Simple Stories

Simple Sightings - Life Documented

Life Documented was our first kit that we released over a year ago!  It always amazes me when I hear from different store owners that this kit is still their best selling kit.  I guess though; when you think about it, it truly is an amazing kit that will allow you to scrap an entire year in review.  Life Documented will always be my favorite collection as well!  

Today, I thought it would be fun to share one of the mini books I created using the Life Documented collections.  One of my favorite things about the Simple Stories product collections are the element pieces!  Not only do they make scrapbooking quick and easy, they also make mini books just a little bit more fun.  For this mini book I cut apart the different 4x6 element pieces and the flash cards and randomnly inserted them betweeen my main pages.

At the home office we are busy getting ready for the Summer CHA show!  People have been asking us if we are releasing any new collections at the show, and the answer to that is . . .  ABSOLUTLEY!!!  In fact we can't wait to show you what we have in store for you; but you are going to have to wait just a couple weeks longer, but I think you are going to like it! (Did I say like it???  I meant LOVE IT!!!)

Have an awesome Tuesday, and don't forget about our Unity stamp contest, there are 3 ways to WIN!

3 Ways to WIN:

1. POST A COMMENT on THURSDAYS Simple Stories blog post  to qualify to win one of the four Bundle Packages!
2. VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE and post a comment to enter to win one of the two Customer's Choice Prizes!
3. CHECK OUT Unity's blog and post a comment to qualify to win one of four more Bundle Packages!

Good luck!  Refer your freinds and don't delay...this ULTIMATE giveaway ends Thursday, June 30!

 

 

 

 

 

Simply Creative // Crazy for Houndstooth

Hello Simple Stories peeps!! Wendy here to share up one of my favoriteeeeee papers from the Simple Stories "Destinations" Collection.   I remember when I first saw the paper prototypes from CHA Winter release of "Destinations" and instantly jaw to the floor for the houndstooth paper...no. joke. :)

I knew it would instantly be one of my fav papers to scrap up from this collection.  

So, I scrapped up this layout from one of my many past audit work trips to Warsaw, Poland...

Here are a few close ups...

Simple Stories Destinations Collection

• Going Places 12x12 I #1306
• Journey 12x12 I #1307
• 2x12 Border & 4x12 Title Strip Elements I #1314
• Destinations 12x12 Expression Cardstock Stickers I #1303

Other - Rubons-Jenni Bowlin, Buttons-Tim Holtz, Bling-Basic Grey, Letter Stickers-American Crafts-Thickers, Ink-Ranger-Archival Ink-Jet Black, Floral Organza Roses Ribbon-Maya Road, Stamps-Stampers Anonymous, Technique Tuesday.

Soooooo....I'm curious, what is YOUR favorite paper from the Destinations collection?

 

Simple Basics--Masking with Stickers

Hello, today for Simple Basics, I decided to try out masking with our stickers. Now if you've ever tried masking with stickers, you know there's a small chance that it won't work for one of the following reasons:

1. The stickers won't come off the page after you've misted or painted without ripping in two.
2. The stickers will come off, but they'll rip the paper.

Ever had that happen to you?  I've had it happen plenty of times, but there's usually a way to make your mistakes work, so I still use the masking technique on my pages.

Well, I am very happy to report that Simple Stories knows how to make stickers AND paper that work marvelously for masking. Not only did my stickers not rip when I pulled them off the page, the paper held up as well. No rips or tears at all. That's good stuff. And a bonus? I used mist and the stickers have a slick surface so guess what? The mist isn't absorbed into the sticker which means I can use the stickers again if I quickly wipe the mist off the sticker! Double duty stickers! You've got to love that!

First, you have to preplan your page, knowing where you'd like to put your photo helps with the design. I wanted to use the swirl stickers from the Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers (#1102) in the Life Documented line as mask. I'm not typically a swirls kind of scrapper, but they mimicked the design in the bedspread, and I knew this would be a great way to use those stickers.  Notice I also used a sticker as a place holder for the journaling spot?

When I mist, I have a small box to protect my carpet or desk. Two sides are open so I can have flexibility with the size of project I'm misting. I save this box, can you tell I've used it a lot?

I misted over 100% Real Life (#1107) from the Life Documented line with Bonny Blue Mister Huey from Studio Calico, then quickly wiped the extra mist off the stickers and carefully removed them from the background. I was very impressed by how easily this went.

Then I finished the design of my page, adding the photos, some more stickers (I even reused the two swirls and title I used as masks!), some ribbons, and some bling. I finished off with my journaling and I now have a fancy and elegant layout, with a similar feel to the hotel that we were staying at in Canada.

The Best Day Ever sticker? That's actually a star that I cut into a square so it would better fit into my design. I loved the phrase, but the star didn't have the elegant feel the page did, so I just cut it down. Remember, you don't have to use things as they are, if you can make it work for you, alter it!

 

One more thing to note, I originally planned to have my title be simply the masked letters, but with all the dark wood and swirls, I decided to put the alphabet stickers back, but slightly above and to the left of the misted title. This is an easy way to add dimension to flat stickers.

Try using our stickers as masks, I only have good things to say about the results. That's a nice thing. 

Supplies used:

Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers (#1102) from Life Documented

Expressions Cardstock Stickers (#1103) from Life Documented

100% Real Life (#1107) from Life Documented

Bling from Prima

Bonny Blue Mister Huey from Studio Calico

 

 

The ULTIMATE Simple Stories & Unity Stamp Giveaway!!

 

Finally!!  We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our Simple Stories and Unity Stamp Co. co-branded stamps are here!!  I think you'll agree that these are pretty amazing stamp sets - we wanted to create Simple Stories stamps that were not only stylish and functional, but complemented our Simple Stories concept, allowing you to create and share your story SIMPLY...and beautifully!  So you will see that we put a lot of thought and care into what's included in each stamp set, including our fun icons, titles, headlines and even journaling shapes to help you share your story! These stamps are SHIPPING IMMEDIATELY and can be found on the Unity website, at your favorite local scrapbook retailer or through a MemoryWorks Scrapbook Consultant!

 

ULTIMATE SIMPLE STORIES/UNITY GIVEAWAY!

In celebration of the release of our new Simple Stories/Unity stamps, we're offering the ULTIMATE Giveaway - with over $500 in prizes!

Here's what you can win:

• 100 Days of Summer Bundle (includes complete collection pack and coordinating Unity stamps)
• Destinations Bundle (includes complete collection pack and coordinating Unity stamps)
• Life Documented Bundle (includes complete collection pack and coordinating Unity stamps)
• Elementary Bundle  (includes complete collection pack and coordinating Unity stamps)

• BONUS - Simple Stories Customers Choice Prize Packages (Facebook Fan Page Giveaway - includes one complete Simple Stories collection pack of customers choice!)

 

3 Ways to WIN:

1. POST A COMMENT here to our Simple Stories blog to qualify to win one of the four Bundle Packages!
2. VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE and post a comment to enter to win one of the two Customer's Choice Prizes!
3. CHECK OUT Unity's blog and post a comment to qualify to win one of four more Bundle Packages!

Good luck!  Refer your freinds and don't delay...this ULTIMATE giveaway ends Thursday, June 30! Here's a closer look at the amazing stamps included in each collection:

 

 

 

 

 

EXPLORE. DISCOVER. ESCAPE.

 

 

TRAVEL NOTES

 

 

GO. SEE. DO. (Itty Bitty)

 

SNAPSHOTS (Itty Bitty)

 

 

 

100% REAL LIFE

 

LIFE DOCUMENTED BANNER (Itty Bitty)

 

 LIFE BINGO (Itty Bitty)

 

MONTHLY CIRCLE (Itty Bitty)

 

 

 

 

SWEET SUMMER MEMORIES

 

 

IT'S ALL GOOD...(Itty Bitty)

 

 

 

SMARTY PANTS

 

LEARN. DISCOVER. GROW. (Itty Bitty)

 

 

TEACHER'S PET (Itty Bitty)

 

 

Simple Basics - Great Moments

Hello, hello! It's Ally, back again to share with you a quick little project I made using the versatile designs of the Life Documented collection. I was actually inspired by Emily's post a little while ago and her beautiful frame with butterflies. 

Last summer, we finally got around to painting my daughter's room. It only took 17 years to decide on a paint color. But as you can see, this is a child (if you call 20 years old a child) who is not afraid to express herself.

I recently attended a baby shower and won one of the prizes - an adorable green frame the exact shade of the kiddo's bedroom. It also happens to be the accent color in my scraproom, and I originally thought that's where the frame would live. But as I mentioned earlier, my kiddo recently took off for a traveling adventure to Montana. So, I thought I'd create a little surprise for her for her return. 

I snagged the Life Documented paper with the 4x6 prints - as that was the size of the frame. I added a couple mini photos - some I punched, some I used index prints.

And I added a sub-title under the "Bingo" card title using the always fabulous mini letters

Voila, instant frame...

 

I'm sure she'll love it. 

Simple Basics // Let's Get Punch-y

 

 

Hello Hello!  Wendy here & I must go ahead & confess...I {heart} punches!  Come onnnn, go ahead & confess with me that you have a BAZILLION punches in your stash from back in the day or more like me just in this day of thinking you need every punch created for scrapbooking...shape punches, border punches, curvy punches, wiggly punches (hehe)...so many different brands out there on the market & so many different styles that work better than others.  Well, we all have our favorites & I have my favorites {shhhhh...Fiskars} but I do have many brands in my big basket of punches in my scrap studio. Sooooooo....I want to share with you how you can take those punches to the "next level" on your Simple Stories projects.  

I created up this layout using the fun Fiskers - Apple Punch in the lower corner of the page.  It's the perfect compliment to the Simple Stories Elementary Collection!

 

How about a close up?

Here I used the Fiskers - Apple Punch.  After punching through one patterned paper from the Simple Stories Elementary Collection, I added a layer of patterned paper from the Simple Stories Elementary Collection behind the punched apple shape.  Cool effect, eh?  Further, I embellished with some sticker embellishments (i.e. tabs) from the Simple Stories Elementary Collection and some stamping.

And some more close ups...

Simple Stories Elementary Collection

• Elementary 12 x 12 Fundamental Cardstock Stickers I #1202
• 2 x 12 Border & 4 x 12 Title Strip Elements I #1214

Other - Stickers-October Afternoon, Rubons-7 Gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, Color Wash-Ranger-Adirondack-Red Pepper, Ranger-Archival Ink-Jet Black, Staples-Tim Holtz-Tiny Attacher, Red Foam Star-Darice, Stamps-7 Gypsies, Stampers Anonymous, Hampton Arts, Studio Calico.

 

Simple Style - Layers & Dimension!

 

Hello Simple Stories Fans - Kim here with you on this wonderful Friday morning!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend planned that includes some time for crafting! 

Today's installment of Simple Style is all about one of my favorite trends in the scrapbooking industry right now - texture, dimension and layering!  I just love to make my pages 3-dimensional so they literally pop right out of my albums! 

Simple Stories elements are perfect for layering - all the different sizes, shapes and elements make stacking easy --- you can achieve a complex, detailed look without all the complication!  And the dimension?  I'm glad you asked!  I achieve dimension and texture in many different ways on my layouts.

My sample for you today is created with the Elementary Line of products -- my absolute favorite!

 
 

-- Pop-dots are my absolute favorite!  I go through a ton of these on each layout.  Just stack them up and use them to give your elements different heights.  Want a thrifty pop-dot trick?  For larger areas, I use the centers and miscellaneous pieces of chipboard alphabets and embellishments. Just glue them down and you have an instant pop-dot!

-- Stitching is my go-to technique.  As you saw before in my stitching post, I love to sew on my creations.  Sewing adds visual interest to your art and gives the appearance of dimension.

-- Distressing is another wonderful way to add dimension.  Simple Stories already has a wonderful lightly distressed look about it and when you add in some extra effects, you get fabulous results!  For my sample layout, I added additional distressing by fraying the edges of all my elements and adding ink to the edges of others.  

 

 

 

 

You can see that all my elements have been popped up and distressed to add as much dimension as possible.  Are you intimidated by layering and distressing?  Well, you absolutely must give it a shot using these great products from Simple Stories --- they make it simple for sure!

Guess what?  I have a few more ideas for you today!  I almost always create a couple of cards using whatever papers and embellishments I have left over after creating a layout.  So, here you go --- a couple card ideas for you!

 

 

Supplies Used:

Elementary Line:

Spelling Bee - #1207

Teacher’s Pet - #1206

 

Bookworm - #1208

Elementary 4x6 School Year Journaling Card Elements #1 - #1210

 

Elementary Flash Cards - #1209

Elementary 12x12 Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers - #1202

Elementary 12x12 Expressions Cardstock Stickers - #1203

  Elementary 4x6 Vertical Journaling Card Elements - #1212

Elementary 4x4 Quote & 6x8 Photo Mat Elements - #1213

Elementary 6x12 Page Elements - #1215

Elementary 4x4 Quote & 6x8 Photo Mat Elements - #1213

 

 

Simple Basics Bulletin Board

 

Let's keep it simple today with a quick home decor item and a simple flower tutorial.  I found this fun Quartet Framelss Cork Tile Bulletin Board at Walmart.  It measures about 5.5" x 14".  I thought it would be fun to alter just a tad with Simple Stories Elementary collection.

 

 

Just needed a few materials to create this fun vertical bulletin board.

Simple Stories Elementary Collection

• Elementary 12 x 12 Fundamental Cardstock Stickers #1202
• 2 x 12 Border & 4 x 12 Title Strip Elements #1214
• ribbon
• adhesive
• bulletin board

I used one of the 2 x 12 Border Strip Elements to make a simple accordian flower to add to my project. 

I just needed the strip, a button, a round piece of scrap paper, some twine and some glue dots.

First I folded the 2 x 12 Border Strip into an accordian and then I used one of the glue dots to adhere the ends together.  Next, I formed the folds into a flower and used some glue dots to stick the formed flower to the round scrap paper disc to hold it in place.  Finally,  I added some twine to the button and used a few more glue dots to adhere that to the flower. 

Voila!  Easy as 1, 2, 3...

I added some of the 12 x 12 Fundamental Cardstock Stickers to my bulletin board, then wrapped it with the ribbon.  Finally, I added the homemade flower, a fun photo and some push pins for good measure.  Such a simple and cute project created in less than 30 minutes!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Simple Inspiration // Where the Magic Happens

 

Hiya Simple Stories fans!!  Wendy here to share up some Simple Inspiration for ya' this Monday.  Each collection of Simple Stories is truly inspiring to create it up with how YOU want it!  Whether you are into mini albums {where I'm a hugeeeee fan of mini books}, altered art, home decor projects, layouts, cards...Simple Stories ALWAYS delivers inspiration!  

First of all, before you say, whooooo are the peeps in this layout I'm sharing up with you, it's Amber & Kevin (founders of Simple Stories) and their cute kiddos. :)  I had quite a stash of pics from this past CHA (Jan 11') in creating up projects for the first Simple Stories booth and fell in love with their Disney photos.  Well, Amber emailed me quite a batch of lovely Disney goodness and you just might see me creating up quite a bit of projects with their Disney adventure! :)  I've yet to go to Disney, I know shameeee on me....one day, I travel the world but ONE DAY I'll make it to Disney World/Disneyland. :)

For me, I really don't like those "super cute-sy, sticker it up" Disney pages, so I brought a twist to this layout with some funk-li-cious-ness {yes, new word} with some paint splatters, misting, sewing, stamping, etc. to this layout & hope you like it.

 

here are some close up pics...

  

Supplies:

Life Documented

• 100% Real Life | #1107

100 Days of Summer

• Signature Elements Title Strip Element | #1414
• Stickers | #1402 

Other - Color Wash-Ranger-Adirondack-Red Pepper, Smooch Spritz-Clearsnap-Vanilla Shimmer, Chipboard Alphas-American Crafts-Marquise, Staples-Tim Holtz-Tiny Attacher, Clear Dewdrops-The Robin's Nest, Punches-Fiskars-Star, Pearls & Bling-Kaisercraft, Ink-Stewart Superior-L'Amore Red, Staz-On-Jet Black, Ranger-Archival Ink-Jet Black, Stamps-Stampabilities, Claudine Hellmuth, MyStampBox, Studio Calico, Technique Tuesday.

 

 

Simple Inspiration–Friendship Frame and Card

I have a good friend who will be moving soon and I wanted to give her something to show her how much I've appreciated her short friendship. I love the colors of the Elementary and 100 Days of Summer lines, especially when combined with white or black cardstock. The colors just pop!

I searched for a quote on Pinterest and sure enough, found on that fit our friendship perfectly. Punch a few butterflies, add a border of handwritten text combined with the mini alphabet stickers to highlight a few key words and voila! I have a personal gift so she'll always remember me. I had an extra butterfly so I made up a quick and easy card to tell her thanks for everything. I used similar elements as I have on my framed art, once you come up with an idea, there's no reason not to reuse it again. I love how very versatile the papers from Simple Stories are, they can work for nearly every occasion imaginable! 

 

And just in case you can't read my handwriting either (I had to help my family decipher a few of the words...), here's what the quote says:

 

Each friend represents a world in us. A world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

                                                            ––Anais Nin                                            

 Wouldn't the framed art also make a cute card for a friend as well? 

Supplies:

Elementary

• Elementary 12x12 Expressions Cardstock Stickers | #1203
• Teacher’s Pet | #1206
• Elementary Flash Cards | #1209

100 Days of Summer

• Endless Summer | #1406