Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #6: The Highlands (Day 1)

What's not to love about this layout of our visit to Kilburn Castle, Inverary, and Loch Lomond.

The heart was super easy to make because all of the pieces were precut, but you could make your own by using quarters of 3 1/4" circles.

Flip flaps allow me to add multiple photos to one photo mat to help extend my story.

I also used flip flaps on the second page to add more photos and journaling.

The Virtual Album Retreat 2026 kit is still available, while supplies last, along with all of the training videos.  It is a gift you will not regret for your favorite scrapbooker or family memory keeper!
 

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #5: Northern Ireland

Being a "student" was another reason that Virtual Album Retreat 2026 was so fun for me!  The only decisions that I had to make were which photos I planned to use where and whether I followed the instructions or not.  (Spoiler: I did not exactly.)

I was really happy that this layout design used a lot of Garden Green so I used Emerald Isle photos on it.

It didn't photograph well, but we splattered NEW Golden Glow shimmer brush on the two base pages, and then stamped the star stripes in Pool Party.  Such fun techniques! 

Since rules are meant to be broken, I added the 3"x4" photo cascade and stretched the 3" square photos in the directions to 4"x3" photos.  I couldn't stand to crop them down any smaller.

Using the alphabet set included in the retreat kit, I stamped my Northern Ireland title on scrap white cardstock and then added to the base page.  (I was afraid I wouldn't stamp it perfectly, but it turned out nicely.)

I love the interactive elements of this page and will cut my page protectors to make them open easily.

Be sure to include journaling of at least the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, and why, as applicable).

 Remember, the Virtual Album Retreat kit is still available HERE, plus you'll receive a thank you gift from me!

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #4

Continuing our 30th anniversary cruise around the British Isles, our next stop was Cork & Cobh, Ireland.  I was so excited to visit Ireland for the first time, since one of my great-grandmothers and all four of my paternal great-greats had immigrated from Ireland.  It was an extra special trip traveling with my parents.

We had fun at a local pub in Cork and visiting Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral.

On the right page, I used several 3"x4" flip flaps to show some of my favorite photos.

In Cobh, we stopped at St. Colman's Cathedral.  (I definitely inherited my love of churches and cathedrals from my mom, and the rest of the family indulges us!)

On a the crafty side, there are so many different techniques used on this layout!  We curled up the flower petals with a bone folder and random stamped flowers on the Cloud Cover hexagons.  These subtle details really add to the pages while keeping the photos and journaling at the forefront.

I used a four flip flaps to show off all of the phots I wanted to share.

You can still purchase the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, Happiness Is Here, and receive an extra $25 in Stampin' Rewards as a thank you gift from me?  Just click HERE!

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #3: Southampton, Portland, and Weymouth

To prepare for making the layouts in the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, I sat down with the instructions (which included suggested photo sizes) and my phone.  I took note of which layout best matched my photos and what size photos I needed.  (I use a free app called Live Collage to resize my photos/print several to a 4"x6" canvas.). I'm sharing them with you how I created them, not necessarily the order of the instructions or the order in which they were taught live at Virtual Album Retreat.  (I didn't participate live.)

We took a train from London to board the Regal Princess in Southampton.  We absolutely loved having a balcony!

When we stopped in Portland, we took a little hike in the afternoon to the top of a hill for a spectacular view.  (I love that the included 4"x4" flip flaps helped me photo journal more of our trip.)

That morning, we visited the quaint town of Weymouth on the River Wey.  It was absolutely darling!

Again, a 4"x4" flip flap helped me tell more our story.

I love how this analogous color scheme of the blues and greens with the neutral browns helps my photos POP.  You don't have to match your photos exactly to create a lovely layout.

Did you know that you can still purchase the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, Happiness Is Here, and receive $25 in Stampin' Rewards from me?  Just click HERE!

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #2: London

The first stop on our British Isles anniversary trip was London, and the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat is the perfect backdrop for our photos and memories.

Everything you need to complete this album is included except for ink, tools, adhesive, etc. (An additional supply list was provided, and I had most everything on it.)

To personalize the album, instead of using the precut tiles to stamp/spell SMILE, I cut my own to stamp London instead.  I also added 3"x3" flip flaps to be able to include my most important photos and my stories.  After all, the stories are the most important thing!

On the right page, I added 3"x4" flip flaps to incorporate more photos.

"Look, kids, Big Ben!" (Name that movie in the comments!)

The soft triadic scheme of red (Calypso Coral), yellow (Crushed Curry), and Blue (Hydrangea Hue) makes my photos POP, don't you think?

You know that you can still purchase the 2026 Virtual Album Retreat, Happiness Is Here, and receive $25 in Stampin' Rewards (only from yours truly, in addition to the $25 in Stampin' Rewards you'll receive from your purchase)!  Just click HERE!
 

Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #1

This year's Virtual Album Retreat 2026, Happiness Is Here, was so good!  I treated myself to it to scrapbook our 30th anniversary British Isles cruise last year, and it has not disappointed!  Yes, it is an investment, but it is worth every penny.  (You can still get the kit HERE and watch the videos on replay like I've done.  Anyone who orders it from me will receive an extra $25 in Stampin' Rewards as a thank you.) 

Layout 1 can be used as a two-page spread or as a front title page and back closing page (which is what I've chosen to do.)

The journaling is in a pocket behind the smaller photo.  I will cut my page protector to be able to access that little gem.

Everything you see came in the Virtual Album kit except ink, journaling pen, and adhesive (plus tools like a paper trimmer).  It was really easy to create this page following the directions.

Remember, the Virtual Album Retreat kit is still available HERE, plus you'll receive a thank you gift from me!

Monday Scrapbooking

A lovely group of ladies meets at a local library on the 3rd Monday of the month to craft, and I was able to join them yesterday since I had the day off.  It was a lot of fun, and I already knew most of them!

I brought my Weekend Adventures DSP and sticker sheet and was able to create another layout from our trip to Alaska last year (finishing the title at home).

I got most of my Thanksgiving layout put together there but then added the stamped sentiment and title at home.

If you're local and free, you should join them to craft on the third Mondays of the month!  Let me know if you need the details. 

Weekend Adventures Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #2

During this holiday break, it has been so nice to have both our daughters home and to have TIME together (and of course in my studio)!  I had a lot of fun creating the three layouts in the Weekend Adventures scrapbooking workshop kit, and here are the cut pieces for layout #2.

I followed the directions pretty closely but had to had some stamped branches from the Branching Out stamp set with Old Olive and Crumb Cake ink.

In addition, I stamped my title in Cajun Craze with the alphabet set from the 2025 Virtual Album Retreat.  I love mixing and matching old/new product to stretch my supplies!

PRO TIP: As you use your alphabet stamps, but the used, inky letters onto a larger block.  That way, when you're done stamping, you can clean all of the letters at once.  That saves time because I invariably clean a letter, put it back on the carrier sheet, and then realize that I need it again.  With this method, I can grabby the inky stamp and reuse it as many times as needed before cleaning them all at once and then putting them back properly.

Also, I love to use flip flaps to include more photos without needing more space!

PRO TIP:  I use a free app on my phone, called LiveCollage, to add two photos to one 4x6 space to get two 3x4 photos when I get them printed.  I try to keep 3x4 flip flaps in stock!

Spring Break Impressions Abloom Layout

At my recent virtual retreat, I taught the participants how to create this layout using only 6"x6" squares of the Impressions Abloom DSP and the coordinating stamp set/dies.  (They did have to add their own 12"x12" White Willow cardstock base pages.) 

It was a great way for me to scrapbook my fun spring break earlier this year!

Sorry for the glare, but I taught the participants how to use flip flaps to add more photos to their pages, so I needed to put the layout into the memory protectors.

Here are the flip flaps opened up to show more photos.

Please reach out to me if you'd like to know more!

Celebrate (OnStage) Layout

The Wildflower Birthday suite isn’t just for birthdays!  My team leader Melissa gave us this layout as a kit that we put together at OnStage for our pictures from the weekend.

We used a fun marker spatter technique on the Pretty in Pink cardstock.

Since I had so many photos, I'm using a 4"x6" and a 3"x4" flip flap to include more photos on the right page.

By using the flip flaps, I was able to add journaling on the card.

Who wants to join the fun?

Door County Layout

This layout was a lot of fun to make to showcase highlights of our two-night stay in Door County, Wisconsin.  With so many photos, I find that a grid-style layout works well.

I love how well the Country Woods stamp set and dies coordinate so nicely with the Lake Life collection!  I used the negative of the Lake Life cattails die cut and a blending brush with Acorn ink to get the cattails and grass on the title.  I blended a little Seabrook ink to soften the stark white and then stamped my title with Pine ink.  Again, I love the die cut additions for interest and texture.

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Chicago Layout

Earlier this summer, my husband and I took off to visit my cousin in Wisconsin and to drive around Lake Michigan.  (See the first layout of our adventure HERE.)  Beth & I spent our first full day together touring Chicago.

I had so much fun making this layout with the SU!/CTMH Lake Life collection.  I decided to add accents of silver to match The Bean and used a retired Cricut collection to create the skyline out of Pine and silver cardstock.

We had a great day, and I'm so glad I've already made this page to remember our fun time together in Chicago!

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Away We Go! Layout

My husband and I had the opportunity to go to Wisconsin to see my cousin and to travel around Lake Michigan this summer, so I am busy scrapbooking our adventures!  I am using the CTMH Lake Life collection, available to former CTMH customers through Stampin' Up!

This first layout uses a sketch from the final Make It From Your Heart sketchbook.  I added the states we traveled through on the left page with a retired stamp set.  I've also covered up most of the journaling and photos because we had a bit of an incident the first night of our vacation.  Everything is fine!  I didn't want to publicly share all the details, but I definitely wanted the story and photos in our scrapbook.

Don't be afraid to document the "bumps in the road" of your life in your scrapbooks!  You get to choose who views what you share.  (You can also write journaling to be pulled out of pockets or behind the pages so that the casual viewer doesn't read all the nitty gritty details.)

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