SIMPLE STORIES LIFE DOCUMENTED WITH POCKET PAGES

JUNE 06, 2013

Life Documented with Pocket Pages

Happy Friday Simple Stories friends! It's Nichol here today and I'm excited to be sharing my first Life Documented Project here on the blog showcasing the Pocket Pages!

I, like so many of you, am addicted to the idea and concept of recording my life in a weekly format with the ease of use and functionality of Pocket Pages. I find that by recording all those little bits and pieces of daily life I am recording a clearer picture of our family's daily life and it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to flip through and see our memories, our history and our life. Documented.

With the wide range of styles of Pocket Pages available from Simple Stories, there is sure to a design that fits whatever style of page you want to create!

Now, how about a couple of my most recent two-page spreads featuring Pocket Pages?

My page design(s) are always dictated by what photos I'm going to use and when creating these weekly layouts I find it helpful to start with a list of the photos/journaling I want to include first. Then I pick the Pocket Pagesthat will best fit those photos and journaling and from there I pick out the paper, embellishments and extras that really make the pages "pop"! Sometimes my pages are simple, sometimes more detailed. For me, it's really all about how I'm feeling at that moment. I don't look at it like a chore but more like an art project or art journal. It can be a great place to try out a new technique or to use that stamp set that you've had forever and never got around to inking up. I also tend to mix all my Simple Stories product up and use them all together in my Life Documented page spreads. Okay, I mix all my product up on all my scrapbooking projects but that's just me!

Life Documented | Week Twenty-Two 2013

One of the things that helps me the most when beginning a weekly layout spread is to break down the page creation into simple steps. I print my photos first (or most of them) and lay them out on the Pocket Page where I intend for them to go. Then, I pick 1 or 2 colors to work with for that week's spread. By limiting the color choices I am able to focus on choosing coordinating product/colors to design a cohesive page that flows nicely from the left side to the right.

When working with lots of "pre-made" product, I like to add in personal touches to customize my pages to my personal style. I use lots of stamping and die-cutting (my 2 favorite techniques) to make my pages "me".

One of my favorite tips for adding dimension without bulk is to add some Glossy Accents to the Simple Stories stickers (I did this to all the heart stickers on this spread). It gives them that great glossy raised look without the bulk!

My other favorite tip is to "replace" the printed polaroid images on the papers in the Sn@P! Life Collection with your own photos or journaling. It's easy and fun to do!

Life Documented | Week Twenty-One 2013

I did something a little different for this spread in that I used a bit more color and I incorporated more custom embellishments. Those custom embellishments included lots of stamping which I layered and dressed up with Simple Stories stickers and also die cut embellishments that I created with the Silhouette Cameo and Simple Stories Patterned Papers!

I kept each of the pockets pretty monochromatic which is a really fun way to use up supplies that you may not have enough for an entire spread!

I created almost all my own 4x6, 4x4 and 3x4 inserts with Simple Stories patterned papers from the Sn@p! Life Collection, I Heart Summer Collection and 24seven Collection.

I die cut the title above from scraps of 6x6 patterned paper and printed my dates on one of the Sn@p! Life Stickers.

I was able to create my own faux chipboard slide frames by die cutting the frames from Simple Stories patterned paper first, then an additional 4 frames from kraft cardstock and layering them all together. The result is a dimensional perfectly coordinating frame! Adding additional stamping gives it that finished look.

I even used the "notebook paper" from one of the Sn@p! Life 6x6 Paper Pads to print my journaling on and inlcude on some of the inserts. I love combining custom embellishments with pre-made ones. :)

I'm using the Green Sn@p! Leather 12x12 Album for my 2013 Life Documented Layouts. I love the rich, vibrant colors of the Sn@p! Albums , the beautiful stitching, bookplates on the spines and reinforced corners. These are truly gorgeous albums to showcase and protect your precious memories.

6a0120a6a1e222970c017c356a5f38970b-500wi

I used the Sn@p! 12x12 Pocket Pages Design 3 (4x6 | 3x4) and Design 10 (4x4 | 3x4) for my pages.

6a0120a6a1e222970c017d3f9a66b7970c-500wi

6a0120a6a1e222970c017ee70ee2c4970d-500wi

That Design 10 Pocket Page with the 4x4 and 3x4 pockets is a new favorite. I am a sucker for smaller pockets. The more the better and that square size just speaks to this 12x12 scrapper's heart! ;)

Additional Life Documented Products Used: