Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Unforgettable - Love This!

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration!

Today I am sharing a super pretty layout with the beautiful new UNFORGETTABLE collection. You'll spy lots of fussy cutting, butterflies & blooms and,discover which pattern paper is my new favorite! 

But enough chatter, here's my latest creation with UNFORGETTABLE.....

"Love This" 

Sigh! Love this, indeed! Such a beautiful layout of my two darlings!

And as for my new favorite pattern paper? Well, it has to be that divine wreath paper, CV-003 GARLAND - gosh it's so super pretty!!! 

You'll notice that I actually used two sheets of CV-003 GARLAND to create today's scrapbook page!

I started my layout with GARLAND as the base, but wanted to do a little more to highlight it's magnificence. I loved the mint arc in the wreath, and decided to 'fill' inside the wreath with this very same colour (which happens to be the reverse side of - you guessed it, the GARLAND paper!). 

To fill this space, I used a Cut To You cut file called, Flower Circle and backed the flowers and leaves with an assortment of papers from the 6 x 8 PAPER STACK.  

Next, I backed the entire circle with the reverse side of GARLAND - I just love mint watercolor wash of this pattern! 

Here's a closer look....

As I'd already cut into a second sheet of GARLAND, I decided to make the most of it, and fussy cut the floral section of the wreath. I foam mounted both the cut file and fussy cut blooms, and adhered them to the layout. I positioned the Flower Circle in the center of the wreath, and layered the fussy cut GARLAND blooms around the edge of it. By doing this, it revealed the original wreath below, and created the appearance of a thicker & fuller arrangement of blooms. Gor-jus!!!

Aren't those florals just errrrything?!! LOVE!

I tucked my darling photograph into the top right section of both the cut file & fussy cut wreath, and embellished it with the 'smile' FLAIR BUTTON. Next, I fussy cut a large pink butterfly from pattern paper, CV-UF004 PRETTY BITS and tucked it beneath my photo. To enhance this decoration, I added two more butterflies around my photo - a CLEAR STICKER butterfly, and a DIE CUT EPHEMERA piece!

There's no denying that UNFORGETTABLE is the prettiest release of 2019! 

So.much.gorgeousness!!!

The new FOAM TITLE STICKERS are all kinds of awesomeness too! 

I curved my love this title around the outer edge of the wreath arc, and then embellished with a couple more butterflies...

For finishing touches, I added a tiny spot of journaling with the sentiment stickers from the ACCESSORY STICKERS sheet.

Simple, beautiful creating with the new UNFORGETTABLE collection!

I hope my layout has inspired you to get creating with some Cocoa Vanilla Studio lovelies today!

Thanks so much for visiting,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Technique Tuesday: September Memory Keepers Studio

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more inky inspiration with the September installment of the 

Memory Keepers Studio 
This month's set is all about documenting life's learning!
It's officially called,

Learn New Things Stamp Set and Rectangle Bookplate Crafting Dies Bundle

& it looks like this....

Oh what fun!!! 

Here's what Technique Tuesday has to say about this awesome set, 

"The phrases in the Learn New Things stamp set and Rectangle Bookplate crafting die bundle encourage us to keep expanding our knowledge and learn from everyday experiences. If you're scrapbooking photos of your child's school days, stamp these sentiments inside a die cut bookplate to make titles and captions that reinforce the theme. Try cutting this classically shaped bookplate die and faux fasteners out of metallic cardstock and it will look like the real thing! Use these stamps and dies about about life lessons in your own personal journals to document progress and motivate you too. Never stop learning!"

Awesome!

Naturally, I couldn't resist documenting my son's first day of school!
Here's what I created.....

"Hello, Brainiac"

Oh isn't this all kinds of awesome?!!

Work hard & learn new things, indeed! 

Here's a closer look for you.....

So Cool!!!

You'll notice that I cut the book plate die in white cardstock three times, then backed these cuts with pattern paper. Next, I stamped the 'Hello Brainiac' sentiment in black ink onto the pattern paper. I arranged these stamped cuts so that they appeared to cascade from my darling boy's photo. Super cute, & really effective too!

Using colored inks, I stamped around my photo cluster with both the school supplies icons and the 'work hard' & 'learn new things' sentiment stamps. 

These clear stamps are super crisp and print beautifully! 

I also included the 'dots' from the Rectangle Bookplate Die Set, and scattered them around my photo cluster too! That blue is just stunning! 

For today's layout, I combined the 

Learn New Things Stamp Set and Rectangle Bookplate Crafting Dies Bundle

with the Pinkfresh Studio Office Hours collection.

They're a match made in heaven, don't you think?!

Back to School documented to perfection!

And there you have it! 

Documenting those all important school memories made easy with the

Technique Tuesday Memory Keepers Studio!

Shop this amazing bundle HERE

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio & Retro Hip Magazine!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration! 

Today I am sharing a slightly different take on the Throwback Thursday post!

That's right folks! 

I have been getting my 'retro' on and created a Cocoa Vanilla Studio: MORE THAN WORDS delight for Issue 8 of Retro Hip Magazine! Yay!!!

Normally you have to purchase the magazine to see the full projects, but as a special treat for all of you, I have the editor's permission to share this wonderful layout,

"Sweet Thing"

Oh my heart!

Isn't this stunning?!! Throwback Thursday never looked so fresh & new! 

Such an exquisite page!

This layout was created for a special feature on how to make white space work for your designs. I just LOVE using white space to draw attention to my photos, and maximize overall design interest. I used one of my all time favorite Cocoa Vanilla Studio collections; MORE THAN WORDS, some light mixed media and a whole lotta fussy cutting to create this lovely layout. 

You can read the full article in Issue 8 of Retro Hip Magazine here, and by the way, code FRIEND10 will save you 10% off this issue!

In the meantime, here's how I made this beautiful layout....

I started with 12 x 12" white cardstock which I trimmed to 12 x 11 1/2". Next, I machine stitched a half inch strip of pattern paper, CV-MT001 PRECIOUS onto the right hand side of the layout. I used the packaging technique with Shimmerz Vibez in Pop Art Pink, and added a few splatters too! While this dried, I began fussy cutting butterflies from pattern papers, CV-MT003 GOSSAMER, CV-MT004 COLLAGE, & CV-MT006 TREASURE. I also fussy cut the sweet thing wreath from the TREASURE paper too. I then arranged the butterflies, with my sweet photo onto the peach watercolor base.

Here's a closer look....

I tucked in a few DIE CUT EPHEMERA blooms into the photo cluster, and added a DIE CUT sentiment banner onto my photograph too. SO pretty!!!

Next I added that fussy cut sweet thing wreath, and a CHIPBOARD STICKER butterfly....

So many pretty details!

You'll notice that I used a few pretty sequins from the Summer Morn' set from SpiegelMom Scraps, as well as a good sprinkling of the MORE THAN WORDS ENAMEL SHAPES. 

For the finishing touch, I fussy cut the sweet heart sentiment from pattern paper, CV-MT006 TREASURE, and layered it over one of the butterflies with foam tape. I just love how effective this looks!

Such a pretty page for my sweet girl!

And there you have it!

Simple, beautiful, elegant!

Throwback Thursday made fresh and pretty!

I do hope you'll check out my article in Issue 8 of Retro Hip Magazine for all my tips on maximizing white space for your scrapbook layouts!

**Oh, if your shopping in the Shimmerz Paints store, type AMANDA in the comments section of your order for a FREE paint! ** 

Thanks so much for stopping by,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo 

Hip Kit Club: Hello, Hello Sunshine Layout & Process Video

Hi Everyone! 

Welcome back for more Hip Kit Club awesomeness! 

Today I am sharing some inspiration with the August 2019 Scrapbook & Cardstock Kits! 

MY assignment for today is to feature an exclusive HKC digital cut file, add mixed media, and use either fussy cutting or punches. 

Here's what I came up....

"Hello, Hello Sunshine"

Wow!!!

Isn't this stunning! 

You'll spy a ton of fussy cutting from the Pink Paislee Paige Evans Truly Grateful collection, as well as those sweet bows from the new Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Heritage line. 

The cut file I chose to use is called Floral Globe and is a subscriber exclusive! 

& my darling photograph is framed with that fabulous Pretty Little Studio frame from the Indian Summer collection - LOVE!!!

You can see how this layout was created in my process video below....

Thanks so much for watching! 

I hope I have inspired you to get creating with these fabulous kits!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Technique Tuesday: September Scrapbooking Classics Products

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for more stamping fun as I reveal some more Technique Tuesday awesomeness!

Today I am sharing some inspiration with the fabulous
Remember When Scrapbooking Stamp Set

&
Oval & Rectangle Stitched Labels Crafting Dies Bundle 

What a super fun stamp set & die bundle!

The Scrapbooking Stamps & Scrapbooking Supplies Collections are really something! So many versatile designs to suit any style of memory keeping! 

 You can see more of these amazing products in the Technique Tuesday shop HERE. 

Back to today's post....

Here's what I created with the wonderful Remember When Scrapbooking Stamp Set

and
Oval & Rectangle Stitched Labels Crafting Dies Bundle 

"Cherish This Story"

Oh how preeeeeeeeetty! 

Who would've thought sentiment stamps could look so lovely?!!

Here's a better look at my layout...

Wowza! 

This is a super pretty look for stamped labels! 

I have combined the Remember When Scrapbooking Stamp Set

and
Oval & Rectangle Stitched Labels Crafting Dies Bundle  
with the brand new Unforgettable collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. 
By using inks in the colors that coordinate with the collection, I was able to soften the appearance of the stamped labels and create a really feminine and pretty page!
I used Scrapbook.Com Exclusive Premium Hybrid Ink Pads in the following colors:
Candy Shop Pink
Mixed Berry
Soft Lavender
Parisian Purple
Oasis
&
Black.
For the soft watercolor base I used Shimmerz Paints Spritz in Pink Stiletto.
Here's a closer look at my page....

I am loving those stitched labels!

I created them by stamping the solid label stamp in Soft Lavender, then stamped the sentiment in solid black ink & finally, die cut them with the stitched rectangle label die.

Here's another view of these fabulous labels...

Good Times Together, indeed! 

The perfect sentiment for this darling photograph and moment!

I also featured a lot of the sentiments in my background - you'll spot the best TIME sentiment in Oasis ink, and lots of softened down black ink sentiments as well! I even get a bit inventive with the trims too - check out the spiral flight path beneath the butterflies...

Such a beautiful & whimsical approach to using these stamps! 

And there you have it! 

September Scrapbooking Classics Products never looked so pretty! 

You can shop ALL the Scrapbooking Stamps & Scrapbook Supplies HERE

I hope my layout has inspired you to get creative with your favorite Technique Tuesday supplies!

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Hip Kit Club: You Are Loved Layout

Hi Friends! 

I am so super excited to be sharing my very first "blog" project for the Hip Kit Club Design Team! 

Today's inspiration is with the gorgeous August 2019 Main Scrapbook & Cardstock Kits, and features those fabulous Pretty Little Studio: Indian Summer Frames! I have also been challenged to incorporate some stitching into my project for some added interest and fun! 

Here is the layout I created, 

"You Are Loved"

Isn't this the sweetest?!! Loved, indeed! 

A really beautiful layout for my darling girl!

I started my layout with the beautiful Bazzill Quartz Cardstock as I knew I would be inclined to use the floral adorned frames, and thus create a very feminine page! I had the perfect picture of my sweet girl to scrapbook, and a very strong idea of the message and sentiment that I wanted to document. 

