You Are the Best | Colour Blast

Hi everyone! Just popping in today to share my latest design team project for Colour Blast. Today I have a 12x12" mixed media layout that I created using a kit by Krisy Podolak. The kit was from Krisy's Colour Blast class that she taught at last years Brisbane Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo (minus the mediums of course, as I already had plenty of Colour Blast in my stash). ;)

Here is what I started with...

I decided not to use the black cardstock from the kit as my background, and used white instead.
Here is what I came up with...

I started this page by stamping onto my cardstock. I used stamps by Viva Las VegaStamps and a new one I got recently by Carabelle Studio. Next, I mixed up some Peacock Colour Shimmer Dust with water and used a water brush to apply the colour to selected areas of my page. (I seriously love this colour!)

Next, I added some Dusty Charcoal Colour Paste to random areas using a palette knife and then set it aside to dry. (Don't smear it gently if you want the texture to show.)

Whilst the background was drying, I took the opportunity to alter the chipboard pieces I was going to use. I decide to emboss them using Dusty Charcoal Embossing Powder so it would match the paste I had already added to my page. (You will note in the close up photo, the rough, textured look of the embossed chipboard - this is exactly the effect that I like. If you prefer a thicker, smoother result then I would recommend a second coat.)

After the chipboard was done, it was time to construct my layout. The first thing I added was the Flutterby Designs kit exclusives. I used the two frames to add some layers under my photo and then took the cheesecloth from the kit and cut some pieces which I frayed and placed under my photo. I also added the Flutterby remember tab to draw attention to my photo.

I used the cord from the kit to make a rough frame on top of my photo, which I attached using staples. Then I took the beads and added them in random places around my photo to add some extra colour and texture.

Next, it was time to add my embossed chipboard pieces, which I adhered right over the top of some of the beads. (Make sure your beads are stuck down with a strong glue or you might find the chipboard pieces will lift the beads from the page.)

I also added a few extra Flutterby Designs Sticky Quotes from my stash.

And last but not least, don't forget some splatters of Road Base Colour Spray! (Because every good grungy page needs black splatters, right?) I just take the nozzle out of the bottle and flick it right on. (Remember to cover up your photo if you don't want it splattered too!)

That's all from me today. I really enjoyed creating using this kit (thanks Krisy!)
Krisy will be teaching for Colour Blast again at this year's Brisbane Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo in June, so if you are visiting make sure you check out the class she has on offer offer and visit the Colour Blast stand.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

You're Awesome | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone! I am here today sharing the layout I created for Cocoa Vanilla's themed 'Scraplift Week'. It also happens to be my very first layout using the brand new "You ROCK" boy themed collection. (This range starts shipping to retailers on Monday, so keep an eye out - it will be hitting store shelves very soon!)

For my scraplift, I decided to look back through the Cocoa Vanilla archives for some masculine themed inspiration from previous collections and this is what I created...

"You're Awesome"

I have always admired the clean, fresh style of Raquel Bowman; as it's quite different from my own usual style. (My layouts typically use a full patterned paper background, and tend to be a bit more freestyle and messy than the restrained precision that Raquel is known for.)

Here is Raquel's layout that provided me the inspiration - it was from quite some time ago using the Made of Awesome collection...

I decided to take her original design and flip it over, as I found it worked better with the portrait orientation photo I wanted to use. I did stick with the main structural elements though, including using only a half patterned paper background and using a diagonal flow of embellishments to draw the eye through the photo.

I used a piece of the In Line grey striped paper on my background, which I complimented with a thin strip of the B-side of the Stripped paper. I love grey, so wanted to focus on the monochromatic pieces from the collection. I also cut some of the circles from the pattern on the Stripped paper, which I used to layer under the edges of my photo, along with a paper doily.

For my embellishments, I started by pulling out all the black / white / grey ones, and then sorted through them to choose which ones I was going to use. I chose various pieces of die cut ephemera; chipboard stickers; a flair button and a rubber charm, which I used as my title on the photo. I also added a few pops of yellow, using some stars I fussy cut from the Starshine paper and some enamel dots. (I used foam mounting tape under some of my elements to provide extra dimension.)

I strayed a little from the clean style to add some messy thread, a few randomly stamped phrases and black splatters - all of which made my messy side much happier! (I do love that fact that I was able to add enough of my own touches to make the layout mine, whilst still maintaining the integrity of Raquel's original design.)

If you are ever stuck for an idea and don't know where to start, scraplifting another layout can be a great source of inspiration. (You can find all the CVS design team layouts pinned on the Pinterest account HERE)
Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Turtely Awesome Dude and #4 | Flutterby Designs

Hi everyone! I am here today to share my latest projects for Flutterby Designs with you. Today I have a bit of a bonus - a 12x12" mixed media layout AND a pocket page spread. (So bear with me as there are quite a few photos!)

Both these projects were created to document some of my boys' 4th birthday celebrations and I used the same basic colour scheme across both to help tie them together. As my boys are both Ninja Turtle crazy, I used lots of the 'Fur-ever Friends' collection, along with various other Flutterby bits and pieces.

First, here is my mixed media layout...

I started by creating a background using some Flutter Colour Paint from the Bright Set (Green Limousine, which I brushed on; then Tropicana Teal drizzled over the top). Once dry, I added some stamping using some of my Viva Las VegaStamps stamps. I then used the 'Stargazed' stencil and some Colour Blast Snow White Colour Paste to add texture over the top; and splattered some navy mist around.

After all my background work was completely dry, I used a couple of Everyday Etc filler cards to create some layers behind my photo to help it pop, along with some messy cotton thread tucked into my layers. I used the Turtely Awesome sticker from the Fur-ever Friends Sticky Quotes to form part of my title, along with the word dude which I cut from one of the cards from the older boy release - Super Cool.

To finish off my page I added some small stars wood veneers, (which I coloured black); a flair button (from set #403); and a white tiny sticky quote which I popped below my title. Then I stamped the date and added my handwritten journaling and it was done.

And now onto my pocket page spread. Here is a look at both pages together...

As you can see, I kept the overall design relatively simple which allowed the photos to stay the focal point; and maintained uniformity across the spread by using lime green as my primary colour, with accents of aqua and black.

Left side...

Right side...

I created my title card using one of the 'Fur-ever Friends' Everyday Etc filler cards. I added a banner which was cut from another card, along with a Snippet Strip (attached with staples); a Blackboard Sticky Quote (which I altered to suit my purpose) and my strip journaling.

I used a few more Snippet Strips around my page; along with the Turtely Awesome card; and some small wood veneer stars that I coloured black.

On the facing page, I used more wood veneer stars; enamel dots; and a flair button (from the 'Mad About You' set #2) as embellishments.

I made a tweak to one of the quotes from the Mad About You collection, adding the word "twins" to suit my purpose.

That's all from me today. Thanks for stopping by. I will be back again soon with another project to share.
Until then, happy scrapping! X

So Much Fun | Colour Blast

Hi everyone! Today I have a 12x12 layout that I created for Colour Blast to share with you. It features some photos of one of my boys; a nursery rhyme gone wrong and some fabulous Aussie products.

"So Much Fun"

To create this layout, I started by priming my cardstock with White Heavy Gesso. (I only covered the page about 3/4 of the way up, as I knew I wasn't going to be getting the top 1/4 of the page very wet.)

I then applied some Colour Shimmer Dusts (Peacock and Navy), that I had mixed with water using a paintbrush. (I stayed just below the line where the gesso on my page ended.) After applying some pools of colour across my page, I gave each pool an extra little squirt of water using a mister and then tilted my page up to allow the colour to run down the page and blend together a bit. I then dabbed on a little extra navy in some parts to give extra depth.

I then added some random splatters using Colour Shimmer Sprays (Singin' the Blues and Stormy Weather) by taking out the nozzle and flicking them around my page. Once that had dried, I added some stamping using stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps to provide some extra detail.

Then it was time to construct my page. I created a layered mat for under my photos using some patterned paper and a paper doily. I then gathered together an assortment of small paper scraps, left over stickers and embellishments in various shades of blue (all from Cocoa Vanilla Studio and D-lish Scraps), which I used to embellish my page.

(Creating monotone pages like this is a fabulous opportunity to use up all sorts of random left over things from your stash!)

I chose to add strip journaling to this page, which I simply printed and cut up. (I am so glad that this was one of those funny things about my kids that I wrote down, it makes it so much easier to go back and scrap them!)

To finish off my layout I added some small phrase stamps, and a few splatters of Road Base Colour Spray (because everything is better with a few black splatters, right?)

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope this might inspire you to try creating your own monochromatic layout? As I mentioned earlier, it's a great way to use up some of those left over bits and pieces in your stash, and it gives you a great excuse to get messy too! ;)
Until next time, happy scrapping! X

This Makes Me Happy | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone! Popping in today with another design team project to share with you, this time for Cocoa Vanilla Studio. For this layout, I decided to combine the two most recent Cocoa Vanilla collections - Wild at Heart and Endless Summer. (Who would have thought that these two collections would mix so well together?) My page features a photo I took of my children when I took them to see "The Secret Life of Pets" movie.

"This Makes Me Happy"

I wanted to keep this layout relatively simple, to allow the soft colours of the papers and embellishments to shine, so I opted for a white cardstock background. I then created a mat for my photo using multiple layers of different patterned papers from the two collections, and a paper doily from my stash.

To add some extra dimension to my layers, I also added some chipboard frames from the Wild at Heart collection. I LOVE these frames - they are so versatile with the variety of patterns and sizes in each pack. You can see how I also added some messy cotton thread to my layers to add some subtle texture.

I used a combination of embellishments dotted around my page. This included die cut ephemera from both collections and some super cute rubber charms from Wild at Heart (these are a brand new addition to the Cocoa Vanilla range).

To help balance my design, I created a small cluster in the top right hand corner of my page. I repeated many of the same elements from my main focal area - layered patterned papers, a chipboard frame, die cut ephemera, a small phrase sticker and some cotton thread. I also added a flair button inside the chipboard frame.

Instead of using a large title for this page, I opted to use the small this makes me happy die cut tucked in above my photo for my title, alongside a cheeky little die cut flamingo. (Given the subject, I had to squeeze a sneaky little animal on there somewhere!)

To finish my page I added a few small triangles of patterned paper to break up the white space; my journaling; some stamping; and a few navy mist splatters.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to look at your stash and perhaps try combining some different collections too?
Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Dream Big | Scrap the Girls April Challenge

Hi all! Just popping in today to share my design team layout for this month's mood board challenge at Scrap the Girls. The board is called "Sea Glass" and looks like this...

And here's my take on it, featuring a photo of my gorgeous girl I took back in January...

"Dream Big"

Besides using the colours from the board, I took a few other things for inspiration - the wave, which made me want to create a mixed media background with blended colours; the sand, which prompted me to include a bit of sand colour on my layout; and the heart, which I replicated through the use of hearts on my layout.

My background was created using Colour Blast products. First, I layed down a coat of White Heavy Gesso, using an old gift card (as I find this gives a good, thin, even coverage). I then applied Colour Shimmer Sprays (Deep Water and Apple of My Eye), which I tilted and allowed to run together. Once dry, I used a stencil by The Crafters Workshop to apply some Snow White Colour Paste to give my background some texture.

I took the opportunity to do some more stash-busting on this layout, using up a number of items from my cupboard including chipboard pieces from Imaginarium Designs; Heidi Swapp acetate hearts; Kaisercraft ephemera; and a Project Life card (fussy cut for my title). I even used a sheet of coloured cardstock (yay me!)

To alter my chipboard pieces, I applied a coat of the Heavy White Gesso and allowed it to dry; then applied Colour Blast Colour Mica Powder (Cool Mint) to select areas using a waterbrush dipped directly into the pot.

You can see in the corner of my photo how I used the Charms Creations heart as the basis for my cluster; layering it on top of an ephemera piece, then pushing a couple of pins into it, and topping with some messy cotton thread and the D-lish Scraps flair button.

I finished off my layout by splattering around some more of the Shimmer Sprays; adding some stamping and lots of Cocoa Vanilla Studio sequins. (Because you can never have too much pretty sparkle, right?!)

That's all from me for today. Make sure you stop by the Scrap the Girls blog to see what the rest of the design team have created for this challenge and to check out this month's prize details.
Until next time, happy scrapping! X

The Boys | Scrap the Boys April Challenge

Hi everyone! Back today with another design team layout to share, this time for Scrap the Boys. The theme for this month's challenge is based on the following photo, which is about "boys helping out"...

I found a photo of my boys helping dad out with the dishes and created this layout...

"The Boys"

Besides the theme of the challenge, you can also see where I took inspiration from the colour in the photo. I did a bit of stash-busting for this layout, using some Echo Park patterned papers I have had for a while.
Because the patterns on the papers were quite bold, I decided to start with a white cardstock base, and just cut pieces of paper for my design. I placed them in such a way as to still leave enough white space for the eye to rest.

I used pieces from the cut apart paper, as well as another piece of patterned paper, layered behind my photo. I also added some frayed gauze and navy cotton for texture.

To embellish my layout, I kept it relatively simple, using a few D-lish Scraps wood veneer pieces alongside some fussy cut pieces from the papers. I used few tiny staples and a wooden peg to help attach some of them.

I finished my layout with handwritten journaling; some stamping; and a few splatters of navy mist.

That's all from me today. Don't forget to stop by the Scrap the Boys blog for the full challenge and prize details; and to see what the rest of the team created.
I will be back soon with another project to share. Until then, happy scrapping! X