Gwen Wruck

FAVOURITES | MIXED | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

I hope you are all well!  Gwen here on the blog today with my last share for Cocoa Vanilla Studios for the year.  This week the design team are featuring our favourite layouts for 2019.

I so love all of the pages I created this year, it really is hard to choose but I couldn’t go past this layout of my daughter and I and our Elf on the Shelf ‘Candy’. This one is not only a favourite because it is a Christmas page, but I’m also really loving the soft watercolour I’ve used on the background in this one, the cut file (CUT to YOU) and the layers of Christmas die cuts from the ‘Tis the Season‘ collection.

My second choice is “Bloom” created using the ‘Unforgettable‘ collection.  I chose this page for a couple of reasons, firstly it documents me and I really don’t do enough of that! It’s about a personal journey I’ve been on these past 2 years.  I also love that it was a page I taught at my local store. I love teaching and to be able to do that with the stunning collections Cocoa Vanilla makes really is a dream come true.

Lastly, I’ve included this layout “Dream”.  I couldn’t help but put this in as it features my all-time favourite collection “Bohemian Dream“.  The colours in this collection will never get old for me even after using it on a stack of layouts.  For this one, I set about using up some of the smaller scraps I had; not wanting to throw any of it out!  I’ve backed this cut file (CUT to YOU) mixing and matching all of the patterns to create this bright and happy page.

Thanks for popping by today, and for your support both personally and for Cocoa Vanilla Studios.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  It has been such a fun year and there is lots more to come in 2020.

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

CHRISTMAS | BOHEMIAN DREAM | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

Gwen up on the blog today with a new share and its a fun Christmas project featuring my husband, daughter and our ‘Elf on the Shelf’ Candy on holiday in 2017. You all know how I love Christmas so this page was a heap of fun to make!

For a bit of a challenge, I decided to create the project without any ‘Christmas’ themed supplies. I really just wanted to use some things I had on hand to show that you don’t need a Christmas collection to make a pretty Christmas page. I started with my favourite collection ‘Bohemian Dream‘. I felt the cool colours of this collection would translate really well and would be perfect or those who have a cooler Christmas season.

I then pulled this cut file from CUT to YOU called ‘Roses and Frames’ and went about backing it in a section of the papers. I’ve used ‘Dreamer‘ and ‘Abundant‘ for this. Next, I’ve added a photo mat to my pictures, also using the Abundant paper. In my usual style, I’ve raised these on foam and added a stitch detail to the edge. I really love how the black and white photos work for this page, especially once I added the silver elements.

I’ve then simply added my cut file and photos centring it all on my page. I then added a border around the page edge using the ‘Abstract‘ paper. I am really loving the grid style of this cut file.

At this stage, my page was looking good, I really just needed to add in some embellishments to finish it off. I’ve pulled from my stash some Thickers letters and spelt out the title ‘Christmas’. It was at this point that I decided to try and keep the layout very balanced which is why I’ve gone with half the title on the left, the other on the right.

I’ve continued with this balanced look for all of the embellishments, starting with two of the chipboard birds and two butterflies from the ‘Die Cut Ephemera‘ pack. I’ve also added some sentiments from this pack to both photos, I really love those little tab elements. Next, I’ve chosen some stickers from the ‘Accessory Sticker Sheet‘ which I’ve placed up on foam tape for added dimension and lastly added a sparkly silver fabric bow from my stash.

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project, I hope it inspires you to get this collection out from your stash and try a Christmas project. If it does, be sure to pop it into the Cocoa Vanilla Studio facebook group, I love seeing what you make.

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

HERE AND NOW | UNFORGETTABLE | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

Gwen with you on the blog today with a new share using the beautiful ‘Unforgettable’ collection.  For this page, I’ve jumped out of my comfort zone again to scrap another picture of me, this one was taken on my birthday recently.  I’m also sharing some extra tips and tricks for working with cut files!

Many of you will already know that I just love working with cut files on my pages.  I love that they are super inexpensive and the designs really are limitless.  It will be no surprise that once I had chosen a photo to work with for this page, I went to my extensive library.  This file is from my cut file store CUT to YOU and I love that it helps me document this snapshot in time, my 43rd birthday.  I’ve done a stack of journaling on the back talking about where I’m at right now in my life.

To begin the page, I started by backing the letters in the file.  Tip #1 – If you have a limited supply of coordinating pattern papers, this is a fab way to use them up or make them stretch.  You’d be surprised just how little you need to make a bold title like this one, AND you can mix and match all of your scraps amongst the letters for a really pretty look.  Tip #2 – Pattern paper pads such as the one from this collection are perfect for backing cut files.  The smaller print designs work so well with the small spaces within the files.

While we are talking about backing the letters… Tip #3 – I find it much easier when working with a small area in a cut file to glue the pattern paper to my cut file and then use fussy cutting scissors to cut it out.  I find this way of backing the files the fastest for me, much faster than tracing each section and then cutting it out and then trying to position it back into the open space of the file.

Once my file was all backed and I was happy with it I went about backing my photo and thinking about the composition of my page.  Tip #4 – It’s a good idea to use the software from your electronic die cutting machine to help you with the size and placement of the design on your page.  I consider the layout of my page design when resizing the file so that once cut and you get to create it’s not too big or too small for your design idea.

I was now looking at the file and photo on my layout and it wasn’t quite popping off the page in a way I’d like so Tip #5 – I’ve added some foam tape to lift it off the page AND some soft watercolour behind the file to really help the white edges pop off the white background.  I use both of these techniques a lot to help give the cut file definition on a white background.

It was now time to embellish the page, this bit is super easy and fun with the larger elements in place.  For this, I’ve fussy cut out the large green butterfly element from the ‘Pretty Bits’ pattern paper and teamed it with two more smaller butterflies fussy cut from the ‘Lacewing’ pattern paper.  I’ve also added in a pink butterfly from the ‘Ephemera Pack’.

To create a small cluster in the top right-hand corner of my page, I’ve combined elements from the ‘Accessory Sticker sheet’, enamel dots and a flair button.  The larger floral die cut at the bottom of my photo is from the ‘Die Cut Ephemera’ pack.  To finish the page off, I’ve added some typed sentiments from the ‘Accessory Sticker Sheet’ using more foam tape for dimension.

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project, I hope you enjoyed the tips and tricks I’ve shared for working with cut files and that they inspire you to give working with them a go, they really are the best fun!  If you haven’t checked out the latest collection ‘Unforgettable’ yet, you really must, it is DIVINE!

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

LOVE YOU | HAPPINESS | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

I hope you are all well!  Gwen back on the Cocoa Vanilla blog today with a new share using the beautiful ‘Happiness‘ collection.  This one is a little different for me because it features 5 photos!  I usually create with only one or two photos per page so when my sister and I took this fun series of photos, I knew I had to come up with a plan to get them all on the one layout.

My initial thought for getting this many photos on my page was to print them small which I did first up.  Then, I got to thinking about a grid design and pulled out this cut file by CUT to YOU.  I had thought about placing the photos within the squares of the cut file, however I had printed them too small for that and didn’t want to waste the prints I had done… so, Plan C it was!

Unsure what to do about the photos, I put those aside and started working on the cut file. I’ve gone about backing some of the squares in the stunning blue of the ‘Good Vibes‘ paper.  Then, in the heart shapes, I backed with the pink of the ‘Meadow‘ paper.  To help the title stand out, I’ve backed that in the ‘Botanical Bliss‘ pattern paper.  I love the deep navy with the fresh white of the cut file.

With the elements of the cutfile backed, I’ve then placed the entire design onto some white card from my stash.  I have used foam tape in between the layers here for added dimension.  I’ve then created a border by mounting this large piece onto the ‘Expressive‘ paper.  I’ve made sure to take the centre of the pattern paper to save it for another project, this one is my favourite from this collection!

I’ve then mounted all of this onto a backing piece of the ‘Botanical Bliss‘ pattern paper.  I will often use a contrasting border on my page and find it really does finish off the edges nicely.

Next, I’ve mounted my photos with a very fine border of the ‘Expressive‘ paper and then mounted onto foam tape.  It was now a matter of playing with the design and layout to get it how I want.  After a little trial and error, I decided to go along the same line as the cut file.  You will notice the letters run from the top left the bottom right.  I’ve positioned my photos in much the same way so that your eye runs across the layout top left to bottom right.  Everything just flows across the page.

At this point, the page is nearly done but of course, I need some smaller elements to bring it all together!  I’ve fussy cut some pretty butterflies from the ‘Bright and Beautiful‘ paper (just the pink and blue ones to match my pattern papers) as well as two of the flair from the ‘flair pack‘.  I’ve also selected some stickers from the ‘Accessory Sticker Sheet‘ and a die-cut element from the ‘Die Cut Ephemera‘ pack.

I’ve added all of these elements running along the same line of my page, top left to bottom right, keeping with the flow of the photos and title of the page.  It was at this stage that I changed the title to be ‘Love You’ by adding in the die cut word ‘you’ from the ‘Die Cut Titles‘ pack and it finishes the page up perfectly.

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project, I hope it inspires you to get creating and using some of your ‘Happiness’ stash.  If it does, I’d love to see what you make over on the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Facebook group.  There is so much inspiration over there and worth checking out!

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

LITTLE MOMENTS | UNFORGETTABLE | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

Gwen with you on the blog today, I hope you are all well! I’m back today with a new share using the stunning ‘Unforgettable’ collection.  This is the fourth page I’ve made with this collection and the more I use it, the more I just love it!  My page features a photo of my daughter the day before heading off to her first school camp.  We were both super nervous about the adventure ahead and I had been speaking with her about enjoying the little moments at camp and remembering that these are moments she will look back on and truly treasure, even though right now it didn’t seem that way.

I started the page with the idea of creating a central paper stack for my photo and working outward from there.  For this, I’ve used the butterfly quad element from the ‘Pretty Bits’ pattern paper.  I’ve teamed this with the ‘Sprightly’ paper which I’ve used as an edge for my layout as well as a double mat for my photo.  **TIP –  If you want a double mat for your photo and aren’t sure which two papers to use, go with an A and B side of the same paper, they were made for each other :)

With my photo mat sorted, I positioned it overlapping the butterfly quad element (making sure to fussy cut out the two butterflies that were not showing for later) and centered everything onto a plain white card stock background.  Now, I could go through all of the pretty elements of the collection to fill out my page.

I find it is always best to work with larger elements first and then move onto the smaller ones, so started with the pretty floral die cut from the ‘Die Cut Ephemera’ pack.  I’ve used one of the largest pieces here and then added smaller pieces on top using foam tape for a layered effect.

Next, I’ve added in the Orange fussy cut butterfly that I had saved and a smaller one from the ‘Die Cut Ephemera pack’.  There is still another Grey butterfly that I had fussy cut, that one will be added to a new project.  I’ve also added in here a large sticker from the ‘Accessory Sticker Sheet’ and a medium-sized die-cut Camera.  I’ve grabbed a flair button and added that here as well.

I was really happy with the ‘bones’ of my page now so it was time to move onto smaller embellishments.  I’ve pulled out several stickers from the ‘Accessory Sticker Sheet’ and positioned them on my page.  There were quite a few that really suited the sentiment for this layout and I loved how the colours matched perfectly.  Lastly, I went about adding a cute bow from the ‘Tassles and Bows’ pack as well as some Enamel dots and the page was complete.

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project, I hope it inspires you to get creating with this beautiful collection.

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

BLOOM | UNFORGETTABLE | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

Gwen on the blog today – Happy Wednesday to you all.  I’m so excited to be back with another Cocoa Vanilla Studio share.  I’ve had some more time to play with the new ‘Unforgettable’ collection which I am absolutely loving!  I was looking through my pages recently and noticed that I hadn’t done one of myself in a while.  I can’t say I love scrapbooking about ‘me’ but I know how important it is, so pushed through the self-consciousness and got to creating.

The inspiration for the page came from all the pretty florals in the collection and the word from the Foam Titles ‘Bloom’.  I wanted to document some changes that have been happening personally for me over the past year or so and love this sentiment.  We should always be growing and developing and I thought this would be a nice page to represent that.  (I’ve put a lot of journaling on the back of this one!)

With so many pretty pattern papers in the collection, I wasn’t sure where to start so I pulled out the ‘Pretty Bits’ paper and trimmed it so that I would have some colour blocks of the patterns.  When in doubt as to which pattern to use, I went with using them all!!  I’ve positioned the strips on the left and right sides of my page.

 

Next, I’ve taken another strip, wider this time, from the same pattern paper and added that to create a wider block of colour.  I’ve also now added some machine stitching down the edges for added detail.  Now it was time to mat my photo.  For this, I’ve gone with the ‘Garland’ paper.  I can’t believe I chopped into that wreath on the other side of this paper, thank goodness the Collection pack has two sheets of each design!

I’ve added more stitching around my photo, I just love how it sets it off.  Now it was time to play with the elements from the Ephemera Pack.  To start, I pulled out the black and white wreath element.  I’ve cut that in half to stretch it out over my page.  One half went above my photo, the other on the right as the base of my element cluster.

I’ve gone through the pack adding elements running from the top left of the page, down the centre line to the bottom right-hand corner.  I find this helps draw the eye around the page.  I’ve also added in the title at this point, above my photo and across the wide blocks of colour from the pattern paper.  I just the pop of black in this collection, so striking!

I’ve also added in a flair button as well as a cute bow.  I love the dimension these elements add to the page AND you all know how much I love a bow!

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project, I hope it inspires you to get creating. If you don’t have any of the new ‘Unforgettable’ collection yet I urge you to go and get shopping, it really is beautiful and so nice to create with.

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

YOU ARE SPECIAL | UNFORGETTABLE | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

Gwen with you on the blog today and I’m crazy crazy excited to be using the beautiful new ‘Unforgettable’ collection!  Seriously, this collection is just divine!  I actually get quite nervous working with a new collection, I want to be sure I do it justice.  I imagine how much work Zoe has put into designing it and I don’t want to let her down.  I have to say though, this one was so so easy to work with straight away, I’m already calling it a real contender as my favourite of all time.

I began the page with some fussy cutting, as I mentioned, I do sometimes struggle knowing where to start with oh so many pretty choices, so a bit of fussy cutting is a great way to ease myself into it.  I fussy cut out the four butterflies from the ‘Pretty Bits’ pattern paper.  I then decided on my photo and went to the ‘6×8 inch paper stack’ and mounted it with the bright pink pattern ‘Unscripted’.

Next, I decided to use a plain white cardstock for my base but wanted to add some colour.  I’ve taken a stencil and added some watercolour spray.  Once dry, I’ve chosen a cut file, this one from CUT to YOU for my title.  Yes, there are the most divine foam title stickers in the collection, but I’m currently hoarding those!  Again, I’ve used the paper stack to alternate pattern papers to back each letter.  I love that for this collection the papers are not glued together into a pad, they are all individual sheets so it is super easy to pull them all out to audition each design before you commit to anything.

Once my cut file was all backed and looking lovely, I’ve position onto my background with some foam tape.  Now it was time to look through all of the pretty embellishments.

I’ve started with the Ephemera pack, which has 65 pieces, including florals and butterflies and banners and auditioned EVERYTHING, it is all so so nice! As well as the ‘Bows and Tassles’ pack, there was no way I wasn’t going to include a bow on this first page!  I’ve also matched the ‘Enamel dots’ from the collection with the pop of the pink in the pattern paper.

I thought it best to lock in the position of my large fussy cut butterflies first and then work in the smaller elements.  I did end up with just the three for this page. I did find a matching butterfly from the ephemera pack which was the perfect fit as it was quite a bit smaller than the others.

I’ve added in some florals to the left and right of my photo as well as a pretty little cluster of banners and florals above the right-hand side of my photo.  I find this gives the eye three places to rest as it moves around the page and really rounds out the design.  Lastly, I added in the bow and the enamel dots and called it done.

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project, the first of many with this new collection.  It is shipping now and I know many retailers have pre-orders available, so if you don’t have any on order yet, get onto that, it’s even prettier in real life!

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

DREAM LOVE | BOHEMIAN DREAM | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

I hope you are having a wonderful day, thanks for popping by the blog!  Gwen here today sharing a new layout featuring my favourite CVS collection of all time ‘Bohemian Dream‘.  It’s crazy to me that I call it that, as I’m not normally a lover of purple, but this collection just nails it for me! I’ve paired it with a CUT to YOU cut file, to document a sweet photo of my little miss.

I didn’t really have a story to document with this photo, it was taken on a random day, but these are actually my favourite kinds of photos to scrap.  I use them in my albums to share with my daughter just how loved she is.  I love that when she flips the pages she can see lovely messages about living her dream, shining bright and that she is so loved and this collection for me is perfect for doing that!

Ok, so onto the layout!  I started by backing my cut file.  I’ve used a combination of the ‘Abstract‘ paper and the ‘Abundant‘ paper to add stripes to my butterflies.  Yes, this took a while, but I think the end result is worth it.  Once that was done, I’ve used some watercolours to add patches of watercolour over some of the flowers on the cut file.  I’ve also left some of the flowers plain white.

Next, I’ve matted my photo, I’ve used more of the ‘Abstract‘ paper for this and stitched around the edge as I do with most of my layouts.  It was now time to think about the background of my page.  For this, I’ve grabbed a plain white piece of cardstock and added more of the same watercolours that I used on the cut file.  I think this helps the page come together with a consistent look.  Once happy with the watercolour background, I’ve mounted the entire sheet onto more of the ‘Abundant‘ paper and stitched around the edge.

With the background looking good, and the cut file done, it was now time to bring everything together.  I’ve mounted the cut file piece onto some foam tape and added to my background.  I’ve then added in my photo, mounting it as well for extra dimension.

Now for the fun bit!  I’ve gone through all of the wonderful bits and pieces from the collection to see what I could add to my page.  I’ve started with the ‘Ephemera Pack‘ as well as the ‘Flair Buttons‘.  I’ve grabbed my title from the chipboard embellishment pack and also added some stickers from the ‘Accessory Stickers‘ sheet.

I’ve just pulled out anything I think would fit and then auditioned them in various spots all over my page.  I must say, I am totally crushing on the watercolour flowers in this collection, they really suit this layout with the other watercolour elements I’ve added.  I’ve finished off the page with some enamel dots and a plain white button from my stash.

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project.  I really enjoyed putting this one together, even though it did take a little while with the details of the cut file! If you don’t have any of the Bohemian Dream collection yet I urge you to go and grab some while you still can, it really is a beautiful collection!

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

SISTERS | HAPPINESS | GWEN WRUCK

Hi Creative Friends,

It’s Gwen with you on the blog today sharing a very special page.  Today is International Sister’s day and to celebrate, I’ve created a page that documents my relationship with my sister.   It features the stunning ‘Happiness’ collection and a photo taken with my sister at a lunch outing we had recently.

The inspiration for this page absolutely started with my photo.  I love how blue that sky is behind us and was immediately drawn to the blue watercolour design of the ‘Good Times’ pattern paper.  I then took a cut file from my stash, this one from CUT to YOU as it was perfect for today’s theme celebrating sisters.  I’ve cut it out as a statement title for my page using the ‘Botanical Bliss’ pattern paper.  I wanted a real contrast between the file and the background for my layout which I had planned to make white.  I backed it with the stunning blue watercolour pattern paper; ‘Good Times’.

With my cut file sorted, I went to work on the design of my page.  I mounted my photo with the ‘Expressive’ pattern paper and then backed on foam for dimension and added machine stitching.  Once I was sure where these large elements were going to go, the page looked a little too plain for what I had in mind, so I thought it might be fun to add a little bit of mixed media onto my background.

I’ve added clear gesso to some thick white cardstock and then used some mists, spraying and moving around the colour until I was happy.  I like my mixed media to be a little subtle and soft, but do love the addition it makes to this page.  It adds another layer of detail and softens the plain white background I had previously.

Once my background was dry, I’ve added my cut file (with foam tape for dimension) and my photo… Now it was time for some embellishing!

I began by fussy cutting out some pink butterflies from the ‘Bright and Beautiful’ pattern paper.  I also pulled out some of the floral pieces from the ‘Die Cut Ephemera’ pack.  I then went about creating a floral cluster down the right-hand side of my photo.  I then scattered the butterflies over my page and added a few more elements from the Die Cut Ephemera pack.  The bow you see below has been cut with a die with some of the scrap ‘Botanical Bliss’ pattern paper.

To finish the page off, I’ve grabbed some sentiment stickers from the ‘Accessory Sticker Sheet’ and added.

Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project.  I hope my page inspires you to get creative with the ‘Happiness’ collection, it is one of my favourites!  And, if you have a sister, why not create a special page to celebrate her; I bet she’s awesome like mine! xo

Until next time,

Gwen

xo

 

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