scraplift

Wild, Fun & Free | Great Escape | Michelle Stokes

Hello Hello, it’s Michelle here with you today to share another creation using our NEW collection – Great Escape. I’ve tied this into our current Monthly Scrap–lifting Challenge to give you another example of  where your imagination can take you when lifting others creations.

Wild, Fun & Happy – all words easily used to describe this crazy doggo of ours. He keeps us entertained day in and day out, loves on us like no tomorrow, and drives his fur sister Daisy absolutely crazy.

I took inspiration from the absolutely amazing layout below, created by Josephine. For my creation I’ve used used a mix of hand cut and ephemera stars to create a similar look to the hearts in the original.

I hand cut all the larger stars from the pattern papers within the A5Paper stack. I used the larger of the stars within the Ephemera pack to trace around, then drew secondary lines around that to create a larger star. I then grouped 2 complimenting patterns together and sewed them together with some rough machine stitching and adhered to the white background using foam tape for dimension.

I added in ephemera stars, fussy cut stars from the A5 version of the Star Gazing paper and puffy stars from both the foam title pack and puffy stickers pack.

I printed the photos in 2.5×3.5inch size and layered them together using foam behind to pop them up over the tops of the spiky star points. There is so much going on within this layout in terms of dimension, but I love it. It really brings the layout to life.

I also added pops of ephemera pieces and accessory stickers into the star clusters to add even more excitement to the layout.

Lastly the title came together using words from the Foam Title Stickers pack and my trusty old tiny alphas from the Hello Lovely Collection from many many moons ago.. Wonder if anyone can twist Zoe’s arm to get these released again? I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves a little old school alpha action on a layout?

A few splatters of gold ink and I have one complete scrap-lifted layout ready to add to the collection of Pet scrappy layouts.

Here’s a final look at the layout, inspired by Josephine’s

Well friends, thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my take on this Months Scrap Lift Challenge. Be sure to check out the original post HERE for all the info about it.

Until Next time, Happy Scrappin!
Michelle x

Happy Days | Happy Days Collection | Michelle Stokes

Hey Crafty friends it’s Michelle here today. I’ve created a layout using the wonderful Happy Days Collection for part of my annual scrapbooking series documenting my daughters current loves.. To keep a cohesive look to this project I make all the pages in the same design, just switching out the collections to suit the feelings of that year. Leila allowed the use of pink for this years layout, which is a big thing compared to the previous years.. Lets take a look

The bonus of creating one of these layouts each year is that it comes together so fast. The design of the layout is already pre-decided, I just need to select the papers, cut them to size, machine stitch around the edges and adhere to the layout. This years layout features pretty papers from the A5 paper stack as the smaller scale print works well when combined together with multiple patterns. Each square is cut to roughly 3 3/4 inch and set around the edges of the layout with white space in the opposite diagonal corners.

I added a 3×5 size photo to another A5 pattern paper and adhered to the middle right side of the layout, overlapping some of the background pattern papers. I added the list of favourites to the left of the photo using a piece of notepaper adhered to some pattern paper to create a ‘clipboard’. I used ephemera pieces to create the title and my own handwriting to write the list of loves

I add minimal embellishments to these layouts as I really want the list of faves to stand out with each one I create. For this layout I made 2 main embellishment clusters in the top and bottom corners, diagonally across from each other. Both contain fussy cut florals from the LUSH BLOOMS paper, ephemera pieces, butterflies from the FLUTTERBY paper, punched mini flowers and some mini puffy stickers.

Theres also a couple of punched flowers in the same pattern paper as the bottom left corner, just for a little hidden dimension

Heres a final look at the entire layout, plus a link to last years post that shares all the previous years layouts can be found  HERE ..

I really enjoy creating these pages each year, and look forward to seeing them evolve each and every year. Theres a couple of years that I want to go back and create pages for that were before the times I started this project so I hope to share those with you all one day in the future. Do you document your kids favourite things each year? Please share in the Community group if you do, we all love to see different ideas on how people document these kinds of things, and It really is fun to look back on

Well thats all from me today, thank you so much for stopping by!