As she's feeling those 'difficult' teen years, I wanted her to know how beautiful, blessed & loved she is. The Pink Paislee (Paige Evans) Truly Grateful Mixed Ephemera & coordinating Phrase Thickers were perfect for this!

I selected the oval and circular frames for my feature, as not only are they adorned with florals, but are also gold foiled! Gor-jus!!! Also, the softer appearance of the round frames is just perfect for girly and delicate layouts! To bring further attention to those stunning frames, I embellished them all with my important sentiments. 

As my darling girl is my greatest treasure of all, I foam mounted her framed photo and layered it onto a larger arrangement of ephemera blooms. This emphasized her photo, and importance, to the overall design. I also used the picture perfect sentiment to acknowledge her genuine beauty.

Infact, when it came to the title & sentiments, I designed the layout so it would read, You are...blessed, you are loved, picture perfect, Loved. I hope when she looks back in her albums, she sees how truly beautiful she always was despite the awkward years!

For the stitching element,  I just couldn't resist adding a little whimsy and playfulness to the design with butterflies & their flight paths. I used butterflies from the Truly Grateful Mixed Ephemera, Truly Grateful Phrase Thickers, & even some fussy cut ones from the Truly Grateful pattern paper #5. For the 'flight paths', I simply perforated the holes with a paper piercing tool & then stitched it all with some yellow embroidery thread. 

I love how this turned out! So pretty!

F

or a polished look, and to tie in all those bright & beautiful colors, I trimmed the Truly Grateful pattern paper #14  into a 1" x 12" strip to line the top of my layout, and a half inch x 12" strip for the bottom. I adorned the top left corner with  Pinkfresh Studio: Just A Lil Lovely Mixed Embellishments, and then scattered a few more embellishments around the page. 

The gold glitter enamel dots are really somethin'!

And there you have it! 

Frames, Florals & Stitching with the August 2019 Scrapbook & Cardstock Kits! 

I hope you feel inspired to get creating with these beautiful kits today!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Shimmerz Paints September Color Kitz & Process Video!

Hi Shimmerz Friends & Fans! 

Amanda here, & I am so super excited to be sharing my layout & process video with the gorgeous new September Color Kitz! 
And oh my heart! The colors in this month's kit are just divine!!!
Here's a reminder of what the September Color Kitz look like....

Wow!!!

The Kit includes the following items:

• 1 1oz bottle of Keep Palm Vibez
• 1 1 oz bottle of the exclusive new color: Practice What You Peach Spritz
• 1 package of exclusive Dotz "Gingham Greatness"
• 1 jar of Wisteria Lane Shimmerz
• 1 jar of In A Jam Creameez

Simply stunning! 

If you're super quick, and really lucky there might be one or two of these Color Kitz still in stock - visit the shop HERE. 

Here's what I created with them...

"Cherish"

Oh my! Cherish indeed!

There's no denying that the September Color Kitz are perfect for all your Fall theme projects!

Just stunning!

My pretty layout actually began as a quick wreath painting that I shared to the Shimmerz Paintz Sharez Facebook page a couple weeks ago - you might remember it? 

Isn't this a pretty approach to testing your colors? So much more lovely than a color swatch! 

And as I like to say, when in doubt wreath it out!

I used the gorgeous Vibez Palm Reader for the leaves, Creameez In A Jam for the rose, the all new exclusive Spritz Practice What You Peach for the smaller blooms, and an array of tiny dot flowers with Shimmerz Wisteria Lane. 

With such a gorgeous wreath on my desk, I felt inspired to create another...

This time I painted straight onto my pretty pattern paper & used the beautiful Creameez In A Jam for the foliage. The blooms were painted in Shimmerz Wisteria Lane, and I added a few splatters for good measure too!  

I fussy cut around the original wreath, and foam mounted it onto the newly painted one. This created both dimension & interest to the design and also added some depth to the combined wreaths as well. 

