Hello, Simple Stories friends! Gloria Parra here today sharing a new layout featuring the fabulous Sand and Sea collection. I absolutely adore the soft vintage feel mixed with classic seaside elements—it makes this collection perfect for documenting beach vacations, family adventures by the ocean, and all those little summer memories you’ll treasure forever.
For this layout, I wanted the gorgeous watercolor waves to become the star of the background. I started with one of the beautiful water-patterned papers and carefully tore it into four sections, following the natural movement of the waves. I distressed the torn edges slightly to give them a softer, more organic look. Then I adhered two of the wave pieces at the top of a white cardstock background and the remaining two at the bottom, creating the illusion of the ocean surrounding the center of the page.
Next, I matted my 4” x 6” photo using one of the 6” x 8” patterned papers, adding just enough contrast to help it stand out. I tucked the photo behind the first wave layer on the right side of the layout, making it the focal point of the design.
To add more layers and visual interest, I cut three tags from the cut-apart sheet. Two of them became part of the cluster at the bottom left of the page, while the third was placed near the top to hold a small embellishment cluster and provide a spot for my journaling.
I then began embellishing around my photo. The adorable crab immediately caught my eye because my daughter absolutely loves searching for and catching little crabs at the beach—and she was even holding one in this photo! I built my main cluster using the lighthouse, shells, sailboat, and other seaside elements, then finished it with the foam title “Tides + Treasures,” which perfectly captures this sweet memory.
Moving to the left side of the page, I created a second embellishment cluster around the “Seas the Day” tag. I layered chipboard stickers and ephemera, including the beach umbrella, seagull, lifebuoy, and a few additional accents to create a balanced composition across the layout.
At the top of the page, I finished with a smaller cluster around the journaling tag, adding just a few embellishments to tie everything together while leaving space to record the story behind these precious beach memories.
To complete the layout, I scattered several shells and tiny heart embellishments throughout the page. These small details help guide the eye across the design while adding extra texture and a playful finishing touch.
I hope this layout inspires you to pull out the beautiful Sand & Sea collection and start documenting your own seaside adventures. It truly is the perfect collection for preserving all those sunny, sandy, memory-filled summer days. Happy crafting!
Supplies Used
- Simple Stories Sand and Sea 12” x 12” Collection Kit
- Simple Stories Sand and Sea Foam Stickers
- Simple Stories Sand and Sea 6” x 8” Paper Pad
- Simple Stories Sand and Sea Bits & Pieces
- Simple Stories Sand and Sea Chipboard Bits & Pieces
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