Back to School Week: The First Day in Pockets

Happy Monday, ES friends! For many of us, school is already back in session, or is right around the corner, so what better time to get inspired by our team with a week of school-themed projects using our new August 2022 kit and add-ons? We’re kicking off the week with Jen McMurtrey, and pockets—such a great way to get a lot of school photos and details in your album! Let’s take a look!

Hi friends! It’s Jen today with a back-to-school themed pocket page layout featuring each of my three kiddos on their first day of kindergarten. It has been fun to go through old photos and relive these memories that took place beginning in the fall of 2000. It is especially sentimental since our youngest is leaving for college in a few weeks. Cue the tears!

Supplies | August 2022 KitAugust 2022 Cut FilesAugust 2022 PrintablesBasic Grid 4 x 6 inch Journaling Tags, August LabelsNotebook Die Cut Shapes, Lost in a Good Book Cardstock StickersPuffy Star Stickers, School Tabs Stamp, Medium Hazel Stamp, Lizzy Alphabet Stamp, Jane Alphabet Stamp

This project began with the photos, which are framed by an August 2022 Cut File using white cardstock. I decided to keep the frames neutral since there are so many colors throughout the layout. After framing the photos, I selected August Labels in colors that match the pictures and stamped each of their names using the Jane Alphabet Stamp.

When creating the title for the layout, I opted for a , Basic Grid Journaling Tag upon which I used several of my favorite stamps. First, I used the School Tabs Stamp to create the muted background and did this by stamping each image on scratch paper once before doing so on the tag. This allowed me to add to the background without taking away from the title. Next, I used the Lizzy and Medium Hazel Stamps to add the title and followed that with several embellishments from the August kit and add-ons.

After figuring out the placement of my photos, I pulled several 3 x 4-inch journaling tags from the August Kit and shuffled them around until I was happy with the color distribution.

As always, having the color-coordinating elements from the kit made this process fun and easy.

To carry the photo of Phoebe and Caleb across two pockets, I adhered the photo to a 4 x 6-inch journaling tag before cutting it in half. Along the right side, I added color by attaching die cuts and a few Puffy Star Stickers.

I love the August 2022 Printable files for journaling and used a green 3 x 4-inch journaling tag to document the story. To keep the vibrant colors of the printables, I print them on semi-gloss photo paper for a crisp finish.

Adding a few embellishments here and there was the final step and super easy using the coordinating die cuts and Notebook Die Cut Shapes. Last, I added several Puffy Star Stickers to the photos to pull all of the colors together.

Even though pocket pages are not my go-to format, I love this layout and have already begun planning its counterpart to document their last, last days. Cue the tears… again!

As we head into fall and begin looking forward to school and all of its activities, remember to snap photos and get those memories documented. Don’t forget to post your projects to social media using the hashtag #EllesStudio so we are sure to see your creations. Have a great day!

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