Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #6: The Highlands (Day 1)

What's not to love about this layout of our visit to Kilburn Castle, Inverary, and Loch Lomond.

The heart was super easy to make because all of the pieces were precut, but you could make your own by using quarters of 3 1/4" circles.

Flip flaps allow me to add multiple photos to one photo mat to help extend my story.

I also used flip flaps on the second page to add more photos and journaling.

The Virtual Album Retreat 2026 kit is still available, while supplies last, along with all of the training videos.  It is a gift you will not regret for your favorite scrapbooker or family memory keeper!
 

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #5: Northern Ireland

Being a "student" was another reason that Virtual Album Retreat 2026 was so fun for me!  The only decisions that I had to make were which photos I planned to use where and whether I followed the instructions or not.  (Spoiler: I did not exactly.)

I was really happy that this layout design used a lot of Garden Green so I used Emerald Isle photos on it.

It didn't photograph well, but we splattered NEW Golden Glow shimmer brush on the two base pages, and then stamped the star stripes in Pool Party.  Such fun techniques! 

Since rules are meant to be broken, I added the 3"x4" photo cascade and stretched the 3" square photos in the directions to 4"x3" photos.  I couldn't stand to crop them down any smaller.

Using the alphabet set included in the retreat kit, I stamped my Northern Ireland title on scrap white cardstock and then added to the base page.  (I was afraid I wouldn't stamp it perfectly, but it turned out nicely.)

I love the interactive elements of this page and will cut my page protectors to make them open easily.

Be sure to include journaling of at least the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, and why, as applicable).

 Remember, the Virtual Album Retreat kit is still available HERE, plus you'll receive a thank you gift from me!

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #4

Continuing our 30th anniversary cruise around the British Isles, our next stop was Cork & Cobh, Ireland.  I was so excited to visit Ireland for the first time, since one of my great-grandmothers and all four of my paternal great-greats had immigrated from Ireland.  It was an extra special trip traveling with my parents.

We had fun at a local pub in Cork and visiting Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral.

On the right page, I used several 3"x4" flip flaps to show some of my favorite photos.

In Cobh, we stopped at St. Colman's Cathedral.  (I definitely inherited my love of churches and cathedrals from my mom, and the rest of the family indulges us!)

On a the crafty side, there are so many different techniques used on this layout!  We curled up the flower petals with a bone folder and random stamped flowers on the Cloud Cover hexagons.  These subtle details really add to the pages while keeping the photos and journaling at the forefront.

I used a four flip flaps to show off all of the phots I wanted to share.

You can still purchase the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, Happiness Is Here, and receive an extra $25 in Stampin' Rewards as a thank you gift from me?  Just click HERE!

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #3: Southampton, Portland, and Weymouth

To prepare for making the layouts in the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, I sat down with the instructions (which included suggested photo sizes) and my phone.  I took note of which layout best matched my photos and what size photos I needed.  (I use a free app called Live Collage to resize my photos/print several to a 4"x6" canvas.). I'm sharing them with you how I created them, not necessarily the order of the instructions or the order in which they were taught live at Virtual Album Retreat.  (I didn't participate live.)

We took a train from London to board the Regal Princess in Southampton.  We absolutely loved having a balcony!

When we stopped in Portland, we took a little hike in the afternoon to the top of a hill for a spectacular view.  (I love that the included 4"x4" flip flaps helped me photo journal more of our trip.)

That morning, we visited the quaint town of Weymouth on the River Wey.  It was absolutely darling!

Again, a 4"x4" flip flap helped me tell more our story.

I love how this analogous color scheme of the blues and greens with the neutral browns helps my photos POP.  You don't have to match your photos exactly to create a lovely layout.

Did you know that you can still purchase the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, Happiness Is Here, and receive $25 in Stampin' Rewards from me?  Just click HERE!

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #2: London

The first stop on our British Isles anniversary trip was London, and the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat is the perfect backdrop for our photos and memories.

Everything you need to complete this album is included except for ink, tools, adhesive, etc. (An additional supply list was provided, and I had most everything on it.)

To personalize the album, instead of using the precut tiles to stamp/spell SMILE, I cut my own to stamp London instead.  I also added 3"x3" flip flaps to be able to include my most important photos and my stories.  After all, the stories are the most important thing!

On the right page, I added 3"x4" flip flaps to incorporate more photos.

"Look, kids, Big Ben!" (Name that movie in the comments!)

The soft triadic scheme of red (Calypso Coral), yellow (Crushed Curry), and Blue (Hydrangea Hue) makes my photos POP, don't you think?

You know that you can still purchase the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, Happiness Is Here, and receive $25 in Stampin' Rewards (only from yours truly, in addition to the $25 in Stampin' Rewards you'll receive from your purchase)!  Just click HERE!
 

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #1

This year's Virtual Album Retreat 2026, Happiness Is Here, was so good!  I treated myself to it to scrapbook our 30th anniversary British Isles cruise last year, and it has not disappointed!  Yes, it is an investment, but it is worth every penny.  (You can still get the kit HERE and watch the videos on replay like I've done.  Anyone who orders it from me will receive an extra $25 in Stampin' Rewards as a thank you.) 

Layout 1 can be used as a two-page spread or as a front title page and back closing page (which is what I've chosen to do.)

The journaling is in a pocket behind the smaller photo.  I will cut my page protector to be able to access that little gem.

Everything you see came in the Virtual Album kit except ink, journaling pen, and adhesive (plus tools like a paper trimmer).  It was really easy to create this page following the directions.

Remember, the Virtual Album Retreat kit is still available HERE, plus you'll receive a thank you gift from me!

Waterside Retreat Lifesaver Treat (May Card Crafternoon #5)

Normally we made four cards at my monthly Crafternoon card classes, but this month we made five projects, since the first project was a note card and I wanted to share a little treat idea.

Once again, we fussy cut from the DSP and used the April Paper Pumpkin stamp set to create this little lifesaver treat.  The small zip bag was from past kits- a way to upcycle what would otherwise be thrown away!

The back of the bag topper has a white square where you can write your message.
 

Waterside Retreat Bicycle Card (May Card Crafternoon #4)

To provide variety at my month Card Crafternoon, we dug into the Waterside Retreat DSP to make this fun fold card.

We fussy cut a bicycle from the DSP for the main focal image and stamped with a variety of stamp sets including the Scalloped Blooms stamp set and the small set from the April Paper Pumpkin box.

The main colors we used are Basic Gray and Cajun Craze with a pop of Pool Party.

My June Card Crafternoon will be 6/14, and kits are available if you can't attend in person.

Moonlit Flora Stamped Card (May Card Crafternoon #3)

The third card of May's card Crafternoon focused on stamping and coloring (with some die cuts added to the mix too).

This card was modeled after this year's On Stage After Hours stamping event but with an Inky Scrapper twist.

We stamped the ferns onto the Basic White background with Peaceful Pine and Old Olive and adhered to an Old Olive card base.  The ferns were die cut from Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, and Peaceful Pine.  The stamped die cuts were colored with Hydrangea Hue and Mossy Meadow Stampin' Blends and Golden Glow shimmer brush.

How do you like the Hydrangea Hue stamped butterfly with Wink of Stella shimmer?  This card sparkles in real life!

Save the date for June's card Crafternoon on 6/14!

Moonlit Flora DSP Card (May Card Crafternoon #2)

The DSP in the Moonlit Flora suite is absolutely gorgeous, so I designed the second card of my May Card Crafternoon class to feature the DSP.

I love how my ladies took the pieces and made the cards their own: some centered the rectangles in the middle of the card and others used different sides of the DSP.  We used all of the pieces of the suite except for the embossing folder, and added a little Wink of Stella to the butterfly.  The die cuts are cut from Mossy Meadow, Secret Sea, and Basic White.

Save the date!  June's Crafternoon will be 6/14!

Moonlit Flora Note Card (May Card Crafternoon #1)

Stampin' Up! offers a set of twenty 3 1/2" x 5" white note cards and envelopes that are a great value and canvas to work on.

Let pretty DSP do all the work like it does on this note card featuring the Moonlit Flora suite (DSP, stamp set, and dies).

By the way, this was the first card we made at my May monthly Crafternoon card class.

Who would you send this to?

Fern & Flora 3D Embossing Folder Card

When I received my Moonlit Flora suite, I had to try out the included Fern & Flora 3D embossing folder.  After running it through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine with Basic White cardstock, I rubbed Old Olive ink across the cardstock to create this card background.

I mounted the panel onto an Old Olive card base and added both Old Olive & Mossy Meadow die cuts.  I stamped the frame in Old Olive and the sentiment and butterfly in Secret Sea.  I finished the card with a few Dewdrops embellishments.