Simple Stories

It's A Charmed Life!

 

Good Morning! Emily here with a project from the BRAND NEW "A Charmed Life" collection. When I saw this one, I was immediately in love. I know, I know, I say that about EVERY new Simple Stories collection, but this one is something really unique. The colors are so rich and beautiful, right up my alley! 

Over the past year, I have fallen in love with creating tags. I don't use them in the normal way that most use a tag though. I tend to add photos or quotes and use them as home decor. Well... mainly craft room decor. I'm not big on making layouts (simply because the large canvas scares me!) so I found a new way to display my photos! 

I used a photo of my sweetie and I from this past summer. It fit perfectly in the little frame that came with the "Bits & Pieces" Ephemra pack from this collection which I also LOVE! So many fun little pretty pieces in there! 

I finished my little tag off with some fun ribbons & trims and some Chipboard Stickers from this collection. 

I hope that I have inspired you to take tags to a whole new level! They can be used for more than just a "tag!"

Products Used:
A Charmed Life-
#3700 Collection Kit
#3728 Chipboard Stickers
#3729 Bits & Pieces Ephemra
May Arts Ribbons
Maya Road Trim
Petaloo Flowers

SN@P! Her Set in a layout

 

Hi everyone! Yuki here today to share with you a layout using a brand new SN@P! Sets! There are eight collections in a Simple Stories SN@P! Sets line. My favorite is the SN@P! Her Set. Their fun, bold colors make me happy. The SN@P! Sets are not just for use with Life Documented. You can make a quick 12x12 layout page using them. 

 

I picked the turquoise paper from the SN@P! Life Basics Kit and use it as a background paper. The 3x4 SN@P! Cards are main products in this layout.

I added the SN@P! Cuts from the I {Heart} Summer collection.

The SN@P! Pockets is perfect for your journal space.

I used many stickers from the SN@P! Stickers. 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Product Used:

SN@P! Her

SN@P! Pockets #4165

SN@P! Stickers #4166

3x4 SN@P! Cards #4168

SN@P! Life Basics Kit #2822

I Heart Summer Chipboard Stickers #3227

I Heart Summer SN@P! Cuts #3225

 

 

 

 

Simple Shapes Background

Repetitive shapes used to create a background are super trendy right now, but you don't need an electronic die cutting device to create the look. A simple punch in a fun shape can be used too! I created this hexagon background with a hexagon punch and the Simple Stories Say Cheese collection:

Using two punches of the same shape in slightly different sizes lets you turn your photos into fun shapes and your patterned papers into fun photo mattes. For these smaller shapes I use the 6 x 6 pad to include more of the design on each shape.

And if you do happen to have an electronic die cutting machine, you can create a mixed font title by using Simple Stories stickers and a large cut title. I use the Simple Basics collection to cut titles.

And to top it all off, a smattering of brads and chipboard scattered throughout creates a fun look!

So pull out those basic shapes punches and your Simple Stories collections to create fun backgrounds!

Supplies Used:

Siple Stories Say Cheese Collection:

Expression Cardstock Stickers #3303

6 x 6 Paper Pad #3322

Chipboard #3328

Brads #3327

12 x 12 Simple Basics Kit #3301

Simple Inspiration

Hello there! I hope you are having a lovely Saturday. Donna here as your host for today and I've got three layouts to share with you. Let's get started!

First up is a layout I made using I {Heart} Summer. My boys have been a little timid around the water until just recently. They finally expressed an interest in taking lessons and it ended up being the highlight of our summer. So just before fall completely takes over, here is a layout celebrating those happy summer days at the pool.

As I was preparing this post I realized that I never shared my CHA layouts here on the blog so I thought I'd do that now. I made two layouts for the Simple Stories booth, the first was a non-school themed layout using Smarty Pants.

I mentioned in my last post that there are so many great versatile patterns in this collection. It really is a great collection not just for recording those school memories and events, but for everyday layouts too. And I think I mentioned it is perfect for boys. Have to throw that in again - it is perfect for boys!! I love the star patterns and the touch of navy in this line.

You might notice that I have a thing for yellow cardstock backgrounds. And grids. I am a simple scrapbooker at heart, but more importantly, when I find something I like I tend to do it over and over again. In any case, you'll see that while the foundations of the two layouts above are very similar, the final layouts are different enough.

My second layout featured my favorite photo from last Christmas. My middle son Nathan's favorite thing about Christmas is decorating the tree. I just love how much attention he gives to finding the perfect spot for each ornament.

December Documented is actually a bit eclectic in my opinion, but the colors and patterns all work quite well with one another. Once you see the collection in person it is easier to see how the pieces fit together. And I happen to love the chalkboard prints that are included in this line. On this layout one of the 4x6 Journaling Card Elements acts as both an embellishment and a title.

As always, I thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend!

Products used:

I {Heart} Summer

Collection Kit #3200

Expressions Cardstock Stickers #3203

Chipboard Stickers #3227

Decorative Brads #3226

Feel the Breeze #3205

2x12 Border & 4x12 Title Strip Elements #3214

Red Boardwalk/Ledger #3217

Teal Boardwalk/Dotted Line Notebook #3218

Brown Boardwalk/Graph #3220

Sn@p! Cards #3225

Smarty Pants

Collection Kit #3400

Take Note #3206

Bingo Cards/Stars #3416

Red Composition/Notebook #3417

Yellow Composition/Elementary #3418

Orange Composition/Notebook #3420

Green Composition/Grid #3421

December Documented

Collection Kit #3500

Hello December #3506

4x6 Vertical Journaling Card Elements #3512

4x6 Quote & 6x8 Photo Mat #3513

Blue Snowflake/Chevron #3516

Red Snowflake/Chevron #3517

Chalkboard Snowflake/Chevron #3520

 

Chipboard #3428

Brads #3427

Head of the Class #3405

Take Note #3406

School Spirit #3407

School Days #3408

Bookworm #3409

Red Composition/Notebook #3417

- See more at: http://simplestories.typepad.com/simple_stories/2013/08/index.html#sthash.FaMktMD9.dpuf

Products from Smarty Pants:

Expression Cardstock Stickers #3403

Chipboard #3428

Brads #3427

Head of the Class #3405

Take Note #3406

School Spirit #3407

School Days #3408

Bookworm #3409

Red Composition/Notebook #3417

- See more at: http://simplestories.typepad.com/simple_stories/2013/08/index.html#sthash.FaMktMD9.dpuf

Believe in Magic

Hello, Simple Stories friends! Today, I have a layout using the new Say Cheese collection to share with you. 

I love the color scheme and fun elements of this collection! This collection’s bold colors and basic patterns are so versatile and fit to any occasions. Especially it’s perfect for the Disney Theme.

First, I have made this part. It consists with two 3x4” photos and cards. Once you visit that place you can’t resist the urge to take thousands of photos. This simple design of layout helps to make a quick page. 

I cut this card from the 3x4 Journaling Card Elements paper then added embellishments on it like this.

I layered Sn@p! cuts on Sn@p! Cards then added stickers, brads and chipboards on it.

 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

 

Productss Used:

Say Cheese

12x12 Collection Kit #3300
Fundamental Cardstock Stickers #3302
Expression Cardstock Stickers #3303
Chipboard #3328
Brads #3327
Simple Basics #3301
Sn@p! Cards #3323

Sn@p! Cuts #3326

 

I {HEART} Summer layout

Hi there! It's Yuki with you today. Have you seen our new fabulous collection, I {HEART} Summer? I really love it! I made a layout using lots of products from this collection.

Fundamentals Cardstock  Stickers  help you to make your layout quickly.

SN@P Cuts is my favorite item. I put it under the title card  this time.

 

Thanks for stopping by the Simple Stories blog! I hope you enjoyed my layout.

Supplies used:

I HEART SUMMER COLLECTION

Fundamental Cardstock Stickers 12x12 |#3202

Expressions Cardstock Stickers |#3203

Layered Stickers |#3228

3x4 Journaling Card Elements |#3210

2x12 Border & 4x12 Strip Elements |#3214

Yellow  Boardwalk/Ledger |#3219

Sn@p Cuts |#3225

 

Sweet Summer Memories

Hi there.  It's Cari with you today.

I love summer!  It means lots of family time with my kiddos.  And every year we go strawberry picking. They actually look forward to it.  So I decided to scrapbook some pictures of our 'picking' adventure from last summer.

This new Simple Stories release, I {Heart} Summer is amazing!!  When I was creating my projects for today I didn't want to stop ( ... the ideas just kept coming! So I've got a list for a few more projects. :))

My first layout "Sweet Summer Memories" uses quite a few items from this collection. I'm not a big double page creator.  But having a collection where everything goes together so nicely it makes creating pages that will be side-by-side in my albums so easy!

I turned one of the 4x6 Journaling cards on it's side and printed my journaling on it. I love all the embellishments that come with this collection so it was hard to decide what to use.

The chipboard & stickers embellishments are just so easy to use.  I love adding foam squares to some of the stickers, too, for added dimension.

One of my favorite designs in this new release is the chalkboard design.  It's such a hot thing right now and Simple Stories has got it right!

My second layout, "Hello Sunshine",  I kept the design simple to focus on the enlarged photo.  I love the various colored Boardwalk papers in this collection and chose to use the teal colored one for my page.

Again... adding the embellishmnets is so much fun and can really 'dress up' and finish a simple styled layout.

I used one of the border stickers along the right side of my page and kept all the punched out little holes and then used those as dots around my layout.

 Simple Stories has created another incredible collection and I hope that I've inspired you a bit with my layouts today.

Supplies used:

I HEART SUMMER COLLECTION

Fundamental Cardstock Stickers 12x12 |#3202

Expressions Cardstock Stickers |#3203

Chipboard Stickers |#3227

Layered Stickers |#3228

Flair Icons |#3229

3x4 Journaling Card Elements |#3210

4x6 Vertical Journaling Card Elements |#3212

2x12 Border & 4x12 Strip Elements |#3214

6x12 Page Elements |#3215

Red Boardwalk/Ledger |#3217

Teal Boardwalk/Dotted Line Notebook |#3218

Sn@p Cuts |#3225

 

Other:

Core'dinations Colorcore Cardstock; EK Success (Border punch); Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (foam squares)

Summer Gift Packaging Ideas

Summer is around the corner and it is time to get ready for birthdays, barbecues and summer bashes.  Instead of spending money on a lot of expensive gift packaging, why not use the three R's of Conservation: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?  Reduce the amount of packaging in your life and the world by reusing bags and giving them a facelift with materials you have lying around the house.  I still had some of the gorgeous Summer Fresh collection that I wanted to use up before I break into the Brand New I Heart Summer collection.

I thought is would be really fun to create this large star that would frame the fun tag.  I created the two sized stars with a clip art image in Microsoft Word, printed them onto plain cardstock and then cut them out to be traced onto the patterned paper.  I know, very old school right?  Then I added some hand stitching around the red star.

The tails of the tag were really easy to create and then trace onto the back sides of the patterned paper for easy cutting.  I then layered and glued them together with my Xyron Mega Runner.

These tags were so much fun to make.  All of the elements in the Summer Fresh collection are so bright and bold and look wonderful against the beautiful burlap patterned paper.  I got out my old Fiskars Apron Lace punch to make the red border on the bottom of the tags.

Foam tape is a great way to add dimension to the cardstock stickers in the Summer Fresh collection and to give the fun window box effect on this tag.

 

Summer Fresh Collection:

12 x 12 Fundamental Carstock Stickers

12 x 12 Expressions Cardstock Stickers

Sunshine/Happiness

Easy/Breazy

Burlap

6 x 6 Patterned Paper Pad

 

Stay tuned for the gorgeous Simple Stories I Heart Summer collection which was just received by our design team....

 

Happy Monday!

Simple Inspiration - Guest Designer Becky Fleck

Hello friends!

Layle Koncar here.  I wanted to pop in today and say howdy :)

I'm the new Marketing Director for Simple Stories and I'm so happy to be here!  Over the next few months, you can look forward to some fun new things from us, including a brand new summer line next week (shhhhh, you didn't hear it from me!), some fantastic new releases later this summer, a fun change to our blog calendar with some regularly scheduled features and some 'behind the scenes' posts from me, and even an exciting new website.  Stay tuned!

But enough about a few of the many things in store we have for you - besides popping in to say hello, I wanted to introduce our Guest Designer this month, Becky Fleck.

Becky  is the editor of Scrapbook and Cards Today, one of Canada's most popular craft magazines. She is also owner of the PageMaps (www.pagemaps.com), which provides scrapbook layout and greeting card sketches to over 20,000 readers each month. Becky has authored the best-selling books Scrapbook PageMaps and Scrapbook PageMaps 2, available from Memory Maker Books. She teaches extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally at expos, retreats, scrapbook stores and conventions.

Today Becky is sharing with us 6 fabulous cards she made using our 24/Seven and Urban Traveler collections -

Such a CLEVER card with the glassine envelope full of confetti punched from patterned paper!  And how about those 'take one' strips along the bottom of the card?!  Love it!

What a fun, bright card this one is, right?!  The balloons are super happy, especially the one that's die cut from the front of the card.  The greatest thing about this card is that the design could easily work for other themes such as birthday, even bon voyage - simply change the sentiment on the front! 

How fun is the little flag Becky made on this card using a red pin and a small piece of paper?  One thing you'll notice on these cards is that she's incorporated twine/string in various ways on each card - great inspiration!

Becky loves using Copic markers in her work.  In these next few cards, notice the beautiful coloring/shading she does!

Supplies: patterned papers, shape stickers, letter stickers, journal cards, (Simple Stories 24/7 and Urban Traveler); cardstock (Bazzill Basics, Jillibean Soup); twine (Montana Misfits); ink (Ranger); dies (Spellbinders); pens (Copic); pencils (Prismacolor); reinkers (Stampin' Up!)

Thanks Becky for sharing your beautiful creations with us!!

Making Cards

Hi there! Yuki here to share a couple of fun cards with you today. First up is a card using Simple Stories / Cocoa daisy collaborated papers.

Next is a card for boys. I mixed up the SN@P! and the Take a Hike collections.

The last is a card using the SN@P! collection.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

 

 Supplies Used:

SN@P! Life 12x12 Fundamental Cardstock Stickers

SN@P! Life Basics it

SN@P! Polaroids

SN@P! Stripe

SN@P! Chipboard Stickers-Hello

Take a hike Simple Basics Kit

Take a hike 4x4 Quote & 6x8 Photo Mat Elements

Take a hike Brown Wood/ Map

Take a hike Green Dot Prints

Simple Stories/ Cocoa Daisies collaborated paper