Happy Moments | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!

Today I have another Cocoa Vanilla Studio design team project to share with you that I created recently. This page was created for a "Holidays and Vacations" theme that we ran recently on the CVS blog to inspire people to dig into their holiday photo stash and get the memories documented.

I used a combination of the ‘Boys Rule’ and ‘Midnight’ collections. I know what you are thinking – a bit of a strange mix, right? Despite the very obvious differences between the two, they did work together surprisingly well and were a perfect compliment for the colours in my photo.

For my take on the theme I decided to document a photo that was taken at the Cocoa Vanilla retreat that was held last May in Coffs Harbour. Scrap retreats are definitely one of my favourite kinds of holidays – besides spending time with great friends, you get to enjoy a change of scenery, have a break from your everyday responsibilities, AND you get to create! What’s not to love about that?!

I started my layout with ‘Boys Rule’, with a sheet of Star Fall as my base,which I topped with piece of white cardstock, cut slightly smaller than the paper, to leave a narrow border around the edge. I then added four blocks of paper to my background using pieces of the Messed Up; Expressionist and Straight and Narrow papers. I distressed each of the blocks by scrunching and then flattening them back out; then ran them horizontally on my page to compliment the landscape orientation of my photo.

With my background complete, I then added some scrap cardboard to the back of my photo and decided on its placement on the page. I chose the beautiful floral print Bloom and Grow paper from the ‘Midnight’ collection to begin embellishing my layout, fussy cutting several pieces to tuck in around my photo to frame it.

With the flowers in place I then added the little banner that said the best from the ‘Boys Rule’ Chipboard Pieces pack, and a small black and white butterfly sticker from the ‘Midnight’ Accessory Stickers; placing both near my top floral cluster.

I created another small cluster below my photo by combining another fussy cut floral piece with a small leafy branch and heart, both from the ‘Midnight’ Die Cut Ephemera pack. In my cluster to the left of my photo, I also added the shine bright flair button from the ‘Midnight’ Flair Buttons set.

For my page title, I used the words happy and moments from the ‘Midnight’ Chipboard Pieces pack; and then I finished off my layout by typing up my journalling and applying it in strips (again tying into the horizontal theme) near the bottom of the page.

That’s all from me today. I hope you are feeling inspired to document some of your own holiday moments. Until next time, happy scrapping! X

We Remember Moments | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!

Popping in again today to share yet another design team project from the end of last year. This layout was created for Cocoa Vanilla Studio using the gorgeous 'Unforgettable' collection and a photo of my children that I took while I was shopping with them a few years ago. It used to take me a long time to get the grocery shopping done when I had the kids with me, as I would constantly be stopped by people asking questions about the boys. Twin seat trolleys were rare when I took this photo and our local supermarket only had two of them, so I usually had to get a staff member find one for me when we arrived. (Thankfully they seem to be the norm at most stores now.)

I started this page by creating a mixed media background on some white cardstock, using 'Picked Raspberry' Distress Oxide to create a watercolour style background, before adding some stamping and Colour Blast by Bee Arty 'Steel' Colour Paste through a stencil in a few spots on my page. I also added some blue watercolour splatters over the top for some extra interest.

Next, I fussy cut the wreath from the beautiful Garland paper, adding foam tape underneath the floral section to pop it up from the page, before sticking it down on top of my background. (You can see how I bent the edges up from the page to add extra dimension.)

I then added some pieces of paper cut from the B sides of the Glorious and Sprightly papers as a mat for my photo, which I stuck down on top.

Alongside my photo, I added the quote "we don't remember the days, we remember moments" from scaled down version of the Story Teller paper from the 6x8" Paper Stack to act as my page title. I was especially drawn to use this quote for this layout, as in the early days of having twins life seemed to pass by in such a blur. Going shopping with the kids and having two sitting in the trolley and one perched on the end like in the photo is something I will always remember though. 

On top of the quote card I added the cute camera Flair Button and popped a couple of Enamel Dots nearby.

Now it was time to embellish my wreath. I used a variety of flowers from the Die Cut Ephemera pack, which I stuck down on top of the wreath using foam tape to provide further dimension. I also added 3 bows from the Tassels and Bows pack; and a few small phrase stickers from the Accessory Sticker sheet.

I finished off my layout by adding more Enamel Dots; a die cut butterfly; and then a few hand-stitched crosses using embroidery thread.

That's all from me today, I hope I have inspired you to create something pretty too. 

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Bloom & Grow | StencilGirl®

Hi everyone!

I promised I would be back again soon, and it seems I have some catching up to do! Today I am sharing a project I created for the StencilGirl® Creative Team last year. For this one, the team were challenged with "Gift It or Grid It", so I decided to go with "Grid It" and create a scrapbook layout. Grid designs are often used in scrapbooking, and are particularly effective when creating layouts that feature a lot of photos, as it provides structure and prevents the page from looking too cluttered.

