Simple Stories: BLOOM

What do you do when you can’t decide which patterned papers to use on your layout? Use them all!

When I began this page, I could not decide which patterned paper from the Simple Stories Spring Farmhouse collection to cut into first. I just loved them all so much! When this happens, I like to take inspiration from quilts and piece together a background using multiple patterns.

First, I pulled out all of the papers from the Spring Farmhouse 6×8 Paper Pad that had full patterns on both sides. I then punched twenty 3″ circles from the patterned papers. Next, I scored the circles at 0.5″ on four sides. After scoring, fold each “petal” in towards the center creating a square shape with four “petals.” After all of your circles are folded, line them up in rows to create the background.

I matted my photo with the Black/Cream Paper and two more patterns from the 6×8 Paper Pad. I cut two journal blocks from the 3×4 Elements Paper and 4×6 Elements Paper. One block houses my journaling and the other holds my title.

Next, I embellished my photo and the title block with the Floral Bits & Pieces die cuts. I added a punched flower to each of the large blue flowers for dimension, then finished them off with a black enamel dot center.

This page has so much texture and dimension with the folded circles. I just LOVE it! Try giving this technique a try on your next scrapbook page!

SUPPLIES:

OTHER SUPPLIES:
Flower Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts
Scalloped Scissors: ProvoCraft
Thickers: Black Glitter Shoebox by American Crafts
Trimmer/Scissors
Gray Distressing Ink
Black Journaling Pen

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Echo Park Paper: Easter

It may still be a bit chilly where you are, but if you are like me, I’m already looking forward to warmer Springtime days. For this Easter scrapbook page, I used lots of sunny yellow from the Echo Park Easter Wishes collection and it makes me so happy!

I love the little chicks in this collection and decided to create a couple of scenes for them to live in at the top and bottom of my page. I used the Stitched Circle Die Set, as well as a couple of die cut vellum clouds, to anchor the scene at the top of the page. This cute, chipboard chick looks like she has been gathering eggs in the garden all morning with her trusty wheelbarrow. I added an Easter greeting from the chick by stamping a sentiment from the Easter Memories Clear Stamps on a punched speech bubble.

A bed of fresh, green grass stretches across the top of the page, as well as the bottom. To create the grass, I trimmed strips of the Orange/Green Coordinating Solid paper with fringe patterned scissors.

The photo on the bottom right had a large, empty space on the left side. I used the “Easter Candy” die cut from the Ephemera pack to fill in the space and repeat the colors from the title sticker at the bottom of the page.

My favorite thing about Spring is the flowers popping up unexpectedly everywhere you look. I fussy-cut several of the flower clusters from the Easter Flowers paper and dotted them across the page to mimic a springtime garden.

I’m getting excited for warm, Spring days and chocolate eggs after creating this page! How about you?

SUPPLIES:

Thanks for stopping by!

American Crafts: Feeling Spring Fever with All the Good Things!

My favorite thing about springtime is seeing the world burst with energy and color as the leaves on the tree, flowers, and critters begin to come out of hiding. It’s such a welcome sight after a monochromatic winter.

Today I have a colorful springtime layout using the Vicki Boutin All the Good Things collection by American Crafts.

These photos of my kids are from Easter from a few years ago, and instead of dressing up in the typical soft pastels, we opted for bright colors. The color palette of the All the Good Things collection complimented my photos perfectly!

I used two sheets of Soul Food paper as my page background and then had fun layering all of the beautiful florals and butterflies in clusters around my photos!

I love the variety of sizes of butterflies included on the Social Butterfly paper. I fussy cut several of them out to scatter among the flowers.

I used the 7″x10″ Mixed Media pad to die cut clouds for my page. I added a stamped date to one of them and then stamped phrases to the others using the All the Good Things Roller Phrase Stamp.

The epoxy dome stickers from the Embellishments add texture and shine to each cluster.

Next, I added a few phrase die cuts and a journal block to the right page using the Frames Ephemera Die Cuts.

Creating this page has me itching to enjoy the blue skies, flowers, and sights and sounds of critters fluttering about. Come on, Spring! Where are you? I can’t wait for you to arrive!

SUPPLIES:

American Crafts: Stay Colorful with Easter Egg Favor Boxes

 

It’s always fun to gather family together for Easter dinner or an Easter egg decorating party in the Spring. Why not create these darling Easter egg-shaped favor bags for your guests using the Dear Lizzy Stay Colorful collection this year?!

I love choosing a holiday icon and incorporating it into my party decor. This time, I chose to use the egg. I love this shaped bag that I was able to cut out using my Silhouette Cameo electronic die cutting machine using Design #124445 from the Silhouette Design Store.

I cut the base of the bag from white textured cardstock, and then used papers from the Dear Lizzy Stay Colorful 12×12 Single Sided Paper Pad for decorating.

The first thing I did was to choose the papers for the flat decorative panels of each bag. I chose the marbled paper of the center egg first, because it reminded me of what eggs look like when you dye them! I then chose the yellow script and pink papers to coordinate with the marbled paper.  The foiled designs of the paper pad look extra special on this project!

Next, I used a pair of scissors to fussy-cut several flowers and butterflies from papers in the pad. The foil outlines of the flowers really help them to stand out. They look so elegant and would be pretty adorning the plate of each person and the Easter dinner table. Next, I chose a Glittered Word Cardstock Die Cut sentiment to go on the front of each bag.

The Glittered Words are mounted on a banner shape handcut from the Dear Lizzy Stay Colorful 6×6 paper pad. The smaller patterns of the 6×6 paper pad are perfect for grounding the sentiments, and the patterns don’t compete with the shapes of the letters, making the sentiment difficult to read.

I then used the Stay Colorful Alpha Clear Acrylic Stamps to create a personalized tag for each favor box. I LOVE the font of these stamps! I clipped the tag onto the handle of the egg box with one of the Iridescent Mini Clothespins. CUTE!!!

These egg favor boxes are the perfect way to add that unique touch to your Easter party. Your guests are sure to feel special!

I’m already getting excited for Spring! And I can’t wait to enjoy it with my family and give them these delightful treat bags. See you again soon!

SUPPLIES:

“Easter Egg Shaped Basket Wave” cut file by Lori Whitlock (Design #124445 in the Silhouette Design Store)