November Cocoa Daisy Kit Fair Isle - 3 Layouts and 1 Project Life Spread

Before I am diving into the December Cocoa Daisy Kits, I want to share the projects that I made using the November kits. I was able to make three layouts and one Project Life spread. I have process videos that go along with each one of them, they are linked underneath each photo.

The November kits included a lot of winter and snow themed references and since we live in California where we usually don't get snow, they were a bit tricky to use. I decided to challenge myself and document our first encounter with snow from this past June. I added some more trees in a darker color using embroidery thread. This helped to create more depth and dimension on the layout. I also used Distress Oxides for a mixed media background. Instead of adding the color directly to the background, I used a scrap piece of cardstock to see whether I wanted the color behind the photos, but it looked so great that I decided to use the scraps as an actual layer. If you want to see the whole process here is my video on youtube: Scrapbooking Process: "shorts SNOW sunshine" * Cocoa Daisy * embroidery.

I created this layout for the Designers Inspiration on the Cocoa Daisy blog. It was a 1-2-3-4 challenge with the challenge to use 4 different patterned papers from the kit. I used 1 acrylic piece, 2 photos, 3 trees (and hearts and stars), and as the challenge suggested 4 patterned papers. I really loved the patterned paper background but needed a space to create my photo cluster on, so I used gesso to tone down the brightness of the paper, then build my layout on top of that.Scrapooking Process: "Gather Together" 1-2-3-4 challenge.

This layout is all about me. I created it for my introduction blogpost over on the Cocoa Daisy blog. I used a go-to layout style of mine. But added five things about me to the background. Each one starts at one of the stars. I handlettered part of the title. The layers behind the photos consist of packaging and pocket cards. It's hard to see but I sewed white journaling lines all over the layout. Here is the link to youtube: Scrapbooking Process: "Du hast nen Vogel * Cocoa Daisy.

I am still catching up on my Project Life 2016 and I love that I can fill up my album slowly with the Cocoa Daisy Memory Keeping pocket kits. For this spread I only used the pocket kit, I love the challenge of making one kit work without pulling in too much stuff from my stash. Here is the process: Project Life Scrapbooking Process: Week 48/2016 * Cocoa Daisy.

"Kletterwald" - Stuck?! Sketches

I cannot believe it is time for sharing another sketch! I had meant to share so many other things in between but just didn't get to it. Let's see if that is something I can get better at in 2018. Here is the November 15 sketch that Laura Whitaker created for Stuck?! Sketches. It calls for a circular element behind a strip of paper which holds a square photo and what looks like a journaling card.

I had printed this photo a while ago. Originally, I wanted to use it with a different kit but the colors of the photo went perfectly with the Cocoa Daisy September kits called "Early Sunset". When I went through the kit the 1Canoe2 Creekside Rings and Crosses paper sparked the idea of using those tree circles. Since one of them was too small I decided to go with four. And that is exactly what threw me off. I struggled with the layout for a very long time while trying to follow the sketch. It didn't look right with those huge mats and the squared photo. When I finally let go of that idea and started to bring in more "me", it suddenly came together very easily and odd things that I often would never think to put on a layout looked great. I'm talking about the huge toadstools and the tree and the proportions that weren't quite right.

As you can see, I fussy cut part of my photo and then back it on several journaling cards. I also added several pieces of foam to add dimension to the otherwise flat layout. Somehow the organic (hahaha, well, circular) shape of my sons' heads as well as the circular embellishments now tie in well with the tree discs.

I created two similar embellishment clusters that consisted of one word tag, one toadstool, a die cut heart and puffy heart. I love creating embellishment clusters that are very similar because this is an easy way to tie it all together and make a layout look cohesive.

We would love for you to join us this month and create a project off this sketch. Be sure to link it up to Stuck?! Sketches for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors.

Here is the process video for this layout where you can see me struggle for quite a while and then see the layout come together quite easily and quickly after that.

"Best Friends Forever" - Stuck?! Sketches

Today I have a fun layout and sketch to share with you that Laura from Stuck?! Sketches designed. What a great sketch to use more than one photo on a layout but still leave enough room for embellishments or patterned paper to shine.

Here is my take on the sketch, I used my September Cocoa Daisy kit for it since the colors went quite well with my photos and I had not yet had a chance to play with it. I had been meaning to use a dark background and use gesso behind the photo cluster. It worked so well with the colors of the photos and the papers.

Sketches for me are a starting point. So in this case the basic info that I took from it was:

• three small, square photos,
• frame behind one photo,
• photos mounted on one patterned paper,
• there are two embellishment clusters: a smaller cluster to the left, a large cluster to the right,
• title placement underneath the photos towards the right and journaling underneath, and
• two strips of patterned paper at the bottom of the page.

I layered several pieces of patterned paper behind my photo and used a frame again on this layout. This is the second layout in a row where I used a frame. All I can say: they are awesome! The colored splotches of paper were fussy cut from a kaisercraft paper that actually looked very mixed media-ish. So they worked quite well with my mixed media background without being messy.

I used a white gel pen for my journaling but it ran out before I was finished. Usually when I want to tell a story that tries to convey my feelings I write a draft. But this time I didn't, so I not only have to go back and finish the journaling but also make sense of it. Sigh. Next time I know better ...

We'd love for you to join us this month and create a project based off this sketch. Be sure and link it up to Stuck?! Sketches for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors.

Here is the video where I tell you more about my thought process while creating the layout and the story of the photos.