Until next time, Happy Scrapping!
Michelle x

Springtime Memories | Storyteller Collection | Michelle Stokes

Hey Scrappy Friends, it’s Michelle back here today with a new layout to share with you all. This one was really fun to create as I was given the task to scrap-lift a layout of fellow DT Member Josephine. I’ve used the Storyteller Collection and a little mixed media to pull it all together to document a little trip down memory lane

Josephine’s layout which you will see below, has a season vibe with loads of florals, circular pieces for the main feature of the layout, a splattering of mixed media with a mixed font title. I used all of those elements within my layout but changed up the central piece to be a hexagon shape and documented a photo from a different season. Just a couple of minor changes, just to make it look a little different, while also staying true to the original so that you know I’ve scrap-lifted it.

Here’s the layout I chose for my inspiration…

I think I did a pretty decent job at recreating my own version of the layout, using different shapes for the main feature, while also tying in all the same elements around the entire layout. Here’s a closer look..

I added machine stitching around the hexagons before layering them together with the photo, adding foam for dimension between the layers. Both papers used for the hexagons are in the A5 paper stack – the Woodgrain for the larger and the blue spotfor the smaller.

I used the florals in the Floral Ephemera pack for the giant clusters either side of the hexagons, with the addition of some tiny fussy cut florals and other ephemera pieces from the main ephemera pack

on the bottom cluster I used all the same elements as the other cluster while also incorporating a fussy cut butterfly and sticker banner from the Accessory sticker sheet. I used a range of adhesives in both clusters to give different pops of dimension.

To create the title I dipped into my super old stash of barley there alphabet stickers, my favourite white alphas and one of the very first sets ever made in the woodgrain colour for the bottom word. I sewed through all the stickers to ensure they stay put for years to come, but also to enable me to give the white ones a little pop off the page by folding them up 

Here’s a closer peek above too at the poor attempt at mixed media that I added to the layout lol there was more, but it got covered up

And one final look at the entire layout. Let me know how you think I went in scrap lifting Josephine’s page in the comments

Well that all from me today, thanks so much for stopping by. Be sure to share all the layouts you scrap lift of ours with us in the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Community Group on Facebook. We love to see what’s inspired you to create!

Until next time, Happy Scrapping!
Michelle x

Beautiful | Storyteller collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi creative friends!

It’s Tarrah back with you and today I am sharing a new scrapbook layout featuring the STUNNING Storyteller collection. For this project, I had free choice to create whatever I wanted with no theme or anything. I chose to scrap lift one of my friend and fellow design team member Mandy Melville’s gorgeous layouts.

This is the layout I created using the gorgeous Storyteller collection, documenting a pretty photo of a beautiful rose from my Mum’s garden.

This is Mandy’s stunning layout below that she created using the beautiful More Than Words collection.

I decided on the Ditsy Daisy 12′ x 12′ patterned paper as my background paper and took a piece of plain white cardstock and trimmed this piece down to around 8′ x 10′, I then chose the ‘B’ side of the Spring Fling paper to mat under the white cardstock. Like Mandy did on her layout, I decided to machine stitch the white cardstock and the Spring Fling paper together and then I adhered it to the Ditsy Daisy paper. I love the look that machine stitching adds to a layout, I love the texture it gives the page and the extra detail it adds as well.

For the main element where my photo was placed, I created some paper layers underneath the photo using various papers from the A5 paper stack and also tucked in a pocket card for some extra colour and another layer. I did distress some of the papers here to add some texture and I adhered some down using craft foam for some dimension also. Here in the bottom right corner of the photo cluster I tucked in some of the beautiful flowers from the floral ephemera pack, added a banner sticker to the photo from the accessory sticker sheet and also placed a phrase die-cut from the ephemera pack.

On the left of the photo, I created a small floral cluster using some of the florals from the floral ephemera pack and I added a wood epoxy button here to the centre of one of the flowers. In the top right corner of the page. I added the cute banner die-cut piece from the ephemera pack using pop dot adhesive. I love the shadows and dimension this adds to my page. I also took the small frame with hearts die-cut from the ephemera pack and tucked this piece into the top of the photo layers. I like how this peeks out from the top.

I decided to place my title in a similar position to where Mandy had placed hers and also created another small embellishment cluster in the bottom left corner. My title is one of the gorgeous foam title sticker words and I also took a phrase sticker from the accessory sticker sheet and placed it the bottom of the title. You can see in my floral cluster in the bottom left corner that I have adhered some of the florals flat to the page and then I have adhered the red one with some dimensional adhesive, again I love the shadow this creates and the extra interest it brings to my page. I also like to bend the edges of the flowers and leaves to make them look a little more realistic. Some of the smaller details and final things I added to my page were the gorgeous heart puffy stickers and another cute wood epoxy button. The last thing was to stamp my date stamp which is something I always add to my layouts.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today! I love how my scrap lift layout of Mandy’s page turned out and I hope you enjoyed reading how I created it!

Make sure to keep an eye on the Cocoa Vanilla online store as the Storyteller collection should be in store really soon!

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

 

Heart Happy | Storyteller Collection | Michelle Stokes

Hello Hello! It’s Michelle back here with a new layout share featuring the beautiful Storyteller Collection. I went with a grid style layout, one that I’ve shared as part of a yearly documenting project I started a few years back for Leila.

I really enjoy re-creating this layout every year with the updated list of all the things Leila is loving, and seeing which photo and paper collection fits the feel of her current personality. Take the lack of pink from the past couple of years due to Leila’s hatred of the colour for a patch of time. Thankfully it’s making a comeback and is equally represented within the collection used this year.

Here’s a look back at all the older layouts, only 6 years of favourites documented so far, all with Cocoa Vanilla Studio Collections. I think I need to find the lists I made in years prior so that I can make a layout for all the years I missed prior to this.

I used all the same design elements on this layout as I have in the past, just switching up the direction that I placed the embellishments.

I’ve used squares of pattern paper from both the 12×12 and A5 paper stack designs and machine stitched for some added texture to create the base for the background then layered the list and photo over the top.

A photo taken from a recent day trip when Leila ‘met’ some life size versions of Lego Mario and Luigi. She’s still an avid lover of all things Luigi, even if he has been relegated to 2nd in line after all her beloved baby dolls. He does still come everywhere with her.

I added fussy cut florals from both sizes of the Spring Fling paper into the white spaces diagonally top and bottom of the layout.

There’s also a couple of ephemera pieces in both clusters, and a mix of different adhesives to achieve different heights of dimension.

I created the title of the layout at the top of the list using the Foam Title Stickers from the collection, along with handwritten text, then embellished with a wood button, ephemera and fussy cut florals. The list has been adhered to the woodgrain paper to create a clipboard of sorts.

Here’s a closer look at all Leila’s current favourites, there’s probably way more I could have added now that I look back on it.

In 3 of the 4 solid colour squares, I added strips of words from the 12×12 cut apart sheet Story Time, plus co-ordinating puffy stickers

Lastly I added the usual gold splatters a few extra puffy stickers within the floral clusters and then called it done.

Here’s a final look at the full layout…

Well that’s all from me today, thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing this years updated ‘favourites’ layout, its certainly one that easy to replicate for your own documenting. Be sure to share in the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Community Group on Facebook if you do.

Until next time, Happy Scrapping!
Michelle xx

Hello Beautiful | Happiness collection | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone, it’s Sue Plumb here to share another design team project with you. For today’s post I was tasked with scraplifting the amazingly talented Sophie Delorme, which was simultaneously exciting, but terrifying. It’s no secret I have a huge scrappy crush on Sophie’s work, so to be asked to scraplift one of her layouts was no easy feat. How would I ever choose? Or do it justice? In the end, I chose a stunning autumnal themed layout that she created a few months ago using the ‘These Days’ collection.

Here is Sophie’s layout…

And here is my take on it using the ‘Happiness’ collection…

I have to admit, the clincher that made me choose this particular layout of Sophie’s was the butterflies. And I couldn’t help but reach for the collection with my all-time favourite Cocoa Vanilla butterflies – ‘Happiness’. I think I will actually cry the day I use my last scraps of this collection.

Sophie and I have daughters that are very close in age, so just like Sophie did for her layout, I wanted to document a photo of my gorgeous girl too. Due to her position, where she was facing towards the left side of the photo I chose to mirror the design so I could position my photo closer to the left edge of the page and having her facing inwards. (Tip: always position your photos so the main subject is facing towards the larger space on your page.)

Just like Sophie’s original, I added torn paper along the bottom edge of the page; and instead of the Pocket Cards that she had used across the middle, I used pieces of patterned paper cut to size. I chose the piece with the two large butterflies and hello beautiful on it to act as my title card, which was cut from the cut apart paper. On top of the the heart paper I added some of the phrase stickers from the Accessory Sticker sheet, which I had mounted onto some pink paper to give them a little definition against the background.

From the torn paper along the bottom edge, I added fussy cut flowers spilling out and winding their way up along the right edge of the photo. these were layered to give them depth and I used foam tape under the one on the corner of the photo for even more dimension. I couldn’t help but add a little frayed gauze for some texture too.

The only item I used on my page that wasn’t from the ‘Happiness’ collection, was the small wood button that was actually from the ‘Sunkissed’ collection. ‘Happiness’ did not have wood buttons, and as Sophie had used one on her page I wanted to include one too. I also wanted to add a couple of embellishments to my photo, so I chose a small heart flag and a phrase banner from the Die Cut Ephemera pack.

I substituted the journalling from Sophie’s layout with a couple of paint swatch stickers from the Clear Sticker sheet and I like the mixed media touch they gave the page. The star of the embellishment show however, was the glorious burst of fussy cut butterflies spilling upwards from the title card. I bent their wings up from the page to give them dimension and a sense of movement. The final touch was some small splatters of navy mist (because I couldn’t have my layout too clean, could I?)

If you would like to see how I put it all together, you can watch my process video here:

Thanks for stopping by today, I’ll be back with another project again soon. Until then, happy scrapping!

 

Gamer Kids | Sunkissed Collection | Michelle Stokes

Hey Hey! It’s Michelle back here today with a fun new layout share as part of our fortnightly Throwback Thursday feature. This week I dipped into my Sunkissed stash to brighten up the place, and because I was having so much fun creating my last layout for the Scraplift theme, I fell down that rabbit hole again too!

I lifted a layout of mine from quite a few years back that incorporates a beautiful heart cut file from CUT to YOU, a bunch of florals and a mixed font title. I kept all the same similar elements and just switched up the collection to show off the bright and beautiful colours within the Sunkissed Collection.

I chose to document a sweet moment of Leila and our super sweet little pup Daisy, both focused on smashing buttons while playing something on the Switch. It’s not often these days that you can find Daisy alert, awake and happy to sit still for a photo as she’s either VERY lively, or snuggled up next to someone fast asleep.

I backed the photo using the darker blue print from the ‘Bright Side‘ paper, theres a pretty pink version of the same print in the A5 paper stack too that I’ve used to back a section of the awesome heart cut file from CUT to YOU. On that note, a majority of patterns used to back the cut file can be found in the A5 paper stack. The cut file was cut out on white cardstock and once filled with pretty papers, adhered to the layout using foam tape to give a slight hint of dimension.

Under the photo I created the first of 2 large floral clusters, most of which are made using fussy cut flowers from the ‘Growing Wild‘ papers in both the 12×12 and A5 paper sizes. I added some ephemera pieces, a wood button and some accessory sticker words to finish this one off

and then up in the top right corner of the layout I added the second major cluster using the same decorative elements to compliment the first cluster. Both clusters use a mix of adhesives to create different layers of dimension within the floral goodness.. Most used would be my trusty double sided foam tape and some sticky dots.

I went back in time to find these alpha stickers in my stash as I was after something not quite as bright as the white I usually add to layouts. These are a pretty grey(ish) colour with little white polka dots all over, perfect for this kind of layout as they don’t blend in with the cut file, and don’t stand out too much to take away the focus from the photo and cut file. Released way back when, with the Free Spirit Collection. Now thats a throwback item for sure! The gold heart and ‘these’ word are the very last remnants in my pack of the awesome gold glitter words from the Sunkissed Collection. My most favourite word sticker pack by far!

Oh and I cant forget to mention the very awesome background pattern paper I used for this layout, Summer Lights, reminds me of a delicious Mocktail/ Juice creation that I enjoyed many years ago. Gives off bright summer sunset vibes too.

Well friends, thats all from me today. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a quick journey back to enjoy the beautiful Sunkissed Collection. It truly is one of my most favourite collections of all time. I just love the bright happy colours in this collection, they make me want to make ALL the happy scrappy things!

Until Next time, Happy Scrapping
Michelle x

Best Adventure | Legendary collection | Tarrah McLean

Hi creative friends!

It’s Tarrah back with you today to share a new scrapbook layout featuring the awesome Legendary collection. I have documented a rare photo of myself and my family from a day out together last year.

This week I had the task of scrap lifting myself, I chose my original 8.5′ x 11′ size layout below to ‘lift’ and chose the same collection to work with however I changed the size from the 8.5′ x 11′ into a 12′ x 12′ size.

You can see I added lots of the same elements in the same positions on my new page, including the large banner piece on the left as the main focus and a smaller cluster in the bottom right corner also. I cut the large banner piece from the ‘B’ side of the Explorer paper and popped it up using foam tape. The back ground paper is no longer available in the Cocoa store however the orange paper that the layout is matted on is the ‘B’ side of the One Way paper.

I placed my photo slightly to the right of the banner piece and placed the wood frame over the top to draw some attention to the photo. I tucked in one of the large stars from the ephemera pack under the top left of the photo. Two more stars were added to the lower part on the right of the banner to continue the stars across the page. I also took the round piece that says authentic and tucked that piece into the left of the photo also. On top of the frame I added the Sweet As sticker from the Accessory sticker pack and adhered one of the arrows from the ephemera pack to the bottom of the frame also. 

My title is made up of the Die Cut titles and I also added one of the words from the Clear Sticker pack. I added a few more of the word and phrase stickers from the Accessory sticker pack, some enamel dots and a few more of the smaller stars from the ephemera pack popped up on pop dots. Lastly I bent the edges of the background paper to add a little texture to my page and I stamped the date stamp.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cocoa Vanilla blog today. I hope you enjoyed my layout as much as I enjoyed creating it?! Have you ever scrap lifted yourself? You should give it a go if you are stuck for an idea when creating a page. It’s lots of fun!! 

Happy creating!

Tarrah x

Home | These Days collection | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone, it’s Sue Plumb here today to share my latest design team project with you.

This week we are doing a scraplift theme with a twist, as the team have been tasked with scraplifting ourselves! I have to admit, it was a great excuse to look back over some of my Cocoa Vanilla projects from years gone by, but the task of choosing one was a bit like choosing a favourite child. In the end I decided on a layout from back in November 2018. It was created for the “Throwback Thursday” feature and I used the ‘Life is Beautiful’ collection, which was actually released back in Cocoa Vanilla’s first year back in 2015. This collection remains one of my all-time faves, and I still have some of it lovingly hoarded in my stash.

Here is my original layout…

For once, I actually scraplifted a layout and stuck pretty much to the original design. This was partly because I wanted to see if it would hold up to the test of time, but it was also because I was sick with COVID and was lacking in mojo and energy. So this scraplift couldn’t have come at a better time for me.

Here is my new layout using the gorgeous ‘These Days’ collection…

As you can see, I stuck very closely to my original design. I chose to document a photo of myself and my family in front of our new house that we recently purchased, and I knew this collection would be perfect for it. In particular, it was the Neighbourhood paper with all the sweet little houses that I had in mind. I combined this with the spotty print of the Take Flight paper and some strips of the pretty orange leafy pattern of the Wall of Fame paper as the base of my design. To add texture, I lightly distressed the outer edges of my papers.

With papers in place, it was time to start working on the other components. I decided to add two elements that I include on most of my current layouts that were missing from the original page – frayed gauze and a paper doily. I opted for a dark charcoal doily to tie in with the black of my photo, and I layered them on the background before sticking my photo on top.

Alongside my photo, I added the no place like home 3×4″ card from the Pocket Cards pack; whilst the oh happy day quote along the bottom edge of the photo was from the cut apart The Good Life paper.

I used pieces from the Floral Ephemera pack as the basis for my embellishment and title clusters. I added foam tape behind some of the flowers as I layered them, and I also bent the petals up away from the page to add dimension. In the cluster around the bottom left corner of my photo I added one of the Wood Epoxy Buttons to mimic the flair button from the original layout.

For the title cluster above my photo, I used the word home from the Foam Title Stickers, flowers from the Floral Ephemera pack and the small sweet flag from the Die Cut Ephemera pack. Being the butterfly lover I am, and also as a nod to all the butterflies on my original page, I couldn’t resist adding one of the butterflies (also from the ephemera pack).

A few finishing touches included a label from the Accessory Sticker sheet for my journalling and the date; small hearts from the Puffy Stickers pack added to my photo; and some small splatters of black ink around the page.

If you would like to see exactly how this page came together, you can watch my process video here:

I would highly recommend scraplifting one of your own layouts if you are ever stuck for inspiration – just pick one you love and go for it! Stay tuned over the coming days for more scraplift inspiration from the team.

Until next time, happy scrapping!

Captured | These Days | Michelle Stokes

Hey Hey! It’s Michelle here today with a new layout share featuring the These Days Collection, and boy was it a fun one to create! I had the joy this week of Scrap-lifting one of my fellow DT Members Kylie, and yes a challenge it was. I had the hardest time deciding which beautiful layout of hers to recreate as they’re all so stunning! I chose something wonderful that was created a couple of years back, heres my version…

Fussy cut florals eat your heart out! If you cant tell by what I’ve created, I chose the absolutely stunning layout Kylie created with the Unforgettable collection and all those beautiful hand made flowers. Now my layout doesn’t stack up to the amazing creation below, but I’m still pretty happy with the outcome.

To create my version of Kylies layout I turned the orientation of the layout around in a couple of different ways. I used the design of the layout as a sketch and both rotated and mirror flipped it to create the design of my own layout. I used similar elements and pattern ideas that Kylie has used, just in a slightly different way.

I started with a pattern paper background using a mix of dotted paper, wood grain paper and a multicolour pattern to peek out between the 2.  (Family Ties & Pretty Posies paper)

I scrapped a cute photo of Leila from many many moons ago, almost 10 years ago to be exact. I printed the photo in black and white as I knew I’d be adding A LOT of colour within the clusters of florals and didn’t want them to clash. I added a couple of layers of A5 papers behind and adhered it over the background using foam for a hint of dimension amongst all the other layers.

I added the title to the photo using a foam word title from the Unforgettable collection along with 2 cut apart pieces from the Good Life paper that I adhered with a little foam tape.

Next up was the fun part of creating clusters of florals in a diagonal line across the layout. I had pre-cut tonnes of flowers from the Home Grown paper in both 12×12 and A5 sizes while sitting on the couch one night a few weeks back so there was plenty to play with. I layered the florals using both foam tape and glue dots and added a touch of silver thread for added texture. The cute gold glitter heart adds another form of texture and dimension to the cluster along with the cute mini puffy hearts

I used more of the same elements in the top cluster too. Just love these colours together

On the right side of the photo I’ve added more florals in a mini cluster along with a frame from the Wall of Frame paper, cut apart pieces from the Good Life paper, more puffy stickers and thread

I really enjoyed creating this layout, especially making floral clusters with all those gorgeous flowers and I certainly never grow tired of creating with them.

Well friends that’s all from me today. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Until next time, Happy Scrapping

Michelle x

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