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!