New Issues Monday @ Paper Issues!

Its time for round 2 of New Issues Monday at Paper Issues!! This month's issue is called Pedal/Petal to the Medal/Metal and here are some ideas that come in to the catergory! 

• Use metallics and/or metal embellishments.
• Create a project using flowers or about gardening and spring.
• Share something about transportation like bicycles, motorcycles, cars (your first car or current ride), toy cars, etc.
• Show us a project about awards and/or accomplishments.

I thought I would kind of touch on the spring aspect. It's all about April Showers and I thought this cute photo of Addison playing in the puddles would be perfect! Little by Little by Shimelle has perfect kid elements as well as spring colors. The raindrop paper and rain clouds I thought how fun to add to the page. I also for a while have been wanting to do this heart element I saw on another page via Pinterest. So I cut the paper in to 2x2 squares then diagonally cut them to build a heart as well as parts of the heart to form a pattern of the heart on the paper. I thought the glue wasn't enough so I did put some modge podge on top of it which gave the page a shiny feel, which was a new surprise. 

As always I have to have clusters of embellishments on the page, I did some on the left of the photo as well as added fussy cut flowers on other parts of the hearts. The bottom right I built another cluster. The letters for the title were from the Crate Paper Little You (Girl) line - thought the pink went well with the elements on the page. I also took a shot at some hand stitching, although now that I look at it- I wish I had done it with a bolder color than white so it would stand out more but it was definitely a new thing to try that I enjoyed. 

I can't wait to see what you guys submit to the challenge on Paper Issues Facebook Group. If you need more goodies- because who the hell doesn't- go to the Paper Issues store and use my code Renee to save yourself 20% on your order! Which means you buy more right?? :D Maybe that's just me as always. 

x.o Renee

Swag Bag @ Paper Issues!!

One of my favorite things about Paper Issues are the swag bags. I never bought one before I was on the DT, which now I regret because I understand the awesomeness of them now! The swag bags are random bits and doodads from different collections that Cassie brings together along with cut aparts - sometimes other great bits such as stamps. I was so excited about March's bag because it was full of everything bright and summer.  This Iowa winter has been so confusing, I just want sunshine and warmth back. 

Isn't it just bright and happy?? I know unfortunately this month bag is already sold out, so I'm hoping some of you had the chance to get your paws on it! Some of the bits that I received are different than what's in the photo but none the less, they go fantastic with the collection! 

Once I started putting things together, I realized the swag bag went really well with Amy Tangerine's new line On A Whim. It has all the tropical colors and feels going on through out the collection. Same with the swag bag! 

I layered a few different pink scrap sheets in my stash for the bottom segment. Took the two photos, kind of put them together off centered than layered the cut apart cards behind them.  I formed clusters as always from the bits from the swag bag as well as the Amy Tan line on both sides of the cut apart cards. Focusing on the Pink and Yellow, with bits of green. There was flamingos on the one card so I thought I'd include the pineapples and flamingos pieces I had as well to pull it all together. 

Makes me just want to pack my bags and run to some ocean to play in the water. Jealous of my sister's family, they live within distance of water and I'm in landlocked Iowa.  I will live through their adventures and pretend I'm with them, while staring out the window at the gloomy weather.  I think the page turned out just as warm and sunny as I had intended! I hope you all participate with the challenge, if you weren't able to grab a March bag- take a chance on the April bag! Never know what you can pull together with all the bits and pieces. You can also use my discount - Renee- for 20% off the bags as well!! How awesome is that?? 

xo. Renee

Product Spotlight @ Paper Issues!!

It's time for a new Product Spotlight at Paper Issues! This week's chosen line is from Fancy Pants and it's called Family & Co. I can't get enough of it, but there's few lines in the world I don't want. This just has the blues, reds -- just colors that are sparse. Perfect for a page on these two silly boys!

For this page I used the sketch that was from Sketchy Saturday. I didn't make a page for it, because I thought I didn't have 3 pictures but then I found these gems. So I used it for this page, kind of a two birds one stone ordeal. I used the embellishment "We Are Family" as the title- backed it with some of the segments of solid backgrounds. Formed a cluster around the title as well.  I found some old Fancy Pants embellishments that I had gotten - worked well with this collection as well! I love when that happens!! 

I just love these photos of my brother in law and nephew! They are quite the silly pair!! I'm excited that this line is about family and is also easy to make masculine without kiddish. I have plenty of it left thankfully that I can make more pages. 

Can't wait to see your work up on the Paper Issues' Facebook group! Multiple challenges are up and ready besides this one- so don't hesitate to join even if you don't have the Family & Co. line!! But if you want to buy it- check out the Paper Issues' Store and use my code Renee to save yourself 20%!! 

xo. Renee

Roll the Dice @ Paper Issues!!

Can you believe that I've been on the DT for  4 months now and I have yet to do a Roll the Dice Challenge? Gosh, I fail. But this month, I jumped on it! 

Rachel does this cute video every month with her sweet boys where they roll dice to get what numbers of certain items to incorporate on your page.  This month's challenge was 6 stickers and 2 tags! 

I have wanted to scrap photos from a Firecracker 5k I did a few years ago with my sister's family. I have tried a few times, and quite frankly- they look horrible! But when I saw the Sweet Freedom line by Pink Paislee. It just had to work this time! It is so gorgeous and perfect. 

I know a lot of my pages have a similar concept, lots of layering and clusters of embellishments. This layout is the same as them all I used frames, tags and multiple cut aparts to layer behind the photo. Used stickers and other embellishments for the clusters.  I used one of the free cut files from the Paper Issues store designed for this collection. Backed it with multiple sheets from the collection, leaving one blank for the journaling. 

This is one of my favorite races I've done- I got to run with my sister and brother in law- although we know they were ahead me by a ways. I ran most of the race without stopping, we got to be featured in the race because of our cute tutu's. The kiddos even got to run in a race and earn little medals which is so cute! I think the memory that stands out of this race is listening to Call Me Maybe on repeat- then it ended up being the song on the radio when we started the car. I also slept most of the afternoon when I didn't hydrate well enough and got sick. Oh the memories. Now I know to drink fluids, quit being a tough chick- it doesn't work well with you later. Bahaha. 

I think this collection is just gorgeous, I can't wait to use it again. Hopefully I do exciting things this summer for the 4th of July!  You should go to the Paper Issue's store and pick it up for the summer. It's just so American and also vintage/feminine. So perfect.  I can't wait to see how you guys complete this challenge!  Also don't forget to use my code Renee to save yourself 20% on your purchase!! 

xo. Renee

Take 5 Tuesday @ Paper Issues!!

It's Take 5 Tuesday at Paper Issues!! I love this challenge because the list always has a bunch of stuff I have! There's no way you can't do this challenge, just pick 5 or more things from the list and go to town! 

I picked 2. yellow , 4. pattern paper, 5. polka dots, 7. two or more fonts, and 10. layers; and here's is the outcome! 

I used the new line by Doodlebug- Fairy Tales. I love all the bright colors and fun embellishments such as the rainbows and unicorns! It's coming to the Paper Issues store soon, you'll have to grab it all when you can! I thought it would work perfectly for any page about little girls!  For this page- I used a FREE cut file from the Paper Issues store- backed it with pieces of the paper.  I also created a border around it with another piece of the collection. There's so many embellishments in this collection so it's right down my alley. I created a banner with the banner pieces also layered behind the photo as always with the cut aparts. One of the cut aparts had the quote on it, which I thought worked perfectly for this page!! 

I formed multiple clusters with the embellishments along the center and at the bottom of the page. This photo of Addison with her fun crazy hair looks so good with the colors in this page, so I had to put it together. She's such an fun and sassy girl, so independent and smart. I know I say it all the time; but scrapbooking pages of her are so much fun compared to the boring other pictures I have. She inspires my pages to capture how amazing she is, the pressure!! But this little girl will be 10 this week, and I am so proud to be her aunt. I love watching her journey in life from afar being I can't be close to her all the time. I hope no one ever dulls her sparkle. 

I hope everyone joins in this challenge! It's so easy and so fun; the possibilities are endless!! If you need anything scrap related, take a look at all the supplies and newest collections at the Paper Issues store!! As always, use my name Renee to save yourself 20%. That means you can spend more right?? It'll show up at your door faster than it took you to decide what to put in your cart; the service Cassie provides is outstanding! 

xo. Renee

Notable Quotable @ Paper Issues!!

It's time for the Notable Quotable Challenge for April and this month's quote is amazing! 

There are so many places to take this quote and in my mind, only one picture kept coming to me when I read this quote. There's this beautiful photo of my niece I took when I nannied for her one summer. Every time I look at it I smile; she just looks so curious about the world. Little things can spark big questions when you're so small.  There's just so much hope when you look at her face. Even  when I look at her today, I know she'll accomplish big amazing things. She's so fearless and I'm so proud of her.

For this page, I wanted to kind of keep everything in a segment of the paper. I was drawn to all the green/aqua elements of the collection.  So I layered with bits and pieces of the paper, then formed clusters with the rest of the pieces around the bottom of the photo. I used bits of the pink as well through out the clusters.  I used the quote above and below the photo. Clearly I didn't smartly plan it, ran out of some letters- but tried to use pieces to complete it best I could! Never know when you'll have to use your imagination, ha! 

I hope you all play along with this challenge and post it up in the Paper Issues Facebook Group! I can't wait to comment and love all your pages!! If you need more supplies, never hesitate to shop at the wonderful Paper Issues store- use my code Renee to save yourself 20%. Cassie never disappoints. 

xo. Renee

Product Spotlight @ Paper Issues!!

It's Wednesday which means there's a new Product Spotlight at Paper Issues!! 

This week's feature is on Bella Blvd new lines! All of them! They're all amazing and bright colors which you know drew me right in! I chosed to use Make Your Mark. So many bright colors, gold...  I also used bits of their essential puffy star stickers which I bought in every color. Seriously- I have issues! 

I saw a page a while back with the corner folded over to the center; I thought it looked so awesome! And it's a great way to show both sides of this paper ... because I love them both! I decided to use photos of Sienna and I - these were outtakes of our little photo shoot I took while playing they other day. She was laying all cute in the grass so I was going to lay on top of her. Well she said  "No Aunt Nee, I'm going to wiggle... right now- while you lay on me." My face captures my great emotion about that idea.  

I was excited also because in my clusters ( you know me and my clusters of embellishments ) I finally got to use some of my new flair  buttons from A Flair For Buttons! I tangled some thread to throw behind them ( a technique I robbed from Missy Whidden- she's like perfect right??) I love how this page turned out!! So bright and fun!! 

Now you need to grab all the things Bella Blvd because it's absolutely gorgeous and the bright colors are everything!! While you're buying at the Paper Issues store, don't forget to use the code Renee for 20% off!! It's a great perk to the already amazing things about Paper Issues!!  Can't wait to see what you make and submit in to the Paper Issues Challenge !! 

xo. Renee

Mixing Collections @ Paper Issues!

Because I'm the ditz I am, I had this post all pretty- written but I forgot to hit publish! Lord, help me. It's been one of those weeks... I'm crawling through everything.  So I hope you enjoy this even though it's been posted on the Paper Issues' blog already.

I decided I wanted to do a page using what was left of my Hey Mister Collection by My Mind's Eye. So as I'm strolling through the collection- I realized that the navy blue tone would look really good with the navy blue in the Cocoa Vanilla's Wild @ Heart. Why not mix them? 

My inspiration was the man lifting weights, I thought it would be so cute to use! I decided to use this picture of me from the gym- "working out..hard" clearly! Who doesn't enjoy a good gym mirror selfie?? Anyways!!  I love to cluster my embellishments so I took bits and pieces from both collections, trying to distribute them evenly throughout the page. The alphas are from Shimelle's Go Now Go Collection - the copper look to the letters worked with the foil bits in the Hey Mister. 

I love how that even though Hey Mister is a pretty masculine collection and Wild @ Heart is fairly feminine that together they worked so well!! I guess that means I should be mixing lines I wouldn't have more often!

Doing this page just reminded me that I need to get my ass back to the gym. I think between illness and work... the last thing I've wanted is to work out but I know at the end of the day, it does make me feel better. I feel physically as well as mentally better. Just got to get back on my horse, hopefully with the nice weather coming, it'll be much easier! At least that's what I tell myself, Ha.

Hope you enjoyed my page! I challenge you to try to use two lines together you never would have normally and see what comes of it! It'll probably be gorgeous! If not, you may need to go back to the Paper Issue's store and buy some more goodies!!  Remember to use the code RENEE to save yourself 20% on your purchase! A great excuse to buy more right?? 

xo. Renee

Product Spotlight @ Paper Issues!

This week's product spotlight was a pretty broad one, any of the new My Mind's Eye lines. All of them are gorgeous, but the only one I grabbed was the Hey Mister line. I have zero boy lines and this one fit the main man in my life so well! My dad loves stars and space plus the little guy who is lifting weights- looks kind of like him!  

Anyways, with that mind, I thought I'd use a photo of my dad with the kiddos. I took one of the Paper Issues Free Cut files backed it with various sheets of the collection. I wanted to make sure I put the constellations and the little guy lifting weight. The middle of the cut file has spaces for 2 3x4's but I just used my 4x6 photo in the space.  I scattered various stars and sequins around the edge- going with the space theme. Also used embellishments - such as the world's greatest dad- which I used alphas to add the word Grand over dad. 

I loved how the page turned out. It's a great photo of my dad and the kiddos. He's such a great dad and grandpa. I love him so much! Hope you enjoyed my page- and that you join in on the Paper Issues Facebook page! I'd love to see your take on this challenge!!

As always, shop at the Paper Issues store for all the latest scrapbook needs! Pick up some of the new My Mind's Eye lines, they are gorgeous- I may actually go back and pick up the Palm Beach line. So bright and summery!! Use my name Renee to save yourself 20% on your purchase!! 

xo. Renee

Scraplift Sunday @ Paper Issues!!

On Sundays at Paper Issues, we wear pink. Okay - we don't really but we do scrap lift layouts that the design team enjoyed over the past few weeks. This Sunday we are taking a shot at this gorgeous layout!! 

I love all the layers of fringe, how fun is that!! So wanted to capture that technique in my page as well!! 

my 

I used Dear Lizzy's new collection Lovely Day. I just love all the colors and sayings in this line. 

I cut a few of the papers in to 6 in strips, then again 3 inch squares where I fringed the bottom part. I layered them up with some tissue paper fringe I've bought at Michael's. I thought this photo of me that I had worked well with the red shirt. Also, I was wanting to use the sticker "Don't grow up, it's a trap" so badly. I formed clusters of embellishments on both sides of the photo also cutting out little triangles from one of the sheets of paper- using a diagonal effect with where I put those. Splattered some paint along with the triangles. 

I'm excited that I got to use more of my photo shoot pictures I had taken multiple years ago by a family friend. I didn't like my senior pictures much, break- ups before photos are never a good idea! I think its hard to scrapbook red some times, so when I remembered this line when I saw my shirt. I had to jump on it. It goes together so well I think! I can't wait to use more of this line, now if only I had more pictures! I really need to remember to bust out my camera more, or at least be on the right side of the camera.  

This weekend is also our Spring Crop at Paper Issues. There's 20+ challenges, games, prizes and tons of fun happening! I've been showing different pages I've done on my Instagram as well as Facebook page, I'll do a post on all the pages coming up soon! But please join in, you have until March 26 to turn in pages for the challenges. There's literally challenges for everyone so don't hesitate to give them a try!

There's also a sale at the store if you use the code UNICORN to save 30% during the crop weekend. But if you're too late, you can always use the code RENEE to save yourself 20%. Buy all the things before they disappear! Plus, with her great shipping- you may still get some of the supplies before the 26th to still get them done for the crop! 

xo. Renee

Product Spotlight @ Paper Issues!!

It's time for another Product Spotlight at Paper Issues. This week's choice is Cocoa Vanilla's Wild @ Heart. At first, I didn't buy the line ( didn't seem like something I could work with ) but after seeing the girls amazing pages with it. I had to have it- and it's so much more gorgeous in person. The colors are so vibrant! 

For this page, I used the sheet of paper that had a watercolor affect already done on it- it's so gorgeous and the hard work is already done! Win-win right?? With all the butterflies in this collection, I wanted to use the free butterfly cut file Stacie designed for this collection at Paper Issues. I backed it with pieces from the cut apart paper. The floral designs are just perfect. I as usual, layered behind my photo and formed clusters of embellishments at the corners. I can't get enough embellishments. I also put a cluster at the top and sprinkled sequins all over the place. Need a little sparkle. 

The collection has a set of wood veneer words that are perfect I think for titles- so I used Beautiful You.  I had to dig around for some photos because I'm doing so horrible with my camera lately. I found this sweet picture of Me and baby Addison. Gosh, did I mention she turns 10 in a month? I'm officially old. I just adore her to pieces. Such a sweet and loving young lady.  She's definitely Wild @ Heart- perfect collection for her. 

If you liked how I utilized this collection, you should grab some of it as well before it's gone!! I'm surprised it's still left in the store... So get it quick!! Remember to use my name Renee to save yourself 20% on your purchase!! 

Also don't forget this weekend is the Paper Issues Spring Crop on their Facebook Group. The weekend is jammed packed with over 20 challenges, tons of games with prizes to win and you get to spend all weekend chatting with yours truly as well as all the other girls in the Paper Issues Design Team.  I'll be posting my work through out the weekend for you to check out! I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!! I hope you also win the amazing prizes!! 

xo. Renee

Cut It Up @ Paper Issues!!

Cut it up March is now up a ready to go over at Paper Issues Facebook Group!! If you didn't know, Paper Issues besides carrying all the newest lines in scrapbooking also has FREE cut files! WHAAAT? I'm sure I told you already but I still can't get over it because they are so awesome- I'm not sure how they can be free!  Cassie is just that sweet!! Stacie came up with this great gem for the month of March! All the stars?? Gorgeous! 

It also comes with the bonus "Count your lucky stars" title!! 2 cuts- both free- equally amazing! 

I used for this page just the star background cut file. 

I used a hodge podge of ingredients for this page. I backed the stars with a rainbow kaleidoscope looking paper by We R Memory Keepers #Selfie line. ( It's an old page, I believe -it's no longer in the store ) I put the cut file on top of a white cardstock but cut it down so I could still give it a border which is from the Bella Blvd. line.  And because I've fallen head over heels with the new Amy Tangerine's On a Whim- I used it to layer the photo and embellish the page. I thought it went well with all the colors! 

I just thought this photo of me - taken a few..ha.. years ago just screamed fun and happiness. I've scrapped a few from this photo shoot but haven't done this one yet. It's actually my favorite so I'm surprised it look this long. This page just makes me smile, how fun and summery. 

Can't wait to see what you all come up with using this amazing cut file by Stacie! Don't forget to also grab some great goodies from Paper Issues, she 's adding so much new stuff all the time! Use the code Renee to save yourself 20%!! 

xo. Renee

Take 5 Tuesday @ Paper Issues!!

This month's Take 5 Tuesday is up!! Look at the list for this month- so many exciting things to choose from and of course- if you're anything like me, you have all of these things laying around dying to be used!  

With this list, I picked cardstock, stickers, 2 or more photos, pattern paper, and circles! I used my silhouette to cut out the scribble circles, I thought they'd look cute with this paper from Simple Stories #Whatever line.  I had to have this line immediately after I saw it- all the sayings and hashtags- very sassy like me. Also it works perfectly for these pictures of Savanna and I. 

I fussy cut the sayings out of the cut aparts, used up a lot of the stickers. It was a small collection so it's easy to use this collection up fairly quickly.  So after this page, I cried uncle and said it's done. I also typed up my journaling at suggestion of one of the amazing PI girls. I think it adds a dash of something different.  Can't believe it's been a few years since these pictures have been taken and I just now am scrapping them! Savanna is one of my oldest and dearest friends- although we don't spend much time together anymore with life being so hectic, it never seems that we're that far apart. I know  can count on her whenever needed and my life would be so different had I not met her. 

I hope you enjoyed this page, and I can't wait to see what you guys make! Take a shot at the Take 5 Tuesday Challenge and post it in the Paper Issues Facebook group for a chance for a gift certificate from Paper Issues. Who wouldn't want that??  Also - while shopping- don't forget to use my name Renee to save you 20%  on your purchase!!! 

xo. Renee

New Issue Monday @ Paper Issues!!

This month's New Issue Monday at the Paper Issues Facebook Group is Anything Goes! Well so that opened the door wide open, and to be quite frank- I didn't even know where to start.  

I knew I wanted to use the Crate Paper Oasis line because well, I hadn't yet and that was the line I was the most excited about receiving. Okay, did I say that about all of them?? I may have. But this one I really was excited for! 

Granted-I live in the middle of Iowa- we don't have much beach life. But sometimes we do- at the lake. Growing up I didn't really have anyone in my life that was big on the lake life in the summer so I lived kind of sheltered from this excitement. Thankfully my ex ( yes, lets move past from that part of the conversation. ) opened the door to showing me some of the great things about the outdoors I hadn't explored yet. Leading me to this page I made about a weekend trip to Clear Lake ( clever town name. ) with some friends of ours for the 4th of July.  

I had a few pictures I wanted to use, so it wouldn't be strictly me and my ex plus it would be great to show my friends as well. So did some digging on Pinterest and found a page layout that is similar to a Project Life 12x12 spread. I liked the idea of the 4x6's to use to build clusters on them. As well as having one in the middle to use as a title section.  There was so many embellishments that I just fell in love with so of course, I had to use them all. 

I just love the title section! I used acetate as well as vellum behind the title, than used the chipboard saying "Weekend Getaway" which works perfectly for the page!  I just can't get enough of this collection.  Can't wait to use it again, now someone just take me to a real beach?!?! 

As always, get your scrapbook goodies at Paper Issues- can't say enough positive things about them, not just because I'm on their team but I've purchased from her strictly for a couple years now - fastest service and always stocked with the newest collections.  Use my name Renee for 20% off your purchase! 

xo. Renee

Notable Quoteable @ Paper Issues!!

Notable Quotable March Challenge is up at Paper Issues and I just loved the quote so much!

I just really had no idea what direction I wanted to take it. I had a bunch of possible ideas in my head but I really just couldn't get them how I wanted. My sister just happen to post these two pictures on her Facebook - maybe it was just meant to be! 

With it be awkwardly bi-polar this month with weather (one minute we're thinking it's almost summer and the next- well, here comes 12 inches of snow); I decided to use the pictures from one of those summer days and craft on one of the snow days using the Crate Paper Oasis line which makes me feel like I'm right back on that summer day.

I took these photos my sister took from their family's trip to Plymouth. When I saw the quote, I thought about the kiddos and how I never want them to grow up.  There's so much going on in the world right now, they need to stay innocent and small.  I thought these photos would look great with this line. I also can't get enough of these teal and pink colors. I scraplifted myself from a previous page creating layers with the acetate and vellum paper- as well as papers from the line. For the title, I couldn't figure out any stickers that I thought worked well- they were all making me sad. But I thought of an idea I've used before- creating a base for the alphas using washi. I found this teal/pink ombre washi I had- hoping it would work with the pink alphas - that I've never used so it was nice to bust them out.  

I just can't wait to see where you guys take this quote in your scrapping. Join us on Paper Issues' Facebook group and get a chance to win a gift certificate to the Paper Issues' store!! 

While you're shopping, which you should do because she's been adding new lines all the time- use my name Renee in the discount code to save 20%.  Her service is top notch and won't disappoint!

xo. Renee