Forever Friends-A Grid Design Scrapbook Page

(The following scrapbook page and step-by-step tutorial was showcased on the My Creative Scrapbooks blog.)

Grid designs are my go-to on various occasions. Sometimes I use them when I want an orderly display of multiple photos from an event. Other times I use a simple grid design when I'm in a time crunch, as the straight lines make assembling the page a breeze. With today's layout, a grid design is the perfect vehicle for embellishing with all of the fun and colorful die-cuts in My Creative Scrapbooks March main kit. 

In the closeup below, I have set a simple scene with die-cuts, adding dimension by adhering some of the pieces flat, while layering and popping up others. A cardstock "frame" ties it all together. 

To begin this page, I gathered cardstock in colors to coordinate with the kit's patterned papers and embellishments from Pebbles' Patio Party. The top left square was sized to frame my photo, the middle right rectangle to accommodate my title (a banner cut from one of the patterned papers), and the long piece at the bottom to hold journaling. Additional pieces were cut to "fill in the holes" and complete the grid. 

Here are the six components of my grid design, set on a white cardstock background. Already these colors are making me happy!

Once I added my photo and title banner, I cut white cardstock bases to hold the die-cut scene planned for the top, and the journaling planned for the bottom. Patterned paper fills the remaining grid.

Then out come the die-cuts and dimensional flowers, creating the scenes below. Hmmm...I think it calls for more die-cuts!

So more die-cuts it is!

At this point, owing to my indecisive nature, nothing is permanently attached. A strong breeze could blow it all away! But now that I'm content with the look,

I can finally print my journaling and adhere all these little bits and pieces.

A double cardstock border was also added, and it frames the entire page nicely. I simply cut down the white background by about 1/2 inch on each side, adhered to yellow cardstock, cut down the yellow cardstock by 1/4 inch on each side, and adhered to pink cardstock.

That frame makes all the difference! 

Can you see how this design can be transformed to fit a photo in another shape or size? Or more than one photo? That's the versatility of a grid. :)

Feels Like Summer

You know that song by Weezer; well, it's in my head a lot now...and I couldn't be happier with these warm summer-feeling temperatures! Summer is my season. ;)

Here is a colorful page documenting Kevin's summer of 2016, a summer filled with lifeguarding, swimming, video games, swimming, Driver's Ed, swimming, watching Big Brother (an addiction I tell ya!), a week at the beach and swimming. Ahhh...soon he'll be at it again, minus the Driver's Ed.



The next layout was published in the summer 2017 issue of Scrapbook and Cards Today. It features a fun assortment of patterned papers, a melange of die-cuts, washi tape banner, and a title of colorful chipboard letters.



Summer days...bring it on!

Sisters Do Lunch

Me and my four sisters...we've taken this photo before...a year before to be exact. Each year during our beach vacation, the girls all go out for shopping and lunch. Two years in a row we've chosen to eat at George's in Alyc Beach, and both meals ended with a photo in the same spot!

I chose the Summer Fun collection from Echo Park for it's combination of color and whimsy, fussy cutting some of the elements like the flower cluster...

 and scooter below:

Hmmm...should we find a new photo spot next year...or continue taking our picture on the steps under the frogs?

All The Colors

This old kit had SO many die-cuts and stickers, I thought I'd never use them up...but I sure came close after completing this birthday page. Large patterned paper balloons were handcuff and pen-stitched before tying them up with an assortment of baker's twine. Colorful washi tape and enamel dots add to the celebratory feel of this birthday page:

And another kit bites the dust...almost. ;)

All The Gold

In an attempt to cut through more of my stash, I've been sorting through old kits, choosing items that I still love for today's pages. A sheet of gold-striped patterned paper became the base for the layout below, along with several gorgeous floral die-cuts and gold-studded embellishments, 2 chipboard frames, a gold-text paper, and ticket stub pattern. Stripes, text and ticket stubs...all favorites!

The gold is extremely difficult to photograph, and doesn't always show up well in pictures. An exception is the shot below, where those pretty glittery papers are shown off to their best advantage.

More of my favorite embellishments were used on here-enamel dots and brads included.

Who knew a bunch of leftovers could come together to create such a beautiful page?!

Whistler Title Page

While I was waiting to get our trip photos printed, I dug out my travel themed papers and pulled together a few elements to make the page below. Perhaps a photo or two could be placed on the bottom of the page. If not, I'll use this layout as a title page in my album. 

Check back here as I'm sure to scrap quite a few of our trip photos over the next few weeks!

Our Family-Step By Step

This step-by-step for my Our Family layout was shared on the My Creative Scrapbooks blog last week:

I began my page not really thinking about the page, but about ALL the possibilities for combining butterflies, flowers, and journaling cards, all plentiful in the papers and embellishments of this month's My Creative Scrapbooks Main kit. So out came the scissors...

to set those butterflies free!

Here they are dressing up three of the large journaling cards. Adhered to a cardstock or patterned paper base, any of these would make a wonderful all-purpose greeting card. But first, I'll choose one for my layout.

I started with two patterned papers from the kit, a yellow print up top, black and white plaid below, in a 1:2 ratio, then picked one of the dressed up journaling cards and adhered it to the bottom of my page. A second journaling card was layered behind the first.

Out came the scissors again, this time cutting up the prettiest floral paper. (I know! Hard to do, but I had ideas for the pieces!) Sifting through my fussy cut flowers and greenery, I chose a few pieces for the bottom of my page, and set the others aside for another layout I had planned. ;)

Three more butterflies were added, flying up from the flowers:

To balance things out, a pretty doily was tucked behind the cards. This was actually a RED doily, but the backside was perfectly white. Yay!

Believe it or not, up to this point I hadn't decided upon a photo! I had printed several, but when I set this rare family photo on the page, I knew it was the one. As you can see, a plaid scallop border sticker was added to the top, with the beginnings of my title:

A couple of tags were tucked beneath the picture, and buttons adhered beneath the word, family:

As always, a few final details seemed to attach themselves. I added to my title, dotted the "i" with hearts and a little banner, then dated the page:

Like the page says, "I am...thankful, grateful, blessed" for my awesome family, and this awesome kit from My Creative Scrapbooks. ;)