Photoplay - Lucky Cat - Enjoy Every Moment

Hi there,

Claire here with my second layout using the Photoplay Lucky Cat collection.

Today, my layout is calm and serene as i'm scrapping photographs of one of our visits to a temple whilst in Japan.

In total contract to my first layout, I'm starting with my usual Premium White Cardstock. 

I took a circle template and brushed Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide across it to create a circle of pale blue ink to act as an anchor from which to build my design.

I added Bundled Sage Distress Oxide to a piece of the Lanterns paper (b side) to help the green pop and adhered this centrally across the circle. On top of that I layered the Lucky Cat paper which i'd cut into a fishtail.

Across the middle, I adhered three photos to the b side of the Cherry Blossoms paper, and raised on foam for extra depth between each paper layer.

I kept the embellishing simple, adding Element Stickers to each side of my photo strip.

I couldn't resist those gorgeous lanterns which I added to the top of the design, and finished with a final Sticker to create my title.

I hope you've enjoyed this calmer layout and the versatility of this collection.

I'll be back next month to share some more creative ideas, but until then, you can check out this collection in full here.

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate

Gather Together - Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Autumn Breeze Collection

Hi everyone!

It’s Rebecca here, sharing my final layout for September. This month, I’ve been fully embracing the autumn vibes, crafting with the gorgeous Simple Vintage Autumn Breeze collection by Simple Stories. Packed with rich, traditional fall colours, it’s perfect for documenting everything from woodland walks to pumpkin picking adventures! You can find the full collection in the shop here.

To begin, I cut several strips from various patterned papers. I chose a wider strip to create a strong vertical base, then layered in some narrower horizontal strips to build depth. I distressed all the edges using the blade of my scissors—one of my go-to techniques for adding texture.

Next, I positioned my two circular photos slightly overlapping at the center of the page. I opted for two different sizes to keep things visually interesting. In the space beside them, I added my title using two of the Foam Stickers.

To extend the design diagonally across the page, I tucked two larger floral clusters from the Floral Bits & Pieces just beneath the photos so that only parts of them peeked out. I love how the bottom cluster blends seamlessly into the photo, especially with the little pumpkins—it feels like a natural extension!

With the main elements in place, I turned my attention to the smaller details. I scattered a few word and phrase stickers from the Elements Stickers sheet, staggering them in a way that echoes the title. I also added some foam sticker hearts for extra dimension.

The layout felt balanced, but I still wanted to add a little something more. Rather than piling on more embellishments, I chose a softer touch—subtle stenciling. Using a leafy stencil from my stash and Wild Honey Distress Ink, I applied the ink in soft circular motions with a blending brush for a delicate autumnal background.

To finish the page, I framed the entire layout with a darker patterned paper from the collection. This helped ground the design and balanced out the white space beautifully. As a final touch, I sprinkled a few sequins across the page to add just the right amount of sparkle.

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading! I’ll be back next month with a brand new collection—most likely something spooky and fun for Halloween!

Take care,
Rebecca xx

@preciouspagespapercraft

Simple Stories ~ Happy Travels ✈️ #2

Hi everyone, it’s Anna back with you today. I’m sharing my second layout using Simple Stories Happy Travels. 

You can find this collection in the shop here. 

To create this layout, I started with the b side of ‘Here & Now’ as my base. 

I then cut out a large circle from some white bazzill cardstock and a thinner boarder circle ‘Scenic Route’ 

I mounted my photo on to some coordinating cardstock from the matchmaker pack and double mounted on to the b side of journal elements. 

I cut out a journaling card from the journal elements and adhered it to the right of my photo. 

I then added various stickers from the element stickers and placed them in a cluster across the page. 

I fussy cut some clouds from ‘scenic route’ and adhered them to the top right of the circle. 

Thanks so much for looking! 

See you next month with a new collection. 

Anna 

@acraftylifewithanna

September Crop

 We are heading full steam towards this month's crop on Saturday, in our usual venue of Otley Village Hall.  This month's beautiful kit has been created by Janina...   

There will be the usual array of home-baked cakes, tea & coffee, plus punches and dies for you to use.  The crop starts at 10am and ends at 4pm, and you get a discount on any goodies you buy in the shop.  If you'd like to join us, just drop me a message!

Carta Bella It's Autumn - Autumn Colours

Hello, Karen here. 

Whilst visiting the website for Echo Park / Carta Bella recently I stumbled across their free downloadable PDF project instructions. These projects are created by the Echo Park Design Team and each PDF is a complete guide that includes a photo of a finished project, a detailed supply list of the Echo Park/Carta Bella products used, and step-by-step instructions. I decided to put one of these projects to the test, and I can't recommend them enough. So, if you're looking for more inspiration (than you can find on this blog!) be sure to check out their website for some free inspiration on how to use the collections stocked in the Papermaze shop.

The project I chose was designed for Carta Bella's "On The Farm" collection, but I decided to adapt it using the beautiful "It's Autumn" collection instead. I made a few small changes to the layout to suit the papers and embellishments I had.

I began by taking a sheet of white cardstock. After trimming it slightly, I adhered it to the B-side of the Multi Journaling Cards paper, creating a narrow border around the outside.

Using white thread, I machine-stitched a straight line around the inside edge of the white cardstock.

Towards the top of the layout I layered pieces of the Pumpkin to Talk About, Color of Fall Leaves and Fall Festivities papers. On top of the layered papers I added 3 photos which had been matted with white cardstock. I added 3D foam under the photos to add some dimension.

Beneath the layers of paper and photos, I added the title. The words were cut using my Silhouette machine with papers from the collection. To make the letters in the word 'Autumn' stand out, I created white mats for each one before sticking them to the page.

Journaling was printed onto white cardstock and after punching the left edge with a notebook border punch, the journaling block was tucked beneath the title.

I embellished the layout with stickers from the Element Stickers sheet and a few enamel dots.

This project came together so quickly and I'll definitely be taking advantage of the free project instructions on the Echo Park and Carta Bella websites again.

Until next time, Take Care.

Karen x x

September Papermaze Kit - Part 1

Hello, Lynn here today, I have two layouts for you from the new September Kit. This pair show photos from the same day, at two different places visited, because I used papers and embellishments from the same lovely 49 and Market collection, they also make a good double layout. 

Before looking at how the layouts were made, here are the details of what you will find in the September kit. 

Patterned Papers:
49 and Market - Nature's Haven collection - Busy Bee & Happy Place
Carta Bella - On The Farm collection - Farm Life Floral 
Mintay Papers - Wildwood Secrets collection - MT-WIS-04 & MT-WIS-05
Mintay Papers - Music Garden collection - MT-MUS-04

The photo below shows both sides of the papers:

Embellishments:
Selection of Laser Cuts - 49 and Market - Nature's Haven, 3 Little Birdie Flowers, Little Birdie butterfly, 2 Doodlebug bitty berries strawberries, P13 Till We Meet Again alpha sheet, 1 acrylic phrase and 1m pink twine.

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Touch of Pink, Lily Pond (included in kit), Hibiscus, Bark, Avocardo & Powder Blue (in extra pack). 

Mudchute Park and Farm 

For the base of this layout, I chose the Busy Bee paper from 49 and Market's Nature's Haven collection. The gingnham and flowers and strawberries are perfect for the photos. 

I mounted my photos onto the Touch of Pink Bazzill, and arranged them onto the paper. 

The kit contains a selection of 49 and Market - Nature's Haven Wildflowers Laser Cuts, and I added to these with my own pack of the same. I also used a few pieces from a pack of Laser Cut Elements. These were used to build up the image clusters, already on the paper. Some of the elements were raised up with 3D foam pads.

The title and date involved some stash busting! I used several sheets of alphabet stickers in shades to work with the paper collection. They are old Basic Grey alphabet stickers. 

Enjoy Today

For this page I used the other sheet of Nature's Haven paper supplied in the kit - Happy Place. 

The photos were mounted in the same was as before with the Bazzill mounts. I had to purchase a second sheet of Touch of Pink Bazzill, as I also used it for my tags.

I cut one large and two small tags from the Bazzill, I used the Tim Holtz, Tag Collection Sizzix die set. The reinforcement ring for the larger tag was cut from the Hibiscus Bazzill. 

I inked the edges of the tags with Distress Ink - Festive Berries. I tied some red and white Baker's Twine into the holes. The journalling was written on the two small tags, and I used the exclusive acrylic phrase, on the large tag for the title. 

I arranged the photos and tags, then added lots more from the Laser Cuts and Laser Cut Elements. I created some new image clusters around the photos and added some bugs and butterflies around my large tag. 3D foam pads were used to add definition to some elements. 

That's all for today, I will be back with more from this kit in a couple of weeks. 
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Stories | Book Fair by Simple Stories

 Hello everyone! Rebecca Bee here today sharing my second layout using Simple Stories Book Fair. This collection is mainly school themed but the book worm in me couldn't help but notice the book imagery in the collection, so I decided to create a page to document the books I've read up to the halfway-point of the year so far.

On some white Bazzil Cardstock, I have added a panel of yellow patterned paper from the Way to Go paper to give a pop of bright colour and an area to ground the layout- a little like a table to stack all of my books on!

I've fussy cut lots of the books from the Hit The Books patterned paper, some as clusters of books and some as individual books so I could give the book stacks a messy uneven feel- a little like my own 'To Be Read' pile! Some have been popped up on adhesive foam and others flush to the cardstock and tucked behind to give the feel of dimension.

I fussycut a cute little worm and the "book worm" words from the Tag Elements paper, and I used some of the book related word stickers from the Element Stickers. 

I added a little touch of coordinating Distress Oxide ink blending peeking out in small areas from under the yellow panel of paper and added a perspex title from my stash that suited the bookish theme.

I use an app on my phone to track what I have read or want to read, as that makes it easier to find other books I'd enjoy so I just printed the monthly roundup photos that I had generated thus far in 2025. I've read some really amazing books since June so will definitely be adding those on a year end layout in December! 

Do you track your reading? If so I hope you find this page inspiring! 

Until next time, Rebecca Bee

aka Scrap Paper

XOXO

Photoplay - Lucky Cat - Time to Get Away

Hi Guys,

Claire here, and this month I'll be creating with the fabulous Lucky Cat collection from Photoplay.

Surprisingly, this is not a pet themed collection, but is Japanese and Asian inspired - perfect for scrapping those takeaway nights, meals out and far flung trips to the Far East! The possibilities are endless!

I've been lucky enough to travel to a few destinations across South East Asia and have so many photos, but I find them notoriously difficult to scrap as no typical collections really suit the photos or convey the feeling I'm looking for so I'm super excited to get some of these stories documented.

My first layout is bold and dramatic - capturing pictures from a photography night tour in Tokyo.

Because this took place late at night, I chose a piece of Premium Black cardstock for my base. I cut a strip of the Cherry Blossom paper about 2" wide, and layered smaller strips of the yellow and red card from the Matchmaker Pack underneath along with a small strip of black for extra depth.

Using the Red cardstock from the Matchmaker Pack, I cut a dragon from a design I found in my Cricut library.  I added extra light and shade to the dragon by brushing Black Soot Distress Oxide around some of the edges, and spritzed with gold ink for an extra bit of sparkle.

I cut the dragon in half and tucked it underneath the paper strips, and then added a row of Gold Nuvo Drops along the top of the paper strip to enhance the richness of the page.

I mounted my photos with the b side of the Lucky Cat paper and then embellished on either side using stickers from the Element Stickers.

Thank you for joining me on the blog today. I hope it's shown you can make an impactful, bold layout with just a few key pieces. 

Join me again on the 24th when I'll share my second layout with this collection, which is going to go from bold and dramatic to peaceful and serene.  I'll see you then!

Happy scrapping!

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate