Sharing Sibling Stories | A Patio Party Layout

Hello Pebbles Friends!! It’s Leanne here today and I really want to do my best to encourage you to document your stories with each layout. I love having journaling on a page but sometimes I find it necessary to hide my words, either for aesthetic reasons or simply because I want them private. Some of these stories are cute with potential for internet embarrassment for my older teens, so I am mindful of what I share. And sometimes, providing hidden journaling can add another element to my page as an interactive part of the story.

Tomorrow is International Siblings Day. I found this a perfect opportunity to document the relationship my two eldest children have with each other. The photo is almost three years old but it captures a single moment that explains so much about their friendship.

The two of them together create so much joy for the other. They are both complex individuals with layers of “crazy” mixed up within their personalities. The idea of these kids having layers, has then evolved onto the layout where I’ve created a file folder attached directly to the cardstock background. Adding journaling to the page after the layout has been created allowed the file folder to be used to it’s full potential.

Basic File Folder shape and supplies..

To create to file folder gather the following supplies: Pebbles Inc “Tab And Recipe Card Die”; white cardstock; Patio Party Collection. Optional: sewing machine.

step 1. Create the first file folder tab by running white cardstock through a manual die cutting machine (Big Shot).

step 2. Trim a piece of patterned paper from the 6×6 mini paper pad to fit inside the width of the file folder, but allow a 1cm overlap at the bottom.

step 3. Turn both pieces over and on the back of the patterned paper, draw a pencil line to mark where the fold will be scored. This overlap is what will secure the file folder to the layout. Score the line and then adhere the patterned paper to the cardstock folder. Add a machine stitched border.

step 4. Position the file folder onto the layout base.

Add adhesive to the overlap and secure to the cardstock base.

step 5. Embellish the front of the file folder with more layers of Patio Party ephemera and hand cut banners!

Inside the File Folder..

step 6. Die cut three more file folders to fit on the inside. Be aware to die cut one file folder on the reverse side of the patterned paper you want to use, so it will fit directly over and cover the front facing cardstock folder (navy blue with white dots). The second file folder is adhered to the white cardstock layout base and positioned off centre to the original folder when closed. See image above. The third file folder (gold stripe) has been trimmed and aligned with the navy patterned paper to create the illusion of more than one flap. However, the great thing about this is that it actually doesn’t have to be an illusion. If you need more space for the story or extra photos, try it as an alternative option.

step 7. The final step to creating the file folder is adding the journaling and a few embellishments.

Creating balance on the layout..

To complete the layout I have added a title to the bottom of the photo cluster, being mindful not to overlap the fold line and prevent the file folder from opening.

At the top of my page I’ve created a secondary cluster of elements to prevent the page from looking too bottom heavy. The two hearts simply represent brother and sister.

A machine stitched border around the edge of the white cardstock is also optional but I have used it to help connect and ground the colours in the photo.