design team

Fun Times | Great Escape | Josefine vd Hoeven

Josefine van der Hoeven 28/08/2024

Hello Paperlovers,

If you’re a fan of nature-inspired scrapbook layouts, you’ll absolutely love working with the “Great Escape” collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. This stunning outdoor-themed collection is perfect for capturing those adventurous moments, whether it’s a hike through the woods or a day spent exploring a new park. Recently, I created a layout using this collection, and I wanted to share the details with you.

For this particular layout, I decided to focus on one of my favorite elements: butterflies. Using the beautiful design papers from the “Great Escape” collection, I carefully cut out several butterfly shapes in various sizes. To add an extra touch of detail and dimension, I hand-stitched around the edges of each butterfly with white thread. This simple yet effective technique gives the butterflies a delicate, textured look that really stands out on the page.

Next, I turned to the paper die-cuts included in the collection. These die-cuts are absolutely gorgeous and incredibly versatile. I selected a variety of designs and arranged them along a horizontal line that runs across the layout. I made sure to align this line with the height of my photo, creating a balanced and cohesive design.

The final result is a layout that truly captures the essence of an outdoor adventure. The combination of the stitched butterflies and the playful arrangement of die-cuts adds both texture and visual interest, drawing the eye across the page. The “Great Escape” collection provided the perfect palette and elements to bring this nature-inspired scrapbook page to life.

Whether you’re documenting a weekend hike or simply celebrating the beauty of the great outdoors, Cocoa Vanilla Studio’s “Great Escape” collection has everything you need to create a stunning scrapbook layout. Happy crafting!

XoXo, Jo

Josefine van der Hoeven 28/06/2024

Hello Paperlovers,

Welcome to today’s Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog for some fresh and summery Scrapbook inspiration! I’ve chosen for the collection called “Sunkissed” What a delightful collection, perfect for happy and colorful summer moments. I wanted to document this photo of my daughter traveling around beautiful Bali and the “Sunkissed” collection is a perfect fit.

I’m starting with a white piece of cardstock paper as the base of my layout. I’m using a dark blue distress oxide called “faded jeans.” I apply the ink with a damp sponge, dabbing it onto the white cardstock paper until I’m satisfied with the mixed media background. I also splatter some extra blue ink with a brush for a playful effect.

I choose two pictures , cut them to size, and place a frame between the pictures. I try to match the colors of the design paper with the photo. I position the pictures and the frame in the center of the layout.

Now it’s time to create clusters, and I select various flower die-cuts for the clusters. I use 3D foam for the clusters to make the flowers stand out beautifully on the blue mixed media background. For the title, “Bali” I use the black and white title chipboard. These match perfectly with the stunning colors in the collection. I place the title under the photo. I further embellish my layout with adorable blue puffy hearts. I fussy cut a few butterflies from the patterned paper and give them a place among the flowers.

I splatter a bit of white gesso, and my layout is ready. I hope I’ve been able to inspire you with this mixed media layout and look forward to seeing you next time on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog. Wishing you a creative and wonderful day! XoXo, Jo

The great outdoors | Great Escape | Josefine Van der Hoeven

Josefine van der Hoeven 12/06/2024

Hello Paperlovers,

and welcome to the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog! I’m so glad you’re here seeking new scrapbook inspiration and are curious about the fantastic new collection called “Great Escape.” Today, I’m excited to share how I was inspired by the June challenge. I love stars, so I dove into fussy cutting and had a blast creating this layout.

First, I began by selecting a sheet of patterned paper filled with stars and cutting out each one. For the background, I opted for a crisp white 12×12 cardstock to make the stars pop. Using my electronic cutting machine, I cut a circular frame, which I placed in the center of the white cardstock. To add a subtle touch of detail, I stitched a delicate white border around the circle.

Next, I adhered my photo partially onto the circular frame, using patterned paper as a backdrop to give it an extra layer of interest. With the photo in place, it was time to arrange all those carefully cut stars. I wanted to create a playful and dynamic effect, so I scattered the stars around the photo and the circular frame, using 3D foam to lift them off the page slightly. This gave the layout depth and a fun, interactive feel. Once the stars were securely in place, it was time to add the title. I chose the elegant black titles from the collection, placing the title right in the center of the circle. The bold, stylish lettering contrasted beautifully with the white background and colorful stars, making the title stand out prominently.

To finish off the layout, I added some splatters of blue distress ink. This little touch brought a sense of whimsy and tied the entire composition together. I let the ink dry naturally, which added a bit of texture and dimension to the page.

By focusing on the star theme and using techniques like fussy cutting and layering with 3D foam, this layout captures the essence of adventure and exploration that “Great Escape” embodies. Whether you’re documenting outdoor memories or simply love celestial designs, this collection offers endless possibilities for creative expression. Don’t forget to join in on the challenges and share your creations with the Cocoa Vanilla Studio community—we love seeing what you come up with! Until then, enjoy scrapping and making memories.

XoXo, Jo

You Make My Heart Smile | Love Always Collection | Laura Alberts

Laura Alberts 10/06/2024

Hey y’all! Laura Alberts here again with a beautiful winter layout using the stunning, classic Love Always collection. I especially love the florals in this collection! They are so pretty and soft, perfect for a pastel layout like this one.

I started this layout with chipboard frames and a number of stunning patterned papers to back them with. The title is a cut-apart piece that I layered a frame on top of and decorated with Nuvo drops in gold. I outlined each of the frames with a black gel pen to give them a little depth with a faux shadow.

Next, I backed my photos with a beautiful bold pink from the Unforgettable collection to help them stand out. Layering the photos on top of the frames, then adding embellishment clusters on top of the photos, it gives the layout a 3D look without much bulk.

To see how “You Make My Heart Smile” came together, check out the process video below:

https://youtu.be/plzSvvQnA24

You Got This | No Limits collection | Sue Plumb

Sue Plumb 07/06/2024

Hi everyone, it’s Sue Plumb here with another design team project for you. Today I am sharing a mixed media layout that has been inspired by this month’s “Seeing Stars” challenge. As an avid boy scrapper, stars are one of my absolute favourite things to put on my pages, so I couldn’t help myself but join in on the fun. The first thing I did was choose which collection I was going to work with, and I couldn’t go past the ‘No Limits’ collection, which is filled with all kinds of celestial themed elements. I paired it with a photo of my son at soccer, who was definitely a star on this particular day.

I began this layout with a sheet of white cardstock and a piece of the star print Orbit patterned paper that I had left over from another project. As it wasn’t a whole sheet, I decided to tear along the edges of it and have it run vertically on my page. Before sticking it down, I used a pencil to mark out where the paper would sit, then turned my attention to the background.

I wanted to add a splash of colour first, so I used my Mowed Lawn green Distress Oxide to add some loose watercolour underneath where the paper would sit. Once dry, I used some star-themed rubber stamps from my stash to add extra detail over the top. I used a large star first, which I stamped three times to form a triangle; then a background stamp featuring tiny stars to scatter around. I then stuck the starry patterned paper down on top.

With the large piece of paper in place, my background was complete, so I turned my attention to the photo and embellishments. I cut a mat for my photo using a green sheet from the A5 Paper Stack and secured it to the page. I topped it with a grey paper doily, frayed gauze, and then my photo which had some cardboard underneath to help pop it up from the page.

I then added my embellishments, focusing on creating three clusters – above, to the left and to the bottom right of the photo. On the left side I used the you’re the best banner from the Die Cut Ephemera pack. I also added the hand from the same pack, and placed it directly onto the photo. I finished off this cluster with a couple of stars nearby, that were fussy cut from the Nebula paper.

To the right of my photo I created another embellishment cluster, this time using a handmade heart embellishment from my stash, which I topped with a CVS limited edition flair button (from many moons ago). Both of these embellishments were to tie in with the print on my son’s t-shirt. As with the previous cluster, I also added some fussy cut stars nearby. I balanced the stars out by adding a couple more above the photo as well as my third “cluster”.

There were only a few elements left to complete at this point – my title, using the Die Cut Title words alongside the photo. A few more small stars from the Puffy Sticker pack and some small word stickers from the Accessory Sticker sheet. And finally, my handwritten journalling and I was done!

If you love stars as much as I do, then make sure you enter our June “Seeing Stars” challenge which is hosted in our Facebook Cocoa Vanilla Studio Community group. You can enter as many times as you wish (providing each entry is created specifically for our challenge) and there is a $25 store voucher to be won. Looking forward to seeing all those starry projects!

Until next time, happy scrapping!

Sunny Days | Sunkissed collection | Sophie Delorme

Sophie Delorme 06/06/2024

Hello friends !

It’s Sophie on the blog today with this rainbow layout to share !

I used the Sunkissed collection, and focussed on the beautiful rainbow paper named “Bright Side” as the star of my page.

I selected matching colour embroidery floss for each ray of the rainbow and added hand stitching on them. I fussy cut around the rainbow, added foam dots on its back and placed it on the right side of a 12×12 thick white cardstock.

I chose a beautiful summer photo and arranged a big floral cluster around it, adding a few more little rainbows, leaves, and the date.

My title is from the Sunkissed Clear Stickers sheet.

Here are more close-ups:

I love how it turned out ! It’s a simple page but so bright and cheerful, and so easy to create with such a colourful collection !

Thank you for stopping by !

Have a great crafty day !!

Sophie xx

Love This| Storyteller | Josefine vd Hoeven

Josefine van der Hoeven 26/05/2024

Hello Paperlovers,

Welcome to the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog! It’s great that you’re looking for new scrapbook inspiration. Today, I have a new scrapbook layout made with the beautiful “Storyteller” collection designed by Cocoa Vanilla Studio. These stunning fresh colors really bring your layout to life.

I wanted to use this photo of my daughter in Sydney. I decided to punch out various hearts using my heart punch and chose different patterned papers. I playfully arranged the hearts in the center of my white cardstock. On top, I placed the photo of my daughter posing in front of the beautiful Sydney Opera House.

I selected various paper die-cut flowers and created two lovely flower clusters. I also wanted to use the paper die-cut shapes, like the a cute camera, banner, and several mini hearts to give a place on this layout. For the title, I chose the elegant black foam titles. These black elegant words go wonderfully well with this amazing collection.

I added some splatters with white gesso, which I mixed with water, and also splattered some of my blue distress ink “Faded Jeans. I hope I have been able to inspire you with this layout and look forward to seeing you again next time on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog. Have a wonderful and creative day. XoXo, Jo

Choose Happy | Happiness collection | Tarrah McLean

Tarrah McLean 23/05/2024

Hi creative friends!

It’s Tarrah back with you today to share a new scrapbook layout featuring the gorgeous Happiness collection! I was given the Throwback Thursday theme for this week so I decided to revisit the gorgeous Happiness collection and got creating! I don’t know about you but the Happiness collection would have to be one of my all-time favourite collections by Cocoa Vanilla, I am in love with it!

I chose to document a photo of my honey and I on a date a couple of months ago, opting to print the photo in black and white so that it would stand out amongst all the colour in the Happiness collection. I began by choosing a title cut file from CUT to YOU, cutting it out on white cardstock, I then took one of the papers from the A5 paper stack and backed the open letters in the cut file. I added craft foam to the underside of the larger letters and adhered it down in the centre of another sheet of plain white cardstock. I did leave adhesive off the top part of the cut file so that I could tuck in my photo and some embellishments and the cut file would be able to overlap these. I trimmed this white cardstock down to measure roughly 11′ x 11′ and adhered it to the ‘B’ side of the Botanical Bliss paper, I machine-stitched a border around the outside to add some texture and some interest.

I layered another of the papers from the A5 paper stack underneath the photo and also one of the frames from the ephemera pack. I also tucked one of the journal spots from the Accessory sticker sheet into the top of the frame and photo. Next, I cut out the ‘You Are My Happy’ from the A5 paper pad and adhered it to the right-hand side of the photo. I also tucked in the tag from the Accessory sticker sheet into the top of the You Are My Happy piece. I took some more ephemera pieces like the florals and butterflies and layered them around the cut file, I also layered the phrase banner die-cuts on top of the cut file.

The clear stickers in this collection are gorgeous so I added them around my page and also some of the phrase stickers from the Accessory sticker sheet as well. As I don’t journal on my pages all that much, I love how these phrase stickers help to tell the story behind my photo.

I cut a strip of the ‘B’ side of the ‘Frame of Mind’ paper and punched out a scalloped border using my border punch. I then adhered this piece below the cut file and machine-stitched through the centre to add some extra texture. Lastly I stamped the date stamp to finish my layout. A love how it turned out and hope you are inspired to get creative!

Thanks so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today!

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

Family | Heart & Home collection | Sue Plumb

Sue Plumb 21/05/2024

Hi everyone, it’s Sue Plumb here to share another design team project with you. Today I am sharing a mixed media layout featuring the ‘Heart & Home’ collection. Inspired by this month’s “Flower Frenzy” challenge, I decided to document this family photo I took while we were out celebrating an early Mother’s Day lunch. (Family photos with all of us in them are rare, as I am usually the one behind the camera – I am sure many of you can relate!)

I began this layout with a sheet of white cardstock, which I cut down to measure 11×11″, and then backed with the sweet Leaf Litter paper to form a border. I then used pale pink Distress Oxide ink mixed with a little water to create a watercolour paint, which I brushed vertically onto the top half of the page using a wide brush. I then chose a yellow acrylic paint and applied it vertically to the bottom half of the page using a small brayer. This gave me a two-toned background that coordinated perfectly with the colours of the collection.

Now it was time for some paper! I chose a mix of patterned papers, including Fall Beauty, Harvest, and a couple of designs from the A5 Paper Stack to create layers in the central area of my page. I used a mix of both cut and torn edges for contrasting textures, and also added some frayed gauze and a paper doily. My photo was then mounted on top with a little cardboard behind it to help pop it up from the page.

I stuck a couple of stickers from the Accessory Sticker sheet directly onto my photo, then turned my attention to the journalling. I cut a journal card from the Gather cut apart paper, then popped it into my typewriter. (I find the easiest way to do this is to use some washi tape to tack it to a larger piece of paper or card, so it doesn’t get lost in the roller.) I then tucked my journal card under the edge of photo and added a handmade heart embellishment on top.

Then it was time for some flowers! I used a combination of fussy cut pieces from the Bountiful paper, and others from the Floral Ephemera pack to build my clusters. I used my tried and true method of creating a visual triangle around my photo to help me decide placement which in this case was top left / centre right / middle bottom. You can see how this frames naturally around the focal point of my page (my photo). I layered the floral pieces, bending up the leaves to create dimension off the page.

I finished my page with a Gold Foil Title in the lower right corner; some stamped words and the date; and tiny gold ink splatters scattered around. Love how this one came together!

If you love flowers, then make sure you enter our May “Flower Frenzy” challenge which is hosted in our Facebook Cocoa Vanilla Studio Community group. You can enter as many times as you wish (providing each entry is created specifically for our challenge) and there is a $25 store voucher to be won. Looking forward to seeing your floral masterpieces!

Until next time, happy scrapping!

Adventure Getaway | Great Escape collection | Sophie Delorme

Sophie Delorme 20/05/2024

Hello Cocoa Vanilla friends !

It’s Sophie with you today and I am happy to share this new layout created with the Great Escape collection !

I went with circles for my design and selected several different patterned papers from the collection and placed them in scalloped circles (created with a metal die from my stash).

I selected a beautiful photo from our trip to the Rocky Mountains and centered it on my page.

I embellished around the photo with all these coloured circles.

I cut about half an inch for both sides of my 12×12 white cardstock and placed it on the beautiful striped paper “Journey” from the collection. It recalls all the colours from the circles and ties everything together !

Finally, I embellished the layout with Die cuts from the Die Cut Ephemera pack, stars from the Puffy Stickers pack and used a Foam Title Sticker for my title.

Here are more close-ups: