shaker box and filled it up with shiny things, and i incorporated the theme into my title, too.  piece of cake!  remember, you can do whatever you like as long as it fits the theme. some ideas, should you be struggling for inspiration... gas prices, filling a page, fill a pocket on your card/scrapbook page, filling things (like bags of leaves, bathtubs, the dishwasher, filling a house with love, etc.)...  the sky's the limit!

here's what's up for grabs!

and you can spend it in conjunction with this:

and you can buy nice things like this:

'cuz who doesn't like a discount?  and who isn't LOVING these new releases?!

LINK UP by February 16th and you might get yourself $20 to spend at the Paper Issues store.  :)

One week left for the JUST MY TYPE issue at Paper Issues!

you could win $20 to spend at the Paper Issues store!

 

you WANT to win $20 to spend at the Paper Issues store, believe me!  it goes a LONG WAY, especially when you throw in a discount!  :)  keep readin', folks!

yep.  so.  the current issue.  LOADS of ways to play with this one!  make it about love.  throw down some awesome fonts (i know there are lots of font geeks out there!).  use a typewriter.  heck, just TYPE on it!  either way, LINK UP!  there's a week to go, and we're having a ball with it.

i made another card for the occasion:

i'm on a mission to use up some OLD STASH, and between this and my last card for this issue, i used an entire pack of Studio Calico RUBONS.  yes!  GLORY!

anywho, the typewriters.  NIFTY, right?  well you can grab this typewriter paper for yourself if you wanna!

CLICK HERE to grab it, and throw some other stuff in your cart while you're at it, then use THIS:

link up by next Sunday, and you might be a lucky winnah...  everyone loves a winnah, baby.  dat's da troof!

it's funny 'cuz there's a typewriter on the card.

HIYA! 

have you linked up to our CURRENT ISSUE at Paper Issues?  did you know there's a $20 gift certificate to the Paper Issues shop up for grabs?  and did you know that there's a PLETHORA of gorgeous new pretties coming in from all the CHA releases, and they're available now at the Paper Issues shop?

well consider yourself told, folks!  you KNOW you wanna link up.  it's as easy (and fun) as this:

yep.  our current theme is "You Are Just My Type" - so there are LOTS of ways to interpret this one!  i went with the obvious on this one, with the whole typewriter thing...  THIS PAPER:

totally screamed to me.  i used some OLD stash - loads of Studio Calico stuff (rubons from, oh, 5 years ago, for instance).  you probably don't want the old stuff, but you can grab the new stuff HERE!

and if you use THIS, you can get a sweet little deal on your whole order at the Paper Issues store (believe me, you don't want to miss all the new stuff - it's flying out the door!):

join the linky party by CLICKING HERE, and good luck!  you can use an extra $20 to spend on crafty goodies, right?  yeah, i thought so. 

Shiny and New at Paper Issues!

we've got a new issue, folks!  but we ALL have issues, right?  well for this we're looking for anything that follows the theme "Shiny and New" (interpret however you'd like!), but we also have a sketch if you'd like an extra push.  NOT necessary to follow the sketch!

for this one, we're also giving away an awesome $20 gift certificate to spend at the Paper Issues store, and WHOA, there's so much new stuff i'm having a hard time keeping up!  every time i place my order, new stuff comes in and i have to place another!  :D

here's what i made for the occasion:

i used the yummalicious Sweet Cherry Color Shine from Heidi Swapp (Paper Issues has LOADS of colors!) and Double Yellow Mister Huey's from Studio Calico to pretty up their mistables, Carribean Baker's Twine from The Twinery.  some paper from Echo Park (an older collection - Happy Days, but there's lots of EP available HERE!), ball trim (swoooooon) and a cheapie felt key from somewhere.  lullz.  bling.  alphas.  done.

so yes.  LINK UP HERE.  win this:

shop with THIS:

**linked up 4/3/14 to the new Pocket Full of Sunshine issue at Paper Issues!**

New issue at Paper Issues - we are GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

and hello again!  busy Monday for this little orange girl!  i'm happy to be sharing the brand new issue at Paper Issues, and appropriately, it's all about being grateful.  and YES, we ARE grateful for you!  not only do we get a ton of OSS support at Paper Issues with the participation in our themes every two weeks, but because the store has expanded and gotten more and more fabulous because of amazing customers (like me, and like you!).  keep supporting!  we love you!

and i am GRATEFUL FOR YOU.  see?

that there is Kimono Kaylee, a digi from Some Odd Girl, and she's colored up with my Spectrum Noir markers.  some pretty BasicGrey papers behind her (click here to see what BasicGrey products are available at Paper Issues!), a couple of snips of ribbon, stamped sentiment and stamped/fussycut leaves, and DONE. 

so there.  i'm thankful.  and it's nearly Thanksgiving in the U.S.  give thanks, folks.  don't take anything for granted because you don't know what or who's going to be there tomorrow.

participate in our current issue by CLICKING HERE!  read the rules, follow 'em, and you could win this:

and don't forget to use my code for a 20% savings on your WHOLE order at Paper Issues!

how to win some Heidi Swapp Color Shine

simple.

link up to our Halloween Party at Paper Issues, 'cuz that's our current issue!  the Paper Issues girls DO have Halloween Issues!  :)  some might say we've gotten carried away.  ;)  personally, i love it, and hey, if by getting carried away with us, that means you might win something FAB, then so be it. 

so bring it on!  i'm not sharing a Halloween project right now, but showing you the a sampling of the GORGEOUSNESS of the prize you can win:

the burlap was frayed and messed up and sprayed first with the Navy Color Shine, then i laid my bottom panel down in the pool of blue that was on my craft mat.  next, i masked the letters and sprayed White Color Shine on top for contrast and to mute out the background but keep that fabulous blue shimmer.  i traced the letters with a white gel pen, and the snowflakes were sprayed with the Citron Color Shine for pop.  :)

check out the SHIMMMMMMMAH:

i love the marbled vein throughout!  of course, trying to capture the shimmer in a photograph is challenging, but ERMAHGERD, this stuff is HOT.  you NEED it.  you WANT TO WIN IT!

link up HERE and this whole set could be yours!

and if you just want to grab them for yourself, plus any other goodies available at the Paper Issues store, i've got a sweet deal for you!

come and link up your HALLOWEEN projects at Paper Issues!

there's still time - we're having SO much fun at our Halloween Linky Party that we've decided to extend it another week!  you TOTALLY want to jump on this one - there's a most delicious treat (not a trick, i promise) to be won!

this is a page from my early crafty days - i still don't know HOW to make a proper scrapbook page, and i just do my own darned thing, but i couldn't help but link this one up:

my super awesome friend Dee always showed up at the Cont in full makeup - she rocked the spider eyes and i loved that she did her own thing.  i think that's why i loved the ess out of her.  i didn't quite do the gothy/industrial thing either:

white cardigans, red lipstick and birthday cake hats.  not exactly the picture of goth, right?  (that reminds me, it's HAT SEASON!)

well there you have it.  you can win THIS:

and trust me, the stuff is OSS.  i'm a little obsessed with the green (Citron).  get it HERE at the Paper Issues shop, and once you've filled up your cart, do this:

happy linking, happy shopping, and happy HALLOWEEEEEEEEEEN!

Christmoweenie - Paper Issues NEW issue comin' atcha!

okay, so the theme is NOT Christmas, but it's Hallowe'en, and i couldn't wait to bust out some of my new goodies, which are CHRISTMAS THEMED, for the most part.  and that's okay!  that works for me.

i made a Hallowe'en project for the occasion, and you should, too.  because you could win one of the very pretties that i used on my project!  CLICK HERE for the Paper Issues party.  here's m'card:

so.  that GREEN, that gorgeous green shimmery spritzy goodness?  that's the new Citron Heidi Swapp Color Shine, and you want it.  and you can WIN IT!  plus the rest of the new colors....

the other stuff i used?  Paper Issues goodness...  paper from the brand new Glitz hello december 6" paper pad...  brand new Pink Paislee Hey Kid Ephemera...  TCW Dina Wakley 6x6 template...  (that one's sold out, but there are PLENTY of other awesome options!) and Mister Huey's Color Mist in Manila.   

Endless Summer at Paper Issues - $20 to spend at the store!

okay, have you officially said goodbye to summer yet?  the afternoons still warm up around here, but the mornings are dewy and brisk, and in the evenings, i break out the slippers and onesies (yep, i wear those one-piece PJs!).  so while fall is here, there are still traces of summer lingering around the days like pigeons at the park, and we're not QUITE ready to bid adieu at Paper Issues!

this issue is all about summer, and you can do whatever the heck you'd like with it.  CLICK HERE for the current issue, and do the whole like/link thing and you could win a $20 gift certificate to spend at the Paper Issues store.  :)

here's my little tribute to summer - i will be VERY sad, to say the least, when the ice cream place around the corner closes its doors for the season.  so, ya know, kids eating scrummy treats...

and a close-up of Ice Cream Tia and Popsicle Tobie (for maximum freckle effect!):

okay.  so you know what you gotta do, right?  link your project - new or old - and then cross your fingers so you can win THIS:

and you can use this to save money: