KEEPIN' IT REAL | The Cut Shoppe

Hi Everyone, I'm back today with a new layout share for The Cut Shoppe featuring that fun free cut file from last month. It's also my very last share here as a designer for TCS and I'll be honest, I am NOT ready to give it all up 😭😭😭 I have loved my time on the team, and am very thankful to Ashley for having me here this past year. Its truly been an amazing team to be apart of and one that I'm not ready to say goodbye to! But sadly I must.. 

Ok enough with the overly emotional start to the blog, lets get back to the fun stuff.. Creating and sharing.. Here's a look at what I created, using the messy circular hearts design from that free cut file set, which you can find HERE..

I kept the layout design pretty simple using the cut file design on the left, a cluster of photos off to the right, and a strips of pattern paper along the bottom to tie it all together. I've used 6x6 papers from the Take me Away collection by Pink Paislee to back the hearts and circles, plus added some co-ordinating papers behind each of the photos to ensure that the layout blended together well. 

As there was so much colour, and multiple photos, I felt that I shouldn't overpower the layout with embellishments so I kept them super simple using the big floral die cut piece and gold foil chipboard from the same collection. The sequins and tiny word stickers were from my stash of random things.

I layered the photos around each other on a diagonal and balanced out the colour yellow from the hearts by placing a piece of pattern paper under the far right photo. The 'love ya' piece was from part of the tear off tab from the top of the 6x6 paper pad. 

The photos I've documented here seem to be a regular occurrence in my camera roll. Leila loves to climb into tubs and boxes rather than sitting on a chair, the floor or the couch lol Such an imagination she has.

Well, sadly this brings us to the end of my layout sharing for The Cut Shoppe. 

I would like to thank each and everyone of you that have stopped by the blog, Facebook and Instagram over the last year leaving words of encouragement for all the projects I've shared for TCS. Being part of this team was a dream come true and has truly been a wonderful experience. A big THANK YOU to Ashley again, its been amazing!!

Thanks, and as always...

HAPPY SCRAPPIN!!

Michelle x

P.s I will be back in a week with more layout sharing for my other DT placements 

Happy Birthday | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi Everyone, I'm back today with a new layout share for Cocoa Vanilla Studio Inspired by my impending birthday LOL I've used the oh so sweet Make a Wish collection and a super cute photo of Leila from her 1st birthday back in 2011. I couldn't settle on one of my own birthday photos and Leila looks way cuter than I do anyway!!

This ended up being a super quick layout to put together, apart from the fussy cutting of the letters for the title, and a few extra pieces I had cut out that didn't make the layout. I started with the title in mind, using random letters from the words on the Loot Bag paper, combined with the 'happy' word from the wood veneer set in the Love Always collection. 

I've added foam tape under the thicker parts of the letters to lift them off the page, giving them dimension and making them stand out a little more.

I centred the photo in the top half of the layout and layered papers Party Dots & the pink side of Hip Hooray under the photo with a doily from my stash. I also added the sequin bow from the Bits & pieces pack for a little added sparkle, because who doesn't love sparkle!

Along the bottom of the layout I've used strips of the Daydream & Fresh Cut papers to act as a base for my Cake stand cluster. The floral design on the Daydream paper is by far my favourite of any Cocoa Vanilla Studio papers, and reminds me of a delicate tablecloth. Perfect to place a cake stand onto. The cake stand design can be found on the Party Mix cut apart paper, along with the Celebrate banner.  I added 'decorations' to the cake in the form of a wood veneer heart a glitter dot and a die cut heart. Next to the cake I've added some Bitty Blooms along with a chipboard accent sticker.

Lastly the top cluster on the layout made with items from the ephemera pack, a couple more pieces from the Bits & Pieces pack, glitter dot & sticker, plus a flair button and another wood veneer heart to balance out the veneer across the layout. You can also see a close up of the 'love this' tab sticker and ticket that are poking out between the layers under the photo.

After the layout was complete I added my journalling and a few splatters of ink, that as usual went a little haywire in places. It almost always goes a little haywire at splatter time lol

Well thats all from me today! Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my layout Inspiration. I hope its Inspired you in some way. 

Until Next time, Happy Scrapping!

