All Grown Up - with the 2x2" pads from Pink Paislee

Hey everyone, I'm here today sharing a new layout with you featuring the 2×2″ paper pads from the new Paige Evans designer collection Turn the Page! I am mixing things up a little and creating another 8.5″x11″ size layout, I am really loving them, can't you tell?!

I printed out four photos taken in a sequence of my kiddies and coincidently I printed them 2″ square, the exact size of the 2×2″ paper pads! To me the size of the photos teamed with the 2″ papers in the pad were screaming at me to ‘go traditional’ and create a grid style layout.

Here is the layout I created:
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What I love about the 2×2″ pads is that one contains patterned swatches of paper and the second is full of fun phrase cards. Each pad has two of each design. For this layout I have used the swatches to create the sections of the grid but also to embellish some of the pieces. For example, I cut out the ‘way to go’ circle from one of the phrase cards.

Team the 2x2" pads with 2" photos and you have the perfect combination for a fun grid style layout. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #8.5x11 #2x2pad #turnthepage
Even though I created this page at an 8.5×11″ compared to my usual 12×12″ I still had to ensure that I kept to my ‘go to’ techniques and design concepts to help the layout balance. The grid running down the left side of the paper made that side quite heavy. I added a small embellishment grouping of tags from the ephemera pack, a punched circle, some fussy flowers from Paper 18, and a typewritten date.

Team the 2x2" pads with 2" photos and you have the perfect combination for a fun grid style layout. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #8.5x11 #2x2pad #turnthepage
When embellishing the patterned 2×2″ squares from the paper pad I used some of the 2″ paper designs to help me. For example, on the ‘way to go’ example I have cut it out, matted it on a circle, and adhered it to the square.

Team the 2x2" pads with 2" photos and you have the perfect combination for a fun grid style layout. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #8.5x11 #2x2pad #turnthepage
The size of the patterned square was perfect for adding my typewritten journaling. I was able to tell the story of these photos. These photos were taken when I tried to get a nice photo of the kids after a haircut. This is pretty much the response I get each time, my son being over excited and acting slightly silly and my daughter bearing a cheesy grin and joining in with the brother. I finished off the journaling with one of the floral puffy stickers.

Team the 2x2" pads with 2" photos and you have the perfect combination for a fun grid style layout. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #8.5x11 #2x2pad #turnthepage
To finish off this layout I matted it onto Paper 03. I always find the more bolder prints hard to use however, this size and style of layout was perfect for that large and bold pattern, I think it adds the perfect finishing touch. I hope you have learnt a new way to use the gorgeous 2″ paper pads. I had so much fun and I am sure you will too!

Here is the process video of how this layout came together:Thanks for stopping by my blog today, xxxTeam the 2x2" pads with 2" photos and you have the perfect combination for a fun grid style layout. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #8.5x11 #2x2pad #turnthepage

Love you - using the new exclusive 'One in a million' by Cocoa Vanilla

Hey everyone, I'm here with you today sharing my latest layout using the limited edition mini collection kit ‘One in a Million’ which is unfortunately now sold out in the CVS store. The theme on the CVS blog this week is hearts and flowers so I have also featured the Colour me Happy cut files on this layout too.

Here is the layout I created:
Here is a process video for how this layout came together:


As you can see I have opted to create an 8.5×11″ layout. I have recently started experimenting with this size and am loving the change. The focus of the layout is a photo that I took of my kiddies just before Fathers Day. I wanted to get a photo of the kids together holding up the sign ‘Best Daddy Ever’ which I could then frame for my husband and give as a gift on Fathers Day. I decided that because this layout was essentially about their love for their dad I could add the flowers, hearts and pinks in; all the things we may think of when we think of love.


The heart cut file and blue banner piece are the main focal point which help draw your eyes to the photo. I backed the heart on the soft pink floral patterned paper. Because I have used a white card stock base I wanted to frame the layout in a coordinating paper. I chose the gorgeous grey and white spot which adds a nice soft touch to the layout while also providing some contrast.

I added clusters of layered embellishments to either side of the photo. I added a floral die cut from the cut file set and pink and red ephemera flowers. I love the pop that the red flowers bring to the page. To finish off that cluster I added a cute bow from the Love Always bits and pieces pack, the ‘xo’ from the Love Always veneer, and some enamel dots from older collections.

For the cluster on the right side of the photo I used the same products as well as a cute little banner attached to the top of the photo with a staple and secured again with a peg, also from the Bits and Pieces pack from Love Always.

Of course I had to add a layer of patterned paper and a doily behind my photo.

Although the layout has a row of horizontal embellishing either side of the photo I still consider this layout to be very much a vertical design. Below the blue banner I add the title which is ‘Love you’ again from the Love Always wood veneer pack. To finish the layout I add a small bit of journaling on a tab from the cut apart sheet and smaller embellishments like the button and enamel dots. I love those finishing touches.

I hope that you have been inspired by my post today. Don’t forget, if you have any questions about anything you see here, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments or contact me via social media.
Thanks for stopping by xx

Let's Celebrate - a birthday card featuring new Sizzix stamp & die set

Hey everyone, today I'm here sharing my latest project for Sizzix Lifestyle. For the project today I used the Sizzix Framelits Die Set 3PK w/Stamp - Floral Cake #662167 and created a birthday card. I love that this stamp and die set can be adapted to suit birthday celebrations when teamed with the right papers and embellishments. 



This card also featured a stamp from the Kellie Stamps Hip Hip Hooray stamp set and the Pink Paislee Birthday Bash collection. 

I created a quick project video of how this card came together:


And here are some close ups:



Thanks so much for stopping by today, Raquel

Amazing Kid - an 8.5x11" layout featuring You Rock by Cocoa Vanilla

Hey everyone, I'm here with you today sharing a new layout featuring the amazing You Rock collection. I feel like a broken record when I say how much I love creating with this collection for the everyday little moments and time of my little man, but it so so so true. I have created a lot of pages so far and can see a lot more ahead!

Here is the page I created:

Here is the process video for how this one came together:


I have been dabbling in 8.5×11″ size since taking a little break from crafting and I must say that for now I am loving the size. I feel like it has reignited that scrapping mojo which is pleasing for me too. For this layout I am documenting a cute lil picture of my boy when I happened to catch him trying on my glasses.

I decided to add a grounding piece of patterned paper down the left side of the page using the Plus One paper and a small thin strip of the Inline paper. I love the pop of yellow that the In Line paper brings. I then worked my embellishing on a diagonal from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Included in the embellishing is wood veneer, chipboard pieces and one of the rubber charms. I am on my second packet of the charms. I just love adding them to my pages.



The bottom right embellishment cluster has much of the same of the top left. However I also added a fussy cut star from the Starshine paper and some of the tiny word stickers from the sticker accessory sheet.

The title is made up of a Paper Issue ‘glasses’ cut file backed with white plain vellum, the wood veneer ‘hello’ and a tiny word sticker from the accessory sheet. I put a thin foam tape behind both the cut file and wood veneer to create a slight shadow and add a touch of dimension.

This layout also features some hidden journaling. I created my own tag using the Night Sky paper to add some typewritten journaling to. The design of the page didn’t leave me a whole lot of room to add a story, so a good alternative to just leaving it off is to create a tag and tuck it behind a layer or in this case the photo. Because the patterned paper had a notepad style design I just typed the journaling straight onto it rather than cutting it into strip form like I normally do.

To add another pop of colour to the page I added the This Way paper behind my photo. You may notice I always print my photos with a white border. So this allows me to add a printed design paper behind my photo without it being to overpowering.

Thanks for stopping by!

Raquel x

The new Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway Machine!

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I cannot tell you how excited I am to share the new Sizzix Foldaway machine with you all!
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I received the new machine designed by the talented team over at Sizzix Lifestyle.

There are just so many things to love about this machine; the look, the compactness, the innovative storage spaces, ease of use....I could go on all day. 

I decided to film an unboxing of the machine and my first use of it - completely live and authentic so you can see my reactions and also how easy it is to take out of the box and pretty much play right away!

Here it is:


What do you think? Do you love it as much as I do?

