Cool Kid | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here today to share a layout I created with the brand new 'Boys Rule' collection.

As you may already be aware, I was fortunate enough to be one of the tutors for Cocoa Vanilla Studio at the recent Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercraft Expo. It had long been a dream of mine to teach at the expo and I had such a fabulous time! I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thanks to all the lovely ladies who attended and helped make my classes so enjoyable. 

The layout I am sharing today is one of the pages I taught in my "Boys Rule" class. I LOVE creating boy pages and this new collection makes it so easy!

I used the Messed Up patterned paper as my page background, which is one of the mixed media style papers from the range. (These are perfect for anyone who likes the look of mixed media but without the mess!) 

I then created a layered mat for my photos using pieces cut from the Fun & Games paper; a tab from the Accessory Sticker sheet; and a frame from the Miscellany pack.

My title was created using pieces from the Die Cut Ephemera pack, and I also added a phrase and an arrow from the new Clear Stickers pack.

Alongside my photos I added the do your own thing quote piece from the Miscellany pack.

Around my page I scattered a few stars from the Die Cut Ephemera pack; and on top of my photo I added the that's my boy piece from the 'You Rock' Rubber Charms pack. 

To balance out my page I created a small cluster in the top corner of my page using pieces from the Die Cut Ephemera pack and the Accessory Sticker sheet.

I finished off my layout with a little shading using a Faber-Castell watercolour pencil and some small splatters of Colour Blast 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink.

Thanks for stopping by today. I will be back again soon to share another project with you. Until then, happy scrapping! X

Love You | Colour Blast

Hi everyone!

Popping in to share my latest Colour Blast design team project with you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook page that features Colour Artist Inks, Colour Paste, and a photo of my daughter and I that was taken recently when we were out celebrating her birthday.

I started my page with a sheet of heavy weight cardstock, which I spritzed with water from a spray bottle, and then left it for a minute or two to soak in, before adding another little spritz to moisten the surface again.

I then took my Colour Artist Inks and began by applying some 'Sunburnt' ink, by using a brush to add drops around the page. As soon as the ink hit the wet surface, you can see how the colour began to fan out and soak in where the water had been applied. (Allowing some of the water to actually soak in and penetrate the cardstock before applying the ink is what gives the "feathered" effect you can see.)

I then repeated the process with both the 'Barley' and 'Cranberry' Colour Artist Inks, ensuring the colours were dispersed in different areas of the page. In some places the colours naturally began to run together; whilst in other areas it either required a slight tilt of the page, or an additional little spritz of water.

Once I was happy with how the inks looked I set it aside to soak in and dry for a while before finishing it off with a heat gun. (I didn't use the heat gun right away as I didn't want too many "hard" water lines in my background - instead I wanted a "softer" look.)

Once the background was dry, it was time to add some texture and contrast. I chose 'Dusty Charcoal' Colour Paste, as I thought it would provide a good dark contrast against the inks. I used a small floral stencil from D-lish Scraps, and applied the paste using  palette knife; moving the stencil around to get the flowers placed where I wanted them. (I dried each area with the heat gun before re-applying the stencil to ensure the paste did not get smudged.)

Once the background was complete, it was simply a matter of adding some layers before adding my photo on top. I used a coloured paper doily; punchinella; dyed muslin; and a few pieces of coloured wire (all from D-lish Scraps). I secured everything in place with staples before adding my photo on top.

After the photo was in place, I added some simple embellishments - handmade heart from Charms Creations and some small acrylic hearts from Corbett Creations.

I also added some matching acrylic chevron arrows; and small phrase stickers from Cocoa Vanilla Studio.

I used Heidi Swapp printed acrylic words for my page title, and added a Cocoa Vanilla Studio chipboard sticker onto the corner of my photo.

To finish my page, I added a few splatters of 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink and I was done.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get your Colour Blast products out and get messy too!

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

I Hope You Know | Viva Las VegaStamps

Hi everyone!

Popping in today to share my latest Viva Las VegaStamps design team project with you. Following on from my previous post a couple of weeks ago when I shared an art journal page inspired by the June Monthly Challenge; I was inspired to create a full 12x12" scrapbook page that incorporated some of the same design elements. (You can see my previous post on the VLVS blog here.)

I began my page with a sheet of white cardstock and stamped out my background design using Staz On ink. The first stamp I used was the Tree of Life - Tree with Roots (which is also the main inspiration image from this month's challenge). I added some variety to my "forest" by also using the Weathered Tree stamp. Besides stamping the full image, I used the very tops of the branches in various places to add depth.

For my foreground I used the Smear/Smudge stamp and repeated the image several times. Then it was time to add some colour. 

I wanted to keep the colour soft and subtle, so I used Faber-Castell Gelatos and applied the colour by scribbling onto my messy mat and then I picked the colour up with the tip of a water brush and applied it to my page, blending as I went. I started in the centre of my page and worked my way out towards the edges.

After I had the colour completed, it was time to add some more details to my page. I used the new release I Hope You Know quote stamp in the bottom left corner of my page and balanced it out by adding the Flock of Geese in the top right corner. 

I also added the Tiny Moon from the new release Plate #1500 to the sky.

I added a little more detail to my foreground by lightly stamping with my fave Doodle Dots stamp.

With all of my page background complete; I then added the photo of my children, which I mounted up on some cardboard to help it pop and then adhered to the page using Miracle Tape.

To finish my page I wanted to add a little touch of magic, so I took a sweet image I had pre-stamped onto some tissue paper using the Fairy stamp. I applied the image to some cardstock using gel matte medium, then brushed on a little colour using the Gelatos again. I then trimmed the fairy and adhered the top part of her so that she appeared to be hiding behind the log in the photo, bending her wings up from the page to add a little dimension. I also added some messy white cotton thread for a little texture. 

Don't forget to enter this month's challenge, you can link up your entry via this post HERE before the end of the month. You could win a spotlight on the blog AND some new rubber! 

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too! X

VLVS stamps used:

- Tree of Life - Tree with Roots

- Weathered Tree

- Smear/Smudge

- I Hope You Know

- Flock of Geese

- Tiny Moon

- Doodle Dots

- Fairy

Blanket Thief | Flutterby Designs

Hi everyone! Time again to share another of my design team projects with you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook page that I created for Flutterby Designs using the new 'Happily Ever After' collection and some Flutter Colour paints. (And of course, my super cute kitty too!)

I started this page by creating an abstract background using Flutter Colour paints. The colours I used were Tropicana Teal; Grape Soda; Green Limousine; Stormy Grey and Yellow Zest. I didn't work with any particular result in mind when I applied the paint, I simply followed my instinct. I used a combination of methods to apply it - smeared with an old gift card; applied with a brush; and also with my fingers.

Once the paint had dried, I applied some black ink using a sponge dauber through the 'Hugs and Kisses' stencil. I then took some of the 'Happily Ever After' Everday Etc filler cards and applied some cut and torn pieces to my background, before mounting my photos on top.

I used two of the 'Happily Ever After' Everyday Etc cards and fussy cut the large LOVE word and also the blanket thief phrase. I then used 'Teal' Sticky Alphas to add the word couch to my page.

I then added the XOXO sticker from the 'Happily Ever After' Sticky Quotes sheet; along with the life is good and cheeky bugger phrases from some of the Snippet Strips.

The final embellishment I added was the good vibes only flair button directly onto my photo, from the 'Good Vibes Only' flair button set #1.

To finish my page, I splattered a few drops of pink ink, plus added a few random scribbles and crosses using a pencil.

That's all from me today, thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I will be back again soon with another project.

Until then, happy scrapping! X

It's a Boy Thing | Scrap the Boys June Challenge

Hi everyone!
Stopping by today to share my design team layout for the June challenge at Scrap the Boys. This month, the challenge looks like this...

And here is my take on it using the awesome new 'Boys Rule' collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio...

I started this page with the brand new 'Large Die Cut and Backing Kit'. This kit consists of the pre-cut star piece, along with a printed mixed media style backing sheet - it's perfect for those who love the look of cut files but don't have a cutting machine!

With the background work already done for me, it was simply a matter of adding some papery layers to create a photo mat. I used the Straight and Narrow; Boy Stuff and Entitled papers; along with the cute camera from the Die Cut Ephemera pack; a frame from the Miscellany pack; and the love it tab from the Accessory Sticker sheet tucked into my layers.

Alongside my photo, I fussy cut my title from the Entitled paper, which I then stitched down with my sewing machine. This also coordinated with the messy white cotton thread that I had tucked in around the edges of my photo. 

Beneath my photo, I added the Mr Fantastic die cut from the ephemera pack, and to the right of my photo, the star Flair Button.
At the top of my page I created a small cluster using stickers from the Accessory Sticker sheet.

To finish off my page I added my handwritten journalling and three small stars from the Chipboard Pieces pack.

I do hope you will join in on this month's challenge at Scrap the Boys. Up for grabs is a prize from Scrapping Fun Kits, so make sure you get your entry loaded up by the end of the month for your chance to win.
Thanks for stopping by today, I will be back again soon with another project to share. Until then, happy scrapping! X

Browser Brain | Colour Blast

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest Colour Blast design team project for you. Today I have an 8.5x11" scrapbook page to share that was inspired by a recent quote I saw and shared on Facebook. As soon as I saw it I could totally relate to it, as it pretty much sums up my constantly over-active brain. And a busy brain filled with so many things could only be accurately depicted by a layout that reflects the same things, right?

Before I even bagan, I knew the only way to achieve the look I was going for was to use layers - lots of layers; so bear with me while I take you through my process. 

To start with, I grabbed white cardstock; book paper; music paper; and matte medium to create a collaged background. I also added some random stamping using assorted word and image stamps. (Stamps by Viva Las VegaStamps and Carabelle Studio.)

As I knew my page was going to be very busy, I made sure to leave enough white space around the edges for the viewers eye to rest.

The next step was to start adding some colour, so I grabbed for my favourite Colour Blast product - Colour Artist Inks, in the shades of Lime, Oasis, Calypso and Citrus.

I then sprayed my background with a mist of water from a spray bottle, before using the droppers to add drops of ink around the page. (Be sure to use complimentary colours, as they are going to blend.) My tip here is don't use too much ink or go too close to the edges of the page, as you want to preserve that white space! You can see how some of the inks began spreading immediately due to the page being wet.

Once I had added drops of each colour where I wanted them, it was time to start spreading the colour. I didn't want the colours being too vibrant or dominating on this layer, so I chose to spread them with more water. I did this by again using my spray bottle, and by holding the nozzle very close to each ink drop on the page I spritzed it once or twice with water. This not only diluted the ink, but also fanned the colours out to begin blending together. I also picked up my page and tilted it slightly in each direction to help the process along.

I then carefully placed it flat again and immediately dried it with a heat gun so I could preserve the integrity and placement of the inks. (You can see the hard water lines that form when you dry quickly using this method.)

Next, it was time to freshen up the page using some white heavy gesso. I didn't want the yellow tint of the book and music paper showing too much in the areas the ink hadn't touched, so I applied a little gesso with my fingertip to soften it. (In some areas I used a wiping motion with my finger, whilst in other smaller areas it was just a little dab.)

Now it was time to liven things up with some contrast and texture! I used the amazing Mandala Floral stencil from StencilGirl Products; and applied Royalty Colour Paste through it with a palette knife.

To ensure the stencil didn't move and ruin any of the intricate details, I used washi tape to secure it to my page before spreading the Colour Paste. This stencil measures 9x12", so I was able to use the entire design on my page, and it looked amazing when it was removed. 

At this point I thought my page needed another colour for some additional contrast; so I reached for Slipper Colour Artist Ink and applied some very fine splatters around the edge of my design using a small, stiff brush. I then used my heat gun to dry the entire page thoroughly before moving on.

The final steps in my process were to add the photo and embellishments to my page. I used a paper doily and some frayed gauze under my photo to help separate it from the background, as well as adding some cardboard behind it to pop it up. 

I added some twisted, coloured wire using staples; title alphas (using the natural flow of the stencil as a guide for placement); a Charms Creations chevron; my printed quote and a few enamel dots for some extra small pops of colour.

And with that, my page was complete!

You can see all the multiple layers at play here and also how I used the natural curves from the stencilled image to dictate the position of my title alphas. 

The bright yellow doily contrasts against the other colours and helps separate the photo from the background, whilst the chevron also helps draw attention to it.

Cutting the quote into pieces and placing them haphazardly rather than straight, also helped to reinforce the theme of the page. 

This piece was framed and featured as part of my tutor display at the Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercraft Expo and I had a number of comments from people who enjoyed looking at it up close.
Here is how it looked in my display...

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to try your hand at creating your own multi-layered project. I will be back soon with another project to share. Until then, happy scrapping! X