The One with Elle's Studio "You & Me" Layouts

It's always a pleasure working with Elle's Studio! They just released patterned papers to coordinate with their brand new lines and I had the opportunity to play with the "You & Me" line! Here's what I came up with:

UNCLE ERIC

Journaling says: He doesn't have kids of his own YET, but he sure is a great uncle to Fox and Jane! He's going to be an awesome dad some day!

How to: Punch squares from patterned paper, cardstock, and journaling cards then cut each square into a triangle. Arrange the triangles across a white cardstock background in a quilt-inspired pattern. Layer journaling cards, die cuts, and patterned paper strips on the center of the layout and top them with a quad of photos adhered with pop dots. Write on a journaling spot and tuck it under the left side of the photos. Embellish the layout with epoxy brads with pennant die cuts tucked under them, jewels, drops of spray mist, sentiment die cuts, a letter sticker title, a star paper clip, and more and more and more! It's all about the layers baby!

Supplies: Cardstock, fabric brad, star paper clip, letter stickers, pen, adhesive: American crafts; Patterned paper, labels, die cuts (heart, pennants, sentiments), journaling spots: Elle's Studio; Epoxy brads: Crate Paper; Jewels: Pebbles; Spray mist: Studio Calico; Square punch: Marvy Uchida

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MY LOVES

Journaling says: I love you to the moon & back (although it's printed right on the paper so it was default awesome journaling!).

Note: It's rare for me not to use bright colors but these photos call for a more muted background - enter the You & Me line by Elle's Studio! Even though it includes pink and aqua in the color palette, I opted to only use the kraft, white, cream, black, and gray. Mission accomplished!

How to: Layer patterned paper blocks, journaling spots, and die cuts across a white/gray striped paper layout base. Adhere a grid of photos on top of the layered papers. Make a title and point to it with arrow die cuts. Tuck additional journaling spots, die cuts, and patterned paper strips under the edges of the photos. Embellish the top left and bottom right corners with fabric brads, jewels, drops of India ink, buttons, and silver pen dots. Punch a section of lace border on each edge of the layout. Pierce a stickpin through the top punched edge and stamp the date and an arrow below. Slide a paper clip flag and sentiment die cuts on the right edge of the photos and write the names of your loves on a journaling card on the left side.

Supplies: Cardstock, letter stickers, fabric brads, stamps (arrow, date), ink, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper, journaling spots, die cuts (arrows, hearts, sentiments): Elle's Studio; Stickpin, jewels, pearls: Pebbles; Paper clip flag: Studio Calico; Buttons: Crate Paper; Lace border punch, silver pen: EK Success; India ink: ProArt

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JANE AT FOUR MONTHS

Journaling says: At four months you are now in size 2 diapers and eating rice cereal. You are always happy and smiling. We love you!

Note: Miraculously I'm keeping up with Jane's monthly pages! The You & Me line matches PERFECTLY with Jane's outfit in these photos! It was meant to be. Also, originally I journaled with a black pen around the curve of the top doily but it totally threw off the page. I panicked! The entire layout was finished, sans the journaling, and I didn't want to start over! So, I covered it with white out and I actually liked the look of the white border so I did it to the bottom doily as well. So serendipitous :)

How to: Die cut a large doily from scrap cardstock, place it over a cream cardstock background, spray over it with gold mist, then remove the doily mask. Cut a doily in half and adhere one at the top and the other at the bottom, off-center. Edge the doilies with white-out. Trim pennants from patterned paper, journaling spots, flashcards, sentiment die cuts, labels, and more, and adhere them in two rows across the layout. Add photos to the mix then straight stitch across the tops of the pieces to create banners. Stamp the date on two of the labels. Make a title with letter stickers. Embellish the layout with dots of gold pen, sequins, jewels, and pearls. Write on a journaling card, add a piece of jewel chain above it, trim it into a pennant, and tuck it into the banner.

Supplies: Cardstock, letter stickers, date stamp, ink, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper, flashcards, journaling spots, labels, pennants, sentiment die cuts: Elle's Studio; Pearls: Pebbles; Sequins, jewels (flower, star): Craft supply; Jewel chain: Pink Paislee; Doilies: Wilton; Spray mist: Studio Calico (brown), Tattered Angels (gold); Gold pen: EK Success; Decorative corner punch: Fiskars; Die cut machine (Cameo), doily die: QuicKutz; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

Congrats to Elle's Studio for expanding their products and for exhibiting at CHA - which is where I'm off to now!