D-lish Scraps May Projects!

Hi everyone! Just popping in today to share a round-up of all my D-lish Scraps featured projects for the month.

Starting off with this layout of my boys...

"Self Portrait"

This layout features patterned papers from Cocoa Vanilla Studio and embellishments from D-lish Scraps (of course!) I love to combine different patterns and shapes on my boy layouts, and am a sucker for anything woodgrain! It probably goes without saying then, that one of my very favourite embellishments to use on masculine layouts are wood veneers. Wood veneer pieces are extremely versatile, as you can easily alter them with paint or ink; or leave them raw as I have here, to add a touch of natural texture to the page.

Also featured on this layout are phrases cut from Journal It's minifetti sheets; black geo tag shaped paperclip; arrow print washi tape; D-lish Dots enamels; and a flair button from the 'Just My Type' set.

My second project share featured a recent funny photo of my sister and I, on a day she came to visit me wearing pretty much the same outfit...

"Fashion Faux Pas"

This layout was my take on this month's 'Tranquil Pools' Inspiration Board challenge using the coordinating Just Add Paper kit. I sooo loved the colours in this one - I am a big fan of blue and green, especially when they are together! I used the sketch from the board (although I did rotate it around, just to be a little different). I applied aqua and lime mists to my background, and then used the Dusty Attic 'Addition' stencil with some Colour Blast colour paste.

From the JAP kit I used some of the green tissue paper; washi tape; journal pieces; resin flowers; Corbett Creations wood veneer circles (which I coloured white with a paint pen); and one of the flair buttons. I also added one of the gorgeous 6" lace paper doilies from my D-lish stash.

My final project share featured a photo of me again, but this time with my boys when they were 25 days old during our second cuddle together...

"Twin Mummy Cuddle" 

I used a simple, elegant white & gold colour palette for this layout which was the perfect excuse to use the stunning gold foil washi tape I had been saving. (And yes, gold foil is difficult to photograph so I haven't quite presented this layout in all its glory as I would have hoped to.)

Also used on this layout was a white 6" lace paper doily; a gold foil doily; a gold sequin bow; white Forget-Me-Nots; a flair button (from the Defining Words set); and words cut from a Journal It's Minifetti sheet.

The background was created using the Dusty Attic Keyboard Jumble stencil and some Colour Blast colour paste in Bling. I chose this stencil because it represented to me what a jumble of words and emotions I was at this moment.

Thanks for stopping by today. If you have any tips for me for effectively photographing foil on your projects, I would love to hear them!
Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff May Challenge!

Hi all!
Just popping in quickly to share my take on the May challenge at Show Us Your Stuff. This month's challenge has been designed by DT member Amanda Hartmann, and looks like this...

And here is what I came up with...

"2 Love"

With a subject like 'Poetry & Hearts' I couldn't go past the opportunity to create a love-filled layout featuring a photo of myself and my partner (from way back in 2005). I used lots of Crate Paper goodies on this one - papers, ephemera, chipboard frame.

I included the poetry by printing a portion of one I liked onto a manila tag, so I could incorporate it into my layers.

As well as patterned papers, you can see that I also included some torn music paper and a lace paper doily from D-lish Scraps. The title was cut with a die using glitter cardstock.

To make sure I had the handmade criteria covered, I included a D-lish Scraps flair (this one was from a Just Add Paper kit) and I also punched some hearts from the same gold glitter cardstock as the title.

I just love using frames and this striped chipboard one from Crate Paper was one of my faves. I topped it with an ombre heart which was from a Crate Paper ephemera pack.
To finish my layout I added some stamping and a few splashes of Heidi Swapp gold Color Shine.

I am really happy with how this one came out, and especially happy that I went back and scrapped this photo that is so special to me. I hope you have this month's Show Us Your Stuff challenge on your list, there is an awesome prize from Charms Creations up for grabs for the lucky winner. Entries close 31st May.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

'Grow' for Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!
Just popping in today to share my latest layout using the Cocoa Vanilla Studio new Colour Me Happy collection.
This layout features a photo of one of my twin boys (Hunter) when he was aged just 6 days old and still weighed under 1kg (2lbs). It was taken during a rare moment when he had no breathing gear on and I was watching a nurse change his tiny nappy (and was wondering how I would touch him without breaking him!) Looking back on photos like these makes me reflect on just how far he and his brother have come since those scary days, so I wanted to scrap a layout he can look at in the future and see that for himself.

(from little things, big things)

'Grow'

I used the Leaf Litter paper as my background because I wanted to convey the theme of growth. So I pulled out my Faber-Castell gelatos and set about giving it a customised watercolour makeover. I didn't aim for perfection with my painting, as I knew some imperfection would provide a good contrast to the cut files I also planned to use.

I used more than one shade of green to help give the background depth, and applied the colour using a water brush. I love the result!

I used some of the green from the B-side of the Leaf Litter paper to mat my photo, and then used a larger mat of white cardstock to help separate the photo further from the background. I also used some of the Snip-Its phrase strips adhered directly onto my photo.

This was my first time ever using cut files and I was thrilled with the result! I used one of the leafy branch cut files several times and one of the flowers as well. I backed the flowers with a small amount of pink paper from the B-side of the Paisley Patch paper to add a small pop of complimentary colour to the page. I added a few Blooms from the neutrals pack, which I topped with Enamel Dots from the warm pack.

Finally I added my title, using the grey spot Alphabet Stickers from the Free Spirit collection and the tiny pink butterfly sticker (also from Free Spirit).

I am thrilled with the result of this page, and I especially love the fact that my paper is completely unique because I hand-painted it myself! If you are a fan of colouring in or painting, I highly recommend you grab some of the papers from this collection! So. Much. Fun.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Scrap the Boys May challenge!

Hi everyone!
Well here we are into May (already?!) which means it's time to share with you again. First up, is my design team layout for this month's Scrap the Boys challenge.
This time it's a sketch challenge that looks like this...

And here is my take on it...

You probably noticed I rotated the sketch onto its side for this layout (but otherwise I did pretty well sticking to it - for a change!) I used one of my favourite EVER collections for this layout - Made of Awesome by Cocoa Vanilla Studio. I have to admit, I am a little sad that I am down to the last few shreds of this collection in my stash, it is such a great one for boys! (And more specifically, my boys - who are getting a lot easier to photograph these days.)

Besides the ultra cool papers from this range , I also used some die cut ephemera pieces; vellum stars; one of the resin little stars; and some wood veneer. 

More wood veneer (although I have to admit that a couple of the pieces are actually from the Hello Lovely collection); and one of the Made of Awesome coordinating flair buttons.

As a final touch for this layout, I added some stamping and some splatters of black mist. (Splatters make everything better don't they? haha)

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope I have inspired you to join in this month's challenge. You have until 31st May to link your entry up via the Scrap the Boys blog to be in the running for prizes from A2Z Scraplets and from the lovely Tarrah McLean!

Make sure you visit the STB reveal post HERE to see what the rest of the team designed this month. You will also find a link to all of our Instagram accounts so you can find us there too.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Not Quite Perfect for Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!
Hope this finds you well on this long ANZAC weekend here in Australia? I'm in the midst of 8th birthday preparations for my ANZAC birthday girl here.

Today I am sharing a layout I created using the brand new Colour Me Happy collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. This collection features a mix of papers with bright colours on one side and printed black and white patterns on the other, which lend themselves to being coloured in or altered with mediums.

I thought that a super fun collection like this called for an equally fun photo, and I had the (not quite) perfect picture for it...

In keeping with the theme for this collection, I decided to stick with a black / white / grey colour palette with a single colour contrast. I used an orange mist applied to my background to give a watercolour effect, and then I used the same colour applied with a water brush to add some small highlights of colour to the Star Spangled paper.

To embellish my layout, I used elements cut from the Snip Its cut apart papers, which include a mix of labels, tags, words and other shapes. I also added one of the new wood veneer words, which I coloured black using a paint pen.

Of course this collection includes a range of coordinating flair buttons, and I added the black 'don't forget' one nested on some cotton thread. I also scattered a few enamel dots around my page, which are available in 'warm' or 'cool' colourways for this collection.

Colour Me Happy includes two sets of alphabet stickers. The first is black (as I have used here), which is perfect for bold titles; and the other is white, which allows you to colour yourself to suit your project. (I love this font!) You can also see how I used some of the phrases from the Snip Its to support my title.

That's all from me today, thanks for stopping by. If you would like to get your hands on your own stash of the new Colour Me Happy collection, it is available from next Friday (29th April) in the Cocoa Vanilla Studio shop or ask your favourite scrappy retailer.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

D-lish Scraps April Cyber Crop Challenge!

Hi everyone!
Just popping in to remind you that the D-lish Scraps April cyber crop kicked off last Friday over in our Facebook group The Scrap Suite. (If you aren't already a member, simply click to join.)

There are 4 challenges on offer from the design team with a store voucher up for grabs for EACH challenge, so plenty of love to go around.

The crop challenges are open for a whole 4 weeks, so there is plenty of time to complete your entries. And as far as entering the challenges goes, it couldn't be simpler! You need only upload your layout photo to the relevant album and that's it! No need for a blog or anything complex.

Here is my challenge to get your mojo flowing...

And my sample layout...

"Hello You"

{Papers by Heidi Swapp}

Although this layout appears quite understated, there are still a number of D-lish embellishments to be found. In this first cluster I used a wood veneer frame (which I wrapped with twine and added a strip of washi tape to); there is also a wood veneer speech bubble; coloured paper doily; and a flair button.

The cute little camera wood veneer is by Corbett Creations and was from a previously released Just Add Paper kit. The quote was cut from the Journal Its - Wordfetti (Everyday Moments) sheet.



The wood veneer title is another Corbett Creations piece (there are a variety of words available) and I added a wood veneer word arrow too. The tiny flower was another item from a previous JAP kit.

Thanks for stopping by today. I would love to see lots of people take on my sketch challenge, as I so enjoy seeing the different interpretations that one sketch can generate.
You can load your entries into my sketch challenge album in The Scrap Suite HERE
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff April Challenge!

Hi everyone! Just popping in to share my Design Team layout for this month's challenge at Show Us Your Stuff. This month's challenge has been designed by the lovely Deena Otway from our DT and looks like this...

Confession time: Although I have a reasonable amount of stamps in my stash, I am not usually much of a stamper. *hangs head in shame* So this challenge was the perfect push I needed to drag some of them out and get them dirty. I decided that seeing as I was going to be making a mess with my stamps, I may as go the whole way and drag out my paints as well.

Besides using traditional stamps on my layout, I also used my stencils to "stamp" by turning them over and stamping off the excess paint elsewhere on my layout.

Here is what I created...

I used a bit of a random mix of embellishments on this layout. Wood veneers are by Cocoa Vanilla Studio, Heidi Swapp and Amy Tan.

Die cut ephemera is by Cocoa Vanilla Studio.

To cover the handmade criteria, I used a Charms Creations star and a Cocoa Vanilla Studio flair. The Freckled Fawn geo tag paper clip and red tissue paper are from D-lish Scraps. The stamps are a mix of Amy Tan, Glitz Designs, Studio Calico and Crate Paper. (And a date stamp from my newsagent as well.)

So there you have it! My (messy) take on this month's challenge at Show Us Your Stuff. I hope you will join us and show us what you can do with stamps. Remember that you are not limited to traditional layouts for this challenge - we welcome all crafters! So cards, art journal spreads, pocket pages, canvases and off the page items are also welcome! Entries need to be linked up via the SUYS blog by midnight, 30th April.
Happy scrapping!

Pocket Pages for Cocoa Vanilla Studio!

Hi everyone!
Just popping in to share my latest work for Cocoa Vanilla Studio and today I have a pocket page post for you showcasing three different collections.
As a scrapper that likes to make the most of my materials, one of the things I like to do is use left over bits and pieces from collections to create pocket pages.

"Train Ride" - Totally Rad collection

The 'Top Gear' paper was perfect to use on this page about my boys first train trip. I also used the 'Happy Snaps' and 'Line Up' papers; accessory stickers; die cut ephemera (how cute is that robot?); flair button; acetate stars; and enamel shapes.

"Best Day Ever" - Life is Beautiful collection

For this page I used pieces of the 'Beautiful Day' paper (my favourite from this collection) and also the 'Heart Song' paper; die cut ephemera; stickers; and enamel dots. (It doesn't take many materials to make pretty pocket pages!) 

"Christmas Lights Tour"- Tis the Season collection

I had so many photos on my phone from various Christmas events, that creating some pocket pages was just the push I needed to finally get them documented! (Pocket pages are great for those phone photos that might not otherwise make the grade for a "traditional" type of layout.)

Besides the papers from this collection, I also used die cut ephemera pieces; accessory stickers; and enamel dots on my pages.

"Christmas Eve"- Tis the Season collection

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope I have inspired you to look at those left over bits and pieces a little differently now!

Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Scrap the Boys April Challenge!

Hi everyone! Just popping to post the first of my design team shares for April. Kicking it off this month with the Scrap the Boys challenge first of all, and the challenge is this...

Seeing as I have two little boys here who like nothing better than to be just like their dad, this one wasn't a problem for me. This layout was created using the new Totally Rad collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio which is perfect for scrapping all things boy related.

"Just Like Dad"

It can be so hard to find a good boy collection sometimes, and this one is a cracker! I love everything about it. The grey cross print on the B side of the 'Say What' paper is one of my faves, so I couldn't go past using it as a background again. Paired with the bright pops of colour on the 'Top Gear' paper, it's a match made in heaven for me!

To the right of my photo I created a cascading embellishment cluster, which features pieces from the die cut ephemera pack; wood veneers; snippets of the 'Mix Tape' paper; an acetate star and a flair button. (I love the variety of embellishments available from Cocoa Vanilla!)

To bring balance to my layout, I echoed the wood accent to the left of my photo with some die cuts; a wood veneer; and a mini wooden peg from the Bits & Pieces pack.

I wanted a big feature title on this layout, but I also wanted it to have a playful, child-like quality to reflect the theme, so I handcut the letters from the B side of the 'Line Up' paper. 

I then added printed strip journaling, a few more die cuts, a Woodie; stamping and black mist splatters to finish it off. 

I hope you will join us at Scrap the Boys this month. Besides the fact the challenge is a great one, we have prizes on offer from some of my favourites this month with Cocoa Vanilla Studio and Flutterby Designs both offering prizes. There is also a prize from Lauren Hender at A Little Peek at Me. Definitely worth playing along for! You have until the end of the month to link your entries up.

Happy scrapping! X