#Team Awesome {Paper Issues Learning Curve Challenge}

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today!

Do you have Back to School photos to scrap? This challenge is PERFECT for documenting those days. No kids? No problem! How about using the CURVE part of this challenge? Add a curved element to your project. Curved title, add a wave, YOU CAN DO IT!

I don't have kids, but as a teacher, I jumped at the chance to scrap these fun photos of my teammates and me.

Surprisingly enough, I don't own a lot of school-themed scrapbook supplies, so I had to scrounge. I did have the Fancy Pants Take Note 6 x 6 pad, which seems school-themed with that composition notebook-looking print and the alphabet paper. And of course Paper Issues always has the perfect free cut file for any occasion. I used two cut files, Take Note of Today and Hashtag Girl Squad. 

          

I used some old ledger paper and a spiral notebook punch for my background and a Kaisercraft grid stamp, which seem kind of school-like.

How fun is that pencil cut file? I even found some silver metallic paper for the metal part of the pencil.

I can't wait to see what you do with this challenge! Remember! You have until October 1st to enter your project over at the Friends & Fans Facebook page for a chance at one of the TWO Gift Cards we give away each month.

Besides these two school-themed cut files, there's at least one other school-related cut file and lots of curvy cut files. And while you're looking through the free cut files, check out all the stuff at the Paper Issues store. Use my code Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire order! 

I Love My Team {Stuck?! Sketches October 15 Challenge}

It's time for a new challenge over at Stuck?! Sketches! Here's the page I created, feature a picture of me and my fourth grade teacher teammates.

And the sketch Laura made for us:

Here are some details. I cut those "4th" thingies out on my Silhouette for our annual picture that goes on a bulletin board at my school, and so the yellow was my starting point for the layout. I found this yellow paper with plus signs in my stash, which I thought would be perfect for a school page. When I was looking for a frame, I found this striped chipboard one, and I drew the rest of the colors from that. The blue ledger paper is really old Dear Elsie paper. The red arrow paper is by by Bella Blvd, and the diagonal stripe is by Simple Stories. The flair badge is by A Flair for Buttons, and I've had those red Jenni Bowlin school letter stickers in my stash forever and was happy to finally use them.

Here's a shot of the top. The apple was cut out of a Bella Blvd paper, as are the little stars. That cool stamp of scattered letters is by Carabelle Studio. The circle chipboard piece is by 2Crafty. I coated it with silver embossing powder.

The schoolhouse and arrow were cut from the same paper as the stars, and the apple is from another Bella Blvd paper from the same collection (Star Student). The Maya Road light bulb doesn't show up as much as I had wished, but I thought it was a good accent for a school page.

I hope you'll come play with us! It's a fun sketch to play with, plus we have two awesome sponsors donating prizes:

Very Happy Teachers on the Last Day of School {CSI Case File No. 213}

We have a new Case File open for investigation at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration:

Here's my page. I actually made this last month and submitted it to Stuck?! Sketches because I wanted to apply for their design team. Fingers crossed...

Clues I used: Evidence - I used all of the clues! Testimony - Document something about school. Here's the sketch I used:

Here are some details: The word "happy" is a Silhouette cut file. My favorite detail on my page is the little gorilla holding part of my title.

Those orange and lime slices are from an old Ki Memories paper, I think, and the leaves are also really old, from a We R Memory Keepers paper. That cool chipboard circle is from 2Crafty. I had to include that "Let's do the happy dance" phrase sticker on my page. I had a hard time fitting it anywhere on my 8 x 8 page, so I cut it in two pieces.

I combined some school elements, like the numbers, ruler, plus signs, periodic elements, and grid, with some summery accents on my page. 

We do look pretty happy, don't we?

This Case File is going to stay open for three weeks because September is an extra long month. I hope you'll come and play for a chance to win a prize from our awesome sponsors:

Very Happy Teachers on the Last Day of School

With school looming ahead for me (just three more days of summer break), I thought it was time to scrap this picture of my team on the last day of school.

I used the current sketch from Stuck?! Sketches to create my page:

Here are some closeups. The word "happy" is a Silhouette cut file. My favorite detail on my page is the little gorilla holding part of my title.

Those orange and lime slices are from an old Ki Memories paper, I think, and the leaves are also really old, from a We R Memory Keepers paper. That cool chipboard circle is from 2Crafty. I had to include that "Let's do the happy dance" phrase sticker on my page. I had a hard time fitting it anywhere on my 8 x 8 page, so I cut it in two pieces.

I combined some school elements, like the numbers, ruler, plus signs, periodic elements, and grid,  with some summery accents on my page. 

We do look pretty happy, don't we?

2Crafty August DT Layouts

It's my turn to share my DT work at at the 2Crafty blog today. Here's my post. 
"This Is Me Summer 2015"

  I've had a super-busy summer, and I wanted to document all the goings-on.  I just happened to have this picture of me holding the sign,  and that made me think of the 2Crafty "This is Me" title,  so that was the perfect starting point. For those who don't know, I scrap 8 x 8,  which is why some of the 2Crafty elements look larger on my page.  

  I coated the "This is Me" title with gesso first, and then dabbed several different  pink stamp inks to get the "This is" part to match my papers.  Next, I used Gold Zing embossing powder on the "Me."  

  Since the idea of time was important for this layout, the "6" Clock Face Frames" were a perfect accent for my page.  I coated the clock with gesso and then went over it  with white acrylic paint. I treated the butterflies from the "Sharon's Butterflies" set  with the same gold embossing powder as the title. The "Polaroid Assortment Frames"  are a wonderful set to have--there are 8 pieces in the pack,  and they give some great dimension and interest to your page.  I covered mine with patterned paper.  

  I used a piece from the "2015's" set, coated with gold Zing embossing powder, for my subtitle.  

I used a "Sharon's Butterfly" in place of a tab to pull the tag out of the little

 polka dot paper bag. I've journaled on both the back and front of the tag, 

listing the noteworthy things from my summer break.

2Crafty Products used on this layout: This is Me 6" Clock Face Frames Sharon's Butterflies Polaroid Assortment Frames 2015's

"Class of 2014"

  I took these photographs right after I set up my classroom last year,  and I got the 2Crafty Class of 2014 piece with the intention of scrapping the pictures.  The school year zipped by, and I regretted not having scrapped them,  but as I get ready to start a new school year, in a new grade level, I decided now was the time.  

I wanted my title to match the school-themed elements I had cut out of a patterned paper, 

so I inked all of the letters in "Class of 2014" with black stamp ink, except for the zero, 

which I was planning to use with the "Light Bulb." 

Then, I outlined the title with a white gel pen to give them the same look 

as the school accents. I used several shades of yellow stamp ink

 to get a color that matched the yellow grid paper I used. 

The light bulb was coated with silver embossing powder. 

Isn't a light bulb a perfect accent for a school-themed page?

I cut the "Interlocking Grid Panel" in pieces to use as layers under a couple of the photos, 

coating them first with gesso and then dabbing them with two different stamp inks.

  The circle framing the picture above is from "Circle Stack," and I coated it with gesso  and then outlined it with a fine pen. The arrows with the words pointing to each picture  are from the "Asst Arrows" set. I also used various shades of ink,  tempered with a little gesso, to get a more muted primary color. 2Crafty Products used on this layout: Class of 2014 Light Bulbs Interlocking Grid Panel Circle Stack Asst Arrows

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look at my pages. 

I hope I've given you some ideas for using these awesome 2Crafty elements.