The Cut Shoppe: Love Layout & Process Video!

Hi Creative Friends! 

Welcome to the Happy Arty Days blog! 

 I am so super dee duper excited to be sharing my first official project for 

 Yayyy!!! 

I LOVE The Cut Shoppe digital cut files, and have been wanting to be part of this awesome team for a long time. 

Hooray for dreams coming true! 

Such an amazing opportunity - I hope I'll inspire you!

Today's layout is all about putting the focus back on your photographs, 

and the Piece Of My Heart cut file certainly does that and more! 

Here's what I'm talkin' 'bout......

"Love" 

Sigh! Isn't this just the sweetest?!! 

All the pretty, girly things here! 

Here's a better look at the cut file......

Piece Of My Heart Cut File

Get this awesome file from The Cut Shoppe HERE

This file is an absolute dream to create with! 

With no intricate or tricky cuts, this file cuts out super fast! With its large, clean cut boxes you can see how it really puts the emphasis back onto your photos!

 And if you're a lil time poor (aren't we all, these days?!) it's also super quick to back! 

Here's a few close-ups for you.....

I have used the Crate Paper: Maggie Holmes: Flourish collection, as well as a few bits n pieces from the Willow Lane line, accessory stickers from Cocoa Vanilla Studio & my favourite Shimmerz Paints - for a gentle hint of color and shine! 

So lovely, indeed! 

You'll spy that I foam mounted the Piece Of My Heart cut file for added dimension & interest!

Such a fabulous cut file for my beautiful girl! 

Want to know more about how this layout came together? 

Please watch my process video  HERE 

Also includes my thoughts on layout design, page elements, and why I didn't choose to back this file with multiple pattern papers (& it isn't what you might expect!) 

I hope you'll enjoy watching! 

Thanks so  much for visiting today!

I hope you're feeling inspired to use the Piece Of My Heart cut file!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Paper Issues: June Free File Friday #2

Hi Creatives!

Welcome back for more Paper Issues awesomeness with the mid month share of 

This time we're focusing on any Summer themed Free File from the Paper Issues store!

There are so many options in the store, that I actually used two files on my layout!

Here's what I created....

"Summer Days"

Pure Summer sweetness!

I've used the stunning Echo Park Summer FUN line & combined it with the pineapple cut file featured in the NSD 2017 Free Cut File - see below.

 & I have also used the super pretty Tropical Orchid Free Cut File ....

So Awesome!!!

Here's a few close ups for you.....

So many beautiful elements to this collection - but I just can't go past that pineapple pattern paper!!! Fabulous!

My cut files are all backed with pattern papers in the Summer FUN line too! 

Here's a better look at that pineapple......

I've embellished it with a few tropical flower stickers - cute!

And speaking of tropical flowers, here's that super stunning orchid up close......

Ga ga gorgeous!!!

If you're like me, and can't live without either of the Echo Park Summer lines don't despair!

You can grab them both in the Paper Issues store here

& REMEMBER: Use my code AMANDA & you'll save 20% off your total spend! Yay!

Looking for more Free File Friday inspiration? 

See what our talented team have created here 

& don't forget to grab all the FREE Cut Files here

Thanks so much for stopping by!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Paper Issues: April Cut It Up

Hi Happy Arty Days Friends!

Welcome back for more Paper Issues awesomeness with this month's edition of

I just LOVE all the FREE cut files that Paper Issues offers!

Here's the newest one which we're using for today's challenge, 

Isn't this fun?!! Love the lil bees and honeycombe too!

Here's what I created, 

"Be Kind"

Isn't this so delicate and sweet for my Miss M?!!

I've used Dear Lizzy Lovely Day & 

some extra embellishments from Cocoa Vanilla Studio Free Spirit.

Just love how light and fresh this is!

Here's a few close ups for you......

Nawww! How cute are all those bunnies??!

I adore that script title too!

The ombre heart pattern paper is just divine!

So, so pretty! 

Love it!

And that's my take on this month's Cut It Up Saturday!

You can grab all the FREE Paper Issues Cut Files here.

Need scrapbook supplies?

REMEMBER: Use my code AMANDA  and you'll save 20% off your total order - YAY!!!

See what the rest of our talented team has created here.

Thanks for visiting!

til  next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Paper Issues: Cut It Up Saturday

Hi Everyone!!
It's Saturday!!! YAY!

Now let's get a cutting for Paper Issues,

Cut It Up Saturday!

My favourite day of the week!

And boy oh boy, does Stacie have some incredible FREE cutfiles in the Paper Issues store for you!

The cut file for this month's challenge is a fun one....

"Heart Tracks" 

Such an awesome background cut file!!! 

I had intended to use it as a background too, with lots of pretty paper piecing.... 

but then I had another idea! 

I decided to use those cut up  hearts to form a heart.

Here's what I created with all those hearts! (& a Paper Issues flamingo card too!)

"Be a Flamingo..."

Oh wow! How pretty and fun is this?!!

I've used Crate Paper Heart Day, & Hello Love, as well as Cocoa Vanilla Studio's Endless Summer embellishments for this super pretty, super fun page! 

I cut a large heart to use as a silhouette for my watercolour base, then filled the remaining white (heart) space with those cut file hearts - love how it turned out!

But it's all those flamingos that I'm really loving!!! 

From that puffy sticker flamingo to that fantastic Paper Issues card - the flamingos have it all!

Perfect for my pretty girl too! Such a great reminder for her to shine bright! 

Love this pic of her - beach hair and she don't care! Love it!!!

How awesome is that Paper Issues card?

I keep and use all my Paper Issues cards, they're too cool not to! And this one is one of my favourites! 

Those cool heart clips are from the Heart day ephemera pack - super cute huh?!

Speaking of ephemera, how fabulous are the Cocoa Vanilla Studio flamingos?! I mounted the one below on pop dots to really make him stand out....

Love it!

To add interest to my hearts, you'll notice I created a dimensional effect with them too.....

Gently fold them, then use a tiny spot of glue in the base only. Perfect!

Oh that wooden button! Cocoa Vanilla Studio know me too well! 

And there you have it! 

My fun layout with the gorgeous FREE Heart Tracks cut file.

Need more ideas and inspiration?! Check out the rest of the team's take on this challenge here

Remember: Use my code AMANDA to save 20% off in the Paper Issues Store!

Thanks for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Paper Issues: January Cut It Up

Hi Happy Arty Days Friends!

Time for another fabulous Paper Issues challenge!

I absolutely LOVE all the free cut files in the Paper Issues store!

No need to spend on cut files with so many awesome ones being created every month by our talented team! 

And the cutfile for this challenge? 

Well, it's all about farewelling 2016, & welcoming in the New Year of course!

Here's what it looks like....

Awesome!

You can instantly download this free file in the Paper Issues store here

Now you may remember that I used the top left 2017 file only a few days ago on my 

Working Title challenge....

Love how this turned out!

However, to demonstrate how versatile this cutfile is, I decided to cut a variety of sizes of the snowflakes for this Cut It Up challenge.

Here's my layout, 

"SNOW"

Brrrrr! Look at that frozen lil face! He was having snow-much fun! lol!

Seriously though, how awesome are those snowflakes?!!!

You'll notice I cut my largest one in half and used the halves to border my page. 

To add interest to the snowflakes, I also added ice blue sequins and diamond gemstones. 

Let's take a closer look.....

Naww! Totally the cutest!

I have used Crate Paper Snow & Cocoa collection for most of my layout. 

The patterned paper background is from Crate Paper's Gather collection. 

They combine beautifully, and I love the ephemera layers beneath my photo! 

Those snowflakes were SO easy to cut, & yet they look so effective!

Love the wood veneer title too!

And there you have it! 

My takes on the newest FREE cutfile in the Paper Issues store!

Grab the file here (no purchase required)

 & see what my fellow DT members created with it here.

And Remember, if you are making a purchasing in the Paper Issues store, 

use my code AMANDA to save 20% off!

Thanks for stopping by, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Paper Issues: January Roll The Dice

Hi Creatives!

Get ready as Paper Issues rolls the dice for January!
This challenge is soooooo much fun!

This month the dice roll determined that we would need to use 

4 Photos

& 

4 Words for the title

for our scrapbook layouts.

Here's what I came up with....

"Don't Grow Up Kid"

Isn't this the coolest boy page?!!
Love this cool lil guy, and truly, I could keep him 4 til forever!
I've used Crate Paper's Cool Kid collection, limited edition flair from Cocoa Vanilla Studio, & another of the FREE cutfiles in the Paper Issues store.
Let's take a closer look.... 

The four word title, and the four photos made this quite an easy challenge to play along with! 

I love that mosaic style triangles cut file - its supercool! You'll also spy some paper piecing & a watercolour mixed media background beneath it too!

Grab the free file here.

Lots of awesome embellishments too....

So RAD! Love this cool kid!
And loved playing along with this challenge too!

Wanna join in on the fun?

Visit the original post here for all the details and more inspiration from our amazing design team!

Shopping in the Paper Issues online store?

Use my code AMANDA to save 20% off every.single.time you order! YAY!

Thanks for stopping by today!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo