Hello, Simple Stories friends! This is Gloria Parra, and I’m so excited to share a new project featuring the Heartstrings collection. This beautiful collection is bursting with vibrant reds, pinks, and oranges, along with the most adorable critters that are sure to steal your heart. Whether you’re documenting sweet moments with your loved ones, a fun Galentine’s Day celebration, or everyday acts of love, this collection is perfect for all your love-themed layouts. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at my latest creation!
To start this layout, I chose a clean white Color Vibe cardstock as my base to let the vibrant colors shine. I began by cutting a 4”x12” piece of the gorgeous heart-patterned paper as the focal layer. Next, I added a 1.5”x12” strip of the pink plaid patterned paper and paired it with a 1.5”x12” piece of orange Color Vibe cardstock, which I accented with a punched scalloped border for added texture. Finally, I cut a 2.5”x12” strip of orange plaid patterned paper to complete my layered background, creating a colorful and balanced foundation for my design.
Next, I couldn’t resist adding a special handmade touch to the layout—I hand-stitched around all the beautiful, colorful hearts! Using matching embroidery floss for each heart, I carefully stitched along their edges, creating texture and dimension that truly brought them to life. This step added so much charm and perfectly complemented the vibrant feel of the collection.
I then began arranging my border strips, starting with the orange plaid strip, which I adhered horizontally at 4.5 inches from the top of the layout. Next, I layered the three vertical borders—the pink plaid, orange scalloped cardstock, and colorful heart-patterned strip—on the left side of the page, positioning them at 3/4 inches from the left border. Together, these elements formed an L-shaped design that serves as a beautiful backdrop for the layout, adding structure and balance.
Next, I selected two 3.5”x5” photos and layered them on the left side of the page, right at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal borders. This placement naturally draws the eye, making the photos the focal point of the layout while perfectly complementing the L-shaped design. It’s the perfect way to highlight these cherished memories against the colorful and playful background.
Next, I cut a 5.5-inch circle from the red and white polka dot patterned paper and added some chain stitching around the edge for an extra touch of handmade charm. I placed this circle just below my photos to create a fun visual element that breaks up the straight lines of the borders, adding interest and softness to the layout. It’s a small detail that brings the design to life!
Now it’s time to create our three embellishment clusters, starting with the one on top of the red circle. For this cluster, I began by adding my title—I chose the Sweetheart title from the foam stickers and placed it just below my photos, slightly overlapping them for a cohesive look. To extend the circle and add more layers, I included a cute envelope and a Love Song cassette from the die-cuts on the left side of the title. This combination ties the elements together beautifully and draws attention to the focal point of the layout.
At the bottom right of my circle, I added a border strip to act as a shelf for the adorable taxi embellishment featuring the three fun little mice inside. This detail not only adds a playful touch but also creates a cohesive embellishment cluster that perfectly anchors the circle and ties the layout together.
Next, I created my second embellishment cluster on the right side of the orange plaid paper. I was drawn to the fun sentiment bits in this collection and chose Together is the Best Place to Be as my subtitle—it perfectly complements my story of an imperfect but special start to our Valentine’s Day. To tie everything together, I added my journaling just below the subtitle and extended it further under the taxi embellishment. I love how the journaling fills these spaces.
Finally, I created my third embellishment cluster at the top left of the layout, tucked just above my photos. For this cluster, I used a border sticker and layered it with some ticket stickers, then added a few balloons to bring a fun and festive touch to the design. This placement helps create a visual triangle between the clusters, guiding the eye across the layout and adding balance to the overall composition. It’s the perfect finishing touch to tie everything together!
To wrap things up, I sprinkled little foam hearts around the page, letting them float like confetti and add a final burst of fun. I love the playful, joyful vibe this layout brings, and I hope you’ve enjoyed following along just as much as I enjoyed creating it! If you’d like to see the entire process in action, be sure to visit my YouTube channel, @GloriaScraps, where I’ve posted a video tutorial. I hope you’ll give the Heartstrings collection a try and use it to document your own sweet memories!
Supply List
•Heartstrings Collection Kit
•Heartstrings Foam Stickers
•Heartstrings Bits and Pieces
•Heartstrings Sentiment Bits
•Heartstrings Cardstock Stickers
•White Color Vibe Cardstock
•Orange Color Vibe Cardstock
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