Cocoa Daisy

Today I have my first layout using the Cocoa Daisy January kit Buttercup. It is absolutely stunning and primarily comprised of Pink Paislee's Moonstruck collection along with some exclusive CD products. The theme is a romantic one and I knew right away that I had the perfect photo to scrap with this kit.

My husband and I went on a date to a historic hotel and they had this beautiful bench surrounded by flowers. While the photo may not be the best quality, it is still one that I wanted to document since it was our first Christmas visit. We hope to make this a new tradition for us every Christmas.

The gold butterfly is gorgeous and unfortunately the photo just does not do it justice. I wish that the die cut package had more than one because it is that pretty!

The pink vellum tag is an exclusive to the kit this month. I tucked it behind the photo and the frame and love the subtle visual interest it gives to that cluster. Leaving a tag plain without ribbon or twine just seems wrong to me. It is such an easy way to add another texture to the page without bulking up the layout. Gold twine seemed to be the perfect choice and this was from my stash.

 The kit came with several alphas that are beautiful, but I really wanted the title to be a bit more subtle. I used the alphas that came in January's kit since they worked well with the hints of gold throughout the page. I also stamped the two small hearts in the bottom cluster with gold ink. Again, I love it when I can add small details to my page.

I have a process video if you'd like to take a peek. Thanks so much and I hope that you have a great day!

The Big Doughnut Eating Contest

It seems appropriate to post this layout and process video a day after Thanksgiving! This layout I created for Cocoa Daisy using their Main kit Sprinkles, Paper Add-On, and DITL kit. Before I get into the details of the layout, I want to issue you a challenge. Make a layout documenting a story that you have been wanting to tell. In my case, the story that I wanted to tell did not have a specific photo to go along with it. Nor, am I sure how old I was when it occurred. It doesn't matter!! Seriously. I decided to use a picture of me during that time frame and to guess the date. There...story told, layout made, and I love it!!

My first thoughts when choosing the background was that I would journal on the lined paper. I love this Dear Lizzy paper! Both sides are awesome, so it was a hard decision to use it as a background. Once I started making my layout, it became apparent that I would need to type my journaling so that I could get all the details recorded. I just love the pattern papers this month, and I wanted them all on my page.

I often outline paper layers as a way to bring the different patterns together, especially when the patterns are a bit whimsical. 

If you watch my process video, you will see how I almost made a big mistake when adhering my title. Since I moved them around, I decided to stitch them to my page. The stitching also helped to group the words and the title together. It is a rather long title, and the arrows pointing along with the stitching help to bring your eye right where it belongs. 

I have a process video for this layout if you'd like to take a closer look. I also talk about the story in a bit more detail on the video...the amazing thing is that I still love doughnuts! I hope that you and yours had a wonderful day full of good food, family, and blessings abundant. I'll be back soon :)

We Love Doughnuts

My family loves doughnuts, and when I heard that my favorite doughnut shop was opening up 10 minutes from my house I knew that I'd be in trouble in a good way. For this layout, I'm using the November kit Sprinkles by Cocoa Daisy. The theme of this kit is doughnuts, cupcakes, and coffee....all yummy and vital to my existence :)

I gutted the background paper and used it as a border around the cardstock. The colors are perfect and it helps frame the layout. Outlining layers in black pen is one of my favorite things to do on a layout because it brings such a big impact to the overall look.

 The exclusive flair in this kit are so sweet (pun definitely intended). I had to make myself put them both on this page and not hoard them. They are just so cute!!

All of the supplies with the exception of the doily can be found in the Main kit, the DITL kit, and the Patterned Paper Add-on.

The journaling is pretty simple and just describes which doughnuts are our favorites. I'll sum it up for you...they are all my favorite!

Camera paper is one that I love to have in my kit, especially when the cameras are different colors. They make such fun little additions to a cluster. I also machine stitched through the puffy stickers for an extra bit of detail. 

I have a process video if you'd like to take a peek at how the layout came together. Thanks so much for joining me today, and I hope that you have a great day!

Cocoa Daisy Sprinkles

I am so excited to be sharing with you my first layout using the Cocoa Daisy November kit Sprinkles. I love this kit, the doughnut theme, and the colors are right up my alley. However, I chose to make my first layout a non-themed layout to prove that not all of the layouts need to be about doughnuts and cupcakes...although that is not necessarily a bad thing :)

If you have followed me for a while, you know how much I love Maggie Holmes. This bird paper of hers in the Gather collection is just stunning, and I knew that I "needed" to showcase it on my page. To add some texture and interest, I used a distress tool to rough up the edges, although scissors work as well. 

 For a bit of added interest in this cluster I tangled up some gold thread and tucked it underneath the photo. This reminded me of a nest and I love it when the details of my embellishments match the theme or journaling of my page.

 Included in the Main kit are these gorgeous sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps! I scattered them across the page and love the subtle bling they add.

One of my favorite things about this layout is the title. How gorgeous is that gold embossing?! I was so excited when I saw just how lovely it turned out! Embossing is a great way to change the color of chipboard Thickers to make them work for your layout.  Adding further interest, I stitched some messy stitching underneath the title, and along the branch that the bird is sitting on. You might not be able to see that small detail, but in person it adds aonther special touch.

If you'd like to take a closer look at my process, I've linked my video. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!

I'm Beyond Excited....

I was asked to join the Cocoa Daisy Design Team! I am over the moon excited to be joining these talented ladies. I will begin working with them next month with the November kit.

I can't wait to start creating with this team :) Cocoa Daisy will be making introductions over the next month. I am going to link the team in case you would like to learn more about them.

Lisa * Alissa * Suz * Niru

Katherine * Suzanna * Kylie * Moon

 Marie * Kelli * Sarah * Janet

Exciting News!!

I have been asked by My Creative Scrapbook to be an official member of their design team. I am excited and thankful for the opportunity. As of right now I will continue to be posting my process videos for them on Wednesdays four times a month.

I have a process video to share as well with you today. This layout I created several months ago. I have been so behind in sharing my layouts and getting process videos done. Actually, the voiceovers are what slow me down. Trying to find a quiet time without the phone ringing or kids calling me has been a bit challenging with everything else that goes daily. So my goal is to get somewhat caught up during August and September.

I love my silhouette cameo and decided that one of my scrappy goals for this year was to use it more frequently. When I saw this cut file in the Cut Shoppe, I knew that I wanted to use it on a layout. I pulled out Amy Tangerine's Finder's Keepers collection to use and chose the pink watercolor paper to use for the cut file. The background was looking a bit plain so I used Shimmerz No Yolking for a splash of yellow behind the cut file. 

There really isn't any journaling other than the title for this page. The cut file and playing with pretty papers was my only goal, and I am so happy with the way that it turned out.

Irit Landgraf has a video in which she used rub-ons on craft foam. I decided that I would try that with the clear stickers and the rub-ons and this is most definitely a technique that I will use again. It made it so easy to move the stickers and rub-ons around the page for me to figure out their placement. Plus it looks a bit like a puffy sticker!! Puffy stickers are some of my favorite embellishments so this is definitely a win-win!

Here's a link to my process video. Please feel free to leave a comment or email me if you have any questions :) Have a wonderful day!

I actually won something!!

I won a Cocoa Daisy kit on their Instagram hop!  I have never tried their kit club, so I was very excited and I must say that I was impressed with the quality and contents of the kit.  I had ruled them out in my search for kit clubs only because of the stamp set each month.  I don't want to pay for stamps in my kit because I don't always use them.  I love the exclusive papers in the kit and couldn't wait to use them.

I had something completely different in mind when I started to make this layout.  I decided to stop fighting with it and this was my end result. I love the cork shapes that were included in the kit, and puffy stickers...yes please!

Everything was from the kit with the exception of the washi, twine, mist and enamel dots. I love the stitching through the title.  It was my first time sewing with metallic thread and that was an experience!  I broke my first needle and can I just say how hard it is to thread silver thread through the eye of the silver needle!

I have a process video if you are interested in a taking a closer look at my process.

Supplies:

October Afternoon Daisy Exclusive Paper - Banner Year

Pink Paislee Atlas Ticket To Ride

Pink Paislee Atlas Wheels Up

Basic Grey Adrift Port Side

Pink Paislee Atlas Silver Thickers

October Afternoon Label Stickers

Pink Paislee Atlas Travel Tags 

CD Exclusive Cork Etched Arrows

Evalicious This Way Puffy Stickers v1

Heidi Swapp Color Shine black

Freckled Fawn washi