Crate Paper

CP Gal Subject Gallery: Easy Layered Tag Tutorial - Wida Miller

We continue the week with another fresh round of CP Gal's Subject Gallery–an open exploration of original ideas from the Crate Paper Design Team! CP Gal, Wida Miller, is here with a quick and easy 'layering 101' tag tutorial.

....... 

You know what I love about the embellishments from Crate Paper? Besides the obvious fact that they are lovely, they make it easy to create a page without having to work too hard. Their versatility is amazing!

Today I was inspired by Christine Middlecamp, our CP design team coordinator, who has this wonderful way of adding and layering and adding and layering to the point where her layouts have SO much to see and enjoy. I can spend countless hours looking at her layouts. I think they belong in a museum gallery.

I started by printing a 4" x 6" photo of my daughter directly onto a 12" x 12" sheet of brick paper from 'The Open Road' Collection. I thought it was fun to just get right to it and let the printer print the image wherever it wanted. I was going to base my layout on wherever it landed! Being adventurous and not taking things too seriously is part of the fun. So, I didn't get too worked up when it printed the photo the wrong direction. I was left with vertical bricks, no biggie ;)

Photo Credit: NaNaCompany

To spruce up the layout following the mishappen printing process, I crafted an assortment of handmade layered tags. I sought inspiration from THIS pin at Pinterest. Here's how I went about creating the tags...

 

Start by die cutting some plain tags.

 

 

Cut various widths of both patterned paper and vellum strips (I used the 'Oh Darling' Collection). You're welcome to pink the edges with pinking shears for additional character.

 

 

Staple a pretty combination of your pre-cut strips to a small tag. Build on them if needed. And that is it! Easy peasy!

 

 

From there, take various elements from the 'Oh Darling' collection and begin stockpiling layers. I layered and layered and layered, and when I thought I was done, I LAYERED SOME MORE! By keeping everything in one location (on the right side of the page), it brought focus to my area of clustering. Typically, I have trouble when embellishments are scattered across a page without rhyme or reason. It's a style I haven't been able to master. If you love layers, but are afraid of overwhelming a page with too much stuff, try concentrating everything in one location.

 

 

I hope you like my 'Christine' inspired layout–And if in the market for layering, give Crate Paper a whirl!

 

CP Gal Subject Gallery: An Open Road Fourth of July - Jill Sprott

 

 

 

With the Fourth of July done and gone, it's time to think about scrapbooking all them magnificent holiday photos! Here to get you started with a non-traditional take on the subject is CP Gal, Jill Sprott.

 

.......
   

At the peak of summer, one of my favorite holidays occurs: the Fourth of July. Not only is it a celebration of America, but it also brings together all that is worth celebrating about summer — quality time with family, tasty barbecue, fresh watermelon, warm sunshine, and breathtaking skies. Although the holiday itself only lasts a day, it can always be revisited through a layout capturing some snapshots and memories.

 

 

Deciding on the color scheme for a Fourth of July layout might seem to be a no-brainer. Just go with the traditional (not to mention patriotic) red, white, and blue combination, right? Not necessarily. Red and blue, paired together, can make a very bold impact on a page, with the risk of photos being overwhelmed or the non-red and non-blue colors in them being overlooked. Working in other colors can help to temper the impact of the red and blue, while also playing up to the other hues in the photos.

 

 

Since pink is basically a lighter hue of red, it is a welcome addition to the page. I also added some yellow to the mix, shifting the color combination from a red and blue duo to a primary color trio. 

 

 

The background patterned paper, a sheet of “Souvenir Shop” paper from the “Open Road” collection, features various gradations of red, pink, blue, and yellow, making it an ideal foundation for this layout. Since there is a lot happening in the two photo strips, I placed them atop a subtly striped white and cream paper, backing the paper with a few layers that feature bursts of red and white. I gave these layers a boost with some adhesive foam tabs.

