Purrfect Friend | Bramble Fox

This is my most recent layout for Bramble Fox. 

I was so excited to see the new cat-themed products in the Bramble Fox shop, including this Cat Wreath cut file. Yes, Bramble Fox is now carrying cut files, and they're all so beautiful and detailed and they cut PERFECTLY--no snags at all, and all the negative pieces just come right out.

I chose some patterned papers from my scraps drawer to back the cut file and added some texture behind the cut file with a subtle background stamp.

 

I scattered some details around the wreath including the adorable Cat Treats, some enamel dots, phrases cut out of the Paper Snips 001, and some hearts from some older Bramble Fox packs, along with some hearts made with an older Bramble Fox die.

The sweet title is from the Pretty Kitty pack and comes with two different titles to make two projects. Above the title, I adhered that cute little cat face from the Cat Treats pack and added some googly eyes for a playful touch.

The "meow" and "purr" Perspextives were also included in the Cat Treats pack and were perfect for placing directly onto the open spaces in my photos.

I love working with Bramble Fox products. Their Perspextive acrylic embellishments really add that WOW factor, as do their new cut files. A great way to try the Bramble Fox products is to subscribe to their Fox Box or their new Fox Box Plus--both have great perks. You can read about these options here. And don't be scared off by the fact that this is a company in the UK. Their shipping is very reasonable.

I'm an Alien | Scrap the Boys July DT Debut

I wonder if anybody still looks at my blog? It really has been forever--since January that I've been able to post here. Virtual teaching was so incredibly time consuming that it left time for little else. I've been scrapping all this time and sharing on Instagram and some online galleries.

So, today is my debut for the Scrap the Boys team. Here's what I created:

Our challenge this month is all about cut files (if you don't have a cutting machine you can use a cutting die or punches) plus a fab mood board. We've teamed up with Confessions of a Paper Addict (COAPA Cut Files) for this challenge, and I chose the super fun Outer Space cut file to work with.

And here's the moodboard:

Here are some details. I had the cutest 3-dimensional alien stickers, and I chose the colors for my layout based on them. The moodboard reminded me of mixed media, so I started off by coating some cardstock with clear gesso and using the packaging technique to add watercolor with a bunch of the colors from the stickers.  I used a stencil with texture paste and white paint to add stars. I outlined a few of them with a fine-tipped pen to make them stand out more.

I had the perfect photo of my friend's little boy pretending to be an alien.

How awesome is this cut file? I cut it out in white and backed it with paper scraps from my stash. Once I laid it on the mixed media background, it didn't stand out as much as I was hoping, so I used the offset tool in Silhouette to cut another copy in navy blue. I originally had envisioned placing the cut file on that starry paper bordering the white paper, but then I remembered I wanted to do the mixed media, and I knew I couldn't make it work on that dark paper, so I decided I'd mat the white paper on the starry paper.

I added a little puffy heart to the window of the rocket because I always add at least one heart to the pages I give away.

Here's another one of those fun robot/aliens. I hope I can find these again. I think I bought them at Michael's a few years ago. They're so fun and colorful, and they have glitter. They're clear, so I mounted them on white paper and fussy cut them so they'd stand out.

Here's the bottom half of the cut file. I decided to put the title on the planet. I used adhesive foam to adhere the cut file to give the page added dimension.

I hope you'll come play along in this fun challenge! Someone will be chosen to be a guest designer for a future challenge!

Aloha | CSI Case File No. 322 + Paper Issues Free Cut Files

I created this layout for CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration and also for Paper Issues, who is one of our sponsors this month.

Here are the Case File and Clues for this challenge:

I used the color scheme as well as many of the Evidence clues: solid cardstock, paper with a painted look, fruit, palm fronds, paint, stamps, rub-ons, cut something, and phrase stickers.

Here are the FREE cut files I used from Paper Issues: Paradise Right Here, Stay Golden, Summer Days

Here are some details. I started by adding watercolor to the background. I cut out all of my flowers and leaves (the leaves were cut from dies), palm tree, and title. Once I had them all arranged, I decided I needed some stamping in the background (another clue), and I just happened to have a palm frond stamp, so I added that to the background in pink Distress Ink. I found a pineapple in my stash. It had green leaves, so I outlined them with a blue pen. And I a flamingo puffy sticker. I don't think there are flamingos in Hawaii, but the color matched the palette, and I think they look like they belong!

I found another flamingo sticker in my stash. I added some rub-on flowers, as they were another clue, and the "hello" speech bubble was cut out of a patterned paper. I used all really old papers for my leaves and flowers.

A palm tree needs coconuts, so I thought some pink buttons would do the trick! And I always add hearts to my layouts that I give away.

I had this Jolee's Boutique lantern in my stash for eons, and the colors went, so I just had to use it. I finished off my layout with Nuvo Drops, which I just love using!

I hope you'll come play with us. Look at all of our generous sponsors, including Paper Issues, donating prizes this month!

Speaking of Paper Issues, please use my discount code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off everything in the shop!

Adventures Ahead {Paper Issues Scraplift Sunday}

It's my turn on the Paper Issues blog today. Here's my post:

Hey, everyone! It's Debbi here today. I love scraplift challenges because it gives me to try on another scrapper's style. I fell in love with Mary-Ann's layout the minute I saw it, and I was thrilled when I was assigned to scraplift her amazing layout. Here's my take:

Here's Maryann's phenomenal layout that I scraplifted:

I couldn't for the life of me figure out exactly how she made arranged those pie pieces, so I just winged it using the Slices of Life cut file, which you can get for free from the Paper Issues store.

I used Echo Park's Imagine That collection. I scrap 8 x 8, so the 6 x 6 pad was perfect for my layout. I also used the sticker sheet and chipboard pieces from that collection, and I elevated everything on the page with pop dots.

A few enamel dots and wood veneer stars added the finishing touches.

I hope you'll come play with us and add your layout to our Facebook group for a chance to win a gift certificate at the Paper Issues store. Speaking of the store, make sure you add my code when shopping, Debbi (no e on the end), and get 20% off your entire purchase!

So Much Joy in this Little Boy {Paper Issues Scraplift Sunday Challenge}

I love scraplift challenges because it gives me to try on another scrapper's style, and Paper Issues has a scraplift challenge every week! Here's the latest page I created for one of these challenges:

Check out Lisa Swift's awesome scrapbook page that inspired the scraplift:

Here are some details. I mainly used Photoplay's Boys Rule sticker sheet and some older papers and scraps from my stash. That awesome star circle is a free Paper Issues cut file called Starring You.

I elevated some of the stickers with pop dots and added googly eyes to the robot. I've decided to "hide" a heart on each of the layouts for this little guy so he can have fun looking for them.

I hope you'll play along. Be sure to post your creation by August 5 in the Paper Issues Friends & Fans Facebook page for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Paper Issues store.

And speaking of the Paper Issues store, check out all of their cool scrappy stuff (and check back often because Cassie is always adding new product), and if you use my code, Debbi (no e on the end), you can get 20% off your entire order!

Sleep in a Pineapple {Paper Issues Scraplift Sunday}

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today. Here's my post:

Happy Friday the 13th! An unusual day for Scraplift Sunday, but heck, SLS is fun any day of the week!

And to my surprise, I was given the assignment to scraplift myself! This was a little bit of a challenge because I'm not a very "out of the box" scrapper, and I was all set to copy my layout using a different set of photos, but I decided to challenge myself to not be so literal. Instead of the alphas, I used a cut file. The basic composition is the same except I flipped it.

So, I had this selfie of me with my hair in a pineapple, and I decided I'd document all my hair routines I've recently learned for taking care of my curls, and I decided I needed a pineapple cut file, and Paper Issues actually has two! I used the National Scrapbook Day 2017 Free Cut File.

I used the pineapple, flower corner, and leaves from this cut file set and backed them with a Pink Paislee paper by Paige Evans.  A flamingo sticker from last summer's Simple Stories summer collection was a perfect tropical accent to go with the pineapple.

A few enamel dots and an epoxy sticker from Elle's Studio. My journaling tucked behind the frame tells the details of my quirky hair routine.

Whether you're a "literal scrapper" like me or a more out of the box scrapper, I can't wait to see how you lift my layout! Be sure to share it at the Paper Issues Friends & Fans page for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Paper Issues store!

And while you're checking out all the awesome free cut files, 

don't forget to stop by the Paper Issues store to pick up some cool new supplies, and remember to 

use the code Debbi (no e at the end) 

to get 20% off your total purchase.

Happy Camper {CSI Case File No. 256}

We've got a super-fun new Case File for our mid-month challenge at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration! I made a page for one of my students:

Here's our Case File:

I used the color scheme and many of the traditional Evidence clues, including solid white background, stripes, grid, dots, triangles, circles, tags, twine, animals, bunting, cacti. I wanted to have the playful, graphic vibe of the Scene on my layout.
Here are some details. I wanted a circular element in the background as part of my design, and this cut file reminded me of a sun. I need to start writing stuff down because I can't for the life of me figure out which cut file it is! The "Happy Camper" title is from The Cut Shoppe. For the circles clue, I found these super-old Chatterbox letter stickers. I think they look kind of cool and not at all out of date. The clouds were cut from a patterned paper.

How awesome are these cacti? They're free cut files from Paper Issues--called Tropic Like It's Hot. The chipboard camper is by Crate Paper, and I couldn't resist putting that little Shimelle fox puffy sticker in the window. The bunting is a die I got on ebay.

I found another fox puffy sticker as well as a heart puffy sticker. I tore the black cardstock to look like land.

I hope you'll come play with us! Look at all the sponsors--fifteen of them--donating prizes this month: