12 x 12

You Make Me Smile | Storyteller | Lina Monaco

Lina Monaco 03/07/2022

Hello wonderful, scrappy friends!
Lina, here today on the blog sharing my very first layout with the brand spanking new, Storyteller collection. I know you’ve all heard me rave about how much I love certain collections, but this one, this one is my most favourite! It’s perfect! From it’s gender neutral colour palette, to the florals and ephemera…. it’s just a well rounded collection and I’m happy to have gotten my chance to play with it!

The photo I documented is of my youngest little girl, peace sign and big smile. I could not resist documenting this photo since all it’s colours coordinated perfectly with the collection. I matted the photo with the A5 Paper stack and popped it up on many layers of dimensional foam so that it sat on top of the rainbow die cut. The rainbow die cut is an image I found online, traced with my Silhouette Cameo and paper pieced with papers from the collection. I also cut stars, in multiple sizes to tuck into my layout as layering pieces. All of these elements sit on top of regular white cardstock that I matted with the 12×12, Little Love paper. It’s so sweet with it’s little colourful heart pattern with a navy blue background. It also features a yellow star pattern on the reverse that caught my eye.

The title is comprised of words from the Foam Title Stickers. And how fitting since this babe’s smile make me smile from ear to ear.
I also used some gold thread to create a little home for the Wood Button to sit on. This one is a darling little butterfly with a blue background. To finish off this bottom right corner of the layout, I added some phrases from the Accessory Stickers sheet and this conveys my feelings and emotions on my layout since I do not journal on my layouts.

For more embellishing, I used clusters in the top right corner of my photo and again at the bottom left. This along with my title creates a visual triangle that works in layouts and pleases the eye. I used some stars and pieces from both the Floral and Die Cut Ephemera packets. The ephemera in this collection is stunning and so sentimental as it pertains to telling a story and creating memories. I am just smitten by the collection itself… if you hadn’t noticed

Thanks a bunch for joining me on the blog today and I hope you enjoyed my layout!
xoLina

You Rock | Legendary collection | Mandy Melville

Mandy Melville 01/07/2022

Hello everyone!

Mandy with you today, and I’m kicking off our Stars and Stripes theme that we’ll be featuring here on the blog for the next few days. I couldn’t go past using the amazing Legendary collection for this! I’ve definitely hoarded this collection, and it’s still one of my favourite masculine themed ranges. I decided on documenting a photo of my hubby on this layout, and I converted the photo to black and white to help it to really pop against all of the bright and bold colours in this collection.

I started this layout off by using the reverse side of the Epic Tales paper as my background. To bring in the ‘Stripes’ element of the theme I couldn’t go past using the gorgeous Wild One paper. I LOVE the beautiful artsy rainbow stripes on this paper and I added a strip of it across the bottom half of the layout. I distressed the edges of the paper before I adhered it to give it lots of nice texture. Next I used a notebook border punch on the blue Offbeat paper and then tucked this under the bottom edge of the striped paper.

I matted my photo with the beautiful woodgrain Outdoors Type paper and then adhered it on the left hand side of the page, overlapping the striped paper. To give the layout some more movement and interest, I adhered the photo on an angle. I also added a layer of craft foam underneath it to lift it off the page and add dimension.

Next I brought in the stars, which are one of my favourite elements to add to a masculine themed project! I included stars from the Die Cut Ephemera pack and the Clear Stickers, as well as some that I fussy cut out of the All Star patterned paper. I scattered them from the bottom left hand corner of the page up to the top right hand corner. This helps to draw the viewers eye from the photo, up through the title, and to the cluster in the top right. I adhered some directly to the page and others were adhered with foam tape to help them pop off the page.

Along the top of the page I added a narrow strip of both the All Star and the Offbeat patterned papers. I then created a cluster in the top right hand corner of the page using more Die Cuts and fussy cut stars, as well as a little banner Sticker.

To finish the layout off I added my title and typed journaling. For my title I decided on using the awesome Clear Stickers and I love the way this gives the look of it being handwritten directly onto the page!

Thanks so much for joining me here on the blog today. I hope that you enjoyed taking a look at my ‘Stars and Stripes’ themed layout. Wishing our friends in the United States a happy Independence Day!

Mandy x

Love This Story | Storyteller | Laura Alberts

Laura Alberts 28/06/2022

Hey y’all! Laura Alberts back again with a fun column style layout featuring the gorgeous new Storyteller collection! I am completely in love with this one! The stunning color scheme and all of the tiny details are just perfection. Scrapping a handful of fun selfies for this layout, I opted for two columns on either side of the page. Using the Cross It Off woodgrain paper for the background really helps these photos a pop off the page. Then, I pulled in three papers from the A5 paper stack for my columns, as well as a floral strip from the Story Time cut-apart paper.

I stacked two 3×3″ photos together on the left column and then added a mixed title below them. The ‘Love this’ is from the icon ephemera pack and then ‘Story’ is a foam title. Along with a floral cluster between the two photos, I added a banner along the bottom of the column. One of my favorite details on this page is the tiny flowers I fussy cut and added around my clusters and title.

On the right column, I combined a 3×4″ photo and a 3×4″ journaling card to mimic the stacked design on the left. Tucking in a floral cluster between them and then adding a banner gave it the perfect, simple touch it needed. The wood buttons made the best little accents at the top of my columns, giving the impression that they are pinned to this woodgrain paper. Such a fun detail!

I hope this layout gave you some inspiration to incorporate a variety of different-sized photos into your layout! If you’d like to see how ‘Love This Story’ came together, check out the process video below!

Smile | Storyteller collection | Tarrah McLean

Tarrah McLean 23/06/2022

Hi creative friends!

It’s Tarrah back with you and today I am very excited to be sharing my first layout featuring the stunning new Storyteller collection! This collection is absolutely gorgeous and so versatile for any themed projects and layouts you want to document your memories with! I absolutely LOVE anything with hearts so the 12′ x 12′ patterned papers with the hearts on them would have to be my favourite!

As soon as I saw the rainbow striped paper, I knew I wanted to use this paper for my first layout. I decided to cut the coloured strips up and placed them all but one, onto a sheet of plain white cardstock. I adhered them down and then bent the edges of all of them with my fingers to create some texture. I left one of the coloured strips out as I wanted to leave some space in between each coloured paper.

I placed my photo slightly to the right of the page using craft foam to add dimension. I layered some papers from the A5 paper stack underneath the photo and distressed the edges slightly to add some texture and to help make the photo pop! I searched through the pocket cards and found the perfect one to suit the photo of my son as photographer! I used craft foam to adhere the pocket card to the left of the photo. When I am placing elements on my page and I am not 100% certain about their position, I will mostly always only use a very small amount of adhesive in case I need to reposition anything or add an extra layer underneath. Once I am happy with where everything ends up on my layout, I add extra adhesive for reinforcement.

Now I have the main focus of the layout sorted out, next I added a title. I went through the gorgeous black Foam Titles and chose the word ‘Smile’. I placed this word at the bottom of the pocket card to help tie the photo, pocket card and title together. At either end of the photo and pocket card, I tucked in some pretty flower ephemera pieces, I also added the little piece that says ‘Snap Happy’ to the right of my photo.

On top of my photo, I adhered the ephemera piece that says, ‘The Story Behind the Photo’ and also a small phrase sticker from the Accessory Sticker sheet in the top right corner. I also added some more of the phrase stickers above the photo and below the photo, these are great additions to a page to help tell a story! Above the pocket card, I added the camera die-cut using craft foam. From this point, I decided to add my embellishments in a tone on tone look…I took some of the super cute heart die-cuts, enamel hearts and wood epoxy buttons and placed them on their corresponding colours.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today! I had so much fun creating this layout, I hope you enjoyed reading how I created it. Make sure to ask your retail store for the gorgeous Storyteller collection…you absolutely NEED this in your life!

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

Little Moments of Joy | These Days collection | Sophie Delorme

Sophie Delorme 19/06/2022

Hello Cocoa Vanilla friends!

It’s Sophie here and I’ve got a new layout to share!!

I used the beautiful These Days collection for my page today and decided to go with stripes!

I used a thick white cardstock for my background and cut a few strips of the Family Ties paper in several different lengths. I placed them below my photo, machine stitched on them with white thread and also added small teared pieces of velum on each of them for more interest. I think it also adds softness to the page.

I also placed a few sentences cut out of the The Good Life paper in between the strips of the Family Ties paper.

I mounted my photo on tissue paper and foam adhesive, cut a few frames from the Wall of Fame paper and used one of them to write down my journaling.

I used a pocket card for my title and embellished around my photo with beautiful florals from the Floral Ephemera pack.

I added a few hearts from the Puffy Stickers sheet as the finishing touch and stamped the date.

Here are more close-ups:

I am so happy with the delicate and soft feel of this page, and how it highlights such a sweet moment with my puppy!

I hope it was inspiring for you too, and maybe gave you new ideas to try!

Thank you for passing by, and happy crafting!

Sophie xx

Hello Summer | These Days | Lina Monaco

Lina Monaco 17/06/2022

Hello my friends! Lina here! And today, I am sharing a layout I created using the These Days collection. With all it’s bright summery colours and florals, I just could not resist! I mean, it’s almost summer here in Canada and what a better way to kick it off!

