Cocoa Vanilla Studio: RAD Boys Rule!

Hey Friends!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio Design Team inspiration!

Today I am sharing a super fun, mixed media, grungy, boy page for geometric theme week!

I just had to use the awesome new BOYS RULE collection for this cool kid layout!

"RAD"

 

Whoa! Super RAD indeed!

I've opted for big impact with striking pops of colour, bold use of texture and all our AWESOME embellishments!

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

There are so many fun details & elements coming to play in this design! & I did warn you it was a grungy, messy, mixed media page! Sometimes it's good for your creativity to go wild - and what could be more appropriate for my Wild Child on the scooter, lol!

I've incorporated this week's geometric theme with the triangle pattern paper CV-BR005 MESSED UP (B side), and then followed through with fussy cut pattern paper triangles, and a triangle mask for all that texture paste! I even flipped the mountains DIE CUT EPHEMERA to mimic the downwards triangles! So cool!

I have used the reverse side of pattern paper, CV-BR001 HAPPY GO LUCKY, as my layout base. Apart from the striking black, I just love how it looks 'grainy' & distressed. Such a cool, textural look, that works so well with our edgy masculine creations.

I layer the pattern paper base with a variety of mediums. I start with aqua & lime pastes which I apply with a palette knife in horizontal strokes (to compliment the grain in the paper). I then build on this paste with the triangles mask & a white dimensional paste. I add white ink splatters, and then a mix of high gloss pastes (lime greens, & blues) using the mask as both a stencil & stamp. To complete the mixed media element, I add more inky splatters in both white & aqua.  

With such a dramatic background, I have opted for lots of black and white embellishments (and even use a black and white photograph) to cut through, and balance all that striking color.

Next, I matte my photo onto a mix of pattern paper rectangles - mostly my leftover cuts from pattern paper CV-BR004 FUN & GAMES, (see my previous creation with this paper HERE) and a torn white paper bag from my stash. I staple the underneath layers together through the center, to keep the edges 'open' to allow the insertion of DIE CUT EPHEMERA and ACCESSORY STICKERS. 

I attach the photo layers to my page, and then adorn my photograph with fun embellishments. I just love that cool CHIPBOARD PIECES label 'Fun & Games' - such a perfect descriptor for my photo!

On closer view, you'll also spy both DIE CUT & MISCELLANY EPHEMERA, as well as more of my fussy cut triangles directing your eye into my photograph.

The CHIPBOARD PIECES 'RAD' title is the final addition to my photograph, before embellishing the remainder of my page.

I know I say this every release, but seriously the FLAIR!!! SO good! Always so perfectly coordinated, and another fun way to add dimension to your layouts! #BoysRule indeed!

 

Loving that skull n cross bones DIE CUT EPHEMERA too! Such a cool accessory for our rough 'n' tumble, dare devil boys! And while we're talking all things EPHEMERA, how fabulous is that ombre blue 'AWESOME' subtitle?!! LOVE the inclusion of bigger words in the DIE CUT EPHEMERA pack! SO good!

For finishing touches, it's a few more ACCESSORY STICKERS, and a smattering of both CHIPBOARD & DIE CUT stars!

So.much.awesome!!!!

When it comes to scrapping the boys, BOYS RULE, really does rule!

I hope my bold page has inspired you to get creating with this super cool collection!

Thanks so much for visiting,

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

 Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Boys Rule!

Hi Eveyone!

Boy-OH-boy am I excited about the newest  Cocoa Vanilla Studio collection, Boys Rule! 

This collection is just the coolest boy line EVER! Yep, I said it, EVER!!! Infact, it's cool with a capital C! So easy to create with that I made today's layout in only 15 minutes!

** Warning - the new Boys Rule collection is not for the faint hearted, this is 100% Pure Boy awesome! **

There are just SO many reasons why you're gonna love this collection too!

But enough chatter, let's have a look at my first layout......

"Mr. Fantastic"

 

Yep. Mr Fantastic indeed!

So many awesome elements in this line, but I just couldn't get past creating with that incredible specialty paper first!

This paper is all kinds of amazing! It's called CV-BR018 LARGE DIE CUT & BACKING KIT and as the name suggests this is a pre-made cut file kit! I know, that's madness! So crazy good! 

Not quite understanding me, well here's a visual to what I'm meaning....

And you thought I created something special, didn't you? 

Well, I kinda did but mostly I just let the paper do ALL the work!

Seriously, this paper is just THE BEST! It even has the mixed media added to it already as well!

Now you can see how I made my page in only 15 minutes - perfect for those of us who are time poor. Or, if you want the cut file look but don't have a cutting machine. I said it before, and I'll say it again, this is the coolest boy collection EVER!

Let's take a closer look....

With the background taken care of, this layout was simply a matter of mounting my photo, and embellishing! My photo mounts consist of that fun striped CHIPBOARD PIECES frame, ACCESSORY STICKERS and mixed pieces from the MISCELLANY pack. I'm especially loving the raw woodgrain frame  - so edgy, and perfect for balancing all the black & white in this page.

 A mix of arrows direct you into my sweet photograph, he's Mr Fantastic for sure! 

I adorn my cool kid photograph with CHIPBOARD PIECES, adding both sentiments as well as dimension to the design.

As always, the coordinating FLAIR BUTTONS are super awesome, so I used three for good measure! Love them layered onto the cut file stars - so good!

And while we're speaking of stars, I just had to add more of them to this cool kid page!  

You'll find DIE CUT EPHEMERA, ACCESSORY STICKERS, & CHIPBOARD PIECES stars throughout my layout. As layering is quite the feature on this page, I even doubled up that Yeah Boy flag in keeping with the design aesthetic. I've mounted it on foam dots, and even popped a star in it too! Stars for the win!

Here's another close up of those awesome FLAIR BUTTONS! 

Nothing says Beware, Adventure Boy! more than skull n cross bones! SO cool! 

You'll spot the star one below too.....

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of the typewriter font phrases in our ACCESSORY STICKERS. I couldn't resist adding just a little journaling with them in the bottom corner of my page. I just love how everything works together so perfectly - it really is so easy to create with!

The CHIPBOARD PIECES are another new fave of mine! 

I love that they're not stickers and can be easily rearranged around your page during the planning process. Here's a closer look at that speech bubble adorning the top of my photo....

Pretty RAD indeed!

 BOOM! 

Super cool boy pages in minutes, that's what we love!

I hope my layout has inspired you today!

Thanks so much for visiting!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

 Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Discover Adventure Time with You ROCK!

Hi Creative Friends!

My turn on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog, 
& I have a super fun adventure theme layout using the fabulous You ROCK collection!
 You ROCK continues to be go-to collection for my Mister A for Awesome - it's just so much fun! 

But enough chatter, let's get straight into the good stuff!

Here's my layout,

"Discover Adventure Time"

Oh wow! Total awesomeness! 
You can see why I totally LOVE the You ROCK collection! 
With such a stunning black and white photograph, I really wanted to make feature of the black, white & grey tones within this line, and bring it all together with pops of blue. 
I think this colour palette looks so striking!

I have used the super cool CVS-YR002 IN LINE pattern paper for the base layer on my white cardstock, and embellished over it all. My sweet photograph has been double mounted with pattern papers CVS-YR006 RANDOM & reverse side of CVS-YR004 STRIPPED, then adorned with ACCESSORY STICKERS & that awesome RUBBER CHARM So cool!

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

A is for Awesome indeed!

So many fabulous embellies here! You'll spy WOOD VENEER & CHIPBOARD STICKER arrows to lead your eye into my photograph, as well as DIE CUT EPHEMERA adorning it all! More awesome ACCESSORY STICKERS, and those ENAMEL SHAPES scattered throughout - love it!

Here's the other side of my photo....

More RAD embellishments layered beneath and around my focal point. I have used stars, crosses & arrows as my main adornments, they coordinate perfectly together! 
The use of WOOD VENEER SHAPES really balances my page, and adds a touch of warmth and masculinity to this clean, contemporary design.

Let's look beneath my photo....

OMGoodness!
 The RUBBER CHARM are like my favourite embellishments this year! 
I truly can't get enough of them! To make this one even more impressive, I mounted it onto a CHIPBOARD STICKER for extra dimension! 
More cool arrows, and ephemera, but that striking DISCOVER title is actually from pattern paper CVS-YR006 RANDOM - love the cut aparts! And anyone who follows me knows that the typewriter font journal stickers are a staple item on all my layouts! So very cool (& a ton quicker than me typing my own, lol!)

Moving down the page, you'll spy that final cluster at the base - also mounted on a thin strip of  CVS-YR004 STRIPPED paper. Boys rule! Total perfection for my boy! Love the shine on those ENAMEL SHAPES too!

The embellishments in You ROCK are truly the coolest......

Yep, I love You ROCK for my boy!

I hope my layout has inspired you to get creating with this awesome collection too! 
Grab yours in the store here

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo  

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: You're Awesome You ROCK!!!

Hi Everyone!

Boy-oh-boy have I been hanging out to share my first layout with the totally awesome boy collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio: You ROCK!

This collection is just so much fun & I couldn't wait to use it for my Mr A for Awesome! But enough chatter, let's get straight into the good stuff!

Here's my layout,

"You're Awesome You ROCK"

Isn't this the coolest?!!
 The You ROCK collection is just so incredibly awesome that I just had to use it all in the one layout! Yep, you read correctly! 
You'll spy at least one of every item from the line on this page! 
The circular design really lends itself to embellishing and WHOA! Doesn't just scream fun?!!

Moving away from that mixed media feast and circle sensation for just a moment, you'll notice that I introduced small trianlges into the page design too. There's a method to my madness here!  
I've used a whole lotta stars for embellishment, and stars have very sharp angles which contrast against the circle design. By adding the opposing corner triangles to my layout, I've created balance and a little unity between both geometric shapes. It creates a more natural flow for the eye. 
I've used WASHI STICKERS and foam mounted patterned paper, CV-YR005 NIGHT SKY to achieve this look.

Back to that awesome circle now.....

Let's start at the center!

How fabulous is that Wood Veneer title?!
 From the rockstar font to the boldness of the size; this veneer means business! Let's get loud and shout it out! LOVE it!!! 
You'll see that I've mounted my title onto a foam taped, old school View Master film from the DIE CUT EPHEMERA packet. I love that it's been printed to look like a misted newspaper, and practice target - so cool! It really makes my title pop and be the central focal point for this design! 
There's a super cool CHIPBOARD STICKER arrow beneath it all directing your eye into my photo next....

With such a big impact title I kept my photo small, simple,  as well as black & white, to contrast all the other page elements. I've layered my photo with both sides of the patterned paper CV-YR005 NIGHT SKY, a tab ACCESSORY STICKER, the RAD RUBBER CHARM,  and even a strip of the WASHI STICKERS to support it. To the lower right hand side of my photo, I've also embellished with that Awesome FLAIR BUTTON, some black cotton from my stash, and another terrific DIE CUT EPHEMERA piece.
 Here's a closer look......

That's My Boy, indeed! SO cool! 
Check out those stars and ENAMEL SHAPES too!!!

Some of the stars in my circle are fussy cut from the pattern paper CV-YR001 STARSHINE, others are DIE CUT EPHEMERA, ACCESSORY STICKERS, CHIPBOARD STICKERS and even RUBBER CHARMS! 
(I warned you - I had to use ALL the things! )

Here's another look at the circular design and all those stars.....

Even the arrow has it's own star! Such a bold and playful collection! Loving it all!

And I can't go past that banner RUBBER CHARM!!! How incredible! It forms the first part of my title, and I LOVE it! It's mounted onto a small WASHI STICKER strip for a lil extra highlight!

Total Awesomeness!!!

And there you have it! 
My first creation with the super cool You ROCK collection! 
Hope I have inspired you to get creating with it too!

Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment - it really means so much!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 
Amanda xo