Happy Arty Days: Off the page

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Elle's Studio: Document December: Prepping Your Album!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more Elle's Studio inspiration!

Today I am so excited to share how I've prepared my Document December album, as well as give you a few top tips & early glimpses too!

What can I say?

I just LOVE this Season, and Buddy the Elf maybe one of my idols, ha! #nogrinchhere

This year, I'm a little time poor so I've opted for a smaller, easier album to record this year's Festivities.

Top Tip #1: Selecting a smaller pocket size album will ensure that we don't get overwhelmed by the enormity of documenting the season.

Here's a look at my album with a few of my fave Elle's Studio Document December supplies.....

The album is one of those 4" x 4" Instagram pocket page albums, but it was a tad boring for my liking! No surprises then that my album preparation involved quite a bit of embellishment & decoration. I started with the book plate and spine of the album, and added the year with our Red Dipped Puffy Alphabet Stickers.

You'll also spot those cute candy canes from the Ho! Ho! Ho! Puffy Stickers and a heart from the Christmas Shapes and Dots Puffy Stickers. Super cute! I also glued pom pom trim (from my sewing box stash) across the top of my album cover. The tiny pom poms reminded me of snow and really added a fun & playful element to the cover.

And speaking of fun, I just loved decorating the cover! The Merry Christmas white acrylic was a perfect title & adornment for this year's album - take a peek!

I'm so happy with how this turned out! Simple, sweet and really pretty! Those stocking Die Cut Shapes are errrything! And of course, I couldn't just do the front cover - so here's a peek at the inner cover too.

Umm, okay, wow!

I may be completely smitten with the Document December Kit and this Season of Giving!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, indeed!

You'll notice that on my desk I have cut a whole lot of pattern papers to the 4" x 4" size to aid my album preparation. I have used both the Document December Kit papers, as well as one of the Noteworthy 12 x 12 Paper Collection papers too!

Top Tip #2: When it comes to unusual sized albums, it helps to pre-cut a bunch of background papers so that all you need to do is print your photo and add a sentiment and sticker or two!

Here's a closer look inside...

For the inside cover of my album, I combined the new Good Cheer Acetate Die Cuts with more of our Puffy Stickers.

Top Tip #3: To avoid the appearance of glue behind the clear acetate, I used the puffy stickers to hide the spots and help hold the acetate in place.

In keeping with my love for fabric trims and textural elements, I also added some vintage burlap lace & a couple of tassels from my stash.

I attached the tassels to one of the album rings, and while I was there I decided to hole punch the Good Cheer Acetate star banner and thread it onto the ring as well. For maximum impact, I also threaded the large Gold Acrylic Star onto this ring as it's embellishments galore for this mini album!

Top Tip #4: Hole punch Die Cuts & maximize embellishments with openings to use as 'dangling charms' on album rings. Great for adding interest & texture to your pages, as well as softening the appearance of the album rings.

And lastly, but by no means least, to avoid over filling my pockets I adhered the Gold Dec 2019 Acrylic to the front of my clear pocket - not to the pattern paper base card! Such a great opening page to my super sweet DD album!

Top Tip #5: Adhere larger embellishments to the exterior of your pockets to keep them from getting too bulky!

So it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for me! I hope my DD album preparation has inspired you to get started on your Christmas documenting too!

Thanks so much visiting,

Happy Arty Days,
Amanda xo

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Boys Rule Altered Clipboard

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back to my Happy Arty Days blog!

Today I am sharing a super cool, off the page number -

an altered clipboard with the awesome Cocoa Vanilla Studio: BOYS RULE collection!

This project came about because my sweet boy wanted me to make him something for his bedroom that also featured his birthday photo. And when your children ask to have anything you make on their walls, well, how could I refuse?!!

I really hope he likes it!

"Awesome" Altered Clipboard

Isn't this fun?!!

Such an awesome decor item for any cool kid's bedroom!

To start with, I just played around with a design for a 6" x 8" layout, and then once I was happy I rearranged it to fit onto the slightly smaller size clipboard. It was really fun working on a much smaller scale, and it challenged me to be really particular about my embellishment choices.