I started with a cut file and used the papers The Good Life and Family Ties to paper piece the title. It’s all layered onto a white piece of cardstock and then popped up on dimensional foam for height. The title now has dimension and lift and adds a bit of something different. Next, I used a photo of my darling daughter from our last family summer vacation. The photo is matted with a variety of papers form the A5 Paper Stack and then popped up with dimensional foam.

Next, I started working on my clusters… I knew that I wanted to add 3 different ones to form a visual triangle. Next to my photo I created the main cluster and used a rainbow Pocket Card as my base and layered pretty pieces of Die Cut Ephemera and embellished with the Floral Ephemera. I mean, that bike is pretty special and needed to have a place on this layout. I added some foliage and greenery to really bring in that tropical element as well.

Embellishing my layouts is my most favourite part of creating any layout. I take great joy in adding bits and bobs to layouts to really round them out and make them my own. I added some metallic gold thread to the layout both behind my photo and title and in nest form so a precious wood button could sit. I just love the pop of gold peaking through; I feel it just adds that bit of extra texture and depth.

I kept this layout pretty clean (for my style) and didn’t fuss too much with it. I really wanted the photo, papers and title to be the main focus without them getting lost within all the pretty. I added a couple typed sentiments from the Accessory Stickers and hearts and butterflies from the ephemera packet and called this layout complete! Love how it turned out and I am officially ready for Summer!
Thanks a bunch for joining me today on the blog :)

xoLina

Sweet Heart | Storyteller collection | Mandy Melville

Mandy Melville 15/06/2022

Hello everyone!

Mandy here today, and I’m so excited to be sharing my first layout featuring the gorgeous new Storyteller collection! I absolutely adore the beautiful colour palette, the sweet images, and of course the pretty florals in this collection! It is definitely going to be a fave of mine! For my first layout I decided to document a photo of my eldest daughter from about ten years ago. The reason I haven’t yet scrapped this photo is that I’ve never been able to find a girly collection that matches the reds and blues in the photo… until now! The Storyteller collection was perfect, and I’m so glad to have this sweet photo of my daughter documented!

I always find it hard when I get a new collection to just start cutting straight into the 12×12 papers. So for my first time playing with these beautiful products, I decided to make use of the A5 Paper Stack. I chose four different designs from the A5 papers and cut them to various widths and layered them together down the left and right hand sides of the page. I also matted my photo with one of the A5 papers and adhered it over the layers on the right hand side. I used craft foam to adhere it to make sure that it would stand out from the various patterned papers behind it.

Of course I couldn’t resist fussy cutting some of the florals clusters from the Spring Fling patterned paper to embellish my page. If you don’t enjoy fussy cutting, the good news is that this collection includes a Floral Ephemera pack which is full of lots of beautiful flowers and leaves. I started my embellishing by creating a cluster on the bottom left hand corner of the photo. I included one of the fussy cut florals, as well as a camera from the Die Cut Ephemera pack and a little banner from the Accessory Stickers. For some extra interest and texture, I added a Wood Epoxy Button to the centre of the flower.

I created a second cluster in the top left hand corner of the page, using another fussy cut floral, as well as a Chipboard banner. I again added a Wood Epoxy Button to the centre of the flower. Repeating elements like this in your embellishment clusters helps the layout to feel balanced and cohesive.

To complete the visual triangle, I created one final cluster on the top right hand corner of the photo. I made this one a little smaller and again included a fussy cut floral cluster as well as a Die Cut butterfly. To add interest to this cluster I tucked the flower underneath the edge of the photo and layered the butterfly on top.

For my title I couldn’t go past using the beautiful ‘Sweet Heart’ words from the Foam Title Stickers. I love the way the black title contrasts against the bright colours on the page, and the scripty font is just so pretty! I positioned my title in the white space in the middle of the page. This helps to draw the viewers eye from the cluster in the top left down to the one on the bottom of the photo. Underneath the title I added some typed journaling strips.

To finish the layout off, I added some Die Cut hearts around the clusters on the page. I also added one black foam heart from the Foam Title Stickers to each of the clusters, which again helps to emphasise the visual triangle and draw the viewer’s eye around the page.

Thanks so much for joining me here today. I hope that you found some inspiration. I can’t wait to share some more projects using the Storyteller collection soon!

Mandy x

Love This Girl | No Limits Collection | Danni Visser

Danni Visser 14/06/2022

Hi Cocoa Vanilla Studio fans! Danni here, back to share with you another fabulous No Limits collection layout. I have been eyeing off the gorgeous teal mixed media-inspired pattern on Stardust 12×12 patterned paper ever since I received the collection, so I decided to start with that as a base.

The first thing I did was add a sprinkling of stars using some different texture media. I used a 12×12 star stencil from my stash for the pattern, using a spatula to add first a sparkly gold glitter gel medium, then a white modelling paste. This added beautiful three-dimensional stars with lots of textural interest. I then added a bunch of ink splatters in gold and white all over the page.

Next I added two photos of myself and a very dear friend at dinner several years ago. Sometimes it’s lovely to look back and document a memory that happened a while ago! I added a white border to both photos and used the A5 paper stack to create a layered photo mat.

I used the die cut titles and some glittery alphas from my stash to spell out my title, layering it at the bottom of my photos.

For embellishments I went for a combo of the die cut ephemera, the accessory stickers and the chipboard stickers, layering them either side of my photo mat. I made sure to vary the heights of the embellishments, using foam squares in between where needed to create dimension.

I also added two epoxy wood buttons to finish off the packet, yay! I always feels SO good to use up a packet of scrapbooking supplies. I added a small embellishment cluster to the bottom of the page to balance out the top-heaviness of the layout.

Finally I added some puffy sticker dots to each of my embellishment clusters and a bunch of puffy sticker stars cascading down my page below the title. I love how this turned out and I hope you do too. There is a process video on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio YouTube channel if you would like to watch, link below. Happy scrapping!

Danni x

Chill out | Sunkissed Layout | Anna Komenda

Anna Komenda 13/06/2022

Hello, hello! Welcome everyone. It’s Anna here with a brand new page to share with you. I know that you poor Aussie people are just few days only until winter starts but we, on the top of the world, are just entering summer, which makes me soooo happy. It was time to pull out summer lines, including wonderful “Sunkissed” collection. I must admit, I am running a little low on some elements from it, but I still have plenty to make few more pages! I had a perfect photo in mind to scrapbook – beautiful sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. Colors of the photo are very warm and water doesn’t seem blue anymore, more like grey with a purple tint. I wanted to scrapbook it with a very warm color palette choosing mix of yellow, orange, pink and red. Perfect color combo for any sunset!

I had a perfect paper in mind called “Summer lights”! I cut it into smaller rectangles and turned them into a bunch of tags using corner puncher and tag hole puncher. I wanted to create a frame around the page with them. My initial idea was that a background paper will be white to contrast better with saturated tags, but after I tried it, I decided it’s just too much difference. I reached for tried and true Distress Oxide inks in Mustard seed, Spiced marmalade, Ripe persimmon, Pink Raspberry and Candied apple colors and blended them into the strips of colors creating similar patter to the one I just cut into tags. Weird move, I know, but my mixed media background was still lighter than the printed paper and I could add some water splatters for more texture.

Next step was to glue down the tags on the edges of the paper arranging them in similar color pattern than the background. I only applied glue as a thin strip on the bottom of the tags so I was able to lift the top part, creating extra dimension. I could also tuck ephemera pieces behind them!

After all of the tags were in their designated spots, I trimmed down the excess part, that was peaking behind the edge of the background and I started creating a composition. First, glueing down the photo in the bottom right corner, surrounded with palm trees from Ephemera Pack and some flowers from Flower Pack.

Next I added a title. Thanks to the beautiful Glitter foam titles, I didn’t have to think much about it and I simply chose one of the phrases. Yellow color stands out nicely on red and pink background. I also added two cute glitter hearts that are added to the title stickers. Few flowers, hidden behind the tags and some sun and clouds on the top of the page and my composition was almost done!

Last step was to add few puffy stickers here and there (I had a hard time using them as I just want to hoard them forever) and word strip from 6*12 stickers sheet. Few white splatters were the perfect finishing touches. And voila! Page is done. I love the warm colors of it.

That is all for today! Thank you so much for spending this time with me. I hope you like my project and it inspired you to make your own background. You can choose any theme with this kind of design!

See you in two weeks <3

XO Anna

Just Chillin’ | Sunkissed collection | Sophie Delorme

Sophie Delorme 05/06/2022

Hello Cocoa Vanilla friends!

It’s Sophie on the blog today with a new layout to share !

I used the Sunkissed collection for this bright and colorful page !

I used a thick white cardstock for the background and applied dry ink on a stencil from my stash with a brush.

I layered two pieces of patterned papers from the A5 paper stack behind my black and white photo, and cut a big envelope with a metal die to insert a tag cut out of the Good Vibrations paper for my journaling.

I fussy cut beautiful florals from the Growing Wild paper to decorate around the photo and cut out cute little clouds from the Just Chillin’ paper that I placed above the photo.