Category Archives: Altenew

Sailing Themed 6”x8” Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

An Easy Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout for Beginners to Paper Crafting

Update 11-2-2023: When I originally made the video for this project and shared this blog post, I was waiting for some of my photos to put in the photo pockets for the left-hand side of the spread. I didn’t have the entire two-page layout ready to show you at that time. However, I just finished the left-hand side of the page, so I’m updating this post to show you how both pages look together. The video only covers the right-hand side of the page, but as you can see, the left-hand side is easy; it’s mostly photos in the photo pockets with just a little bit of extra embellishing.

6x8 Sailing Themed Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout Featuring Supplies by Graphic 45, Altenew, Pinkfresh Studio, Simple Stories and Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries

6×8 Sailing Themed Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout Featuring Supplies by Graphic 45, Altenew, Pinkfresh Studio, Simple Stories and Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries

Free Video Tutorial for How to Create This Sailing Themed 6”x8” Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout

Type of Project: Paper Crafts Project


Skill Level: Easy Enough for Total Beginners


My husband, Mike, and I sailed from Colonial Beach, Virginia all the way to Ashkelon, Israel in a 10 meter / 34’ sailboat called Viva. I’m making a series of mini scrapbook albums to document the experiences from our journey.


This is a pocket page scrapbooking layout that I created to fit in a 6”x8” page protector made by Scrapbook.com. This configuration features two 3”x4”pockets stacked on top of each other on the right-hand side of the page and one taller 3”x8” pocket on the left-hand side of the page.


On the facing page is another pocket page; the page is mostly made up of photos in pockets, and I didn’t do much embellishing to them. So on this page, I’m going to devote most of the space to journaling blocks so I have space to write about all the photos from both pages.


This layout is a super easy paper crafts project that is reasonably quick to put together. If you want to try making a scrapbooking layout similar to this one, you’ll need a photo, a 6”x8” page protector, a 6”x8” album to put your page in, some adhesive, and whichever pretty papers and embellishments you’d like to use for telling your story.


I used stamps, inks, a die cutter, and dies to use for decorating my pages, but these are not necessities. You might prefer to use stickers, washi tapes or actual memorabilia from your life; I think it’s better to use embellishments from your actual adventures, in cases where you have them, than purchasing ready-made embellishments. You can embellish your pages from meaningful things in your life; use items like concert tickets or theater tickets from an event you attended, bits of confetti from a wedding or party you went to, or bits of dried botanicals saved from a bouquet your sweetheart gave you.


Below, I’ve provided a complete list of supplies I used in case you want to duplicate any of the elements shown on this page; however, there are many other options that would probably be better suited to complement your photos when you document your own life experiences. So please use the supplies that would work best for you.


Craft Supplies You’ll Need for Duplicating This Scrapbooking Layout:

Craft Supplies for Making a 6x8-inch Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout Featuring a Sailing Photo and Ocean-Themed Scrapbooking Supplies

Craft Supplies for Making a 6×8-inch Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout Featuring a Sailing Photo and Ocean-Themed Scrapbooking Supplies


Stamps Needed for Making the Sailing Themed Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout

Stamps Needed for Making the Sailing Themed Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout


Ink Pads for Making This 6x8-Inch Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout

Ink Pads for Making This 6×8-Inch Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout


Full Disclosure: Some (but not all!!) of the products I used to make this layout were provided to me for free by Graphic 45, Pinkfresh Studio and Scrapbook.com. I love all 3 of these companies’ products and typically pay the usual asking price for them; I am not recommending them because I got them for free, but because they are absolutely perfect for my projects and because I really, truly, wholeheartedly love them!!


Also, please be aware that the links I’ve used in this post are affiliate links. What that means: I will make a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click through these links and make a purchase. My heartfelt thanks to the many readers who support this blog with your purchases! I am truly grateful!

Put a Photo in the Upper Right-Hand Page Protector:

This pocket page layout features a picture of me that Mike took of me standing on the deck of our boat with the sails down. I put this picture in the upper right-hand pocket of the page. Easy peasy! But you can embellish your photo if you like; sometimes if I have a photo with lots of “dead space” in it, I’ll adhere a stamped embellishment, a sticker or a group of enamel dots onto it to dress it up a bit. In this case, I just put the plain picture into the pocket protector and called it good.

How to Make the 3″x4″ Journaling Block to Put in the Lower 3″x4″ Pocket:

In the lower right-hand pocket, I made a layered journaling block. Follow these steps to make a similar journaling block for your own layout:

  • Make the Lower Layer: Cut a piece of patterned paper to 3″x4″ and ink around the edges with a coordinating ink color. I used the “Sail Away” paper from Graphic 45’s 8″x8″ “Sun Kissed” Collector Edition pad, but you can use any patterned paper you like.


  • Make the Middle Layer: Cut a piece of solid-colored cardstock to 2.5″ x 3.5″ and ink around the edges with a coordinating color. I used a piece of cardstock from the “Warms” collection by Scrapbook.com and “Carved Pumpkin” Distress Oxide ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries.


  • Make the Upper Layer: Stamp a journaling block image and a sentiment together onto the same piece of white cardstock using a dark color of ink. I used Altenew’s Sapphire ink for this (not pictured). The stamps I used are Altenew’s Journal Card Builder stamp set (now discontinued) and Altenew’s Magical Memories Outlines Stamp Set. Die cut the stamped cardstock into an interesting shaped journaling block. I used one of the label dies from Echo Park’s Happy Day Labels Die Set, but there are many other dies that could work for this.


    You can add emphasis around the edges of the die-cut shape by drawing around the edge with a marker; however, I recommend doing this with a marker that is getting dried out and close to the end of its life, because this technique can wreak havoc on your markers. You don’t want to wreck a brand new, expensive marker by doing this.


Tape the 3 layers together, complete your journaling, and add the journaling block to your page protector.

How to Make the 3″x8″ Journaling Block:

To fill the pocket that extends down the entire left-hand side of the page, I made a separate layered journaling block using the “Turtle Time” patterned paper from Graphic 45’s Sun Kissed 8”x8” Collector’s Edition Pack, plus a die-cut frame, die cut ephemera, stamped images and stickers.


Follow these steps to make a similar journaling block:

  • Cut your background paper to 3″x8″.
  • Ink around the edges of your background paper and set it aside until the ink is thoroughly dry.
  • Attach a border sticker close to the upper edge of the background paper. I used a cardstock sticker from Graphic 45’s “Make a Splash” collection, but there are many outstanding border stickers or similar embellishments like washi tape that you could use for this.
  • Make two die cut pieces using Pinkfresh Studio’s Mini Slimline Stitched Scalloped Rectangles: You’ll make the inner piece using ordinary lined paper and the frame piece using the Graphic 45 “Make a Splash” navy blue paper, or the papers of your choice. Attach them at an angle to the background paper using paper-friendly adhesive.
  • Stick a sticker at the lower edge of the framed journaling block. I used a sticker that says “Sail Away” from the Simple Vintage Seas sticker book by Simple Stories.
  • Stamp a sentiment, cut it out and attach it near the top of your journaling block. I stamped “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” on white cardstock using Weathered Wood Distress Ink.
  • Stamp an oval label using “Carved Pumpkin” Distress Oxide. Allow it to dry.
  • Stamp a sentiment using “Pearlescent Sky Blue” Brilliance ink onto the stamped oval label image. Allow it to dry.
  • Cut out the stamped oval label image using your decorative scissors or the die that corresponds to your oval label stamp.
  • Attach your stamped sentiments and die-cut embellishments to your background paper, layering them over each other and over the other elements on the paper.
  • Complete your journaling and put the finished journaling block in its pocket.

Finishing Touches for This Pocket Page Scrapbooking Layout

I have a love/hate relationship with pocket page scrapbooking. I really love the ease and simplicity of this approach to scrapbooking, but there are a couple of things about it that drive me bonkers. First, I hate it that you can see the page beneath the one you’re looking at through the seams of the pockets. And second, I sometimes get annoyed at the rigidity of the grid-style layouts.


There’s a simple solution for both of these annoyances: Don’t feel limited to sticking your page elements inside the pockets. You can embellish outside the pockets, too. Once I figured this out, I started to enjoy pocket page scrapbooking a LOT more.


On this page, after all three of my pockets were filled, I stuck a sticker strip in between the two 3″x4″ pockets.


I didn’t stick any stickers overtop of that other gap between page elements because I still have to make a layout for the other side of this page protector, and I will need to use the opening to add stuff to the other side. The jury is out on whether I will stick more stickers overtop of this opening or leave well enough alone. We’ll see how it goes!


So go ahead and stick some extra stickers on the outsides of your pockets if you want to (or not). Just don’t block the opening to the other side if you want to have a layout on the back of your page.

Voila! Your pocket page scrapbooking layout is now complete. I hope you’ll enjoy adding it to your scrapbook and reliving your memories as you look at it.

Thanks so much for taking a look at my project. I hope you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your interest!

Find More Sailing and Travel Themed Scrapbooking Projects:

Posted By: Amy Solovay


This page was last updated on 11-2-2023.

International Scrapbooking Day Mood Board Challenge Entry

Explore Diamond Head, Oahu -- Hawaii Travel Themed Scrapbooking Layout

Explore Diamond Head, Oahu — Hawaii Travel Themed Scrapbooking Layout

I created this scrapbooking layout to enter in Art_Teacher’s International Scrapbooking Day 2023 Mood Board Challenge (now closed) over at A Cherry on Top Crafts. The challenge was to use the colors from the mood board, which are turquoise and purple, plus to choose 3 additional sources of inspiration.

I was inspired by the moon in the mood board photo #10 (used a large circle), the 5-petaled flowers in the mood board photo #1 at top left (used a 5-petaled flower), and the body of water in the mood board photo #3 (so I used a photo that also has a body of water in it).

Craft Supplies You’ll Need for Creating a Similar Scrapbooking Layout:

This is a one-photo layout, so you’ll need a photo to scrap.

  • Flower Embellishment: There are many ways to create flower embellishments you can use for this. You can buy ready-made flower embellishments from brands like Graphic 45 and Prima. You can also make your own paper flowers using stamps or dies. In this case, I ink blended some heavy cardstock using Pinkfresh Studio’s Mermaid Cove ink, and then used the inky cardstock for die-cutting my flower with the Layered Flowers die set by Waffle Flower Crafts.


  • Washi Tape — You can use any washi tape you happen to have. I used a washi tape by Jen Hadfield that is now discontinued, but there are many available washi tape designs that would give you excellent results in this project.


  • Border Designs: To make a project similar to the one pictured above, you’ll need two border designs that harmonize with each other but are not an exact match for each other. I used Pinkfresh Studio’s Lacey Edgers dies to create these, and I also used Decorative Scalloped Scissors by EK Success. There are many other possible ways to create borders that would work for this sort of project.


  • Cardstock and Patterned Papers: You’ll need a variety of patterned papers; if you are creating a Hawaii-themed or travel-themed layout, it would make sense to choose a tropical-themed or travel-themed paper collection to work with, but these are not your only choices. You can use basically any paper from any collection if you are careful to choose paper designs that harmonize with your photos. I used papers from the Simple Stories Coastal collection, which is now out of stock at every store where I usually buy scrapbooking supplies. I think Pinkfresh Studio’s Sunshine on My Mind Collection looks like an outstanding paper collection to use for scrapping summer vacation photos, but you have many choices to use for this purpose.


  • Alphabet Letter Dies: There are many different dies, stamps or letter stickers you could use for creating your page title. I used Altenew’s Simple Alphabet die set.


  • Pens or Markers: If you want to journal on your page, it would be nice to do your journaling with a pen in a color that coordinates beautifully with your layout. If you aren’t sure what kind of pen to get, I recommend using Sakura Gelly Rolls or Tombow’s Fudenokuke brush pens. I’ve used the Fudenosuke pens on this page.


  • 6″x8″ Scrapbooking Binder / Album and Page Protectors If you’re scrapping 6″x8″ pages like this one, you’ll want to have sheet protectors and an album to put them in. My layout is housed in a Sn@p! album by Simple Stories.


  • Stamps: The “Explore” stamp is by Citrus Twist Kits.

I am planning to add this page to my Hawaii travel-themed mini scrapbook album and also to our list of Hawaiian Travel and Vacation Scrapbook Ideas shortly. If travel-themed scrapbooking pages are of interest to you, I invite you to check them out.

Thanks so much for checking out my project. I appreciate your interest!

DIY Thank You Card With Sunset Silhouette Design

Guest designer Laura Jane is hosting an Inspiration Challenge over at the Altenew blog. I have been excited about the challenge since the day she posted it, because it features one of my favorite design themes — a sunset! Check this out:


Inspiration Challenge Sunset Image by Laura Jane for Altenew

Inspiration Challenge Sunset Image by Laura Jane for Altenew


That’s the Inspiration Challenge Image Laura Jane posted. She also posted a bunch of amazing purple-ish, pink-ish cards featuring dark silhouetted elements. I loved them so much!


I looked through my paper stash to see what I could find. I have a bunch of Altenew papers, but none of them are quite the right colors for this — so I ended up using papers that I colored using various dyes and inks, including some Altenew inks and others.


Years ago, I used to teach textile design classes to fashion design majors at California Design College. We did a lot of fabric dyeing in those classes. At the end of class, I’d usually have leftover dyes. Instead of just pouring the extra dyes down the drain, I used to use them to create paintings and designs on paper.


I used most of those hand-dyed papers long ago, but I still do have a few of them left in my craft supplies stash waiting for just the right projects to use them in.


Hand Dyed & Ink Blended Papers

Hand Dyed & Ink Blended Papers


This was one of those just right projects. I chose one of these striking hand-dyed papers to use for my darker silhouetted images; the paper has striated shades of deep purple and dusky pink that are reminiscent of the colors you see outdoors at twilight.


And I used another one of these papers to start me off with the background, but I added some spritzes of Altenew ink colors diluted with water — Ruby Red, Coral Berry, and Frosty Pink. I also used some of Tim Holtz’s Dusty Concord Distress Oxide ink to give my card background a more purplish appearance.

Here’s how my card turned out:


DIY Thank You Card in Sunset Colors With Craft Supplies by Altenew

DIY Thank You Card in Sunset Colors With Craft Supplies by Altenew

Craft Supplies You’ll Need for Making a Similar DIY Thank You Card

  • Papers: You could use ink blended or hand dyed papers like I did, or you could use patterned papers for this. You’ll also need some white or colored cardstock to make your card base.
  • Inks: I used Altenew’s Coral Berry, Ruby Red and Frosty Pink dye inks plus Tim Holtz’s Dusty Concord Distress Oxide ink — but you can use any inks you like.
  • Dies: “Sweet Blooms” Die Set by Altenew — This set is so pretty and so versatile; I highly recommend it.
  • Sentiment Stamps: I used the sentiments from Altenew’s “Painted Rose” stamp set, which appears to have been discontinued. I really love this one, but if you missed out on getting it, there are many other possible sentiment stamps you could use.
  • Scalloped Circle Die or Scalloped Scissors: You’ll need to cut out your stamped sentiment in some manner. If you have a scalloped circle that’s the right size, that would be ideal. I happen to have stencils and old-fashioned decorative scissors that I like using for this — so I used scalloped scissors by EK Success to fussy cut around my stamped sentiment.

So there you have it: That’s my inspiration challenge entry. I hope you enjoyed taking a look at it. Thank you so much for dropping by! I appreciate your interest in my project.


Posted by: Amy Solovay

Card Design for Altenew’s August Inspiration Challenge: Coral, Peach and Brown

Floral Slimline Card for the August 2022 Inspiration Challenge at Altenew -- Stamps and Inks by Altenew. Card Design Is by Amy Solovay.

Floral Slimline Card for the August 2022 Inspiration Challenge at Altenew — Stamps and Inks by Altenew. Card Design Is by Amy Solovay.

The lovely people over at Altenew typically host an Inspiration Challenge each month. I entered the challenge in August 2022, and you can see the challenge image posted below. Looking at that image, you can see the colors that challenge participants were invited to use:

Color Challenge Image from the Inspiration Challenge at the Altenew Website

Color Challenge Image from the Inspiration Challenge at the Altenew Website

Isn’t this color combination just spectacular? I LOVE IT! I was super inspired to make projects using these colors, but it has been so rainy and dreary here on our little mountaintop that I was only able to get photos of one of the projects I made. It’s a slimline card featuring florals from Altenew’s Simple Flowers Add-On stamp set.

Close-Up Photo of the Floral Slimline Thank You Card Design by Amy Solovay; Stamps and Inks by Altenew

Close-Up Photo of the Floral Slimline Thank You Card Design by Amy Solovay; Stamps and Inks by Altenew

I also used Altenew inks to stamp the flowers and the greenery; I used Frosty Pink, Coral Berry and Ruby Red to stamp the flower petals and Frayed Leaf paired with Forest Glades to stamp the leaves and stems.


I fussy-cut the botanical elements using Fiskars Paper Edgers in the Mini Scallop design.


The “Thank You” sentiment is from an older Altenew stamp set called “Painted Rose” that is no longer available for sale. I stamped the “thank” in Walnut Stain Distress ink and the “You” using Altenew’s Coral Berry Crisp Dye Ink. I stamped both of these words together onto cardstock that I lightly inked with Rose Gold Delicata ink; then I traced around it using a circle stencil; then I fussy-cut it out using scalloped decorative scissors by EK Success. I colored in the scalloped edge of the circle using a brown brush marker.

Close-Up Detail Photo of the Floral Slimline Thank You Card by Amy Solovay -- Stamps and Inks by Altenew

Close-Up Detail Photo of the Floral Slimline Thank You Card by Amy Solovay — Stamps and Inks by Altenew

Thanks so much for dropping by my blog today! I appreciate your interest.


Want to see more card making ideas and paper craft ideas featuring Altenew stamps and supplies? If so, I invite you to check out the following pages on our website:

Must-Have Craft Supplies by Altenew