Fabulous Fall Vibes - Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Autumn Breeze Collection

Hi everyone,

It’s Rebecca here on the blog today! I’m feeling a bit torn about September… On one hand, I’m excited for autumn and all its beautiful colours. But on the other, I’m really sad to see summer go! One thing that always helps ease the transition is seeing the gorgeous new autumn collections arriving in the shop—and this month, I’ve been working with Simple Stories “Simple Vintage Autumn Breeze.” You can find the full collection in the shop here. I always look forward to the Simple Vintage lines as we head into autumn, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint!

 

To start my layout, I tore strips from two different patterned papers. I chose a subtle, neutral paper for the top layer, backed with a more colourful one for contrast. Down the left-hand side of the page, I arranged a cascade of Polaroid-style frames, which I fussy-cut from the Crisp Days patterned paper.

I hollowed out the centre of one frame and backed it with my photo, adding foam behind it for dimension. Placing it centrally among the other frames helped it stand out. I also tucked a larger piece of ephemera from the Ephemera pack behind the framed photo to add some extra detail.

 

For my title, I chose the word ‘Fabulous’ from the Foam Stickers, and placed it to the right of my photo—raised up on foam pads for added depth. Underneath, I added a smaller foam sticker to extend the title. I love combining fonts like this—it adds visual interest and a playful feel to the page.

With the larger elements in place, I started embellishing. I fussy-cut some tags from the Tag Elements paper, punched metal eyelets through each, and arranged them around the layout for extra texture and charm.

 

Next, I turned to the Floral Bits & Pieces. I selected a few floral clusters and layered them around the layout, including a sticker from the Elements Stickers to complete the cluster in the top-right corner.

At this point, I needed to decide on a background. I’d been building everything on Premium White Cardstock, but it felt a bit too stark—it just wasn’t making the elements pop. The great thing about adhering your layout pieces together first is that you can lift them off and try different backgrounds underneath!

After testing several patterned papers, I fell in love with the bold orange Journal Elements paper (B side). It really brought out all the other colours on the page. It was a bit of a daring choice for me, but I’m so glad I went for it!

To finish off the layout, I added a couple of tabs from the Bits & Pieces and some mini heart foam stickers. I love how these tiny, last-minute touches pull everything together without overwhelming the page.

Thanks so much for reading—I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing how this layout came together. I’ll be back later this month to share my second layout using this stunning collection.

Take care, 
Rebecca xx

@preciouspagespapercraft

Simple Stories - Sunny Days - Cool

Hello,

Claire here today with my second layout using the Sunny Days collection from Simple Stories. Check it out in full here.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this collection - Summer in all its bright, bold and colourful glory! It's perfect for days out, lazing at the beach, ice cream and all the fun of summer adventures!

 

In this page, I'm documenting the biggest milkshake I've ever seen - found on a recent holiday to Singapore. It came with hundreds and thousands, a huge lollipop and a mountain of candy floss on top!!

The patterns and colours in this collection were just perfect - they really helped convey the fun of the photographs.

On to a piece of plain white cardstock I cut a 10" circle from the Sunny Times paper and distressed the edges with my scissors before adhering to the page. Next, I cut a strip of the 4x6 Elements patterned paper cutting fishtails into each end to create a banner. Again I distressed the edges and before adhering to the page, I added a small strip of the green Happy Days paper and a pop of yellow cardstock from the Matchmaker Pack layered on either side of the banner for that extra pop of colour.

I mounted my three photos with the 2x2/4x4 Elements paper and positioned these across the centre of the banner, raised on foam for dimension.

Then the fun part - the embellishing! As the papers are relatively busy, I kept the embellishing to three small clusters to help draw your eye across the page.

I layered florals and icons from the Bits & Pieces and Floral Bits & Pieces packs, laying some flat and some raised on foam to create depth in the design.

I of course used the Cool title from the Foam Stickers which I just love in Simple Stories collections and it seemed especially fitting for these photos!

And for one more fun element - a bright pop of yellow Nuvo Drops for that extra hint of sunshine!

I hope you've enjoyed this blog and it's inspired you to get all your Sunny Days experiences documented :)

Until next time, Happy Scrapping!

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate

Simple Stories - Sunny Days - Smiles & Good Vibes

Hello,

It's Claire here today! I've been away from my scrappy desk for a while as I've been poorly, but I'm delighted to be back with all the gorgeous scrappy products Papermaze stocks and have my first layout to share with you!