Between the layered wreaths, I tucked in two of the Gingham Greatness Dotz - LOVE!!!!

I embellish my photo cluster with fussy cut florals from the Jen Hadfield, Along The Way collection and add a good sprinkle of the SpiegelMom Scraps Summer Morn sequins. 

Such beauti-Fall details!!!

Interested in seeing how I painted those wreaths, and created this layout?

Please watch my video on the Shimmerz Paintz channel HERE. 

Thanks so much for watching!

I hope you enjoyed my video. 

**Shop the September Color Kitz HERE**

Remember: Type AMANDA in the comments section of your Shimmerz Paints store order to receive a FREE paint! 

Thanks so much for visiting today!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Unforgettable Fall Layout!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration!

Today I am sharing my very first creation with the stunning new UNFORGETTABLE collection!

There are so many gorgeous papers and endless possibilities with this collection, and I wanted to showcase a few of them!

Here's what I created,

"Bloom & Grow" 

Oh wow! Isn't this just divine?!!

When I first saw the UNFORGETTABLE collection, I was immediately struck by the cleverness of Zoe Pearn - a floral collection that reflected both Spring & Fall! Florals and blooms to suit both hemispheres - sheer brilliance! I was also impressed by the whimsical & somewhat bohemian feel that UNFORGETTABLE evoked!

With Fall as my favorite season, I just had to create an Autumnal page for my sweet girl! Here's a closer look for you....

Gosh it's so pretty!!!

For that warm & outdoorsy feel, I used the lovely CV-UF008 NATURAL BEAUTY woodgrain pattern paper as my layout base. Next I added the two large concentric hearts to the center of the page. The larger heart is a beautiful vermilion floral pattern paper from the reverse side of CV-UF005 LACEWING. Did I mention it had my heart swooning?! Such a rich and elegant pattern design - LOVE!!! The smaller heart is cut from simple white cardstock. With a 'clean' white base, attention is drawn immediately to my photograph - perfect!

I positioned my darling daughter's picture onto a base of 3 x 4 note cards which I cut from pattern paper, CV-UF004 PRETTY BITS, and then glued the layers to the center of the page. For the embellishments tucked in and around my photo, I started with 3 larger fussy cut butterflies. These were also cut from the CV-UF004 LOVELY BITS paper (& yes, I used two sheets of this paper so that I could keep to my color scheme). Next I added that fabulous FLAIR BUTTON love this, & the two DIE CUT EPHEMERA pieces. And lastly, the CLEAR STICKER leaves tucked under the layers, and that super sweet butterfly to the bottom of the cluster. That smaller butterfly, and the others that you spy on my page, were all fussy cut from pattern paper CV-005 LACEWING - that paper may be my number one pick from this collection! SO incredibly beautiful!

Here's a closer view of the photo cluster details....

Simply stunning!

As you travel around the layout, you'll notice all the LACEWING fussy cut butterflies either tucked in or on the hearts. I include DIE CUT EPHEMERA blooms, foliage & even an arrow or two for added interest. CLEAR STICKERS also adorn the embellishment clusters and enhance the heart design.

The new FOAM TITLE STICKERS were the perfect go-to option for my layout title. The swirly font is super pretty, and the black foam is really striking on the woodgrain paper. I am also impressed with how easily they were to remove from the packaging, and to apply to my project. A new favorite product to the Cocoa Vanilla Studio range!

I arranged the 'grow' part of my title at the base of my layout, and adorned it with a couple of leafy fronds from the DIE CUT EPHEMERA pack...

Those FOAM TITLE STICKERS are really somethin'!

So many beautiful papers and embellishments!

For a finished look, I scattered a few white ENAMEL DOTS throughout the design.

Volia!

Simple, Timeless & Beautiful.

The new UNFORGETTABLE collection is breathtakingly gorgeous & will suit whichever season your documenting!

I hope my Fall themed page has inspired you!

Thanks so much for visiting,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo