A Touch of Gold with Amanda Baldwin.....

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back for a little more Imaginarium Designs inspiration with Amanda :)

 I have three very different (but all inspiring) layouts to share with you today, all with a touch of gold!

 But rather than chatter, let's get straight into it!

First up, I have this very delicate and super sweet girly page, 

"Beautiful" 

 Isn't this just the sweetest?! Told you it was delicate!

I used patterned papers and ephemera from Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Life Is Beautiful collection, as well as a few intricate chippie designs! The soft mixed media background is a combination of gel medium, crystal snow fine glitter and Lindy's Gang Magicals - a really pretty blend!

You'll spy twigs, butterflies and the word 'beautiful' from the versatile Imaginarium Designs range!

The tiny word title works with the delicacy of the layout, but I've treated it with some Gold ink to make it stand out all the same. She truly is our Beautiful girl!

Let's take a closer look at the other chippies.....

Aren't these butterflies just so prrreeeetty! I've used Versa Ink: Sea Foam on both of them, and then layered a hand punched butterfly over one of them. The layering adds dimension, and interest to the chipboard. Cute result!  

I used the same layering on the Versa Ink: Petal Pink butterfly below too! 

But it's the white embossed twigs that are my favourites! So intricate and fine!

Perfect for my ephemera bloom cluster!

Simply stunning!

Imaginarium Designs Products:

Twig (2 on board)

Beautiful Delightful Wonderful in a board

9 Butterflies in a board

My second layout that I am sharing with you today is still on the pretty side but quite a different look....

"My Best Friend"

Wow! I love everything about this layout! 

From that dear photo, through to the colours, the gold glitter, the watercolour background, 

The Cut Shoppe cut files & of course, those perfect chipboard pieces - I love it all!

Let's start with that swirly frame which I've used to matte my photo onto....

I love how it just pops from behind my photo, discretely drawing your eye into my photo.

I've given it a good coat of American Crafts: Archival Pigment Ink  in Amethyst. The depth of the purple really works with all the blues in the background.

But it's that chipboard phrase title that wows me......

I've used a glitter gold embossing powder on this chipboard & doesn't it sparkle?!! Really fabulous, bold, big impact result, ideal for a title. Love! 

Imaginarium Designs Products:

Frame for 60mm x 90mm photo

My Best Friend

And my final creation for you today is a layout that I created for a Paper Issues challenge this month, but it was just too divine not to take a closer look at......

"You are AMAZING"

So stunning! Love all the gold trimmings on this layout! 

Infact, I think it's safe to say I am crushing on gold titles at the moment too! I've used Versa Ink in Gold for all the chippies, as well as a little of that glitter treatment on a few of the hearts too. Here's a close up for you....

Naww! They really do love each other so very much! To keep the page flowing, I've ensured that both the word love and phrase title are of a similar font too......

Ooooh! All that glittering gold; love, love, LOVE!!!

Imaginarium Designs Products:

Love

Nat's Hearts 2 (12 in a board)

 You are Amazing

And there you have it! A rather golden start to the month!

Thanks for stopping by today! 

*Please remember to leave a comment to go in the draw to win a pack of chipboard*

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, Amanda xo 

April Creations and a Tutorial with Amanda

Hi Everyone! 

Welcome back for more inspiring projects with our favourite
Imaginarium Designs chipboard. 

Amanda here, and today I have a couple of layouts, as well as a tutorial to share with you -
so let's get straight into it! 

First up, I am sharing this stunning layout featuring me and the gorgeous Louise Nelson....

"Awesome"

How cool is this? An arty explosion of pop colour, style and fun! I love it! 

I've really tried to reflect a balance between both our different styles and personalities with this layout.

Bold and black, wire, arty and stylised - that's all Lou!

 Bright pops of colour, fun, hearts and sticker love - that's definitely me!

And as for Marble is the new black, well I think you'll find that Louise and I both have a thing for gorgeous materials and marble is one of them!!!

Two arty friends having fun and sharing our passion for creating.

And the chipboard? 

Well, naturally it's designed by the talented Loolabelle herself!

Let's take a closer look..... 

How striking are those frames?!! 

Black ink for Lou, and pink for me, lol!

 Layering chipboard in bold colours creates a stunning result everytime! Love it!

Here's another view...

The black and hot pink really compliment that marble pattern paper too. The paper is from Crate Paper's Hello, LOVE collection. And those really funky and foil stickers are from Typo.

The gold stickers were the inspiration for the gold embossing on the Callout chipboard.....

Love that sparkly gold finish! I removed the inner heart and inked that in Island green to also coordinate with the pattern paper. Really cool.

I had such fun creating this layout - it really came from the heart. Thankyou, Louise! 

Imaginarium Products Featured:

Loolabelle's Criss Cross Frame 1

Loolabelle's Callouts (4 in a board)

Frame for 60mm x 90mm Photo

Next up, I have this super sweet Summery layout of my darling boy at the Seaside....

"DOWN by the SEA"

Isn't this fun?! 

It features the stunning Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Hello Sunshine collection, and is just super cute for Summer!

I've combined some of my fave chipboards here to really 'build' a story in my layout. 

Let's look a little closer.....

Soft, matte, pastel baby blue ink for those sweet clouds, bold royal blue ink for the title, and a shimmery hot orange ink and mist combination for Nat's pinwheels. So awesome!

To make those pinwheels appear to be Summer suns, I used Kaisercraft: Tangelo ink pad, and then gave a double coating of Kaisermist in Yellow. You don't see the yellow, but it toned down the orange and added so much shimmer to the 'rays'.

And how cute is that cloud with the complimenting flair? Buttons are a really fun and playful embellishment to add to your chipboard.

