D-lish Scraps June Projects!

Hi everyone! Just popping in today to share a round-up of my D-lish Scraps June projects with you all. To start this month, I have a layout that features a photo of a very old friend and I, who I caught up with earlier in the year when she was visiting Queensland on holidays.

I wanted to keep this layout to black and white with only one colour accent, so I used Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Colour Me Happy' papers. This allowed me to choose the colour I wanted to add and customise the paper to suit. I did this by colouring the floral print with Faber-Castell watercolour pencils and then going over it with a water brush. I chose yellow to represent happiness, as I was certainly happy catching up with my dear friend. 

D-lish Scraps embellishments included on this layout were - 'happy' flair button (from the Defining Words set); yellow mini paper doily; paper flowers (including one of my favourite Forget-Me-Nots and a Wild Rose); D-lish Dots enamels; tissue paper (left over from a previous Just Add Paper kit); a beautiful 6" lace paper doily; hand-dyed muslin; sequin bow; yellow resin deer and Journal Its Minifetti.

For my second layout, I took a completely different approach, opting instead to create a layout that was crisp, clean and linear. This one features a funny photo of my boys I snapped at the doctor recently, right after they had their immunisations.

In order to achieve the clean look I was after I wanted to use lots of white (including all white embellishments); minimal embellishing; and a grid-like design. I had lots of small paper scraps from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Made of Awesome' collection that were perfect to use, so I drew up a 9x9" square on my cardstock and began shuffling everything to fit. Once I had them all stuck where I wanted them, it was time to embellish.

Most of the embellishments I used were raw wood veneers, which I coloured white with my trusty Posca paint pen. I also used a chipboard piece from Dusty Attic; a flair button from the "Defining Words - White" set; and a word strip from a Journal Its Wordfetti sheet.

My final share was my take on this month's Inspiration Board Challenge and it features a recent photo of my daughter on her birthday...

I used Cocoa Vanilla Studio Free Spirit papers for this layout, and complimented them with a range of D-lish Scraps embellishments; many of them from this month's Just Add Paper kit. To start, I first added an extra splash of colour to the background using Colour Blast Colour Paste, which I simply spread with a palette knife.

From the Just Add Paper kit I used - wood veneer embroidery hoop; Corbett Creations wood veneer butterflies; 6" lace paper doilies; journaling pieces; flair button; sky blue tassels. Other D-lish items included Memory Maze chipboard 'celebrate' word (which I embossed with gold); gold coloured wire; sequin bow; and a D-lish Dot enamel shape.

So there you have it - 3 quite different projects from me this month showcasing the versatility of the embellishments available from the D-lish Scraps store.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

D-lish Scraps June Cyber Crop Challenge!

Hi everyone!
I don't know what the weather is like at your place today, but here in South East Queensland it's very wet - perfect weather for staying indoors and scrapping!
If you are looking for a scrappy challenge, the D-lish Scraps June cyber crop kicked off in our Facebook group The Scrap Suite on Friday night, and the design team have some awesome challenges for you this month (if I do say so myself, haha!)

My challenge looks like this...

And here is a better look at the layout I created for it...

I used papers from the Jen Hadfield 'Cottage Living' range from Pebbles for this layout, and all the embellishments were (of course) from D-lish Scraps. The photo features a couple of my fave fellow crafty chicks - Krisy Podolak and Fiona Paltridge. This was taken recently at one of Fiona's classes in Brisbane. If you ever have a chance to do one I highly recommend it - Fi is such an inspiration and her classes are always heaps of fun! And as for Krisy, what can I say? This chick is definitely a kindred spirit of mine and I am so happy the universe brought us together. Love you babes!

I used the recently released 'Tranquil Pools' Just Add Paper kit for many of my embellishments, and created lots of delicious layers under my photo.
In this close-up you can see a grey paper doily; resin flowers and sequins from the kit; and a cute wood veneer frame that I coloured with white Posca pen to frame my photo. On top of it I stuck a phrase strip from a Journal It's Minifetti sheet.

In the second close up you can see one of the Corbett Creations wood veneer circles, which I also painted white and wrapped with twine (both items were from the JAP kit). I also added a grey grid Bitty Bag; hand-dyed muslin; a flair button; and a piece of a heart lace overlay I had left over from another previous kit. The speech bubble was cut from a journal card and was also from a previous Just Add Paper kit. (See how awesome these kits are? They always leave you with plenty of little bits and pieces left over to use!)

In the final close-up you can see more of my layers - another wood veneer circle; tissue paper; punchinella; a dip-dye tag; printed wood veneer butterfly; paper flower; resin flower; resin diamond and a few more scattered sequins.

