Simple Stories ~ Hearth and Holiday 🎄

Happy New Year! It’s Anna here with you today,  I’m still in the festive spirit so I’m sharing a layout using the hearth and holiday collection by Simple Stories. You can find it in the shop here. 

For my first project with the collection, I created a ‘12 days of Christmas’ advent calendar. If you would like to have a read, you can find my previous blog post here. But this time I’m back to a scrapbook layout…

To create this layout I used the Merry Christmas to all patterned paper as my base. I then cut a circle in the middle of the paper and adhered a square of Mistletoe Magic to the reverse, filling in the gap.

I used my silhouette cameo to cut a Christmas trees cutfile by Paige Evans. I cut it using Bazzill white and backed each tree and star with vellum. I then cut out each tree individually as they were originally joined in a row together. I couldn’t quite make that work on my page, so I decided to separate them instead.

 

I backed my photo with spreading cheer and cut out a selection of florals from the Mistletoe Magic paper. I adhered the florals around the other elements of my page, joining it all together.

I distressed the edges of the circle, before adhering everything down. 

I have also added a tag from the Tags paper and will use it for my journaling.

 I love these tags sheets by simple stories, they provided journaling options on one side and coordinating patterns and images on the other. You can find various examples from different collections here. 

I selected various stickers from the combo sticker sheet to embellish my page, adding lots of extra little details. 

Thanks so much for looking! 

See you in 2023!

Anna

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The NearlyWeds Day

 Hello, It's Anita with you today....gosh its been a long time since I was last here. I needed to take a little break...which turned out to be a LOT longer than I intended. 

So here is my first layout made in almost a year! I have been creating with the gorgeous Prima's *Hello Pink Autumn* This layout however is actually nothing to do with Autumn at all! I have scrapped a couple of photos to document a day that could potentially have been sad, but we made it a happy one instead!

Our daughter was due to get married on May 31st 2020, after 2 years of planning, creating all the bouquets, decor etc...and then along came Covid and changed plans! Couldn't let the original date pass without some sort of recognition ....so we held a very small celebration for us all and gave them a Nearly Weds Day!

 

The layout was backed with a sheet of  Sweetheart cardstock, I gutted the middle out and used some of the gutted piece to mat the photo onto before adding a 2nd mat using some music paper and I tore the outer edge on it.  

A rummage through my shelves of inks, paints and sparkly bits provided a pot of copper gilding cream, so rubbed some gently round the outer edge of the cardstock and also the edges of the photo mat.

All of the patterned sheets in the range have some gorgeous rose gold/copper foiled details on them, they catch the light beautifully and really do add a lot to the layouts.

I chose a sheet called Grateful Hearts for this layout and cut a random rippled edge all the round the outside edge, I then carefully cut round the floral section above the word banner and tucked the photo just in behind it

The sheet of Fall Hugs has 4 square panels on one side, I picked the one I liked the most and fussy cut the wreath to create a frame for the 2nd photo to sit in. I love how soft the wreath frame was and that it was a completely different shape than the other photo.

Next it was onto sorting out some embellishments.... this gave me chance to have a really good root about and rummage in lots of boxes and baskets that I haven't touched for such a long time!

I found a mix of various brads in different sizes and colours, plus some flat backed gems and some photo anchors......and they ended up everywhere!! I do love to add embellies to my pages and projects and half the fun is in the rummaging for them.....it always reminds me of rooting through my Nanna's button tins when I was a little girl!

There is a fabulous range of all the embellishments you could ever need on the shop page go and have a good look and treat yourself.

I couldn't do a layout without adding blossoms and especially with this theme, so I picked a variety to add and also punched out some little fern fronds to add around the blossom clusters.

To finish the page I used a Sizzlet Aphabet in the font Dreamboat, cut from a sheet of Cream Puff to create the title and used the same leftover card to print out my journalling , which I then cut into strips and added to complete my layout.

Well that's it from me, thanks for taking the time to look at my post. 

If you pop over to the SHOP you will find this gorgeous Prima Collection and hundreds and hundreds of other gorgeous things that you NEED in your craft collection....and there is also a fantastic AUTUMN SALE filled with bargains that are too good to miss

Happy Crafting

Anita xx

June Papermaze Kit - Part 1

Lynn here today, with the first of my layouts using the summery and colourful June Papermaze Kit, which is now available in the shop.

As always before looking at how the layouts were made, here is what you will find in this month's kit:

Patterned papers:
Doodlebug Designs - Made with Love collection - Heartwarmer & Dab of Butter
Pinkfresh Studio - Keeping It Real collection - Adulting & Big Mood
Simple Stories - Bunnies + Blooms collection - Choose Happy
Maggie Holmes - Garden Party collection - Sown

Bazzill Basics - Aqua & Avalanche

Reverse side of patterned papers:

Embellishments:

12" Washi tape, 2 Phrase Stickers, 3 cardstock stickers, pink baker's twine, 3 paper flowers, fabric butterfly, strip Heart Shape Sprinkles, large sequins.

Extra Bazzill Basics Pack: Juneberry, Lemonade, Wild Pansy, Romance.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Potts - This layout features the cake I made for Mrs. Potts' (my Mum - avid collector of teapots) 80th birthday. Inspired by a layout I saw on the internet, but have been unable to find again to acknowledge (I will update this post if & when I find it).

The base of this layout is the Aqua Bazzill from the main kit. To create a lacy effect, I used a stencil from Vicki Boutin's Colour Study - Fresh set, with some Distress Texture Paste. Then I applied Picket Fence Distress Paint with an old credit card to make cross-hatch marks on the cardstock.

From the Choose Happy paper I cut a piece 12.5 x 25cm and placed this gingham side up, about 1cm down from the top and 4.5 cm in from the left of the edge of the Bazzill. Then from the same paper I cut a piece 14 x 18cm floral side up and mounted this onto Romance Bazzill. I placed this over the gingham paper 3cm down, and 4cm in from the left. 

My photo was positioned over the papers. I cut four doilies from white scrap card, using a Crafter's Companion die. I placed them at three corners of the photo and top right of the layout, trimming off any overlap. Each of the doilies was a base for a cluster of embellishments.

From the kit I used the three paper flowers, the fabric butterfly and one of the cardstock stickers. Then I cut daisies using a die and some scraps of white card and more Romance Bazzill. With a pack of Queen & Co. Pearls, I created some pearl swirls. Using smaller pearls for the daisy centres.

My title is made with Romance Bazzill and another Crafter's Companion die - Happy Birthday Banner, together with glittery foam alphabet stickers. The date is made with letter stickers from my stash.

I added some of the washi tape along the bottom of the gingham paper, and trimmed it with pearls.

Sweet Rainbow - for this rainbow themed layout I used a photo of my niece joining The Rainbow Guides.

The first step here was to gut the Dab of Butter paper to make a frame 2.5cm deep. Then to trim the Avalanche Bazzill to 26.5 x 26.5cm, and mounted it over a piece of Juneberry Bazzill (which had been trimmed to 27 x 27cm and gutted to leave a frame of 2.5cm).

I used a Peartree Cutfile to cut a rainbow image from scrap card, I then used this as a stencil and with brushes I applied Distress Oxide Inks in various colours. After removing the stencil, I flicked water over the inks to make them run and oxidize. 

My photo was mounted onto Juneberry Bazzill and applied to the left side of the rainbow. My title was made with Doodlebug Designs alphabet stickers and some old stickers from my stash. I added one of the cardstock stickers from the kit.

I embellished the rainbow with the large sequins from the kit, and dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops. The stars were highlighted with Nuvo Glitter Drops in Honey Gold

That's all for today, back with more from the June kit very soon.
Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Simple Stories ~ Hello Today #3

Hi! It’s Anna back with you today with the Hello Today collection by Simple Stories! You can find the collection in the shop here.

This is my final layout with this collection and next month I will be back with some Disney Magic for you!

For this layout I’m using up some scraps from my previously used patterned papers. I decided to go with a circles theme and as the layout progressed gradually more and more circles began to appear! To begin with I’d imagined just a cluster in one area of the layout, but now we’ve got a whole page full! Does this happen to anyone else? I hardly ever end up sticking with what I have planned for a layout!

 I also had 4 pictures to potentially use to begin with, but as the page progressed with more circles, I planned to cut it down to two pictures. But I still really wanted to use the last two, so I ended up incorporating them into the circles! 

I punched out a variety of sized circles using punches. There are a selection in the shop here. 

