You Captured My Heart | CSI Cold Case No. 317 + Paper Issue Free File

I created another page for one of my students, this time using CSI's April stash-busting Cold Case File and a Paper Issues FREE cut file for their Free File Free-for-All challenge.

Here are the Case File and clues for this challenge:

Clues I used: papers that match The Scene, a "girly" collection, older collection by Paige Evans, use a cut file as a base for my design. Have an element floating up the page, use black to provide contrast, fussy cut butterflies from a paper, create movement (I did by having the butterflies flying in different directions). 

 

I had envisioned making a layout with a bicycle, and have butterflies flying out of the basket, like in The Scene, but I didn't have butterflies small enough. So then I thought of having butterflies flying out of a basket, and I couldn't find a basket I liked, so I thought of using a jar instead of a basket, and my layout was born. I fussy cut a bunch of butterflies from a Paige Evans Turn the Page paper, adhering them with their wings lifted up by pop dots. I sprinkled the spaces in between with Nuvo Drops.

As you can see, my title is actually gold. I couldn't get the gold to show up in my photo of my whole layout. That awesome jar cut file is a FREE cut file from Paper Issues called Mason Jar Fresh Picked Flowers. I backed it with vellum so I could capture some butterflies inside. I wrapped some twine and added a heart charm because I always add at least one heart to every page I give to someone.

These paper clips from the Turn the Page collection are such a sweet touch and add a nice element to the side of a page. I added a phrase sticker on top.

I hope you'll come play in both of these challenges. CSI has 7 generous sponsors donating prizes this month.

And there's always a gift certificate up for grabs at Paper Issues. The free file challenge is really fun and there are literally hundreds of free cut files. While you're over checking out the free cut files, be sure to stop by the store, where you'll find loads of scrappy goods! Please use my discount code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off everything in the store, every day!

Love You | CSI + Paper Issues

Our mid-month reveal is live at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration. I made a layout for one of my students, combined with Paper Issues Free File Friday challenge.

Here are the CSI Case File and clues:

I used the color scheme as well as all of the Evidence clues. 

Here are some details. I used Paper Issues Rainbow Clouds free cut file. I backed the clouds with purple paper and lifted them with pop dots for added dimension.

I raided my scraps drawers to find papers to back the rainbow and found the perfect colors. I love using my scraps! For the gold clue, I found some glittery gold Thickers. And there were even plus signs in the pack (another clue). I cut the houses out of a patterned paper for another of the clues.

The butterflies were cut from an older Paige Evans collection. I almost gave up on adding the flower clue and then I found these little purple flowers by K&Co. in my stash. And I used an old scallop punch for the scallop clue.

I hope you'll come play in both of these challenges. CSI has 7 generous sponsors donating prizes this month.

And there's always a gift certificate up for grabs at Paper Issues. The free file challenge is really fun and there are literally hundreds of free cut files. While you're over checking out the free cut files, be sure to stop by the store, where you'll find loads of scrappy goods! Please use my discount code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off everything in the store, every day!

You Fill Up My Heart | Paper Issues InstaParade

We're kicking off March with an Insta-Parade at Paper Issues today!

Here's what I've added to the parade. I'm making layouts for my students again this year, and school policy has changed, so I can't post student pictures, even with parent permission, so I've just superimposed a picture of me as a kid on top of my student, which is why my picture looks so funny. But it looks better than blurring out the faces, don't you think?

I used  the aptly named FREE cut file called You Fill Up My Heart and backed it with all super-old scraps. 

After backing the heart, I mounted it on black cardstock to add further contrast to the background, a I outlined the hearts to give them more definition. I did some stamping in the background and then went in search of green and neutral accents in my stash.

I've had that scalloped Doodlebug border in my stash for eons. I'm always so happy to use older stash.

This stamped bird was sitting on my table, a reject from a layout I made a couple of months ago. So perfect that it was stamped on green paper!

I hope you'll come visit the parade on Instagram. And I hope that you will please use my discount code Debbi (no e on the end) when you shop at the Paper Issues store because you will get 20% off everything in the store. No expiration date!

Holiday Traditions | Paper Issues Free Cut File

I made this back in November for Paper Issues with a free cut file, but never got a chance to post it on my blog when Farzad went to the hospital.

I used the Holiday Titles free cut file.

Here are some details. I used Crate Paper's Snow and Cocoa collection. I love that collection so much! Those tassels are huge for my 8 x 8 pages, but I just couldn't resist putting one on my page.

I love fussy cutting!

How fun are those little birds! 

I hope you will please use my discount code--Debbi (no e on the end)--when you shop at Paper Issues. You'll get 20% off every single thing in the store--every single day!

Snowy Delight | Paper Issues Eye Candy Challenge

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today. Here's my post: Let's see, what is eye candy to you?? For me it's enamel dots, sequins, sparkly goodness! Throw some of that on your layout, or take it literal and show us a layout of your favorite sexy eye candy celeb, real life significant other or dream partner!

I chose to go with sparkly stuff, and the snow globe cut file was perfect to use lots of sparkly sequins.

The Paper Issues FREE Snowglobe Wishes cut file was perfect for filling with lots of sparkly sequins. I scrap 8 x 8, and with limited space on my pages, I often have to modify things, so I used only two tiers of the base of the snowglobe.

I used Doodlebug's adorable Winter Wonderland collection for my layout. The snowflakes are also from the cut file and I added more eye candy in the form of rhinestones to add extra sparkle.

I tore some snowflake paper and used some of the mini icon stickers to create a little scene at the base of the snowglobe.

Come show us what you make for this challenge in our Facebook group, and you could win a gift certificate to the shop! While you're looking at all the awesome free cut files, be sure to check out all the new goodies in the shop, and please use my discount code Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire purchase!

Subitizing Valentines | Paper Issues Instagram Hop

Happy February! Paper Issues is having an Instagram Hop today to show off some of their awesome FREE Valentine-, heart-, and love-themed cut files. Here's what I created:

I used the awesome Love You Hearts cut file.

I loved this sweet dialogue between my friend and her daughter and just had to document this for her:

I started out by choosing a Valentine collection to back the cut file. I chose Pebbles We Go Together collection. I then chose that pink background paper so my cut file would really stand out. I also outlined the inside of the hearts with a fine-line pen to give extra definition.  I added the hearts in the background with an Echo Park Stencil and texture paste mixed with white acrylic paint. I mounted the backed cut file with adhesive foam to give it some extra lift.

I embellished with an assortment of elements from different packs of Valentine-themed stickers and chipboard and then added the blue polka dot paper to the background at the end to to tie it all together.

I hope you'll go check out the hop so you can see loads more inspiration for using the many free Paper Issues cut files. And while you're browsing the cut files, make sure you check out all the new scrappy stuff in the shop. Please use my code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire purchase!

Happy Birthday | CSI Cold Case File No. 308 + Paper Issues Free File Challenge

Have you played with our stash-busting Cold Cases at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration? It's a great way to use up some of your old stuff! As a Paper Issues design team member, I always like to combine my CSI challenges with Paper Issues' challenges. They have so many FUN challenges.

Here are the Case File and clues for the CSI challenge:

Image credit: Oh Happy Day

Product clues I used: older bright, colorful papers; buttons, bling, a never-used stencil with texture paste, a birthday-themed title by 2Crafty, one of our prime sponsors this year--I painted it white and then added glittery Stickles.

Design clues: Pie chart, tone-on-tone, papers in rainbow order, fringe.

The Paper Issues Free File challenge is to use one of their hundreds of FREE cut files. There's seriously a FREE cut file available for any layout you can imagine! I used the cut file called Slices of Life.

Here are some details from my page.

I love the inspiration image and wanted to try to recreate that rainbow donut element. I had in mind something similar to what Lynette Jacobs created, with buttons behind the cut file, but she beat me to it, so instead I backed the circular pie chart cut file with a bunch of old patterned papers in rainbow order, meeting several of the clues (old bright, colorful papers; old papers with the colors from The Scene; create a pie chart, use papers in rainbow order).

You can see I used bling in the form of the old Heidi Swapp crown, and another clue was the fringe. The birthday element I used was the chipboard title piece by 2Crafty, from when I was on their design team. I painted it white and then coated it with Stickles. They're a sponsor this month!

The pie chart sort of looks to me like a cut birthday cake from a bird's eye view. And I can never pass up the opportunity to use up some of my millions of buttons, so I added them on top of the patterned paper. I also added Stickles to the clouds, which I fussy-cut from an old My Little Shoebox paper.

The stencil is by Echo Park, and this was the first time I used it, which is another clue. That chipboard frame is by 2Crafty. The crown and the glittery elements I added were a nod to the caption my friend had written on Facebook, with this picture of her daughter's birthday.

I hope you'll come play along with us at CSI and at Paper Issues. You could win a prize from one of our sponsors at CSI:

And if you play along at Paper Issues, you could win a gift certificate! While you're over at Paper Issues perusing all the free cut files, be sure to stop in the store and check out all the cool scrappy stuff for sale! Please use my code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire purchase!