Shimmerz Paints: January 2020 Color Kitz Inspiration & Video!

Hi Everyone! 

Welcome back for more bright, colorful & shimmery inspiration with

my latest scrapbook layout (& process video) with the stunning new 

Shimmerz Paints: January edition Color Kitz!

I know, amazing right?! 

The Shimmerz Paints Color Kitz are bigger & better than ever before! 

The new 2020 Kitz include exclusive colors and products to tie your whole page together. The January 2020 Collection includes the following colors and products:

Into The Woods Vibez

 A new exclusive color to this kit. 

This color is a vibrant hunter green hue with silver shimmer.

Before Dawn Vibez

 A black pigment spray with shimmer.

Sage Advice Shimmerz

 A new exclusive color to this kit.

This color is a soft and neutral sage green hue with shimmer mixed within.

For Shore Creameez

 A cool neutral hue watercolor.

Silver Fox Shimmerz

 A new exclusive color to this kit. 

Silver fox is a silver hue paint with shimmer mixed within.

Sheer Bliss Inklingz

 A skin tone neutral hue watercolor.

PLUS

4 journaling cards

1 exclusive Forest cut file created by Paige Taylor Evans

1 teaspoon package of Country Buttonz

1 set of "Happy Day" Dotz

Wow! That's one super impressive kit! 

The creative possibilities with this Color Kit are endless, but I wanted to create a page that featured all.the.things!!! Here's what I created, 

"Explorer"

Whoa! How awesome is this?!

The January edition Color Kitz was perfect for documenting my lil explorer! 

Think great outdoors, adventuring and lake life! So cool!

You'll spy that I even added one extra color to the mix - Ultra Marine Shimmerz! This stunning hue of deep blue coordinated beautifully with the greens and grays of the January Kit! Love it! 

Here's a closer look at my layout......

Yep, this is one super cool page for my little guy! 

As soon as I saw the Forest cut file created by Paige Taylor Evans, I knew I would create a masculine layout! If you look closely at my darling boy's photo, you'll notice that his top has a very similar design on it! Awesome!

To create this layout, I began by filling sheets of paper with all the kit colors. While they were drying, I prepared the cut file. I cut it in plain white cardstock, and removed some of the cut pieces, while keeping others intact. The mix of inset and paper backed sections really added interest to the cut file. 

The inset sun rays are left untouched, but I used the neutral For Shore Creameez to paint the mountain peaks and clouds....

Simple, but so effective! 

The remaining sections of the sun are backed with the paper which I painted with Sheer Bliss Inklingz, and the mountains are backed with the new Silver Fox Shimmerz. SO good! La la love this new Shimmerz!

The trees are mostly backed with varying depths (paint coats) of Into The Woods Vibez, except for one which I backed with Sage Advice Shimmerz for a point of difference and interest. Here's a closer look at them....

Trees 1,2 & 4 are Into The Woods Vibez and tree 3 is Sage Advice Shimmerz. Such gorgeous colors!

 I added in the Ultra Marine Shimmerz for the water element of the cut file, and I'm so glad I did! This bright pop of color adds just enough playfulness to the design without distracting from the beautiful January Color Kitz colors. 

Before I adhered the Forest cut file to the Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Boys Rule pattern paper, I added lots of inky droplets, splatter and brush strokes to the pattern paper with the Before Dawn Vibez. Once dry, I foam mounted the cut file, and glued it to the inky base. 

I have used the Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Boys Rule collection to embellish my page too, but it's those Happy Day Dotz that won me over! Aren't they fabulous?! I couldn't help myself, & used all of them to adorn my photo with! Yes, that good!

 You'll also spy that I layered my photo cluster onto one of the journaling tags, and sprinkled a few of the teeny tiny buttons around the page. Told you I used all.the.things!

Such a cool kid page! 

You can see how it all came together in my process video below....

Thanks so much for watching!

I hope I have inspired you to get creating today! 

Remember! The Color Kitz are limited edition, so be sure to get yours HERE, before they're sold out! Type AMANDA in the comments section of your order & you'll receive a freebie paint too! 

Yay! 

Thanks again for stopping by, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Boys Rule Inspiration!

Hi Friends!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Today I am sharing a super cool  Cocoa Vanilla Studio scrapbook page with their super awesome BOYS RULE line! 

This collection is seriously cool & just rocks when it comes to scrapping the boys!  

But enough chatter, here's my scrapbook layout,

"Future Pilot"

Whoa!!! How awesome is this?! 

RAD, indeed!

I have featured the stunning CV-BR007 STAR FALL paper as my layout background, distressed & folded the right edge of this paper and stapled a trim of CV-BR009 GOOD TIMES behind it. This created a really raw, and edgy look which enhanced the masculinity of the overall design. The use of metal hardware (staples) not only attached the two papers, but also emphasized the rawness. 

Simple, but so effective!

I backed my sweet boy's photograph with a few cool layers of the MISCELLANY frames and die cuts, as well as some fussy cut labels from CV-BR006 BOY STUFF paper. To these layers, I inserted in a few ACCESSORY STICKER stars and words/phrases, and then attached this photo cluster to my page. With my focal point in place, I then tucked my CHIPBOARD PIECES title 'RAD' into the top of the photo layers.

Over my treasured photograph, I foam mounted a couple more ACCESSORY STICKERS that featured stars, plus added I that awesome 'king of the world' FLAIR BUTTON. So cool!!!

To the right side of the photo cluster, I tucked in the 'reach for the stars' ACCESSORY STICKER - both the print and the sentiment coordinated perfectly with my page design.

More ACCESSORY STICKERS are used to adorn the bottom left of my photo cluster, as well as a few die cuts. To complete the photo cluster I foam mounted & overlapped that fabulous 'adventure' CHIPBOARD PIECE. Awesome!

For my title to be noticed on such a dark paper, I dove into my COCOA VANILLA STUDIO: COLOUR ME HAPPY stash and used the plain white ALPHABET STICKERS. I embellished around my title with more of the ACCESSORY STICKERS as well as two of the brush stroke CLEAR STICKERS. A few dots of white paint completed the page.

Simple, and yet so epic!!!

Scrapping the boys is made super easy (& totally awesome) with the fabulous 

BOYS RULE collection!

Thanks so much for visiting - I hope I have inspired you to get creating today!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Mixing Up Collections!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more beautiful, memory keeping inspiration!

Today I am sharing a layout created for the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Design Team, 'Mix It Up' theme!

Think old meets new, girl meets boy - you get the idea! 

Such a fun theme to create with!

Here's my layout.....

"One Of A Kind"

Wow! Isn't this gorgeous?!!

I've combined the awesome BOYS RULE collection with our newest line, HAPPINESS. I just love how fabulously they coordinate together, despite their very distinct differences! You'll spy my fave pattern papers from the BOYS RULE collection, CV-BR009 GOOD TIMES, and CV-BR008 ENTITLED (reverse side) as the background for this sweet page! I love how the blue swirls from ENTITLED mimic the water, and the fun pattern from GOOD TIMES subtly hints at the sun rising behind the water. So cool! To add more depth and interest to this layout base, I also foam mounted the water.

That fabulous cut file swan (What's Going Swan? courtesy of Cut To You) has also been backed with BOYS RULE pattern papers.  You'll spot the reverse side of CV-BR009 GOOD TIMES, as well as off cuts from CV-BR006 BOY STUFF. The swan is also foam mounted for added dimension, & to really draw attention to my sweet framed photo.

 Here's a closer look at it......

Sigh! This is just the sweetest!

My photo is embellished with a DIE CUT EPHEMERA frame from the BOYS RULE collection, and carefully tucked beneath the swan's wings. Surrounding the swan, I tuck a gorgeous arrangement of floral DIE CUT EPHEMERA pieces from the HAPPINESS collection, and then layer a floral ACCESSORY STICKER over the swan for added interest. 

The final embellishments for that decorative swan are some ENAMEL DOTS from my Cocoa Vanilla stash (possibly from MAKE A WISH & MADE OF AWESOME lines) and a foam mounted, DIE CUT EPHEMERA title, One Of A Kind. 

Simple. Sweet. And just a lil lovely!

To complete my darling page, I adorn the background with a mix of sequins, ACCESSORY STICKERS, and DIE CUT EPHEMERA pieces that I position in alignment with the sunburst pattern from the GOOD TIMES paper. 

Here's another view for you.....

Mixing collections needn't be tricky if you just keep to a pleasing aesthetic. 

Simple design = a beautiful result, every single time!

The HAPPINESS florals are just SO beautiful, they make everything lovely!

And there you have it! 

My fun take on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Mix & Match' theme!

I hope I have inspired you to mix & match a few of your Cocoa Vanilla Studio supplies for a fabulous new look!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Cool Kid!

Hi Creatives!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio inspiration!

For today's DT assignment I am scraplifting the incredibly talented, Anna Komenda! 

I know, what a task! 

Everything Anna creates is pure awesomenss, and today's layout is no exception!

Here's her original layout, created for last month's Throwback Thursday.....

Told you it was pure awesomenss!!! What a stunning page!

I decided to create a boy version of it using our super cool, Boys Rule collection! 

Here's my take,

"Cool Kid"

 

How awesome is this?!! He's one cool kid, for sure!

Just like Anna's original I have opted for a pattern paper base, & made a real feature of the frames in this collection. 

Such a clever design!

The background paper is the reverse side of CV-BR009 GOOD TIMES, and I just love its textural appearance! The concrete look is so raw and edgy - perfect for more masculine memory keeping! I have used a lime and sky blue color scheme to compliment the coolness of the GOOD TIMES paper. I opt for wood grain embellishments and frames as my accent color; to add warmth and balance to my page. Awesome!

Here's a closer look......

While Anna features flowers as her core embellishment, I have used stars for mine. 

You'll spot stars from the CLEAR STICKERS, ACCESSORY STICKERS, CHIPBOARD PIECES, & even the DIE CUT EPHEMERA pack! All.the.stars for the win!!! T

o add dimension and interest to the stars, I foam mount a few of them & even layer one or two together.

But it's the layered frames that really make this layout! I have combined frames from both the DIE CUT EPHEMERA & MISCELLANY packs to create this fun look! For my photo cluster, I dress the frames with that awesome #BOYSRULE FLAIR BUTTON, a CHIPBOARD PIECES star and arrow, and my DIE CUT EPHEMERA COOL KID title.

Tucked between the layered frames are a few more EPHEMERA stars, an ACCESSORY STICKERS tab,  as well as a flag & label from the MISCELLANY pack. The #EPIC subtitle is fussy cut from pattern paper, CV-BR006 BOY STUFF & just adds that little something extra! 

Here's another view for you....

Awesome! Loving all the details here!

That FLAIR BUTTON is the best! I use it not only for cool factor, but to balance my black & white photo and camera embellishment (rule of three and all that jazz  ;)  ) To add more dimension & interest I foam mount the DIE CUT camera too!

Travelling down the page, I add a  few more stars (you can never have too many, right?), as well more layered frames......

I opt for smaller frames to avoid distraction from my focal point and photo, and embellish with the CHIPBOARD PIECES wood grain face, ACCESSORY STICKER flag, and that Super Hero EPHEMERA. Very cool!

And there you have it!

My scraplift of our amazing Anna Komenda using our Boys Rule collection! 

I hope I have inspired you to scraplift this layout too! 

You can see more of Anna's awesome creations HERE

Thanks so much for visiting,

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Boys Rule Altered Clipboard

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back to my Happy Arty Days blog!

Today I am sharing a super cool, off the page number -

an altered clipboard with the awesome Cocoa Vanilla Studio: BOYS RULE collection!

This project came about because my sweet boy wanted me to make him something for his bedroom that also featured his birthday photo. And when your children ask to have anything you make on their walls, well, how could I refuse?!!

I really hope he likes it!

"Awesome" Altered Clipboard

Isn't this fun?!! 

Such an awesome decor item for any cool kid's bedroom!

To start with, I just played around with a design for a 6" x 8" layout, and then once I was happy I rearranged it to fit onto the slightly smaller size clipboard. It was really fun working on a much smaller scale, and it challenged me to be really particular about my embellishment choices.

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

The BEST. Awesome, indeed!!!!

With that birthday photo being part of my son's design brief, I began by layering it with papers and embellishments to create a small photo cluster.

I apply a DIE CUT EPHEMERA frame over my photo, & then position this onto the denim look cut apart from pattern paper, CV-BR006 BOY STUFF.  

I insert a few ACCESSORY STICKERS & apply a larger frame (from the MISCELLANY pk) beneath it all.

Next, I embellish the photo frame with that Cool Kid FLAIR BUTTON, and the 100% Boy ACCESSORY STICKER (which I foam mount for added dimension). I add to this embellishing with a few stars from the CLEAR STICKERS, CHIPBOARD PIECES, DIE CUT EPHEMERA & ACCESSORY STICKERS.  The last adornment to that sweet birthday photo is the over sized, fussy cut camera from pattern paper, CV-BR006 BOY STUFF. Perfect!

I attach the photo cluster to the clipboard, angling it slightly off the edge of the board to maximise the clipboard space. I also want to highlight that it is a clipboard, so I 'clip' the top left corner of my cluster too!

With my photo taken care of, I now begin to decorate the board.....

I dress the base of the clipboard with pattern paper strips from, CV-BR006 BOY STUFF, & CV-BR002 STRAIGHT & NARROW. To this trim, I apply the Awesome DIE CUT EPHEMERA title with foam dots, and add another star ACCESSORY STICKER - because when it comes to birthdays, we can never have too many stars, right?! So cool!

I love the gold hardware featured on this board, but because it's SO shiny, it's a little distracting. I decide to tone it down a bit, by embellishing over it.....

I adorn the clip with fabulous King of the World ACCESSORY STICKER, skull & cross bones FLAIR BUTTON, and another star sticker - also from the ACCESSORY STICKERS. This looks a little more edgy, less polished & much more 'boy' - love it!

Travelling down the left hand side of the clipboard, I add a larger CHIPBOARD PIECES star, and then that double layered skull & crossbones. The double layer is so effective! 

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

Awesome!

You'll see that I start with the CHIPBOARD PIECES skull first, and then foam mount the DIE CUT EPHEMERA onto it.Very cool!

Further left, & on the back of the clipboard, I glue the grey scallop DIE CUT EPHEMERA shape. This trim adds an extra layer and point of interest to the overall design.

Beneath the skull & cross bones, I add yet another CHIPBOARD PIECES embellishment. 

This cool sentiment banner directs your eye back into the 'awesome' title & brings everything together. For final touches, I add one or two more stars, and a small journal with the typewriter font words from the ACCESSORY STICKERS.

And there you have it!

Simple, quick, boy decor that looks really AWESOME thanks to the amazing

  BOYS RULE collection!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my project today & are inspired to get creating too!

Thanks so much for visiting,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

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: Wanderlust

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back for more Cocoa Vanilla Studio awesomeness!

 Today I am sharing a super fun, BIG title, BIG impact, boy layout with the fabulous new 

BOYS RULE collection.  

Here's my layout,

"Wanderlust"

Yay! I love a big title, and backed with the awesome BOYS RULE papers - well, it just doesn't get any better than this! Love it! And speaking of love, how cute is my little adventurer in the photo?! Such a cool lil guy! One Of A Kind, indeed!

My layout begins with the reverse side of pattern paper, CV-BR008 ENTITLED for the base. I trim white cardstock to 11"x11" and stitch it to the base. Next, I cut the Paige Evans Wanderlust cut file from the Silhouette Store, enlarging it to 11 1/2" high. I back the letters with what looks like lots of different papers; but it's actually ALL from pattern paper CV-BR004 FUN & GAMES. How cool is that?! I love the varying designs within the one paper - SO many creative possibilities!

Here's a closer look....

Loving all those cool patterns! The woodgrain hyphen is from the reverse side of this paper too! So much awesome from one sheet of paper! To add to it's impact, I embellish the large pattern paper title with CHIPBOARD PIECES and DIE CUT & MISCELLANY EPHEMERA.

I also machine stitch the black sentiment tags onto the layout. Lots of messy threads, texture and a little bit of 'raw' on this otherwise clean design.

How cool is that CHIPBOARD PIECES skull n crossbones icon?!! All kinds of awesome!

Let's take a closer look at my photo cluster.....

You'll spy that I have layered my photo onto a combination of MISCELLANY & DIE CUT EPHEMERA. Between these layers, I slide a few ACCESSORY STICKERS too! But it's the FLAIR BUTTON adorning my photo that I just can't get enough of! King Of The World - just perfect!

Below my photo I also include  the 'boy' CLEAR STICKER, and that awesome die cut too!

For finishing touches, I add more random cotton threads, and those dimensional black drops. Simple. Striking & Oh-so-fun!

I am absolutely loving creating with the new BOYS RULE line, & I am sure you will too!

Thanks so much for visiting today,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo