Shimmerz Paints: May Color Kitz plus Process Video!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for more Shimmerz Paints inspiration!

Let me tell you,  The May Collection: Color Kitz is simply exquisite!!!!

If you haven't seen it yet, it looks like this....

Told you it's gorgeous!!!

Here's a better look at those sweet paint colors...

Swoon! Aren't they just divine?!

And how beautiful is the exclusive NEW color: A Bright Fuchsia Coloringz - LOVE!!!

Race to the Shimmerz Paints store to secure this limited edition Color Kit HERE

Here's what I've created with these beautiful paints, 

"Here & Now"

Oh.my.heart! 

For the love of color!!! 

The May Collection Color Kitz is swoon worthy to say the least!

Let's take a closer look at my scrapbook layout.....

Sigh! Such bright and pretty details! 

***You can watch how I created this stunning page in my process video at the end of this post***

To begin with, I sprayed the large geo heart with the beautiful new A Bright Fuchsia Coloringz. 

Once dry, I hand stitched the outline of it using the silver embroidery thread (which is also included in the Color Kit). On some watercolor paper, I traced around the geo heart with a pencil, and then painted up this heart with the super shiny Angels Kiss Inklingz, followed by splatters of Paradise Punch Creameez, Moulin Rouge Shimmerz & Vibez Mustard Seed. I cut this painty heart out and then adhered it to the back of the silver stitched, fuchsia, geo heart. Simple, but so effective!

Before foam mounting the pretty painted geo heart to my cardstock base, I traced around the heart with a pencil. Using the packaging technique with the vibrant Vibez Mustard Seed, I created that stunning base to layer the geo heart onto. For added interest, I also applied lots of splatters and droplets in Paradise Punch Creameez, Moulin Rouge Shimmerz and A Bright Fuchsia Coloringz. 

With my geo heart in place, I then embellished with lots of fussy cut blooms and embellishments from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Happiness collection. 

The exclusive butterfly stickers and You Make My Heart Soar Dotz were the perfect adoornments to add that finishing touch to my page! 

So super beautiful!

Watch these beautiful paints in action in my process video HERE

Thanks so much for watching! 

I hope I have inspired you to get creating with the beautiful  May Collection Color Kitz! 

**Shop Color Kitz here**

Til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Stay Unique!

Hi Crafty Friends!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration!

Today I am sharing another butterfly theme layout with the gorgeous HAPPINESS collection. 

This time I've taken some inspiration from fellow teamie,

  Anna Komenda ('cos she's one awe-inspiring creative!) 

& I just love how it turned out - hope you like it too!

"Stay Unique"

Wow! Isn't this super pretty?!!

I love a good grid design, & when I saw Anna using butterflies for the 'boxes' I knew I'd have to lift her design! It's seriously SO cool! I've mixed mine up a bit though, & created a fun new look with our beautiful HAPPINESS pattern papers, LOVE!!!

I started with the fabulous polka dot pattern paper, CV-HA002 SPRINKLES as the 12inch base. I used my silhouette software to arrange the butterfly cut file ( Butterfly Wings courtesy of The Cut Shoppe) into a grid design. I cut out all 9 butterflies and saved the 'off-cut' negative to create my background with. I trimmed the white cardstock 'off-cut' to 11" x 11" and then proceeded to back all the butterflies. I selected pattern papers, CV-HA009 MEADOW & CV-HA004 FRAME OF MIND and alternated them throughout the white cardstock background. I love how pretty the pink and blue/green silhouettes look! Simply stunning!

Next, I used a sheet of 'fun foam' to back the entire 11" base, before gluing it onto the SPRINKLES base. This gave my layout a little lift and added some subtle dimension too! With the base of the layout completed, the rest of the layout was all about my sweet photo and embellishments!

On the pink butterflies, I layered one of the cut file butterflies, followed by a fussy cut pink butterfly from pattern paper, CV-HA008 BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL.  

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

Simple and yet, oh so effective! Beautiful!

I chose to leave the FRAME OF MIND butterflies free from embellishments, as the detailed design on the pattern is just too pretty to cover, don't you think? That said, I did end up covering two of them with my CARDSTOCK TITLES, Stay Unique, but I tried to keep that lovely pattern visible. 

Next, I applied a few painty splatters of color in the center of the page, spreading out towards the butterflies. This subtle hint of colour breaks up all the white and adds that extra point of interest. Once dried, I built my photo cluster over the center butterfly....

You'll spy that I used the brush stroke CLEAR STICKERS (complimenting the previously applied paint splatters) beneath the cluster, & then added in some DIE CUT EPHEMERA blooms. I foam mounted my sweet girl's photo, and then embellished it with a DIE CUT EPHEMERA sentiment label & 2 pretty butterflies. I tucked in the beautiful sentiment from the ACCESSORY STICKERS, and finished off with that awesome FLAIR BUTTON.  For final touches, I added a few more CLEAR STICKERS around the page.

And there you have it!

Super beautiful creating with the HAPPINESS collection!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my project today, & feel inspired to get creating today!

Thanks so much for your kind comments & support!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Sweet Happiness Layout & Process Video!

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back for more paper crafting inspiration!

This week the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Design Team are being asked to Turn Old Into New again, and scraplift one of our very own older pages! 

Such a fun challenge to scraplift youself - but which layout to pick?! 

In the end I chose this pretty page from March of last year....

"Precious Moment"

Precious, indeed! 

Such a beautiful layout created with the divine MORE THAN WORDS collection. I just adore this page, and am especially taken in by the delicacy & softeness, the butterflies and all those pretty pattern papers! I simply couldn't resist recreating this layout with the HAPPINESS collection and twisting it to create a brighter and bolder edition!

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

"Sweet"

Whoa!!! How gorgeous is this?! 

Definitely bolder & brighter, but also super beautiful too!

I have tried to maintain the integrity of the original design, whilst giving the layout a completely refreshing and fun new look! 

Like the original page, I have kept with the pattern paper border, and large cut file butterfly with a layered focal photograph as the key design elements. 

You'll also spy a few additional butterflies scattered around the photo too....

My layout begins with that fabulous blue paper, CV-HA003 GOOD VIBES - such a stunning pattern paper! Next I trim the gorgeous wreath paper, CV-HA005 SO FRESH to 11" x 11" and layer over the pretty blue base. I use the 6 x 8 HAPPINESS PAPER PAD and CV-HA007 EXPRESSIVE pattern paper to back the butterfly cut file (cut file is called Butterfly Wings & is courtesy of The Cut Shoppe) & then layer this large butterfly through the center of the page. 

So lovely!

Similar to the original layout is my use of a single, black and white square photo. I foam mount this photograph, and position it through the center of the butterflies wings. I also fussy cut a few smaller butterflies from pattern paper CV-HA008 BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL, and scatter them around my sweet photo.

Speaking of sweet, I use the sweet CARDSTOCK DIE CUT TITLE to both embellish my photo, & as my layout title.

For finishing touches, I add a couple more butterflies - this time from the ACCESSORY STICKERS sheet, and a sprinkling of sequins (Happy Vibes sequin mix from Spiegelmom Scraps). Gorgeous!

A really simple & sweet scrap lift of my Precious Moments layout!

You can see how it all came together in my process video HERE.

Thanks so much for watching!

I hope I have inspired you to get creating today!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Mixing Up Collections!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more beautiful, memory keeping inspiration!

Today I am sharing a layout created for the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Design Team, 'Mix It Up' theme!

Think old meets new, girl meets boy - you get the idea! 

Such a fun theme to create with!

Here's my layout.....

"One Of A Kind"

Wow! Isn't this gorgeous?!!

I've combined the awesome BOYS RULE collection with our newest line, HAPPINESS. I just love how fabulously they coordinate together, despite their very distinct differences! You'll spy my fave pattern papers from the BOYS RULE collection, CV-BR009 GOOD TIMES, and CV-BR008 ENTITLED (reverse side) as the background for this sweet page! I love how the blue swirls from ENTITLED mimic the water, and the fun pattern from GOOD TIMES subtly hints at the sun rising behind the water. So cool! To add more depth and interest to this layout base, I also foam mounted the water.

That fabulous cut file swan (What's Going Swan? courtesy of Cut To You) has also been backed with BOYS RULE pattern papers.  You'll spot the reverse side of CV-BR009 GOOD TIMES, as well as off cuts from CV-BR006 BOY STUFF. The swan is also foam mounted for added dimension, & to really draw attention to my sweet framed photo.

 Here's a closer look at it......

Sigh! This is just the sweetest!

My photo is embellished with a DIE CUT EPHEMERA frame from the BOYS RULE collection, and carefully tucked beneath the swan's wings. Surrounding the swan, I tuck a gorgeous arrangement of floral DIE CUT EPHEMERA pieces from the HAPPINESS collection, and then layer a floral ACCESSORY STICKER over the swan for added interest. 

The final embellishments for that decorative swan are some ENAMEL DOTS from my Cocoa Vanilla stash (possibly from MAKE A WISH & MADE OF AWESOME lines) and a foam mounted, DIE CUT EPHEMERA title, One Of A Kind. 

Simple. Sweet. And just a lil lovely!

To complete my darling page, I adorn the background with a mix of sequins, ACCESSORY STICKERS, and DIE CUT EPHEMERA pieces that I position in alignment with the sunburst pattern from the GOOD TIMES paper. 

Here's another view for you.....

Mixing collections needn't be tricky if you just keep to a pleasing aesthetic. 

Simple design = a beautiful result, every single time!

The HAPPINESS florals are just SO beautiful, they make everything lovely!

And there you have it! 

My fun take on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Mix & Match' theme!

