Sweet Beautiful You | Cocoa Vanilla Studio - September Monthly Challenge

Hi everyone! I'm popping in today to share one of my recent Cocoa Vanilla Studio design team projects with you. For this project I was tasked with sharing some inspiration for the September monthly challenge. If you haven't already seen the gorgeous "Garden Party" mood board designed by Danni Visser, here it is...

I absolutely love all the pretty pastel tones of this board, which were perfect for me to pair with the brand new 'Daydream' collection. There were several elements in the board I really wanted to represent on my page - the flowers; the outdoors (I chose some photos of my daughter in the garden) and (of course) the colours, including pops of yellow, just like those delicious looking macarons. I also wanted to include the word "sweet" as a nod to the sweet treats in the photos.

Here's what I came up with..

I began my page with a sheet of white cardstock and some inks in shades of pink, blue and yellow. I mixed the ink with a little water and then used some plastic packaging to gently apply the watercolours to the cardstock, drying between each colour. I then added some darker blue splatters over the top.

Then it was time to add some gorgeous papers! I used pieces of the All Aflutter; Sweet Serenity; and Happy Place papers to create a layered mat for my photos. To add a pop of yellow, I also included a small yellow paper doily from my stash; then topped all my layers with some frayed gauze for texture before sticking my photos on top. 

I wanted to continue building on the layers I had created and help frame in around my photos. I used the tag sticker from the Accessory Sticker sheet, which I tied with a little twine and tucked it in behind the point where my photos overlapped. I also added the you are my sunshine sticker directly onto the join between my photos. 

Next, I chose some flowers from the Die Cut Ephemera pack and used them as the basis for the second and third embellishment clusters around my photos. In the cluster below my photos I included one of the fabric Puffy Hearts which also added a lovely textural element.

To the right of my photos, I tucked in a partial rainbow that I had fussy cut from the cut apart Happy Place paper and used this as the spot to add my title. I fussy cut the sweet flag piece from the same paper, then combined it with the beautiful you banner sticker to complete my title.

I finished off my page with a gorgeous little indigo butterfly and a little yellow heart - both from the Die Cut Ephemera pack. 

I so love how this page turned out - this collection really is amazing! I hope I have inspired you to play along with this month's challenge. There is a $25 store voucher up for grabs for one randomly drawn winner. You can find all the details and enter via the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Facebook community group HERE

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Whatever | Scrap the Girls September Challenge

Hi friends!

I am popping in today to share my take on the September challenge for Scrap the Girls. For this one, I decided to document a photo of my daughter and our cat. This was taken one night when she was in bed reading and I had asked her if she knew where the cat was. She replied "no".  I then walked over to her bed and found him IN her bed like this. Just look at the smug look on his face - because he knew he shouldn't be in there!

So this month the challenge is called "Painty Hands" and it looks like this...

Despite the fact that most of the images in the inspiration board featured watercolours, I decided to buck the trend and work with acrylic paints instead. I was guided by the colours in my photo for my colour choice, which was black, pink and teal; and used a combination of my brayer and fingertips to apply the paint to the page.

Next, I added some texture to my page using the 'Starlight' stencil from StencilGirl, and Vicki Boutin gold glaze. This provided some beautiful contrast and gave my page the night-time feeling I was looking for.

Once I had the paint dry, I started adding some paper layers. I used a couple of scraps of my Vicki Boutin papers, along with some gold tissue paper, a paper doily and frayed gauze for texture. I then added some scrap cardboard to the back of my photo before adding it on top.

I finished off my background layers with some torn pieces of washi tape - first a teal spotted one, then a thinner heart print one. I then began adding my embellishments. I started with a cluster to the left of my photo using a Charms Creations handmade heart topped with a flair button. I also added some twisted gold wire to which I attached with a stapler. 

 I continued the gold wire across to the right side of my photo; plus I added a Heidi Swapp printed acetate heart and an American Crafts gold phrase sticker directly onto the top right corner of my photo. 