Michelle x

You & Me | D-lish Scraps

Hi Everyone, I'm back today with a new layout share for D-lish Scraps. For this layout I've chosen to follow along with the current Inspiration board, combining both the colours and the sketch to create a layout that has become one of my new favourites. 

I had to dip into my mixed pattern papers stash for the background border and the pieces of silver dot paper, but the remainder of the products used are all from the D-lish shop.

You can read all about the current Inspiration board HERE, but for now here's a look at the layout I created..

I ended up turning the sketch on its side and following along with a similar design, but adding way more embellishments than I was planning on. Always the way! LOL

I drew inspiration from the circular elements, the floral 'clusters' and definitely the middle layer of the cake... YUM!

In the main cluster of the layout I've combined 2 different flowers - Magnolias & forget-me-not, a sequin bow, flair button, a journal it, creative cuts, Kinder Kreations geometric heart, Glitter enamel dots and 2 pieces from a past Just add paper kit - the Tassel & veneer heart that I've covered in glitter. 

I repeated the smaller flowers down on the bottom layer along with another veneer heart covered in glitter, enamel dots and a strip of washi also from the JAP kit.

Another Creative Cuts piece used for a title, popped up off the page with my hot glue gun and roughly drawn around the edge for a little definition..

For the top of the photo area I've used more repetition of products combined in the other clusters, with the inclusion of a Bitty Bow clip and a journal it tab that I've had in my stash for as long as I've been a DT member (which is a very very long time in some books lol) 

And lastly a printed tag with hidden journalling, tucked under the photo and a white lace doily peeking out from underneath too.

Well that's all from me today. Be sure to share with us if you create something inspired by our Inspiration Board. Remember it doesn't necessarily have to be a layout, it can be a card, home decor item, OTP project or even a Project Life spread. As long as you stick with the colour palette then you're good to go! Here's the LINK again to the main Inspiration Board post incase you missed it earlier. 

Until next time, happy Scrapping!

Michelle x

Sparkle | The Cut Shoppe

Hi Everyone, I'm back today with a new layout share for The Cut Shoppe, my 2nd last as a member of the Design Team. I'm not ready for my time there to end as I've been having way too much fun creating with all the fun cut files Ashley creates. But, as they say, All good things must come to an end. 

Here's what I created this week..

For this layout I've chosen a single file from the free cut file set shared back on National Scrapbooking Day. You can find that HERE. 

I enlarged the file to around 10x10 inches and backed all the open pieces with pattern papers from the Wild at Heart Collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. I backed the entire piece before I'd chosen a photo and title so there's a lot of hidden paper piecing behind there lol I also added some machine stitching to accentuate the spirograph design 

I've used a cut apart card for the title and added it to the centre of the cut file design along with the photo, other cards, ephemera strips and stickers.

I've created 2 clusters of embellishments to create some form of a diagonal design across the page, this helps balance the layout, and is my favourite technique when scrapbooking.

Under all those layers is a tonne of foam.. With a large full piece like this, I've used large pieces of fun foam rather than foam tape. It still adds just as much dimension and is more economical to use than the amount of tape needed for something this size.

Well, that's all from me today. I hope this has given you a daily dose of Cut file inspiration. 

Until next time, Happy Scrapping!

Michelle xx

Star of the Week | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hello fellow Scrappers, I'm back here today with a new layout share for Cocoa Vanilla Studio featuring the awesome You Rock collection. This week on the Cocoa Vanilla blog we are focusing on scrap lifting and I've challenged myself to scrap a layout Inspired by Missy. Now I'm no mixed media extraordinaire, so I've done my best by choosing products Inspired by her style to recreate the layout made. 

Here's the layout I've created, celebrating a new milestone for Leila at school - being awarded Star of the Week!!

Which was inspired by this creation by Missy...

I've followed along with a similar design concept by using a massive text cut file backed with pattern papers as the centrepiece of the layout. The cut file I've used is from The Cut Shoppe and is perfect for welding together to create large Titles. I've backed the entire piece with foam tape to create some dimension.

I've used stars in place of flowers to keep with the star theme of the layout, and created clusters with the addition of some wood veneer and ephemera pieces. 

I've also used 2 photos backed with some tissue paper and some messy thread in multiple places, both a regular addition to Missy's amazing work. 

The main thing I didn't try to recreate was the watercolored background, as they just never seem to work for me without major warping of the paper lol. Instead I've chosen the Experimental pattern paper as it had a similar feel, and splattered it with some black ink.

I kept one of the letters open and placed some cut stars from the Starshine paper under and above for something different and added a Rubber Charms below as the perfect finishing touch to this side of the layout.

I typed my journalling as I didn't trust myself enough to write on the background. I always fear I'm going to make a major boo boo and have to re-do the whole page again. I thought the white cardstock it was typed on would break up and fill up that dark/empty space.

For this last cluster I've layered together pieces from the Die cut Ephemera pack along with a sticker and more of that fun messy thread, plus a wood veneer star and enamel dot.

That's all from me today, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope my layout for Scrap Lift week has inspired you in some way. 

Until next time, Happy Scrapping!

Michelle x

Love You | D-lish Scraps

Hello Hello, I'm back here today with my first D-lish Scraps layout share for June. I simply cannot believe how fast this year is flying by, and how quickly this little child of mine is growing up!

I'm sure by now you all know how much we love a good snapchat filter, and even more so how much I love to share them on layouts. This one especially! It worked perfectly with a current Cyber Crop challenge set by Julianne, which I will link up HERE.

Here's a look at what I've created..

 

I think I've stuck fairly well to the recipe requirements of a Pink, Red and White colour combo, the word 'Love', at least 3 hearts, 3 lines of journalling and some washi tape.. The journalling was one thing I haven't done as I didn't feel it needed any more added to the page once it was complete. I've noted about Leila's snapchat obsession under the main part of the title and left it at that. 

Here's a closer look at all the pretty D-lish bits...

For the main cluster I've used a couple of Printed Tags layered under a large heart from the Hashtags & Frames Creative Cuts set, I've also added in the X and a 💟 from the same set together with a Geometric heart from the Kinder Kreations chipboard set on top. Around the hearts I've tucked in a few Forget-me-not flowers, a carnation, Sequin bow and a couple of Little Birdie flowers

Top right of the photo you can see I've tucked in a couple more of the Forget-me-not flowers, another geometric KK heart, a Round & Round Journal It with some typed text and a couple of my favourite Glitter dots.

Under the photo I've used a 5 inch Lace doily along with a couple of scraps of pattern paper. I've also added in a strip of Ombre wordfetti to the photo

I've used some fabric washi tape (from my personal stash) and some squiggly coloured wire to run across the page, tucked in under all the layers. Then a quick title made with pieces from the Hashtag & Frames Creative Cuts set and some typed text.

Lastly a little cluster made up of bits used around the page to bring the page together and balance it all out.

Thats all from me today. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Be sure to check out the Scrap Suite on Facebook for all the other Cyber Crop challenges set by the DT each month. 

Until Next time, Happy Scrapping!

Michelle x

You Make My Heart Sing | Scrap The Girls

Hello Hello! Yesterday, if you're a follower of Scrap The Girls challenge blog, you would have seen the new challenge announced? This month is a fun sketch that I had some fun creating with, along with the Wild at Heart collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio and some of the new Creative Cuts from D-lish Scraps.

Here's a look at the sketch, including the flipped around version that I based my layout on..

I originally had started placing things down in the original form of the sketch, then things took a turn and ended up like this..

I kept the main floral cluster partly embellishment free as there was just so much going on in the one spot, and I really like how its all layered together 😃 I backed pieces of the flowers cuts with scraps of pattern papers from the collection, and also used some larger scraps to build up the layers behind the photos.

My printer has been printing photo's in some pretty odd colours lately, but until we can afford to replace it, I'm running with its craziness lol

Here's a look at the dimension created with the floral cluster by using foam tape, lots of foam tape lol

I've used a sticker and chipboard piece to create the title, again going for something that didn't stand out too much or compete with the large cluster

I tucked in a couple of glitter dots for some added sparkle

and lastly created a little cluster with some die cute pieces in the ephemera pack.

That's all from me today! Be sure to stop by the Scrap the Girls blog to see all the other DT member creations!

Until next time, Happy Scrapping

Michelle x