Cocoa Vanilla Studio: The Sweet Life!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for some super pretty Cocoa Vanilla Studio: UNFORGETTABLE inspiration! 

This week the Design Team have been asked to create scrapbook pages that feature pattern paper as the background - so no white cardstock! 

We're aptly calling it 'white out' week! 

Here's what I came up with.....

"The Sweet Life" 

Sweet indeed! What a delightful page!

You'll spy that I used the beautiful woodgrain paper, CV-UF008 NATURAL BEAUTY as my background paper. However, once I started looking at all those pretty papers I just couldn't stop at one - so.much.gorgeousness! Naturally, there are lots of pretty pattern papers featured on my layout today! 

Let's take a better look....

Isn't this just gorgeous?!! 

And truly, life couldn't be any sweeter with my two darlings!

To the top of my layout, I added a one inch strip of that divine floral, CV-UF001 GLORIOUS. This paper makes me swoon every single time I lay eyes on it! Such a stunning floral design! And speaking of florals, I used that coordinating floral swag DIE CUT EPHEMERA piece to embellish the GLORIOUS trim, and act as an anchor for my title and overall design.

My large title is a digital cut file courtesy of Cut To You, and I have backed it with a few of the 6 x 8 PAPER PAD papers. 'The Sweet Life'  papers happen to be the smaller variation of the B-side designs to CV-UF003 GARLAND and CV-UF005 LACEWING. Love!!! 

The 6 x 8 PAPER PAD is the perfect choice for backing cut files with!

I embellished my larger title with a few carefully selected pieces, the first of which was my photo cluster. I tucked my photo just beneath the edge of my title and attached them together with the 'treasured' ACCESSORY STICKER. I used another sticker beneath my photo, as well as a DIE CUT EPHEMERA tab to support my photograph. 

Here's a closer look for you...

The Cocoa Vanilla Studio FLAIR BUTTONS are always amazing, and I added that sweet camera one to complete the look.

To balance my black & white photo on such a colourful page, and create that second point of interest to the title, I foam mounted that sweet DIE CUT EPHEMERA camera embellishment. Subtle, simple but so effective!

In keeping with the rule of three, and the sweet camera embellishments, I also featured the pretty black camera ACCESSORY STICKER. So cute!

The final adornment to that big title is the fussy cut the florals from pattern paper, CV-UF003 GARLAND. I foam mounted them just below the title, and ensured that they reflected the swag at the top of the page too. This really added that wow factor to my overall design.

The CV-UF008 NATURAL BEAUTY paper is so stunning that I had to use both sides of it. The pretty B-side (that striking black & white foliage print) trims the base of my layout. I ensured that the GARLAND floral arrangement overlapped this trim & in turn, created a more cohesive design. For a polished look I added the 'best things in life...' sentiment ACCESSORY STICKER and a good sprinkle of ENAMEL DOTS.

And there you have it! 

Beautiful, classic creating that highlights the gorgeous UNFORGETTABLE pattern papers!

I hope I have inspired you to use more pattern papers in your projects this week!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Living the Dream!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration!

This week the design team are shining the spotlight on the gorgeous UNFORGETTABLE TASSELS & BOWS. I know, what a fun assignment! 

I couldn’t wait to get creating, and I even made a process video of this layout too!

Here’s what I came up with….

“Living The Dream” 

Swoooooon!!! The UNFORGETTABLE collection has my heart!

Such a precious & beautiful layout for my two darlings! Living the dream indeed!

And nothing says ‘dream’ quite like a dreamcatcher, right? I couldn’t resist suspending the TASSELS and feather DIE CUT EPHEMERA pieces from that delicate cut file. So super pretty!

** Note: Cut file is called: Boho Dreamcatcher by Lilium Pixel SVG from the Silhouette Store **

Here’s a better look at my layout….

So very beautiful!

I started this page with a white cardstock base which I trimmed a one inch length off the left hand side. You’ll spy that I machine stitched half an inch of the beautiful woodrgrain pattern paper, CV-UF008 NATURAL BEAUTY to this side. Next, I fussy cut that darker based floral, 4″ x 6″ note card, from pattern paper, CV-004 PRETTY BITS. I trimmed this 4″ x 6″ note card so that I could butt the 6″ lengths together to create the appearance of a 12″ floral paper & then attached it to the back of the woodgrain trim. SO pretty! I love how effective this looks!

Before I adhered the Boho Dreamcatcher cut file to the page, I layered two of the larger DIE CUT EPHEMERA floral swags to the base, so that they would peek out beneath the dreamcatcher. I also removed some of the cut file feathers so that I could thread the tassels onto the cut file ‘strings’, and then covered the remaining cut file feathers with those amazing DIE CUT EPHEMERA feathers.

With the cut file prepared, I glued it onto the white cardstock base, but was careful not to glue the ‘strings’ down. By leaving the strings loose, I created a sense of realism as the TASSELS, and feathers, dangled from the dreamcatcher. This also created flow and movement, as well as soft dimension and texture! What a fabulous way to incorporate those darling TASSELS into my design! Here’s a closer look at those pretties….

They really are somethin’, aren’t they?!! And those feathers are just divine!

I embellished the rim of the dreamcatcher hoop with more pretty DIE CUT EPHEMERA florals, as well as a few fussy cut butterflies from pattern paper, CV-UF005 LACEWING. The larger butterfly is also fussy cut, but this time from pattern paper, CV-UF004 PRETTY BITS. I layered my DIE CUT EPHEMERA title, Living The Dream, over this larger butterfly & then embellished with a few of the CLEAR STICKERS too!

I framed my precious photo with one of the circular frames included in the DIE CUT EPHEMERA pack, and then foam mounted it to the center of the dreamcatcher. I love how the pattern on the circular frame reminds me of a mandala or, yes, you guessed it, the dreamcatcher! I just love repetition in design!

For finishing touches, I covered the ‘beads’ on the dreamcatcher cut file with those pretty ENAMEL DOTS, and added a tiny spot of journaling with the ACCESSORY STICKERS.

Simple. Beautiful. Amazing!!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my layout! 

Clearly, it was TASSELS for the win today!

You can see more in my process video for this pretty page HERE!

Thanks so much for watching!

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Love Here & Now!

Hi Creative Friends! 

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration!

Today I am sharing another super pretty page with the delightful HAPPINESS collection!

It's no secret that I adore florals, so when it came to documenting this photo of me and my puppy, I just had to use them all! 

Here's what I'm talkin' 'bout....

"Love Here & Now" 

So super pretty! Gimme all the florals! 

Love here & now, so much!

 If you know me, you'll also know my love for the color blue! Needless to say, I started my layout with the reverse side of the fabulous CV-HA003 GOOD VIBES pattern paper. Absolutely gorgeous! Such a pretty blue, and it compliments my photo background perfectly - win, win! I centered an 11" x 11" sheet of white cardstock over this paper, to create a white 'clean' background for my super bright & colorful page.

Next, I cut the fabulous bloom cut files from the exclusive HAPPINESS DIGITAL FILES which you can download from the shop HERE. I backed the leaves with the B-side of CV-HA004 FRAME OF MIND and the blooms with the pink watercolor paper from the 6 x 8 PAPER PAD. I positioned these larger cut file blooms in the left hand corner of my layout to create interest & anchor my open wreath design. DIE CUT EPHEMERA florals and leaves tuck into one another to form the remainder of the open wreath shape. I predominantly used pink and orange pieces, as these floral die cuts contrasted with the blue border trim beautifully!

 I layered pink & orange watercolor swatch CLEAR STICKERS beside the cut file blooms. I tucked my photograph into and beneath the cut file blooms, and over the CLEAR STICKERS base. Next, I foam mounted an ACCESSORY STICKER onto my photo. To finish off my photo cluster, I added the foam mounted DIE CUT TITLE (love) and a heart ACCESSORY STICKER.

I chose to extend my title with the ACCESSORY STICKERS 'here + now' sentiments, which I applied to the right hand corner of my layout.

I added the typewriter font phrases (also from the ACCESSORY STICKERS sheet) around the wreath to tell a little of my story, as well as more sticker hearts.

'Love You More' sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps, as well as some fussy cut butterflies from pattern paper CV-HA008 BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL are added to my layout for finishing touches. And there you have it!

Simple, bright & beautiful memory keeping at its best! 

You just can't go wrong with the gorgeous HAPPINESS collection.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my layout today 

& feel inspired to get creating!

Thanks so much for stopping by,

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo 

The Cut Shoppe: Go With The Flow!

Hi Friends!

I am so super excited to be sharing another gorgeous layout for The Cut Shoppe Design Team!

Today I am featuring the stunning Go With The Flow digital file with the very dreamy

 Cocoa Vanilla Studio Midnight collection!

"Love This"

Love this, indeed! Oh so beautiful!

Such a milestone moment as my (not-so-little anymore) girl earned her very first pair of pointe shoes! This momentous occasion had to be documented, and the Go With The Flow cut file was the perfect choice! The triangular segments dictate that your eye is drawn straight into the center of the layout, so naturally that's where I've positioned my special photo! 

And the best part? This is one of the many Freebie FriYAY files that you can download for free HERE

Here's a better look at the August Freebie FriYAY digital cut file: Go With The Flow 

It's super awesome, huh? I LOVE a good freebie, and I especially love how versatile this file is! It would definitely work for a variety of projects and themes - yay! 

Here's a closer look at it on my layout....

Instead of backing this cut file, I simply glue it directly onto my pretty ombre pattern paper background - the white against the pink is so striking & I think it really makes this incredible file shine! I then embellish the Go With The Flow cut file with sequins, Bubblegum Pink Nuvo Drops & those Cocoa Vanilla Studio Accessory Stickers. The stickers are the perfect sentiment additions to my layout. I also adorn the cut file with a flair button, chipboard banner & that sweet Bella Blvd bow!

Here's another view for you....

SO.much.pretty!

And such an easy look to recreate! Simple cuts, no fancy paper piecing and a beautiful result! 

Yep, Love This,  sums it up perfectly! 

I hope you feel inspired by my layout too! 

See more amazing cut files in The Cut Shoppe Etsy Store HERE

Thanks so much for joining my today, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Salty Kisses

Hi Happy Arty Friends!

Today I am sharing my very last Cocoa Vanilla Studio post for 2016!

What an exciting 12 months its been, with so many aaaahmazing Cocoa Vanilla Studio releases this year!

And 2017 promises to be even bigger and better again!!!

But for now, one last lil look at that gorgeous CVS Summer line, Endless Summer....

Here's my layout,

"Salty Kisses" 

So beautiful!

Just how adorable can these two get?!!

And seriously, 'Every Summer' is the same  - our home is full of sand, shells, and salty beach kisses!

Needless to say, that journal card from the CV-ES005 THIS & THAT pattern paper was always going to feature on at least one of my Summery layouts! Such a perfect match!

I have also made a real feature of those fabulous Colour Me Happy digital cutfiles!

I cut the geometric heart out of my fave woodgrain paper, CV-ES001 SWEET TREATS (reverse side), and I cut the other files in plain white cardstock. The heart is partly paper pieced with soft pink tones from CV-ES002 BLUE SKIES (reverse side), CV-ES005 THIS & THAT, & CV-ES006 SUNBLEACHED. So many paper pretties!!!

Let's take a closer look......

From the papers, to the embellishments and everything in between - Endless Summer coordinates so perfectly!!!

If you look carefully, you'll even spy that the 'salty kisses' journal card has a subtle hibiscus print on it - it's all about the details! And boy, do I adore this clever attention to detail!

Speaking of adoration, how fabulous are the Die Cut Ephemera pieces in this layout?!! I mean, flamingos and hibiscus blooms! Love, love, love!

There's also a gorgeous array of Woodies in the Endless Summer line, and I've used 3 for this page......

I've also used that sweet pink doily flair, which coordinates with that orange Woodie above it, & the paper piecing in the heart. Always about those small details!

I may have added a few mint enamel dots for good measure too.....

You can never have too many enamel dots, right?

I really must mention those pretty Blooms too! A gorgeous array of mulberry flowers to adorn any pretty project! Too sweet!

The XO cutfile is backed with that fabulous Sunbleached pattern paper, and then embellished with an ephemera heart. You'll also spot a few Accessory Stickers on my layout too.....

To make my photo 'fit' with all these embellishments and cutfiles, I've adorned it with Die Cut Ephemera pieces - including that sweet frame and subtitle, 'Summer Days'. I then added a few paper layers, and positioned that floral cut file beneath it all. Such a sweet photo!

As for that awesome background, well that's nothing more than a lil watercolour paint

& it only works so well because Endless Summer is soooooooo AWESOME!!!!

I hope my layuot has inspired you to get your crafty fingers on some Endless Summer delights too!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo