remember the mishief :: spotlight on shine

This little girl is a sweet as they come. She loves to cuddle and dole out hugs, curl up on the couch with each of us and has a quick, dimpled smile. She also has quite the mischievous side (I'll credit her brothers) and is so proud of herself when she pulls off a new antic. So, when I walked into the kitchen one day this past summer and found her sitting on the kitchen counter, after using the drawers underneath as stairs, I had to snap a photo to capture this side. Priceless.

The Paper Issues design team is spotlighting the Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper Shine collection on the blog today and this layout uses nearly all products from the line. I love that is a great mix of playful and classic patterns and elements. You can grab some for yourself in the Paper Issues store at 20% off using code: JENBOOM

love us :: cut file saturday

There is a brand new, FREE cut file up on the Paper Issues blog today. I was so excited to see the design this month and to document a couple of my new favorite autumn photos.

A few weeks ago, my husband was working on and around local train tracks that are no longer in use. We met up with him for a few minutes so that the kids could see their Baba at work and managed to grab a couple of cute iPhone photos. Now I am certain this is where I want to have our family portraits taken next year!

I used mainly two fall collections for the layout, Pebbles Harvest and Photo Play Autumn Day, along with Swag Bag bits, of course, and the amazing Shimelle foam Thickers!

You can find all of these supplies and more - at 20% off! - with code JENBOOM in the Paper Issues shop.

nature girl :: pinspire me

There is a brand new Pinspire Me board up on the Paper Issues blog today! Play along in our Facebook {Friends and Fans} group for a chance to win a Pinspired Swag Bag.

I was Pinspired by the photo of the hands (top row) and the colors of the beautiful sunset (bottom row). As soon as I saw this board I ran to the computer to print out this photo of Amalia and her little backyard nature collection that I snapped last month. She is fascinated by the foliage on our property, particularly the various berry bushes. Nearly everyday she will create a little collection to admire on this wood table.This is a memory I want to keep. Her little hand, her love of nature and her sweet innocence.

I used a mix of every current fall line I have on hand to create my layers and embellishments: Photo Play Autumn Day paper and cardstock stickers, Imaginisce Give Thanks chip ephemera, a Pebbles Harvest card cut from a 12x12 sheet, Pink Paislee Cedar Lane embellishments and I even snuck in a Project Live Everyday core kit card (A for Adventure) and a few Swag Bag bits!

You can grab any of these products and much more in the Paper Issues shop and for 20% off using code: JENBOOM

wicked cute :: halloween 2015

Happy Halloween week! This year we have two pirates, Captain Jakes to be exact, and a tiny Tinkerbell. Last weekend was our neighborhood block party and all of the kids go in costume. It was the perfect opportunity to get photos early and not have to worry about rushing them on the actual holiday. Look! All three children standing still and smiling! That's a Halloween treat for certain.

I'm playing along with the Paper Issues design team today, spotlighting the Crate Paper After Dark collection. It's such a fun, seasonal selection with vintage touches and little bits of aqua and lavender to complement the traditional orange, black and white.

I had so much fun working with the After Dark accent stickers, ephemera pack and the 6x6 paper pad. The background paper is actually from the Crate Paper Wonder line and worked so well! Add in a handmade Paper Issues jack o' lantern PaperPOP and this Halloween is a wrap.

You can find lots of seasonal products in the Paper Issues shop and use code JENBOOM for 20% off your order!

mommy & me :: paper issues + cedar lane

Today on the Paper Issues blog, the design team girls are showcasing the gorgeous Pink Paislee Cedar Lane collection. I always, always love autumn papers and products. They are my favorite collections for my favorite time of the year. This one got me right away. The colors are unexpected but, so perfect. I adore the wood grains, the pinks, the bits of gold and aqua. It is just SO pretty. SWOON.

I scrapped two of my favorite photos from the first Mommy & Me field trip with Amalia just last week. The layout is completely made up of Cedar Lane 12x12 paper, 6x6 paper, the ephemera pack, puffy stickers and the clear word stickers. My only addition was the printed journaling. It came together in about 20 minutes!

You can still grab Cedar Lane for yourself - and at 20% off! - in the Paper Issues shop using code: JENBOOM

Thank you for stopping by!
Jen

Fan-atics :: New Issue Monday!

It's New Issue Monday at Paper Issues and the theme this month is "Fan-atics!" I'm playing along with a fan mom layout of our oldest playing fall baseball. Head on over to the Paper Issues blog to see how you can play along...this issue covers sports, Halloween and SO much more. Everyone can play and be in the running for a Paper Issues gift certificate!

The team is the KC Royals this season so, I played up the blues, along with orange accents just because I always love this color combination!

The border paper is from Fancy Pants Making Waves, the stripe is by October Afternoon Treasure Map. I used a couple of Project Life journaling cards, several bits from Paper Issues Swag Bags, a Color Cast Designs acrylic word cut, a piece of Feed Your Craft flair and finished it all off with a Silhouette cut title and stars. Grab supplies in the Paper Issues shop to create your own Fan-atics project at 20% off with code: JENBOOM

tv, i love you...

Today I'm playing with Paper Issues' FREE September Printable. Every month, Paper Issues offers a free sheet of themed 3x4 cards, ready to print. This month they celebrate the return of the fall TV line up.

I snapped this photo of our kids as they watched a cartoon together on our tablet. We were visiting family and they were having a bit of down time. Together and quiet. I'll take it!

I used a huge variety of product on this layout, where I normally prefer to stick with just a line or two. The colors played so nicely together that I ran with it!

Background: OA Treasure Map
Patterned layers: EP Jack & Jill
Tag/number 3: FP Making Waves
Project Life card, Midnight Edition
Embellishments: Paper Issues Swag Bags

Find your perfect layout supplies in the Paper Issues store and use code JENBOOM at checkout for 20% off!

donuts with baba...

Today I'm participating in a product spotlight on the Paper Issues blog featuring PaperPOPs! PaperPOPs are an exclusive collaboration between Paper Issues and Jen of Parker on the Porch. Every POP is handmade here in the USA and they are incredible quality.

I've been using my, ahem, collection as page markers in my planner but, reserved this donut for this special Father's Day layout with photos from George's Pre-K "Donuts with Dad" event.

Start your very own PaperPOP collection for 20% off with code: JENBOOM

girls just want to have fun...

Happy weekend! I'm sharing this fun layout of our daughter today using the FREE August printable file from Paper Issues. Every month, a new sheet of printable cards is offered in the shop and this month has an awesome 80's throwback vibe.

I was immediately drawn to the hot pink of the "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" card and reached for the very pink 7Paper Amelia line to play it up! Perfect for these playful photos of our sweetheart playing with my sunglasses.

The 7Paper Amelia line is available in the Paper Issues store and you can take 20% off any order with code JENBOOM.

remember this...

This morning I am sharing a layout made for the Paper Issues product spotlight on the Crate Paper Wonder line. This line is whimsical, bold, playful and soft...all at once. Perfect for this photo of our daughter, curled up fast asleep under a chair in our living room.

Need to try some, or ALL, of Wonder for yourself? Take 20% off any order in the Paper Issues shop with code: JENBOOM

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Jen

you're cute times two :: new issue monday!

It's new Issue Monday on the Paper Issues blog and this time It's All About The Face! I loved these captures of our boys on July 4th as they experienced sparklers for the very first time. Their reactions and expressions were fantastic and I could not wait to document the memory.

Fancy Pants Designs Making Waves collection played so well with the photo colors without using a specifically patriotic line. This collection is definitely a new favorite! I used a few of the patterned papers along with some of the tag pack and ephemera die cuts.

How would you like a chance at a $20 Gift Card to PaperIssues.com to treat yourself to some new supplies? That's the prize at stake for linking up to It's All About The Face! Here's how to play:

1: Crate a project involving: macro photos, portraits, school pictures, team photos, selfies, funny faces, close ups, bad photos, vintage photos, IG photos, etc., and/or use the Paper Issues FREE August printables
2. Link up your new or existing project(s) to the New Issue blog post HERE by August 16th.

I hope you'll play along and can't wait to see new inspiration! Need to shop while waiting to find out if you are a winner? Use code JENBOOM for 20% off any order! 

planning with paper issues...

Today the Paper Issues blog has a post that makes me heart beat faster...a Planner Spotlight! I'm sharing my Plum Paper planner pages for this week and there is plenty of other inspiration as well. Hop on over to check it out!

The weekly spread here is how my week takes shape. During the weekend, I add my thin washi lines and write in events and to-do items that are unlikely to change. Things that are not set in stone get added on a post it note and then written in pen once I know (more or less) for sure they will happen.

This week I decided to work with aqua, yellow and bright green for my main colors. I marked off my sections as such:

1. Top: daily schedule, events, school/work, play dates, etc.
2. Middle (under the yellow line): daily tasks
3. Third (under striped washi): dinner plans
4. Bottom: FitBit step count, Listers Gotta List daily prompt

My left side bar checklist is for tasks that need to be accomplished but, not necessarily on a specific day of the week.

Decorating with themes/fun stickers comes in after I have a basic plan for the week outlined and I prefer my decor to be minimal. Keeping it simple allows me to see what is happening or what needs to be done with just a quick scan. Pretty is nice but, this is a working planner!

Most of my stickers this week came from the Paper Issues shop and include: Crate Paper Poolside, Simple Stories Summer Vibes and Life Documented, Me and My Big Idea Happy Planner and bits from the Swag Bags. Need a supply stock up? Take 20% off any order in the Paper Issues shop with code: JENBOOM

Thanks for planning along with me this week!

planning and pinspired...

Good morning! Today, I'm playing along with the July Pinspire Me feature at Paper Issues. I'm using the color palette this month to inspire my planner decoration for this week.  The stickers are from Me and My Big Ideas Happy Planner line as well as some that I designed and printed myself.

Here is the beautiful inspiration board put together by Leah. Play along with us, won't you! All you need to do is create a project based on this board and post/link up to the Pinspire Me thread in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook Group!

color my world

I'm sharing a fun card today on the Paper Issues blog for the Paper Issues FREE Printable feature. Every month Paper Issues offers a page of printable cards that are completely free to download and they are always awesome! June's designs are all black and white and offer so many possibilities.

For this card, I opened the "You Color My World" card in Photoshop Elements and filled the letters in one word with bright colors. The crayon stamp is new from Lawn Fawn and I colored each with alcohol markers. I used the striped patterned paper from October Afternoon's Treasure Map collection to pull it all together.

I'm also linking this up to the new Issue: Seas the Day! Play along with and LINK UP your own project and you will have a chance to win this October Afternoon Treasure Map collection pack for yourself. This is a prize you don't want to miss! How to get in the running?

1. Create a new project (or find and existing one in your albums) that fits into one of these categories: summer/vacation, anything that can be enjoyed on or by the water (boating, fishing, etc.), use anchors as an embellishment, use October Afternoon products, use Paper Issues FREE June or July printables

2. LINK UP HERE to the Seas The Day blog post from the web or Instagram. You have until Sunday, July 5th.  It's that easy!


Need some retail therapy to get you going? Use code JENBOOM in the Paper Issues shop for 20% off your whole order!

seas the day :: new issue monday!

Good morning! Today, I'm sharing my layout for the brand-new Issue launching today on the Paper Issues blog: Seas the Day! This Issue was sponsored by October Afternoon and the DT worked with the incredible Treasure Map line.

This paper line has so many possibilities but, I used it literally here for a beachy layout using photos from our last family vacation to Greece in 2013. These are my very favorite photos of each of the boys from that trip. Perfect match! This entire layout was made using the October Afternoon Treasure Map line, save the sticker letter (also OA!) and Silhouette cut title.

Play along with and LINK UP to Seas The Day and you will have a chance to win this October Afternoon Treasure Map collection pack for yourself. This is a prize you don't want to miss! How to get in the running?

1. Create a new project (or find and existing one in your albums) that fits into one of these categories: summer/vacation, anything that can be enjoyed on or by the water (boating, fishing, etc.), use anchors as an embellishment, use October Afternoon products, use Paper Issues FREE June or July printables

2. LINK UP HERE to the Seas The Day blog post from the web or Instagram. You have until Sunday, July 5th.  It's that easy!


Need some retail therapy to get you going? Use code JENBOOM in the Paper Issues shop for 20% off your whole order!

love you more :: all the gold...

Today, I'm sharing the second home decor piece I created for the current Issue: Hooray for Red, White and Blue! One of the suggested projects is use of nautical elements. I absolutely LOVE October Afternoon's new Treasure Map line and, as it so happens, the colors are a great match for the living room we are currently decorating. I've been looking around Etsy and Insta sales for a "Love You More" sign but these papers inspired me to go ahead and create my own. I'm thrilled with how this project came together and cannot wait to see it displayed in our home!

I started this project with white cardstock and cut words with my Silhouette using the Bebas Neue font, leaving room for my foiled word in the center. Then, using two printed papers, I cut the words a second time and pieced the patterned letters into the negative spaces of my white piece. Super simple with this block font. I mounted the die cut design on two thicknesses of white craft foam to create the dimension.

I cut the Lawn Fawn script love metal die from iCraft Double Sided Adhesive Foam and used gold Deco Foil on the front. The hardest part of this project was getting the super sticky foam piece off my fingers and on the proper spot! I layered everything onto another framed piece of the OA Treasure Map collection, Siren's Point (it matches our living room carpet!) and called this done.

LINK UP your own project(s) - new or existing! - for a chance to win a fantastic Therm O Web Deco Foil and iCraft adhesive pack of your own.

new issue monday :: hooray for the red, white & blue...

There is a brand new Issue up on the Paper Issues blog today: Hooray for the Red, White and Blue! PI matched up with Therm O Web for this super shiny new challenge. The Creative Team used a selection of Deco Foils and adhesives on our projects. When I saw the color selection included teal and gold metallics, I decided to create home decor pieces, as both are colors in our front hall and living room. Today, I am sharing this framed piece that I made for our entry hall table.
 

I used the beautiful Crate Paper Craft Market line for this project, starting with a grid design cut from the 6x6 paper pad. I created my cluster of embellishments using the Craft Market die cut stickers, puffy stickers and an alphabet I had on hand. My finishing touch and focal point was the foiled house number. I used teal Deco Foil over numbers die cut from iCraft Deco Foil White Foam Adhesive. The foil adhered completely in one application!

LINK UP to the Hooray for Red, White and Blue Issue for a chance to win a set of Therm O Web iCraft Deco Foils and Adhesives for your own projects. Here's how:

1. Create a project (or find an existing one!) using these themes: patriotic, Memorial Day, military heroes, parades, use red, white and blue, nautical elements, use Therm O Web products, use the May or June free Paper Issues printables
2. LINK UP HERE! Link as many projects as you'd like to the Issue post link party. 
3. Check back to see if you are our winner!

I'll be back tomorrow with the second decor project I created for this Issue. Hope to see you again!

rise and shine :: die cut saturday

Today is Die Cutting Saturday on the Paper Issues blog which means FREE cut files for you, along with inspiration from the creative team! Danielle de Konink designed the files this month and they are fantastic, set up ready to use as 3x4 cards.

I had originally planned on using them in just that way, then this mug arrived from my mom. It needed it's own page as an ode to coffee...my mommy fuel! So, I pulled two of the designs out of the card formats and combined them for the hot pink piece, reserving the positive cuts of the hearts to accent the white space.

I combined a number of lines for this layout: 7paper Amelia 6x6 Pad and black word stickers, Jen Hadfield Home + Made for Pebbles patterned paper, Bella Boulevard felt bow, Fancy Pants Office Suite die cuts, Pinkfresh Studio enamel stickers and wood veneer and, of course, Paper Issues Swag Bag bits!

The cut files are ready to download from the Paper Issues store, completely free! should you find yourself in need of some other supplies to match up with the file, use code JENBOOM for 20% off any order!

read & explore :: paper issues swag bags

Happy Sunday all! I'm showcasing a new project on the PI Blog today using two Paper Issues favorites: Swag Bags and a sketch. The April Swag Bag was so, so good. Exclusive PI + Pinkfresh Studio rub-ons, lots of Fancy Pants Designs Office Suite and touches of gold.

I snapped this photo of Amalia as she was exploring the library last week and could not wait to get it scrapped. I pulled soft pastels and pops of bold black and white from my Swag Bag to build my layout and to play off the picture. The exclusive rub-ons are so gorgeous in black and gold and take to paper like a dream!

I've been keeping this awesome PI sketch by Jen Chapin in mind and used it as inspiration for this page.

You can use code JENBOOM to take 20% off any Paper Issues order. Happy shopping and creating!