Picnics and Patriots

Wowsa...July IS right around the corner (even if it doesn't feel like it outside)!
As we count down to a month that celebrates freedom & carefree summer days with a dose of parades, picnics and fireworks...Paper Issues kicks off a new theme of 'Picnics and Patriots'!

Join in on the fun & inspire us with your projects featuring red, white and blue by linking up here! You won't be disappointed! Look at what's up for grabs...

Some Pink Paislee Declaration! Woohoo!
All you have to do is 'like' Paper Issues on Facebook and link up a project for extra entries...just be sure to leave a comment to let us know you want to win! Also, be sure to click on some links and leave some love! There's a lot of awesome red, white and blue inspiration to be found!

In the spirit of this patriotic color theme, here are a couple cards that I created...

{Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, October Afternoon & My Mind's Eye, Sticker: October Afternoon Cherry Hill, Stamps: Ant from G-Rated Rubberstamps, Happy Summer by Savvy Stamps, Embellishment: I have no idea where that metal clip came from...maybe Making Memories?}

{Patterned Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle Fresh Print Traveler, Rub Ons: Basic Grey, Embellishments: sparkly American Crafts button, Kaisercraft Sparklets in Rouge.}

Don't forget that the Paper Issues store is FULL of scrappy goodness right now. Go check it out (...and if you make a purchase and use code BETHANY at checkout, you'll receive a 20% discount!)

xoBC

Be Healthy. Be Happy. Be Colorful.

This is my kind of run...

Have you heard about this? How fun is that?!? A friend just told me about The COLOR Run...and sadly we missed the local one, but I can't wait for it to come around again!
Wishing you a colorful day...whatever you're doing!
xoBC

May Hip Kit

Hello friends!
I have been playing with the May Hip Kit and am absolutely loving it! It's such a fun, happy, colorful kit to create with.

The Studio Calico Chevron mask that is part of the Embellishment Kit is fantastic and I'm having so much fun playing with it. Here's a card I created using this mask and the Mister Huey's Real Red mist that is also included in the Embellishment kit...

I love how the red mist looks when used on the American Crafts Fireberry cardstock...allowing the chevron pattern to create some great texture without stealing the show!

All of the other goodies can be found in the main May Hip Kit.

 

Hope this inspires you to get out your kit, mist and mask...and play!

xoBC

Worktable Wednesday

So many people have these cute, catchy post titles on their blogs...so thinking I might adopt one of them. Not sure where I saw this specifically, but I like the sound of 'Worktable Wednesday'. Like so many, it is not unusual for me to have several projects going at once! I like the idea of sharing the most current project or work in progress from my studio table on Wednesdays. So here we go! Hopefully the first of many 'Worktable Wednesday' posts...

I've been creating some gift tags to have on hand for various occasions. This is one of my favorites so far. Layers of foil wrapping paper, tulle, a paper doily...all stitched together. Quick and easy, simple and sweet.
Wishing you a creative Wednesday...
xoBC

Altered Frames

Hi friends!
Have been trying to organize some of my photo folders and ran across photos of these altered frame projects that I had worked on a while back so thought I'd share...

I started with these plain, wood framed mirrors and using some matte Mod Podge, patterned paper, paint, rub-ons and various other embellishments, this is what they turned into...

This paper from the Sassafras Lass 'Mix and Mend' collection is one of my all time favorites! Lovely texture and lots of vintage goodness. The Pink Paislee Vintage Vogue spool button and pattern tissue paper worked perfect with it to create the pretty little cluster of embellishments in the bottom corner!

I used a lot of different papers, stickers and rub-ons on the second frame for lots of texture and more of a collage feel (and a fantastic way to use up the scrap stash!!)...

These were such a fun project to work on. Since both of those were donated to a fundraiser, I guess I'll have to make myself another one! Think I'll go get my paints out and get messy...

xoBC

Gettin' Sketchy Again

Hi friends!
Today I'm back again with another sketch project. Another fun October Afternoon sketch that inspired one of our Hip Kit cards this month...

And here's the card that I created with products from the May Hip Kit...

I love the color blocking style...seeing this a lot, even in fashion, and totally loving it!

The patchwork SMASH Tape included in the May Kit is so dang fun. You can see in Saturday's post how I used it on my sketch layout in long strips. For this card, I selectively cut segments of it to use as part of the color blocking. So fun!

Take a minute to see how the other Hip Kit Designers' were inspired by this sketch at the Hip 2-b Square blog and be sure to leave a comment there for another chance to win some goodies!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoBC

Saturday Sketch Layout

Happy Saturday friends!
The Hip Kit designers were given this October Afternoon sketch as inspiration for one of our layouts this month...

Here's what I created with the May 2012 Hip Kit & Add-On Kits...

Totally loving this kit! The colors are sooooo vibrant & happy!

You'll notice that the title really blends in on the page...and I love how it turned out! The Crate Paper letters blend really well with the My Mind's Eye patterned paper, so the title is really subtle but creates some cool texture on the page...

 

Head over to the Hip 2-b Square blog and check out the other designers' fun layouts! I love to see how each designer interprets the sketch and how their own distinct style shines through while using the same Hip Kit! Plus...if you leave a comment on the Hip Blog, you have a chance to win some goodies!
xoBC

News Flash: Yarn Bombing in Local Park!

How cool is that?!? I loved it so much that I couldn't help but give one of those trees in their woollies a squeeze! I adore creative people and the way they spread their magic to make the world a happier, more beautiful place...
xoBC

eBay Treasures

Hi friends!
A very large package arrived on our doorstep the other day...

My dear hubby referred to them as 'a fine set of vintage American Tourister suitcases' - in what was his best British accent. I'm pretty sure he was mocking me...especially when later he asked me how many more suitcases I was going to add to the collection! But no bother...he can mock as much as he like...just look at these orchid-hued lovelies waiting to be repurposed! 

 

Pristine inside, lined in a shade of cotton candy pink and two sets of the happiest keys ever... 

I scurried off to one of my favorite places to buy fabric and can't wait to get started on recovering these cases! One will be covered in the pretty Amy Butler floral from Gypsy Caravan collection (that gal has fabulous color sense!) and the other will be covered in a fun print called 'Just Dandy' by Josephine Kimberling for Robert Kaufman. Do you like? 

Will be back to share the 'after' pictures soon!

xoBC 

Creating MY Living Canvas

Hello friends!

A month or so ago, Christy Tomlinson introduced her newest online workshop 'Your Living Canvas' - a collaboration between her & Art McCracken. I am so inspired by Christy, totally admire her art style and have taken a couple of her online workshops...which were completely fabulous! So when she offered a discount on this class and a payment plan to boot, I just couldn't resist and I signed on for this creative adventure. Going to learn how to let go, reflect on who I am, what my story is and create art!

Thankfully, this is a self paced workshop and I do have an entire year to access the weekly exercises. So far I've experienced week one of the workshop and have created my art journal cover...

LIFE is about creating yourself. How true...and very cool is that?!

The book I choose to alter is titled 'Good to Great'. I love that you can still see the title on the spine, through all the layers of paint, paper & rubons.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do with this workshop and the art I create...enjoy the process.

If you're interested, you can find more info about Christy, Art and their 'Your Living Canvas' workshop here.

Wishing you a creative day,

xoBC

May Hip Kit from Hip 2-b Square

Hi friends!

Last week was the debut of the May Hip Kit at Hip 2-b Square...and it's another fabulous kit, my friends! This kit features products from Echo Park, October Afternoon, American Crafts, Crate Paper and My Mind's Eye...all of my favorites!

Check out that fantastic SMASH tape! Fun, fun, fun!

And I am loving the May Embellishment Kit...

Here's a video that Kimberly created to share a preview of the May kits and more info can be found here.

Happy scrapping~

BC

Tis the season...

...for rain showers (we have our fair share of these here in the Pacific Northwest), glorious sunbursts, green sprouts and beautiful blooms! We have welcomed spring with open arms and are in full on gardening mode here at our house...LOTS of rain with little spurts of sunshine have made the weeds go wild! It is fun to watch the garden come alive...one of the first peonies actually opened up the other day and our Cecile Brunner rose bushes are an explosion of fragrant blooms! I absolutely love this time of year.

Here's a layout I was inspired to create about our first garden. The Jillibean Soup cardstock stickers included in the April Hip Kit that I used on my margarita card are perfect for garden themed layouts too!

Our yard has evolved quite a bit over the 11 years that we've lived here, so it was fun to look back at these old photos and finally document what our garden looked like back then. I should really get outside and snap some photos of what it looks like now so I can document that too!

Happy scrapping~

BC

Oh Happy Day!

Hi friends!
I love Saturdays. Don't you?
Today I wanted to share another card that I created using the April Hip Kit. This is such a simple card design...and sometimes those are the ones that I end up liking the most! This design is a great way to use up bits and strips of patterned papers that you don't want to waste.

This card came together especially quick because of the cute 'oh happy day' diecut found in the Lilybee Bag of Bits...but you could also stamp a sentiment or use some of the Jillibean Soup word stickers (also included in this kit) on a plain diecut or punched shape to create some quick & cute thank you, birthday or just because cards for your stash!

Happy crafting!

xoBC

It's five-o-clock somewhere...

...anyone want to join me for a Margarita?

I created this card with papers and stickers from the April Hip Kit. All of the sticker embellishments (words, alphas, tag, lemon & lime) are from the Jillibean Soup Coconut Soup sticker sheet - love it!

Cheers!

BC