The Cut Shoppe: Fresh Squeezed Summer Layout!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back to the Happy Arty Days blog! 

Today I am sharing a bright & colorful layout for

The Cut Shoppe!

At the moment it's Summer break in my part of the world - 

think balmy sunsets at the beach and sipping ice cold lemonade! 

My favorite time of year!

For today's layout I am sharing a lil Summer sunshine & warmth with the

 Fresh Squeezed Digital Cut File.... 

"Summer Days"

Whoa, talk about a burst of sunshine! 

This layout is a pop of bright, fun colors and just screams all things Summer! Yay! 

How totally awesome is the Fresh Squeezed cut file?! 

It comes in 2 sizes in the one download too (12 x 12" & 8.5 x 11")! Ideal for all your paper crafting needs!

For today's layout I have cut mine in the 8.5 x 11" size.

Here's a closer look at it.....

 

Love it! You can get the Fresh Squeezed file from The Cut Shoppe HERE 

For this layout, the Fresh Squeezed file was cut in white cardstock, which I hand colored with Shimmerz Paints. I actually used three shades of yellow paint: Spritz: Chick-a-Dee, Vibez: Sunset Strip & Coloringz: Lil' Yellow Skool Bus. These colors coordinate & blend together beautifully - they really make the Freshly Squeezed cut file 'pop'! 

Instead of backing the lemons with pattern papers, I choose to support the file with a messy, mixed media base. I paint a layer of white gesso, and while it's still wet I add a very watery layer of peachy pink watercolor paint. This creates subtle color for beneath the cut file. I also add lots of pretty paint splatters and droplets in the yellows which I sprayed my cut file with, as well as Shimmerz: Royal Red & Bubblegum Blast too! Messy never looked so pretty! 

I use Echo Park's Good Day Sunshine collection for my layout, as the colors in this collection compliment my photo beautifully (& there may just be a lemon ephemera or two in this line too!)

Here's a few close ups for you.....

So happy together, indeed! Summer break is the BEST!!!

I embellish the cut file with a mix of die cut ephemera, cardstock stickers, chipboard stickers and lots of enamel dots! 

Such a bright & fun page! 

The Fresh Squeezed cut file is perfect for documenting our Summer memories with! 

I hope you feel inspired by my creating today, 

& that my page brings some warmth to my Northern Hemisphere friends :)

Get the Fresh Squeezed File HERE

& check out more amazing designs in The Cut Shoppe while you're there!

Needing Shimmerz Paints?

Pop my name AMANDA in the comments section of your store order HERE

& you'll receive a FREE paint!

(no minimum spend, not valid with any other promos/code, & code has unlimited use)

Yay for free paint!

Thanks so much for stopping by today,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Pinkfresh Studio: Simple & Sweet Summer Days!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for more fresh & fabulous Pinkfresh Studio inspiration!

For today's post I am sharing all the 8.5" x 11" scrapbook layout love with the divine 

Simple & Sweet collection! 

Hope you enjoy seeing what I've created!

First up is this minty delight, 

" Beautiful, Happy Memories"

 

Beautiful happy memories, indeed! Aren't they just the sweetest together?! 

I just adore the simplicity of this design! So clean, and concise - all about my precious photograph! 

I am also loving that refreshing color scheme, and those pretty floral layers!

I start with an 8.5" x 11" base with reverse side of pattern paper, GOOD COMPANY (that mint color is just divine!!!), and I layer it with a 7.5" x 10" white cardstock base. I stitch the two layers together, and then build up my page. 

Let's take a closer look....

So much pretty here! 

On careful inspection, you'll spot the gorgeous Emerald City Liquid Watercolor (which I have watered down immensely) forming a striped, freshmint base for my photo cluster. To this, I add those blue floral Die Cuts, and a fussy cut tag from pattern paper FRESH AIR.

My photo is embellished with that fabulous STITCHED FRAME, and that striking DIE CUT black heart with gold foil dots. In keeping with the gold embellishments, you'll also spy scattered GOLDEN ACCENT PUFFY STICKER hearts.  SO good! 

I embellish the photo frame with that sweet PUFFY STICKER heart, and then use the PUFFY STICKER words to create my vertical title. 

For finishing touches, I stitch the DIE CUT labels to the top of my page, and embellish with a CHIPBOARD STICKER sentiment. Voila!

So cool and refreshing! 

 

My second layout is warm, citrus-y sweet & just screams Summer....

"Sunkissed"

Isn't this gorgeous?!

Summer days never looked so pretty!

I've kept with the soft mint highlights, but opted for a brighter color scheme with those sweet lemons! Most of the lemons have been fussy cut from pattern paper, LEMON LUSH, but you'll also spy a few DIE CUTS & a PUFFY STICKER too!

Like my previous layout, I have adorned my photograph with a fabulous STITCHED FRAME, as well as layered fussy cut labels from pattern paper FRESH AIR beneath it all too. So cool! 

Here's a closer look....

I've made use of as many of the yellow PUFFY STICKERS as I could, as well as scattering mint ENAMEL DOTS throughout my design too! I've foam mounted my gold foil DIE CUT title to add emphasis and interest to my page. 

To create balance, I anchor my design with that rectangle CHIPBOARD STICKER. I love how such a simple embellishment can bring it all together - just incredible! 

Such a pretty page for my pretty girl! 

And there you have it! 

My Simple & (oh-so) Sweet takes on 8.5" x 11" layouts for Pinkfresh Studio!

I hope they have inspired you to get creating with this gorgeous Summer line! 

Thanks so much for visiting today, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Pinkfresh Studio: Simple & Sweet Delight!

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back for more Pinkfresh Studio inspiration! 

Today I am sharing this Summery sweet layout using the fun and fresh, 

Simple & Sweet collection.....

"Sweet"

Isn't this delightful?!! 

All the lemony goodness here!

And I just love the peach, yellow and pink color scheme - so fun and playful! 

I start with a white cardstock base, and cover the top third of the page with that super cool SWEET LIFE pattern paper. 

Next, I layer my photograph onto a STITCHED FRAME,  a few off cuts from pattern paper HAPPY LIFE, as well as a few EPHEMERA DIE CUTS. 

I position this photo cluster onto the SWEET LIFE paper, and have the remainder of my design cascade beneath the photo. 

The main section of this 'cascading' path is created with fussy cuts from pattern paper, FRESH AIR. I just adore this ticket style paper, and had to make a feature out of those labels/sentiments and tickets! 

I use foam dots to make the grow your dreams sentiment really pop.

For added interest, I embellish the FRESH AIR cuts with CHIPBOARD STICKERS, EPHEMERA, PUFFY & EPOXY STICKERS.

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

SO much sweetness!!! You just can't can wrong with lemons! Follow your bliss, indeed! 

For finishing touches, I embellish my darling photograph with a larger EPOXY STICKER....

Totally gorgeous!

Everything about this page is oh-so-sweet!!!

Simple & Sweet, that is! ;)

I hope I have inspired you to get creating with this collection too!

Thanks so much for visiting, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Pinkfresh Studio: Summer is....Simple & Sweet!

Hi Creative Friends! 

Welcome back to the Happy Arty Days blog!

Today I am super excited to share my first creations with the gorgeous new 

Pinkfresh Studio: Simple & Sweet collection! 

From it's soft pastel colors, to the florals and lemons, this collection is ALL the dreamy Summer vibes! I LOVE it all! 

Documenting those Summer Memories never looked so pretty!

But enough chatter, let's see what I am talking about,

Here's what I've created......

"Happy Thoughts"

*Sigh* Isn't this dreamy?! 

Such a soft and pretty page to highlight those beach memories! All the Happy Thoughts for this moment - so precious! I adore pages that feature large amounts of white space and just a pop of color to draw you in! Inspired by both the blue in my photograph, and in the Simple & Sweet collection, I decided to create the softest blue color wash beneath my photo cluster. To do this, I start my layout with white watercolor cardstock and apply a very small amount of highly diluted Pinkfresh Studio Liquid Watercolors: Sky Blue with my paintbrush. I added the tiniest amount of diluted Bubblegum Pink droplets to this base and allow to dry. I love the subtly of this type of watercolor painting. It doesn't draw your attention away from my photo; instead it gently enhances! 

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

SO pretty!!!

Once it's dry, I begin to build up my layers onto which my photograph will be positioned. I start with a couple cut file / die cut leaf flourishes in white cardstock. These are just an added textural element to my otherwise very clean design. Onto the leaves, I add a variety of EPHEMERA lemons and floral DIE CUTS. I also add a small section of border punched, hand colored (with Liquid Watercolors in Aquamarine) trim, as well as a few sheets of pink tissue wrap. I position my photo on top of the tissue layers, and continue to embellish. I use the CHIPBOARD STICKERS Happy Thoughts sticker as my title, as well as the CHIPBOARD chevron arrows to adorn my page. A few more pieces of EPHEMERA to decorate the photo cluster, as well as white cotton thread for more of that gentle texture!  

For a more polished look, I embellish with soft pink ENAMEL DOTS & that divine mint green happy EPOXY STICKER. So.much.prettiness!!!

To complete my page as well as add more balance to my design, I include a few page defining details to the bottom right hand side of my layout.....

The CHIPBOARD STICKER sentiment was the perfect lil spot of journaling, and the chevron, cotton thread & ENAMEL DOTS brought it all together! 

Simple. Sweet. Summer. 

Love it! 

My second layout is less simple and more about the sweet - the Summer sweet treats that is! 

"Sweet Memories"

Nothing more dreamy and delicious than Summer Gelati! 

And how divine is that cut file ice cream cone?!! Adore!

For this fun and fresh page, I use the reverse side of pattern paper GOOD THINGS for my 12" x 12" base. With such a bright and playful design, this paper is just perfect for my sweet subject! 

I trim white cardstock to 11" x 11" and machine stitch it onto the GOOD THINGS base. Next I create that super sweet ice cream feature.....

The cut file is called Ice Cream Cone & is from Paige Evans in the Silhouette Store, but there are plenty of ice cream digital cut files that would work for this type of layout (and if you don't have a cutting machine, you could simply draw your design on the reverse side of the paper & then fussy cut it out ;)  ) 

To back the cut file, I use the reverse side of pattern paper SWEET LIFE to create the appearance of a 'waffle style' cone. So cool! For the soft serve section, I use a mix of colors from pattern paper HAPPY LIFE.  I just love how this looks! 

I embellish the soft serve with a faux 'cherry on top' EPOXY STICKER, and trim the EPHEMERA ticket so it only reads ICECREAM , and glue it into place. Next, I decorate the cone with die cut EPHEMERA. I use foam dots to make my Simple & Sweet subtitle pop! Super cute!

I align my large cut file ice cream so it is positioned directly beneath the chevron arrow in the GOOD THINGS base. This subtle detail creates balance and harmony in my layout design, and compensates for the over sized, out of proportion ice cream. 

 

I use the fabulous STITCHED FRAMES with FOIL ACCENTS to highlight my sweet photograph, and embellish it with a few EPHEMERA blooms. I tuck my framed photo into the side center of my ice cream and then build the remainder of my layout around this focal focal point. 

With so much color already on the page, I opt for the White Mini Alpha PUFFY STICKERS for my project title. The white on white look is so clean and fresh, and it really creates such interest against all the pastel colors. Perfect! 

I complete the page with the EPHEMERA sentiment, and tiny die cut ice cream, a few GOLDEN ACCENTS PUFFY STICKERS, and a good sprinkle of yellow ENAMEL DOTS (cos sprinkles and ice cream are the perfect match!) 

And there you have it! 

My deliciously Simple & Sweet take on Summer! 

I hope my Summer themed pages have inspired you to get documenting those sweet moments! 

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo