papercrafting

Choose Happy | Happiness collection | Tarrah McLean

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

Throwback Thursday | DayDream | Rachel Lowe

Hello CVS crafty friends, if its Thursday then its a throwback layout today! I have used Daydream to create my layout and just couldn’t go past the rainbow paper no matter how hard I tried lol!

I fussy cut the rainbow strips and machine stitched each one. I dug deep to find the cloud paper from the Sugar and Spice collection (now that is going back a long way!!!), how perfect does the rainbow go on this paper. I punched some hearts in a coordinating colour for the two large rainbow strips and then added them with foam tape to create a 3D effect.

I tucked a sun die cut behind the rainbow and finished this off with a die cut heart. I next added a journal blog and prettied it up with lots of florals. I will go back later and add some journalling.

I used two frames from the die cuts to highlight my photos. I used the same photo twice but cropped the second photo focusing on our faces. I love using the phrase sentiment tabs from the accessory sticker sheet on my photos to stop them looking too plain but not overly distracting from the actual photo. I added two phrase sentiment stickers under my photo.

Lastly I added my title using the die cut titles, Happy days which I added with foam tape to create more dimension and finished off by adding some die cut butterflies also added with foam tape.

 

I love how this turned out! I think it is always good to revisit older collections as you tend to see and use them differently second time around. Thank you for stopping by and see you again soon!

Rachel X

 

You Are My World | No Limits collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi creative friends!

It’s Tarrah back with you today to share my second layout using the awesome, new No Limits collection! I absolutely LOVE the dark papers in this collection, I love how the white cardstock cut file really pops against the dark paper.

The cut file I have used is from CUT to YOU, I cut it out of white cardstock and backed the ‘World’ word with one of the multi stripe rainbow papers from the A5 paper stack. The reason I picked the multi stripe rainbow paper was so there was some colours added amongst the white and the dark. Once the word was backed I added craft foam underneath the entire cut file and adhered it to the background paper. For the thin words, I did have to add super small pieces of craft foam so that it was not visible on the layout. It really helps to create a page when you add title cut files, it more or less helps determine where everything else can go on the layout.

The photo I am documenting is of myself and my family printed in black and white so that it matched the page perfectly. I layered one of the 3′ x 4′ journaling cards underneath and also one of the die-cut tags from the ephemera pack, I added some craft foam underneath the photo and placed it to the right of the ‘You Are My’ on the cut file. I added some twine in the hole at the top of the tag. At the bottom right corner, I created a small cluster of embellishments here to create a visual triangle with the other 2 clusters I also added to the page. This cluster consists of the circle journal spot die-cut, an arrow die-cut and a star die-cut. I also added one of the gorgeous wood epoxy buttons and a star puffy sticker too. I stamped the date stamp also. Up in the top right corner of my photo I placed a phrase Accessory sticker. I added a few more of the Accessory stickers around the page to help tell my story as well.

To the left of the word ‘World’ I created another embellishment cluster, this time placing a globe die-cut using foam tape, another star die-cut and a star puffy sticker too. Below the cut file, I also placed the ‘The Original + The Best’ die-cut piece and some more stars in both chipboard form and puffy sticker form. Above the cut file title I added the third cluster of embellishments that included some die-cuts, some chipboard and puffy sticker stars and a couple more phrase stickers from the Accessory Sticker sheet.

Above my photo I tucked in one of the large die-cut stars and added one of the chipboard stars in the centre. Once I have added all of the embellishments I think my page needs, I take a step back and give my page a look from a few different angles to make sure I am happy with it, this is when I might opt for another small embellishment in a particular spot or I think about what else my page may need. I usually do not go too over board though and in this case it was a matter of sprinkling some white mist to finish off.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog today! I hope you enjoyed my layout as much as I enjoyed creating it?!

Make sure you get your hands on this amazing collection for yourself to create with! 

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

Australia Day | Boys Rule collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi crafty friends!

Its Tarrah back with you on the Cocoa Vanilla blog today sharing a new layout created for our Australia Day ‘Green and Gold’ feature for this week!

I chose to document a photo of my youngest son from an Australia Day a few years back when our flag was almost as big as him lol! I decided to stick with mainly green from the awesome Boys Rule collection. I cut out the CUT to YOU Australia Day title cut file design from white cardstock and backed the open spaces of the ‘Australia’ word with the green ombre spot paper from the 6′ x 8′ paper pad in Boys Rule, I made sure to have the lighter spots starting at the top and then cascading to the darker spots at the bottom.

Once it was all backed, I added craft foam underneath and adhered the whole thing to my chosen background paper. I did make sure to leave the right side without too much adhesive so that my photo and layers could be tucked in here. I backed my photo with the star paper in the 6′ x 8′ paper pad and also tucked in a frame and a tab. At the top, I tucked in a tag and added some star die-cuts.

I love the look of embellishments on top of cut files, I made sure to include a few star die-cuts and some accessory stickers on the cut file to draw interest here. I just had to add the chipboard piece that says ‘Fun and Games’ as our Australia Days are exactly that! Fun and Games! Lastly I added some phrase stickers and a few more die-cuts to further tell the story of my photo. I also stamped the date stamp of the date the photo was taken.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today! I hope you enjoyed seeing my layout and that you were inspired in some way?

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

Happy Days | Daydream collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi everyone and Happy New Year!

It’s Tarrah back with you today to share a new project featuring the stunning Daydream collection. I decided to create something a little different for my project today. I have created a round canvas wall hanging for my craft room!

I chose a 12′ size round canvas and chose the gorgeous Over the Rainbow paper for the background. I traced the canvas onto the paper and free hand cut it out. I used a strong glue to adhere the paper to the canvas, making sure there weren’t too many bubbles. On the left, the paper didn’t quite reach to cover up the canvas so I improvised and covered it with lots of gorgeous florals from the ephemera pack. I used glue and craft foam here for different heights of dimension.

On the right of the canvas I created another cluster of florals to balance with the cluster on the left. I used both glue and foam tape here again for dimension. Once the florals were all dry I bent up the edges of the flowers and leaves for even more dimension.

On the left side of the canvas I just had to include the journal card that reads, ‘These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” from the Happy Place paper. It is the perfect phrase to suit my craft room! At the top of the rainbow, I chose a few of the heart die-cuts in various colours and added these using craft foam for dimension. In the centre of the canvas I added craft foam underneath my title – ‘Happy Days’ – after all every day is a happy day in my craft room! I added 3 butterflies and moths here also along with, ‘The Good Life’ phrase from the ephemera pack. One of the super cute puffy hearts made it on and also some more heart die-cuts.

Once I was happy with the front, I felt the outside was too bare so I trialed a few different trims from my stash finally settling on some lace that I felt matched the prettiness and girly feel of the canvas.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today! I hope you enjoyed my project today and that you are inspired in some way. Make sure to get yourself the beautiful Daydream collection from the online store now if you don’t already have it!

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

Pillow Box Gifts | Merry & Bright Collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi everyone and Merry Christmas! I hope you are all ready for the big man in red to arrive?!

Welcome back to the Cocoa Vanilla blog today! It’s Tarrah back with you today to share a Christmas gift box idea using the gorgeous new Merry and Bright collection.

I found a free pillow box template online, printed it out and traced it onto some vellum. I then used the vellum as my template and scored the pillow box shape onto 3 different patterned papers from the Merry and Bright collection! For the larger stripe one, I used a 12 x 12 piece of paper and the 2 smaller ones, I used the A5 paper pad papers. The A5 paper pad is perfect for projects like this!

I cut and folded the gift boxes and then assembled them together. They are super cute and easy to make! They are perfect boxes to gift money, vouchers, lollies, chocolates, earrings anything small really! I attached some white twine from my stash to each one and chose a tag for each and tied a bow.

For each gift box I added a tag and embellished each tag by adding a sticker or 2 from the Accessory sticker sheet and a die-cut from the ephemera pack. I also layered underneath each tag a die-cut flower for extra decoration. To fill your gift box, you just open one end and add the gift inside and close it back up! Super cute and easy!

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today!

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas project and that you get a chance to create these yourself!

Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas. I hope you all get to spend time with loved ones and relax together.

Till next time,

Tarrah x

Joy | Merry and Bright collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi friends!

It’s Tarrah back with you here on the Cocoa Vanilla blog and today I have a new Christmas themed layout to share with you featuring the stunning Merry and Bright collection! I just can’t get enough of this gorgeous Christmas collection! It’s my most favourite Christmas collection ever!

I decided to use the gorgeous large Christmas Tree die-cut and the backing paper but used it slightly differently to how it comes. I pulled off the die-cut from the backing patterned paper and backed all the spaces with papers from the 6′ x 8′ paper pad. These papers were different to the patterns on the backing paper it comes with. Once it was all backed, I added craft foam underneath and adhered it back to the backing paper, however I moved it over to the right so that the tree pattern underneath could be seen. I love the shadows this creates on my page.

On the right, I layered some of the awesome 3′ x 4′ journal cards under the photo of my Mum with my boys and niece. To the right of the photo I tucked in a tree die-cut and also added 2 over on the left, I tucked one in and the other is adhered on top. I also decorated the tree with a few more die-cuts and accessory stickers too. The flairs are super cute from the Merry and Bright collection, I added the pink one that says 25 December on the left side of the page.

I added more die-cuts including some hearts and phrases and those gorgeous gold puffy stars! One had to be added to the top of the tree and I added 2 more to the other embellishment clusters. To finish I trimmed down the backing patterned paper and backed it with the ‘B’ side of the Countdown paper. I then trimmed this paper down again and backed the entire layout with gold glitter cardstock. Lastly I splattered some gold mist around the layout and stamped the date stamp.

