Sometimes our projects don’t always turn out the way that we intend—a bottle of mist spills on our desk, or we don’t line up that stamped image just perfect, but the best crafters are the ones who can work through these happy accidents—like design team member Jennifer McMurtrey! She’s with us today to share a new traveler’s notebook spread that we think is just perfect, even though Jen had to pivot from her original plan. Let’s see what happened!
Hello Elle’s Studio friends! It’s Jennifer today with a summer-themed traveler’s notebook layout using the July 2019 Kit and add-ons, which turned out perfectly after a couple of happy crafting accidents!
As much as I love taking photos of my kids when they’ll let me, my next favorite subject is our dog Mabel. Considering she follows me everywhere I go, I am never lacking in opportunities to get a good shot of her and this picture is no exception. I love how she is staring at the water, lost in thought.
Supplies | July 2019 Kit, Happiness Printables, July Blank Label Stickers, Pool Party Wood Veneer, Large Acrylic Popsicles, Sunshine 6 x 6 Paper Stack, Title Builder Stamp, Jane Alphabet Stamp
The bright, colorful Large Acrylic Popsicles were the starting point for this project. To create the bursts of colored paper on the left side of the layout, I used a combination of patterns from the Sunshine 6 x 6 Paper Stack as well as the Title Builder and Jane Alphabet Stamps. First, I used orange ink and stamped the “hello” sentiment from the Title Builder Stamp onto a piece of white cardstock until the background was full. Next, I followed the same steps and stamped “summer” using the Jane Alphabet Stamp and green ink.
The patterned and stamped papers were placed on a piece of cardstock that was cut to fit my traveler’s notebook. Once I had them positioned where I wanted, I machine stitched each piece in place to give the background more texture.
To keep the layout clean, I used a journaling tag from the Happiness Printables and placed it behind the photo of Mabel.
When first looking at the photo, you don’t notice that it is attached to the journaling tag using one of the July Blank Label Stickers. When the photo is lifted, the sticker holds it in place and looks as if it’s part of the sun on the card. Admittedly, that was a happy accident!
On the right side of the layout, I machine stitched around the border of white cardstock to give it texture and tie it into the left side. About this time, I noticed the Pool Party Wood Veneer was no longer on my table—sadly it was under my foot where I’d just stepped on it and broken it in half. When life gives you lemons . . . you sand the rough edges of your broken wood veneer and make it work.
I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed when I broke the wood veneer, but I am actually pleased with how it turned out. The neutral wood with the bright Large Acrylic Popsicles is stunning on the white background.
The July 2019 Kit and add-ons are so much fun and can be used in so many ways: on cards, in traveler’s notebooks, and larger layouts. I hope you’ve been inspired to get creative, and work through those crafting accidents!