For my title, I used the word whatever from a pack of foam Thickers, as I thought this perfectly summed up my cat's attitude when I busted him hiding in the bed.

I finished off my layout by scattering some Studio Calico gold glitter stars across the top half of my layout and then adding my journalling in the bottom right corner.

I do hope you will join us for this challenge, you still have until the end of the month to get your entries in. Our Aussie sponsor is Charms Creations, and our international sponsor is Tanya Leigh Designz. For more details, or to see what else the team created for this challenge, pop over to the STG blog HERE.

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Big Fun

 

Hi everyone! I've got another "just because" layout to share with you today. This mixed media page was created to document another one of my kids awesome dress-up photos using some of my favourite products from my stash.

 I started my page by adding some Distress Oxides to my cardstock (Chipped Sapphire and Mowed Lawn), which I applied by mixing it with water on my messy mat and then laying my cardstock over the top to soak it up. I love the randomness of using this method, as it's always a surprise how the colour will come out and it gives me a jumping off point for the rest of my page.

Next, it was time to start building some layers. First, I used black ink and one of my fave star stamps (Squiggly Star Collage) from Viva Las VegaStamps, which I stamped three times to create a "visual triangle" around where my photo was going to go. I then took some Vicki Boutin Prism glaze, and swiped a little around the page using my palette knife. This broke up the strong navy of the ink, and added texture and shine. 

For my next layer I used a stencil from StencilGirl Products called 'Military Style Stars' along with my TCW 'Light & Fluffy' Modelling Paste. I chose a basic white modelling paste as I wanted something with a matte, white finish to pull back some of the colour. I then used another of my fave VLVS stamps 'Sky of Stars Background' to add yet another layer to my background. 

Next, I added some papery layers using patterned papers from Vicki Boutin (a mix from both the 'Let's Wander' and 'Color Kaleidoscope' collections). I cut and tore the papers into various size pieces, which I stacked with a paper doily and some frayed gauze before topping with my photo. 

For my embellishments I again used Vicki Boutin products - a mix of ephemera, stickers and Thickers. I used these pieces to continue building up the layers on the page. To the right of my photo I added a handmade star embellishment from Charms Creations, which I topped with a flair button (from my sister's stash - thanks Mandy!)

I finished off with some Vicki Boutin puffy word Thickers for my title and then I was done! I had so much fun creating this page and it all came together so easily. (Don't you love it when that happens?)

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

Bloom & Grow

 

Hi friends! I'm popping in today with a bit of a bonus share. I have been totally loving all of the rainbows I have been seeing everywhere lately, so I felt inspired to do some stash-busting and create a simple rainbow themed page of my own.

For my layout I decided to use a cut file from Cut to You as the basis of my background. I used the file called Sunshine Rainbows and cut the rainbow portion of the design on some white cardstock. I paired it with the 'Happiness' collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio, using the gorgeous Good Vibes paper to back the rainbow. I then trimmed down the cardstock to measure 11x11" and mounted it on a sheet of pink cardstock to create a page border.

Once I had my background together, I used a fine tip felt pen to add some faux stitching between the arches of the rainbow. This is a quick and easy technique if you don't have a sewing machine (or if like me, you just can't be bothered pulling it out at the time).

Next, I matted my photo using pieces of the Expressive and Frame of Mind papers, and I also tucked a yellow paper doily into my layers. I then placed my photo on top of my rainbow and set about adding some embellishments to the page.

I created a cluster in the top left corner of my photo using layered pink flowers from the Die Cut Ephemera pack to coordinate with the pink / red arches of the rainbow underneath. I balanced that cluster by embellishing the bottom right corner using more die cuts, only this time in blue tones to coordinate with the blues of the rainbow. 

For my title, I used the bloom & grow stickers from the 'Midnight' Accessory Sticker sheet, and then a label from the 'Happiness' sticker sheet to add my journalling. I finished off my layout with some tiny splatters of navy mist.

Thanks so much for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to perhaps create your own rainbow themed page. Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Happy | StencilGirl

Hi friends!

I am popping in today to share my most recent project for the StencilGirl Creative Team. Today's mixed media layout was created for the theme of "Passages". This theme had my mind going in several different directions; but in the end I decided to interpret the theme quite literally, and create a page that documented a special passage in my life. 

Here's a look at my layout, simply entitled "Happy"...

This layout not only refers to an actual passage (a corridor at the hospital) but it also marks an important passage of time for myself and my boys. I am thankful that on the day this photo was taken that I took the time to write down my feelings. (I will share my journaling with you later in this post.)

With my subject decided and photo printed, it was time to get started on my page. I began with a sheet of heavyweight white cardstock and Distress Oxides in the shades of Picked Raspberry and Seedless Preserves. I applied the first ink to my non-stick craft mat, added a spritz of water, and then swirled the water through using my fingertip before laying the cardstock over the top to absorb it. I then repeated the process with the second ink and the end result was a vibrant, watercolour style background.

Once my initial layer of colour was down, it was time to pull out my stencils and start building some layers on my page. The first stencil I chose was the 4x4" stencil included in the StencilGirl Club Rex Ray-esque collection. This collection of stencils was designed by Valerie Sjodin, and the small stencil I selected from the set features a block style pattern that is almost brick-like in appearance. I used teal Archival Ink and a small sponge to apply the pattern in three places surrounding the focal area of my layout.

Now it was time to add some texture to the page. But which stencil to use was the question? Drawing on the theme of my layout, and how the passage of time had seen my boys come "full circle" to this moment, I chose a stencil with a lovely, loose circular pattern called Circles in the Sand, designed by Roxanne Evans Stout. I then used a palette knife to apply some lilac coloured texture paste through the stencil over the top of the inks. The free flowing pattern of this stencil contrasted nicely to the structure of the first one I had used. 

Although happy with how my background was looking at this point, I really felt that it needed some contrasting highlights to provide more depth. I used one of my very favourite stencils - Organized Chaos by Cat Kerr, which I combined with gorgeous gold glaze from Vicki Boutin.  

Now satisfied with my background, I turned my attention to the focal area of my page and to creating some papery layers. I started with a heart print paper bag to act as the anchor, and it was also where I was going to store the journaling that I had written onto a couple of pieces of patterned paper.

Next, I added some pieces of patterned paper from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Bohemian Dream' collection, which features pretty pink / purple / blue tones and gorgeous floral elements. I also added a couple of paper doilies and some frayed gauze, before adding my photo on top. 

I used a variety of pieces from the same collection to embellish my layout including die cuts, stickers, and a chipboard title. I also fussy cut a few pieces from a floral paper and tucked them in around the photo mat.

If you would like to hear the story behind this layout, here is what my journaling read:

A big day for us today! Back to where it all began for the boys 4 year old (and final!) development assessment as RBWH. Walking the hallway lined with photos, through that glass door and into those never forgotten sounds and smells of the NICU still made me tear up and catch my breath. I had to look away from all the tiny, fragile patients in their "boxes", and the tired, bleak faces of their anxious mothers, because it breaks my heart to know what they are going through.

It is good to know our participation in this program over the past 4 years has provided valuable data to researchers to help care for very premature and extremely low birth weight babies born in future.

Before we left I took a moment to pause in this spot with my boys. At the end of the hall behind us are rooms full of memories - the place I first saw my them, touched their skin, held them and fed them. Moments that felt like I waited forever for each one; and wasn't sure would even happen when I was first admitted. (And were it not for the expert care my boys received here, would certainly not have.)

On the day they were born I was wheeled in as the mum of premmie twins, including the smallest baby in the hospital.Today I walked out holding their hands and knowing how lucky I am.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you (especially if you hung in there all the way to the end!) Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Good Day Sunshine | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone! I'm popping in today to share my very first layout using the brand new, and beautiful, 'Daydream' collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. This page was created for a theme on 'Outdoor Adventures', and I was very excited that the collection arrived in time for me to use it for this. 

The photo I chose to document was one that I took of my hubby and our boys doing some gardening together. My sons recently celebrated their 8th birthday, and one of them had requested "gardening stuff" as a present. (Isn't that the cutest?) I couldn't resist his lovely request, so I went and got him his own gloves, tools, seedlings, pots and potting mix. He was so happy, and has been lovingly caring for them ever since.

In keeping with the outdoor theme, I decided to use the wood grain print on the reverse side of the Over the Rainbow paper as my background. This gave the page a good "earthy" base, and because it's such a beautiful detailed grain, it also made my job much easier as it really didn't need anything added to it. 

I then created the focal point for my page using layered pieces from the B sides of the patterned papers Sun Shower (a delicious rich yellow with stripes); All Aflutter (a lovely coral with a sweet heart print); and Garden Variety (a sweet blue-grey tiny spot).

I then added a small grey paper doily from my stash, before sticking my photo down using some scrap cardboard to pop it up from the page. (Did you notice the rainbow lens flare in my photo? I think it looks cool, which is one of the reasons I chose this shot.)

With my photo now in place, it was time to add some embellishments. The first thing I reached for to go with my gardening theme, was the stunning floral print on the Garden Variety paper. The flowers on this sheet were just begging to be fussy cut! I cut several clusters and tucked them in around my photo, bending the edges up away from the page to provide dimension.

I created a small cluster around the top left corner of my photo using the so sweet tab sticker from the Accessory Sticker sheet; a small flower and leaf from the Die Cut Ephemera pack; and one of the new embellishments on the block - a Puffy Heart. These fabric hearts are super cute, and they have beautiful, delicate gold thread woven through them. 

Next, I added my page title to the right of my photo; using three words from the Die Cut Titles pack. (I actually cut the "s" off the word "days" so it fit the phrase I wanted.) I used foam tape under my title words so that they would sit up at the same height as the photo and allow me to overlap the edge. Above my title I added the sweet little die cut rainbow from the ephemera pack. 

With my layout so bottom heavy at this point, I created a small cluster in the top right corner to help balance it out. I wanted to mimic the focal area of my page, so I used small pieces of the same papers, then topped it with the oh happy day banner from the sticker sheet. 

To finish off my page, I used a label cut from the Happy Place cut apart paper to write my journalling, then added two small die cut flowers. A light splatter of some white mist around my page, and I was done! 

This collection is just so easy, and such a pleasure to work with, that I was able to create four pages before I even really came up for air. It has already started hitting the shelves of retailers, so make sure you check with your local store or favourite online retailer to see if they have it available. It really is one you NEED in your stash!

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Great Day | Dust It Off Challenge | May Homemade Kit

Hi everyone! Today I am back with another layout from my homemade kit to share. For this one, I decided to go busy! I wanted to use up as many paper scraps and embellishments from my kit as I could, especially some of the buttons I had included (but barely touched). Besides using lots of materials, I also wanted to use lots of photos; so I printed off six photos that I had taken around the venue at the Cocoa Vanilla Studio retreat last year.

I started my layout with white cardstock and some acrylic paint. In order to keep my layout from being too busy, I knew I had to keep the focal area of the layout fairly tight, and then leave plenty of negative space around the page for the eye to rest. 

I chose light pink and light grey paints, and used my silicone spatula to simply smear the paints onto the page. Once dry, I used one of my favourite stencils, called Rose Bouquet from StencilGirl, and some Vicki Boutin gold glaze to add some subtle floral detail over the top of the paint.  