Thanks so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today, I hope you enjoyed my layout and that you were inspired in some way!

Happy Christmas creating!!

Tarrah x

You Are My Sun, My Moon and All of My Stars | Boys Rule collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi everyone!

It’s Tarrah back with you on the Cocoa Vanilla blog and today I am sharing a new layout for an ‘Add Something Black’ feature this week!

I decided to add a black cut file design from CUT to YOU for my black feature and I dug into my big Boys Rule collection!!

I cut the design out from black cardstock and then backed all the different words in the cut file with the papers from the Boys Rule 6′ x 8′ paper pad. I then added foam adhesive underneath the entire cut file and adhered it to gorgeous blue background paper. I trimmed down this paper and matted the entire layout with black cardstock also.

I adhered the photo of my eldest son in the top right corner of the page, lifting up the cut file slightly to have the file sitting over the photo. I layered a tag, a tab and some paper under the photo and added one of the awesome chipboard stars over the top of the photo. Some of the other chipboard elements I added were the pennant that says, ‘The Best’ at the top, the arrow on the left of the page and the lightning bolt at the bottom.

Some star die-cuts were also added to help fill in other spaces, you can never go wrong with stars on a boy page right?! I also added the piece that says, ‘100% Boy’ under the word moon.

Some phrase stickers from the accessory sticker sheet were added as a final touch and I also stamped the date stamp of when the photo was taken. I really enjoyed working with a black cut file instead of my go to white for this layout. I love how the black makes the colours in the Boys Rule collection really pop!

Thanks so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today! I hope you enjoyed my layout and that you were inspired in some way!

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

 

Good Times | Daydream collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi everyone!

It’s Tarrah back with you today to share a new layout featuring the amazing Cocoa Vanilla Studio Daydream collection! I just love all the florals in this collection so I decided to cut out a large floral and leaf cut file design from my favourite cut file shop, CUT to YOU.

Once I had the cut file design cut out, I took the awesome Daydream 6′ x 8′ paper stack and backed all the florals and leaves in the design with the different papers. The cut file design has 2 rectangles in the centre, I backed both these spaces with patterned papers also and I knew that I wanted to place the sweet photo of my nieces in the top rectangle, I then added my title to the bottom rectangle. My title is the Good Times piece cut from the cut apart sheet.

Once I had the cut file backed, I added craft foam underneath it and then adhered it to the B side of the Garden Variety patterned paper. You can see in the close up photos the shadow this creates on the page. As the cut file is mostly the focal point of my layout, I kept the embellishing fairly simple.

I added some of the gorgeous floral diecuts, tucked into the side of the cut file as well as layered on top near my photo. I tucked in a tab diecut on the left of my photo and added phrase stickers from the Accessory sticker sheet.

The heart flair button is super cute, I added this just above my title, I love the moths and butterflies from the All Aflutter patterned paper, I fussy cut some of those out but only ended up using 1 to fill the space in the bottom right corner of the cut file.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla Studio blog today! I hope you enjoyed my layout and that you were inspired in some way.

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

Happy Christmas | Tis The Season Collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi creative friends!

It’s Tarrah McLean back with you on this Thursday! I hope all my fellow Aussie friends are all safe from these horrendous bush fires we are experiencing in our country at present?

Today I am sharing a layout for the Cut Files theme we have on all this week and being that its Thursday I was also given ‘Throwback Thursday’ where we create with an older collection. I decided to create a Christmas layout since it is fast approaching!I started my page by taking a sheet of white cardstock and adding a piece of vellum over the top to mute the white a little bit, as I had lots of the sequins left from the Tis The Season collection, I decided to add lots of them under the vellum to create a shaker pocket. Once I had added the sequins, I then machine stitched all the edges so that they wouldn’t fall out. I love how this turned out! I like that it adds another feature to my layout.

I took two of the 12 x 12 papers and cut some vertical strips from them and placed them down each side of the layout. then chose a gorgeous cut file title design by Cut To You and added some of the patterned papers behind each of the words. I added craft foam to the underneath and placed it in the centre of my page. I also popped up the photo of my sons on Christmas Day with craft foam so that it was at the same level as the title on my page. I love the shadows and dimension this creates on my page.

I then began to embellish my page using some of the accessory stickers (that are still available in the store) some of the die-cuts, wood veneers and of course a bitty bow and the tiny metal key! I only had 1 of the poinsettia flowers in the die-cut pack left so I added just the one to the very bottom of the title and layered the bow over the top. Lastly I added some of the enamel dots from the Tis The Season collection.  Have you got any of the Tis The Season collection left? Pull it out and get creating with it! Its such a soft and gorgeous collection for Christmas photos.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! See you next time!

Tarrah x

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