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

The BEST. Awesome, indeed!!!!

With that birthday photo being part of my son's design brief, I began by layering it with papers and embellishments to create a small photo cluster.

I apply a DIE CUT EPHEMERA frame over my photo, & then position this onto the denim look cut apart from pattern paper, CV-BR006 BOY STUFF.

I insert a few ACCESSORY STICKERS & apply a larger frame (from the MISCELLANY pk) beneath it all.

Next, I embellish the photo frame with that Cool Kid FLAIR BUTTON, and the 100% Boy ACCESSORY STICKER (which I foam mount for added dimension). I add to this embellishing with a few stars from the CLEAR STICKERS, CHIPBOARD PIECES, DIE CUT EPHEMERA & ACCESSORY STICKERS. The last adornment to that sweet birthday photo is the over sized, fussy cut camera from pattern paper, CV-BR006 BOY STUFF. Perfect!

I attach the photo cluster to the clipboard, angling it slightly off the edge of the board to maximise the clipboard space. I also want to highlight that it is a clipboard, so I 'clip' the top left corner of my cluster too!

With my photo taken care of, I now begin to decorate the board.....

I dress the base of the clipboard with pattern paper strips from, CV-BR006 BOY STUFF, & CV-BR002 STRAIGHT & NARROW. To this trim, I apply the Awesome DIE CUT EPHEMERA title with foam dots, and add another star ACCESSORY STICKER - because when it comes to birthdays, we can never have too many stars, right?! So cool!

I love the gold hardware featured on this board, but because it's SO shiny, it's a little distracting. I decide to tone it down a bit, by embellishing over it.....

I adorn the clip with fabulous King of the World ACCESSORY STICKER, skull & cross bones FLAIR BUTTON, and another star sticker - also from the ACCESSORY STICKERS. This looks a little more edgy, less polished & much more 'boy' - love it!

Travelling down the left hand side of the clipboard, I add a larger CHIPBOARD PIECES star, and then that double layered skull & crossbones. The double layer is so effective!

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

Awesome!

You'll see that I start with the CHIPBOARD PIECES skull first, and then foam mount the DIE CUT EPHEMERA onto it.Very cool!

Further left, & on the back of the clipboard, I glue the grey scallop DIE CUT EPHEMERA shape. This trim adds an extra layer and point of interest to the overall design.

Beneath the skull & cross bones, I add yet another CHIPBOARD PIECES embellishment.

This cool sentiment banner directs your eye back into the 'awesome' title & brings everything together. For final touches, I add one or two more stars, and a small journal with the typewriter font words from the ACCESSORY STICKERS.

And there you have it!

Simple, quick, boy decor that looks really AWESOME thanks to the amazing

BOYS RULE collection!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my project today & are inspired to get creating too!

Thanks so much for visiting,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: More Than Words for Valentine's Day!

Hi Cocoa Vanilla Studio Friends & Fans!

Amanda here, & I am so excited to be sharing some very pretty Valentine's Day inspiration with our new More Than Words collection. This collection is so swoon worthy! & with the big heart day tomorrow, there's still plenty of time for you to create this sweet Valentine gift and card set.....

Oh isn't this lovely?!

And it really is super easy to create!

I made my own heart wreath from cane strips, but you can find plenty of pre-made wreaths at florists, and gift stores. I gave mine a rough coat of white gesso, and twisted some soft pink wool around it to soften those edges.

The fun part is all the embellishing!

Select your fave recent photo of your Valentine, choose a sentiment (I cut out the Love You To Bits card from pattern paper CV-MT006 TREASURE ) and heat up your glue gun!

I arrange DIE CUT EPHEMERA pieces, CHIPBOARD STICKERS, & a FLAIR BUTTON around my heart and once happy with their position, I hot glue them into place. I string up the EPHEMERA feathers with twine, and dangle them from the base of the heart. I love the interest this creates!

I also layer quite a few of EPHEMERA pieces......

SO pretty! Those butterflies are just divine!

And the FLAIR are always so perfectly coordinated! Such a sweet gift!

Now for the card....

You make my heart sing, indeed! Such a lovely card to give to your beloved!

I start with a 6" x 4" white card, and use pattern papers from the 6 x 6 PAPER PAD. These smaller size designs are perfect for cardmaking!

I embellish my card with a DIE CUT EPHEMERA frame, and then adorn it with CHIPBOARD STICKERS, & ACCESSORY STICKERS.

Simple, but oh so effective!

And there you have it!

A very beautiful (but super quick & easy) Valentine!

I hope I have inspired you to get creating with More Than Words!

Thanks so much for visiting, & Happy Valentine's Day!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Paper Issues: February New Issue - Round 1: Let's Play Post Office!

Hi Creatives!

Welcome back for Paper Issues: New Issue for February!

This month's issue is....

Let's Play Post Office

Suggested ideas for this challenge are:
1. kids at play
2. use office supplies like binder clips, tags, push pins, postage stamps, envelopes
3. alter a clipboard
4. include stamping on your project
5. document a piece of mail or a love letter
6. create a layout about your latest Paper Issues package (either a photo of the box and/or the contents)
7. anything about Valentine’s Day/love

I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and go off the page -

I haven't done this in a looooooooong while!

So here's my creation, an altered clipboard / mini layout.....

"SWEET"

Isn't this the sweetest?!!
Love this pretty girl o'mine! Sweet indeed!
My ombre clipboard is from American Crafts, and it partners perfectly with Crate Paper's Hello Love collection.
Let's take a closer look...........

That bitty bow is from Cocoa Vanilla Studio & is just the cutest embellishment!

I am also loving that tassel banner at the base - very sweet, indeed!

Those brads are from my stash, I think they may be Echo Park?

Regardless, they are just a cute adornment to my clipboard no matter which way you look at them!

I used quite a few of 6 x 12 stickers for this alteration, as I just love the high end finish and sheen on them! And seriously, how adorable is that telephone?!!

So super sweet!

And there you have it!

My take on this month's New Issue!

Check out what the rest of our awesome team have created here

REMEMBER: Use my code AMANDA to save in the Paper Issues Store every.single.time!

Thanks for visiting,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Imaginarium Designs December Creations

Hi Everyone!

Today I am sharing my final projects for Imaginarium Designs.

I have been on this amazing DT for 2 years now, and have loved every minute of it!

With an enormous 2017 ahead of me though, it's sadly time to say goodbye!

So before I get all sentimental & misty eyed, here's my December creations.....

First up, I am sharing this pretty layout,

"You Are Amazing"

Prettiness overload!

I have used the stunning new Pink Paislee collection, 'Moonstruck' and combined it with our favourite chippies to achieve this delicate and girly page!

So soft and dreamy!

Here's a closer look.....

SO many elegant and pretty chippies here!

My sweet butterflies have been treated with Faber-Castell Gelatos in white and cotton candy pink, I blended them together a little to get colour variations in each one.

Those intricate flourishes have been coated in white Gelatos too! I have layered them over a couple leaf stencils adding more texture, depth and interest.

I adore the precision cut words and phrases, and this title is just exquisite!

I've coated mine in a classic, matte Gold ink - here's another view.....

It really is divine, huh?!

The gold also adds warmth to the right hand side of the page, and completes the rule of three triangle with the orange watercolour in the base paper.

Here's another view of the butterflies.....

So very pretty, indeed!

A gorgeously girly page for my darling daughter!

Imaginarium Designs Products:

9 Butterflies in a board

Kerri Flourish Small

You Are Amazing

My next project is quite different from my usual style, and serves as a bit of a thankyou to the team at Imaginarium Designs for helping me to grow.....

"Grow" Sentiment Tag

Wow! Told you it wasn't my 'usual' style ;)

Very shabby, and quite a bit edgy for me!

Lots of awesome chipboard and techniques to share too!

First up, I coated my large size chipboard backing tag in Lindy's Stamp Gang: Starburst Spray in Golden Oats, then while it was still wet, I rubbed some Lindy's Screamin' Black Banshee Magicals all over.

It looked just like my intricate butterfly......