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

Es Neta | Viva Las VegaStamps

Hi everyone!

Popping in today with a design team project created for Viva Las VegaStamps. This mixed media scrapbook layout uses a variety of VLVS stamps; acrylic paint; Distress Oxide; and documents some fun photos of me that were taken at a local Mexican restaurant with the singer there. 

For my page, I took my inspiration from the colourful striped blanket in the background of the photo. I began by adding some red and yellow acrylic paint to my cardstock, swiping each of them randomly across the page.

I wanted to draw in the striped pattern from the blanket to add structure, so I used the Row of Distressed Lines stamp several times horizontally down the page using black ink. I also used the Texture Background stamp vertically down the central line of my page.

With the black ink down over the paint, I also wanted to draw in a small amount of the green that could also be seen on the blanket. I used the Scribble Circle stamp with 'Mowed Lawn' Distress Oxide. I stamped the image three times in its entirety, but then also used one edge of it to stamp extra colour randomly down the page (as you can see below).

With my background colours in place, it was time to add some texture to my page. I gathered together an assortment of items to use as layers behind my photos - black and white striped tissue paper; a die cut black tag; a green paint sample card; some yellow punchinella; and some frayed gauze. I stapled the layers in place before adding my photos on top.

Once the photos were down, it was time to add some embellishments. I started by adding a round Charms Creations handmade circle alongside them, before adding the Curly Moustache that I had stamped onto white cardstock and cut out, on top. Behind that, I tucked a little die cut cactus and then a small die cut banner along the bottom edge of my photos. I also tied a little piece of green and white striped twine onto my black tag.

To finish off my layout, I stamped the Incredible As It Seems stamp multiple times; added the title "Es Neta" (which means "it's true" in Spanish) using Thickers; and then added my journalling at the bottom of the page using a felt pen.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!
Until next time, happy scrapping! X

VLVS stamps used:
- Row of Distressed Lines
- Texture Background
- Scribble Circle
- Curly Moustache
- Incredible As It Seems

Totally Awesome | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone,

Popping in today to share a recent design team layout created for Cocoa Vanilla Studio for the regular "Throwback Thursday" feature. For this page I decided to go back and re-visit the 'Totally Rad' collection from 2016 and paired it with some acrylic paint and a few recent photos of my boys.

I actually created this one while I was at the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Creative Escape' retreat in Coffs Harbour last month. It was such a fabulous weekend – awesome people, beautiful surrounds, and so relaxing. And a big thank you to all the ladies that attended my class there – you really made my job easy and so much fun!

My page began with the reverse side of the ‘Stellar’ paper (one of my favourite wood grain prints of all time) as the background; and I added a few swipes of black acrylic paint using a wide brush. This was to define the focal area, and help the papers I planned to use on top pop from the background.

I used a mix of the Line Up and Happy Snaps papers over the top of the paint as a mat for my photos. (You can see how without the addition of the black paint that the warm tones of the papers would have blended with the warm background and lacked that “pop” I wanted.)

On top of my patterned paper pieces, I added some pieces of messy black cotton for texture, before arranging my photos on top. (My photos were backed with some scrap cardboard for extra dimension.)

To embellish my page, I used few small pieces from the cut apart Mix Tape paper; along with pieces from the Die Cut Ephemera pack and stickers from the Accessory Sticker sheet. I used foam tape under several of the pieces, including the title words, to help them pop.

I finished off with a couple of Wood Veneer shapes, a cute little camera Woodie and a few splatters of black ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to bust some of your own Cocoa Vanilla stash, or even pull out something new and get creative. Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Good Times | Scrap the Girls June Challenge

Hi everyone! 

Today I am sharing my take on this month's challenge at Scrap the Girls, which has affectionately been named the "Nanas" challenge. It is all about mismatched patterns and colours that somehow create their own style.

Here is the inspiration picture...

I stared long and hard at this picture before deciding what I was going to chose as my inspiration starting point. Eventually, I decided to begin with a strong geometric print, which I found in the Paige Taylor Evans 'Whimsical' collection.

I also started with a white cardstock base and a photo of my daughter and her friends ready to head off to school camp (which I had printed in black and white so that I wasn't restricted by colour).

Because this challenge was all about mismatched patterns, I decided to use a strong vertical design to clash with the horizontal nature of the photo and subjects. I used strips of the geometric print paper which I contrasted using the small cross print and the solid yellow. (The yellow was a special nod to the clogs in the inspiration picture.)

I chose another pattern (a small star print) to mat my photo with; and I also added a small strip of the same paper that I punched with a heart edge punch along the left side of my design. To give my photo some separation from the busy background I popped some scrap cardboard underneath before sticking it down.

At this point I turned back to the inspiration picture and decided that the additional of some flowers would help break up the solid, graphic nature of my design. I chose a large floral design paper (again, from the Paige Evans 'Whimsical' collection) and fussy cut some of the flowers. I tucked them under the diagonally opposed corners of my photo to give the page some flow and draw the viewers eye through it.

To add a little text to my page, I added a few phrase stickers from the coordinating 'Whimsical' sticker sheet and a sweet little butterfly from the ephemera pack for some dimension.

At this point my layout looked a little too clean for my liking, so I pulled out my Faber-Castell watercolor pencils to add some extra detail. I used the pencils to add some scribbled colour around and under the edges of the fussy cut flowers along the right side of the page, then used a water brush to blend the colour out a little.

I finished off my layout with a few tiny ink splatters.

Thanks so much for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope you can play along with our challenge at Scrap the Girls this month. We have D-lish Scraps sponsoring for our Aussie winner, and as always Scrap Accent for our international entries. For all the challenge details, or to see what else the design team created for this one, head to the Scrap the Girls blog HERE
Until next time - happy scrapping! X

What the Buck? | Viva Las VegaStamps

Hi everyone!

Today I am here to share a design team project I created recently for Viva Las VegaStamps. This 8.5x11" mixed media scrapbook layout features some photos of my daughter riding a mechanical bull that I paired with a super cool bucking horse stamp.

To create my layout, I started by making a watercolour style background using Distress Oxides (I used a mix of Tumbled Glass and Mermaid Lagoon).

I then added some stamping to my page using the Cross Marks Background and Bullet Hole stamps and black StazOn ink. I also added some small pieces of torn chevron print washi tape.

Next, I added some book paper and blue tissue paper to form a mat for my photos, before adding them on top. Alongside my photos I added a handmade felt and hessian chevron from Charms Creations.

For the feature embellishment on my page I chose the fabulous Cowboy on Bucking Horse stamp; which I stamped onto cardstock, coloured using alcohol markers and then cut out. I also added some foam tape behind it to help pop it up from the background.

I then stamped the You Only Live Once quote several times across my page; added some wood veneer stars; my journalling; and finally my title, using a mix of Cocoa Vanilla Studio alphas and American Crafts Thickers.

That's all from me today, 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: 

- Cowboy on Bucking Horse

- Cross Marks Background

- Bullet Hole

- You Only Live Once

Embrace Your Flaws | StencilGirl®

Hi everyone!

I was thrilled to recently share my first official project created for the StencilGirl® Creative Team over on the StencilGirl® blog . I was tasked with the theme of "an abstract or summer artwork". Both of these sounded fun to me, so I was torn between the two. My answer? Combine aspects of both themes into a single project!

I began my artwork by gathering a variety of papers to create a collaged background - book paper, music paper and tissue paper; and tore them into pieces. Working on an A4 sized piece of 270 gsm cardstock, I adhered them randomly around the page using matte gel medium. The collage provides an interesting background to work over, adding extra depth and texture to the piece.

Now it was time for colour! When I think of summer I picture the tropics. Lush greenery, brightly coloured flowers, and the sun shining down. I decided to translate this imagery into my piece by using bright acrylic paints. I chose warm tones to start - pinks, orange and yellow - and applied the paint using a silicone spatula in an entirely random fashion. 

With my abstract colour layer complete, it was time to think about the composition of my piece. I wanted to introduce some of the imagery that came to my mind when I thought of summer. I started with the Dream of Palms Mask to begin building my foreground layers. I applied green acrylic paint using a sponge in the diagonally opposing corners. 

To build further on the foreground, I applied a darker shade of green paint with my spatula around some of the edges of the page.

After the paint had dried, it was time to switch to ink to further build my layers. I selected the Floral Mandala Lace stencil, as it had a section I thought would add some interesting detail to my piece. 

Using only a selected area of a stencil, rather than the image as whole, is something I often do when creating artwork like this. It also influences my choice when purchasing stencils; as I find smaller details within larger designs that I know will give me more value from my stencils.

I used a sponge to apply teal ink through the section of my stencil; layering it over the green paint to mimic the foliage of my summer-inspired lush greenery.

I then repeated the same process, this time masking off a single image from the Blades stencil to represent a flower; which I stencilled several times on my piece. 

Now it was time for a focal image for my artwork. I had a printed paper napkin that featured beautiful coloured parrots on it that I thought would be ideal for my tropical inspired piece. (I have some of these available for sale in my mixed napkin bundle on my Facebook page - just click on the "shop" button to find them.) I carefully cut around the larger parrot and a few of the leaves before separating them from the backing layer.

To ensure that the image was not lost against the background, I lightly sponged some white acrylic paint onto the page where the parrot's head would be. I also sponged some randomly over several areas in the centre of my page, just to strip back a little of the colour.

The parrot and leaves were then adhered to the page using matte gel medium.

To add further depth and variation to the foreground, I used a small paintbrush to add some teal paint amongst the foliage.

At this point the page was all quite flat and needed some dimension to help lift it. I chose the Heartfelt stencil, as it had some leaf shapes I wanted to use to finish off the foliage. 

I masked off the first leaf I wanted to use and applied Colour Blast 'Envy' Colour Paste through the stencil using a palette knife. I repeated the same leaf several times on each of the foliage areas before drying it off with a heat gun.

I then repeated the process with the other leaf design and 'Apple of My Eye' Colour Paste, layering it over the other paste before again drying it off with a heat gun.

From the same stencil, I was also drawn to the cluster of abstract style flowers and decided to use this shape to add further textured detail and some contrast in colour using Colour Blast Lovely Lilac Colour Paste. I repeated the same flowers on three separate areas of my piece. 

After the lilac paste had dried I could see the piece needed some shadowing to help bring the focal image to the front. I used a water soluble pencil to draw around the outline of the parrot, then blended it out with water. 

I also added some stamped detail using my fave Doodle Dots stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps to the background using black ink, which helped to tie in the black from the shadow outline.

At this point I wanted to add some extra stencilled detail to help lighten the piece and tie it all together. I used the Organized Chaos stencil and white acrylic paint to sponge some random spots over the top. 

To finish off, I felt it needed some text, so I added the large embrace your flaws quote and the two smaller phrase stickers from Flutterby Designs. I also added some hand drawn scribbles with black pencil.

I am so happy with the result of this piece - all the bright colours and layers just make my heart sing! 

Despite my love for this piece, I decided that keeping it for myself wasn't the best use of it. Anita from Flutterby Designs will be running a charity art auction at her annual "Create by the Lake" retreat next month to raise funds for 'United in Compassion'. This Australian organisation advocate on behalf of cancer patients for better access to medicinal cannabis as an alternative therapy to alleviate their suffering. 

Here is my finished framed piece, which has been passed onto Anita to be auctioned and will hopefully raise some funds for this very worthy cause. (If you are attending the retreat, you will have a chance to bid on it - please help my piece go to a good home!) 

The Flutterby Designs "Create by the Lake" retreat is being held from the 18th - 21st of July at Lake Keepit Sport & Rec Centre in Gunnedah, New South Wales. If you have never been before, do yourself a favour and go! It's a super fun weekend with lots of like-minded people. (And at the time of writing this, there are only 3 spots remaining!) Click on the event page HERE for all the info.

If you love the stencils I used in this piece, they are available to purchase direct from the StencilGirl® website or you can contact your favourite crafty retailer to enquire. 

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. Until next time, happy creating! X