Paper Issues Made With Love

Have you heard of the Paper Issues Swag bags?  They are great little bags filled with the the best and cutest embellishments you could want for your pages and projects.  I used it to create the sweet layout of my mother-in-law and Eden baking treats in Eden's very first Easy Bake oven.

Journaling read: Happy to have captured this moment of Mom & Eden 'baking' together.  Long live the Easy Bake oven."

How cute is that wood veneer envelope?  There were 2 in the kit.  And I love that 3x4 card that Cassie cut from translucent patterned paper.  Everything here came in the Swag Bag.

I used my October Afternoon phrase stamp on the little tag.

So many great bits and pieces right?!  Just the title wasn't part of the kit.

The March Swag Bag is another one filled with great pieces.  Only $9.99 USD, there are only a few left, you can get your hands on one here.  If you'd like to sub to the Swag Bag kit, simply contact Cassie at her Paper Issues email, and ask to be put on the list.  She'll reserve one for you every month.  Use code:SHERRI to save 20% off your entire order.

And don't forget about our current issue, you have just a few more days to link up to our Colour By Numbers theme for your chance at a $20 gift certificate to the Paper Issues store.   If you join up with our Chic Tags 'Green' challenge you would get a two for one link up opportunity (wink, wink).

Thanks so much for popping in today friends.  Hope your week is off to a great start!

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Chic Tags Monthy Challenge

Happy Sunday friends,

It's time for a new monthly challenge at Chic Tags.  This month we are challenging you to "Go Green".  I loved this one, as it was so wide open for interpretation.  You could upcycle something for your project, go all out using the actual colour, or in my case simply use the word in your title, among many other interpretations I'm sure.

This photos was taken in Saskatoon last November when we took Théa to a Dance Convention she won a registration for.  The instructors were amazing, and she was pushed pretty hard; loving almost every minute of it (the Lyrical section was a little beyond her ability).  One of the instructors that weekend, just happened to be my Dance crush from So You Think You Can Dance, none other than the super talented passionately serious about the Jazz Funk genre, sweetly funny, and easy on the eyes: Mr Sean Cheesman.  At the end of the competition all the instructors lineup, and have a seat with a Sharpie to sign autographs for the students.  I was seriously jealous that Théa got to have her photo taken with him (and the sweet, and equally as talented Tap Dancer Lisa Latouche), and I didn't.

These mini icons are my favourite pieces of the last CHA collection.  I almost always use 3D foam to raise them off the page a bit.

Love these little Happy Place phrases.  Did you know that the Love Notes collection has some almost identical tags that are currently on clearance for only $1.40 USD per package.  There are in fact, A LOT of awesome tags on clearance.  Some as low as $1 USD.  Hop over here to check them out. (the flair I've used is one of Shelley's fab creations at {aflairforbuttons}.

I will forever treasure this tweet that Mr. Cheesman himself replied to promising that 'next time' I'll get to be the one in the photo with him.  I used two mini icons glued back to back to allow me to retrieve the tweet photo from the pocket behind the main photo.

This challenge presented the perfect opportunity for me to scrap this photo.  Have you got your wheels churning yet?  If you'd like a few more examples of how the DT interpreted the challenge hop over to the Chic Tags blog post.  I would love to see you link up your own version for a chance at Chic Tags grab bag.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend friends! Pin It

A Gold Medal Day & A Challenge

Happy Friday friends!

We made it through another week, and welcome in the weekend.  The last few days of the Olympics.  I always find it bittersweet when they come to an end.  Happy b/c I don't feel like I'm always missing out on something when I can't be home with the tv on.  Yet happy to get back to real life again (you know all the cleaning, and cooking that didn't really happen for the previous 14 days?!).  Yesterday was an amazing day for Canada in Sochi for Canadians.  First Jennifer Jones and her crew won us a Gold Medal in curling.  The will go down in history as the first Canadian team to undefeated all the way to gold.  Second was the Women's Hockey gold medal win.  It was a game that many (myself included) will say they didn't deserve to win, especially if you're just taking into account the first two periods.  They just didn't seem to play with as much fire in their belly as the US Women were, and their shots were being blocked left right and centre, by both the goalie, and the amazing defence players.  But....they tied it up laaaaate in the 3rd, and found a way to win in overtime.  It was unbelievable.  So happy the hubs and I were both home to watch it together.  Here are our proud Women.

This photo still makes my eyes tear up a little.  It was definitely an emotional win for us, and an even more emotional loss for the US women.  As happy as I am for our girls, my heart still aches for the US team who will likely, be replaying this loss for many months to come.  Anyone else a little crazy about the Olympics?

I posted a challenge over at Scraptastic last week, and thought I would share it with you here too. I showed you just a sneak of the layout I created in my Valentine's post.  Here is the entire project.

Created with the January Breath again kit.

The Add-On stamp set had so many great stamps, I tried to incorporate as many as I could.  Including using one stamped on the kraft tag insert.  I just love the way the white looks on the kraft cardstock.

The challenge is to use hearts on a project this month.  You have until March 5th and 11:59pm EST to link up to this challenge, and you are NOT required to use the kit to play along.  The prize is a $20 gift certificate to the store.  You can link your entry up here.  I would love to see some of you play along.

Thanks for stopping by today friends.  Have a wonderful weekend!

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Moments In Between with October Afternoon

Sharing a post I had up on the Paper Issues blog yesterday.

I am fortunate to take over the bi-weekly Product Feature posts for Paper Issues.  It's a challenge to know what kind of products will get people excited as everyone has their "thing".  I decided to jump in with a technique that I used, and chose the manufacturer based on what I wanted to work with and went from there.  Here is the post I shared...

It's that exciting time of year when all the new CHA goodness we've been dying to get our hands on starts showing up in the Paper Issues store.  The brand new Snapshots, Girl Talk and All Boy collections by October Afternoon are already available for purchase.  But what to do with the bits and pieces we still have kicking around from the last release.  For me, that's where my Moments In Between album comes in. Although I often use various Project Life style kits to document my everyday moments, when I have scraps from a collection that I have loved, I find a way to do a spread using that collection alone (no pre-made cards at all).

I've done just that this week with several sheets of October Afternoon's Apple Cider collection, a package of Tin Pins, Pop Drops, coordinating Story Book alphas & label stickers, and the Inspiration roller stamp.  I threw in a few scraps of cardstock, and a handful of embellishments from my stash, including these, then used my Silhouette Cameo and sewing machine for additional visual interest.

Using a simple 3x4 piece of patterned paper with one single solitary embellishment is a great way to fill a pocket when there aren't enough photos, or just to create some "breathing room" on your page. 

Without the help of pre-made cards I used the Story Book alphas, and label stickers to help me create some filler cards with quotes and journaling.  I may or or may not have ordered several colours of these alphas because they're so perfect for this style of scrapping.  You can see our selection in the shop here.  It's hard to pick up but I used my sewing machine to stitch along the chevron lines on that top card for a little more wow factor (you'll just have to trust me that it looks cool in real life).

Now if you don't have an issue clearing out the old to make room for the new, and you're just itching to get your hands on the new October Afternoon goodies here's a little eye candy for you.

I love the soft colours and fun ampersands on this sheet from the Girl Talk collection.

And then there's this awesome coordinating stamp set 

And I'm a sucker for cute flair buttons any day.

All the fabulous October Afternoon products you see here, both old and new can be found in the Paper Issue store.  If you're in the shopping mood don't forget to use code:SHERRI to save yourself 20% off your entire purchase.  

And, did you know that if you're in the US, any order of $60 (after discounts, and before tax) ships for free?  Sweet deal.  

Happy crafting friends!  Pin It

A Creative Scrappers reveal & a freebie

This week's sketch is one that I know I want to use again.  I loved it, and know I would never have come up with the idea on my own.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again Jenny is a sketch queen!  Between her and Kristine, I've created layouts that would otherwise have gone un-scrapped. I am so thankful to both of them for the chance to work with sketches that, at times take me out of my comfort zone.

(please excuse the poor lighting, without the right equipment getting a great photo of a white background can be tricky this time of year here in Manitoba)

I used BasicGrey's RSVP collection, and several pieces of the February Paper Issues Swag Bag to complete this layout.  The Swag Bag is a monthly embellishment bag that Cassie puts together filled with fun little, currently hot & trendy bits and pieces to add to all of your crafting projects. It's only $10, even less if you use my code: SHERRI.  Speaking of the Paper Issues shop, have you seen all the great new goodies Cassis has loaded into it?  All the 2014 CHA goodness is starting to arrive.  You can use my code to save 20% off everything you order. Check it out for yourself here.

I just love the Maya Road love paper clip.

How cute is that mini bingo card?

Here is Jenny's fabulous sketch.  

I loved the background so much that I created a cut file to go along with it. If you have a Silhouette Cameo, and would like to use my cut file also you can download it here.  I hope you'll enjoy it.

Remember, if you play along with us this month you will earn yourself a chance to win a kit from Paper Camilla Kits.  You have until Feb 28th to link up a new creation using either one of the February CS Sketches.  You may link up as many times as you like, as long as long as each project is a new creation.

Now hop on over to the Creative Scrappers site to see the rest of the DT creations.

Happy Sunday friends!

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Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day friends!  

Do you celebrate this special day in your home?  If so, please share with me how you do it.  In our house there isn't a lot of fanfare.  For the past few years the girls have made little cards for their friends, and we've had make your own heart shaped pizzas in the evening.  This year things are a little different.  The girls aren't interested in handing anything out this year.  In the evening my oldest is having 4 friends over for the night, and my middle is off to her own sleep over, while the youngest is here with us.  With a house full of hungry kids I was thinking it may be easier just to make taco salad for supper.  But, now as I'm writing this, I think I'll surprise them and still do create your own heart shaped pizza.  They may be 14/15 years old, but somehow I'm thinking they'll still get a kick out of it.  And then cupcakes for dessert.  But to start the day my own girls will be getting their own little surprise.  

I made these cards with the fantastic Scraptastic February Feel Again Kit and Add On Kit.  

They will also each be receiving this bag I showed you the other day filled with these goodies.

(sorry the red background is so distracting) 

Candy, chocolate, sugar tubes, Valentine's Kleenex, a pencil, and a gift box full of heart shaped jujubes.

How cute are those heart shaped paper clips? I got a whole bag for $2 at our local grocery store.

(don't get me started on how one is not clipped properly, ugh!)  I used my Silhouette to cut out everything you see here.  This type of crafting I really don't mind.  I had some much fun cutting I kept it going with a couple of thank you gifts I need to give out today also.

I used a Silhouette cut file to cut the baskets out, and decorated them with odds and ends, and scraps I had around.  Topped them with a couple of cute VDay themed flair from {afliarforbuttons}, fill with raspberry Lindt truffles, and voila, all set. 

I also have a "love" type challenge up on the Scraptastic Blog.  It's an easy one too.  Here is a little sneak for you.

Think you can guess what the challenge is?  Hop over to the Scraptastic Blog to see the rest of my layout, and get the details for the challenge (if it's not up yet, please pop by later).  You have until March 5th to link up for your chance to win a $20 gift certificate from the store.

Thanks for stopping in today friends.  Have a wonderful weekend, however you decide to spend it. 

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Sharing

I wanted to share a couple of layouts with you today.  I had these ones up on the Scraptastic Blog a little while back.

This first one is from the top of the highest hill we skied last year at Sunshine Mountain in Banff last Spring Break.  Isn't that view breathtaking?

I created the background using a Pink Paislee die cut file I purchased off their site.  The papers are all from the January Baby It's Cold Outside kit.

I used 3D adhesive to pop a portion of the title off the page.

Those veneer snowflakes are just gorgeous.

This second layout was created using this sketch by DT member Susan.

As you can tell the photo is from the same trip.  These papers were perfect for scrapping these ski trip photos.

I embossed the extra large chipboard snowflakes with white Zing powder.

Thanks for popping in today friends.  I'll be back tomorrow with some Valentine's Day projects to share.

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Moments In Between

I have almost completed my 2014 Moments In Between album.  All the photos and embellies are in place, but there is still some journaling to add.  I realized that I am way behind on sharing my pages though.  Here is the week of November 10-16.

Only after putting this post together did I realize that I messed up on the days.  Isabelle's 14th Birthday is captured in these pages, but her birthday is actually on November 20th (whoops).  But, I figure it doesn't really matter in the long run.  The dates and pictures lining up every single week is less relevant to me than the fact that the moments have been captured.  Of course I won't let myself get away with this kind of sloppiness every week, but every now and then it's bound to happen, and I'm not going to freak out over it.  I guess when you keep up to date, you're less likely to have it happen.

At this point of the year, I've begun mixing up collections to document the weeks.  I have a little Becky Higgins, and little Studio Calico, and a little Scraptastic Club all mixed up here.  I really like the colour combo though.

Sorry the blog hasn't been very active.  It's is very much a reflection on how I'm feeling these days.  I think I have the winter blues.  All this cold and snow (it's -40 Celcius with the windchill AGAIN today), and things at home being a little 'off' is just getting to me, and I find it hard to blog.  I've been sharing my dt work on the appropriate blogs, but my own has gone quiet.  I'm sure it won't stay like this, but I hope that for now, you'll please bare with me.

Happy Monday friends whatever is on your schedule for the day. Pin It

Fill'er Up with Paper Issues

Our Fill 'er Up Issue is live today on the Paper Issues blog.

I had the idea to think outside to box with this issue, by keeping very literal with the prompt. Rather than a traditional scrapbook layout I decided to literally 'fill something up'.  With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to create some fun goodie bags for each of the girls.  I started with 3 plain canvas drawstring bags, my Amy Tangerine stitching template and some pastel coloured embroidery thread.  I tried to choose designs that best reflected my girls' personalities.  Here is a close up of the 3 of them together.

I then, used the several of the patterned papers from the Be Loved Collection by Fancy Pants Designs to create matching monograms for each bag, and little treat boxes to go inside.

Being that my girls are all old enough to be on social media these days, and that they like to check up on me every once in a while I will only be sharing the contents of my Valentine's bags on the actual day.  Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, sorry girls, haha.  To see how a few of the other girls on the DT have interpreted the issue, and to link up your own, hop over here, to the Paper Issues blog.  You never know, linking up, could win you a $20 gift certificate to the Paper Issues shop. **eta: I was a little ahead of the game, sorry folks.  The Issue goes live on the blog at noon EST**

And if you haven't yet gotten your hands on some Valentine's themed product for your February projects, this awesome Fancy Pants ephemera pack and much of their Be Loved collection is still available in the shop.

Don't forget everything you order will be discounted by 20% if you use code: SHERRI, and shipping is super quick, yes, even when shipping to Canada.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope to see some of you link up on this fun Issue. Pin It

Creative Scrapper Reveal

Another reveal to share with you on this lovely Sunday.  

This week I used the Fancy Pants Designs Be Loved Collection. The papers were perfect for my photos of the girls "Looming" their hearts out over the winter break.  

The journaling reads "Christmas toy of the season: Best $20 I've ever spent.  These two spent hours and hours combining colourful elastics to create cute bracelets.  It was so nice to see them enjoying creating together.  The gift was actually Eden's, but we got her lots and lots for elastics so she would have an easy time sharing.  Théa has since informed us that she would like "her own" Rainbow Loom for her upcoming birthday in March.

 Used some Dear Lizzy puffy stickers here with some pop dots for dimension.

How adorable is this cluster?  That xo Fancy Pants tag, the giant wood veneer star (from the December Chic Tags kit, and that sweet button from A Flair For Buttons.  I love embellishments that so easily combine with pretty much any scrappy style.

And here is Kristine's great sketch

Play along with us this month for your chance to win a kit from Paper Camilla Kits.  You have until Feb 28th to link up a new creation using either one of the February CS Sketches.  You may link up as many times as you like, as long as long as each project is a new creation.

Now hop on over to the Creative Scrappers site to see the rest of the DT creations.

Thanks for stopping in today friends.  I wish you a happy Super Bowl Sunday :)

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