Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Precious Moment

Hi Cocoa Vanilla Studio Friends & Fans!

My turn on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog with another oh-so-pretty look at the gorgeous

More Than Words collection. 

This collection is so delightful and pretty!

Simply perfect for documenting my darling daughter!

Here's her story.....

"Precious Moment"

Isn't this just divine?!! 

Precious moment, indeed!

She was rehearsing at the Festival Theatre, in front of a number of VIPs including some high profile politicians! Such an honour, and quite the 'big deal'! 

She's such a beautiful ballerina! 

A truly fabulous moment to capture & record!

What could be sweeter than all the florals AND butterflies?!! 

I love this more than words! (see what I did there?! play on words, but seriously so pretty!)

I have used that gorgeous CV-MT007 DARLING BUDS pattern paper as my 12 inch base.  I just adore this paper; it's my absolute favourite and I don't think I'll ever tire of it!!! Floral bliss! On top of this base, I layer an 11 x 11 inch white cardstock base, and add some serious watercolor love to it! This second base is then layered with that butterfly cut file, which has been backed with the 6 x 6 PAPER PAD papers (Darling Buds pattern, and it's B-side). Over this cut file, I add my sweet photo & then embellish, embellish, embellish! 

*Sigh!* All those pretty butterflies!!!

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

You'll spot that I matte my photo onto another pattern paper from the 6 x 6 PAPER PAD, 

and then embellish the photo cluster with a VELLUM ACCENTS butterfly, FLAIR BUTTON butterfly, typewriter font ACCESSORY STICKER, & DIE CUT EPHEMERA tab & buttefly, as well as some cotton floss thread.

Such gorgeous adornments!

And speaking of gorgeous, how about that CHIPBOARD ACCENT STICKERS title?!!!....

Too precious!!! That chipboard is so beautifully crafted! Love, love, love this!

I also use more of the typewriter font ACCESSORY STICKERS beneath my title as subtitle descriptors, but it's those VELLUM & DIE CUT EPHEMERA butterflies that have my attention (and heart!).....

Simply stunning! 

Those gorgeous die cut butterflies were actually the inspiration for my watercolour base. I simply lightened the palette, and applied Shimmerz Paints with the packaging technique and a few splatters too!

And before you ask, the cut file is a free one from Paper Issues called Cherish Florals. I simply enlarged the butterfly to around 9 inches in size, and cut with white cardstock. 

The 6 x 6 PAPER PAD papers are just perfect for backing cut files with!

More Than Words really does make my heart swoon!!!

For that finishing touch, I scatter ENAMEL SHAPES around my cut file butterfly....

Voila!

A positively perfect story documented with the oh so beautiful, More Than Words collection!

I hope I have inspired you to get creating!

Thanks so much for visiting,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Paper Issues: March Scrap Soup

Hi Creatives!

Welcome back for more Paper Issues awesomeness with this month's edition of Scrap Soup!

This month's recipe challenge is super fun!
Simply feature the following ingredients (or more) to whip up your creation with .....

3 embellishments
6 hearts
2 patterned papers
chipboard title
stamping

 *Feel free to add anything else you need but your project must include those items*

And here's my layout....

"Happy"

Oh isn't this just the sweetest, and most dreamy girl page!!!
It absolutely kills me that she is growing up so fast, but boy oh boy is she a delightful and happy young person!
So very proud of her!

I have used the Echo Park Fashionista collection, and as you can see, it's just perfect for documenting our teen girls (and shop-a-holics too!)
You'll also spot the Open Hearts Circles cut file 



Such a fun design!
And, as always, the Paper Issues cut files are completely FREE!
You can get yours HERE

Now back to my layout.....

I  just adore this photo of our sweet Miss M! 

It was a silly out take, but the expression on her face is so happy! Love it! 

I layered her photo onto a few frames, pink tissue paper, and a doily. 

I embellish this photo cluster with a few die cuts and enamel dots too. 

I back the cut file hearts with a mix of pattern papers from the Fashionsita line, and embellish some with sentiments, die cuts and even tiny heart veneers. 

I wanted to keep the layout fairly 'clean' so I kept my stamping quite minimal. 

I repeat stamp the tiny XO in hot pink.

 (The stamp is an old roller stamp in my stash, from Kikki K). 

But it's that divine gold foil chipboard title that really adds that finishing touch to my page.....

Isn't that title WOW!!! 

The foil is so good that you could be fooled into thinking that this chipboard is possibly a mirror acrylic. But no, it is honestly chipboard!!!

And it has been hoarded in my stash for sometime now! lol.

So glad I used it on this pretty, girly page! Perfect!

And there you have it! 

My super pretty take on this month's Scrap Soup challenge!

Join us in the Paper Issues Friends & Fans Facebook group HERE to play along!

Need supplies before you get started?

Visit the Paper Issues store HERE

& REMEMBER: Use code AMANDA to save 20% off your total spend! Yayyy!!!

Thanks so much for visiting! 

I really appreciate your stopping by!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Paper Issues: November Take 5 Tuesday

Hi Creatives!

It's time for another super fun Paper Issues challenge - 

Yay!!! So.much.fun!

For my 5, I have used 

red, die cut, patterned paper, cardstock & title. 

See if you can find my items on my page..... 

Here's my layout, 

"You Are Magical"

Preeeeeettty!!!

I love this photograph of my daughter, I'm so glad I captured it!

She's growing up so fast - I just want time to slow down!

And yes, she truly is Magical to us!

I have used the beautiful American Crafts, Dear Lizzy: Stargazer collection, and really drawn on those sweet floral papers!

I have used pattern paper Pretty Petals, and the B sides of Make A Wish, & Falling Stars.  They coordinate beautifully together! 

You'll also spy some gorgeous embellishments......

The 6 x 12 Cardstock stickers are really fun, 

but it's the Magical Phrase Thickers that I am totally in LOVE with! 

Just look at that title!!!

Hey girl! YOU are Magical!

 Love it!

Hope you feel inspired by my layout today!

You can get all the Dear Lizzy in the Paper Issues store here

& REMEMBER: Use code AMANDA to save 20% off your total! Yessss!

Looking for more Take 5 inspiration?

See what our talented team has created here

Thanks so much for visiting today, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Paper Issues: July Swag Bag

Hi Lovelies!

It's time for the July edition of Paper Issues 

It's no secret that I LOVE me a Swag Bag or three! 

Here's what the awesome June kit looks like.....

Pretty awesome, huh?! 

I had quite a few left over pieces with the May Swag Bag, 

so I decided to combine the two to create a very girly and feminne page!

Here's what I created, 

"Love You To The Moon & Back"

Isn't this the sweetest?!!

Who would have thought that such a masculine looking Swag Bag could be so pretty and delicate?!!

Just divine!

The 12 x 12 papers & the doily are from my stash, 

(Pink Paislee's Fancy Free & Dear Lizzy: Saturday collections by memory), 

the acetate moon title and layered 3 x 4 card are from the May Swag Bag, 

& everything else you see is from the June Swag Bag!

I know, so much pretty!!!

Here's a closer look.....

Love that die cut and floral tag!!!

It's a lil hard to see, but check out the clear glass star pin behind my photo! 

Such a delicate embellishment!

And there you have it!

My take on this month's Swag Bag share! 

I can't wait to see what you create with your Swag Bag!

Missed out on the current Swag Bag? 

Visit the Paper Issues store here

& get yourself a 6 month subscription to avoid disappointment!

& REMEMBER: Use my code AMANDA & you'll save 20% off your total!

Looking for more Swag Bag inspiration?

See what our incredible team has created here

Thanks so much for stopping by!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo