Hello Summer Days for Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone! Just popping in to share another layout using the gorgeous Hello Sunshine collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio.
This layout features a recent photo I took of my sister, niece and one of my sons during a swim in the pool. The reason I love this photo so much is the natural smile on Kaden's face. (Usually when he is asked to smile for a photo we get what we call "monster teeth", so this one is a bit special!)

I decided to stick with the blue tones from the collection for this layout, as they worked so well with the water theme and colours of my photo. I also included some small pops of peach as a highlight.

I started with the B side of the Chill Out paper, which features the awesome denim print as my background. I paired this with circles cut from the B sides of both the Solar Flare and Happy Days papers. My photo mat, which is a fabulous light woodgrain, was cut from the B side of the Full Bloom paper. (B sides rule! hehe)

I used the die cut script words from the ephemera pack for my title. I found that the light grey colour of the words didn't stand out enough from the papers I had chosen, so I used a coloured pencil to highlight around the words. I really like the effect it gave as it reminded me of water.

I used a number of blooms on this layout. Their beautiful tropical appearance helped add to the summery feel I was looking for and they also provided some great dimension. I also used a flair button and scattered a few enamel dots around to echo the circular theme I had used.

I used a variety of pieces from the ephemera pack, accessory stickers and puffy stickers to embellish my layout. (How seriously cute is that little anchor?!) I also used one of the woodies and a piece from the Summer Hits cut apart paper for my journaling.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. You can find the Hello Sunshine collection available now in the Cocoa Vanilla Studio store or please ask your favourite retailer for it.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Scrap the Boys January Challenge!

Hi everyone! Can you believe we are halfway through January already? Time sure flies when you are having fun. I have also just realised I have reached 500 posts on my blog! What do you think about a giveaway to celebrate? Stay tuned for that one!

I am here today with another of my design team shares for the month, this time for Scrap the Boys. This month's challenge is a cool mood board that looks like this...

Now, I will admit the purple tones had me daunted initially, as its probably my least favourite colour to scrap with (aside from brown), but I am really happy with how my layout turned out.

{Patterned paper by Studio Calico and Glitz Designs}

As you can see, I managed to pull together enough purple embellishments for this layout, but if it hadn't have been for the D-lish Scraps mini paper doilies; a pack of Heidi Swapp mistable ephemera and a bottle of glimmermist, I would have been up the proverbial creek! ;)

As soon as I saw the colours on this board I immediately thought of the Incredible Hulk with his green skin and purple pants. And lucky for me (despite the lack of purple pants available), my partner had dressed our boys as the hulk on Halloween, so it was obviously meant to be!

Right here is the reason you should always buy the multi-coloured pack of doilies - even if you think you won't use all the colours! ;) (Mini paper doilies and Journal Its strip both from D-lish Scraps; flair by Flutterby Designs.)

My other saving grace for this layout - Heidi Swapp mistable ephemera (sprayed with purple glimmermist), combined with Heidi Swapp acetate ephemera pieces.
I also had a little photo-editing fun with a couple of the photos - the boys were very impressed with their green skin and "angry eyes".

More HS mistable ephemera, D-lish Scraps Journal Its journal spot and enamel dots; and a bit of stamping finished this one off.

Thanks for stopping by today. I do hope you will give this awesome mood board a go. As you have seen, it makes for a really cool palette for boy layouts! You have until the end of the month to link your layouts up via the Scrap the Boys blog and be in the running for one of two great prizes this month. You can find all the details HERE.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Be You & Shine for Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi peeps!
I hope this finds you all well and enjoying your summer? I have had a busy week, so am only just getting a chance to share this here now.

This is my latest layout using the divine new Free Spirit collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. It features gorgeous floral prints, watercolour style, a stunning colour palette (including pops of gold!), and so many beautiful embellishments - it just makes you want to create!

My layout features a recent photo of my daughter. Who, although usually very sweet, can also be fierce when she wants to be, and this photograph captured it perfectly.

I kept this layout fairly simple, as I really wanted to ensure the powerful photo took centre stage. I started with the spotted B-side of the Wildflowers paper for my background, and added a strip of the My Way arrow printed paper to help draw the eye down through the photo.
I embellished directly on the photo using one of the die cut ephemera pieces and one of the small sized woodies.

