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

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

Coming Back After A Creative Break

 

Helloooo!!

Today I'm talking about coming back after a creative break.

I really struggle after taking creative breaks. It just doesn't flow so quickly and easily.

I have to plan and think more and it just takes so much longer.

But sometimes it doesn't even happen at all. I can sit there and I just don't feel it.

So that's what I wanted to share with you today.

I do have a video creating this page and talking about it here.

I was in this situation a few weeks ago.

I was trying to create after a busy few family weeks.

But thankfully I'd ordered these packs.

Sentiments here.

And this Ephemera Pack

I love these pieces so much, They are so so easy to use.

I opened them on my crafty desk and pulled out the ones that really spoke to me.

I love how easy you can create pretty titles.

And I also created this little pocket.

I slid these postcards in behind my photos.

here.

I stuck them back to back. 

Adding photos on one side and journaled the other side.

I added bits and pieces from the packs around my photos to decorate too.

Then over on the other side I used a larger photo and added ephemera again.

And to finish I added some puffy stickers to match here .

This journal spread really helped ease me back in to creating again.

All these piece made it so easy and stress free and very fast.

I hope you've enjoyed this and feel inspired.

Thanks so much.

Lisa xx

Simple Stories - Flea Market - You're My Fave

Hi everyone,

Claire here today, sharing a layout made with the Simple Stories Flea Market collection.

This range is packed full of beautiful colours, patterns, ephemera, icons and oodles of beautiful florals - the scrapping possibilities are endless! It's such a versatile collection and the colours are gorgeous.

I couldn't wait to get stuck in, having a blast with the patterned papers, florals and icon ephemera and I love how this layout turned out.

I started with a piece of Coconut Swirl Bazzill cardstock from the matchmaker pack. It's a really lovely cardstock that feels quite smooth and silky to touch.

Using 2 pieces of torn patterned paper (You're My Fave - a and b sides, and Tell The Story), I layered the across the top of the page to create real texture, definition and a bright pop of colour.

I wanted to offset my photos, and build some layers to draw attention to them against the bold patterned paper.

Using frames from the Journal Bits & Pieces I mounted my photos and added two layers of foam, making sure they'd sit flat against the ruffled edges of the paper.

Once the photos were in place, I began embellishing.

I picked out some pieces I considered to be travel themed, as we were in Italy when these pictures were taken. The camera and the globe from the Chipboard Stickers were perfect. I layered these with some of the Journal Bits & Pieces to create small clusters.

And then came those stunning florals - Wow - this Floral Bits & Pieces pack is full of gorgeous florals! There are 48 pieces in total and they are stunning!

I created a cascade of flowers around my photo, to reflect the patterned paper at the top.

T o create depth, I layered some on foam, and mixed the cardstock pieces with chipboard to create extra interest.

To create my title, I was hugely inspired by a yellow tag that says 'You're my fave' and just had to use these words for my page. I used some Pinkfresh Studio Life Right Now Puffy Alpha Stickers to recreate the title - they're a perfect match for this collection - and that was my page finished.

I have to tell you, I'm a little bit in love with this collection. It is incredibly versatile and could be used in countless layouts about pretty much any topic. I'd highly recommend it.

I'll be back again with another layout in a few weeks so see you then :)

Claire xx

@Scrappysoulmate

Simple Stories ~ School Life

Hi all, it’s Anna back with you today! I’m sharing my second layout with the Simple Stories collection - school life. You can find the whole collection in the shop here. 

For this layout I decided to document our home school journey….

I used bazzill cardstock from the matchmaker pack as my base, trimming down about an inch from each side, keeping a 12inch height. I then used the school rules paper as well as the educate yourself paper to create a double boarder. 

I cut apart some of the tags from the ‘Tags’ paper and used them to document the journey, grouping the pictures into the stages of lockdown learning! I added my photographs to them and used one of them for my journaling. I punched holes into the top of the tags and added some twine. 

I added several of the elements from the journal bits around the placing of the photographs. 

To finish I added a few acrylic perspective pieces and used Doodlebug alpha stickers for my title. 

Thanks so much for looking! 

See you next time with a brand new collection! 

Anna 

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