I then used a selection of the chipboard and combo stickers to embellish on and around the circles. I also added some stitching to some of the circles and raised some of them on 3D foam pads. I also added a thread tangle and distressed some edges too.

Thanks so much for looking!

See you next month!

Anna

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Hello Today by Adam

Hello! Adam back again with another layout using Hello Today from Simple Stories. 

This time, I have decided to use another cutfile and another one from Paige Evans - this time, the cascading numbers cutfile. It might seem a little odd to use on this layout but it kind of represented a list of things, a top ten and that kind of thing and, the photos are from our short trip to Wales in between lockdowns in 2020 so it worked for me as we did so much and the list was so long! 

I started by cutting the cutfile with one of the patterned papers from the collection and then again with white precision cardstock. I used two sheets from the Bazzill matchmaker pack - red and yellow and then adhered the cutfile, in white, to the left and popped the numbers, in patterned paper, up on foam pads. 

I matted four 3x4"photos on some scraps of the papers from the collection and placed these on the right side of the page - I never get too accurate with rulers and such, it's all guess work and I just roll with it! I had a lot of small scraps and didn't want to waste them so I took random scraps and layered these behind the photos to the bottom/top and sides. 

Then it was my favourite part! Embellishing time! I have used bits from each of the embellishment packs in the collection. You'll notice with my layouts that I don't always have a title as such - I tend to have multiple words which could be seen as a title. Because I scrap so many photos from one trip or occasion, I don't find it necessary to have titles on all pages. 

I've used mostly stickers on this layout from the element stickers, sticker book, foam stickers, adhesive brads, chipboard and puffy stickers. I also used some of the small alpha tile stickers from the sticker book for 'Wales' and '2020'. Of course, the enamel dots worked their way onto the page too! I opted for a trio of trios - again! I like to sometimes put my stickers, titles or words on the photos too, I think it can sometimes bring the photo into the page... plus it helps with my more is more style!! 

I'll be back with a final couple of projects - another layout and something a bit different to really stash bust this awesome collection! In the meantime, check out some more photos below, have a good browse of the shop - especially check out the new arrivals section because there is so much new goodies arriving over the next few weeks!

Take care, stay safe and happy scrapping!

Adam x

Pinkfresh Studio ~ Days of Splendor #1

Hi everyone :) It's Anna back with you today to share my first layout using the gorgeous new collection from Pinkfresh Studio - Days of Splendor - Take a look at the whole collection in the shop here. It has a lovely Autumnal feel about it, so perfect for documenting photos at this time of year.

For my first layout using this collection, I began with some white bazzill as my base. I was then really drawn to the 'My favourite' patterned paper - I loved the look of those frames and knew I wanted to do something with them! But when I looked at the reverse of the paper, I also really wanted to use that too! So I combined the two - I cut across the diagonal strip on the reverse, using the pink and white striped side on my layout. I then cut out a selection of the frames from the other side.  

I filled the frames with various bits and bobs including, enamel dots, chipboard flair and fussy cutting with elements from the 'Moments that Matter' and 'Totally Splendid' paper.

I used some leaf cut files by Paige Evans on white bazzill cardstock as well as fussy cutting more leaves from the 'grateful heart' paper.

Thanks so much for looking! Have a great weekend!

Anna

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Jen Hadfield ~ The Avenue #1

Hi all, it's Anna back with you for my first blog post this month (September how did that happen!?)

This month I'm working with the new collection from Pebbles and Jen Hadfield - The Avenue - you can see the full collection in the shop - here. It is such a beautiful collection with so many pretty details and I love all of the extra embellishments too.

For my first layout with this collection, I have used a Paige Evans Cut file and backed it with various patterned papers from the collection including Lovers Ln, Wooded Wy, Wildflower Wy, Seventh Ave and Welcome Home.

I then mounted my photograph using the patterned paper and adhered it in the centre of the cut file. I love the Floral Ephemera from this collection and I have used a selection of them around the cut file.

I cut out some of the words from the Welcome Home patterned paper and I also used some of the Puffy Phrase Stickers.

I used a dusty attic chipboard arrow and embossed it using Stampendous Frantage Embossing Enamel - Aged Teal embossing powder.

I finished the layout by adding my title and some Nuvo drops.

Thanks for looking!

I'll be back later in the month with my second layout using this beautiful collection.

See you then!

Anna

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