Simple Stories Designs

This one-page layout is an example of how easy it is to create customized layouts using Simple Stories.  Their pages, stickers, photo mats, and journaling cards offer great designs that can be put together to create layouts that match the pictures you have. 

I didn't have Thanksgiving or Fall pictures for the Harvest Lane, but I had a great photo for another message in this line -- home and family.  The designs are great and with just a litte extra effort you can make them extra special.

for this layout, I just matched up some of the Harvest Lane papers with a 6” x 8” photo mat, some stickers and some designs I cut out from the journaling cards.   As an example as how I use their designs, I cut the corners of my picture to match the design of the photo mat. 

Since several of the items I wanted to use had stitch marks around the outside so I stitched these lines to add a little punch.  To do this, I used a large needle and the Sew Easy mat and I simply went around the item making holes.  Once I had the holes it was a snap to stitch.   The photo mat didn’t have stitch lines but I added them so that it matched the embellishment a little better.  I made a journaling tag in the same way.  This is an approach I often use with Simple Stories.  I start with their design and add some embellishments to give  the page a little flair. 

Serenade Make and Take

Be sure to stop by ScrapbooksPlus to get the papers and instructions (plus the free element!) for this layout!  Enjoy your week!

Together is the best place to be

 Once again Simple Stories Harvest Line came to the rescue with a great title for this page. I love this picture of Bruce and I on the cookhouse front porch. I couldn't have made a better title than Together is the best place to be.

Fall Afternoon

Is it me or is Fall zipping by?  Thanksgiving has past, Black Friday has past and we are knocking on the door of Cyber Monday.  Did anyone else find Fall in there?  Ok, maybe its just me but I must have found a bit of it since I used it in this layout using Simple Stories.  Hope you had a chance to get some photos in as well.

Be sure to stop by the Scrapbooks Plus store to get your fall layouts done!

Using Simple Stories to Create Great Layouts

 This two-page layout is a great example of how the design of the Simple Stories line makes it easy for you to design attractive layouts that tell your unique story.  When I first saw Harvest Lanes line, I thought but I don’t have Thanksgiving/fall pictures.   But then I realized that many of the designs and sayings worked for a day I spent picking grapes in France – it was a harvest and I did it in September so that made it  a fall harvest.  

I liked the 4” x 6” journaling blocks that came with the set and decide to use that as the base for my layout design.  I used Homespun and Made with Love for the backgrounds (although you see little of either.)   I used the 4” x 12” “Harvest Memories” title strip for my title. I filled in alternative 4” x 6” spaces with blocks from the line, such as Autumn Days & Fall memoires so I ended up with five 4” x 6” blocks being those that came with the set with journaling added to two.  I added 3 ½” x 5” pictures to four of the blocks.  To add a little glitz, I used a KaiserCraft Window (with a picture of the vineyards glued to the back), some stickers from the Harvest Lane Collection Kit, and a few strips of paper.  I added one small vertical picture, which I trimmed with twine, and used the same twine to add a bow to the sticker wreath. 

With Simple Stories, you can simply take their designs and add your pictures.   I suggest you just pick up one of the Collection Kits they have at the store (either Harvest Lane or Handmade Holiday) .    When you get home you’ll easily be able to add your pictures.  How great is that just buy a package and you’ve got several layouts!

Simple Stories and Great Country Farm

Simple Stories Harvest Lane is so fun!  I love all the Fall colors and wood tones!  I used the fun stickers that coordinate with the Harvest Lane line to make my layouts come together quickly.  The coordinating papers are really fun and have a homespun, fun feel to them.  The colors coordinate well with just about any photos so if you don't have any fun pumpkin or farm photos, don't worry, you will definitely have photos to match this great paper line!

Fall

Here is another two page layout I designed using Simple Stories Harvest Lane.  As my base for this layout I used a golden colored BoBunny Flourish Paper.  These cardstocks by BoBunny are a go to favorite of mine.  I decided to layer woodgrain and notebook prints as well as several of the patterned papers for this layout.  I also used one of the transparencies to create a jounaling block for the layout.  

I finished the layout with this cute little banner I made using letters for the word FALL from the sticker sheet, some burnt orange cardstock and some jute.  I attached it to the layout using dimensional adhesive.  I love the way it turned out!

Fireman's Fair Fun

I used ochre Bazzill as the base of this layout.  I absolutely loved the look of the letters off of the letter sheet; I used them for titles on this page layout.  The titles just pop out and look antique looking.  I sanded them slightly to add that extra distress look.  I used numerous of the word panels on the two page layout.  I love the tape looking stickers.  I put them on several of these stickers for a cool look.  Added a little ribbon on each page to dress things up.  Applied extra words on the images within the layout.  Used papers and strips of coordinating paper as the background on the let layout and matted pictures on both layout pages. 

Simple Layout

Sometimes a simple layout is all you need. I had so much going on in my photo that I decided to keep the rest of the layout uncluttered. I started with a neutral paper from one of Simple Stories' summer lines as my background and used only two of the patterned papers on the layout. There's just enough pattern and color, but the large, plain background gives plenty of room for your eye to rest.

Make & Take: Memories of 2012

With cold weather and hurricanes, I needed something to cheer  me up so I designed this week’s Make & Take, “Sweet Memories of 2012,” with Basic Grey’s Plumeria line.  Flowers with lavender, creams and greens were so cheery to work with.   The embellishments come from the Plumeria chipboard or stickers.  One thing I love about this line is that the letters are chipboard, rather than stickers, and there are lots of them so you have plenty to spell whatever you want.  You can make Sweet Memories of almost anything.  A few I thought of were of Love, My Daughter, Spring, Weddings, Vacation.  Really anything that you have pictures of.  Of course, you’re not limited to  “Sweet”  you could substitute another word or just start with “Memories.”   The layered “Memories” is the free element for this week’s Make & Take.  Add a few self-sticking pearls of cream and lavender and you are done!

For those of you not familiar with how Make & Takes work, every Wednesday one of Scrapbook Plus’s designers creates a two-page layout specially for you to copy.  It is displayed at the cash register, the items you need to make the page are displayed together so it is easy for you to get just what you need, written instructions are provided,  and we give you a free element.   It’s your choice whether you make the page at the store so you can use the actual sample or take the items home and make using the instructions, which include a picture.  Either way this is a great way to make a page a week and get that stash of pictures on pages.

There are limited supplies this week so be sure to get to Scrapbooks Plus as soon as you can.  And you’ll have lots of extra chipboard so pick up a few extra pieces of paper and you’ll be able to make another layout or two.  The variety is great so you’re layouts won’t look the same.

Simple Stories Quick Mini Album

I love Simple Stories and the Harvest Lane collection is no exception!  I love how Simple Stories makes your projects come together so easily.  Using the 6 x12 sections of the 12x12 pages I made a very quick album with a few quick snips of coordinating papers and matching stickers.

I plan to fill it with our family's favorite fun Fall 2012 photos!
  You can create one for yourself in 30 minutes or less!

Come to the store and check it out for yourself! 

Holiday Scrappin' Folders

Harvest Lane Scrappin' Folder

 Using Simple Stories papers is always so easy because the variety of coordinated colors and messages allows you to put together pages in the perfect to tell your story.  Using the Harvest Lane line, I created a Scrappin’ Folder to keep my Thanksgiving pictures, recipes and notes about those special Thanksgiving memories.  Scrappin’ Folders are a concept that I came up with to record special events without having to create a whole scrapbooks or lots of pages to showcase my photos and memories.  I create a folder that is appealing to look at, has space for a few pictures and a pocket for a CD so I can keep all of the pictures, lots of space for notes and other memorabilia.  The Harvest Lane line was great for this.  In fact, I liked my Thanksgiving one so much that I created a Christmas one using the Handmade Holiday line.  It is festive with two files for lots of notes and extra pictures, etc.  One of my favorite parts of these Scrappin’ Folders is that I made little matchbooks for notes and little pictures and attached them with magnets so I can remove to look inside but they always go back in the same place.



