Simple Stories - Simply Vintage Sand & Sea - Shetland

Lynn here today with another layout using The Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Sand and Sea collection. I have had great fun using the gentler colours from this collection, but I'll be back with layouts using the stronger colours next time!

This layout shows photos from my recent adventures in Shetland. While we were there, filming was taking place for the BBC TV Series 'Shetland', and here are photos of the home of Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez, known as The Lodberrie. 

I selected the sheet of Journal Elements paper, with the sand and sea side up (This sheet was gutted, to give me a 1" deep frame). Then I trimmed Smooth White Bazzill to 11" x 11", and inked the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink. Then I splattered watered-down Distress Oxide Ink (Tea Dye and Uncharted Mariner), vertically through the centre of the cardstock. Once dry the card was mounted over the frame.

I trimmed the photos and placed them to the right of a 11" x 4" piece of Tides and Treasures paper. Before sticking this to the page, I trimmed the long sides with strips torn from the Enjoy the View paper.

I cut a tag from the Tag Elements paper, and punched a hole in the top. With a length of white seam binding ribbon, and some more watered down inks (colours as above), I dip dyed the ribbon and set it aside to dry. Then the ribbon was looped through the tag and tied in a bow. I added a date using the Tim Holtz Sizzix Alphanumeric die set - Label and scraps of papers already used. I tucked the tag into the top right of the photo band.

Next, I made the title - I used sand paper with a heavy grit, and a Sizzix Bigz xl alphabet die. Once the letters were glued to the layout, I perched a seagull on the letters from the 49 and Market Summer Porch Laser Cut Elements pack. 

From the pack of Journal Bits - I selected a journalling spot, which I placed to the left of the photos, and added my details. I then fussy cut the camera from the and rowing boat from the Summer Porch collection.

From the sheet of Combo Elements paper, I cut the phrases 'high tides + good vibes' and  'sand + sea', placing one above the tag and the other below the row boat. 

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

May Papermaze Kit - Part 2

Lynn here today, with the second post sharing very colourful May Papermaze kit. I have used the kit to make four layouts of my children's activities back in the 1990's. The photo below shows the second pair of these layouts.

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

Patterned Papers:
49 and Market - Vicki Boutin - Artful Moments - Starters Paper #2 & #9
Simple Stories - Colour Me Happy - Okie Dokie & The Details
Simple Stories - Say Cheese Happiest Place - Adventure
Simple Stories - Take Note - My Favourite Things

The photo below shows both sides of the papers:

Embellishments:
Doodlebug doilies - cupcake & mint, Pretty Little Studio - sunkissed word titles, Pebbles - Sun & Fun puffy dots, Jen Hadfield – Reaching Out – Rainbow Clip, P13 chipboard stars, Vicki Bouton – Bold & Bright puffy stickers, Rosies Studio – Jubilee diecut sentiments, Studio Light Essentials washi tape

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Raven, African Daisy (included in kit), Ocean Oasis, Bazzill White, Berry Sensation & Intense Kiwi (extra pack).

First Term - Here are the children during their first term at primary school. 

I made a 1" (12" x 12") frame using the pink grid side of The Details paper. I stuck this onto a scrap 12" x 12" paper. I  trimmed a sheet of Smooth White Bazzill to 11" x 11" and distressed the edges. With a set of Vicki Boutin Bold & Bright, Full Circle stamps, I created some circles and blots onto the cardstock, using Distress Oxide Inks in Mustard Seed, Broken China, Picked Raspberry and Bundled Sage (the nearest colour matches to the shades of Bazzill, supplied with the kit). I also diluted some of these inks and splashed them over the cardstock. 

Once dry, I attached the white Bazzill to the centre of the frame made earlier. I printed my photo and trimmed it to 5" x 6", then mounted it onto white and black Bazzill. I added the photo to the very top right of the layout.  

I cut some scalloped strips from the Okie Dokie paper, and tucked them under the white cardstock onto the frame. 

I cut the pencil border Peartree Cutfile from Raven Bazzill, then backfilled it with African Daisy, Ocean Oasis, Berry Sensation & Intense Kiwi Bazzill and scraps of white card. I placed this across the layout overlapping the photo. 

With a piece of lined paper and a notebook edge border punch, I made a little journalling spot for my title and the date. I used a selection of Doodlebug Designs - Alphabet Soup stickers for the title (Bubblegum, Bumblebee, Swimming Pool & Limeade) & other Doodlebug Designs Alphabet stickers from my stash. I added some black rubon numbers and letters to the stamping.

Finally, I trimmed the photo with a bulldog clip from 49 and Market Artful Moments Laser Cut Outs.


Wildlife - The children and I visited the Wildflower Centre near Holt in Norfolk for a very good day out - the first of many visits we made there over the years.




I purchased another sheet of Raven Bazzill and trimmed it to 11.5" x 11.5", I placed it over a 1" frame cut from the black and white floral side of My Favourite Things paper. I flicked some drops of colours I used for the previous layout over the Bazzill.

With the gutted remains of My Favourite Things paper, I fussy cut all the flowers, including some incomplete ones. Once they were all cut and shaped with the scissor blade, I set them aside for later.

I mounted my photos onto some white card and placed them in the centre of the layout without sticking them right to the edges, allowing room to tuck flowers under later. 

I created my title and subtitle with some old glittery Thickers from my stash I spelt out the word 'Wildlife', then with a pack of American Crafts Paige Evans Adventurous - Mini Alphabet Thickers I added 'Wildflower Centre' and the year. 

I added four paintbrushes from the 49 and Market Artful Moments Laser Cut Outs, two either side of the title. I then arranged all the flowers up the sides of the page to look as if they had been painted there. I matched the colours of the flowers to the paint on the brushes. Once all in place I punched some leaves from the Intense Kiwi Bazzill and scattered these among the flowers.

Finally, I scattered the butterflies from the 49 and Market Artful Moments Laser Cut Outs, along the top of the layout, matching up the colours as before. 


That's all for the May kit, I'll be back with the June kit soon.
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Happy - Uniquely Creative - Paperbark Blooms Collection

Hi everyone, it’s Rebecca here today sharing my first layout of the month. I’ve been having so much fun creating with the Paperbark Blooms collection from Uniquely Creative. It’s such a delicate and beautiful collection, and I love how versatile it is. You can find the full collection in the shop here.

To begin, I took a sheet of patterned paper from the 6x6 Collection Pack and placed it in the centre of a sheet of premium white cardstock at an angle. I then cut three smaller squares from two other patterned papers and arranged them horizontally across the larger square, keeping them at the same angle for a cohesive look. I added dimension by raising the smaller squares with adhesive craft foam — one of those scrapbook essentials I simply can’t live without!

To bring the whole design together, I matted my photo with the same woodgrain paper used for the outer squares, creating a nice sense of consistency and flow throughout the layout.

Next, I selected several floral die cuts from the Floral Creative Cuts and arranged them into two large clusters on either side of my photo. I’m a big fan of symmetry, so I always try to keep my clusters balanced where possible. One of the things I love about Uniquely Creative die cut packs is that they include two of each design, which makes creating symmetrical layouts so easy!

I chose my title from the Creative Cuts Ephemera and positioned it to the left of my photo. On the opposite side, I added the adorable koala die cut because he was sitting in a similar pose to my son in the photo — such a cute little detail!

To finish the layout, I added a couple of die cut butterflies and applied some Distress Oxide Ink in the shade “Tattered Rose” behind the patterned papers. This created a soft shadow effect around the edges of the design and helped add extra depth and softness to the page.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a closer look at my layout and that it inspires you to spend some creative time in your craft room this weekend making something beautiful.

Take care,

Rebecca xx

@preciouspagespapercraft

A Moment in Time - 49 and Market - Nostalgic Memories Collection

Hi everyone, it’s Rebecca here, and today I’m kicking off February with a brand-new collection from 49 and Market – Nostalgic Memories. This is such a beautiful collection, and I can easily see it working across any season. I’ve used it to document a photo taken last autumn, as I loved how perfectly the colours echoed the leaves scattered on the ground. You can find the full collection in the shop here.

I began by selecting a patterned paper for my background. I’m always drawn to designs with subtle detail—something that adds interest without overpowering the layout. Once I’d chosen my background, I picked out a couple of contrasting papers and cut small hexagons from them using my metal dies. I paired a busy floral pattern with a solid paper featuring very soft detailing, then arranged the hexagons in a tight, central design across two rows.

On top of the hexagons, I positioned my photo. Normally, when I use a repeated shape on a layout, I like to mirror that shape with my photo. However, it just didn’t feel right this time, so I opted for a smaller square photo instead. I printed the photo twice and layered them with white borders to help them stand out against the deeper tones of the collection.

To the right of the photo, I added my title from the Chipboard Words pack, raising it on foam pads to create some dimension. I love how both the title and the photos feature white borders—this small detail brings a lovely sense of consistency to the page.

Around the photos and title, I embellished with some of the elegant florals from the Laser Cut Florals. The colours work beautifully with the leaves in my photo and almost feel like they’re flowing straight out onto the page.

To add even more detail to the background, I applied some of the Blendable Rub-On Transfers. These are such an easy way to add delicate detail with minimal effort, and they really elevate the finished layout.

To tie everything together, I finished the page with Distress Oxide Ink in 'Victorian Velvet', applied with a blending brush around the edges of the page and lightly over the rub-ons for a soft, blended effect. I then completed the layout with a few ink splatters in the same shade.

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to check out this gorgeous collection in the shop.

Take care,  
Rebecca xx

@preciouspagespapercraft

December Papermaze Kit - Part 1

Hello - Lynn here today with the first of my Christmas layouts for this year. The December kit is now available in the shop, with its traditional colour pallet. The kit contains beautiful papers from Mintay, Simple Stories and Graphic 45.  Here are my first two layouts:


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

Patterned Papers:
Mintay Papers - Holly Jolly collection - #02 & #04
Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Believe collection - Holiday Traditions & Tag Elements
Simple Stories - All Wrapped Up collection - Magical Season
Graphic 45 - Deck the Halls collection - A Little Sparkle

The photo below shows both sides of the papers:

 

Embellishments:
Simple Stories - Vintage Believe - Foam Stickers & Floral Bits and Pieces

Mintay Chippies - Xmas Wreath
Rosie's Studio - Oh Joyful Day - Button
Pretty Little Studio - Comfort and Joy - Holly Jolly Word Titles 
Divine Twine - Green Apple
Doodlebug Designs - Doilies Ladybug
Gold enamel dots

Bazzill Basics - Aspen, Grenadine (included in kit), Cinnamon Stick, Coconut Swirl, Cinder and Parakeet.

Victorian Day - This layout is about my son dressed for Victorian Day at his primary school. He decided to dress up as John Callcott Horsley, who designed the first Christmas card in 1843. 

For this layout I selected the Coconut Swirl Bazzill, and set about creating a multimedia background, before sticking down some patterned papers. I used a mix of two green Distress Oxide Inks and water - I dragged a TH Layering Stencil (Ornate THS076) through the mixture on my media mat. Then I dabbed the stencil onto the cardstock creating an area at the top right for the page. Then I flicked some of this mix over the area. With Distress Mica Spray Stain (Harvest Moon), I sprayed lightly onto the page. With Tart Cranberry I dripped some larger drops onto the layout.

Once the page was dry, I stamped Christmas phrases randomly, using Stampers Anonymous Cosy Christmas set CMS444 and a Versafine Black Ink Pad.

The left side of the page was decorated with a piece of Mintay Papers - Holly Jolly collection - #02, B side, cut to 12" x 3.25" and stuck to the right, followed by a 12" x 0.5" strip of Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Believe collection - Holiday Traditions. I found a 12" long, red and white, scalloped sticker in my stash, and added this next to the papers. 

I mounted my large photo to some white card and distressed the edges. With both 
Grenadine and Parakeet Bazzill, I cut two more mats and mounted all three over the join in papers on the layout. The smaller photo was also mounted onto white card and placed at the base of the larger photo. 

I chose a title from a pack of foam stickers, from Simple Vintage Christmas Lodge set. The remains of the #02 paper was flipped over to the A side, and I fussy-cut the wreath, poinsettia, and bough with bauble and lantern. I inked the edges of these pieces, then added them to the page with 3D foam pads. 

To add some greenery to all the elements - I used Aspen and Parakeet Bazzill with The Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits 'Holiday Greens' die set.

Finally, I placed three chipboard phrases from a pack of 49 and Market - Evergreen Season Chipboard Words. 


Christmas Elf - For this layout I have used several photos of my granddaughter under the Christmas tree, in her red and white Christmas outfit, last Christmas. 

The Mintay Papers - Holly Jolly collection - #04, has all these little red frames ready to pop photos into, so it needs very little work to create a layout. 

I printed four photos, and trimmed them to fit the printed frames I wanted to use, leaving two frames free. With a craft knife, I cut around the images overlapping the frames, that I wanted to keep. Once this was done, the photos were slipped into the spaces and glued down.

Using the remains of Mintay Papers - Holly Jolly collection - #02 paper, I fussy cut the elf, and the snowman with star and flower. I mounted the images with 3D foam pads - the elf to the right of the top photo, and the snowman over the bottom right frame.

For the title 'Christmas Elf' I used chipboard words from pack of 49 and Market - Evergreen Season Chipboard Words. 

I added baubles and the 'December 25' label from the Simple Stories - Vintage Believe - Foam Stickers included in the kit.

I added a phrase to each photograph, these were also from my pack of 49 and Market - Evergreen Season Chipboard Words. 

From last year's December kit, I used the P13 Christmas Treats, Alpha Stickers for the year at the bottom of the layouts. 

Finally, I added the gold enamel dots from the kit. 

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