You & Me | Charms Creations

Hi everyone!

Today I have a layout to share for Charms Creations! I documented a photo of my eldest daughter and I, taken when we had a girl's day together recently. We had such a lovely time, and I loved spending some one on one time with her!

I used the January 15th sketch from Stuck?! Sketches as a jumping off point for this layout. I didn't stick to it strictly, but I loved the basic design of the sketch, and used this as the basis for my page. Here's a look at the sketch, designed by Laura Whitaker...

I used the beautiful Pink Paislee 'Turn the Page' collection by Paige Evans to create this layout. I love the colours and the florals in this collection so much! 

I used a Charms Creations DIY heart as the main element in the cluster to the right of the photo. On top of the heart I layered a D-lish Scraps flair button, and a puffy sticker from 'Turn the Page' collection.

For the cluster on the left hand side of the photo, I layered a couple of the floral die cuts from the collection. As always, I created dimension within the cluster using foam tape.

I added my title to the layout using some foam Thickers from the Paige Evans 'Take me Away' collection, and then I finished it off by scattering a few smaller embellishments around the page.

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog today! Make sure you go check out the beautiful Charms Creations embellishments, and pop on over to the Stuck?! Sketches blog to find out how you can play along with their January 15th challenge!

Mandy x

Happy Girl | Vicki Boutin

Hi friends!

I’m excited to be back sharing another layout for the Vicki Boutin design team using her fabulous mixed media products and the gorgeous ‘All the Good Things’ collection! On this layout, I wanted to have a play with the beautiful VB acrylic paints, and I experimented with different techniques for applying it to my cardstock!

Because I wanted to add lots of mixed media to my background, I started off with a sheet of the mixed media cardstock from the VB Foundations Paper Pad. This cardstock is fantastic for mixed media layouts! I then started adding layers of paint to the cardstock, using various techniques. Here are the steps that I used…

1. I watered down the pink paint a little and then applied it to the cardstock using some plastic packaging to ‘smoosh’ it on;

2. Next I watered down the yellow paint and dripped it onto the page;

3. I applied the red paint over the top of the other colours using a VB stencil and the blending sponge;

4. I splattered the pink and the red paint onto the background using a small paint brush;

5. I stamped a flower in three places on the background using black ink.

I had so much fun creating this background, and I love how it turned out!

I added some layers underneath my photo using the ‘Pretty Words’ patterned paper, as well as a couple of the frames from the Die-Cut Frames pack. This adds some nice interest and a pop of colour behind the photo.

To create my title, I combined one of the beautiful gold glitter foam words with the lovely chipboard alphabet Thickers. I added some foam tape underneath the word ‘happy’ to lift it up and give it some extra dimension. I love the wow factor that the gold glitter Thickers add to the page!

I embellished the layout with some of the Die-Cut Icons from the collection and I finished it off with a few black enamel dots.

Thanks so much for joining me today! If you’d like to see how I created this page, you can check out my process video over on my YouTube channel…

Here’s a complete list of all of the products that I used to create this page…

Foundations Paper

Color Pop Acrylic Paint – Set 1

Stencils – All the Good Things

Stamps & Dies – Set 1

Watercolor Brushes

Mister Bottles

Blending Sponge

Vicki Boutin Thickers – Alpha/B&W Chipboard

Vicki Boutin Thickers – Phrase/Glitter Foam

Ephemera Cardstock Die-Cuts – Icons

Ephemera Cardstock Die-Cuts – Frames

Self-Adhesive Finishing Embellishments

Double-sided Patterned Paper – Pretty Words

Mandy x

All kinds of Awesome | Vicki Boutin

Hi everyone!

I’m so excited to be sharing my first layout as part of the Vicki Boutin design team!

My layout features photos of my beautiful daughter Abi, all dressed up for her dance concert at the end of last year. I absolutely love these photos of her, but when I look at them, it reminds me of how fast she’s growing up! I want time to slow down a bit! I must admit though, that I’m really enjoying the age that she’s currently at, so I won’t complain too much!

The Vicki Boutin‘All the Good Things’ collection was just perfect for documenting these photos! I used both sides of the Pretty Words patterned paper as the background for my layout. Usually I like to use a white or a light coloured background for my layouts, but in this case I really loved how the photos popped off that paper!

To start my layout off, I applied the Silver Creative FX Glaze through a VB stencil, to give the effect of a chandelier at the top of the page. Then while the glaze was still wet, I added some silver glitter over the top. I LOVE how this turned out, and it matched beautifully with the glittery silver dress that my daughter is wearing in the photos!

I used a couple of the cardstock die-cuts, as well as one of the paperclips from the On the Edge embellishments pack, to create a cluster underneath the photos. I used the one that says ‘All kinds of Awesome’ as the title for my layout!

I created a second cluster above the photos that includes more of the die-cuts and another paper clip. I adhered some of the elements in the cluster with foam tape to create some extra dimension and interest. I also used a couple of the die-cut frames to tuck in behind my photos as additional layers.

At the bottom of the page I layered together two of the journaling spots from the die-cut frames pack, and I added some typed journaling to the top one. This completes a visual triangle, along with the two floral clusters, which helps to direct your eye around the layout.

I finished the layout off by adding a few of the watercolor stickers, as well as an epoxy circle from the finishing embellishments pack.

If you’d like to see how this layout came together, you can check out my process video over on my YouTube channel…

Here’s a complete list of all of the products that I used to create this page…

Double-sided Patterned Paper – ‘Pretty Words’

Stencils – All the Good Things

Creative FX Glaze – Silver

Mixology Accents – Silver

Ephemera Cardstock Die-Cuts – Icons

Ephemera Cardstock Die-Cuts – Frames

Self-Adhesive Finishing Embellishments

On the Edge Paper Embellishments 

Watercolor Stickers

Thanks so much for joining me today! I hope that you enjoyed taking a closer look at my layout! I had so much fun creating it!

Mandy x

Precious Little Moments | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited to be sharing my first layout using the brand new Cocoa Vanilla More than Words collection! I absolutely LOVE this collection, especially the soft pastel colours and the beautiful florals! It's just so pretty!! I couldn't wait to start creating with it!

Here's my layout...

On this layout I documented a couple of photos of my youngest daughter Eleanor and I, taken a few months ago. If you're anything like me, then you're probably behind the camera more than you're in front of it. So when my hubby offered to take some photos of me with the kids, I happily handed the camera over to him, and I absolutely love the photos that he took. I think they beautifully capture the love between my daughter and I!

I started my layout off by covering the top half of the page with the Sketchbook patterned paper. I absolutely love the look of the hand-drawn flowers on this paper, and the soft hints of colour. So pretty! I also added a thin strip of the Darling Buds (reverse side) patterned paper under the bottom edge of Sketchbook paper, and I tore the edge of it to give it some texture. Next I matted the two photos with the Treasure (reverse side) patterned paper, and adhered them side by side in the middle of the page.

I created a little cluster of embellishments on the top left hand corner of the photo on the left. The cluster includes a label, a small floral cluster, and a little banner, all from the die cut ephemera pack. Above the photo I added a couple of the little word stickers from the sticker sheet as well as a little chipboard heart sticker.

I added some foam tape, and tucked a chipboard frame, underneath the photo on the right. This helped to give it some nice dimension. I then created a second cluster on the right hand side of the photo using a die cut butterfly, a flair button, and a chipboard heart. I also tucked another little word sticker under the bottom edge of the photo.

Underneath the photos I added my title and journaling, as well as a few more pretty embellishments. I created the title using a word from the chipboard sticker sheet, combined with a little banner from the die cut ephemera pack. I added my journaling to the page using my typewriter, and then I embellished around the title and journaling with some leaves and florals from the vellum accents pack. I finished the layout off with a few of the cute little enamel shapes.

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog today! I hope that you enjoyed taking a closer look at some of beautiful papers and embellishments in the More than Words collection! Make sure you keep your eye out at your local retailer in the coming weeks for this beautiful collection! I guarantee you'll love it!

Mandy x

Lovely | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Happy New Year friends!

Can you believe that 2018 is upon us already?! I'm excited for this year, and today I'm sharing a layout that I created for Cocoa Vanilla Studio using the beautiful Bohemian Dream collection!

We got a new little kitten just before Christmas! His name is Archie and he's such a playful and affectionate little boy! It certainly didn't take long for him to find his way into our hearts! I couldn't wait to create a layout dedicated to him, and the beautiful blues in the Bohemian Dream collection were just perfect for this page!

I started my layout off by adding some watered down acrylic paint to my background. This created a base for where I wanted to add my photo. I then added a strip of the Flower Child (reverse side) patterned paper down the left hand side of the page. I tore the edge of the paper to give it some additional texture and interest.

I added a couple of layers underneath my photo using the Abundant (reverse side) and the Gypsy Heart (reverse side) patterned papers. For my title, I used one of the beautiful chipboard words from the collection, which I adhered using foam tape for extra dimension. I also added a chipboard sticker that says 'special' above my title.

On the right hand side of the photo I added a cute little chipboard heart, and I also tucked a die cut tab, and some vellum leaves under the edge of the photo.

I finished the layout off by adding a few vellum butterflies and some enamel dots to the page. I also added some subtle stamping to the background using the 'hello you' stamp from the stamp set.

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog today! I hope that you enjoyed taking a look at my layout!

Mandy x

Joy | Charms Creations

Hi creative friends!

Today I have a layout to share with you that I created for Charms Creations!

On this layout I documented a beautiful photo of my three kiddies taken on Christmas day last year. Photos like this make my heart happy!

I used the Stuck?! Sketches December 1st sketch as inspiration. Here's a look at the sketch designed by Laura Whitaker...

I used a combination of Felicity Jane and Simple Stories products on this page.

Here are a couple of closeups...

I love the Charms Creations Music Note embellishments, and the chevron was the perfect addition to this page! I finished it off with a glittery gold chipboard star on top!

I used a Simple Stories chipboard word as the title for my layout, and I popped a Felicity Jane flair button on top.

I finished the page off with a few hanging baubles and some stars and snowflakes.

Make sure you go check out all of the beautiful Charms Creations embellishments!

Mandy x

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hey crafty friends!

Today I have a fun festive layout to share with you! For the next two weeks, the Cocoa Vanilla Studio design team are all going to be sharing Christmas projects using non-Christmas themed products over on the CVS blog! It's going to be awesome to see what everyone comes up with! For my layout, I decided to combine quite a few different CVS collections to create a fresh and vibrant colour palette. Here's what I came up with...

I documented a photo of my little nephew Jude on this layout. Last year was his very first Christmas, so it was a particularly special Christmas for our family! He looked so adorable with his little Santa hat on!

I wanted to have a large feature title on this layout so that I could include lots of the beautiful CVS patterned papers. I chose a cut file, and then backed each of the words using a variety of different patterned papers. Here's a list of the papers that I used (from top to bottom)... 

Totally Rad - Mix Tape (reverse side)

Bohemian Dream - Abundant (reverse side)

Bohemian Dream - Gypsy Heart (reverse side) 

Colour Me Happy - Leaf Litter (reverse side) 

You ROCK - Night Sky 

I LOVE how all of these patterned papers look together!

I added a couple of layers behind my photo using the Night Sky patterned paper from the You ROCK collection, as well as a frame from the Free Spirit Die Cut Ephemera pack. I also tucked a little tab from the Bohemian Dream Accessory Sticker sheet under the right hand side of the photo. I've been hoarding the gorgeous buttons from the Hello Sunshine collection for quite awhile, but I decided that it was time to pull them out and get them onto a layout! I added one on the left hand side of the photo, and two more around the layout the layout as well.

Up in the top left hand corner of the layout, I added a few embellishments from the 'You ROCK' collection, including a chipboard sticker, a wood veneer piece, and a star that I fussy cut from the Starshine patterned paper.

I created another little cluster to the left of the word 'little'. This one includes a 'Bohemian Dream' flair button, another fussy cut star, and another little button from the 'Hello Sunshine' collection. I love how those stars add the perfect pop of red to the page!

The CVS little phrase stickers always add the perfect finishing touch to a layout! I used one that says 'love this', which was from the 'Colour Me Happy' Snip-Its pack.

To add some more interest to the page, I added a few puffy stars. These were from the 'Free Spirit' puffy sticker pack, as well as the 'Hello Sunshine' one. I finished the layout off by adding a messy hand-drawn border around the page, and then lastly I added some black ink splatters.

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog today! Maybe you've been inspired to create a Christmas layout using non-Christmas themed products? Make sure you pop on over to the CVS blog for lots more Christmas inspiration over the coming weeks!

Mandy x