Scrapbook Layout 12x12 - Play Time

I had so much fun creating this layout… I went into it with a bit of a horizontal design idea in mind, and I really wanted to pull out my black letter stickers (only because I'm on a mission to use all my letters stickers up).

I let the colours in the photos inspire my choice of papers and cardstock. So I went with soft peaches, warm browns, creamy whites, and subtle sage/blue tones. Everything I used was from a mixture of older papers and embellishments I had in my stash.

• Peach and soft orange – ties in with the warmth of the photos.
  
  
• Cream and white – keeps everything light and airy.
  
  
• Touches of sage/blue – blend in the background of the photos, and creates a little contrast without overpowering.
  
  
• Black title – Adds the pop and stops it from feeling too soft.

1. Layout Design:

Instead of a traditional centred design, everything runs horizontally across the page. The title “Play Time”, slight off centered towards the right, anchors the photos together.

2. Photo storytelling:

I used three photos of the same moment, which I think is such a great storytelling technique. I opted to have one larger 6x4" and the other two smaller 3x4".

These are Techniques I used:

Layering:

I incorporated many layers of papers such as:

• Patterned papers tucked behind photos.
  
  
• Ledger-style and grid papers for subtle structure.
  
  
• Small tabs and strips adding interest without bulk

Cluster building

I created two main embellishment clusters:

• Top right (flowers, textures, gauze-like element).
  
  
• Mid-left (butterfly + small embellishments)

This keeps the page balanced diagonally, which is really pleasing to the eye.

Using a mixture of textures:

One thing I found myself naturally leaning into with this layout was mixing textures… and it’s something I don’t always plan, but it makes such a difference.

Do you ever notice how a layout can feel a bit flat, even when you’ve got nice papers and embellishments? A lot of the time, it just needs a bit of texture to bring it to life.

On this page, I’ve mixed a few different things:

• soft paper florals
• that gauze/fabric-style piece in the cluster
• smooth cardstock and patterned papers
• and then a few little dimensional bits like enamel dots and the butterfly

Nothing too over the top… but together, it creates that layered, touchable feel.

I think the trick (well… what works for me anyway 😄) is not using all the textures everywhere. I tend to keep them tucked into my clusters so it draws your eye in without making the whole page feel busy.

Also… mixing “soft” textures with more structured ones really helps. So something like gauze or fabric paired with cleaner paper pieces—it gives you that balance.

Curious… do you tend to stick to paper, or do you like adding in things like fabric, thread, or even a bit of messy texture?

Want the Sketch for this layout?

I’ve share each layout over on the Scrap of Your Life Facebook Page and the layout sketches in the  Creative Craft Community on Facebook so you can create this layout too. 

The sketch is only available inside the community (not on the business page), so if you’d like to grab it and have a play, come join us over there 😊