Cut It Up February

This month we are bringing you a background cut file and titles to coordinate with the other February challenges offered at Paper Issues!  Heart Tracks background-- Back it, layer it, use it as a stencil, or use the hearts for confetti pieces.  Both files are included in the download. This fun cut file was inspired by the pretty patterned paper #2 in Pink Paislee's Oh My Heart.

Cut files can be great for starting mixed media projects.  I used the background as a stencil for watercolors and left some of the spots empty to sew the white cardstock hearts in the openings. The watercolors were picked to coordinate with Pink Paislee's new collection, Oh My Heart, by Paige Evans.  I cut the title words in white and black cardstock to give them a bit of dimension.

 See more project details on my blog.

Let's see what the talented Paper Issues design team did to personalize this cut file for February!

Rachel used Fancy Pants Designs Joy Parade for this bright and spectacular paper piecing work of art! The pops of black hearts scattered throughout help make the black and white photo of her sweet boy take center stage!  This technique is such a great way to use up scraps or cut into the extra leftover pages in your 6x6 paper pads.

Melissa enlarged a heart and layered the background file behind it!  The effect is stunning with the gorgeous watercolor patterned papers from Cocoa Vanilla Studios Make A Wish collection and her beautiful stitching and watercolor splatters.  She finished off this stunner with the poppy flowers from the Paper Issues free files and layered those!  

Pol rocked Crate Paper's Heart Day for her pretty layout.  I love how she created a grid in the background with tags and embellishments over the ombre pink hearts.  This is such a genius way to use up the last bits of a collection!

Amanda used the mini hearts to create a dimensional heart on her beautiful project.  Amanda was able to tie in Crate Paper Heart Day, Cocoa Vanilla Studios Endless Summer and the flamingo PI order card!  The mixed media background is so eye catching!  I love how she demonstrates how to use the negative and positive pieces of a cut file for multiple uses!

Renee used the January Swag Bag and  Pebbles My Funny Valentine stickers for her sweet project voicing a brother's sentiment about his sister!  She rocked the pinks in stash busting her valentine collections to back the hearts!

Ali shows another awesome technique to try with cut files!  She used the sketch pens on the continuous edge sketch option to create the look of messy sketch hearts.  She rocked the new Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams. I love the marbled green and pink together with her sweet puddle jumping girl!

Annelie wows us with another way to use cut files!  Annelie used the background file as a mask to apply her texture paste and then sewed on the hearts to create a beautiful unique background.  I love how the hearts take on the look of clouds as the Fancy Pants Sweet Nothings hot air balloons drift upward!

Raechelle made the lovely papers from Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams just shine in this sweet layout with this beautiful photo of her with her daughter.  Check out the amazing hand stitching around the hearts!  I love the subtle details that add so much texture and style.

Cat is the master at mixing collections and making masterpieces with them!  I love the look of the half and half hearts by using strips of paper behind the cut file. Cat altered the file to take some of the hearts out of the background to personalize it. I spied Amy Tangerine foam Thickers mixed with Simple Stories Posh and Maggie Holmes Gather to name just a few in the mix here!




Devra rocked the pink ombre with this mega heart full of little hearts! Check out she tied in so many gorgeous embellishments from Crate Paper Heart Day!  Take a peek through the mini hearts to see the amazing hand stitching to create the mega heart background.  Beautiful!



Gorgeous design work, right?!  This creative team knows how to make paper come to life!
 I hope you are feeling inspired to try this cut file in one of the techniques featured above!

As always, find this Heart Tracks background and title files free in the Paper Issues store.
The Cut It Up challenge is up on Facebook Paper Issues {Friends and Fans}, please post your new projects by March 5th for a chance at a Paper Issues giftcard!

Remember post ALL of your projects that use ANY Paper Issues free cut files.  Yes, that's correct, use this month's Cut It Up file or ANY cut file in the PI shop to be a new entry!   Did you know there are over 100 cut files in the PI shop to grab for free?!  Get cutting and we can't wait to see what you create!  Tag us with #paperissues on social media, so we can send some love your way!