With my daughter just started high school this week, it's an appropriate time to share this scrapbook layout documenting all her "first day of school" photos from each of her seven years at primary school. It's such a lovely way to reflect on how much she has grown.

Because I knew I was going to be using a grid design for my photo placement, I wanted to created a background with less structure to contrast against the squares of the photos. As purpose of the layout was to document my daughter's growth, I decided a floral pattern would be perfect so I chose the Deconstructed Floral Bouquet stencil designed by Traci Bautista. As it didn't entirely fill my 12x12" cardstock, I also used the Deconstructed Zinnia and the Deconstructed Double Zinna to fill the remaining space (both also designed by Traci). 

I used three Distress Oxide ink pads (Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass and Squeezed Lemonade) and some small make up sponges to dab the inks onto the page through the masks. (I chose a mix of colours that would also blend to create other colours on the page.) Once the page was completely covered, I lifted the masks to reveal the background.

I then used the Numbers stencil (designed by Seth Apter) to add the numbers 1-6 on my background in a few different places using Lovely Lilac Distress Oxide and another sponge. 

I then repeated the process with the smaller row of numbers from the same stencil.

Once my background was complete, it was time to set out my grid placement for my photos. I used squares of patterned paper (this one is from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'More Than Words' collection) as a mat for each photo. I used a small dab of liquid adhesive to hold each square in place. 

I then added some scrap cardboard to the back of each photo (to help pop them up from the page) before sticking them down on top of the paper squares.

With my photos all in place, it was then time to embellish my layout. I chose another paper from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'More Than Words' collection, this time it was one that featured some beautiful sketched flowers and fussy cut several pieces that I tucked in around some of my photos.

I wanted some leaves to go along with the flowers, so I used the Leafy Doodle Border stencil (designed by Valerie Sjodin) and some black ink to stencil some flowers onto a sheet of vellum. I love the sectioned design of this stencil as it means it can be used in a number of different ways. 

Once the ink had dried (it takes slightly longer on vellum) I fussy cut a number of them, then added them in with the flowers on the page. 

For my layout title, I used some Cocoa Vanilla Studio foam title stickers, which I placed in the middle section of my grid. I love the way the bold black ties in with the photos and the stencilled leaves; providing contrast against the pastel colours of the background.

I was so happy with how this layout turned out, and the way the theme inspired me to capture these memories of my daughter's progression through primary school. I hope I have inspired you to get some supplies out and get creative too.

Here's a linked list of all the stencils I used in my project:

L352: Deconstructed Floral Bouquet

S290: Deconstructed Zinnia Mask and Stencil

S296: Deconstructed Double Zinnia Mask and Stencil

L184: Numbers Stencil

L736: Leafy Doodle Border

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

Love is Love | Scrap the Girls January Challenge

Hi everyone! Well the kids are finally back at school today, so at last I can get back to some sort of routine...and some serious craft time! hehe
Today I am sharing my take on the first challenge for the year at Scrap the Girls. This fabulous "Touchy Feely" challenge features an inspiration board that is full of colours, patterns and textures and provides plenty of scope for interpretation. 

Here's a look at it...

I couldn't go past the warm tones featured prominently in the first image, so I pulled out my Gelatos to create a background to start my page. I had some photos of my daughter and the fabulous sculpture she created for our school art gala that I wanted to document, as I knew they would work well with the bright colours.

I drew a freehand abstract design on my page with the Gelatos, then used a baby wipe to blend the colours around the page. In keeping with the inspiration images, I also added circles which I highlighted using my Stabilo All pencil, also adding some scribbles and marks. I also added some tiny black splatters of ink. 

Once I had my background sorted, I turned my attention to my photos and embellishments. For the photos, I grouped them together and then added some cardboard to the back to pop them up from the page. 

Underneath my photos I added some layers using small paper doilies (which I thought worked well with the circular elements pictured on the board); and a paper bag that featured a brushed blue tribal style pattern. This provided a great contrast to the red / orange / yellow that I already had on the page.

To help define my focal area, I used a couple of paper straws that I cut into pieces and tucked under the edges of my photos. This helps draw the viewer's eye into the photos. I also added a textural element to the page by tying the straw pieces together with twine.  

I dug through my stash and found a "vintage" lollipop from Charms Creations, that featured layers of felt and hessian, and added it on top of the circle to the right of my photo. I then turned it into a dream catcher style feature, by drawing with my All pencil and adding a few self adhesive red rhinestones.

To the left of my photos, I added another Charms Creations handmade embellishment, this time a yellow heart, which I topped with a flair button from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. For my page title, I couldn't go past using the title of my daughter's sculpture, and I used simple Cocoa Vanilla black alpha stickers.

To finish off, I added handwritten journalling using a black felt pen; then some epoxy heart stickers scattered around the page. 

I hope I have inspired you to join in with our challenge this month. Our fabulous sponsor for all our Aussie entries is Corbett Creations, so get your entries in to be in the running to win. You can see what else our DT created for this challenge by visiting the blog HERE

That's all from me today, I'll be back again soon with another share - I have some catching up to do!
Until then, happy scrapping! X

Jolly as F*ck | Scrap the Girls December Challenge

Ho, ho...no!

Can you believe we are on the final countdown to Christmas?! If you are one of those people I affectionately refer to as "Christmas freaks" then you have probably been ready for the big day since mid-June and have had your tree up for at least a month already. (You are probably also the sort of person that thinks hot cross buns DO belong on the supermarket shelves at the beginning of January?!) *mumble, mumble*

If you are more like me however, then Christmas always seems to creep up waaaaay too quickly every year, you've only just put your tree up, and at some stage next week you will start preparing everything else. (Look away now Christmas freaks! hehe)

So all this Christmas talk has led me to the latest design team project that I have to share. This page was created for Scrap the Girls for the "No Traditions Here" challenge this month. This is the image inspiration we were provided with the instructions "could be colour, what you see or what you read".

I bowed to the Christmas theme, and in keeping with the challenge title, there was nothing traditional about my page...

I used the gorgeous Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Happiness' collection for this page, which I combined with my own watercolour background.

I started by fussy cutting the beautiful wreath from the So Fresh paper, which I backed with some scrap cardboard to help pop it up from the page, and then set it aside to create the background.

I used a Colour Blast 'Deep Water' Shimmer Cube (unfortunately these are no longer available, but you could substitute any watercolour paint) to create a ring on my cardstock where my wreath was going to sit. Next, I added some small splatters of gold, green and pink inks before sticking my wreath down over the top.

I then added my photos, tucking them under the edge of the wreath on the left side of the page.

For my title, I used the Jolly as Fuck Christmas ornament (with gum leaves - also available in a bottle brush version) from Kinder Kreations. These ornaments have a hole so you can add string or ribbon to hang them, but I couldn't resist giving this one a starring role on my layout instead. I painted it with a metallic gold acrylic paint to give it a festive feel and added some twine to the top of it.

To compliment my gold title, I grabbed a few cut file leaves I had left over from a previous project and painted them to match. I then tucked them in under the edge of the wreath, leaving some of them white as well. (This leaf design is from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Colour Me Happy' cut file set.) To help blend my title with my page I stuck a small flower and butterfly from the 'Happiness' Die Cut Ephemera pack onto it.

 To finish off the page I added two flair buttons to my wreath from the 'Happiness' flair button set and some handwritten journalling with a felt pen.

I hope you will join in with our challenge this month - you can make your layout as Christmas-sy as you like (or not), just be inspired by the image! Make sure you visit the Scrap the Girls blog for all the details of this month's Australian and International sponsors and to see what the rest of the design team created.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X 

Sweet Evil | Viva Las VegaStamps

Hi everyone!

Popping in today with a design team project that was created for Viva Las VegaStamps for you. This mixed media scrapbook layout features some of the creepy themed stamps from the last release and a photo of my sister and I dressed up for a "bad taste" theme night at a scrappy retreat. 

I began my layout with a sheet of white heavyweight cardstock, and created a watercolour style background using Distress Oxides. I did this by swiping the ink pads on my craft mat then spritzing with water, before laying the cardstock over the top to absorb the ink. I did this first with 'Iced Spruce' then dried it off and repeated the process with 'Carved Pumpkin'.

Once I had my background colour in place, it was time to add some stamping! I started with the Palmistry Palm, which I stamped over the top of the Distress Oxides.

I then stamped the Pirassoipi Bicorn and the Poison Caution stamps onto my background as well, using black StazOn ink again.

Once I had the stamping done, it was time to add my focal image, which was the photo of my sister and I that I had cut out. I mounted the image onto some scrap cardboard to help pop it up from the page.

To embellish my page, I stamped out the Cross Statue stamp three times onto some black cardstock using embossing ink, then heat embossed the images using gold embossing powder.

I then fussy cut around the crosses and added them to my page around the base of my photo.

Next, it was time for my title. I love a mixed font title, so I used a Kinder Kreations chipboard word hello, which I also embossed with Colour Blast 'Bling' Colour Embossing Powder; then the wood veneer word sweet from Corbett Creations; and then some Cocoa Vanilla Studio alpha stickers.

To add a little extra detail to finish off my page, I used the Sky of Stars Background stamp to add a few little stamped stars, then added a some wood veneer stars that I had coloured black with a Sharpie. I also added some small gold mist splatters.

And with that, my page was complete! Thanks so much for stopping by today 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: 

- Palmistry Palm

- Pirassoipi Bicorn

- Poison Caution

- Cross Statue

- Sky of Stars Background