Handmade Holiday Scrappin' Folder



Rather than putting the pictures and memorabilia someplace intending to scrap them later and then usually not being able to find everything when I have time to scrap, now I put everything from an event  in a Scrappin’ Folder.  In a few hours, I have an attractive showcase that I can easily pull it out and enjoy it time and again and all my memoires from the event filed in one place.  And if I have time, I have everything in one place to make the scrapbook pages of the event

To share this concept with you, I’m teaching a class at Scrapbooks Plus on November 24^th.  In one afternoon, you’ll make a  Scrappin’ Folder for either your Thanksgiving or Christmas memories.    In this class, you’ll learn how to make such a folder with just a few supplies.  You’ll use lots of tools and techniques, including the Tim Holtz Vagabond and dies,  Martha Stewart Scoring Board, inks, punches, magnets. 

And you’ll leave with either a Thanksgiving or Christmas Scrappin’ Folder.  With your class fee, you’ll get a  full Collection Kit (either Autumn Lane or Handmade Holidays),  extra paper and instructions.  A sample of each is on display at the store so let us know which one you want when you sign up.  You’ll just need to bring basic tools, a paint brush and a variety of adhesives.

Sign up at the store or by calling 703.263.9503. 

See you on the 24th!



Matchbooks Held in Place with Magnets



So Very Thankful

Simple Stories did it again with an awesome fall collection!  They make scrapbooking so easy with their journaling tags and embellishments!  I used this collection to highlight some of my favorite pictures this fall on a trail near our home and in the front yard with our dog.  The collection is super versatile and does not have to be used just for fall photos.

Harvest Market   

The Harvest Lane Simple stories paper is a beautiful selection of papers for fall layouts, cards, and books.  Several of these double side papers are perfect for cutting up to make any number of different size books.   I used a couple of sheets to make a 6”x4” Fall Harvest Book.  The clear transparency photo overlays fit perfect in the book.  I punched two holes in the spine side of the book and threaded in with yellow rings.  Embellishing was easy with Basic Grey wonderful felt flowers; I added yellow and green ribbons on several pages and ribbons on the rings.  I added in “Eat, Pray, Love” laser die cut as the final embellishment, for a little additional pop affect I applied a little Tim Holt distress ink to the die and some of the pages. 

Live Laugh Love

I couldn't resist using this picture of my youngest grandson. Who does not love the smile and laughter of a young child. Simple Stories Harvest Line with it's wonderful card and quote elements makes finding tittles and journaling cards.

Wednesday Make and Take

This week's layout uses papers from Little Yellow Bicycle's Acorn Hollow collection along with a few accents made with Ranger's glassine paper. LYB has some cute coordinating accents - sticker phrases and journaling cards that would be a perfect addition to this layout.

Autumn Days

Every year we go to the same pumpkin patch/ family farm to pick out our pumpkins.  I just love all of the gourds and displays they have set up and I always take lots of great photos. 

This year rather than just focusing on picking a pumpkin I was really focused on family time.  Soon we will be a family of 5 and I feel so grateful and blessed that next year when it comes time to visit Burnside Farm to pick out our pumpkins we will be bringing our new little pumpkin with us.

The Harvest Lane collection by Simple Stories is perfect for telling my story.  The autumnal shades of burnt orange, cranberry, golden yellow and brown are such beautiful traditional fall colors.  I love the addition of the turquoise blue color and the natural wood grain elements too.

I love the papers from this line so much I had a difficult time chosing which I would use for my background so I decided to use several.  I added different widths of each of the papers across the layout to build my background.  Then I matted my photos on a thin burnt orange cardstock mats and added them to the layout.

For my journaling I used a journaling card I cut from one of the papers.  I layered that on top of the half sheet with a wood-grain border and floral embellishments in the upper left and lower right corners.  I added a few buttons as well as a sticker and a piece I cut from one of the transparencies.

For the title I used a tag and the alphas sheet that coordinates with this line.  There are several different alphas on this sheet.  I was able to add visual interest by using different lettering for the main title (Autumn Days) and the subtitle (a time to be grateful.)  I also added some stickers from the collection to the tag and to the layout to pull the whole thing together. 

Fall Layout

This month's DT kit is Simple Stories' Harvest Lane - just in time for all those pictures from raking leaves, pumpkin patches and other fall activities.

I used another Simple Stories paper (from one of their summer collections) as my background, then layered banners and leaves under my photos.