This month I'm using the Sunny Days collection by Simple Stories, and it's a good one! So many gorgeous colours, patterns and icons, the possibilities are endless!

I started with a piece of Premium White Cardstock and used a Sunburst cutfile to create a backdrop for my layout. I resized it three times (approximately between 2" to 3") and cut each size twice in different patterned papers.

The papers I used are:

• Soak it Up!
• 3x4 Elements
• 2x2/4x4 Elements

Once they were adhered flat to the page I thought they almost looked a bit like fireworks as well as sun beams, but the photographs I'm scrapping are of my first trip out after my stay in hospital so it definitely felt like a celebration to me.

I mounted my photos on cardstock from the Matchmaker Pack and layered them with foam on top of the big film strip from the Big Bits & Pieces pack. I then created a long fishtail banner from the Happy Days paper to anchor my photos into the sun bursts.

Next, I chose a selection of ephemera pieces from the Bits & Pieces using a combination of  the VW Van, 'Smiles' bottle top, sunglasses, bag and hearts.  

I also scattered some colourful hearts around the layout to create small clusters, with extra pops of colour coming from the polka dots in the Foam Stickers.

I adore the Foam Stickers in Simple Stories collections, so I also used the bug Good Vibes sticker for my title which helped stretch the design across my page.

As a final touch, I added some gold splatter for that extra touch of magic and sparkle and that was my layout complete!

I hope you've enjoyed this blog - I have really missed being here and am so happy to be back in this creative community sharing this lovely hobby with you all.

Until next time, happy scrapping!

Claire xxx

@scrappysoulmate

Good Vibes - Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Flower Shoppe Collection

 Hi everyone,

It’s Rebecca here today, and I’m excited to share my final layout using the Simple Vintage Flower Shoppe collection by Simple Stories. This collection has been such a joy to work with—especially now, as the sun is shining brighter and flowers are beginning to bloom again! You can find the full collection available in the shop here.

For today’s layout, I started by cutting three squares from two different patterned papers. I chose designs that complemented the colours in my photo, then trimmed the photo itself to match the same shape and size. I arranged all four squares in a diamond pattern in the centre of a sheet of Premium White Cardstock. Because of the direction we’re facing in the photo, I positioned it to the left—this way, our bodies are angled inward, drawing the eye toward the heart of the page.

One of my favourite Simple Stories products has always been the Foam Stickers—I love the mix of fonts and styles. For this layout, I picked a title sticker and placed it on the right-hand square to create a sense of balance across the design.

Having already used many of the large florals from the Floral Bits & Pieces pack, I flipped through what I had left and pulled a few smaller blooms. To stretch the collection even further, I turned to the 'Beautiful' patterned paper and fussy-cut some additional floral clusters. This is such a great way to get more from your stash!

I built two main floral clusters using a mix of those fussy-cut florals and smaller ephemera, adding foam pads for dimension. I also added a bold piece from the Bits & Pieces to the top cluster and a large Cardstock Sticker to anchor the bottom cluster.

To create a sense of movement across the page, I fussy-cut butterflies from the 'Dreamer' patterned paper and arranged them in a gentle cascade. I always attach butterflies by gluing just the body, leaving the wings free for a lovely 3D effect—almost as if they’ve just fluttered down and landed on the page.

Although I loved how the layout was coming together, the outer edges felt a little too bare. Instead of framing the whole page, I opted for thin, torn strips of patterned paper along two edges. It adds a bit of visual interest without overwhelming the centre. A couple of smaller Foam Stickers were the perfect finishing touch.

Thanks so much for joining me today. I've truly enjoyed working with this beautiful collection, and I hope my layouts have inspired you to dive into your own creative projects!

Take care,
Rebecca xx

@preciouspagespapercraft

Beautiful - Simple Stories - Simple Vintage Flower Shoppe Collection

Hi Friends!

Rebecca here, sharing my first layout of March with you today. With Spring just around the corner and the weather starting to warm up, it felt like the perfect time to create with one of the latest collections from Simple Stories—Simple Vintage Flower Shoppe. It’s a stunning collection that truly captures the essence of Spring! You can find the full collection in the shop here.

I was immediately drawn to several of the journal card images on the ‘Journal Elements’ patterned paper, so I decided to cut them out and layer them behind my photo. To add texture and depth, I distressed all the edges—one of my favorite techniques to elevate a page. I matted my photo with a soft pink patterned paper from the 6x8 Paper Pad and arranged these elements in the centre of a sheet of Bazzill White Cardstock.

At this stage, I still felt like something was missing, so I knew I needed to add a little more behind the photo. I chose two patterned papers—the B side of the '2x2 / 4x4 Elements' and the B side of ‘Memories’—and cut them down to 7x5 inches. I then used a paper punch to add a notebook edge along the tops. Once I arranged these elements at angles behind my photo, I was much happier with the layout.

With the larger pieces in place, it was time to move on to embellishing. I selected some beautiful floral pieces from the Floral Bits & Pieces and layered them around my photo, allowing some to peek out from behind the patterned papers. 

I also added a couple of tin buckets filled with flowers from the Cardstock Stickers sheet to bring in more texture and detail.

For the title, I chose the word “beautiful” from the Foam Stickers and placed it just beneath my photo for a balanced look.                                                                                                                                   

To add the finishing touch, I fussy cut a couple of butterflies from the 'Dreamer' paper and adhered only the centres, letting the wings flutter freely. This gives the impression that the butterflies have just landed on the layout, adding a bit of movement.

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my layout. I hope it inspires you to create something beautiful of your own! This collection is absolutely perfect for Spring, so be sure to head over to the website and grab it before it’s gone!

Take care, 

Rebecca xx 
@preciouspagespapercraft

Sunkissed - Simple Stories - Summer Snapshots Collection

Hi everyone, it's Rebecca with you today sharing my first layout for August all the way from the Isle of Wight! This month I'm working with the colourful Summer Snapshots collection from Simple Stories. It's a fabulous collection for documenting all those summer memories from holidays on the beach, to eating ice creams in the park. You can find the full collection in the shop here. 

I started this layout by cutting a 5 inch wide strip from the 'B' side of the Journal Elements patterned paper and sticking it vertically on a sheet of white cardstock. I loved all the stripes on this paper, and found it really fun that they were all different widths and lengths. Either side of this strip, I tucked in the long lemon slice border sticker from the Cardstock Stickers (luckily for me, I had 2 sheets of stickers so I had enough to run a strip along both sides!).

Using some tags which I'd fussy-cut from the Tag Elements patterned paper, I created 2 tag clusters. I added 3 tags to the top left and 3 to the bottom right of my patterned paper strip. I added a metal eyelet to all the tags and then to the tags which stuck out the furthest, I threaded some wax twine through the holes.

To the right hand side of the page, I placed my photo with the large tag from the Big Bits & Pieces behind it. To add a big of texture, I added some orange ribbon through the hole at the top of the tag.

I've turned to my favourite Simple Stories product for my title - the Foam Stickers. I chose the word 'Sunkissed' because the orange echoed my son's shorts in the photo. I placed the title underneath my photo, overlapping the tag cluster.

With all the main elements in place, I turned my attention to embellishing. I've used several die-cuts from the Bits & Pieces and built a couple of clusters on the page. I've created a little picnic scene underneath my title, and added a couple of summery bits to the tag cluster at the top left.

To the top of my paper strip, I added another Foam Sticker. This time a colourful banner which reads 'Sweet Summertime'. 

To finish the layout, I've added some of the little phrase stickers from the Cardstock Stickers, along with some Glossy Enamel Dots.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you've enjoyed this layout as much as I enjoyed making it. I'll be back at the end of the month with another Summer Snapshots layout.

Take care

Rebecca x

@preciouspagespapercraft

Simple Stories - Pack Your Bags - Time to Go

Hello

Claire here with you today, sharing my second layout with the fabulous Pack Your Bags collection from Simple Stories. 

I adore scrapping travel photos and this collection is such a fun one to use. Loads of bright colours, fun patterns and fabulous phrases. 

For this layout, I've opted for a circular design which is one of my favourite 'go to' designs.

To create impact, I first drew a circle on a piece of plain white cardstock and cut out the centre using a craft knife. Adding depth, I backed the remaining frame in foam before adhering it to a piece of the Packed and Ready patterned paper which is full of colourful suitcases - the perfect match for my photographs!!

I mounted my two photos in the Let's Go Everywhere and Enjoying the View papers, picking contrasting red and blue patterns to help the photos pop.

Once these were in place, I created small clusters on either side, using elements from the cardstock stickers, foam stickers and Bits & Pieces. I raised some on foam and adhered some flat to the page, building depth, dimension and interest that draws your eye across the page.

Under the photographs I popped two tags - one from the Bits & Pieces ephemera pack and the other fussy cut from the Tag Elements paper. I added eyelets in contrasting colours and twine, both from my stash. 

For my title, I opted for one of the foam stickers - I know I say it every time but these really are my favourite item in Simple Stories collections and these are no exception! 

The phrase 'Time To Go' is a match made in heaven for my photographs and sites nicely along the top curve of the aperture.  As a fun extra touch, I added a plane from the sticker sheet above it which brings the design together and creates a very small third cluster on the page. 

To finish the page and bring all the colours together, I added Novo Drops around the aperture and the page then felt complete! 

I hope you've enjoyed the pages I've made with this collection. They've certainly been fun to make! 

You can check out the collection in full here. 

Until next month, happy scrapping! 

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate 

Simple Stories - Pack Your Bags - Explore

Hello,

Happy iNSD and Bank Holiday weekend! I hope you've all been having a blast and finding a bit of time to squeeze in some scrappy fun!

I've had the pleasure of creating with the new travel collection from Simple Stories called Pack Your Bags. I love to take hundreds of photos whilst travelling, so I was excited to get my hands on this collection and it did not disappoint.

The collection is full of bold bright colours, perfect for travel photos. To break up the colour I opted for a white cardstock background, using a sheet of Bazzill Classic Smooth White from the Matchmaker Pack. 

To add some interest to the background, I grabbed a stencil from an older Simple Stories collection called Going Places. I used distress oxides (Blueprint Sketch, Wild Honey, and Candied Apple) and a blending brush in colours to match my patterned papers.

Next, I cut 3 pieces of patterned paper (Enjoying the View, Seeing the Sights and Lets Go Everywhere) roughly 4"x5", machine stitched around each piece and distressed the edges before raising on foam on my page. 

To bring in all the colours, I backed my photograph in the 4x6 Elements paper and then began to embellish! 

I created three small clusters using elements from the cardstock sticker sheet, ephemera bits and pieces, Foam Stickers and Journaling bits and pieces packs.  By mixing the colours and materials, laying some flat and raising some on foam, each cluster draws the eye into and across the layout, adding depth and interest. 

For my title, I used the Foam Stickers. These are just perfect! They're always my favourite element of a Simple Stories collection because they pull all the colours together. 

I hope you've enjoyed this colourful page. It was so much fun to make and I can't wait to share more with you later this month. 

You can shop the collection in full here.

Happy scrapping! 

Claire xx

@scrappysoulmate

Remember Family is Forever - Simple Stories - Remember Collection

Hi everyone, it's Rebecca with you today and I'm really excited to be sharing my first layout using Simple Stories new Remember collection. It's a stunning collection full of beautiful colours and elements. It's the perfect collection for documenting memories and honouring those who are no longer with us, but it's also versatile enough to document the everyday moments as I've done here. You can find it in the shop here.

I started by cutting hexagons from 3 of the patterned papers. I chose papers which had colours to match my photo, selecting one stronger pattern (the hearts) and two more subtle papers. After arranging the hexagons horizontally across the page, I liked the way they looked and decided to add a hint of mixed media to my background. Very faintly with a pencil, I drew around the outer edges of the hexagons so I knew where to add the colour. I rummaged through my stash of Distress Oxide Ink Pads and settled on 'Iced Spruce'. Using a Tim Holtz texture stamp, I added the colour to my background.

Once the ink was dry, I adhered the hexagons to the page with a layer of adhesive foam behind them to help lift the layout a bit and introduce some dimension. I then positioned my photo off centre and with a layer of navy Bazzill Cardstock behind it to help it 'pop' off the page. 

As is always the case with Simple Stories - the Floral Bits and Pieces in this collection are elegant and beautiful. I chose several of the larger floral elements and arranged them in 3 clusters to create a 'visual triangle' around my photo. 

For my title, I reached for my favourite Simple Stories product - the Foam Stickers. I always love the different fonts and styles and the versatile titles. I extended my title using one of the phrases from the Cardstock Stickers so my title became 'Remember Family is Forever'.

With all the larger elements in place, I shifted my focus to the smaller, finishing details. I fussy cut a few butterflies from the Beyond Blessed patterned paper and added these with the wings folded up, and then finished off with a couple of small floral stickers and some Enamel Dots.

Thanks so much for reading. I really hope you've enjoyed this layout and it inspires you to create with this wonderful collection.

Rebecca x

@preciouspagespapercraft