Beautiful {Kew Gardens) Layout

One of my scrappy goals for this year is to finish scrapping all the photos from a 2017 trip my hubby and I took to London. Since we took thousands of photos, and I haven't been very consistent with scrapping them, it's taken almost nine years to scrap the first nine days of the trip, and I now have five days of photos left, so wish me luck in getting them done before the ten year anniversary of our trip rolls around! On the day I am scrapping now, we went to the lovely Kew Gardens in outer London, so here is a layout showing some of the beautiful wildflowers we saw.

Here are a couple close-ups so you can see the details:

Recipe:
Notice the Details stamp set
The Flower Emporium papers (49 and Market)
Pear cardstock
Toffee, Pear, Indian Corn Blue, Desert Rose & Black ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Simple Vintage Junk Drawer foam stickers (Simple Stories)
Tim Holtz Field Notes ephemera (Idea-ology)
Old Soul ephemera (American Crafts)
Krafty Garden Essentials rub-on transfers (49 and Market)
Timberline assortment wooden shapes
Wooden Arrow
Green organdy ribbon (Offray)
Green washi tape (Recollections)
Garden Green spiral clip
Staples
Tim Holtz Rays stencil (Stampers Anonymous)
Opaque Matte Texture paste (Ranger)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #114 (much adapted!)

Challenges: Alphabet Challenge Blog H is for Horticulture AND Inkspirational #374 Word Inspiration: Garden - since I have a brown thumb, I scrapped photos of this lovely public garden; Triple B Anything goes including a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly; The Outlawz Anything But a Card; Stencil Fun - I definitely didn't do the optional twist of CAS, but I did use the rays stencil; Unicorn Challenge #123 - Layer it up!

These Wonderful Walls Layout

My goal last month was to finish scrapping the photos from April 29 of our 2017 trip to London, and I almost made it but got distracted at the last moment and didn't end up getting this one done. Oops! Well, I finished it up today with some photos of the interior of the National Gallery, and I am pretty please with how it came out. Since the photos sat on my desk for a couple weeks, I had a chance to realize that the papers I had originally chosen were too busy, so I dug deep into my stash and found some other papers that I paired up with a new butterfly stamp set. I decided not to add any journaling, but hopefully the title speaks for itself.

And here are a couple of close-ups of the layout:

Recipe:
Let Your Dreams Take Flight stamp set (Recollections)
Vicki Boutin Printed Mixed Media paper (American Crafts)
8.5" x 11" paper and word sticker from my stash (source unknown)
Jingle All the Way - Coal Plaid/Gingham paper (Simple Stories)
Scarlet, Black & White cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Black striped grosgrain ribbon
Black embroidery floss
Glitter Black and White enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet)
Black label tape (Dymo)
Heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #107 (left side only)

Challenges: NBUS Challenge #89 My never before used stuff was the recently purchased Recollections butterfly stamp; Neglected Stuff Challenges the red and black patterned paper and the striped ribbon; Paper Rocks Scissors #19 Used scissors to fussy cut the stamped butterflies; Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #87 Red and black punched hearts; Triple B Anything goes including a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly.

Transport Museum Layout

I really wanted to finish scrapping all my London photos from April 29, 2017 before the end of the month, and I am almost done. Just one more after this. I think I can, I think I can! These photos were taken at the London Transport Museum, probably not a place your average tourist plans to go, but we enjoyed it.

And I had fun creating the little window scene, so here's a close-up:

Recipe:
Harmonious Patterns & Universal Backgrounds stamp sets
Yesterday & Today and Typeset papers
Kraft, Espresso, Toffee, Chocolate, Topiary, Heavenly Blue, Vineyard Berry, Juniper, Black & Colonial White cardstock
Espresso, Toffee, Topiary, Vineyard Berry & Juniper ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Nostalgiques Automobiles stickers (Stickopotamus)
Natural twill ribbon
Heart punch (EK Success)
Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Cricut Design Space; window, tree, title
Challenges: Can You Handle the Pressure?  Used a dotted embossing folder to create some texture on my die-cut tree; Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #87 Used hearts in three colors, including red; Little Red Wagon # 869 One Thing - mine is one window scene; Paper Rocks Scissors #18 Used scissors to trim the ribbon ends and to cut off part of the tree and car so they would fit in the window scene.

