Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Sand & Sea - Dunwich

Something a little different from me for August, because Papermaze is taking a break from the usual monthly kit.  I have chosen to create my design team layouts with products from The Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Sand and Sea collection. 

On Wednesday 29^th July 2026, we spent a leisurely morning on the beach at Dunwich on the east coast. Little did we know that the surrounding heathland would catch fire later the same day.

A statement by the National Trust:
“On 29 July, a wildfire started, which later spread onto Dunwich Heath and the entire landscape was engulfed in flames. A place loved for its sweeping purple heather and rare wildlife has been left scarred almost beyond recognition.

The devastation is heart breaking.

Precious habitat is damaged and vulnerable; an area estimated to be the size of 210 football pitches has been affected. As one of the UK's most important coastal heathland landscapes, it is home to nightjars, Dartford warblers, adders, common lizards and rare heathland insects.”

I started by cutting the barcode strip from the Beach Life paper. Then I laid a 2" band of burlap across the middle of the layout.

From the Tag Elements paper, I selected four tags and cut them out. I chose tags in natural colours to complement the background paper. The tags were inked with Faded Jeans Distress Ink. I punched a hole in the top of each tag, applied an eyelet and arranged them across the layout, with the plain sides up. I attached the tags with 3D Foam pads. I threaded some thick Jute twine through the tags, catching it down with some wet glue in placed between the tags.

I trimmed three small photos and placed them evenly and ventrally across the tags, leaving a gap at each end. The gap on the right was filled with journalling. On the right I added an element from the Cardstock Sticker - Icons sheet.

I trimmed the phrase 'Salty Kisses + sandy Toes' from another tag on the Tag Elements sheet. These were inked and attached with more 3D pads to the bottom right of the layout. I attached a seahorse charm under the last word. 

I cut a title and a shadow using the Cricut, I used Seaside Smiles paper for the top layer, and Great Escape paper for the shadow layer.

The 'Enjoy the moment' sentiment across the top of the photos is from the Journal Bits pack.

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

July Papermaze Kit - Part 1

Lynn here today, with the pretty pastel July Papermaze Kit. Such a lovely kit with double-sided papers, Bazzill cardstock and a selection of embellishments. I have created my first two layouts using the 49 and Market - 'From The Garden' papers included in the kit. 

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

49 and Market - From The Garden collection - Wildflower & Foxglove
49 and Market - Travel Diaries collection - Sheet 1
Graphic 45 - Always & Forever collection - Regency Blue Pattern & Solid Sheet
Uniquely Creative - Tea & Tranquillity collection - Quiet Daydreams & Garden Sanctuary

This photo shows both side of the papers:

Embellishments:
2 Petaloo Flowers
1 Craft Consortium Dragonflies
1 Dovecraft Frame
3 Rosie’s Studio Jubilee Wax Seals
3 Uniquely Creative Ticket Washi Tape Stickers
50cm Twine
1 Mintay Chipboard Clock

Bazzill Basics Cardstock
Lagoon, Twig (included in kit), Avalanche, Smoky, Petunia & Nixon (extra Bazzill pack)

Polly - Mary who was always known as 'Polly', her maiden name was Edwards, and her married name was Pond (Polly Pond). This is one of my husband's relatives, an interesting photo for the detail including her rather large wrist watch. 

The base of this layout is the Twig Bazzill with torn strips of both sides of Wildflower paper, to both sides of the page. I mounted the photo onto another piece cut from the scraps of the Wildflower paper.  

With the title letters cut from some chipboard and the Mintay clock face from the kit, (cut in two pieces), I set about dry embossing everything with copper embossing powder. I also cut the title letters from Nixon Bazzill. The letters were cut using a Tim Holtz - Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Wonderland.  

I created three different sized tags using the Tim Holtz, Sizzix Thinlits - Tag collection die set. I cut these from more of the Wildflower paper. 

I selected some Laser Cut Elements from the 49 and Market - From The Garden collection. This included a wooden hanging sign, which I made into a date plaque - cutting the numbers on my Cricut using Petunia & Nixon Bazzill.

I inked the edges of my cut shapes and elements, using Gathered Twigs Distress ink. I used some green seam binding ribbon to tie at the tops of the tags.

I selected the Uniquely Creative Ticket Washi Tape Stickers from the kit. All the elements, papers photo, tags etc were arranged on the page then help in place with either glue or 3D foam pads. 

Journalling was added to the larger tag. Finally, I placed the Petaloo Flowers and leaf to the top left of the photo. 

Feeding the Ducks - This cute picture of the triplets, was an ideal match for the pretty colours in these papers. The layout is a scrap lift of my own work - a page I made a few weeks ago. (included at the bottom of this post). 

This time, I used the smooth side of the Avalanche Bazzill for the base. I chose the Tim Holtz Layering Stencil THS077, and a selection of Distress Oxide Inks. With brushes I applied colour through the stencil, then lightly spritzed the page with water to allow the ink to wick slightly. I also splattered some of the wet ink over the page. 

I tore pieces from the Foxglove paper, selecting areas from the paper I wanted to feature. I layered these up on the page (see photos), together with pieces cut from the Nixon Bazzill.

The photo was mounted on more of the Foxglove paper. The above was all arranged on the dry background card. I added two doilies, left over from a previous Papermaze kit. 

I created a title on the Cricut, and cut it twice - with Nixon Bazzill and Foxglove paper scraps. These were mounted over one another to create a shadow, and arranged down the centre of the layout. 

The little dragonfly charm was tied to the paper beneath the photo using twine (both from the kit). My journalling was added to a tag, also made from the Foxglove paper. 

I selected the three flag banners from the 49 and Market 'From The Garden' Laser Cut Elements pack, and strung them along the top of the layout. To the right side of the layout, I added one of the Rosie’s Studio Jubilee Wax Seals from the kit and another laser cut element. 

Three clusters of paper flowers were created using blossoms from my stash. Finally, I dotted some Raspberry Pink Nuvo Crystals Drops over the layout.


Here is my original layout, showing my daughter as St Valentine at a flower festival (LARP event). The papers are from my stash and the Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Sand and Sea - Rest & Relax paper.

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

July Papermaze Kit - Part 1

Lynn here today, sharing my first two creations using the pretty, delicate Papermaze kit for July! 
Full of soft, natural colours, six double-sided patterned papers, two sheets Bazzill Basics cardstock and a whole bunch of co-ordinating embellishments. There is also a pack of four matching Bazzill Basics sheets, available to compliment the kit. 

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

The photo below shows both sides of the papers.

Patterned Papers:
49 and Market - Joanne Bain - Little Celebrations - Whimsy & Luminous
P13 - Beautiful Moments - #02 & #06
Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Woodlands - Let's Explore
Stamperia - Timeless Collection - Roses Tapestry

Embellishments:
Tim Holtz - Idea-ology clippings - Stickers
P13 - Chipboard Circles
G45 - Pearls
Prima - Return to Wonderland - 2 Vintage Wonderland Frames
Prima - A Mermaid's Tail - Flower
49 and Market - Moonlit Garden - washi tape - stamps
12" Lace

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Lagoon, Pigment (included in Kit), Tutu Pink, Powder Blue, Star Dust & Cinnamon Stick (in Extra pack).

Stitching Friends - Photos of my Mum and me, at my home, when we ran a stitching club. On the first birthday, the local paper came along to take photos and write a report.

I started making this layout by using the Whimsy paper as the background. Then using my Cricut I cut an embroidery hoop from the Cinnamon Stick Bazzill and some silver miri board. I placed this in the centre of the layout.

I mounted both photos onto some embroidery fabric scraps and frayed the edges. I added the mounted photos over the hoop.

Using more of the Cinnamon Stick Bazzill, I cut the title using some Tonic Studios 'Windsor' upper and lower case die sets. I arranged these around the top of the hoop.

My journalling was added with a marker pen directly onto the paper, inside the hoop and under the photos. 

With a pack of 49 and Market - One Perfect Day, Laser Cut Out Wildflower, I selected several flower clusters and added these to the layout with 3D foam pads. 

Happy 13th Birthday - We were on holiday in Suffolk when the triplets became teenagers. We spent the day at Aldeburgh.

I started this layout with the Star Dust Bazzill to create a frame 12" x 12" and 1" deep.  Over this I mounted a gutted piece of Let's Explore (plaid side up), this was trimmed to 11.5" x 11.5" and 1" deep. I distressed all the edges of this frame.

I trimmed the Luminous paper to 10.5" x 10.5" and distressed the edges. This was mounted into the centre of the plaid frame, without sticking down right to the edges. I trimmed off the top left corner, and glued this back in place on the Bazzill, then I folded back the cut edge of the larger piece. 

