Step-by-Step Ephemera and Sticker-Based Grid Style Scrapbook Layout

Hello, crafty friend! I’m Adrienne Boese, better known online as Alice Scraps Wonderland. Today I’m sharing how to create an easy, but beautiful, scrapbook layout using the Spellbinders Rosie’s Jubilee collection. You won’t need any specialized tools to create this easy layout, other than your basic paper trimmer, scissors and adhesives—making it perfect for scrapbooking beginners who don’t have all the fancy tools yet, or pros who just want an easy and quick layout!

We’ll be making use of paper layering techniques to create beautiful, organic embellishment clusters that feel more contained thanks to that grid layout. I’ll be scrapbooking one photo on this page, but you are more than welcome to replace one or two more of the embellishment clusters with photos. And if you have memorabilia from a trip that you want to include, you can add those into the embellishment clusters too!

My one big tip for creating layered embellishment clusters is that size matters. You always want to have a larger ephemera piece or several medium-sized ones that anchor your embellishment cluster as the bottom layers. Then you can layer smaller elements on top of and around this. Foam adhesive will be your best friend during this layering process.

Let’s get started.

Step-by-Step Process for a Grided Embellishment Cluster Scrapbook Page

• Select one of Rosie’s Jubilee 12×12 Designer Paper Pack papers for a background paper and trim it down by 1/8 of an inch on each side using a paper trimmer.

TIP: I recommend choosing a simple and less busy pattern for this background paper, so that the smaller squares of patterned paper that create the grid pop and don’t get lost in a jungle of patterns.

• Rough up the edges of this paper with your scissors by dragging one of the blades back and forth along the edge of the paper. Make sure to be careful and not to cut a finger!
• Adhere this patterned paper to a piece of 12×12 solid cardstock (I chose white, but you can use any color that coordinates with this collection) using roller adhesive, keeping the adhesive away from the very edge of the patterned paper.
• Distress the edges of the patterned paper even more by using your fingers to gently push on the edges, dog-earing the corners, and/or tearing little bits and folding the torn edges. This will create a lovely distressed look.
• Trim your photo down to 3 ¾ inches square.
• Trim another piece of cardstock to 3 7/8 inches square. (I used white here, but you can use any color you like that makes your photo pop!)
• Matte the photo onto the white cardstock square using roller adhesive.

• Start creating the 4 blocks of patterned paper with the Jubilee 6×6 Designer Paper Pack. Take 4 sheets and trim them to 4 ½ inches square.
• Take another 4 sheets from the 6×6 pad and trim them to 4 ¼ inches square.
• Rough up the edges on all 8 sheets of these papers with your scissors, like you did for the large background paper.
• Distress the edges of these 8 sheets further with your fingers, like you did for the large background paper.
• Then adhere a 4 ¼ inch square on top of a 4 ½ inch square paper with roller adhesive. Be sure to keep the adhesive in the center of the paper, so that you can layer ephemera between the layers of papers later.
• Adhere the photo to one of these layered paper squares using foam adhesive.

TIP: I recommend using thinner foam adhesive, such as 1millimeter and 2 millimeter thick foam. This will allow your page to have dimension, without being so thick that it takes up a ton of room in a scrapbook album.

• Adhere the layered paper square with the photo to one corner of your background page using more foam adhesive. Just use a little bit of adhesive on the center of the back of the papers, so you can layer ephemera under and in between the layers later if you like.
• Then adhere another layered paper square diagonally from the photo with foam adhesive. (For example, if you place the photo in the top right, then the layered square of papers in the bottom left should also be adhered with foam.)
• Adhere the other two squares using roller adhesive to the final two corners of your scrapbook page. Remember to use only a bit of adhesive in the center so you can add layers of ephemera under and in between the papers later if you wish.

• Add some of the Jubilee Diecut Cardstock Ephemera around the photo, layering it both under/in between the layered papers and on top of the photo to create an embellishment cluster around your photo. Use both roller and foam adhesive to attach the ephemera.
• Place a sticker from the Jubilee Sticker Book on your photo cluster.
• Add a Jubilee Chipboard Embellishment to your photo cluster as well.

• On the paper square across from your photo, add a larger piece of the Diecut Ephemera (like the postcard) with some foam adhesive.
• Take one of the larger tags in the Jubilee Diecut Ephemera pack and cut it in half with your scissors.

• Using roller adhesive, adhere the top of the tag above the postcard, layering the cut edge just under the postcard. Then do the same with the bottom of the tag, layering it below the postcard, hiding the cut edge. This will make the tag appear longer than it is.
• Take one of the frames from the Jubilee Chipboard Embellishments and put a little foam adhesive onto the back of it—this will add more dimension to your layers. Use a minimal amount of foam adhesive so you can layer ephemera under the frame later.
• Then place the chipboard frame onto your embellishment cluster with the tag.

• Add more of the Diecut Ephemera and some of the Diecut Sentiments to your embellishment cluster using both roller and foam adhesive. Be sure to layer it on top of and below the chipboard frame to create an organic layered look.
• Add a sticker or stickers from the Sticker Book to this embellishment cluster as well. If you used the postcard ephemera piece, I recommend adding one of the postage stamp stickers to it!

TIP: You can shape banner sentiments and leaf sprigs with your fingers to make them more life-like. Simply hold the ephemera between two fingers and pull it through, using your fingers to curve the ephemera up or down (much like curling a ribbon with scissors when wrapping gifts).

• Move to the layered paper cluster diagonal from the one you just worked on and add some of the larger Diecut Ephemera to the square using roller and foam adhesive. I chose some large and medium-sized tickets, tags, and floral sprigs.
• Add a frame from the Chipboard Embellishments set over the top of the ephemera, using a bit of foam adhesive to pop it up more.

• Add more of the Diecut Ephemera and a Diecut Sentiment under and on top of the chipboard frame using foam and roller adhesive. You can shape any banner or leaf sprigs with your fingers.
• Add some stickers from the Sticker Book, like sentiments or a tiny binder clip.

TIP: If you want to shape long sentiment stickers with a little curl to one end of it, brush some cornstarch on the back of the portion you don’t want to “stick” to the paper. The cornstarch will get rid of the stickiness. Then curl that end with your finger and add the sticker. If you accidentally get too much cornstarch on the back and it won’t stick where you need it to, just use a small dot of liquid adhesive to help you adhere your sticker.

• Move to the final square and add some larger Diecut Ephemera using foam and roller adhesive, like some flowers, a frame, and the camera.
• Choose one of the large script Diecut Sentiments and add it to the top of this embellishment cluster with foam adhesive.
• Add a Chipboard Embellishment sentiment sticker to this embellishment cluster.
• Look over your page—if you feel like you are missing anything in any of the embellishment clusters, add some ephemera or stickers from the Sticker Book or Chipboard Embellishments to fill in those spaces that feel bare.

• Take a bow or butterfly from the Jubilee Butterfly & Bow Embellishments and add a small piece of foam adhesive to the center back.
• Then using a small paintbrush, brush some cornstarch onto the back of the rest of the sticker.

• Add your butterfly or bow to the embellishment cluster with the large script sentiment.

• Add some of the small confetti dots from the Jubilee Puffy Stickers all over your layout. Odd-numbered groupings look pleasing to the eye, so add 3 dots on and around each embellishment cluster.
• If you want to add any handwritten journaling, you can add it to one of the many pieces of ephemera, or write it on some cardstock and trim it down with your paper trimmer, then add it to your layout with roller or foam adhesive.

TIP: Using an awl or paper piercer tool is handy for picking up and helping place little stickers, like these puffy dots or the small Chipboard or Sticker Book stickers.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Creating embellishment clusters in a grid format makes layering easy and accessible, especially when you don’t need specialized tools. The gridded layered papers are pleasing for those who love structure, while the embellishment clusters on top of the papers can be organic and fun!

If you are visual like me, play with your embellishments before adhering them, testing out different pieces and shapes to see what you love most. This type of layout should be all about play and experimentation, so have some fun with it!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and to check out my blog for another easy scrapbook layout idea using Rosie’s Jubilee collection. Until next time, happy crafting!

Adrienne

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies

Foam adhesive (1-2mm thick), roller adhesive (dotted and/or permanent), liquid adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer, small paintbrush, cornstarch, awl/paper piercer tool