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 

Simple Stories Book Fair- School Days Scrapbook Layout-Rebecca Bee

Hello everyone! Rebecca Bee here today aka Scrap Paper Uk and today I have a layout using Simple Stories Book Fair.

 With the new school year looming next week, this collection is absolutely perfect for documenting back to school photographs.  

I have documented two of 2024's back to school photographs in this layout. The vivid colours in the Way to Go paper were perfect for my photos and for cutting apart & rearranging as colourful striped panels on a piece of Bazzil Blue Oasis cardstock. I have punched the edge of one of the panels using a notebook edge punch to add a scholastic feel to the page.

A little foam adhesive adds some simple dimension, and some white acrylic splatters add a little contrast and texture to the deep background cardstock. For my next layout using the collection and as a self confessed book worm, I am excited to use the book imagery in this collection to track some of the great books I have read so far this year...until next time! 

I've added a perspex piece from my stash to form a title, and some twine threaded through one of the cut apart tags in the Tag Elements paper to add a layer in the clusterb to the right hand side of the page.

I hope you join me to see what I make next with this lovely colourful collection! Rebecca XOXO

Photoplay Paper -Travel Junque- Girlie Weekend

 Hi everyone! Rebecca Bee here today! For my final layout using Photoplay Paper Travel Junque collection, I wanted to focus on some of the softer colours and images in the collection. While the collection itself is generally quite vintage and grungy (which I love!) there are also some softer pink and yellow hues which I felt suited my girlie caravanning weekend away absolutely perfectly! 

The caravan image on the sticker sheet was crying out to be used for this layout, as it perfectly matches the caravan we were away in. The caravan is nicknamed Esther so a girlie layout featuring Esther the cute caravan just had to be made!

I've isolated the more feminine colours and images from the cut aparts in the Post Card & Roam patterned papers and sticker sheet, and paper-pieced an envelope shape from the Tickets paper.

I offset a piece of Bazzil cardstock in the shade Touch of Pink onto the Away We Go Ledger paper to add a softer background for my photographs. I've added two 2x3" photographs and tucked all my fussycut elements into my paper- pieced envelope. Finally to create my title I've used some of the cut apart letters in the Roam paper coupled with a perspex piece to finish off my title. 

I hope you've enjoyed the layouts I have created using Travel Junque or been inspired by them in some way. Until next time XOXO

Travel Junque Photoplay - Time to Explore

 Hi everyone, Rebecca Bee aka scrap_paper_uk here with another layout using the Travel Junque collection! This time I wanted to create a noticeboard style layout that highlighted some of the details in the cut-apart patterned papers- I feel they cry out to be layered!

I created a frame for the background by gutting a piece of Bazzil cardstock in the shade Touch of Pink and adding some foam pads for dimension. I also doodled a thin white border on the frame using a white journaling pen just to add a hint of definition to the frame. I've added a strip of map paper from the Explore paper, adding a notebook punch detail along one side. 

There are so many lovely little details in the papers that look beautiful when fussy cut and layered together. For the details in this layout I have mainly used fussy cut pieces form the Roam and Post Card papers. To create a title, I have fussy cut phrases from the Roam paper.

To add a little bit of texture on the background, I have doodled some crosshatching details on the background cardstock using a white journaling pen, and then layered my photographs on top.

Finally I have threaded some twine through one of the tags from the Explore paper to add to the noticeboard effect. This style of layout looks great with multiple photographs, so I have again documented several photographs from an incredible trip to Scotland. Have you checked out this lovely collection for your UK holidays? The colours and images are perfect! 

Mintay Papers - Bon Voyage - Venice

Hi Scrappy friends,

Claire here today sharing my first July layout, and this month I am creating with a 'new to me' manufacturer; Mintay Papers.

I've chosen the Bon Voyage collection because I love to document photos of my adventures and I have to say, this collection is proving to be really inspiring to create with.

For my first layout, I've opted to create a layout with a soft romantic feel because the photos were taken on the day I got engaged!

I fell in love with Paper 4, a very pretty pale blue paper filled with soft clouds - the perfect base on which to build my layout.

Next, Paper 1 - a fabulous map paper which I adore! I cut a strip that captured Europe, and rolled the top and bottom edge of the paper to make it look like an older map that's been well used.

I adhered this to the page on foam to create height, and then used this as my base to house my photos.

I added a layer of sandy coloured card from the Matchmaker Pack, punching the top to create a notebook style edge and then mounting my three photos on a piece of Paper 9, a beautiful soft pink.

Before layering these on top of the map paper, I added a piece of pink cardstock from the Matchmaker Pack, helping distinguish the different layers and adding a little extra colour.

Next, I created three clusters around my photo strip to draw the eye across the page. I used the Paper Die Cuts, adhering some flat and some on foam, and tucked others in between my paper layers to create extra dimension.

Amongst the clusters, I added some generic die cut leaves, cut from scraps of plain white cardstock.

For my title, I reached for some older gold thickers I had leftover from previous projects, using the free space from the pink paper layer to house it.

To finish, I added some clear gems and splatters of white and gold paint, just to add that extra bit of sparkle :)

Thank you for joining me on the blog today - I look forward to sharing another project made with this beautiful collection in a few weeks. In the meantime, you can check out the full collection in the shop here.

Happy scrapping!

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate

49 & Market - Vintage Artistry Moonlit Garden - Magical Memory

Hello there,

Claire here today and I have a layout to share using the Vintage Artistry Moonlit Garden collection from 49 & Market.

This really is a beautiful collection - I'm a little bit obsessed with it! It's very versatile and can be easily adapted to winter, spring, outdoorsy photos and has such a soft romantic feel. I really love it. 

Here, I'm using it to scrap a photo of Mr. Claire and I deep in a bamboo forest whilst away on holiday. 

I started with the b side of the Thoughtful paper which has a pre-made mixed media type background with an obvious placeholder for your photo to sit. That what I love so much about these designs from Katie Pertiet, a lot of the design work is done for you so you can just dive straight in!

Using the Ephemera Bits, I selected two large frames. The largest I backed with the Wispy patterned paper, whilst I used the second to frame my photograph. 

I positioned some of the black wire laser cuts from the Cluster Kit so that it would poke out from underneath and I love this effect! It's very delicate but really packs a punch.

I also took a blue layering piece of ephemera, tore the end off to shorten it a little and layered all three together, using foam to create depth,

Along the right hand side, I added a small ephemera label 'Love This', and a butterfly from the Laser Cut Outs, before adding leaves and 'The Good Life' tab to the corner.

To balance the layout, I added a tag stitched heart butterfly (Ephemera Bits) and foliage (Laser Cut Outs) to the left side of my photo.  Again, I raised some on foam and adhered some flat, helping build layers and interest.

I also adhered a few stems from the laser cuts and Cluster Kit to the right of my photo which creates the feel of being in amongst the bamboo forest.

For my title, I opted for two pieces form the Ephemera Bits, offsetting each element to draw your eye across the page.

I hope you've enjoyed this layout - it's been so lovely to make, and I still have so many pieces left to create so much more.

You can check out the collection in full here. Happy shopping!

Claire.

@scrappysoulmate

Photoplay Paper - Holly & Ivy - Ho Ho Ho

Hi everyone!

Claire here today with another fun festive layout using the Holly & Ivy collection from Photoplay.

I'm loving creating with this collection. The colours and patterns are so beautiful and the ephemera includes so many adorable pieces as you'll see in my layout. Let's jump in...! 

I started with a piece of Premium White cardstock and lightly applied a coat of Gesso to prime the surface as I knew I wanted to add mixed media. Whilst it was drying, I cut four large snowflakes from the Noel paper. This is one of my favourites in the collection - a gorgeous traditional red tartan - a pattern I really enjoy at Christmas. I cut my snowflakes on my cricut but you could replicate the design with any large shapes of your choosing, perhaps using dies or hand draw for that extra special hand crafted feel.

Once the gesso had dried, I grabbed some gold watercolour paint and applied it with a brayer, mostly in the centre of the page, but also created pols of colour top right and bottom left to act as an anchor for some clusters i'd be adding later. I also added some random background stamping using a stamp from my stash. You can find similar in the shop here.

I mounted my photo three times to pull in those pretty patterns and colours from the Holly (a and b sides) and the Santa Supply Co papers, and adhered the photo on foam to the centre of the page. Around the sides, I added my snowflakes, sticking just the centre to the page so I could lift the edges to create dimension.

Using some of the Element Stickers, I added fun centres to the middles of the two main snowflakes to help them stand out. Next, I just had to use that gorgeous Christmas lodge sticker and the fun Ho Ho Ho title, placing them around my photo corners to draw the eye into the picture.

With my final snowflake, I cut it in half, placing one top right and the other bottom left. To the top, I made a small banner from the 'This house believes' sticker and adding an eyelet and string.

To the bottom cluster, I  added some foliage, a candy cane and green snowflake sticker pulling in all the colours of the collection.

As a final touch, I added some tiny star stickers from the Element Sticker sheet across each cluster in both red ad black, and sprinkled some gold Pinkfresh Studio Gold Jewel Essentials.

I hope you've enjoyed my posts with this beautiful collection. Don't forget to check it out in the shop here.

All that leaves is for me to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate

Bella Blvd - One Fall Day

Hi everyone and welcome back to the Papermaze blog.

It's Claire here today and for this layout I'm channelling all the fall feels with the Bella Blvd One Fall Day collection. 

I started with a piece of blue bazzill cardstock from the Matchmaker Pack, opting to use this as my base.

Next, I picked three patterned papers to create vertical strips down each side of my page. I used:

• Grateful (striped) 
• Leaf Pile (orange) 
• Hello Fall (green) 

I distressed the edges and laid 2 strips flat to the page, and raised the Leaf Pile paper on foam. 

Next, I mounted my photos using the Fall Break paper and the orange and green cardstock from the Matchmaker Pack, adhering to the page on foam. 

Then the embellishments! Taking elements from the Ephemera Icons, Ciao Chip Chipboard Stickers and Doohockey Cardstock Stickers I built clusters around my photos, mixing materials and colours to draw the eye across the page. 

To complete the layout, I used the Ciao Chip Chipboard Stickers to create my One Fall Day title. 

This page was super fun to make and I hope it's inspired you to get your autumn stories documented. 

Check out the full collection in the shop here. 

Claire x

@scrappysoulmate