Shimmerz Paints: Hello Sunshine!

Hello February, & Hello Sunshine!!!!

I am so excited to be sharing another gorgeous Shimmerz Paints project with you today!

"Hello Sunshine"


Ooooooh!!! All the happy Summer vibes here!
Love this!
You'll spy lots of awesome Shimmerz colors here!
I took inspiration from the Dear Lizzy Hello Sunshine ephemera, and that fabulous (wave like) Elle's Studio washi tape! So cool!

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



I started by lightly sketching my sun and wave design, and then literally painted them in using those gorgeous Inklingz Paints.
I used Inklingz: Can't Elope, &  Meet Me @ Sunset for the sun, and Green Goddess for those mimicked waves. You'll also spot some delicate splatters using Inklingz: Beets Me & She Packs A Punch. 
SO awesome! I just adore this color combination!
I have mixed Dear Lizzy's Stargazer collection with Elle's Studio: Live Laugh Love line for this happy, Summer beach days page!
My chipboard title has been treated with Vibez: Jeni Be Bleu & Cold As Ice - love the two tone look!
Fab-u-lous!!!
I can't tell you enough how incredible these paints are to work with!!!!
Here's a few close ups for you.....

Vibez: Jeni Be Bleu is such a signature Shimmerz Paints colour! Isn't it gorgeous?!!

Here's a better look at those tiny Inklingz splatters.....

Gosh, it's just so pretty!!!

I ADORE Inklingz - the shimmer and high sheen on these paints is mind blowing! 

I think Green Goddess may be going on my newest favourites list!!! 

Spectacular!

And there you have it!

All the Summer Vibez!!!

Needing a lil Shimmerz Paints to brighten up your day?

Visit the store HERE &

Type AMANDA in the comments section of your order to receive a freebie!!!

Yes,  type Amanda = free paint!

Thanks so much for visiting! 

I hope I have inspired you!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: The Best Memories!

Hi Creative Friends!

 I am super excited to share my take on this week's colour theme over at Cocoa Vanilla Studio!
 There are so many ways to interpret this colour focus, 
but for me it had to be all about those happy hues in the gorgeous Hello Sunshine collection! 
The vibrancy of this collection has always made my heart sing & I hope my layout today brings you the same joy! 
But enough chatter, here's my layout.....

"The Best Memories"

Isn't this pretty?!! 
And whoa! Talk about all the colour!!! La la love it!
 This page was inspired by a sudden desire to fussy cut patterned paper CV-HS001 FULL BLOOM. The florals in this paper are just divine! 
I arranged mine in a crescent design, encapsulating my sweet photograph & then 'built' my page from there. To enhance those bright blooms, I created a watercolour 'path' for them to be arranged onto, focusing particularly on those sunset colours with a soft blue highlighter. I finished off my paint work with a few splatters too! 
This was tons of fun & I just love the end result! 
Let's take a closer look......

Those fussy cut blooms are just so gorgeous, and make the perfect frame for my treasured photo!
 As well as that fabulous mixed media base, I have also added a mix of WOOD VENEER, ENAMEL SHAPES, PUFFY STICKERS, & WOODIES to that top cascading section - love it all! 
But that wooden button with the coordinating bloom on it is my favourite! 
I mean, seriously, could it get any more perfect for my layout design?! So awesome!

As you travel around my photo, you'll also spy the introduction of FANCY BUTTONS, ACCESSORY STICKERS, & those super cute LITTLE HEARTS. 
I just adored the sentiment sticker, 'The Best Memories Are Here' that I chose to mount it on double thick foam tape and use it as my title. 
As you travel down a lil further, you'll spot those blooms (& leaves) in WOOD VENEER form - so good!
 Here's another view for you.....

Gah! SO much pretty here! And oh, that puffy heart!!!

Speaking of puffy stickers, I use 'the best' as my finishing touch to this sweet page....

Just beautiful! I have really enjoyed re-visiting the Hello Sunshine collection - it's so pretty!

I hope you feel inspired to get creating with Cocoa Vanilla Studio & colour this week!

Thanks so much for visiting,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Hello Sunshine XO

Hi Everyone!

Oh my goodness, I am FROZEN!!!

 Down here in Australia we're suffering the coldest Winter in a long time!

It's so very cold that it's got me dreaming of Summer!

Needless to say, on the one day that the sun did shine, we hit the rock beach

& later, I dived into my Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Hello Sunshine stash to warm me up ;)

Here's my latest layout with Hello Sunshine,

"XO"

 I know, where to begin? So many details and embellishments to drool over here! & not to mention, how sweet are these two on the rocks? Love them!

I also love that Hello Sunshine is totally gender neutral - it works so well for both male and female pages! I've combined the pattern papers CV-HS004 CHILL OUT (denim) & CV-HS005 SUMMER HITS (blue floral)  to reflect & balance both my boy and girl.  I love how well they partner up - just stunning! To 'marry' the two together, I've also used that versatile woodgrain paper CV-HS001 FULL BLOOM

I've also made a feature of my title with the XO Cut File which is included in the Colour Me Happy Cut File Set. Isn't it cool?!

Sooooooooo many pretty elements to this layout though, so let's take a closer look or two.....

Love this - yes, I cut those words, as well as 'fun times' from the patterned paper CV-HS003 HAPPY DAYS - they coordinate beautifully with my colour palette, as well as they 'fit' my story too! Such an easy way to add a spot of journaling!

Hearts seem to be a bit of a 'go-to' embellishment for me, especially when it comes to sweet photos of these two! There are quite a few varieties of hearts with the Hello Sunshine collection too! Puffy Stickers, Little Hearts, Wood Veneers, Accessory Stickers... And why not use them all?! 

I've also used a few Fancy Buttons in my embellishment clusters too!  (The doily and blue thread are from my personal supplies.) How glossy are the enamel and puffy heart?! LOVE!!!

I am really loving the Colour Me Happy Cut Files! Oh my! They're awesome! I've used the XO to create a real feature for my title, I've backed them with the denim look paper (Chill Out). I have also used the floral cuts to layer beneath my photo. I adore how the flowers are very similar to the ones in the patterned paper, the Wood Veneers and Die Cut Ephemera too!

Prettiness overload!!! I mean, those Wood Veneer florals are just darling!

How cool are those pattern paper layers beneath my photo? And those pretty ephemera blooms!!!

Another gorgeous cluster in the bottom right hand corner......

Loving life, indeed!

A sweet ephemera heart features this time, and its striped pattern plays to the XO cut files perfectly! The horizontal stripes feature, contrasts with the vertical page design, adding further interest for the eye. The warmth of the Wood Veneers and the Fancy Buttons add balance to my page, as they cut through the cool blues of the layout. Everything balanced, and considered. So easy to achieve this look when the collections are so meticulously coordinated!

Love Hello Sunshine, and feeling warmer already! I hope I have inspired you!

Thanks for stopping by today! It means so much xx

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Scrap The Boys: July Challenge

Hi Lovelies!

Wow! Can you believe it is July already?!!

Hard to say it, but this month signals the end of my 6 month DT term over at 

Scrap The Boys

I've had a total ball creating on this team, & have loved seeing everyone's interpretations of the challenges! Thanks for all the fun!

But before I go, here's the July challenge that you can play along with....

How fun is this?! It's such an open-ended challenge that it leaves so many creative possibilities....

Here's my take on it...

"Sweet Summer Days"

Isn't this just sweet, indeed?!! 

I've used Cocoa Vanilla Studio's: Hello Sunshine collection to create this by the seaside layout!

I adore how fun and playful this collection is, 

and naturally it's just perfect for Scrapping the Boys with!

You can view the entire collection here.

To see what my fellow DT members created, and to join in on the challenge fun yourself 

visit Scrap The Boys blog here.

Well, that's all from me today! 

Thankyou again to Amy and the DT over at Scrap The Boys

 for a truly fun & memorable experience!

Thanks for stopping by, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Studio Fourteen40: Sweet

Hi Creative Friends!

 I've been having lots of fun creating with the new

Hello Sunshine collection from Studio Fourteen40

Inspired by the recent Dear Lizzy visits to Spotlight, 

I'm stash busting from my endless paper supply ;)

Here's what I came up with...

'Sweet'

I know, how citrus sweet! Such a fun, bright page! Exactly what Hello Sunshine is all about; celebrating those happy-go-lucky moments in life!

Those new flair are just toooooo awesome for words! LOVE!!!

I've also teamed up the Hello Sunshine collection with some Bits of Glitz and those fabulous

Rounded Pine Lime Alphas too!

And that divine pattern paper, well that's Dear Lizzy! (mainly because despite her recent tour, this paper was as close as I could get to seeing her :(  insert sulking here. ) & this paper, well it just partners perfectly with Hello Sunshine!

And I can't buy more, unless I scrap my stash, right? LOL!

Let's take a closer look at those yummy Studio Fourteen40 embellishments....

How cute is that confetti flair?! 

Just adore that simple, but oh-so-fun design!

 I've featured 2 from the following set..

Hello Sunshine Flair - Set 6

You'll also note that I cut up a Hello Sunshine: Label,'Love this moment' to form a subtitle. And nothing like some sparkly Bits of Glitz: Disco Gems to bling it all together ;)

Here's another view, or two......

Another of those gorgeous Hello Sunshine flairs! But how cool are my photo mattes?!

I've layered the Helllo Sunshine: A Few Words and Hello Sunshine: Use Your Words {Laugh}  as an alternate to patterned paper - such a cool effect and really draws you into my sweet photograph! The contrast of the blue against those warm tropical colours is so contemporary & fresh - love it!!!

I'm also loving those Pine Lime Alphas!!! Check them out....

Big titles say it all!!! Love the modern font, & the lime colour couldn't be any better suited for the Hello Sunshine collection! So cool!

Hope you liked my first creation with the Hello Sunshine range!

I've also got a quick lil birthday card to share with you today....

 Isn't this pretty?! Just a simple Studio Fourteen40 Flair makes my card complete! Love it!

Thanks for stopping by today!

I hope you feel inspired to get creating!

*Don't forget to use code: KRAFTY (valid til June) 

in the Studio Fourteen40 Store to receive 20% off*

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

 Amanda xo

Imaginarium Designs: April Creations & a Tutorial

Hi Everyone! 

Welcome back for more inspiring projects with our favourite
Imaginarium Designs chipboard. 

Today I have a couple of layouts, as well as a tutorial to share with you -
so let's get straight into it! 

First up, I am sharing this stunning layout featuring me and the gorgeous Louise Nelson....

"Awesome"

How cool is this? An arty explosion of pop colour, style and fun! I love it! 

I've really tried to reflect a balance between both our different styles and personalities with this layout.

Bold and black, wire, arty and stylised - that's all Lou!

 Bright pops of colour, fun, hearts and sticker love - that's definitely me!

And as for Marble is the new black, well I think you'll find that Louise and I both have a thing for gorgeous materials and marble is one of them!!!

Two arty friends having fun and sharing our passion for creating.

And the chipboard? 

Well, naturally it's designed by the talented Loolabelle herself!

Let's take a closer look..... 

How striking are those frames?!! 

Black ink for Lou, and pink for me, lol!

 Layering chipboard in bold colours creates a stunning result everytime! Love it!

Here's another view...

The black and hot pink really compliment that marble pattern paper too. The paper is from Crate Paper's Hello, LOVE collection. And those really funky and foil stickers are from Typo.

The gold stickers were the inspiration for the gold embossing on the Callout chipboard.....

Love that sparkly gold finish! I removed the inner heart and inked that in Island green to also coordinate with the pattern paper. Really cool.

I had such fun creating this layout - it really came from the heart. Thankyou, Louise! 

Imaginarium Products Featured:

Loolabelle's Criss Cross Frame 1

Loolabelle's Callouts (4 in a board)

Frame for 60mm x 90mm Photo

Next up, I have this super sweet Summery layout of my darling boy at the Seaside....

"DOWN by the SEA"

Isn't this fun?! 

It features the stunning Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Hello Sunshine collection, and is just super cute for Summer!

I've combined some of my fave chipboards here to really 'build' a story in my layout. 

Let's look a little closer.....

Soft, matte, pastel baby blue ink for those sweet clouds, bold royal blue ink for the title, and a shimmery hot orange ink and mist combination for Nat's pinwheels. So awesome!

To make those pinwheels appear to be Summer suns, I used Kaisercraft: Tangelo ink pad, and then gave a double coating of Kaisermist in Yellow. You don't see the yellow, but it toned down the orange and added so much shimmer to the 'rays'.

And how cute is that cloud with the complimenting flair? Buttons are a really fun and playful embellishment to add to your chipboard.

Super fun, bright and happy!

Imaginarium Products Featured:

Nat's Pinwheels (3 in a board)

Down by the Sea

Four Clouds in a Board

And last, but not least, here's the tutorial I promised.

I'm not much of a 'special' cardmaker, but occasionally I have something so wonderful happen that I do indulge. This super pretty card is for my darling daughter on Opening Night of the Ballet. 

(She is cast to star in The Australian Youth Ballet's production of Mary Poppins - so excited for her & want her to feel our love and support as she takes to the stage!) 

She's only just turned 10, so I've used a pretty but also very contemporary colour palette and paper collection to best suit her. 

The card is designed to not only offer words of encouragement and recogntion, but also doubles up as on Off The Page keepsake. I hope she likes it!

"Shine, gorgeous!" card and keepsake

I know, it's so pretty huh?!

And it can be recreated in various colour tones & papers to suit your recipients.

Here's how to re-create it....

1. Ink the Emma Frame - avoiding the flourishes. I've used Versa ink in Royal Blue.

2. Coat the flourishes in embossing ink.

 I find using the refill nozzle much more controlled for small, intricate details, and you can tidy up the 'blobs' with the end of a pin.

3. Add embossing powder. Dust off excess with a stiff paint brush. 

Apply heat & set the powder. I used sparkling Gold Zing by American Crafts. 

4. Attach patterned papers to frame. I've featured the Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Free Spirit collection. You'll spy that it has flecks of gold glitter in the paper - coordinating perfectly with the frame!

5. Adhere photograph. I've used Miss M's last ballet exam practice photo, so it really connects with the card's purpose and meaning. 

6. Attach to front of card with double sided tape.

7. Embellish frame with blooms, ephemera, title/message etc. I've used the Free Spirit embellishments as they really do partner perfectly with the patterned papers.

8. Last, but not least, add a few rhinestone gems and pearls for finishing touches. All little girls love a bit of bling!

Voila! 

A gorgeous card that doubles as a beautiful keepsake Off The Page creation. Just stunning!

You can purchase that divine Emma Frame here.

I hope you enjoyed my post today, and feel inspired to get creating!

*Please be sure to leave a comment to go in the draw to win a pack of chipboard*

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo