Merry Christmas | Merry & Bright | Raquel Bowman

Hey everyone, it’s Raquel here today sharing a new layout with you featuring the stunning Merry and Bright Christmas collection. I am absolutely loving documenting some Christmas memories lately and getting their stories onto paper.

Here is the layout I have created for you today:

This layout is documenting the love between my two kiddies and their little cousin. This bond has been so strong since he has been born but has grown stronger and stronger by the day. To the point that the kiddies now ask to see each other nearly every day of the week.

The base of the layout is created using my go-to white card stock however I chose to frame the layout with the Star Bright paper – I absolutely adore a gingham print and this one is just gorgeous. Once the base was framed and a border was stitched I worked on my cut file. This particular cut file is from the Cut to You store. I love the design of this and that the stack of presents allow you to incorporate multiple patterned papers into it.

I used a combination of 6×8 paper pad papers and 12×12” designs. I backed each present as a single print design making this process a little easier. The holly and berries were using a patterned paper however that gorgeous red design in the berries was made using one of the 3×4 cards in the Journaling cards set.

I backed the photo in my fave print of the collection the Jingle all the Way paper – I have always loved a diagonal stripe and this one is just truly gorgeous. The bonus is that we can have this in the 6×8” paper pad and the 12×12 paper! To the approx 3×4” photo I also added a ‘sweet’ tab from the ephemera pack. I also fussy cut flowers from the Joy to the World paper to cluster to the top left of the photo.

I always love to document a story on my layouts, however the design of this layout and how it turned out while I was creating allowed little room for a lot of journaling. So I decided to use on of the pocket cards to create a tag to add my story to. I then hid that behind the photo making sure to only adhere on the edges.

To help balance the layout it needed something in the top right corner. I created an embellishment cluster featuring ephemera and a fussy cut holly and berries. I also added wood veneer stars from my stash.

How adorable are the florals in every Cocoa Vanilla Collection? I love the way we can layer and embellish a layout using the florals that have been fussy cut. I know fussy cutting isn’t for everyone, but boy the extra florals to have as embellishments are sure worth the while of fussy cutting.

I have tried on my last few layouts to use the cute Santa head and larger Christmas tree ephemera piece. They finally found their home on this layout….I love how they look on this layout. Although they are a larger embellishment, I do not feel like they overtake or take away from the focal point of this layout which is of course my photo.

Thanks so much for stopping by the CVS blog today. I hope that you have been inspired by this layout.

Wishing you and your family a safe and healthy Christmas and New year. I will see you in 2021 with a new layout. I don’t know about you but I am hoping for a much better, and happier 2021 … fingers crossed

Raquel xxx