I hope I have inspired you to mix & match a few of your Cocoa Vanilla Studio supplies for a fabulous new look!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

til next time, 

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 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Loving Every Second Layout & Process Video

Hi Cocoa Vanilla Studio Friends!

 I am so excited to be sharing my take on this week's CVS design team fussy cutting theme!

I just love fussy cutting and the new HAPPINESS collection has so many perfect papers to snip away at! 

But enough chatter, here's my layout for today....

"Loving Every Second"

Sigh! Isn't this just divine?!!

Those fussy cut blooms from the CV-HA001 BOTANICAL BLISS paper are errrything! And I just adore this indigo, white, peach & blue color scheme - so, so pretty!

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

Swoon! Florals, butterflies, pretty colors and a giant heart - what could be more perfect for scrapbooking my two darlings?!

That indigo base paper is the reverse side of CV-HA001 BOTANICAL BLISS & just happens to be my favourite colour! So striking and it teams perfectly with the crisp white cardstock, and beautiful peach florals. Speaking of white cardstock, I trimmed mine to 11 inches square, and stitched it to that gorgeous indigo base paper. I layered the cardstock with the heart cut file, which I mounted with foam tape to create gentle texture & dimension. The heart cut file is actually the large die cut from the LARGE DIE CUT & BACKING KIT. Such an easy way to incorporate a cut file look without needing a digital cutting system! (and even better, you'll still have the beautiful backing paper left over for a future layout -  so win, win!)

Next, I layered fussy cut florals from the CV-HA001 BOTANICAL BLISS paper onto the large die cut. You'll also spy some fussy cut butterflies from CV-HA008 BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL. Gorgeous!!!

There are also some sweet ACCESSORY STICKER & DIE CUT EPHEMERA butterflies and blooms too!

But it's that sweet framed photo in the center of the heart that really makes my layout!

I love making my photos the 'hero' of my page. Ultimately, that's why I scrapbook. Recording those precious memories & telling our stories is so important. I used a DIE CUT EPHEMERA wreath to frame my photo, and then foam mounted it over the central layer of fussy cut and DIE CUT EPHEMERA florals. 

My title is also from the DIE CUT EPHEMERA pack, and positioned to the bottom left of the framed photograph. Beautiful!

 I embellished the page with sequins from my stash of our 2015 LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL collection. (I *may* have been hoarding these pretties) For finishing touches, I applied the typewriter font journal stickers from the ACCCESSORY STICKERS sheet. Perfect!

Simple.Classic.Beautiful!

Fussy cutting is definitely 'a must do' with the HAPPINESS collection!

If you want to see how this lovely layout came together, please watch my process video here...

Thanks so much for watching!

I hope my video inspired you to get fussy cutting with your favorite Cocoa Vanilla Studio papers!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Happiness Is Rainbows & Butterflies!

Hi Creatives!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration!

Today I'm sharing another bright & beautiful scrapbook layout with the gorgeous Happiness collection!

"Lovely"

Sigh! So lovely, indeed! 

All the rainbows & butterflies for the win!

I just adore the rainbow stripe pattern paper, CV-HA003 GOOD VIBES & it has totally inspired the color scheme for this fun and playful page! I use GOOD VIBES as my layout base, then machine stitch an 11" x 11" sheet of white cardstock over it. By only revealing the 'edges' of this paper it's bright colors aren't too intense & don't distract you from my photo.

Here's a closer look.....

Beautiful!

You'll also notice that I align the fussy cut butterflies from paper CV-HA008 BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL, with the colored stripes on the base paper. Everything in rainbow order - just the way I like it!  I center my photograph, and arrange the butterflies so that they are also forming a heart. I embellish the base of the heart with that cute DIE CUT EPHEMERA tassel & layered heart/butterfly. Cute!

Speaking of layered butterflies, I feature a few more of them in my design...

Two are ACCESSORY STICKERS that are positioned over the fussy cut BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL butterflies, and the other is a larger butterfly fussy cut from the CV-HA006 LITTLE THINGS pattern paper.

I have positioned this larger butterfly so it is peaking out from beneath the top of my photo, and have layered it with two DIE CUT EPHEMERA hearts. This acts as a focal point and really draws your eye into my sweet girl's photo! I also adorn the side of her photo with that So Fun FLAIR BUTTON. Love it!

To the bottom left hand side of my layout, I create a smaller ephemera embellishment cluster - including my DIE CUT CARDSTOCK TITLE, Lovely. I foam mount this title for added dimension & impact. Perfect!

For finishing touches, I add watercolor dots and use color coordinating DIE CUT EPHEMERA & CLEAR STICKERS around the rainbow heart!

And there you have it!

Rainbows, fussy cutting & butterflies - what more could you want?! ;)

I hope you're feeling inspired to get creating with the Happiness collection! 

It really is a whole lot of sunshine & rainbows to create with!

Thanks so much for visiting,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo