Easter Cards | Mandy Melville

Hi everyone!

Mandy back again today to share a couple of Easter cards that I made using some new designs from The Cut Shoppe. There are quite a few Easter themed cut files in the shop if you're looking for some to use on your projects, and Ashley has recently added two more, which are the ones that I've used on my cards today.

Here's a look at the Risen cut file that I used on my first card:

I started by resizing the cut file to fit on my card and cutting it on white cardstock. I then backed the cut file with some Felicity Jane patterned papers from the Sophie kit from a few years back. (Creating cards is a great way of using up those scraps that you've been hoarding!). Before adhering the cut file, I added a piece of light wood grain patterned paper to the front of the card, as well as a couple of scallops that I fussy cut out of one of the papers.

As you can see, I adhered the cut file using foam tape, which gave it some nice dimension. To finish the card off, I used some FJ alphabet stickers to add the 'He is' above the 'Risen', and I tucked a fussy cut flower under the bottom edge of the cut file.

For my next card I used the Easter Basket cut file:

Again, I resized the cut file to fit the card and cut it out of white cardstock. I used patterned papers from the same collection to back the cut file, and this time I added a pink grid patterned paper to the front of the card to help the cut file to really pop.

I once again adhered the cut file using foam tape for added dimension, and I also tucked some leaves and florals in around the cut file to add some more detail. Lastly, I added the word 'easter' above the basket, curving it around the handle of the basket.

I hope that You enjoyed taking a look at my cards, and that you've been inspired to use these beautiful Easter themed cut files on your projects as well!

As this will be my last blog post as part the design team for The Cut Shoppe, I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you to Ashley for having me as part of her team, (twice over the years!). I've loved creating with her awesome cut files, and will continue to do so. I also want to wish Ashley all the very best as she closes this chapter, and moves onto new things. I know that we have all appreciated the time and effort that she has put into designing cut files for The Cut Shoppe over the past 6 years!

Boys will be Boys | Mandy Melville

Hello everyone!

Mandy here with you today to share a layout that I created featuring the new Boys will be Boys cut file from The Cut Shoppe. It was perfect for documenting these photos of my son doing what he loves best!

Here's a look at the cut file:

I started my layout off by cutting the title on white cardstock and backing it with patterned papers that complemented the colours in the photos. I decided on using the Cocoa Vanilla 'Boys Rule' collection for this layout. I positioned the title at the bottomof the page, leaving enough room for the two 3x4 inch photos at the top. I adhered the cut file to the page using foam tape for added dimension and interest.

I matted my photos with patterned papers from the Boys Rule collection and then tucked them under the top edge of the cut file. Next I created a little embellishment cluster to the left of the photos using a die cut, stickers, chipboard and a felt star.

To finish the layout off, I added some more embellishments in the bottom right hand corner of the layout. You will notice that all of my embellishments are positioned diagonally down the page from the top left to the bottom right, which helps to draw the viewer's eye down the page.

Lastly, I added some typed journaling to the layout, and a couple of little wood veneer stars.

Thanks so much for joining me here on the blog today. I hope that you've been inspired by my layout! Make sure you go check out all of the new designs available from The Cut Shoppe!

Curl up with a Good Book | Mandy Melville

Hey friends!

Mandy here with you today to share a layout that I created using the Good Book cut file from The Cut Shoppe. My eldest daughter Abi is an avid reader, so this was the perfect cut file to use to document a photo I snapped of her recently while she was reading.

The Good Book cut file:

I started by cutting the cut file out of white cardstock, and then backing it with patterned papers from the Felicity Jane Shay collection. I don't often use coloured patterned papers for my background, but I decided to use one this time, to help the cut file to really stand out against the background, and I like the subtle tone-on-tone stripes on this patterned paper. I backed the cut with craft foam before adhering it to the background to give it some extra dimension.

I added a couple of layers behind my photo using a 3x4 journaling card and a tag, and then adhered it over on the right hand side of the page. I fussy cut some pretty florals to embellish around the photo, and I also added a sub-title across the bottom of the photo using a die cut word from the Shay collection, and a little puffy word sticker.

To balance out the photo cluster over on the right hand side of the layout, I created a second cluster to the left of the cut file. I repeated elements in this cluster that I'd used in the main one including another fussy cut floral cluster and another little puffy word sticker. I also added a label here to record the book that my daughter was currently reading when I took the photo.

I finished the layout off with some typed journaling and a couple of chipboard asterisks.

Thanks so much for joining me here on the blog today! I hope that you enjoyed taking a look at my layout.

My Boy | Mandy Melville

Hello everyone!

Mandy here with you today to share a traveler's notebook layout using the Love Grows Here cut file from The Cut Shoppe! It was perfect for documenting a recent photo of me with my handsome boy!

Here's a look at the cut file.

I started by resizing the cut file to fit my traveler's notebook insert. I then cut it out of white cardstock and backed it with patterned papers. I chose to use the Felicity Jane Madison collection for this layout, as I thought the colours would complement the photo nicely.

Once I'd finished backing the cut file I adhered it to the left hand side of my spread, and I scattered some sequins and puffy stickers around it. I also added some typed journaling to this page as well.

Over on the right hand side of the spread I added my photo and title. I kept this page fairly simple so as to keep the focus on the cut file and photo.

Thanks so much for joining me here on the blog today! I'll be back with another project to share with you later this month.

The Best Dad | Mandy Melville

Hello everyone!

Mandy here today to share a layout using the new Geo Frame cut file from The Cut Shoppe. I documented a recent photo of my hubby with my son, and I wanted to make this layout about how I think Andrew is an awesome Dad to our kids!

I started my layout off by trimming down a sheet of white cardstock to about 9 1/2 inches square, and I adhered it to the middle of a patterned paper from the Cocoa Vanilla 'Boys Rule' collection. I hand-drew a border around the white cardstock to help it to stand out a little more. I then cut the cut file out of a sheet of grey patterned paper from the same collection, and positioned it over the white cardstock. This provided a great frame for my photo, as well as adding some more interest to the background.

I added lots of layers under my photo using patterned papers, as well as a chipboard frame to help it to really pop off the page. I then adhered it over on the right hand side of the cut file. On the bottom corner of the photo I added a flair button, as well as a die cut arrow.

For my title I combined some Cocoa Vanilla chipboard words with scripty alphabet stickers from Felicity Jane. I love combining different fonts to create my titles!

I finished the layout off with some little word stickers, a few chipboard crosses, and a couple of wood veneer stars.

Thanks so much for joining me here on the blog today! Make sure you pop on over to The Cut Shoppe to check out the other new designs that are available!

It's a Wonderful day to be Alive | Mandy Melville

Hello everyone!

I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year! Today I'm sharing an entry in my Journaling Bible using the Tall Titles cut file from The Cut Shoppe.

This cut file set is designed to use in standard size traveler's notebook inserts, but it's also the perfect size to add a large title in the margin of the Illustrated Faith Journaling Bible!

The verse that I wanted to journal on was Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." So when I found this awesome cut file from The Cut Shoppe, I knew that it would make the perfect title for this entry. I used the Felicity Jane Madison collection, and I decided to cut the title out of the woodgrain patterned paper from the kit.

Before I stuck my title down I added some subtle colour to the background using Vicki Boutin art crayons. I also did a little bit of stamping and then I embellished the page with some floral clusters that I fussy cut out of one of the Madison patterned papers. With such a large and eye catching title, I didn't need to add too many embellishments.

I added my journaling in the space on the right hand side of the page, and then I finished the entry off  by attaching a tab at the top of the page, along with another small floral cluster.

Thanks so much for joining me here on the blog today! If you're a bible journaler, I hope that I've inspired you to use some cut files in your bible as well! Make sure you go check out the section for traveler's notebook cut files in the shop, as these are a great size for bible journaling!

Merry | Mandy Melville

Hello everyone!

Mandy here with you today to share a traveler's notebook layout using the Holly Jolly Christmas cut file, available from The Cut Shoppe. We had an early Christmas celebration with my brother's family this week as they live interstate, and the kids had so much fun catching up with their cousins. They only get to see each other a couple of times a year, but whenever we see them, the kids always pick right up where they left off. I love this photo of Eleanor with my niece Avey, giving each other a cuddle.

I decided on using the Christmas tree background from the Holly Jolly Christmas cut file set, and it worked perfectly with my photo!

I started my layout off by covering the left hand side of the spread with two patterned papers from the Felicity Jane Noel collection. Next I added my photo, and I also tucked a journaling card and a tag underneath the photo to add some more layers and interest to the layout. To finish the left hand side of the spread off, I added a pine cone die cut on the bottom left hand corner of the photo.

Next I backed the cut file with lots of different patterned papers from the Noel collection, and then I adhered the cut file to the right hand side of the spread.

To finish the layout off, I added my title using a puffy word sticker. I also layered a circular die cut underneath the title to help it stand out from the background.

Thanks so much for joining me here on the blog today. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and I'll see you back here in the New Year!

Come Let Us Adore Him | Mandy Melville

Hi everyone!

Mandy here with you today to share a Christmas themed layout that I created using the new Adore Him cut file, available to purchase from The Cut Shoppe! Christmas is my favourite time of the year, and I love capturing all of the joy and excitement as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Large titles like this are one of my favourite types of cut files to use on my layouts! I think they look really effective, and draw the viewer into the page, and they also make the design process really easy!

I started my layout off by backing each of the letters in the cut file with patterned papers from the Felicity Jane Noel collection. I then adhered the cut file to the background using foam tape to give it lots of dimension.

I printed my photos slightly smaller than 3x4 inches, leaving a thin white border around them. I then then matted them with a woodgrain patterned paper and tucked them into the spaces around the title.

I embellished my page with some die cuts, a few fussy cut poinsettias, and gold puffy stickers, all from the Noel collection. And to finish it off I added some typed journaling strips.

Thanks so much for joining me here today! I hope that you enjoyed taking a look at my layout, and make sure you go grab this cut file from The Cut Shoppe to use on your Christmas projects!