Simple Stories - Color Me Happy - The Best Memories

Hi!

It's Claire back on the blog today and I have another layout made with the Color Me Happy collection from Simple Stories.

I loved this collection as soon as I saw it, but creating with it makes me love it even more! It's such good fun!

For this post, I'm focusing more on the floral elements which are so pretty. I started with a sheet of plain white cardstock, and cut a circle from the How Cool notebook paper to act as my base layer.

On top of this, I cut a polka dot fishtail banner from the Right Now! paper and lay this across the centre, raising on foam to create separation. To help them stand out, I added a dotted black line with a Sharpie pen to each of the coloured edges.

Next, I wanted some bold pops of colour, so I cut out lots of circles from the All About It? Paper. I positioned 5 along the top, and 5 along the bottom of the banner, again adhering on foam for extra depth.

I cut my photo to the same sized circle and added this along the top of the banner, before creating a pretty floral cluster around it using flowers from the Floral Bits & Pieces.

For balance, I created a second cluster opposite my photo, using this space to house my title. Of course, I opted for the Foam Stickers for the 'Memories' phrase, complemented by a small chevron arrow from the Chipboard Pieces.

To finish, I added a few sequins from my stash to give it that little extra sparkle.

Thank you for joining me on the blog today. Don't forget to check out this stunning collection in the shop here.

Happy scrapping!

Claire x

@scrappysoulmate.

Enjoy - Uniquely Creative - Bohemian Escape Collection

Hi everyone,

It’s Rebecca here with you today, sharing my second layout of the month. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed creating with the Bohemian Escape collection by Uniquely Creative—it’s been such a joy to work with. I’m so grateful we’re able to get our hands on these beautiful collections. There are a few in stock, so don’t forget to have a browse in the shop here.

I love how elegant this collection looks when paired with a minimalistic layout and plenty of white space. It really allows the beautiful elements to shine. For this layout, I began by cutting thin strips from several patterned papers. I arranged these strips in the centre of a sheet of Premium White Cardstock, then snipped the ends at an angle to add a little extra interest. I varied the lengths, keeping shorter strips toward the edges and longer ones in the middle. I also removed the centre section to create a horizontal band of white space running at an angle across the design—I had a plan for this area but waited until the page was complete to finish it!

With my photo printed at 3x4 inches, I matted it using a couple of papers from the collection. I chose light blue and beige tones to echo the colours in my son’s shirt. To add a touch of texture, I gently distressed the edges using the blade of my scissors. I then raised the photo with a layer of foam and positioned it on the right-hand side of the layout. I embellished a couple of the corners with florals from the Creative Cuts Ephemera. These die cuts are so elegant and detailed, and I love how they look layered together.

To balance the design, I placed my title (also from the Creative Cuts Ephemera) on the left-hand side of the page. Normally, I might avoid using a solid black title with softer colours, but in this case, I loved how it tied in with the dark sunglasses in the photo and added a bold contrast to the layout.

Although I had plenty of paper strips, I felt the area beneath the title needed a little something extra. To enhance this section, I added a couple of small flowers and some of the beautiful butterflies to tie everything together.

To finish the page, I returned to the white space running through the centre and added dots of Crystal Nuvo Drops in the shade “Mustard Gold.” This subtle sparkle adds an elegant finishing touch.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope you’re enjoying creating with Uniquely Creative as much as I am. I noticed Vanessa has already added another collection to the shop, so be sure to head over to the website and check it out before it’s gone!

Take care,
Rebecca xx

@preciouspagespapercraft 

Echo Park ~ You Are My Sunshine #2 🌼

Hi Papermaze followers! 

It’s Anna back with you to share one final layout using Echo Park - You are my Sunshine. 

You can find the collection in the shop here. 

For my second layout using this collection, I wanted to create a large circle on my page. 

I used the b side of Sunshine Skies as my base. 

I then cut a circle out of Powder Blue bazzill cardstock and adhered it to centre of the patterned paper. I mounted my two photos together on to some coordinating bazzill cardstock and positioned them in the middle of the bazzill circle. 

I then grabbed all of my leftover scraps from this collection as well as some coordinating bazzill cardstock and I got punching! I used all of the flower punches that I have a punched lots and lots of flowers. You can view Papermaze’s range of punches here. 

I layered lots of the flowers together and added enamel dots to the centres. Once I had quite a few flowers ready, I started adhering them around the left edge of the circle. 

I then added some element stickers - a rainbow, cloud and sunshine to the top right of my layout. I also added a couple of bunting pieces and some phrase stickers at the bottom of the photographs. 

The title ‘So Epic’ and a couple of the word phrases come from Say Cheese Epic Cardstock Stickers as I was documenting a visit to Epcot. 

Thanks so much for looking!

See you in April with a brand New collection! 

Anna 

@acraftylifewithanna

Carta Bella - Wine - Vineyard Openday

Hello, Karen here. I’m back today with a new layout featuring the stunning Wine collection from Carta Bella. I recently found some photos from a local vineyard open day from a few years back, and I knew immediately that this collection was the perfect pairing for those photos.

I started this layout with a sheet of the Gift of the Vine paper. I trimmed this down slightly and then matted it onto a sheet of white cardstock leaving a narrow border around the edges.

Using my Silhouette, I cut two large black film strips to stretch across the page. These served as the perfect frames for my photos. I also backed some of the open sections with the B side of the Vineyard Blooms paper from the collection. The film strips were glued to the layout at a slight angle.

Across the top of the layout I create some bunting with scraps of paper from the collection and some white twine. At each end of the bunting I added some florals fussy cut from the Vineyard Blooms paper and raised them slightly with 3D foam to add some dimension.

For the bottom of the layout, I went big! I used my Silhouette again and cut an oversized cut file of a wine bottle and glass from black cardstock and backed it with green cardstock. I was able to carefully print, using the computer, a few details about the photos onto the wine bottle

I dipped into the Ephemera Pack and found a cute word plaque which I layered on top of the wine bottle to complete the layout.

I hope you like this layout and I will be back again soon with another project.

Until then, Take Care.

Karen x x

March Crop

 Our March crop is this coming Saturday and Lynn has designed this 'cute' kit for us, using stencils and foam stamps. 

As always we will be at Otley Village Hall from 10am until 4pm, with lots of laughter, home made cakes and plenty of crafting.  Plus there's a discount on anything you buy in the shop!  Message me if you'd like to come along.

March Papermaze Kit - Part 1

Hello, Lynn here today with two layouts created using the March Papermaze Kit. Full of pretty floral and rustic papers, colour matched cardstock and embellishments. For my first two layouts I have picked the farmyard style papers from 49 and Market's Whispering Way collection.

Before looking at how the layouts were made, here is what you will find in the kit:

Patterned Papers:
49 and Market - Whispering Way collection - Farm Fresh & Sunshine Days
Carta Bella - Pressed Floral collection - 3 x 4 Journalling Cards
Carta Bella - Feels Like Home collection - Floral Frame & Cottage Floral
Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Junk Drawer collection - Willow

The photo below shows both sides of the papers

Embellishments: Mintay Chippies Titles - 1 line, 3 Prima Cherry Sweet flowers, 6 Uniquely Creative Bohemian Escape Vellum, 2 Kaisercraft Frames, Kaisercraft Rhinestone Flower, Bo Bunny - Beautiful Things - Candy Dots, Hero Arts Clay Hearts, 12" Lace.

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Twig, Rosewood (included in kit), Classic Smooth White, Quartz, Guacamole and  Yukon Gold.

Cobtree Museum - When the children were on their school summer holiday, we spent a Day at The Cobtree Museum of Kent Life, Maidstone. They enjoyed playing in 'The Darling Buds of May' set. Here is my daughter on Pop Larkin's Truck.

I chose the Farm Fresh paper for this layout, I has some rustic farm yard images centred around a big circular egg farm symbol. You will see from the photo below how I gutted this paper, so that I could use the brick work print from the 'B' side as a mount for my photo. I was careful to trim around the 'Fresh Farm Eggs' sign and milk churn. I cut the cut-out piece into smaller pieces and 'built' a brick wall around my photo. Then tucked the photo under the sign and churn. As with all cut edges on this layout, I inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

Using a BIGZ XL alphabet die (Wonderland) and some greyboard from my stash, I cut the letters for the title. The letters were painted with two different coloured coats of Distress Paint (Ground Espresso and Brushed Corduroy). Once dry I added a layer of Cracking Medium, allowing this to dry naturally and cause the top layer of paint to crack, giving a weathered wood effect. I protected the letters with a thin layer of Glossy Accents.

The letters were arranged following the line of the circular design printed on the paper. 

I made a subtitle using Sizzix Thinlits Alphanumeric Label die set to cut letters from the Yukon Gold Bazzill in the kit. I arranged the letters inside the larger title. 

I cut more letters and numbers for the date, these were arranged of two small tags cut using the Sizzix Framelits Tag Collection Die set. Using another small tag, I added some journalling. Fine jute twine was looped through the holes in the tags. 

I purchased a pack of 49 and Market Laser Cut Elements from the Whispering Way collection, I selected a few images, and along with the tags, applied them to the layout using 3D foam pads. Small pieces of raffia were tucked under some of the pieces. 

Badsell Farm Park - A day out for the Children with Twin's Club friends, after winning tickets for the Badsell Farm Park, Paddock Wood. Andrew loved all the farm machinery he was able to climb onto and pretend to drive.  

This time I chose the Sunshine Days paper, from the Whispering Way collection. I added more chicken wire to this page using Aged Mahogany Distress Paint mixed with Texture Paste, and worked through a stencil (TCW259S). This was set aside to dry. 

The title letters were cut using another Sizzix BIGZ XL die (Block Tall Capital) and more Greyboard. I treated these with a coat of Aged Mahogany Distress paint. Brushed Corduroy Distress paint was blended with Texture Paste and this was plastered over the painted letters, leaving a rough finish, and allowing the Aged Mahogany to show through. 

Once dried, the letters were arranged around the top of the circular image on the paper. 

I selected images from two packs of 49 and Market Laser Cut elements (Krafty Garden and Whispering Way). 

I tucked in a few 49 and Market Vintage Bits Essential Tickets - Sunbeam.  

Finally, I used some old rub-ons for the date. 

That's all for today, I'll be back with more from this kit soon.
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Simple Stories - Color Me Happy - Shine!

Hi!

It's Claire on the blog today and I am having a blast this month, creating with the Color Me Happy collection from Simple Stories!

Packed with gorgeous, colours, patterns, ephemera and scallops (my favourite!), it really gives your imagination the opportunity to run wild!

I really wanted the colours to pop so opted for two strips of the 4x6 Elements Paper to act as a base. I love how the black background and coloured polka dots really stand out against a crisp white cardstock background.

Laying them horizontally, to anchor the design, I then began to build layers. I fussy cut a row of the circles from the All About It paper, and cut them in half, giving me a strip of semi-cicrles. I lay these across the middle of the paper strips, along with a small piece of the pale pink paper from the Matchmaker Pack. To build depth, I used foam tape to adhere these to the page.

Next, I fussy cut the 'Add a little Color' pieces from the Journal Elements paper, giving the design some vertical height. On top of this, I used two small chipboard frames from the Chipboard Pieces pack to house my photos.  These look so cool in real life. I'd happily have an entire pack of just these! 

I also pulled out several scalloped pieces, mixing colours and patterns to create scalloped edges throughout the design. By doing this, it also ties in the scalloped edge from the semi-circle patterned paper used earlier. 

I created some extra layers and clusters using the smaller pieces from the Chipboard Pieces and the Cardstock Stickers Basics. 

For my title, I reached for the Foam Stickers - a firm favourite in any Simple Stories collection! 

And one last touch to really help the page pop - some small stars punched from plain black cardstock. 

I hope you've enjoyed this blog. It was certainly a fun one to make! I'd highly recommend this collection - it's such a happy collection to use, and the possibilities are endless! Check it out in the shop here whilst stocks last! 

See you soon! 

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate