Hello Simple Stories Friends! Gloria Parra here, super excited to share a new 12x12 layout I created using the absolutely beautiful Say Cheese Classic Pooh Collection. As soon as I got my hands on this magical collection, I knew I had the perfect photos to go with it—pictures of my girls on a recent dress-up as your favorite book character day at school. My youngest dressed up as sweet little Winnie the Pooh, and my oldest as Glinda from Wicked. The photo of them heading off to school, full of excitement and character magic, instantly stole my heart.
What truly inspired this layout was the set of gorgeous dies included in the collection. The moment I saw them, I knew I wanted to design my page around photo frames—specifically using one of my all-time favorite Instax-style dies to create a fun, layered effect. And of course, I had to make that adorable Pooh Bear one of the main embellishments on my page!
I began my layout by selecting some of my favorite patterned papers from the collection, leaning into a classic Pooh combo: yellow, red, and light blue. For the base of my layout, I chose the beautiful yellow tone-on-tone floral patterned paper. I then cut two strips measuring 1.5” x 12” from the red plaid paper to add a bold contrast. To bring in a playful touch, I punched a scalloped border from the soft teal pattern and trimmed it to 1” x 12”.
Next, I selected the dreamy storybook patterned paper—one of my absolute favorites from this collection—and cut it to 8.25” x 12”. This piece became the main canvas for my photo area. I layered all the border strips along the far left and right edges of the storybook paper, creating a framed effect, and adhered everything in place. To finish off this base, I added machine stitching where the red plaid and teal scalloped strip intersect. I used a zigzag stitch that gives the layout a cozy, homemade feel and adds a fun bit of texture to the page.
Next, I chose two of the 3x4 chipboard photo frames from the collection to highlight my favorite photos of my daughters together in their adorable outfits. To complement those, I cut two of the amazing Instax Memory Frames using the floral-patterned papers from the 6x8 paper pad, each one holding a solo photo of each of my girls. I placed the chipboard frames opposite from one another on the layout, and did the same with the Instax frames, creating a visually balanced design
After positioning my frames, I started looking for layering pieces to tuck above and below them, adding depth, interest, and space for embellishments and journaling. I pulled a mix of elements from both the Journaling Bits & Pieces pack and the Floral Bits & Pieces pack. I added small clusters around each of the four frames, using a total of four layered pieces to bring everything together. These extra touches not only created lovely visual layers but also gave me room to tell little bits of my story.
At this point, I just had to include the adorable Pooh Bear from the Pooh & Piglet Die Set—he’s truly the heart of this collection! I used some coordinating Color Vibe cardstock to cut out all the pieces for Pooh’s body as well as his little honey jar. To create a sweet scene, I layered a beautiful quote piece with a balloon design onto the lower right frame, then placed my die-cut Pooh Bear and the balloon right on top, giving the layout a touch of dimension and a fun, unexpected embellishment. I couldn’t resist adding a tiny Piglet foam sticker nearby, looking up at Pooh and offering him a little flower—it was the perfect finishing touch to that corner.
Next, I moved on to the upper chipboard frame and decided to add the “Besties” foam sticker as my title, covering the pre-printed title that was originally on the frame. I loved how this helped balance the title element on the lower left frame, creating a cohesive visual flow across the layout. Plus, “Besties” was just the perfect word to describe the sweet and loving relationship between my daughters. To complete the cluster, I tucked a floral die cut behind the title, extending the design upward.
On the top left frame, I wanted to include a bit of journaling, I chose a journaling piece from the Floral Bits & Pieces pack and typed my words directly onto it. I then tucked it behind the frame. To soften the lines and bring in a bit more charm, I added a little floral die cut on the corner, as well as a foam speech bubble sticker that adds a sweet, playful touch.
To finish off my layout, I added a few Deco Brads to the centers of some of the floral pieces. This small detail brought in a different texture and a lovely bit of shine that completed the page perfectly. I truly hope you enjoyed this layout and feel inspired to create with frames on your next project—they’re such a fun and versatile design element! I also encourage you to give these dies a try; they’re wonderful additions to your stash and can be used over and over again in so many creative ways. If you’d like to see this layout come together, be sure to check out the full process video on my YouTube channel at Gloria Scraps.
Thanks so much for stopping by friends! Until next time—hugs, Gloria.
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Collection Kit
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh 6x8 paper pad
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Foam Stickers
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Deco Brads
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Floral Bits
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Journaling Bits and Pieces
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Chipboard Frames
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Big Bits
Simple Stories Say Cheese Classic Pooh Memory Frames cutting die
Simple Stories Color Vibe cardstock
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