 

 

Above the first photo strip, I added a die-cut title that I created using my own handwriting. I misted it with pink and blue, and stitched across it. I then pieced together the word “the” with some tiny blue letters from a sheet of “Boys Rule” cardstock stickers. Above the photo block, I gathered together a series of accents that continue the color scheme and that emphasize the Fourth of July theme, including a cluster of fours, made up of die-cut numerals, pieces of patterned paper, and letter stickers.

 

 

It can be a challenge to add journaling to a holiday-themed page, since holidays involve traditions, and there are only so many things one can say about the same traditions that may have already been documented in past layouts. My approach to the journaling on this layout was to focus on the present by generating a list of moments and details that are still fresh in my mind from this year’s celebration. Some of the items on the list may be traditions, but others are sensory details unique to this Fourth of July. In the wording of the list, I repeated the same structure, mentioning a noun (for instance, “the hot dogs” or “the fireworks”) followed by a verb using “-ing” (for instance, “turning,” or “shimmering”). This creates a sense of continuity and cohesion.

 

 

From the colors and the accents to the photos and the journaling, every aspect of this page converges to share the spirit of the Fourth of July.

 

CP Gal Subject Gallery: Open Road Accordion Album - Anabelle O'Malley

 

Even if you haven't any plans to travel afar this summer, there's always time for a 'staycation' – Anabelle O'Malley offers a glimpse at a 'staycation' of her very own using Open Road's Accordion Album. It's packed full of summer treasures and delightful details!

.......

Each summer, I create a mini album that highlights the places we go and things we see. Last year's album was jam packed, as we did a great deal of traveling. This summer, however, we are staying closer to home. So, my photos reflect more of a 'staycation' feel to them. I decided to use the Open Road accordion album to hold my summer memories.

I began by decorating the front cover with lots of chipboard from the collection along with some of the Thickers that coordinate with the line. I love all of the text that I was able to place on here! I placed a doily and a tag on the cover, as well, since I wanted to include these elements throughout the book.

On each page, I included a 3" x 3" photo. This was the perfect size for me to include die cuts and chipboard elements in my clusters. To tie the pages together, I used the chipboard geotags to identify the place each photo was taken. I didn't include journaling on this album, simply because I also do Project Life. Many of these photos will be in those albums with details about what we did. The purpose of this album is to be able to quickly flip through and summarize our summer break.

I continued to create clusters with my photos, die cuts, chipboard and cork stars. Here, I also added a tag.

I decided that I wanted to keep my pages fairly simple. I want the photos to be the focus of the album. Using an arrow on this one draws the eye toward the picture.

This page of the album already includes photo corners. A 4" x 6" photo would fit perfectly in there. However, since I'm using smaller pictures, I cut some patterned paper and used it as a canvas.

This last page is the back cover of the album. Again, I used a tag and doily to create some consistency. I love the flower die cut and thought it worked well with the colors of the page.

There are four more pages left in my album. I will be including more photos as the summer goes on. Having a completed album will make this task so easy!

My next page goes along with my summer theme, but takes things in another direction. Being a teacher, I am lucky to have my summers free. Believe me, I appreciate each and every day of this break. (Goodness knows after working with preK and kindergarten kids all year, it's well deserved!) I knew that I wanted to document some of my favorite things about being home in the summer. Reading at the beach, lots of time to work out and plenty of scrapping time top my list of my free time favorites!

The idea for this page came from the negative space I had from some die cuts that I recently cut in my Silhouette. The piece of cardstock was sitting on my table and I knew that I wanted to make a fun, girly page with it. I started by placing some doilies and a vellum piece beneath the cardstock and adhered it with foam adhesive.

I used a couple of the actual die cuts, as well. I knew I wanted to focus on some of the pretty florals from the Open Road, Oh Darling and Style Board collections, a white tone-on-tone look created the perfect background.

I didn't want to overpower my page with a large title. I selected this rub-on from the Style Board collection and added a handwritten word to create the title. I added more gold by adhering the gold leaf sequins and gold butterfly rub-ons. Having them trail down the page draws the eye to the photos.

Clustering my photos with the die cuts and this sweet cactus chipboard piece left plenty of white space on my layout.

As you can see, you can create summery projects using the same collections, but have them come out completely different.

Thanks for stopping by today!

 

Pretty Things: CP Summer Beach & Free Cut Files! - Lisa Dickinson

CP Gal, Lisa Dickinson, is sharing an added bonus in honor of our Pretty Things theme–sun, sand and surf; two free 'Cut Files' alongside two awesome beach-loving layouts! To download them, simply click on the words highlighted in BOLD noted in today's post.

.......

The warm summer weather is inspiring me to scrap my beach vacation photos from Spring Break this year–I love revisiting the memories of the sun, sand, and surf! But summer scrapping for me has to be pretty fast and simple–there's just not a lot of time to spend at the scrap table. My secret for a fabulous summer page without too much fuss? Layers...lots of them!

Multiple layers add depth and dimension to your page without being time-consuming to arrange. On this layout, I began by adding a layer of vellum cut on my Silhouette into a Sunburst. I stitched the rays to my background photo, but if you don't want to mess with sewing, use a pen to draw stitches or just skip it altogether. By adding this base layer of vellum, I've already created an area on my page for the focal point–the center of the sunburst.

I used scraps of papers from the Open Road collection, adding in a pink polka dot from the Oh Darling line. The soft aquas and yellows are perfect for beach photos, and the pink helps add a bit of contrast. Layering together papers is a great way to use up scraps, too! I also selected chipboard and die cut accents in similar colors that add curves and non-linear shapes to my design.

I've written my journaling on a card that tucks behind the paper grouping. To keep the card from sliding too far underneath the map paper, I used foam squares and created a small pocket that it can slide into.

As a final layer, I've added metal flair, stickers, wood veneer and a die cut title, all which add texture and interest to my page. By simply building up many layers of supplies, I've created a detailed page that looks like it took longer than it actually did!

Here's another page that also incorporates lots of layers. I've used them to help reinforce my page theme–the ocean!

I began by selecting papers that coordinated with my photos–tones of aqua and soft green from the Love Notes, Open Road, and Oh Darling collections. Then I die cut a Wave Border from three of them and layered them across the page, securing them at the bottom with a few rows of stitching.

Because I wanted the colors and texture of the page to give the impression of the ocean, I printed my journaling on vellum and layered it over the bottom two-thirds of the page. This helps softens the colors underneath and adds a layer of translucence much like water. It's also an easy way to add journaling anywhere you want on a page without covering up any page elements.

The title is a combo of Thickers and a die cut word, all in colors that tie back to my photos and the watery feel of the page. Mixing up several fonts, sizes, and colors makes for an easy and interesting title without a lot of work.

For a final touch, I added some stickers and chipboard to the upper edge of the page. Layering a few blue and black elements here makes a visual connection with the photos and title and leads the eye through the whole page design from top to bottom.

So, if you're short on scrap time this summer, try layering up lots of elements for a detailed result that doesn't take much effort. Happy Scrapping!

Crate Paper Cacti Love Layout & Project Life Leftovers - Melissa Stinson

If you're lucky enough to reside in a warm climate that is home to a parade of cacti, then CP Gal Melissa Stinson's multi-photo layout is a must-see! Or maybe you simply adore the sweet and solo cacti of the Crate Paper collection, Open Road–either way, check out today's cacti-friendly installment!

.......

I've thought from the very moment that I first laid eyes on the chipboard in Crate Paper's 'The Open Road' collection that the adorable little cacti were probably my favorite things on it. I don't know why, but I have a small obsession with desert plants–succulents included–and whenever my husband and I go on vacation somewhere tropical, I always come back home with endless photos of the ocean...and cactus.

when choosing photos for my layout this month, I immediately thought back to a trip to Aruba that we took several years ago, where we were amazed at the variety (and sometimes the size!) of cactus around the island. I pulled out one of my favorite photos to scrap, and then immediately several moderately related photos that were also in my 'To Scrap' binder–they jumped out as perfect companions.

I took a few photos of my layout as I scrapped it and wanted to share a peek at my process along the way!

This is the very start of the layout, where I've selected the photos I want to use along with one design element that will be used to help set up the photo arrangement. This is how I start almost every multi-photo layout that I scrap–photos in a variety of sizes, a design element (sometimes it's a big piece of floral chipboard because I love those!), and a sheet of white cardstock. I may or may not stick with the white cardstock in the end, but it's a starting place, and you have to start somewhere!

Choosing a photo layout is really just a matter of moving them around until they fit together like puzzle pieces or a loose grid. I work with them until I have a visually pleasing arrangement with no awkward gaps between any of the elements. This is how I work a multi-photo layout whether it's a single or double page spread, and my best piece of advice here is to print your pictures in a variety of sizes and a mix of square and rectangle if you want. I'd already printed all of these photos long ago and didn't want to reprint any, so I went with what I had.

Once the photos are in place, I'll add in a few large pieces that I want to include. For this layout that meant a journaling card (gotta have a place for words!), a large floral chipboard piece (of course!), and also, a little cactus chipboard piece.

Many of my multi-photo layouts end up without much patterned paper in the mix. That's partly because there's already so much going on with the photos visually, and also partially a space issue. Sometimes, I will mat a photo or two with patterned paper as an accent or to make one particular photo stand out, but on this page the edges were already fitting together nicely, so I left the photos un-matted. I did work in some patterned paper elsewhere on the page, mostly from the cut-apart sheet in the Open Road collection. Two little tags were tucked under the floral chipboard and a photo, and I also pulled a floral piece from the die cut pack to tuck under another picture.

You may have noticed in the previous photo that I thought about using some sequins on my page, but I decided to add in a little stack of patterned paper scraps at the top instead. I've already used The Open Road to make a mini album and have lots of little bits left over, and these three pieces were already cut to size, so I grabbed them and stuck them down.

Before adhering my final page, I also changed out my background since I felt that it looked a little plain. I didn't want a ton of bold pattern or color, so I went with a subtle ledger print from the collection.

My last steps are always to adhere everything down, add machine stitching, and write my journaling. I don't always do them in that order, but they are all done at the end.

I still had lots of little leftover pieces on my desk after finishing my layout, and I decided to make a set of journaling cards with them before putting everything away!

I grabbed a few blank Project Life lined cards and used paper scraps, stickers, chipboard, frames, and some kraft tape from the Maggie Holmes 'Styleboard' collection to whip up a set of cards for use on a future Project Life page. I love growing succulents at home, so I'm sure these will get used fairly quickly.

CP Dots & Stripes: Summer Love'en - Adrienne Alvis

Even though there is still much excitement in the air over the latest CP reveal, Notes & Things, we're dedicating the remainder of June to Open Road and other ongoing special features. We'll return to Notes & Things in July! Don't forget, the new collection will be available at your favorite craft retail outlet starting mid-July...just around the corner!

.......

Hello everyone! I'm here today to share a couple of layouts I created using the Dots and Stripes theme. Summer photos are my favorite photos to scrap and using dot and striped patterns are the perfect way to compliment them!

For this layout, I split the different between the two patterns on my page by placing a 6" x 12" piece of dotted paper from the Styleboard collection for the background.

I love the contrast the two large background pieces give to the page and to tie the design together a bit further, I used even more striped pieces of patterned paper in layers behind my photo. I also added a striped photo frame from the Styleboard collection on top of the left photo of my daughter in her pink polka-dotted bathing suit to direct the eye toward the smaller photo.

I added another photo frame to the right of the large photo and slipped a chipboard heart and a few stickers behind it for a filled pocket effect. I used two different sized circle punches to create even larger 'dots' and added the wood veneer shapes from the Oh Darling collection on top of them for an extra layer of dimension.

