Allow me to Espresso...

mornin', CHICKENS!  it's Monday, and while Mondays have a bad reputation, they hold a totally different meaning when it comes to Paper Issues!  we have a super fun issue going on right now, and today, it's part TWO of our Creative Team's inspiration! 

today's theme is "Let Me Espresso my Gratitude"... which means you're welcome to submit any NEW or OLD creation that fits the theme, and that can be PRETTY broad...  stuff like COFFEE (!!!), anything for which you're thankful, Thanksgiving (natch!), embellish with coffee-related stuff (have you seen the PaperPOPs in the Paper Issues shop?!), use our free printables and/or cut files (there's a new "Thankful Watercolor" printable available now!)...  make scrapbook pages or cards or anything that fits the theme!

i decided to give a little shout-out to my biffy for the last 15+ years for my page.  he's been a HUGE support through all the crazy stuff going on in my life, he's seen me through a move to New Jersey, a few great losses and job changes, and some very happy moments (there are some going on RIGHT NOW!).  i am totally grateful for my best friend, my Smudge-Paw...

this page uses some awesome papers from Basic Grey's "B-sides" line, Elle's Studio "Joyful", Seven Paper's "Clara" line, plus some goodies from Maggie Holmes' Shine and Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane and Memorandum.  OH!  and mustn't forget the Swag Bag bits!  don't know what a Swag Bag is?  have you been living under a rock?  ;)  CLICK HERE and grab yourself a subscription!

entering this challenge (do it by CLICKING HERE) means you're eligible to win a $20 gift certificate to the Paper Issues shop (and lemme tell ya, it can go a LONG, LONG way, especially when you combine it with a discount!).  you have until December 6th to play along!  just remember that when you link, your entry (blog post, Facebook post, whatever) needs to also link back to us.

so there you have it!  CLICK HERE to check out today's post and see what my teamies did to rock this challenge.  Jennie and Sherri kicked it hard, and have some gorgeous inspiration for you!

and when you win that gift certificate, or decide to shop for some of the new fabulosity in the shop, remember the code!

  

the Paper Issues girls are here to Pinspire!

hey chickens!

it's Monday and i'm totally excited to bring you my very first Pinspire Me Monday post at the Paper Issues blog!  there's a whole new mood board for the month of July, and i had a TON of fun putting the images and color swatch together to get your mojo flowin'!

here's the fun mood board:

i was loving the yellow window and that fabulous distressed woodgrain, with some pops of colour from the other images...  here's the card i made to celebrate:

most of the elements on this card are from the Pink Paislee Pen Pals line - it's a little older, but it's SO much fun and there's still a handful of it left in the Paper Issues shop!  CLICK HERE to see for yourself, and hey, you may want to take advantage of a HUGE sale going on right now while the shop is getting ready for lots of new arrivals!  

code GIMME50 gets you 50% off EVERYTHING right now! lots of stuff has
already sold out, but you can take advantage of the sale until tomorrow - HURRY!

Pink Paislee's Pen Pals at Paper Issues!

just 'cuz that was fun to type and hear in my head.  go on, say it out loud! 

so this Pen Pals line from Pink Paislee - i kinda super love it, bought EVERYTHING, and am afraid i'm hoarding already.  i've made a couple of cards but i tucked it all away in a safe place for now.  have you seen it?!  it's lovely!

LOVE.  everything you see here is from the line, with a couple of little bits of Swag Bag (our monthly mixed embellishment sampler) dotted in there.  if you're sending mail anyway, why not send a card that has a cute theme like this? 

here's some of the Pink Paislee that's available in the Paper Issues shop right now:

navy blue is SO hot right now, and this line is full of it!  check out the Paper Issues shop and if you're reading this before July 31st, there's an awesome sale going on!  after July 30th (and ANYTIME YOU LIKE!) use my code ORANGE for 20% off your entire order - of EVERYTHING! (yep, that includes SWAG BAGS!)

did i mention Pink Paislee is giving pretties away?

well it's true!

join us at Paper Issues while we're in the homestretch - our current issue is all about Moms and Pink Paislee (one, the other, or a combination of the two!), and we want to see your creations! 

CLICK HERE and check out the gorgeous things the Paper Issues ladies have done with Pink Paislee's gorgeous Hope Chest line - seriously AH-MAY-ZING.  i mean it! 

i played with some Spring Jubilee plus some glittery PP chippie alphas i've hoarded for way too long (because the color is just fabulous), and this little card was born:

yeah, initially i thought i might shoot for something CAS.  needless to say, once i started cutting into those papers, CAS was out of the question.  all i added was the doily and the center bling, but the rest is all PP. 

so you wanna win one of TWO prize packs from our OSS sponsor?  yeah, i know you do.  CLICK.  trust me!  read all about it, and do some browsing while you're at it.  the inspiration is kinda ridic.  YUM.

by the way, you can find some pretties like THIS

at the Paper Issues etsy shop...  and you can snag 'em for
20% off using the code ORANGE!  ('cuzza me!)

Pink Paislee is sponsoring us at Paper Issues!

wellie wellie wellie...  Mother's Day in the U.S. was this past Sunday, and even though i haven't seen my mother in, well, 24 years, i have to say i'm super lucky because i have the most OSS of Mothers-in-Law!  she loves popcorn as much as i do, she got into the cardmaking thing with me a few years ago and accumulated a bunch of stuff that i will inherit when i move into my new home, and no matter how many times we go visit my in-laws for dinner, it's still not enough.  :)  she's spunky and wears the pants, and i can spend hours and hours with her and still not want to poke my eyes out with a butter knife.  that's a GOOD SIGN.

so, in honour of my MIL, a card for our current issue at Paper Issues!

this one features one of the mini-kits from the Paper Issues Etsy shop - the Collectable Journey kit isn't available anymore, but there are always similar ones with fun little papers and embellies (mmm, twine), like THIS ONE!  so the twine and papers are from my little kit, the circle and flower stickers are from BasicGrey's Fact & Fiction line (get more yummy BG goodness RIGHT HERE), the chevron and SMILE stamps are Some Odd Girl, and the Happy Mother's Day sentiment and buttons are from SP & Company.

okay.  so did you make something for Mother's Day?  have you made anything using Pink Paislee products?

welllllllll...  Pink Paislee is generously giving away 2 fabby prize packs - one featuring the gorgeous Hope Chest collection (which the Paper Issues girls rocked for the hop!), and one from the Cottage Farms collection.  so go COMMENT!  HOP!  and give us a little Facebook LIKEY action!  and for an added bonus, LINK UP!  share your project featuring anything using Pink Paislee products, or any Mother's Day project, and you're bettering the odds you'll be one of our lucky winners!  CLICK HERE to check out the Issue, and to see the team's amazing creations.  OH, and go shopping!  use my code for 20% off everything!

okay, so my post has been SUPER wordy.  i think it's time to call it a day and get back to my online courses for the American Bankers Association and fall asleep in front of my computer.  BRING IT!  :)