Simple Stories - Open Road - Lets Go!

Hello!

Claire here today, and I couldnt help but share one more layout with the Open Road collection from Simple Stories.

This time, I'm focusing on the gorgeous floral, and documenting a recent trip to a country fair in Dorset.

The layout design was inspired by a sketch I saw on Pinterest, but unfortunately, I don't know who created it.

I started with some paper strips running vertically down the page to anchor the design. For extra grounding, I also added a dottled outline with a black pen. I complemented the paper strips with two edges from the Cardstock Sticker Icon Sheet.  

I chose two photos, printed one smaller than the other and then mounted these in the You Are Here paper. I offset them on top of the paper straps and then began all the fun embellishing!

Using the Floral Bits & Pieces, I created clusters around my photos, extending the design. They're such pretty colours and designs I love how it brightens the layout.

I also cut a tag from the Tag Elements paper, and added a few extra florals and stickers to draw it into the design.

Next, i created a smaller cluster, again cutting a smaller tag and adding a few florals and butterflies, and a few extra phrases from the Cardstock Sticker Icons sheet.

For my title, I used the Lets Go Sticker, splitting this across both photos to draw your eye down the page.

I added two pieces of coloured twine to each tag, and with that, the page was done!

Ive really lived this collection - you can probably tell!! I hope you're having fun documenting your summer activities too.

I'll be back next month with some more creative fun.

Until then, happy scrapping!

Claire x

@scrappysoulmate 

Simple Stories Rustic Legend - Good Times

Hello!

Today on the blog I have a layout full of fun using the Simple Stories Rustic Legend collection.

Inspired by the stars in the ephemera and icons in this range, I decided to go whole hog and grab some dies to create a page bursting with colourful stars!

On top of my Premium White Cardstock, I first created an anchor for my design, cutting the ruler strips from the Level Up paper, tore them roughly in half and layered them across the centre of the page.

I also took a tyre track from the Bits & Pieces pack because these photos were taken during a recent US road trip.

My photo is made up of several images so is quite busy. I kept it simple by matting in plain black cardstock, helping lift it from the bold background. 

The the fun part! The stars!! Using nested star dies I cut different sized stars from the Low Key Awesome, Journal Elements (B side), Instant Classic (B side) and Be Bold papers (B side).

I scattered these at the top and bottom of my photo, layered and overlapping with adhesive foam to create a dimensional effect.

For extra interest, I also added star stickers from the Cardstock Stickers and punched some tiny stars from black cardstock to help the layout pop.

To fill the white space around my photo, I added a tag and a ticket from the Bits & Pieces. 

Along the top of the photo, I also added a small divider sticker from the Cardstock Sticker Basics.

For my title, I opted for the Good Times sticker from the Cardstock Sticker Basics, adding this alongside the rulers to blend it with the design.

Thank you for joining me on the blog today. I hope you've enjoyed seeing the layout. I'd highly recommend this collection and look forward to creating more soon! 

Happy scrapping! 

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate 

Simple Stories - Rustic Legend - Epic

Hi there

Claire here today. This month I'm creating with the Rustic Legend collection from Simple Stories and I'm loving it! 

This collection has a masculine feel to me and is full of fun Vintage icons that you can use for almost any photo. For my layout I'm documenting a trip we had to a karaoke bar is Nashville last year.

I added some stencilled arrows to my background to add to the rustic feel and to help anchor my layout. I chose papers to match the colour in my photo (Be Bold and Low Key Awesome) and cut these I to a fishtail banner and pennant layered on top of each other. I alsoayered a 'ruler' strip underneath which I cut from the Level Up paper.

Around my photo, I embellished with a tag from the Tag paper, a few small stars from the Cardstock Sticker sheet and some icons from the Bits & Pieces pack.

On the other side, I cut a large cassette tape from the Journal Elements paper and added some of the Bits and Pieces and a cardstock sticker arrow to finish the cluster.

There are SO many fun icons in the bits and pieces pack, I couldn't help but keep adding which is very unlike me! So to the top of my photo, I added a few extra stickers from the Cardstock Sticker Basics to help balance the colours across each cluster. 

I also added a bit of extra texture with some nuvo drops along the top which brought this layout to a finish.

I really would recommend this collection. It's such a fun one to use. You can find it here, but don't wait too long as it's proving very popular! 

See you soon. 

Claire

@scrappysoulmate

Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Lavendar Fields

Hello!

Claire here and this month I'm very lucky to be creating with the Simple Vintage Lavendar Fields collection. You can find it in the shop here.

I adore the colours in this collection. Pretty Lavendar a, fresh spring green and a touch of soft yellow. What's not to love! 

To create this layout I chose to layer the Lavender and  Sunshine and Honey papers to create an elongated anchor for my layout. I distressed and curled the edges and raised on foam for depth.

I positioned my photos centrally, backing them with the B side of the 3x4 Elements paper to draw out that coordinating pop of green. 

Next, I selected a range of accents using the Cardstock Stickers, Journal Bits & Pieces and Floral Bits & Pieces to draw the eye across the page. Under each cluster I added some Distress oxide in coordinating pale pink and lavender shades to add a bit of a glow to the page. 

I cut two tags from the Tag paper and placed these under my photo to help draw the eye across the large cluster above it. 

The for my title, I chose Enjoy the Moment from the Bits & Pieces pack which features the core colours in the collection and helps pull the page together. I embellished with some florals and flowers from the Chipboard Pieces. 

A few sequins from my stash were sprinkled across the clusters for a finishing touch to add that extra bit of sparkle! 

I can't wait to create more with this gorgeous collection. Until then, happy scrapping! 

Claire x

@scrappysoulmate 

Arden Creative Studio - Field Notes - Lovely, So Lovely

Hi there

Claire here today with a very pretty spring layout using the Field Notes collection from Arden Creative Studio. 

There are so many gorgeous papers, I wanted to create a layered design to show them off. Using a circle of the pretty pink paper cut from the 12x12 paper pack as my base, I layered smaller papers from the 6x8 paper pad in complementing colours and patterns, also adding a coloured Sunburst from the rub on transfer set .

I layered these with foam on the right hand side of the circle creating an elevated base to house my strip of photos. 

I pulled some pretty pink flowers and blue butterfly from the laser cuts to add a pop of colour to the left of the photo, along with a bold title from the Ephemera Pack.

I also added some smaller labels and tickets across the design to draw the eye across the page.

I hope you've enjoyed this blog post and it's inspired you to check out this gorgeous collection. 

You can find it in the shop here.

Happy scrapping! 

Claire x

@scrpapysoulmate 

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 

Carta Bella - Pressed Floral - Good Life

Hello,

It's Claire on the blog today, and I'm sharing a very pretty layout made with the gorgeous Pressed Florals collection from Carta Bella. 

Along with gorgeous florals, this collection has lots of frames, both in the Ephemera Packs and on the cut apart papers, so I decided to make a layout that enabled me to create lots of paper layers with staggered frames too.

To start, I added some Tumbled Glass blue Distress Oxide to my page using the packaging technique. Once this was dry, I used the same colour distress oxide and a dry brush to add some stencilling detail. 

I cut three pieces of paper, layering them across the middle of the page. I used the A and B side of the Grow Your Own Way Stems paper and the Dried Wildflower paper as my base layers. 

Next, I fussy cut two frames (one green and one golden yellow) from the 6x4 Journalling Cards paper. 

I also pulled a smaller yellow frame from the Tags and Frames pack, and cut this in half to extend it across either side of the design. For my gold yellow frame in the middle, I chose to mount it onto a piece of the pink card from the Matchmaker Pack using foam. This gave me a base for my photo to sit whilst also providing extra depth around the photo. 

Then came the fun bit. Those gorgeous florals, tags and ephemera pieces! 

I fussy cut the flowers and leaves from the 3x4 Journalling Cards paper and arranged these around my page to frame the photo. For extra interest, I also added in some die cut foliage using dies from the Arden Creative Studio ranges. 

In amongst one of the floral clusters, I added a tag and small ephemera piece for extra interest. 

I echoed this with another tag from the Frames and Tags set to form my title. 

I've really loved creating with this collection, as I've really missed creating with pretty florals during the colder winter months! 

I hope you've enjoyed this blog post and are also ready for some pretty Spring crafting! 

Happy creating! 

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate

Carta Bella - Christmas in the City - Merry & Bright

Hello everyone!

The festivities are getting nearer and I've taken the opportunity to spend some time at my crafty desk scrapping memories of a Christmas shopping trip.

For this layout I'm using the Christmas in the City collection by Carta Bella. One of the icons is a red snow globe with a cityscape inside and it inspired me to create my own. 

I cut the snowglobe on my cricut using the red coordinating cardstock from the matchmaker pack. Once it was cut, I used it as a template to cut around the stunning Christmas City Scene paper. 

Before sticking anything together, I added a layer of acetate to the snowglobe and backed the edge with thick foam tape being careful not to leave any gaps. I added sequins, glittery bits and mini foam balls and then added the background paper to create a giant shaker!

I mounted my photos using the blue side of the Merry Snowflake Sky paper and adhered these to the bottom left of the globe. 

To embellish I chose a variety of stickers from the Element Stickers. I arranged them around my photograph to bring the scene to life. 

This included a big bold sticker 'Merry & Bright' which I used as my title. 

I also added a small cluster of snowflake stickers opposite the photos on the top of the globe to help balance the design. 

This was a really fun one to make that came together really quickly. It's such an inspiring collection, do drop by and check it out here, but be quick, it's proving popular! 

I hope you find some creative time this holiday and enjoy the festivities! 

Claire x

@scrappysoulmate 

Arden Creative Studio - Vintage Makers - Choose to be Happy

Hi,

Claire here today sharing another layout made with the Vintage Makers collection from Arden Creative Studio. 

I really love this collection, it's natural tones and endless possibilities to adapt it to any subject. 

Today, I'm focusing on one of my favourite techniques - repeated shapes. 

I selected three patterned papers; one from the Foundations Paper Pack and two from the Essentials Paper Pad.

As these are both 6"x8", the patterns are smaller which works really well for repeating smaller shapes. 

I've opted for rectangles, cutting strips of 1"x3". I lay these alternatively to create a herringbone pattern, raising each piece on foam to give a slight drop shadow on the page. 

To let the papers shine, I created just two clusters on this page; one around my photo in the bottom left and one to hold me title in the top right. 

For my title cluster, I selected elements from the die cuts and layered these behind the Vellum Ephemera Pack which add such a beautiful soft element to the page.

The bigger cluster is around my photo. I layered die cut leaves, butterflies and frames and some of the Film Reel Kiss Cut Tape

As a final touch, I added some black Nuvo Drops and black splatters.

This really is a fabulous collection and i've loved creating with it. You can check it out here in the shop and grab all the pieces i've used to create my layouts.

Happy Scrapping!

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate  

Arden Creative Studio - Vintage Makers - Let's Go!

Hi guys,

Claire here sharing a new 12x12 scrapbook page made with the Vintage Makers collection from Arden Creative Studio. 

I really love this collection. It's generic in theme so can be easily used to accommodate any story you want to tell! For this layout, I'm making an autumnal page, inspired by a quilting design I saw on Pinterest.

I selected 4 patterned papers, using both the Essentials and Foundations Paper Packs and cut 2"x2" squares, positioning them in my page to create the basic shape of the leaf. I cut some of the squares in half to make triangles that create the points of the leaf. 

Once the pieces were loosely in place, I drew around the outside lightly before removing all the squares to add mixed media. 

I added ink with a brayer in three different Distress Oxide colours and black splatters with a wet paintbrush. 

Next, I adhered the patterned paper squares on foam and drew around the leaf with black Sharpie, also drawing in a stalk. 

I resized my photos to 2" squares and adhered them into the shape. 

I used laser cut leaves and tickets to embellish, building small clusters to bring the photos to life.

For my title, I raided my thicker stash to find one that matched the colours in the collection. If you're looking for more, the Papermaze Big Autumn Sale has just launched, so now's a great time to stock up on alphas and grab yourself a bargain! 

I hope you've enjoyed this layout and you'll also find some inspiration in quilting designs. 

Check out the full Vintage Makers collection here. 

I'll be back in a few weeks with another layout with this collection. 

Happy scrapping! 

Claire x

@scrappysoulmate