Raquel x

Brave Little Dude - A multi photo hidden journaling layout for Cocoa Vanilla

Hey everyone. I'm here today sharing a new layout for multi-photo week featuring the new You Rock collection by Cocoa Vanilla Studio. For the multi photo theme I challenged myself to include as many different photos of the subject of my layout as I could using a couple of different techniques.

The subject of my layout is my little man. Recently he had a little run in with his cubby house window and the ground. Let’s just say he likes to test boundaries all the time and unfortunately it didn’t go in his favour. A trip to the GP (doctor) resulted in him having a bandage on his head to stop the bleeding and assist the wound to heal. It looks like it was a lot more serious by the bandage on his head however it was covering approx a 1cm cut. This little man barely shed a tear and was so brave that I just had to document this moment in his life.

Here is the layout I created:
Initially when looking at the layout the main 4×6″ photo is the focal point of the photo. I matted the photo with the Night Sky patterned paper and added some of the reverse side of the paper underneath also. Some ephemera finished this off.

What you can’t see in the pictures initially is all the hidden journaling and photos under this main 4×6″ photo. I created a flip album of sorts that contains many different photos taken to support this story. I really enjoyed playing with the papers and photos o wanted to add to create small flip pages that once all opened reveal hidden journaling.

Here is some close ups of those extra photos and the journaling.
Ouch!

As you can can see by creating this flip up I was able to add multiple photos to this page without overcrowding the initial design.

Another fun addition to the page that you may notice as well is the extra three photos on the bottom right of the page that I added in the form of the ‘photo negative strip’ from the ephemera pack. In previous layouts I had only used the negative strip pieces on ephemera packs as layering tools so it was fun to use it in its literal sense on a page. To print photos to fit I measured the negative space and then added that as a custom size in my photo printing software. Excitedly this worked and the photos fit perfectly. Not only was I able to add an extra few photos to the page but it also acted as a tool to balance the top heaviness of the top of the layout and the embellishing.
I tend to add some kind of repeated shape to a boy/masculine layout. On this page I chose stars and used them around the photo and then around the title area too.

I also added wood veneer in the three main clusters on the page. This compliments the wood pattern of the Plus One patterned paper.
The title of the page is ‘brave little dude’. To create this title I used the typewritten words ‘brave’ and ‘little’ and then for ‘dude’ I backed a free cut file from the Paper Issues store with the Experimental patterned paper.

Here’s a quick little glimpse at how the hidden photos and journaling look and work on the page:



Thanks for stopping by the blog today. I hope I have been able to show you some fun ways to include more photos on a single page layout.

Be a Pineapple - using Summer Lights by Pink Paislee

Hey everyone! I'm here today sharing a layout that was created as part of Big Titles week on the Pink Paislee blog. For my layout today I chose to use the new Summer Lights collection. When I think of big titles I always think straight away ‘die cutting’, because with die cutting you can create and customise pages to your needs.
Create a big title with maximum inpact on the blog today. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #12x12 #bigtitle #ppohmyheart
For this page I decided to create a big, bright, and bold statement title using a popular quote. The title is made using Bebas font and cut centred to the bottom of the page. To highlight certain words within the title I added the bold Paper 11 behind them. This made them really pop.

Create a big title with maximum inpact on the blog today. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #12x12 #bigtitle #ppohmyheart
To help highlight the photo I cut a free cut file from Paper Issues and used the pineapple from the set. This matched with the title and made a nice embellishment to layer and cluster with my photo. The photo was able to nestle in there within the base of the pineapple perfectly.

Create a big title with maximum inpact on the blog today. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #12x12 #bigtitle #ppohmyheart
Then I embellished using any pieces that I thought would fit within the theme of the layout. It was good to see that this layout could be created with a summer collection and not have a particular summer theme – apart from the icon of the pineapple.

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I love to add a lot of layers and clusters within my layouts. The chipboard, ephemera, and stickers were used to add those layers and embellish the page.

Create a big title with maximum inpact on the blog today. @raquelLbowman @pinkpaislee #pinkpaislee #layout #12x12 #bigtitle #ppohmyheart
It is so fun to build a layout around a big statement title, I hope I have inspired you to give this a go!