Scrapbook Saturday: Always & Forever Layout

If you've followed me for a bit, then you'll know that our family attended the gorgeous wedding of dear friends recently.  I was so inspired to scrapbook our photos and memories from this special event!

You can see how the photos and wedding decor absolutely drove the colors and design of this scrapbook layout!  I used the palette of Basic White, Cloud Clover, Balmy Blue, Azure Afternoon, and Blueberry Bushel with touches of Old Olive.

The bridge & groom, the venue, and the flowers were absolutely breathtaking!

Now that you've seen the pages, I want to get technical about how this spread came together.  Sometimes I am able to find a sketch that fits my photos, but that was not the case this time.  When I'm not using a sketch, I grab two pieces of 12"x12" white cardstock and lay them on my workspace.  Then, I place (and rearrange) my photos until I have a design that I like.

I started adding the different die cut elements to see how they might work together.  Then, I snapped a quick picture so that I wouldn't lose my ideas.

The next step was to die cut a bunch of the Forever Florals dies in Basic White & Azure Afternoon.  (I ended up using 13 of the large floral cluster die cuts!)  I colored the leaves with my Old Olive Stamp & Write marker (retired), but of course a Stampin' Blend would work.  I new that I wanted a green background for the bottom row of flowers, so I used a blending brush to blend Old Olive and a little Mossy Meadow ink.

Here is the left page's border.  Once everything was secured, I cut off the edges hanging off and then completed the process on the right page.  

If you look closely, you can see that I also blended Cloud Cover and Balmy Blue ink on some of the die cuts to try to mimic the hydrangeas in the aisle flowers and arch.

When I created the monogram frame, I didn't like the look of solid Cloud Cover cardstock and wanted more of the glimmer paper to show, so I layered the white frame on the Cloud Cover cardstock and lightly traced the "oval" foliage and then cut out the center.  

It took several trims to get it just right, but I love how it turned out!  I colored the leaves and then added a few extra die cuts.

The G is a retired CTMH/Cricut cut.

Thank you for letting me share this special event and layout with you!  Please let me know if you'd like help scrapbooking your photos and stories!  It's what I LOVE to do!

Supplies used:

• Basic White, Cloud Cover, Azure Afternoon, Blueberry Bushel cardstock
• Blueberry Bushel glimmer specialty paper
• Forever Florals bundle (stamp set & dies)
• Fern & Floral bundle
• Basic Gray, Cloud Cover, Balmy Blue, & Blueberry Bushel inks
• Old Olive marker
• Watercolor pencils (Balmy Blue and Old Olive)
• blending brushes
• Cricut

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!
 

Monday Scrapbooking

A lovely group of ladies meets at a local library on the 3rd Monday of the month to craft, and I was able to join them yesterday since I had the day off.  It was a lot of fun, and I already knew most of them!

I brought my Weekend Adventures DSP and sticker sheet and was able to create another layout from our trip to Alaska last year (finishing the title at home).

I got most of my Thanksgiving layout put together there but then added the stamped sentiment and title at home.

If you're local and free, you should join them to craft on the third Mondays of the month!  Let me know if you need the details. 

Birthday Spa Layout

Recently my sister, my sister-in-law, my girls, and my niece all got together to celebrate my mom's 80th anniversary with our traditional spa day but with an incredible twist- an overnight at a local spa.  We had such a great time together! 

I used the Hobby Haven DSP and a sketch from the Creative Design Team to put this layout together quickly.  All of the accents are die cuts from the DSP collection.  I did stamp the title and used a little Pecan Pie ink with a blending brush to add a little texture/interest.  If you look closely, you can see that I added more texture/interest on the Pecan Pie cardstock accents by embossing them with my Birch Wood 3D embossing folder.

I know Mom loved having all of us girls together for some uninterrupted girl time!  

If you're interested in some uninterrupted crafty girl time, come to one of my classes!  I'd love to have you join my Inky community (if you're not already with another Stampin' Up! demonstrator)!

A December to Remember Layout

As I reflected on all of the fun of December, I added my favorite photos to a folder on my phone and then ordered prints.  I had fun scrapbooking these memories before the year ended!

PRO TIP: If you're not sure what color goes best, take a picture with each to help you compare.  Either Shaded Spruce or Pretty Peacock looked nice with my photos, but I preferred the blue background more than the green. 

If you'd like to get your photos off your phone and into albums that you and your family can enjoy, I would love to show you how!

Weekend Adventures Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #3

For the third layout from this workshop kit, I went completely off script and did not cut the papers according to the directions and made my own layout instead.

Of course I’m using flip-flops to be able to add more photos to the layout to share more of our Alaskan adventure.

Don’t be afraid NOT to follow directions!

Weekend Adventures Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #2

During this holiday break, it has been so nice to have both our daughters home and to have TIME together (and of course in my studio)!  I had a lot of fun creating the three layouts in the Weekend Adventures scrapbooking workshop kit, and here are the cut pieces for layout #2.

I followed the directions pretty closely but had to had some stamped branches from the Branching Out stamp set with Old Olive and Crumb Cake ink.

In addition, I stamped my title in Cajun Craze with the alphabet set from the 2025 Virtual Album Retreat.  I love mixing and matching old/new product to stretch my supplies!

PRO TIP: As you use your alphabet stamps, but the used, inky letters onto a larger block.  That way, when you're done stamping, you can clean all of the letters at once.  That saves time because I invariably clean a letter, put it back on the carrier sheet, and then realize that I need it again.  With this method, I can grabby the inky stamp and reuse it as many times as needed before cleaning them all at once and then putting them back properly.

Also, I love to use flip flaps to include more photos without needing more space!

PRO TIP:  I use a free app on my phone, called LiveCollage, to add two photos to one 4x6 space to get two 3x4 photos when I get them printed.  I try to keep 3x4 flip flaps in stock!

Memories in Bloom Scrapbooking Workshop Kit

Where are my scrapbookers/memory keepers?  As much as I love creating from scratch, I also love the ease of using a scrapbooking workshop kit from Stampin' Up! (in the former CTMH style, of course).  Let me show you what's in the Memories in Bloom scrapbooking workshop kit.

Gorgeous DSP, exclusive DSP, and cardstock to create three two-page 12"x12" layouts

Layout #1: Mother's Day 2025

Layout #2: Ansley's birthday 2025

Layout #3: Victoria, BC, June 2025

These layouts were really fun to put together, and I love how everything is included in the kit, including directions.  Of course you'll need to add your own adhesive and tools, like a paper trimmer.  

Oh Christmas Tree Layout

Usually I don’t make layouts before I have my photos, but I know that I will take several portrait (vertical) photos of our Christmas tree this year. I enjoyed making this layout at my November open studio crop with the Branching Out dies, Elegant Pines Snowflake DSP, and two retired stamp sets.

I love all the shades of green in this DSP (Designer Series Paper).  It’s really nice to be “ahead” with this layout (while I ignore all the other projects I am behind on).

New Apartment Layout

We moved our girls to two different new apartments two weekends in a row, and I am so please to have their new places immortalized in scrapbook layouts!

I used the Make a Memory scrapbook kit and have instructions to make elevated layouts.  This guide is free to anyone who purchases this kit as part of a minimum $75 order with me!

Virtual Album Retreat: August Layout

Earlier this month I was able to complete my August highlights scrapbook layout thanks to the amazing virtual Month-by-Month Album Retreat (still available, while supplies last HERE, with an invite to a private Facebook page with teaching videos). 

It was fun blending ink on the rays to make them pop!

The clouds and some of the circle accents also got a little blending love.

The right page uses flip flaps to add more photos to tell our story.  It was a big month for us!  Can you see how the thread connects the photos to the journaling?

Anyone who purchase the Month-by-Month album retreat from me at full price will receive a $43 gift of Stampin' Rewards to be able to purchase an album (or whatever else you'd like).  

Virtual Album Retreat: January Layout

Did you know that Stampin' Up! hosted their first (annual I hope) Virtual Album Retreat this summer, and the bundle is still available (while supplies last).  (*NOTE: Anyone who purchases this bundle at full price from me will receive $43 in Stampin' Rewards to purchase an album- or whatever else you'd like!)

I'm using this bundle to document 2025, month by month.  I've finally had time to work on it, and here is my take on the January layout.  On the right page, the tags will pull out to read the journaling and see more photos.  (I'm waiting on some 3x4 flip flaps to finish the photos on the tag.)

August Card Class #1: Happy Birthday

The theme of my August card class was "big stamps to make a big impact" to highlight two cool stamp sets, With You in Mind and Layered Thoughts.  The first card uses Layered Thoughts paired with Arched Wishes (ON SALE Last Chance!) and Celebration Expressions Memories & More cards.

The top card uses a Daffodil Delight cardstock base, random stamping in the matching ink, and Happy Birthday stamped with Balmy Blue then fussy cut.  The bottom card uses Lemon Lolly instead with random stamping in Daffodil Delight, and then Happy Birthday stamped in Black on Berry Burst cardstock then fussy cut.  Which do you prefer?

Spring Break Impressions Abloom Layout

At my recent virtual retreat, I taught the participants how to create this layout using only 6"x6" squares of the Impressions Abloom DSP and the coordinating stamp set/dies.  (They did have to add their own 12"x12" White Willow cardstock base pages.) 

It was a great way for me to scrapbook my fun spring break earlier this year!

Sorry for the glare, but I taught the participants how to use flip flaps to add more photos to their pages, so I needed to put the layout into the memory protectors.

Here are the flip flaps opened up to show more photos.

Please reach out to me if you'd like to know more!

Month by Month Virtual Album Retreat

Stampin' Up! is hosting our first ever virtual album retreat, a Month by Month 24-page workshop (12 two-page 12"x12" layouts), online July 16-18 (with videos available after the live demonstrations), and you can purchase this amazing product bundle (which also automatically registers you for the event) starting today!

This concept was a staple with Close To My Heart that has been carried over to Stampin' Up!  I have participated in two of these past events, and they were totally worth the experience!  Almost everything comes precut and packaged like kits.  You will learn so many new techniques and creative ways to use the included products (which I suspect will include a new stamp set). 

Anyone who purchases the virtual retreat through me will also get supplies and instructions a bonus opening and closing page for their albums as one of my appreciation gifts.  You can use Stampin' Rewards toward the purchase, and you will earn Stampin' Rewards on this purchase. 

Please let me know if you have any questions!  Learn more with this PDF and view the sample layouts HERE.  I hope you'll join me!

Layered Thoughts and Celebration Expressions Cards

Have you seen our 6"x8" mini album and Memories & More pocket cards?  Did you know that you can use these pocket cards on cards?  We sell a package of 10 each (20 total) white cards and envelopes that fit the 3"x4" and 4"x6" pocket cards perfectly! 

I used the new Celebration Expressions cards paired with the Layered Thoughts stamp set and black ink.  For both cards, I fussy cut elements from another card (or with the balloons, from the part that is covered by the stripes).  For the large card, I distressed the edges of the pocket card with Berry Burst ink using the direct-to-paper technique to give it a little more interest.

I love how I can use "card" products for memory keeping and "scrapbooking" products for cards!

Easter Layout

This weekend, I was able to finish our Easter layout that I started at my scrapbooking class last month.  It needed a few more die cut flowers to be finished.

I love that using the Impressions Abloom stamp set and die bundle allows me to customize my projects to my photos.  I used Blueberry Bushel, Pool Party, Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight, and Garden Green Stampin' Pads to match our family photos.  I stamped the title with my Classic Alphabet (retired) stamp set.

It may not be obvious, but I also used the coordinating Floral Impressions 12"x12" DSP (the back sides of two patterns, not the floral side).

The finishing touches are (retired) blue and yellow Tinsel gems.