Once I worked out the rough placement for my photos, I then set to work with a pile of scrap paper to create some layers. There was very little method to this part of my process - I just cut the papers (Crate Paper & Heidi Swapp) into different sized pieces and stuck them down on the page. I also added a couple of small green paper doilies, before sticking my photos down on top.

Once I had the background layers and my photos in place, it was simply a matter of going back and adding some embellishments. I began with a small chipboard frame, which I cut in half and tucked in behind my photos on either side. 

I then added an assortment of bits and pieces - Heidi Swapp die cut acrylic pieces; Cocoa Vanilla Studio buttons and flair button; and stickers and die cuts from Crate Paper, Websters's Pages and the Reject Shop. 

I finished off with some handwritten journalling and a few splatters of green mist. Despite how busy it is, I think I managed to balance it with a good use of negative space so it wasn't too overwhelming. 

I could probably squeeze another layout or two (or maybe even some cards) out of the remnants of my kit. I think I am up to about 8 so far? Not bad considering these were mainly older products from my stash.

I think I might be due to make a fresh kit soon - if you have any suggestions of what you would like to see me include, let me know. 

Until next time, happy scrapping! X

Living the Dream | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi friends! Popping in today to share a recent layout I created for Cocoa Vanilla Studio using the 'Unforgettable' collection and some photos of my gorgeous girl at the beach. As my daughter gets older (she’s now 12), I am finding it increasingly difficult to get photos of her, as she doesn’t enjoy posing for me as much as she used to. (Unless she is dressed up in a costume, but that’s a whole other story!) So you can imagine my delight when I managed to capture these photos of her, and I couldn’t wait to scrap them.

I chose to use the ‘Unforgettable’ collection because I just can’t pass up the opportunity to create something gorgeous and girly whenever I have the chance. I began my page with one of my favourite papers from the collection – the fabulous aqua diagonal stripe print on the reverse of the Sprightly paper. Instead of keeping the sheet as a whole, I decided to add some extra interest by cutting off a strip along the left edge and flipping it over to reveal the abstract watercolour pattern on the other side. Before re-joining the two, I also added a narrow strip of the Unscripted paper between them. I also distressed the edges of the joins slightly to add some extra texture.

With my page base constructed, it was then time to create a focal area for my layout. I layered several smaller pieces of paper (Sprightly; Garland; and Pretty Bits) to form a mat for my photos, adding some cardboard behind the left photo to lift it up a little higher than the other. Then it was time to play with some pretties!

I decided on three main embellishment clusters placed in the bottom left, top right and bottom right corners of my photo mat. Beginning with the top right cluster, I used a die cut circular frame and a large floral piece from the Die Cut Ephemera pack as the anchors for the cluster. It was at this point that I realised I really needed to draw in the stunning blue colour of the water in my photos. Unfortunately, this colour didn’t feature in the collection so I had to come up with another solution. I found a small floral cut file called Flower Bunch (designed by Paige Evans) that I had cut previously, and coloured it using watercolour paints.

Once dry, I cut it into three pieces so that I could use a portion of it in each cluster. I tucked the largest of the three pieces in underneath the die cuts I had started my first cluster with. I then added two smaller die cut flowers; and a small tab and phrase from the Accessory Sticker sheet. I then finished the cluster with a beautiful die cut butterfly.

My third and final cluster was to be my title cluster. I had already picked out the living the dream die cut from the ephemera pack for my title piece (it was an easy choice – just look at that beach on a perfect Queensland winter day). I added another die cut flower and leafy branch, as well as the remainder of the painted cut file. I used foam tape under the title, which allowed me enough room to add a watercolour style Clear Sticker under the edge.

I finished off with a small die cut heart alongside my title cluster and then some tiny splatters of blue ink scattered around my page.

Thanks so much for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get some supplies out and create something pretty too. (Besides, we all need to make room for the new ‘Daydream’ collection coming soon, right?!)

Until next time, happy scrapping! X