Globe Theater Layout

Still working on my London album, and I am hoping by the end of the month I will have finished scrapping the photos we took on April 29, 2017. Almost there! Anyway, these photos are from the reconstructed Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, which was built based on any available evidence of what the original building looked like, although they did have to make a few changes because of modern safety requirements. They were performing Romeo and Juliet that evening, but since it looked like it was going to be a modern production and we really would have loved to see Shakespearean costumes in this theatre, we decided not to go. But the tour was fun, at least.

The layout actually has lots of shimmer and shine from the gold leaf paper on top to the shimmer trim and the brown sparkles, but it's hard to see in the scan, so hopefully this photo will give you a better idea of that:

And here is a close-up of the embossing, since I am not sure you can even see it in the scan!

Recipe:
Love Life stamp set
Bonnie Belle Wedding paper (MAMBI)
Drama School paper (Scrapbook Customs)
Cashmere, Black & Espresso cardstock
Black ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Yesterday & Today PML card
Reasons to Smile washi tape (American Crafts)
Gold shimmer trim
Brown sparkles
CTMH Sunbeam embossing folder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, scalloped border, banner
Pattern: scraplift from Scrapbook.com
Challenges: Cut It Up #361 Emboss It - I included multiple die-cuts and embossed the black paper on the right; Can You Handle the Pressure? Use an embossing folder; Retro Rubber Challenges #277 - I used a flourish stamp from 2013 and went with the top line of the board.

Millennium Bridge Layout

Another layout for my London album, this time showing views of the Millennium Bridge over the River Thames. I was looking for some water or waves paper and found a Simple Stories beach themed paper pack that had just what I was looking for, plus it had some cool geotag/road map type paper that worked well for this layout. My pictures featured pretty drab colors with just a few pops of red, so I used the pink and red cardstock to cheer up the layout.

Recipe:
My Life stamp set
Just Beachy papers (Simple Stories)
Cotton Candy, Chocolate, Ruby, Blush, Black, Pewter & White cardstock
Bamboo, Flaxen, Juniper & Tulip ink
Very Merry Christmas wood stars (Pinkfresh)
Chocolate baker's twine
Slate polka dot washi tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banners
Cricut You Are Here cartridge; bridge
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: arrow, notebook paper edge
Cricut Design Space: title using Amertha font
Challenges: A Cut Above Anything Goes including a die-cut; Love Those Pretty Papers Anything goes with patterned paper; NBUS Challenge #88 My never before used stuff is the patterned paper and the wooden stars; One More Page Scrapbook pages only; Paper Rocks Scissors #18 Used scissors to cut the baker's twine.

Art {National Gallery} Layout

On our 2017 London trip, my hubby and I went to the National Gallery multiple times and tried to see as much art as possible, but I definitely didn't want to scrapbook all the photos we took, so here is a sampling of the 17th and 18th century paintings we photographed. The others are going in a pocket page. I also included the map of the National Gallery in a vellum pocket behind the photos, so it can slide out for future viewing. Funny story: I was trying to make sure the photos were all from the right centuries for this layout, and discovered that the map, while faithful to the time we visited, is now totally out of date. I guess the museum has so many pieces of art that they move them around depending on what they want to feature, so if we ever visit again, there is no guarantee we would see the same paintings!

Here are a couple of close-ups, one of the title and one of the map:

Recipe:

Belle Fleur paper (photoplay)

Watercolor paper

Vellum

Cranberry, Canary & Sage ink

Garden Green marker

DE Monograms chipboard

Belle Fleur Elements stickers (Photoplay)

Ink Splat stencil (Amazon)

3-D foam tape (Scrapbook.com)

Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #13

Challenges: The Outlawz Anything But a Card; Paper Rocks Scissors #18- used scissors to cut the little bumps off the chipboard letters; Stencil Fun –  included the optional twist of  patterns (stenciled ink blots on the chipboard letters).

Everyday London Layout

On the trip my hubby and I took to London in 2017, we saw many beautiful buildings that we did not have time to explore further, but I thought I would put a few of them together on a layout. The buildings paper from American Crafts was perfect for this layout! I also used a London newsprint paper that I had purchased, not realizing that it was all about Hyde Park, a place we never visited despite it being pretty close to our hotel. This seemed like a good opportunity for me to use a large piece of it, since there are photos and embellishments covering a lot of it.

Click on the photo to see a close-up of the details!

Recipe:
Vintage Type Alphabet stamp set
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media patterned paper (American Crafts)
The Flower Emporium papers (49 and Market)
Practically Perfect - London Examiner paper (carta Bella)
Peach, Black & White cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Peach, Sky, Desert Sand & Whisper ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Simple Vintage Junk Drawer foam stickers (Simple Stories)
Krafty Garden Essentials rub-on transfers (49 and Market)
Curiosities in Willow Grove rub-on transfers (49 and Market)
Black striped border sticker (MAMBI)
Mocha Opaques
Pink baker's twine (American Crafts)
Charmalong key charm (Bead Landing)
Brayer
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: postage frame, scalloped border
Cricut Design Space: viewfinder reel
Pattern: Dusty Attic Week 25 Sketch

Challenges: NBUS Challenges #88 My never before used stuff is the foam stickers and rub-ons; Love Those Pretty Papers Anything Goes with lots of patterned paper; Let’s Craft and Create #233 Anything Goes.

Covent Garden Layout

This month, my goal is to scrapbook at least 5 layouts from our 2017 trip to London, so here is one from April 29th, when we visit Covent Garden (among other places). I was really expecting something quite different, as you can tell from my journaling below, so we only spend enough time there to grab some lunch before heading off to another venue. However, I decided to scrapbook the photos as if it still was a flower market, which gave me a chance to use the flower shop and flower cart stickers that I had previously wondered if I would ever use. I also created the title using the Harrington font on my Cricut as a nod to Eliza's line, "In Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire, hurricanes hardly happen," from The Rain in Spain. Harrington wasn't mentioned, but it sounds like it should have been!

Recipe:
Watercolor paper (Recollections)
Life Is Beautiful papers (Echo Park)
Sage, Canary & Cinnamon cardstock
Blush & Sage ink
Juniper marker
Everyday Moments pocket card (Scrapbook.com)
Life is Beautiful stickers (Echo Park)
Heavenly blue organdy ribbon
Cricut Design Space: vine, circles, title
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #716 (on Facebook)

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything goes with a die-cut; One More Page Any scrapbook layout; Paper Rocks Scissors #18 Used scissors to cut the ribbon ends; Inkspirational Challenges #371 - I was inspired by the flowers on the vine, the colors, and the lemons (used circles to stand in for the lemons)

Crossing Tower Bridge Layout

I was looking through my photos today and realized I had never scrapped the companion page to my original Tower Bridge layout which I created back in 2025, so it seemed like a good day to get that done. I debated about putting a big title on here but finally settled on the small banner that I created using Cricut Design Space and an alphabet stamp set. Hopefully I made the right choice!

Recipe:
Friendship Alphabet Small stamp set
London 6" x6" paper pad (Carta Bella)
Color Kaleidoscope paper (American Crafts)
Sky, Sapphire, Candy Apple, Slate & White cardstock
Sky, Slate & Black ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
White gel pen (Sakura)
Tim Holtz Tiny Text Remant Rubs (Idea-ology)
Star Attraction Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug)
Cool Summer Nights & Red Sunset enamel dots (Altenew)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped rectangle, scalloped border
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: notebook paper, banner
Pattern: scraplift from Scrapbook.com
Challenges: NBUS Challenge #86 My never before used stuff is the London papers, the red enamel  sots, and the Tim Holtz Tiny Text rub-ons; Try It On Tuesdays Going Round in Circles.

Old Story Layout

It's been a busy month for me with my husband recovering from transplant surgery (I am his caregiver and have to drive him to tons of doctor appointments) and my daughter involved in many senior year events, so this layout has taken way longer to finish than it normally would, but I am glad to get something scrapped! 

Recipe (all CTMH unless noted):
Soda Pop papers
London Memories Journal paper (Scrapbook Customs)
Mist, Sapphire & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire, Lagoon & Sweet Leaf ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Soda Pop stickers
Old Soul ephemera (American Crafts)
Birdsong Ephemera Bits (49 and Market)
Krafty Garden Essentials Rub-on transfers (49 and Market)
Sapphire baker's twine
White acrylic flowers
Cricut Art philosophy cartridge: tag
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme (Facebook Group) Sketch 703 - rotated right

Challenges: Triple B  - Anything Goes including a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly; Let’s Craft and Create #230 Anything Goes with optional twist: beautiful butterflies; The Outlawz Anything But a Card; Paper Rocks Scissors #15 Anything Goes but must use paper and scissors - used scissors to trim the baker's twine and cut a tab off the Story ephemera; Color Dare #700

On the South Bank of the Thames Layout for LM #794

Happy Sunday, everyone, and for those of you in the northern hemisphere, I hope you are enjoying the spring weather. It's a little rainy here in Southern California, but it makes a nice change from the high temperatures of the past week. It's reveal day over at Lasting Memories, and I am hosting the THIS OR THAT challenges this month. I decided to go with the THAT option today: create a title using die-cuts and/or stamps. (The other option was to use alphabet stickers). I love the versatility of die-cuts - any size you need - and the limitless color options of both die-cuts and stamps, plus you never run out of that one letter you seem to need, which has been my experience with stickers! Hope you decide to hop on over to the blog and share your layout using either stickers or die-cut/stamps in your title.

Recipe:
Trinity Alphabet stamp set
Avonlea and Sparkle & Shine papers
Mint, Juniper & Peacock cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Juniper & Peacock ink
Juniper marker
Petticoats & Pinstripes ephemera (Echo Park)
Gazebo Titles Great Length stickers (CM)
Antique Travel stickers (PSX)
London sticker (Frances Meyer)
Cool Summer Nights enamel dots (Altenew)
Cricut Design Space: title using Medina Script
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #73

Challenges: Love Those Pretty Papers - anything goes with lots of patterned paper; Neglected Stuff Challenges - mine is the patterned papers and the stickers; One More Page - anything goes as long as it’s a scrapbook page; The Outlawz Anything But a Card; Paper Rocks Scissors #15 - used scissors to trim the edges of my punched circles where they were a little ragged.

Tower Bridge Exhibit Layout

I was working on my son's school album but decided to take a break to finish a layout from our 2017 London trip, which features photos that are almost as old as the ones from my son's album! I scrapbooked some photos of Tower Bridge itself last year, but these photos are from the exhibit you can see inside the bridge. My civil engineer hubby really enjoyed learning about how the bridge was built and how it originally operated. I even managed to dig out our tickets and added them to the layout.

Recipe:
Tan Squares (Rusty Pickle)
Second Avenue a la carte School Days paper (MME)
Pear, Desert Sand & Chocolate cardstock
Pear, Desert Sand & Chocolate ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Let's Wander thickers (American Crafts)
Tag Types Ocean Waves alphabet stickers (EK Success)
London stickers (Mrs. Grossman's)
Bold & Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Staples
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16Jun3

Challenges: Paper Rocks Scissors #14 - used scissors to cut the ribbon; One More Page AG as long as it’s a scrapbook page; Unicorn Challenge Blog #118 Transportation - bridge and bus; The Outlawz Anything But a Card - scrapbook layout.

Discover {Tower Bridge} Layout for Lasting Memories #779

I haven't scrapped any London photos in ages, so I decided to complete at least one from our 2017 vacation. This time, it was Tower Bridge. Since the Lasting Memories challenge for December is to play along with either a favorite challenge we want to do again or a challenge we missed but would still like to do, I played along with #759 - Jill's Favorites: Embellishments. I absolutely love using die-cuts on my layouts, so here I added three: the title, the sun, and the cloud. Hope this inspires you to check out some of the fun challenges we had this year and play along this month!

I also had fun coloring in the black and white line drawing on the cool background paper!

Recipe:
London Tower Bridge Adventure paper (Scrapbook Customs)
Striped paper (from my stash, source unknown)
Canary, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Sky & Ruby ink
Black & Flourescent Blue fineline pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Love Letters rub-ons
Glitter Black enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet)
Cricut Design Space: title (using DTC Spring Break font)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun
Cricut Artiste cartridge: cloud
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #125 (left side only)

Challenges: Paper Rocks Scissors #10 - used scissors to trim the Y off my title when I changed it from discovery to discover!

Tower of London Wall Walk Layout

Since it's been over 7 years since my hubby and I visited the Tower of London, I had to do a lot of research to figure out what some of the locations were that we photographed on the Wall Walk, a self-guided tour of the battlements of the Tower. I think I got them all correct, but please feel free to leave a comment if I messed any up! Anyway, I originally laid out my photos from left to right in the order that we snapped them, but eventually decided to scrap them  as if we were re-enacting our walk around the walls. This means we entered at Lanthorn Tower at the southern boundary of the Tower (bottom right on the layout) and started our tour at Salt Tower (#1 and #2 on my layout), and then moved around the eastern wall (#3 - #4) before exiting at Martin Tower (#5 and #6). The final photos (#7 and #8) were taken as we exited and made our way over to where the Crown Jewels are housed. Clear as mud? I included a scanned map with a big red arrow at the bottom where we entered and another arrow at the top where we exited. No one else may care, but it will at least help me remember in future times!

And here's the map:

Recipe:
Vintage Type stamp set
Grandpa's Attic papers (SEI)
Mink cardstock
Barn Red ink
Black marker
Let's Wander Thickers (American Crafts)
Black label tape (Dymo)
DIY Shop Cork arrow stickers (American Crafts)

Bloody Tower Layout

I decided to switch gears from Christmas layouts and work on finishing scrapping the photos from a 2017 visit to the Tower of London, so here is the facing page to the ravens layout I posted earlier. The vertical photo will lift up to show off another photo and my journaling, but I am not quite finished with the journaling, so here is a link to the history of the Bloody Tower for those who are interested in how it got its name.

Recipe:
For Always papers
Black, Cranberry, Rosemary & White Daisy cardstock
Black ink
Silver photo hanger
Charmalong key (Bead Landing)
Vintage washi tape (Emmoolife)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, tear drops, scalloped border
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #114 (right side only)

Legendary Birds Layout for Lasting Memories #731

It's not quite 2025, but over at Lasting Memories, we're getting a jump start on our challenges for the new year! This month, I am hosting challenges centered around the idea of deliberate designs, or focusing on an area of your layout. Today's challenge is to use a sketch for the basic design of your layout. I love creating sketches, so I decided to use my most recent one but adapt it for a different topic than I had scrapped last week. I know a lot of you scrappers like to use sketches, so feel free to join us to show off your sketch-based layout using the link above!

Here's my layout:

And here's the sketch I used:

Recipe:
For Always papers
Black, Rosemary & White Daisy cardstock
Black & Whisper ink
Black marker
Black hemp
Vintage washi tape (Emmoolife)

Glitter Black enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag
Cricut Design Space: title using Chloe & Copperplate fonts

Challenges: My Time to Craft #550 - New (I chose to use a new set of vintage washi tape my sweet son gave me for Christmas - totally not my style, but I really appreciated the thought so I will strive to use them as often as possible!)

Beauchamp Tower Layout

We took these photos at the Tower of London, and I tried to recreate an aerial view of this section of the Tower at the bottom of the layout. Not too sure how successful I was, but as i always say, at least the photos are scrapped for posterity!

Recipe:
Background Elements & Ink the Background stamp sets
Dutch Blue, Clover, Toffee, Slate, Almond & White Daisy cardstock
Dutch Blue, Clover Meadow, Slate & Toffee ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
Spray pen
Circle Double Stitched Steel die (Art Impressions
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: compass
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: treetop
Cricut Design Space: title
Pattern: Sketches In Thyme #639

Off With Her Head! Layout for Lasting Memories #276

If this seems like a gruesome title for my layout, it is, but it's because I needed to scrapbook some photos from the execution site at the Tower of London, where such famous people as Lady Jane Grey and Anne Boleyn were beheaded. Another round of challenges from the Lasting Memories blog starts today, and they are super fun, with inspiration from various artworks found at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Today's inspiration is Jen P. Harris' mixed media work entitled "Parte Incognita." My first instinct was to go with hexagon shapes, and I even cut out a few, but then I noticed each hexagon was actually divided into three diamond shapes, so I decided to go with that instead. There is some great inspiration on the Lasting Memories blog, so be sure to check it out and join us for this fun round of challenges!

Here is my layout:

And here is the inspiration artwork:

Recipe:
Friendship Alphabet Small

Skylark, Splendor & Something Fierce papers
White Daisy cardstock
White watercolor paper (Canson)
Goldrush, Capri, Flaxen, Topiary, Espresso & Pewter ink
Goldrush pigment ink
Light Grey fineliner pen (iBayam)
Clear embossing powder

Chloe Ciao chipboard (Bella Blvd)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: diamonds
Cricut Artiste cartridge: head

White Tower Tour

This weekend, I finished up scrapping the photos we took of the White Tower at the Tower of London. These photos were from a tour we took of the interior, from the basement to the top floor, not including the arms and armor exhibits on the entrance floor. I had fun piecing together the stone block wall, although it got a little tedious at the end! The horizontal photo lifts up to reveal another photo and some journaling (see below).

Here's the hidden journaling:

Recipe:
A Typeface stamp set
The Stack 2 (DCWV)
London Memories Journal paper (Scrapbook Customs)
Toffee, Pebble, Pewter & Black cardstock
Toffee & Candy Red ink
Black marker
London stickers (Mrs. Grossman's)
Cricut Design Space: stone blocks (using cobblestone pattern from Holidays Around Town cartridge)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #59

Line of Kings Layout

I posted a few photos from the Line of Kings exhibit at the Tower of London last week, so here is the accompanying layout, along with the journaling card from the facing pocket page. I dug deep into my stash to find the color blocked papers I used here, but I really like how they look with the brown, so I may have to find another layout I can use for some more of this paper pack!

And here's the journaling card:

Recipe:

Kyla's Classic Color Block papers (Paper Pizazz)
Espresso, Almond & Toffee cardstock
Toffee ink

White gel pen (Sakura)
Red glitter gems

Stitched Circle metal die (Art Impressions)
Cricut Medieval Silhouettes cartridge: king's head, knight and horse
Cricut Design Space: title using Euphorigenic font, swords and shield image

Cricut Artbooking cartridge: cut corner rectangle
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #80

Challenges: Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone with twist of add a photo; Cut It Up #311 Anything Goes with a die-cut.