I tucked some narrow strips of burlap under the edges of the Luminous paper. With several pieces of Dusty Attic chipboard - Cosmic Wire and Wildgrass #3 Small as embellishments, I treated them with a coat of Gesso, then painted them all with acrylic paints in browns and gold, these were set aside to dry. 

I mounted my photo to the right side of the layout, and framed it with the Cosmic Wire chipboard piece. I cut a small piece of paper from the scraps of Luminous paper and made a small banner to add to the left side of the page. Then I mounted the wildgrass chipboard pieces, one over the banner, another peeking from the top of the folded corner, and two at the right of the photo. 

I added the Prima Flower from the kit to the bottom right of the photo. I cut the title using some Tonic Studios 'Windsor' upper and lower case die sets with scraps from the Luminous paper, I mounted these onto more scraps of the same paper, using the other side. After inking the edges with Distress Ink, I applied the words to the left of the photo. I added several of the Tim Holtz - Idea-ology clippings - Stickers from the kit. 

My subtitle and the date were spelt out with some old Basic Grey stickers from my stash. Finally I attached two 'brass' nautical charms, a lifebelt and an anchor. 

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

April Papermaze Kit - Part 1

Welcome to the April Papermaze kit, This month's kit has a selection of photo papers, making it suitable for a selection of masculine, heritage and floral designs. The first two layouts are based on photo papers as the main feature of the page. As well as the six patterned papers, the kit has a collection of  embellishments. There are two sheets of Bazzill cardstock included, and you can also buy four more in the co-ordination pack.

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

 

Patterned Papers:
Mintay Papers - Photographer collection - #02 & #05
Stamperia - Alterego collection - Postcard & Turquoise Wallpaper
Stamperia - Create Happiness collection - Dewdrops - Wood
P13 - Love Stories collection - #06

2, 49 & Market frames, 6 pieces 49 & Market acetate ephemera, 1 strip Prima crystals, 1 sheet P13 alpha stickers, selection of Cocoa Vanilla foam stickers, 12" lace, 6" Tim Holtz filmstrip ribbon and 6x Tim Holtz brads

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Twig & Whirlpool (included in kit). Coastal, Avalanche, Jade & Cinnamon Stick (in extra Bazzill pack)

 

Photography Project - This photo was taken by my daughter, as part of an A Level photography experiment. With the help of two friends who were willing to dress up and pose for her to do a film camera, black and white Victorian project, in the local park.

I started with the Mintay Papers -  Photographer collection - #02 paper, and with a craft knife I cut out the lens from the camera, fussy cutting around the flowers and smaller cameras. I printed the photo A4 size and arranged it to show through the lens.

I fussy cut flowers from #05 paper, and layered these up with foam pads in the bottom right corner.

I placed a piece of white card under one of the 49 & Market frames, for my journalling. This was placed near the bottom of the layout near the flowers.

I created my title and date around the lens with the P13 alpha stickers from the kit.

Seeds and Bulbs - A collection of spring flowers, photographed in my garden this year.

I wanted to make the paper - P13 - Love Stories collection - #06 into a showcase for the photos of my flowers. I started by cutting each of the drawers away from the chest. I used a craft knife to cut each drawer away, leaving the frame in one piece. I inked all the edges with Distress Ink - Walnut Stain.

I stuck the frame onto the sheet of Cinnamon Stick Bazzill.

I used a selection of Tim Holtz Sizzix dies to create an envelope, filmstrips, label holders, a rosette and tickets. These incude Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper, Collector and Specimen. I also used the Sizzix Decorative Strip - Sizzlit mini filmstrip and mini tickets. I cut these shapes from some scrap Bazzill cardstock in Kraft and White, using more ink to distress the edges.

I printed my photos as small index prints so they would fit in the negative frames. Then I mounted others onto some white card.

I created each drawer, adding the shapes and words, labels etc. I used a few brads from the kit and others from my stash. Many items were stuck to the back of the drawers so they would be seen peeking out. Then all the drawers were replaced into the cabinet, using 3D foam pads to raise them up from the background.

Other items I included were, lolly sticks, wooden leave fronds, skeleton leaves, twine, key charms, and some stickers from a previous kit. I also used the Tim Holtz filmstrip ribbon from the kit.

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