Happiness | Cut to You

Hi everyone!

Today I am sharing a page that I created as a guest designer for Cut to You as part of their 1st birthday celebration month. I was super excited to be asked to join in by my lovely friend Gwen and was only too happy to create something with some of her beautiful cut files.

For this project I chose to document a photo that was taken at the Cocoa Vanilla Studio "Creative Escape" Retreat recently. It features Cut to You DT coordinator Tam, my sister Mandy, Cut to You boss lady Gwen and myself. I so love these gals!

For my layout I started by creating an abstract background using my Micador watercolour paints on white cardstock. I had no real plan, other than the fact I drew inspiration for the colours from the photo; I simply pushed paint around the page until I was happy with it. I also added some gold mist in a few spots, first by dabbing on with a brush, then a few tiny splatters.

With my background sorted it was time to figure out which cut files I was going to use. I wanted to draw on the fact that there was a garden behind us in the photo and use some nature themed files to match. I started with the floral piece from the new release 'Blossom' file, which I cut from white cardstock and then placed over the left side of the paint, allowing the colours underneath to show through. I then added my photo alongside it so it was overlapping the edge.

With my photo in place I then chose the 'Open Leaf Stem' cut file, and cut two different sized branches - one to be placed above the photo, and one to the right.

I gathered some floral and leaf die cuts from my stash and adhered them so that the Leaf Stems I had cut would be positioned over the top. I also tucked some coordinating pieces under the Blossom floral piece, and added some messy white cotton thread to each cluster for texture.

Next, I wanted to add some extra flowers; so I chose some from the Caite Floral Set to place around my page and used a few sequins to create centres for them.

The only thing my layout needed now was some text. I added a couple of coordinating die cuts with words on them; a sticker across the bottom of my photo for the title; and handwritten journalling.

I am so happy with the finished layout - not only does it feature some of my favourite people and colours to work, it also showcases the way I like to use cut files on my pages. (I am not much of a "backer" - I think I lack the patience required! hehe)

If you haven't joined the Cut to You HQ Facebook group, make sure you do so you don't miss out on all of this month's celebrations. (You might even find a discount code there to do some shopping with!) ;)

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

"Stars & Stripes" Traveler's Notebook Spreads | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone! Back again with another share for you.This time, it's some traveler's notebook pages that I created recently for Cocoa Vanilla Studio as part of the "Stars or Stripes" theme that the DT were challenged with.

I decided to take the opportunity to create these TN spreads, as I have recently been working to getting more stories documented for my children. Each of my kids have their own books, and the focus of these is to use of some of the "extra" photos that don't make it onto layouts. (I have found searching through my Facebook timeline to be a valuable resource for this, as I have often shared funny stories of things they have done or said. The fact I am also able to access an accompanying photo and the date it happened makes the whole process so much easier.)

I tend to have a "go to" formula when creating these spreads. I choose a patterned paper first (in this case the Galactic paper), then cut a piece and stick it either side of the spine so that it carries across both pages. I don't necessarily use both pages for the same story, but try to choose photos that will work with the colours. (Here, the red of his shirts that meant these two memories could share a spread.) I also pre-print out my journalling and cut it out.

Once the paper is in place and I have decided roughly where my photos and journalling will go, it is simply a matter of filling the space with a variety of embellishments. Due to the nature of these books, I usually stick with flat things, such as die cut ephemera, stickers and cut apart papers. (I have found this is a great way to use up some of those left-overs you have.)

For my second spread (which documented a range of funny reasons my toddler son cried); I again used the 'You Rock' collection, this time starting with the wood grain print of the Plus One paper as it featured vertical "stripes".

I didn't have a photo of my son actually crying during any of these moments, so just used a photo of him (and his twin brother) that was taken during the same month. To decorate my spread I used a variety of Die Cut Ephemera pieces and some Accessory Stickers. In keeping with the theme, I also added two strips of the star print Washi Tape Stickers down the sides.

That die cut "everything is better when you're laughing" was perfect for this spread, because I certainly laughed at the time!

For my third spread, I decided to bust some stash - going all the way back to the 'Flying High' collection. As this page was documenting some of the reasons my other son had cried, I simply used the same photo I had on his brother's spread; then chose a different story that worked with the colour scheme for the opposing page.

I started with a piece of the Little Star paper and a scrap of the Flight Path paper, which were both perfect for the "Stars & Stripes" theme. (I even stuck with an American red, white and blue palette for this spread.) To embellish my page I only used stickers from the 'Flying High' 12x12" Accessory Sticker sheet and then finished off with some felt pens and a date stamp.

Thanks so much for stopping by today so I could share these with you. If you have been thinking about trying this style of memory keeping I would encourage you to do so - it's a great way to document some of those "extra" photos and stories and a great way to use up scraps too.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Happy Days | Viva Las VegaStamps

Hi everyone!

Popping in to share my latest design team project with you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook layout I created using a variety of Viva Las VegaStamps floral stamps. This page was created to document a photo from dress up night at my scrapbook retreat last year, which had the theme "Trouble in Paradise".

For my layout I began with a sheet of Bazzill Marshmallow cardstock and Ranger 'Mermaid Lagoon' Distress Oxide to create a simple watercolour style background. I swiped the ink pad onto my messy mat, added a couple of spritzes of water, then laid the cardstock over the top to soak up the colour and set it aside to dry.

With my background drying, I then set about creating the embellishments for my page. I gathered a variety of floral stamps that I thought would work well for my tropical themed page - Hibiscus Flower; Fancy Flowers; Beautiful Lily; Lilies; and finally Hawaiian Ginger for those fabulous tropical style leaves. I stamped them out onto some smooth white cardstock.

I then used my Faber-Castell watercolour pencils to colour each of the images, sticking with shades I thought would work well with my photo and give my page that "tropical vibe". I then used a water brush to blend the pencil lines, before cutting each of them out.

To construct my page, I started with the photo, adding some scrap cardboard underneath it to pop it up from the page. I then added a Cocoa Vanilla Studio floral cut file that I had cut from some white cardstock along the bottom edge of the photo.

I then arranged my stamped floral images across the page, following along the line created by the cut file. I tucked some underneath, and added others over the top using foam tape, to give the page extra dimension.

To finish off my page I stamped the Seek Paradise sentiment several times using black ink, and used some die cut words from Cocoa Vanilla Studio for my page title. I also added my handwritten journalling with a felt pen.

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

VLVS stamps used: 

- Hibiscus Flower

- Fancy Flowers

- Beautiful Lily

- Lilies

- Hawaiian Ginger

- Seek Paradise

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Happy Snaps | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!

Popping in to share a recent design team project I created for Cocoa Vanilla Studio using the gorgeous 'Happiness' collection. For this page I was tasked with the theme of "Selfies" on the Cocoa Vanilla blog for National Selfie Day. I have to admit that as a scrapbooker, I love a good selfie! For me, it is a way of including myself in the memories, instead of always being the one behind the camera.

For this layout, I couldn't go past these fun SnapChat photos of my daughter (who definitely fancies a good selfie!) As an 11 year old girl, she loves any fun filter (especially one that makes it look like she is wearing makeup.)

I decided to use the 'Happiness' collection for my page (because I just can't get enough of this range!) I started with a couple of sheets from the 6x8" paper pad which were the smaller versions of the Expressive and Botanical Bliss (reverse side) papers. I layered these papers together on the background, then set about finding extra pieces I could layer with them.

I found some off-cuts and scraps in my box that I could use (because I can't bear to waste a single bit of this range). I had a piece of the Expressive paper that I had previously cut some hearts from. I flipped it over to show the reverse side (pink with small white crosses) and layered it over the top. Along the left side of my design I added a small piece of the Meadow paper (reverse side) and on the right I tucked in a label from the Little Things cut apart paper.

With the main structure of my background in place I then added two black and white frames from the Die Cut Ephemera pack - one a circular wreath, and a smaller square doodled frame. I cut the smaller frame into two pieces, then layered these over the background, along with my photos and the "happy snaps" frame which was cut from the Frame of Mind paper for my title.

Then it was time for some fun details!

I added another label from the Little Things cut apart paper for my journalling; which I layered with a ticket and small heart from the Die Cut Ephemera pack. I also added a second ticket near the top of my page and a flower on the corner of the title frame (both from the ephemera pack).

I absolutely LOVE butterflies, so I couldn't resist adding a few beauties to my page. I used two larger ones that were fussy cut from the Little Things paper - one near the top of my page, and one near the bottom. I also added the hello beautiful sentiment from the same piece along the bottom edge of my photo.

To balance out the two larger butterflies, I added a third smaller one from the ephemera pack to the left side of my page near my journal label (I usually work with the "rule of threes" principle on my layouts).

To finish off my page, I found a small leafy branch I had cut previously from the Cocoa Vanilla 'Colour Me Happy' cut files, which I tucked in alongside my photos (waste not, want not!) I then reached for the Clear Sticker set to add the final details - a small heart on the title card; a few "paint swatches"; and a set of small cross marks near the top of my page.

I then wrote my journalling, stamped the date and added some gold splatters and I was done! I was really happy with how this fun, eclectic page came out and that I was able to use up a few scraps as well.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Together | Scrap the Girls July Challenge

Hi everyone! Today I am sharing my design team layout for the July challenge at Scrap the Girls. This month we have a pretty colour themed mood board to work with, entitled "Luscious Lady"...

And here is my layout inspired by the board...

I really love the colours of this board, and this layout ended up being one of those pages that just "fell together". I chose to document a photo of my sisters and I, which unfortunately wasn't great quality because it was taken in poor light. (I compensated for this by printing the photo in a smaller size.)

I started my page by using watercolour paints to create an abstract background on some white cardstock. I used my Micador watercolour palette for this one, (which is just a cheap student grade set readily available in Australian department stores such as Spotlight and Big W). I simply chose a few tones that suited the colour palette of the board and moved them randomly around until I was happy.

I chose not to add any patterned paper to the page (as I normally would), because I really wanted the watercolour painting to shine through. Instead, I chose a gorgeous cut file "Floral Frame 1" that I purchased from Cut to You, and cut on white cardstock. Rather than using the frame around the photo, I simply laid the cut file over the paint on my page and then added the photo on top, using a bit of scrap cardboard behind it to pop it up a bit. I also added some messy white cotton thread under the edges of it for subtle texture.

To embellish my layout I used a pack of cheap die cuts that I got from The Reject Shop (a discount variety store here in Australia). The colours were perfect for my project, and they even had gold and rose gold foil details. I added the flowers and feather first, tucking them under the cut file (I had not stuck the edges down so I could bend them up from the page). I also added a small banner and the word together across the bottom of my photo for my title.

To finish off I added a couple of butterflies - one at the top of the page, and one to the left of my photo. To give the butterfly on the left some extra dimension, I used a butterfly that I had cut from white cardstock underneath the printed die cut. (This was from the "Mixed Butterflies" set also from Cut to You.) I then added a few splatters of gold mist near to each of the butterflies and stamped the date.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope you will join in on this month's challenge. We have the fabulous Corbett Creations sponsoring for our Australian entries, and as always, Scrap Accent for our international entries.
Until next time, happy scrapping! X