Just as my daughter is a mixed bag when it comes to personality, I decide to create my layout title (Be You & Shine) using a mix of embellishments to spell it out. You can see how I have layered the flair button, wood veneer piece and puffy sticker on top of a die cut film strip from the ephemera pack to provide a subtle frame. I have also drawn attention to it using a small navy arrow from the Accessory Sticker sheet.

Look at the fabulous dimension in those puffy stickers...

Included in my simple layered design are pieces from the cut apart Eclectic paper, the Shabby Chic paper and pieces from the ephemera pack. There is also a button from the Fancy Buttons set.
Last of all, I added some small touches of pink watercolour to my background to help tie it all together.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

D-lish Scraps December Layouts!

Hi all!
With so many things happening over the festive period, I didn't get time to do my usual monthly re-cap of my projects for D-lish Scraps, so here I am today to share a couple of my December projects with you.

First up, my take on the December 'Fruit Tingle' Inspiration Board Challenge, featuring a recent photo of my little miss off to her first school disco...

{Papers by Cocoa Vanilla Studio} 

Almost every embellishment on this layout came from the 'Fruit Tingle' Just Add Paper kit, which was an absolute stunner! Here you can see a lemon paper doily, pink apple blossom, green heart print flair button, small wood veneer scribble rose by Corbett Creations, journal tag, and a resin butterfly (all from the kit).

Mint spot tissue paper, wood veneer title, pink spot washi tape, and a watercolour rose (which was fussy cut from a card) were all also in the kit.

Yellow burlap button flower, pink apple blossom and small mint roses (all by Green Tara) and a journal spot - again, all from the kit. I also added some green D-lish Dots from my stash.

I can't emphasise enough how fabulous the Just Add Paper kits are! They really do take all the hard work out of creating a layout, as you literally only need paper and a photo and you have everything you need to create a beautiful layout.


My second share is this Christmas themed layout (again featuring my little miss)...

{Papers by Teresa Collins}

I kept this layout fairly minimal, in order to maintain focus on the photo. 

There are still plenty of D-lish Scraps items on there though - 5x7 gold polka dot paper bag; white paper doily; white pip berry stem; gold peg (from a previous Just Add Paper kit); metallic gold script word flair button; white sequin bow; deer shaped wooden button; Dusty Attic chipboard caption; and a small piece of a Journal It journal spot.

Thanks for stopping by today. If you have some scrappy time on your hands now the festivities are over and are looking for a challenge (or four), then make sure you pop into the D-lish Scraps Facebook group (The Scrap Suite) HERE. The December cyber crop challenges are still open for entries and every challenge has a randomly drawn store voucher up for grabs!

Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff January Challenge!

Happy new year peeps! I hope this post finds you fit & well and ready for 2016! (Or like me, you might be feeling a tad dusty after last night's celebrations and will think about the coming year tomorrow instead! haha)

Kicking off 2016 with my first design team reveal, and this one is for Show Us Your Stuff. This month's challenge is a mood board designed by ME and is being sponsored by Cocoa Vanilla Studio!

And this is my take on it, featuring a photo of Kaden in the backyard pool last summer...

All the papers and embellishments on this layout are from the new Hello Sunshine collection by Cocoa Vanilla Studio, and they were just perfect for the summer themed board!

As you can see, I went a little sewing crazy on this layout and even sewed my photo on! I embellished around my photo with wood veneer pieces, die cut ephemera, stickers (including the new puffy stickers), and a little heart.

The 'too cool' piece came from the Summer Hits cut apart paper, and you can also see one of the new fancy buttons there too.

A gorgeous flair button, wood veneer, ephemera, puffy sticker and one of my new faves - a woodie, plus a couple of enamel dots. I love the huge variety of embellishments in this collection - there is always that perfect 'something' to finish things off.

Now I would love to see your take on my mood board! For all the challenge details or to link up your entry, you will find the Show Us Your Stuff blog HERE. If you love the Hello Sunshine collection I used on this layout, you can head over to the Cocoa Vanilla Studio store HERE or ask your favourite retailer for it.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X