I am SO happy with how this layout came together - I just love all the interesting layers, the funny photo and it features my current fave colour combo too.

I hope you will find time to give my challenge a go! Entries remain open for 4 weeks, giving you plenty of time to complete it, and there is a D-lish Scraps store voucher up for grabs for the winner too. If you aren't already a member of The Scrap Suite, click HERE to join us. (You don't need a blog to enter either as entries are loaded directly into the group!)
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff June Challenge

Hi everyone!
Wow! What a busy month it has been so far!
Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend four days at the Brisbane Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo working for Cocoa Vanilla Studio. It was so lovely to meet so many of my online scrappy friends in the flesh and I exchanged many hugs in the time I was there. One of the things I love most about this craft is it has brought me so many treasured friends. I am sorry to those I missed, I will put you down for a rain-checked hug for next year! ;)

Here are a couple of my favourite photos from the weekend...

(The Cocoa Vanilla expo team from left to right - 

Zoe Pearn; me; Tarrah McLean; Raquel Bowman; Amy Little and Mandy Miles)

(Zoe & I at the stand just before they let the crowds in on day one)

Now, I better get onto this month's challenge for Show Us Your Stuff. This one has been (deviously) developed by team member Janet Bott, and it looks likes this...

And here is my take on it...

I used lots of my abandoned items on this layout - coloured cardstock; flat paper flowers, pearls, rhinestones, buttons, a pin, twine, tulle...and the colour purple! (OK, technically that's not an abandoned item, but I don't use that one often! haha) 

I also went a bit AWOL on the sketch after I rotated it and started sticking things down, but if you look hard enough you will see I did start with good intentions. (Let's face it, sticking to sketches isn't my strong point!)

For my handmade item/s I used a Flutterby Designs flair button; Charms Creations heart; Burdy's Embellies chevies; and my own die cut glitter frames.

I am fairly happy with how this layout turned out, especially with the fact I used so many items that I had neglected for so long. Why don't you dig deep in your own stash and see what you can find that you've abandoned? You might surprise yourself with how you could make it useful again!
And if you do, be sure to enter the Show Us Your Stuff challenge. Entries are open until 30th June and there is a prize from The Resin Rainbow up for grabs! 
Happy scrapping! X

You + Me - a Colour Me Happy layout for Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone! Today I am very excited to share my latest work that was created as part of the current collaboration between Cocoa Vanilla Studio and Faber-Castell. This layout was created using products from the Colour Me Happy collection as well as Faber-Castell Gelatos; Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils and PITT pens.

"You + Me

First of all that amazing red border on the Spotty Dot paper background was created using a red Gelato. Don't you love how vibrant the colour is? You can see that I have complimented it by using red Blossoms, (as well as other colours from the warm pack), and have topped them with Enamel Dots (also from the warm pack).

For my main feature paper, I took a piece of the Floral Fancy and added some highlight details using Fineliner PITT artist pens (from the warm colours pack) and then coloured it using Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils. I stuck to using warm tones only on this layout, so I deliberately chose not to colour the leaves which helped the flowers to "pop" even more.

I used a piece of the coloured side of the Doodle Dandy paper to mat my photo, and then used various pieces from the Snip-Its pack to embellish on, and around it.

If you would like to read more about how I used the Faber-Castell products to achieve this look, you can visit the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog to read my post HERE

For all my scrappy friends who are attending the Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercraft Expo this weekend, make sure you come and see me and say hello! I will be working at the Cocoa Vanilla stand and will also be teaching a one hour workshop daily at 11am. (Workshop bookings can be made via the Cocoa Vanilla stand at the expo.)

Here's a sneak peek at the layout I am teaching using the 'Life is Beautiful' collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio...

Thanks for stopping by today! Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Scrap the Boys June Challenge!

Hi everyone!
Just popping in to share the first of my design team shares for the month, starting off with Scrap the Boys. This month's challenge is a super cool mood board that looks like this...

And here is my take on it...

"Every Day is an Adventure"

I used a combination of the Totally Rad and Made of Awesome collections from Cocoa Vanilla Studio for my layout. It features a photo of my partner and one of my boys taking a walk through Southbank Parklands in Brisbane and I thought it was perfect for the theme of adventure and walking that I took from the board.

Besides the awesome papers from these ranges, I also used accessory stickers, die cut ephemera, vellum stars, resin stars, shaped paperclip, enamel shapes and a flair button in my layers surrounding my photo.

I love how easy it was to combine elements from across these two collections, they mix so seamlessly you would never guess they weren't all from the same one!

Entries for this challenge close 30th June. Link up your entry via the Scrap the Boys blog to be in with a chance for a prize from this month's sponsors Clique Kits or 2Crafty Chipboard.
Happy scrapping! X