Hello Hello! It’s Michelle here today to share another layout for our month of sketch inspiration using the wonderful StorytellerCollection. I had so much fun creating my last layout that I thought, why not create another using a fun sketch from Page Maps. This one was based on a grid design and brings together multiple photos to tell a story, perfect for sharing one about a new blossoming doggy friendship.
We recently welcomed another sweet pup into our home, his name is Sonny and boy is he a handful. He’s the most hilarious little ball of fluff we’ve ever encountered, and is a great new addition to our little family. Our first doggo Daisy only took a few days to get use to having him around, and so far they seem like they’re going to be the very best of friends.
As you could imagine theres been a lot of photo taking in the last few days, so it was hard to narrow the selection down to just 4 for this project. I edited them all using an iPhone app and printed them out in black and white as per the size on the sketch below.
The sketch I was inspired by from the Page Maps website has a grid of pattern papers with 4 photos across the middle, machine stitching around the edges and clusters of flowers. I love creating with sketches as it takes the guess work out of how to start a layout when you’re stuck in a creative ‘rut’.
Seeing this little friendship begin has been so magical..
I used 4 different pattern papers from the A5paperstack cut down to roughly 4inch squares, distressed the edges slightly and adhered to the white cardstock using pieces of foam sheet to raise them up off the page. I sewed around the edges next using my machine and some off white coloured thread.
I added the photos across the middle of the layout using the same foam sheets to add a little more dimension to the layout.
Next I worked on creating the clusters, bottom right was first using the ‘Love this’ tag from the STORYTIME cut apart sheet, a bunch of florals fussy cut from the A5 version of SPRINGFLING, journaling tag from the EPHEMERA pack, black heart from the FOAMTITLES pack and sticker from the ACCESSORYSTICKER sheet.
In the top left corner I added another cluster of fussy cut florals, black heart and ephemera pieces. Using coordinating elements within all the clusters on a page really helps to give it a cohesive look
I added the title to the top left of the grid cluster also, using a mix of both a word from the FOAM TITLE STICKERs and a piece from the EPHEMERA pack
In the top right corner I created a smaller cluster, again using the same floral elements as the other 2 clusters. I used different types of adhesives in all 3 clusters to create different heights of dimension giving the clusters a more 3D feel. My go to adhesives for this are double sided foam tape, sticky thumb ‘sticky dots’ and tacky glue.
I added the usual splattering of gold ink to the layout after adding some hand written text to the journalling card
Here’s one last look at the entire layout..
Well thats all from me today, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing another sketch inspired post from me, and the rest of the team this month. It sure was a fun theme for us to be inspired by. Be sure to share your sketch inspired layouts with us in the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Community Group on Facebook, we love seeing what you all create using the CVS Collections!
Hello Hello! It’s Michelle here today with another instalment of our current story telling feature. I’ve used our beautiful Storyteller Collectionfor this layout that documents a big step in Leila’s school life – School Camp. Even though she might have been super anxious in the lead up to going away, Leila and her mates certainly enjoyed themselves while there.
I started off by cutting out some large clip boards from CUT to YOU to use as a place to ‘clip’ my photos. I used both sides of the DITSYDAISY paper to cut both the outline and the background of the boards and adhered the pieces together, leaving the ‘clip’ piece free to tuck in all the pieces they’re holding.
I added all 3 clipboards to a piece of the CROSS IT OFF paper, using pieces of foam sheets to give them a little pop off the page before adding all the other elements that I’ll share below.
I used 2 photos from the campers send off, both featuring friends that Leila’s had since Prep and even Kinder.
On the left side clip board I’ve layered the photo with a pocket page card, pieces cut from the cut apart sheet STORY TIME plus some fussy cut florals from the SPRING FLING paper in both 12×12 and A5 size
Over on the right I’ve added the 2nd photo layered on top of a folded card that’s hiding the written journalling. It’s not hidden for any other reason other than I wrote more than I expected and I couldn’t make it work tucked into the other clipboard. I added more of the same elements over this side as I did on the left clip board to keep things cohesive across the entire layout.
I used a simple piece of notepaper ripped from a book to write the journalling, adhered it between 2 pocket page cards then machine stitched top and bottom for a little extra detail.
On the middle clipboard I’ve added the title using another CUT to YOU cutfile cut out of the green A5 version of LITTLE LOVE, layered over the journalling spot from the cut apart paper STORY TIME with the addition of an accessory sticker from an older collection.
Along the tops of the clip boards I added some WOODEN BUTTONS to act as thought the boards are ‘pinned’ to the woodgrain background (CROSS IT OFF)
I added the twine along the tops and glued it into place using some tacky glue that dries clear. Theres also a sprinkling of both gold and white inks around the layout to finish it all off.
Here’s another look at the entire layout..
Well friends, thats all from me today. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my version of our story telling theme, it’s certainly been a fun one to create. Please be sure to share your own versions within our facebook community group HERE
Hello Hello, it’s Michelle here today and boy do I have a project share with you all this week. I suggest you sit down with a cuppa and have a read as theres a lot to share in this little post. If you cant tell by the title or sneak peek I’ve started an album to document last years December Memories using the magical new collection – Merry & Bright.
This collection is the perfect mix of Christmas and signature Cocoa Vanilla Studio designs. Full of beautiful colours, patterns and pretty florals which are all perfect for documenting an Aussie Christmas as theres not a snowflake insight. I’ve used the BRAND NEW Pocket Cards for this project as they make creating albums like these so fast. Pick a card and pop it in, pair it with a photo and call it done! You can jazz it up with a little ephemera, cut files, vellum and glitter. Don’t forget there’s also an A5 paper stack, 2 cut apart papers (Count Down & Oh What Fun), and some super cute gold puffy hearts that are all perfect for creating one magical album full of December Memories..
I’ve got half the album to share in this post today so apologies now for the photo overload. I’ll try not to write too much as there’s A LOT to get through
Lets begin…
The Album size I’ve used is 6x8inch and I’ve used a mix of different configurations in pocket pages. I kept the front opening page quite simple using a full A5 sheet in the Star Bright pattern, ‘Christmas’ and ‘Oh what fun’ tags are from the Oh What Fun cut apart paper, holly leaves from the ephemera pack, sticker from the Accessory sticker sheet and the numbers are from an ancient CCV collection.
Flipping over to the first pocket page – I’ve used another full A5 pattern paper Jingle All The Way with a piece of note paper sewn on to document the month ahead, then added some florals from the ephemera pack to the corner of the paper. You will see throughout the pockets of the albums I’ve used the Countdown paper to document most of the days, the numbers all cut down to just over 2inch square. For the right hand side I added the number to a pocket card using my tiny attacher
Heading over to the next page, sharing more of December 1 memories as a couple of things happened that day – our house elf arrived and I went out for dinner with my work colleagues. I created a ‘privacy shaker’ pocket to hide their faces using a flip flap pocket. Inside I’ve added the large floral cluster from the ephemera pack to some vellum and a tonne of glitter then used my sewing machine to stitch the edge closed. The ‘eat drink + be merry sticker is adhered to the outside along with the ephemera tag.
The shaker pocket turned out so cute.
Page 3… Still documenting the rest of December 1st haha How stinkin cute are those little gingerbread houses! Our house Elf Twinkle didn’t seem to get up to too much mischief last year, hoping she’s on her best behaviour if she makes it back into the country this year.
I used another flip flap to add an extra layer of embellishments to this corner of the page. Those gold hearts are so soft and not bulky at all, its hard not to use them all in one go!
Over the page and I’ve used the smaller frame from the ephemera kit to frame a smaller photo and documented a not so fun trip to the doctors. Between these 2 pages I’ve added a vellum insert using the 3 ornament pieces from the ephemera pack
I sewed these to the vellum and added some stickers
Theres a larger frame in the ephemera pack too, I’ve used it on this side to document an early Christmas present I gave to myself and am still yet to use. Whoops.
Some pockets I left plain with just photos and cards. Not everything needs a bunch of words to document, the photo is enough. The other side of the page however needed some words. I used a label from the cut apart paper for one and a journalling card from the pocket cards pack for the other. This pack is FULL of different designs, quote cards, filler design cards and journalling cards. Each card has a design on both sides so every design in the pack can be used once or twice if you need.
December is a big month for everyone, even bigger for those of us who have a birthday to throw into the mix. Leila’s falls in the second week of December and last year we were lucky to be able to throw a party for her and some friends and cousins. So much fun.
I created another flip pocket with the journalling on top and photos underneath
The kids had so much fun. Faces blurred for privacy
Of course the birthday girl and her cake needed a special insert! I love adding inserts to pocket page albums to create a focal interest and break up all the smaller pockets. I created this one using a star cut file from CUT to YOU and adhered the photos back to front, either side of the cut file, and then the entire piece sewn into the pocket page to stop it from moving or falling out
The cute photo on the reverse is from the following day with more cake to celebrate with family at home
On the right side of the page are more photos documenting the family celebration, the day prior to her actual birthday.
Over page and more photos to document our Elf, a couple more filler pocket cards, a label from the cut apart paper Oh What Fun, fussy cut florals from the A5 version of Joy to the World
On the right I used a smaller pocket page made up of 2x2inch squares. I created a couple of mini shaker pockets using ephemera, stickers and a gold puffy heart sewn in using my machine after sprinkling each with glitter. I added a couple of photos of Leila to document her last night of being 8 and filled the rest with pattern papers
Over page again and Its an entire spread dedicated to her actual birthday. Photos of present opening, more pattern paper to fill in the blanks. Photos of our house Elf and the spectacle she set up overnight. We never know what mess we might come out to on Leilas birthday, but theres always a basket full of presents for Leila all Christmas themed. Our elf does this in place of a December 1st basket.
And were onto the last of the pages I’ve created for this album. Our tree finally came out of its box so I could finally use the cute ‘Oh Christmas tree’ card
and one last flip flap pocket just because!
Phew, did you get through that ok? I hope you enjoyed seeing the first half of last years December memories. I like to keep things pretty simple within my pocket pages branching out with a little shaker page or insert to add a little extra fun. Everything within the album is either adhered using a tape runner, tiny attacher or sewing machine to save on bulk as theres a lot more to add so I need to save space as best I can.
Well thats all from me today. Thank you so so SO much for stopping by and reading through all of that! I aim to get this album complete and ready to share in a future post so keep an eye out next month. For now be sure to share with us the Christmas Creations that you’re making. We love to see what you all create. And if you haven’t already RUN to one of the many Scrapbooking Stores that are carrying this collection and buy it all before it sells out ! You won’t regret it.
