Hi Creative Friends,
I’m up on the Cocoa Vanilla Studios blog today with a new share using the beautiful ‘Unforgettable’ collection. For this page, I’ve jumped out of my comfort zone again to scrap another picture of me, this one was taken on my birthday recently. I’m also sharing some extra tips and tricks for working with cut files!
Many of you will already know that I just love working with cut files on my pages. I love that they are super inexpensive and the designs really are limitless. It will be no surprise that once I had chosen a photo to work with for this page, I went to my extensive library. This file is from my cut file store CUT to YOU and I love that it helps me document this snapshot in time, my 43rd birthday. I’ve done a stack of journaling on the back talking about where I’m at right now in my life.
To begin the page, I started by backing the letters in the file. Tip #1 – If you have a limited supply of coordinating pattern papers, this is a fab way to use them up or make them stretch. You’d be surprised just how little you need to make a bold title like this one, AND you can mix and match all of your scraps amongst the letters for a really pretty look. Tip #2 – Pattern paper pads such as the one from this collection are perfect for backing cut files. The smaller print designs work so well with the small spaces within the files.
While we are talking about backing the letters… Tip #3 – I find it much easier when working with a small area in a cut file to glue the pattern paper to my cut file and then use fussy cutting scissors to cut it out. I find this way of backing the files the fastest for me, much faster than tracing each section and then cutting it out and then trying to position it back into the open space of the file.
Once my file was all backed and I was happy with it I went about backing my photo and thinking about the composition of my page. Tip #4 – It’s a good idea to use the software from your electronic die cutting machine to help you with the size and placement of the design on your page. I consider the layout of my page design when resizing the file so that once cut and you get to create it’s not too big or too small for your design idea.
I was now looking at the file and photo on my layout and it wasn’t quite popping off the page in a way I’d like so Tip #5 – I’ve added some foam tape to lift it off the page AND some soft watercolour behind the file to really help the white edges pop off the white background. I use both of these techniques a lot to help give the cut file definition on a white background.
It was now time to embellish the page, this bit is super easy and fun with the larger elements in place. For this, I’ve fussy cut out the large green butterfly element from the ‘Pretty Bits’ pattern paper and teamed it with two more smaller butterflies fussy cut from the ‘Lacewing’ pattern paper. I’ve also added in a pink butterfly from the ‘Ephemera pack’.
To create a small cluster in the top right-hand corner of my page, I’ve combined elements from the ‘Accessory Sticker sheet’, enamel dots and a flair button. The larger floral die cut at the bottom of my photo is from the ‘Die Cut Ephemera’ pack. To finish the page off, I’ve added some typed sentiments from the ‘Accessory Sticker Sheet’ using more foam tape for dimension.
Thanks for popping by today to see my latest project, I hope you enjoyed the tips and tricks I’ve shared for working with cut files and that they inspire you to give working with them a go, they really are the best fun! If you haven’t checked out the latest collection ‘Unforgettable’ yet, you really must, it is DIVINE!
Until next time,