Super fun, bright and happy!

Imaginarium Products Featured:

Nat's Pinwheels (3 in a board)

Down by the Sea

Four Clouds in a Board

And last, but not least, here's the tutorial I promised.

I'm not much of a 'special' cardmaker, but occasionally I have something so wonderful happen that I do indulge. This super pretty card is for my darling daughter on Opening Night of the Ballet. 

(She is cast to star in The Australian Youth Ballet's production of Mary Poppins - so excited for her & want her to feel our love and support as she takes to the stage!) 

She's only just turned 10, so I've used a pretty but also very contemporary colour palette and paper collection to best suit her. 

The card is designed to not only offer words of encouragement and recogntion, but also doubles up as on Off The Page keepsake. I hope she likes it!

"Shine, gorgeous!" card and keepsake

I know, it's so pretty huh?!

And it can be recreated in various colour tones & papers to suit your recipients.

Here's how to re-create it....

1. Ink the Emma Frame - avoiding the flourishes. I've used Versa ink in Royal Blue.

2. Coat the flourishes in embossing ink.

 I find using the refill nozzle much more controlled for small, intricate details, and you can tidy up the 'blobs' with the end of a pin.

3. Add embossing powder. Dust off excess with a stiff paint brush. 

Apply heat & set the powder. I used sparkling Gold Zing by American Crafts. 

4. Attach patterned papers to frame. I've featured the Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Free Spirit collection. You'll spy that it has flecks of gold glitter in the paper - coordinating perfectly with the frame!

5. Adhere photograph. I've used Miss M's last ballet exam practice photo, so it really connects with the card's purpose and meaning. 

6. Attach to front of card with double sided tape.

7. Embellish frame with blooms, ephemera, title/message etc. I've used the Free Spirit embellishments as they really do partner perfectly with the patterned papers.

8. Last, but not least, add a few rhinestone gems and pearls for finishing touches. All little girls love a bit of bling!

Voila! 

A gorgeous card that doubles as a beautiful keepsake Off The Page creation. Just stunning!

You can purchase that divine Emma Frame here.

I hope you enjoyed my post today, and feel inspired to get creating!

*Please be sure to leave a comment to go in the draw to win a pack of chipboard*

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time,

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Hello February, Hello LOVE!

Happy February Creative Friends!

Didn't January disappear fast?!!
I hope you liked meeting our new DT & seeing their fabulously creative talents on show -
I know that they definitely inspired me!

Speaking of inspiration.....

Feburary is all about the LOVE for me!

 So for today's post, I have put together a few gorgeous Valentine's Day inspired creations for you - combining my favourite chippies with Crate Paper's, Hello LOVE collection.
Enjoy!

First up, I have this way too adorable layout of sibling love at it's best......

"Totally ADORBS"

I know, how darling is that photo?!! 

Nothing more wonderful than seeing your children snuggling in together for a hug! 

These two are just the most connected siblings - they really do adore one another - and yes, they are totally ADORBS!

Because their love is so innocent and sweet, I've kept to a clean, white background and design. I've used my chipboard discreetly to gently embellish and draw you into that sweet photograph.

Let's take a closer look at those chippies.....

Natalie's hand drawn hearts are a firm favourite of mine. They're such a fun and delicate addition to any page! I've inked mine in berry pink to coordinate with the pink blooms in that pretty patterned paper. I've used the same treatment on the chipboard word, 'totally' too.

And how about these wispy black flourishes?!  

Just gorgeous, huh? 

To compliment the black watercolour leaves in the paper, I've lightly sprayed the flourishes in Kaisermist: Charcoal, to create a similar look.

A really cool result!

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Featured:

Natalie's Hand Drawn Hearts

Totally Adore Wonderful

Denises Flourishes 1 Small (2 per board)

Next up, I have another super sweet sibling love page......

"This."

Oh where to begin?!

 I just love memory keeping!

This is an old photo I came across on my Google Photos daily reminders - hard to believe that this is almost 3 years ago now!

Anyways, so pleased I was reminded of it! I just had to re-scrap it immediately!

That lil birdies frame is just DIVINE  and perfect for my two baby birds!

Let's take a closer look......

Oh Yeah! That frame. Just Aaahmazing!!!!

I've used that very same berry pink ink again for some of the hearts, and for part of the frame.

The top section of the frame has been embossed in Zing! Glitter Embossing Powder in Gold - isn't the two tone effect just stunning?!! 

A really cool effect to try on your chipboards!

I've used the gold glitter stickers and gold foil ephemera from Hello LOVE to partner perfectly with my golden frame; making it a real feature of my layout.

For my title, I've used some of those cute alphas and inked them in matte black for a striking, bold finish. The Loolabelle Arrows are inked in Kaisercraft: Island, to pick up on the teal highlights in the patterned paper geometric hearts. 

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Featured:

Photo Frame 1 (with birds)

Loolabelle's Love Arrows

Natalie's Hand Drawn Hearts

Lower Case Letters

But what about my Valentine? 

Well, I haven't forgotten him - here's a lovely card just to say how much I care....

"Happy Valentines Day" Card

Soooooooo pretty! 

I've used a super sweet bird heart frame that is a new release chipboard coming soon.....

I know, gotta love new chippie designs!!!

I really loved the gold on my previous layout, but this time I used Bo Bunny: Glitter Paste. I love this stuff! If you haven't tried it on your chipboards yet, you MUST! It is simply amazing, and so easy to apply. 

But enough chattering! 

Thanks for stopping by to see my February creations with our favourite chipboard!

I hope you enjoyed my post and feel inspired too!

*Don't forget to leave a comment to go in the draw to win a pack of chipboard*

til next time, 

Happy Valentines Day!

Amanda xo