The One with Teaching a Studio Calico Class - STITCHED!

Keeping secrets is not my forte! So I'm super glad I can finally divulge a big one - I'm teaching a class with Studio Calico called STITCHED!

I stitch on seriously 90% of my layouts and cards. I LOVE the unique and home-spun look machine and hand stitching gives my layouts. In this class I'll be teaching (along with some ultra awesomely talented scrapbooking friends - Allison Waken, Amy Tan, Becky Novacek, Beshka Kueser, Carissa Wiley, Erin Stewart, Gina Lideros, Heather Leopard, Katie Ehmann, Lea Lawson, Leena Loh, Lexi Bridges, Meghann Andrew, Nicole Samuels, Pam Baldwin, and Robyn Werlich) 24 unique techniques for adding stitching to your layouts, cards, and Project Life® spreads.

Here is the kit that ships with the class full of journaling cards with stitching templates, exclusive stamps, an actual stitching template, wood veneer stitchable tag, gold floss, and more! 

There are also bonus digital files: die cut files by Hello Forever and Julie Campbell, printable journaling cards and accents by Hello Forever, and a printable stitching template by Julie Campbell. Check 'em out:

I've seen them with mine own eyes, printed them, cut them, stamped them, stitched them, and I must say, they're stellar!

I'll be making 8 layouts and 4 how-to videos that will post all throughout the month of April.

Watch a short little video as I walk through the class supplies and demonstrate why you won't want to miss this class:

Here is a close up of one of the journaling cards I stitched through with red/pink ombre thread. Can't wait to add this to a layout!

Here's a little sneak peek of one of the layouts where I stitched with the template the word "shine"!

Here's an exclusive offer!!

Registration for STITCHED will close on 3/31/2014 at 11:59pm EST. Class begins on April 1, 2014! Hope to see you in the classroom!!

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The One with Insta-Lately Feb 28th Edition

Insta-lately's are happening more frequently! They're a nice way to round up what's been goin' down in the Evans household.

Fox tried his hand at play doh for the first time... Sometimes, even though I know he's making a huge mess, I let him because he's learning and experimenting. And I get things done :)

 Coming tomorrow to the 2Peas Garden:

 This super thin washi tape in the Plus One collection by Amy Tangerine/American Crafts is my fave.

3 baskets of laundry need to be folded, Jane's bangs need a trim, floor needs to be vacuumed... but all I really see is how much Fox loves Jane! Chores can wait.

 These kids are SOOOO happy when Daddy comes home! We had super nice weather a couple days this week, we even brought the toys back outside!

 For one of my Color Studio class assignments I had to pick warm or cool colors. I went with warm and these are the products I pulled. Wish I could share the layout here, but alas, you'll have to find it in the classroom and TODAY is the last day to sign up!

 The best perk of working for American Crafts? Getting a 42 pound box of scrapbooking supplies from AC-owned companies Crate Paper, Imaginisce, Heidi Swapp, Pink Paislee, Pebbles, Project Life, and Studio Calico! Jane tried to claim it as her own but I said, "NO WAY JOSE!" :)

That's what we've been up to lately!

I think I have a super duper MAJORLY AWESOME announcement for tomorrow, if everything goes smoothly. And no, I'm not pregnant :)

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The One with Studio Calico OFFICE HOURS Layouts

It's the 27th! It's reveal day at Studio Calico! Woooo to the hooooo! 

I don't know how they do it, but every month the kits get better and better. So much so that I made 5 layouts instead of the usual 4 this month :) I'll share them in the order that I created them:

YOU ARE by Paige Evans

Description: I had so much fun designing this "YOU ARE" exclusive Studio Calico cut file background!

Of course I had to use it on one of my layouts :) I used only the To Do add on kit to create this entire layout.

Journaling says: I like to think about the day we met - January 22nd 2004. It's been ten years since that fateful day in our shared Art History class! Can you believe all that has happened since then? 2 kids, dental school, moving across the world... The best is yet to come! I love you!

How to: Die cut the "You Are" background from white cardstock, trim off the edges, then adhere it on a cloud patterned paper background. Arrange embellishments in a heart on the center of the layout and sew a heart over to keep everything in place. Add more embellishments like badges, enamel dots, and sequins to the heart. Layer a photo over vellum die cuts and add a Thickers title on the right.

Supplies: Scrapbook kit: To Do by Studio Calico; Cardstock, chipboard letter stickers, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper: American Crafts, Crate Paper, Webster's Pages; Badges: BasicGrey; Enamel dots, chipboard cameras, sequins: Studio Calico; Vellum shapes, gold word stickers: Crate Paper; Stapler: Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo by QuicKutz; "You Are" background cut file: Paige Evans for Studio Calico

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HAPPY SPRING by Paige Evans

Description: I sure do love using my Silhouette Cameo to make layouts! I enlarged the flower stamp cut file to make the background on this layout.

Journaling says: Spring comes early in sunny SoCal :)

How to: Die cut a large sunburst flower from scrap cardstock then use the petals as templates to cut them from patterned paper; arrange the papers on a blue cardstock layout. Sew several circles around the middle of the flower to keep all the papers in place. Layer a tag and two photos on the middle then stamp the date and journal at the bottom of the tag. Stitch the wood veneer buttons with yellow floss and add them to the center of the flower. Place blue foam Thickers and a watercolor paper "SPRING" die cut around the photos. Add trios of colored enamel dots on the paper petals. Drop white spray mist over the top left and bottom right corners.

Supplies: Scrapbook kit: Office Hours by Studio Calico; Cardstock, foam letter stickers, roller date stamp, ink, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper: BasicGrey, Design by Dani, Life Love Paper, Paislee Press, Studio Calico; Watercolor paper word die cut, wood veneer buttons, shipping tag, spray mist, flower cut file: Studio Calico; Enamel dots: Twine & Ink; Floss: DMC; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo by QuicKutz; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

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LITTLE RAD DUDE by Paige Evans

Description: Another cut file layout! What can I say? :) I multiplied the "+" sign into staggered rows to create a custom background.

Journaling says: Fox - you've always been such a fun kid - always up for adventures and wanting to try new things. You have a zest for life and we love that and you!

How to: Die cut plus signs from the top portion of a gray cardstock layout then back each "+" with patterned paper. Adhere three photos across the bottom of the layout. Make a paper banner, top it with foam Thickers and a watercolor paper word, then adhere it over the bottom of the photos. Journal below the title. Stitch wood veneer buttons with different colors of floss and stick them around the layout in a visual triangle. Add enamel dots and foam sticker shapes to the centers of some of the plus signs. Drop black spray mist over the top left and bottom right corners.

Supplies: Scrapbook kit: Office Hours by Studio Calico; Cardstock, foam letter stickers, roller date stamp, ink, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper: BasicGrey, Design by Dani, Life Love Paper, Paislee Press, Studio Calico; Watercolor paper word die cut, wood veneer buttons, spray mist, plus sign cut file: Studio Calico; Enamel dots: Twine & Ink; Sentiment tab rub on: Life Love Paper; Floss: DMC; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo by QuicKutz

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WHAT'S WRONG DARLINGS? by Paige Evans

Description: I'll never tire of paper weaving! This tim I tried with with super thin pieces of paper to change things up a bit.

Journaling says: For some reason unbeknownst to me both of you were so super sad before church! Usually you're such happy campers! But I understand we all have our moments. I love you!

How to: Trim all the papers from all of the Office Hours and add on kits into 1/8" strips then weave them; adhere the weaving onto a white cardstock background. Layer die cut doilies, a shipping tag, photo, and vellum shapes on the left side. Add word stickers, chipboard letters, a gold word sticker, chevron border sticker, mini heart trio sticker, chipboard stars, and more over the doilies. Stamp the date below the photo. Drop black spray mist over the top left and bottom right sides. Journal on the top left and bottom right sides.

Supplies: Scrapbook kits: Coffee Break, Office Hours, Rolodex, and To Do by Studio Calico; Patterned paper: American Crafts, BasicGrey, Crate Paper, Design by Dani, Life Love Paper, Paislee Press, Studio Calico, Webster's Pages; Die cuts (chevron border, doilies, "remember this", scalloped label), stickers (round chipboard letters, sentiment label, words), pen, roller date stamp, ink, adhesive: American Crafts; Shipping tag: Vintage; Mini heart trio sticker: My Mind's Eye; Vellum shapes, gold word sticker: Crate Paper; Chipboard stars, spray mist: Studio Calico

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THINKING OF YOU JUST BECAUSE by Paige Evans

Description: After spending lots of time on each of the above layouts, I wanted to create a layout in 15 minutes of less. I combined to cut files into one to create this large sentiment die cut! It's so pretty it just had to backed with floral paper. And I was excited to scrap these pictures of my and Chris at Romeo and Juliet's balcony in Verona, Italy!

Journaling says: It was so fun and surreal to stand at Juliet's balcony with my very own Romeo :)

How to: Die cut a large sentiment down the middle of a woodgrain paper layout. Back the die cut with floral paper. Adhere a photo on the left and right edges and embellish with vellum pinked circles, acetate butterflies, flower stickers, jewels, enamel dots, sequins, stamped butterflies, a hearts border sticker, and more as shown. Add mini alphabet stickers and a gold chipboard geotag under the left photo and journal below them. Drop white spray mist over the top left and bottom right corners.

Supplies: Scrapbook kits: Coffee Break, Office Hours, Rolodex, and To Do by Studio Calico; Patterned paper: Webster's Pages; Enamel dots: Studio Calico, Twine & Ink; Sequins, jewels, chipboard geotag, acetate butterflies, spray mist, word stickers, sentiment cut files: Studio Calico; Vellum pinked circles: Crate Paper; Butterfly stamp: Maggie Holmes; Mini alphabet stickers: My Mind's Eye; Stickers (flowers, heart border), pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo by QuicKutz

Phew! Lots of layouts! More next month!

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The One with Studio Calico OFFICE HOURS Sneaks!

In just 12 hours the OFFICE HOURS kits go live at Studio Calico! I had so much fun with the kits this month I made FIVE layouts! I can't wait to share them all. But for now, here's a teaser:

Come back at 12pm Eastern Time for the full reveal :)

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The One with the Noble Paiges Book Club!

I am so excited to announce the grand opening of Noble Paiges Book Club!

Last month after I read the entire Me Before You by Jojo Moyes book in less than 24 hours I said, rather jokingly, that I'd like to start a book club. And then what-do-ya-know people actually said they'd be interested in joining an online book club! But, like I needed one more thing to add to my plate... Then Kelsey Noble (a fellow crafter and book reading enthusiast) emailed me and said she'd love to do a book club together, and that struck my fancy! I commissioned my talented friend Courtney Blair (@afternoondelight - whom I used to work with at American Crafts and now she is one of the two designers who create all of the amazing BasicGrey collections) to design our logo and a month or so later the dream is becoming a reality! We had fun coming up with a name and reached out to the wonderful online community. Noble Paiges is a play off both of our names and is reminiscent of Barnes & Noble. Fun eh? :)

 Here's how it'll work:

*The book club will be held every other month to give you plenty of time to acquire and read the book. 

*A date will be chosen every other month to "meet". Throughout that day Kelsey and I will update our blogs with new questions, videos, and such, and we can leave comments, interact, and discuss. We could also share thoughts on Instagram if that interests you!

*The next book will be decided on the discussion day and revealed at the end.

*We'll have a giveaway at the end of each discussion day for next month's book. Details to follow!

*Easy peasy lemon squeezy! This is meant to be fun, no pressure, or strings attached!

With all of that, I'm pleased to reveal our first book - What I Had Before I Had You by Sarah Cornwell:

A brief synopsis:

In What I Had Before I Had You by Sarah Cornwell, a woman must face the truth about her past in this luminous, evocative literary novel of parents and children, guilt and forgiveness, memory and magical thinking, set in the faded, gritty world of the New Jersey Shore.

Olivia was only fifteen the summer she left her hometown of Ocean Vista. Two decades later, on a visit with her children, her nine-year-old son Daniel, recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, disappears. Olivia’s search for him sparks tender and painful memories of her past—of her fiercely loving and secretive mother, Myla, an erratic and beautiful psychic, and the discovery of heartbreaking secrets that shattered her world.

To kick off NOBLE PAIGES BOOK CLUB we're having our first giveaway for the chosen What I Had Before I Had You by Sarah Cornwell book! Leave a comment on this post and tell me: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? I'll pick a winner on Tuesday March 4th 2014 and ship them a copy of the book. And the winner better join in the discussion or else!... I kid :)

Our first meeting will be Saturday April 12th 2014 at 6am Pacific Time! I'll post reminders once in a while until then. Hope to "see" you there!

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The One with February 2014 American Crafts Layouts

Today I'm sharing my two monthly layouts for American Crafts!

1ST PIGGIES by Paige Evans

Journaling says: I can't tell you how excited I was the 1st time I was able to put your hair in pigtails! I love having a daughter!

How to: Die cut an 11 1/2" doily from white cardstock then back each and every piece with patterned paper. Took about 3 hours... but I love all the color! Layer the die cut doily on an actual paper doily and then on a white cardstock background that has been washed with pink watercolors (this was actually what I was planning to use for the background of my tiny hearts die cut page from the American Crafts Valentine's Day Blog Hop layout, but it didn't look right. I'm glad I kept it instead of chucking it because it works perfectly here!). Place two photos on the center, journal on either side, then embellish with wood buttons, enamel dots, flower stickers, and a Thickers title as shown. Drop pink spray mist over the top left and bottom right sides.

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, wood buttons, enamel dots, flower stickers, chipboard (letters, round number), pen, roller date stamp, ink, adhesive: American Crafts; Doily: Royal Lace; Spray mist: Studio Calico; Watercolors: Prang; Die cut machine (Silhouette Cameo), doily cut file (Design ID #20913): QuicKutz

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LEARNING HOW TO WALK by Paige Evans

Journaling says: Fox learned how to walk by grabbing my hands and you did the same for a bit but for the most part you taught yourself to walk! So cute watching you try to walk!

How to: Punch 1" circles from all the papers in the Plus One line by Amy Tangerine for American Crafts. Arrange the circles in a grid across a yellow patterned paper layout base. Paint white circles under a few of the paper circles. Machine stitch diagonally both ways down each row of circles to create a patchwork look. Add a photo, layered tag, badge, and stickers/Thickers title on the left side. Stamp the date below. Embellish the circles with fabric brads, badges, stickers, and puffy stickers as shown. Journal around one of the painted circles. Drop black India ink over the layout. Place a line of thin washi tape across the bottom edge.

Supplies: Patterned paper, badges, fabric brads, stickers (chipboard letters, foam letters, hearts, mini alphabet, puffy heart and sentiment, star, sun), washi tape, layered tag, roller date stamp, ink, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; India Ink: Artworks Paint: Americana; Circle punch: EK Success; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

Until next time, Auf Wiedersehen! 

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The One with the Love Love (Shaped Challenge) Card

This week's cards challenge I came up with for the Create Blog was to make a shaped card. Time to think outside the square/rectangle box! Here's what I made:

LOVE by Paige Evans 
Card is 6" across How to: Trim concentric hearts from patterned papers then sew around each heart using cream thread. Layer the hearts together then sew a straight line down the middle to attach them all together. Place a dimensional paper bow sticker topped with a gold foil "love" die cut and a gold resin flower in the "o" on the center. Trim a little stitched "love" from a fabric frame and tuck it under the paper bow. Add a hairpin, blue doily die cut, and blue chipboard butterfly on the top right as shown. Trim a white cardstock heart the same size as the card, and adhere it to the back at the top only to create a card base.
 Supplies: Cardstock, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper, chipboard butterfly, resin flower, hairpin, die cuts (doily, "love"), dimensional paper bow sticker, "love" fabric stitched frame piece: Flea Market by Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark Another card coming in 2 weeks! Haven't thought of the challenge yet though...

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The One with Allie in China & Paige in Germany

My poor mom. Both of her daughters (and her only two grandchildren (Eric & Tanya, Allie & Tate - change that ASAP!!! :)) live far, far, far away. 

We live in Germany. Got here in July 2013 and we'll probably be here 'til July 2016. 

And then my little sister Allie and her husband Tate just moved to CHINA for six months to help teach English in elementary schools. 

I've LOVED living vicariously through Allie's instagram photos and blog posts. Here are just a few of @allisoncelestia's grams:

I've always wanted to visit The Great Wall of China - now I have a double excuse to go! To see my mini me!

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The One with the Real Mom Real Reviews Feature

First, congrats to the American Crafts Valentine's Day Blog Hop winner, Amanda Johnson (and I just peeked at her blog - holy moly inspiring projects!!):

Aaaaand, congrats to the Love Mini Workshop with Wilna Furstenburg winner, Wida Miller (another awesome blogger/cardmaker/crafter!):

Amanda and Wida - email me at paigetaylorevans at gmail dot com to claim your prize!

Okay, we now continue with today's regularly scheduled post :)

Audrey at Real Moms Real Views contacted me awhile back to see if I'd like to send her some pacifier clips that she found via Pinterest to review and get some exposure. Sure thing! 

She is featuring a couple of my pacifier clips on her blog today as well as hosting a giveaway for these three clips:

Two giveaways close, another one opens :)

Head on over to the Real Moms Real Reviews blog to enter to win! And of course, gotta put a plug out there, visit my etsy shop for dozens of pacifier clips!

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