I had two adorable photos of my little Yorkie, Piper, that I’d been saving to scrap, and the Hearth & Hollow Collection turned out to be the perfect match. From the circular title element I enlarged, to the enamel mushrooms, foliage, and flowers, every detail beautifully complemented my photos. I usually gravitate toward rectangular and square patterned papers, but lately I’ve been challenging myself to break that habit. For this layout, I created a double-layered patterned paper oval to anchor my journaling card and most of the embellishments. For the smaller photo, I used the pen tool to cut a custom shape from a frame element so I could tuck Piper’s picture neatly underneath.

Process Video

As I worked on the first page, I kept staring at the embellishments, feeling like something was tugging at my memory. Then it hit me! Two years ago, I had bought Piper a fox plush toy, and just this month I added two more of the same line, a raccoon and a squirrel/beaver. They looked exactly like the framed critters in the Hearth & Hollow Collection! I immediately grabbed Piper, gathered her plushie trio, and staged a quick photo session on the couch where she usually naps. She wasn’t thrilled about being recruited for photos, but I still managed to get a few shots, even if she looks a little unimpressed.

In the end, I placed the framed critters between the larger photo and the two smaller ones of Piper. I love when a layout falls into place so easily from when the idea sparks, you take the photos, edit them, and pull everything together on the canvas all in the same day.