Sunday 15 October 2017

Dream | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!

Today I'm so excited to be sharing my first layout using the brand new Cocoa Vanilla Studio Bohemian Dream collection! I absolutely love this beautiful collection... especially the dreamy colours, and the gorgeous florals! It's so pretty and feminine! This week on the blog the design team have all been sharing projects that showcase each of their 'signature styles', and today I'll be wrapping up this feature! I documented a photo of my eldest daughter Abi that I took when she was about 3 1/2 years old... Nearly 10 years ago! I love her beautiful smile in this photo, and the colours worked perfectly with this collection!


I included lots of my go-to techniques on this layout. If you take a look at my past layouts, you'll notice that they usually include most of these things...

White cardstock background 
Dimension (using foam tape) 
Embellishment clusters 
Visual triangles 
White space 
Layering 
Typed journaling 

I started my layout off by adding strips of the Abundant patterned paper (both the A-side and the B-side) down the left and right hand sides of the layout. I think this is probably my favourite paper in the collection... I can't go past a good floral! I used a border punch to add some detail to the strips. I then added some layers behind behind my photo using the Dreamer and the Gypsy Heart patterned papers (both reverse sides), as well as a die cut frame, and a doily from my stash. I also added some foam tape underneath the photo to lift it up and give it some dimension!


I created a pretty floral cluster on the bottom left hand corner of the photo using flowers from the die cut ephemera pack. How pretty are these colours?!! I used a word from the chipboard sticker sheet as the title for my layout, and layered this on top of the flowers. I also tucked a flair button into the cluster as well.


I created a smaller cluster down in the bottom right hand corner of the page to balance out the heaviness in the top half of the layout. This one includes both die cuts and vellum accents.


To create a third point of interest on the layout, I tucked a die cut tab and a vellum flower under the right hand side of the photo. You can also see here that I added a sticker and a strip of typed journaling underneath the photo.


I finished the layout off with a few enamel hearts and some stamping using the gorgeous new clear stamp set.

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog today! I hope that you enjoyed taking a look at my layout and you've been inspired to have a play with the beautiful 'Bohemian Dream' collection!

Mandy x

Sunday 1 October 2017

Dyan Traveler's Notebook Spread | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hey friends!

Today I have a traveler's notebook spread to share with you using the Cocoa Vanilla Studio You ROCK collection!


On this spread I documented a photo of myself with the lovely Dyan Reaveley! A couple of weekends ago she was teaching at the scrapbook store where I work, and so I was able to attend a class with her, as well as a retailer day. She was an amazing teacher, and I had so much fun getting messy and learning some new techniques with her inks!

The bright and bold colours in the You Rock collection were perfect for this photo, and by picking out some non-boy themed embellishments from the collection, I was able to make it work for this feminine page!


I covered the left hand side of the spread with the Starshine patterned paper, and then added my photo to this page. I matted my photo with black cardstock to help it to really pop off the page! I added my title above the photo using the Colour Me Happy Black Alphabet Stickers. I like how the pops of black provide a nice contrast to the bright colours.


On the bottom right hand corner of the photo I added a chipboard sticker from the You Rock collection. Before I stuck it down I peeled some of the layers off the chipboard to make it a bit thinner so that it wouldn't be too bulky in my notebook insert. In the bottom left hand corner of the page I added two of the little phrase stickers from the accessory sticker sheet. I stuck these onto a piece of white cardstock, and then drew a messy border around them to help them to stand out.


I covered the right hand side of the spread with the Experimental patterned paper. I love the mixed media look of this paper, and it was perfect for this page! To create the journaling spot I traced around my roll of foam tape a few times, and then hand-drew the journaling lines. I also painted a few of the little wood veneer plus signs with black ink and added them to the page.


I love these phrases that I cut out of the Random patterned paper, because they describe Dyan perfectly! Underneath them I added a little arrow chipboard sticker, which adds a little pop of yellow to the right hand page.

If you'd like to see out how this spread came together, you can check out my process video!



Thanks so much for joining me on my blog today! I hope that you enjoyed taking a look at my traveler's notebook spread!

Mandy x