I used a sticker from the Oh Darling collection for my journaling, but before I placed it on the page, I adhered it to a leftover piece of cardstock and trimmed along it's edges so I could easily slide it around before deciding where to house it. I frequently utilize this technique with stickers before committing them to a project.

I tucked my journaling tag away, under a transparent overlay–a little bit of it is peeking out and can easily be removed for quick reading.

For this next layout's design, I was inspired by slanted stripes found on an Open Road patterned paper. 

I took a leftover piece of patterned paper that I used to create the circles in my previous layout and adhered it along the same slant as the stripes and layered lots of chipboard on top.

I placed the photo in the upper right-hand corner of the page and layered a few Open Road items around it. I added several flair badges here and there, around the page, representing dots.

I printed the journaling on paper, cut it into strips, and then lined them up along the same angle as the stripes of the paper directly beneath the title. I mixed the chipboard and letter stickers from the Open Road collection for added visual interest and to introduce more color to the page.

I placed a few narrow strips of rainbow-striped patterned paper from the Boys Rule and Open Road collections along the bottom of the layout. On top, after 'zig-zag' stitching the paper strips down, I layered a chipboard flower and felt banner.

Summer is in full swing and what better way to compliment those fun-filled summertime photos than with dots and stripes?! Most Crate Paper collections include an ample selection of dotted/striped patterned paper options that are sure to get your creative juices flowing while enjoying this great time of year!

Crate Paper Adorn It: Creating with Frames - Melissa Phillips

We expect a lively week thanks to tomorrow's anticipated Crate Paper collection reveal and giveaway bonus - with just one day left before the start of the two-day gala, shabby chic CP Gal, Melissa Phillips, shares how to compliment your card making with Open Road chipboard frames and other accessories.

.......

p>

Crate Paper's chipboard frames are among my most favorite paper-crafting supplies.  I am instantly drawn to them as I begin creating.  They provide perfect focal points and offer so many possibilities as to how to use them.  I've created a few projects for you today using chipboard frames from the Open Road collection, each using them in a different way.

I used two frames on my tag shown here.  One large frame to accent and frame in the journal card, and a smaller frame layered over a cardstock sticker with a chipboard feather perched on top, providing a perfect spot for it to rest.  The small yellow frame instantly grabs your attention and highlights the darling striped feather.

Combining the chipboard frames in various sizes is a fun way to put these lovely items to use.

I used two frames here again on this card, with the larger frame placed behind and embellished with a layered border, button, and cardstock sticker.

My second and smaller frame was attached to the bottom of the larger one with staples....a super easy and fun way to attach chipboard to your cards.

I added a chipboard sticker and die cut bottle cap to continue on with my theme and dress up my frame just a bit, without covering it up completely.

And lastly, I used a frame on this card in order to highlight a grouping of "like" images, such as this trio of cardstock feather stickers.

I then used another layered border over the top of the frame, doubling up on the dimension and texture.

To finish my card, I stapled a couple of chipboard letter stickers to the bottom corner...easy peasy.

Frames are essentials in my craft room.  I love every size, shape, and color!

Thanks for visiting.  Enjoy your summer!

Pretty Things: Hawaii and The Open Road collection - Jill Sprott

We're finishing the week with the help of CP Gal, Jill Sprott, and her lucky getaway spot, North Shore Beach–Hawaii!! The Pretty Things theme this month is 'Summer Beach' and what better location than Hawaii to talk waves, sand and sun!

.......

One look at my pale self and you may have a hard time believing that I live in Hawaii. At any given time, I may be 20 minutes or less away from a beach, but you will rarely find me seeking sand, sun, and surf until school is out for the year and summer vacation rolls in.

With summer vacation comes summer scrapbooking, and while I am all too happy to splash in the waves, I am also perfectly content when documenting our beach adventures in my albums.

