Nathalie DeSousa's Blog Posts

03.16.20

Hi there,

Nathalie with you today with some inspiration on documenting yourself.  I know most of us have a hard time taking pictures of ourselves/selfies which results on the lack of your presence on your documenting.   Here is where the new Simple Stories I AM 2020 comes  in to save your day.  All the papers and  designs are just perfect to bring your story forward.  Let me show you:

I started the page by, literally, copying the design the papers created when fanned out on the page.   I used the b-side of the Blooming Paper as the background for the page; then cut papers from the 6x8 paper pad, 3x4 elements and Fierce papers to create the paper fan idea on the page.  I took my time hanstitching the edges of the paper.  

The starting point of the papers create the perfect spot for my pictures.  However the stitched edges of the papers are a great place to add embellishments, such as phrase stickers, ephemera, brads and enamel dots.  I even used the gorgeous foam gold alpha words to set my title in place along the stitched edge of the top paper.

I added a small  piece of vellum behind the picture and set it at the corner above the paper fans.  I pulled one of the journaling ephemera to anchor the cluster of embellishments to the layout and picture.   All the floral in this collection are amazing!!!

Just to balance the bottom cluster, i added a  second one to the top of the page.  To make the page cohesive, i repeated a few of the banner ideas in the cluster, and added a butterfly to each of the major clusters

I love how my crazy ideas turned into this colorful an beautiful layout all about ME.   I am sure the new I AM 2020 will become a new favorite of yours.   Remember to share with us what you created with the Simple Stories collections.

 

XO!

Supplies
02.28.20

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today bringing you a new layout all about those sweet memories of Easter Egg hunts.   I think we all have memories of our children (or younger us) enjoying all the egg hunt finds, and what better way to enjoy them than to document them with the new Simple Stories Hip Hop Hooray collection.  It is just the perfect Easter and also Spring collection.

I created a simple design for the page so that i can mix all the beautiful paper colors and cute embellishments.  First i used the Butterflies stencil and some white texture paste to create a few impressions on a piece of the 6x8 wood grain paper. 

Since both my little (niece and nephew) are wearing bunny ears, i quickly chose the Hippity Hop paper for the background of the page.  First i chose a strip of the Puddle Jumper paper as an anchor for the page.  I decided to keep add a few more paper layers behind the paper strip from the 6x8 paper pad and Hello Peeps paper.

I used the Bunny Tails and Hello Peeps paper to back the pictures, and then set them on the wood grain paper piece ( once the texture paste impression had dried).  I set the paper on the middle of the page and  then started adding embellishments around the photos and paper strips.  With so many cute and colorful embellishments it was easy to mix and match them on the page.

The cute little bunny embellishments are so adorable, and so perfect to embellish the title of the page.  I combined the sentiments from the Bits and Pieces and Combo Sticker sheet to create the title at the bottom of the page.  Here i added the bunnies and a few more embellishments in a large cluster.  To finalize the page, I used the Hip Hop Hooray stamp set to add a few sentiments to the page.

I just love all the color and cheery nature of the page.   The textures in the paste, papers and embellishments complement the picture of my littles nicely.  I am sure that you are going to love documenting your Easter/ Spring memories with the new Simple Stories HIP HOP HOORAY collection, make sure to check it out!

Til' next time.

Supplies
01.31.20

Hi Simple Stories friends!

Nathalie here with a new layout all about my crafty life.   I have been blessed to be part of the Simple Stories Creative Team for the past three years and are delighted to come back for  a new term ( so happy to have been invited back.  So, what better way to celebrate this new term than documenting the moment with the new Hey Crafty Girl collection.

I started this page by creating a very colorful background.  For this i reached for the Sky Dots basic paper as the background for the page.  Then added a bit of mixed media just to help me add a touch of art to the page.

My design choice was to create large triangles of paper on the top and bottom edges of the paper.  I layered the Happy and Crafty paper on top of the Create Beauty.  These were then glued to the background forming the large triangles you see in the page.

Next, i backed the picture with the So Artsy paper and then glued it on to the top left side of  the page.   Then started using Bits and pieces, Journaling Bits and Pieces, stickers, chipboard stickers to create clusters around the picture making sure to stretch them past the triangle shape.  So many cute embellishments made this so easy to put together.

All that was left to do was add a large title to the page.   I started with the large crafty girl image on the chipboard stickers - this helps balance the page- and then used the Bits and Pieces to add the title next to her.   A few extra embellishments complete the title.  All that was left to do was add my lines of journal and a few sequins all over the page.

I love how this page turned out!  The colors and designs in the collection are so cute and versatile.  What better way to document the start of this new term with Simple Stories than to use the new Hey Crafty Girl for it.  Remember to check it out, you are going to love it!

XO

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