Epic Legend (Cocoa Vanilla Studio DT)

Hello again! I was up earlier this week with a layout for Cocoa Vanilla Studio that I made with the gorgeous new "Legendary" collection. I decided to finally scrapbook my amazing brother in law Blair, who passed away in October last year after a nearly year long battle with cancer. I haven't been able to scrapbook his journey yet, as its just been too hard, but this amazing collection helped!

I used a star wreath cut file by Paige Evans which I backed with papers from the collection and some vellum from my stash.

I had fussy cut lots of the stars from the All Star paper, and I placed the smaller stars around the wreath to carry on the "star" theme of my layout. The die cut words were perfect for my title.

I kept my embellishment very simple, because the wreath and stars did all of the work. I also did some very subtle machine stitching under the wreath to add some texture and interest.

You can watch my process video here, and hear my thoughts about scrapping a hard memory. Thanks so much

The Best - Confessions of A Paper Addict DT

Hello everyone! So happy to be back today with another post. This one is a bit sad, as its my last project for Confessions of A Paper Addict Cut Files. After a year (2 terms) on this amazing team I've decided to step down. So for my last layout I wanted to create a tribute to the amazing design team members who have become my friends, and I also wanted to thank the owner Virginia, who is amazing!!

I used the "Unforgettable" collection by Cocoa Vanilla Studio, which was perfect as I wanted a paper that was artsy that I could cut the "Wonky Hearts" cut file from.

For this layout I used the negative of the cut file, which is the hearts. I used the positive as a stencil and backed the hearts on foam for dimension.

Of course I had to include one of the design team announcement photos, as I'm trying to make an effort to get my stories scrapped too! You can watch my process video here. Thanks for looking!

Egg Mayhem! - Confessions of a Paper Addict Cut Files DT

Hello again!! I hope you're all keeping well and sane in this new normal. Yesterday we resumed distance learning for our older three kids, which has its challenges - but it is good for them to have some routine, and to see their teachers and friends virtually. Today I have a layout on my YouTube Channel that I created for Confessions of a Paper Addict. I used one of the newly released Easter Cut Files called "Egg Mayhem". Its a background cut file and was so perfect to scrap this photo of myself panic shopping Easter eggs at the Warehouse on day one of the 48 hours before we went into COVID-19 Alert Level 4 Lockdown. I was shopping for three families, and looked like a crazy chocoholic!!!

I used my February Hip Kit Club kit, and selected patterned papers with repeating patterns to back the cut file. I also used some American Crafts POW glitter paper in gold from my stash.

I used my water colour paints to colour match around each egg, and I love how it turned out!

This cut file didn't need much embellishment as it was busy enough. I used foam thinkers from my stash for my title.

You can watch my video here to see how I made this layout. Thanks for being here as I start posting more regularly, I appreciate it!

Rad Brother - Cocoa Vanilla Studio DT

Hello!! I hope you managed to have a lovely Easter, despite being isolated because of COVID-19. I'm back again with another layout I made for Cocoa Vanilla Studio. I was so happy to finally create with the new awesome Legendary collection, which arrived last week, just in time for my assignment to make an Easter themed layout. I was so happy to finally get this photo of Sam from our egg hunt last year scrapped.

I used a cut file from Confessions of a Paper Addict, appropriately named Easter Egg. I decided to challenge myself to use a boy themed layout with a floral cut file scrapping a nearly teen boy!! I was able to find several papers and some patterns from the cut apart sheets to back my cut file. The small repeating triangles on the background paper were perfect too.

I altered the die cut word "Brothers" to remove the "S" because Sam is our only boy. Don't be afraid to make die cuts and embellishments work for you!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my layout. Please follow me on Instagram where I regularly post everything I create :) Take care friends Melissa

Stay Unique - Cocoa Vanilla Studio Design Team

Hello hello!! I'm back after what probably seems like forever!! Firstly welcome to my blog to the new followers who have made their way here and stuck around despite my lack of posts, thank you for joining me! If you want to see more of my work, especially what I've made in the years I haven't been here, you can find me on my Instagram. My biggest scrappy news is that I made it onto the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Design Team for 2020, and I'm thrilled because I adore their product!! Today is my first creation for Cocoa Vanilla and I am using the gorgeous Happiness collection. I was hoping to create with the newly released Legendary, but due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, my supplies and still in transit. I've created a layout with the gorgeous 'Happiness' collection because my Legendary is somewhere in transit, slowed down by the COVID-19 global pandemic. I used the Large Die Cut & Backing Set and decided to be bold (for me) by chain stitching the heart in back embroidery floss.

The photo is of our gorgeous yet cheeky 3 year old daughter Ava.  I've been having some fun with the filters on Instagram, and I was so happy that she stayed still for a couple of seconds for me to take this sweet photo. 

The chain stitching took me hours to complete but was worth it for the texture it added to my layout.  I just worked on it in the evenings while I watched Netflix.  I ended up getting into quite the rhythm, and found it very relaxing!

I don't have much of this collection left because I love it so much, so I embellished with some fussy cut butterflies from both the 12x12 paper and the 6x8 paper stack, resulting in two different sizes of butteries. I created an embellishment cluster around my photo with layered and distressed papers, vellum, stickers and die cuts. I added dimension with craft foam and pop dots.  My final touch was to add Nuvo Dream Drops in Gold Luxe, and some black mist splatters.

I made a process video which you can watch on my YouTube Channel. Thanks for reading & take care Melissa 

Hey Girl (SNSKC)

Hello!! Yes I'm back after weeks (months) of burying myself under piles of work.  But all work and no play isn't good, so I thought I'd check in and share a layout that I made in May, but only just uploaded to YouTube yesterday.

I made this one with my Secret Not Secret Kit Club kit, and it features Dear Lizzy's Stargazer collection.  What mostly inspired this one was my Instagram squares.  I was looking at them and it hit me that I've been gravitating towards my favourite white backgrounds far too often.  So I decided to break it up with a bold patterned paper background.  The flower cut file is by Paige Evans from the Silhouette Design Store.

I used the entire cut file, and rather than back it with paper I watercoloured the negative pieces and plued them back in.  The photos are of Brielle getting her face painted for the first times a couple of years ago.

I used dimensional adhesive to give the petals some lift!

Gold is so hard to photograph, but the photo above shows the words in the middle of the rosette which the first photo doesn't.

The 6x6 cut apart page was perfect for embellishing.  I kept my embellishment to a minimum to let the flower be the star of the layout!

And here is my process video:

Thanks for looking!

"Strong" - My Word for 2018 (SpeigelMom Scraps GD)

Hello!  I nearly forgot to share my final project for my Guest Design spot over at SpeigelMom Scraps.  For this layout I decided I'd better finally create my word for the year which is "Strong".  Last year was a tough year, but through all of it I came out a much stronger person, and I wanted to carry that theme into this year.

I used my July 2017 Hip Kit (I'm slowly making my way through it) which features Maggie Homes' "Carousel" collection for Crate Paper.

I did the packaging technique and splatters with my watercolours and some Heidi Swapp Colourshine.

I used the sequins more subtly for this layout, as the finishing touch to my embellishment clusters.

I love banners, but often struggle to use them.  This chipboard banner was perfect for the grounding of my title.

I didn't make a process video for this one because I was short of time.  

Thanks for looking!