This layout offers a glimpse at our first beach excursion of the summer. I snapped some photos using a little point-and-shoot camera that I always add to our beach bag, and included a few of them here.

The photos come together in a unified cluster, but each also stands out individually, accented by papers, tags, and frames. I combine collections here, using a mix of oceanic blues, greens, and yellows from the 'Open Road', 'Boys Rule', and 'Style Board' lines.

The foundation of the layout is a sheet of 'Style Board' cork paper, the color and texture of which remind me of the grains of sand found on my favorite North Shore beach. Before beginning the layout, I mounted the sheet on a piece of cardstock to ensure that the background would be sturdy.

Whenever I gather supplies for layouts, I am always on the lookout for details to enhance the theme of a page. I found some terrific details in the 'Open Road' collection. For instance, a sheet of 'Junction' paper, which features a hundred printed bottle cap designs, became the source for the three circle-punched accents that I added to the page. I also trimmed a journaling card featuring an image of a sailboat, honing in on the waves.

The title that I selected is not just a play on words, but it also channels a beachy vibe, with the golden word 'sun' reflecting sunshine and sand, and the blue 'block' serving as a reminder of the sea.

A beachy layout does not necessarily have to use a bold aquatic color scheme, however. In my second layout, I attempted to capture the feel of the beach through soft pinks, minty greens, and pale blues.

Once again, I combined collections, using a mix of 'Open Road', 'Style Board', and 'Oh Darling.' The key component to this multi-layered page is a 12" x 12" sheet of vellum, which softens the brightly colored papers behind it while creating a gentle contrast with the papers that are over it.

The accents on the page reinforce the theme as well as the color scheme. Feeling that a large, bold title might be out of place on a page built on the notion of subtlety, I opted to print my title on an 'Open Road' label sticker, and I tucked it behind the photo frame, which I stamped repeatedly with the word "moments" from a 'Style Board' roller stamp. The frame, from the 'Open Road' collection, has a matte texture, which allows for easy stamping without smearing.

I revisited the idea of moments in my journaling, which focuses on the memory of four friends at the beach on the morning after their junior prom.

 

There may appear to be many layers here, but the design of the layout is actually quite simple. There are two basic sections to the layout--a photo block on the right and a journaling block on the left. Everything else on the page is built over and under these two central components.

Together, these two layouts capture the wonder of the beach for me. My pale self may not be able to handle much sun, but at least I can spend as much time as I want scrapbooking the beach without getting a sunburn.

CP Dots & Stripes: Fun at the Carnival - Katie Ehmann

 

 

As one of June's feature specialties, Dots and Stripes is here once again to show you how to dress-up your next project using the infinite variety of polka-dot and stripe patterned papers that Crate Paper has to offer. Today, you'll 'spot' two fun-filled layouts from long-time CP Gal, Katie Ehmann. We love her take on the theme!

***New Collection Reveal starts this Thursday, June 19th + Giveaway!!!

.......

Whenever I receive a new box of paper goodness from Crate Paper, I always delve into the stack of patterned paper first. While I love paper with big, bold graphics, florals, and cut-apart journaling cards, my heart skips a beat when it comes to stripes and polka-dots. Not only are they incredibly versatile, they provide a big pop of color and interest to any project, without taking away from the embellishments and photos. For these stripe-y/dotty projects, I combed through my stack of Crate papers and selected all the stripes and dots I could find, initially intending to choose a few with which to work. Ultimately, I loved the look of the stack that I had, so I decided to go pretty eclectic for my first layout: Fun at the Carnival!

I began by trimming down a few papers and layering them in an alternating stripe\dot\stripe\dot pattern beneath my photo. I rarely use black in my layouts, but for this project, I felt the black really provided some contrast to my bright photo and embellishments. Once I layered my papers, I adhered my photo and attached the whole pile to a piece of dotted vellum from the Oh Darling collection. Finally, I machine stitched the vellum to a sheet of white cardstock. I selected embellishments and alphas from Open Road, Oh Darling and Styleboard, creating a fun collage to surround my photo.

For my second project, I chose to focus on polka dots and punched circles from a variety of dotted patterned papers. I arranged them in a grid across white cardstock, taking care to alternate the patterns. Once adhered, I gathered circular embellishments from Open Road, Styleboard and Oh Darling, and placed them atop my dots. Next, I decided to place my title, 'So Awesome', directly on my photo to keep the look cohesive. I adhered the vellum 'awesome' sentiment from Boys Rule with This to That {AC} tape runner. Finally, I trimmed the white cardstock and backed it with a neutral paper to serve as a border.

Thanks for joining me today, Crate fans! I hope you're enjoying your summer and are busy taking lots of photos for your stripe-y and dotty layouts!

Pretty Things: A Florida Beach Escape - Anabelle O'Malley

 

 

We're still talking 'beaches' here at the Crate Paper blog as part of this month's 'Pretty Things' theme. Beaches can serve as a tremendous source of inspiration–from the sand to the sky and everything inbetween, there's lots to see and much to admire. Recently, CP Gal Anabelle O'Malley, visited the beautiful Sanibel Island in Florida where some of the most eye-catching beaches reside–she has two 'beach' themed layouts to share from the trip. Have a look!

.......

If there is one thing I love, it's the beach. I love the sounds, sights, scents and feel of it. Being on a beach, and feeling my toes in the sand, is truly my favorite thing in the world. Recently, my family and I took a trip to Sanibel Island, Florida. The gulf coast has some of the most beautiful beaches and I loved every second of it. I was excited to scrap a couple of layouts using Crate Paper lines. They were perfect for the colors I captured in my photos.

This first page focuses on one of my favorite photos from the trip. I decided to make the photo the focus of the page and printed it at 8" x 12". I knew that I could use some of the open space on the picture to add elements.

I used a mix of Open Road and Oh Darling goodies on this page. I wanted to be able to use soft pastels and both lines offer papers and embellishments that fit this bill. In this photo, I added some stand out stickers to the bottom corner of the page. I wanted this cluster to draw the eye to my husband and son as they walked down the beach in the photo.

I decided that I wanted to have some 'beachy' elements on this page. To do this, I found several papers that fit my color scheme. Then, I used my Silhouette to cut out several seashell die cuts. I decided to create a border with them along the side of the photo. I didn't want them to overwhelm things, so I tucked them under the picture and let them peek out. I added some gold enamel dots (you can make dots with gold glitter glue if need be) and added a couple of cork stars for some texture.

Next, I pulled out a vellum tag from Oh Darling, a chipboard frame, some chipboard elements and some stickers from the Open Road collection. I layered them together to form another cluster that served as part of my title.

I finished off the page by adding my die cut title and some journaling on vellum strips. I added these to the open space on the photo.

My next page focuses on a fun day trip we took while on vacation. We visited Captiva Island for some wave running! It was a blast.

Again, I looked to the Open Road and Oh Darling lines for this page. I started by adding a large strip across the top of the page and then added two smaller strips to tie in the colors from the photos. I added stitching and roughed up the edges of the top two strips to provide some texture to the page. A folded over, stapled on packing tag with a sticker on it serves as a pretty detail in the top left corner of the page.

In order to make the photos stand out a bit, I layered them onto two chipboard frames. The photos were adhered with foam adhesive, I decided to add some vellum cut leaves as a layering elements. Both Sanibel and Captiva are lush islands with beautiful vegetation. I thought that this would be a good way to capture that feeling without overwhelming the page.

To create my title, I reached for the 'Day Trip' chipboard element. Then, I added a subtitle using some smaller letter stickers.

I finished off my page with another folded tag. Tucking a sticker under it and using the chipboard arrow to draw the eye to it helped me create this journaling spot.

As you can see, you don't need beach 'themed' products to create fun, beachy pages. Both Open Road and Oh Darling are perfect for documenting your 'fun in the sun' summer memories!