Recent Blog Posts

Mixing the You Are My Sunshine and Sunkissed Collections!!!

Hey, y'all! It's Jinny here today; and while I'm anxiously anticipating the arrival of the new fall collection, I've put together a page inspired by a menagerie of Pretty Little Studio collections. I've been designing with all of these fabulous goodies now for over a decade, so you'll have no reason to challenge the fact that this layout uses FOURTEEN of those collections. Yes, I said 14! Many of them are no longer available, so I won't be able to link them to current products in the shop; but I'll still put them in italics and hope that they challenge you to use up your own PLS stash and/or simply inspire a design you can call your own. Without further adieu...

Super Sweet Sugar Plum Collection...

Hey Scrappy Friends! MandaJane with you today. I have a layout for you today, made with the You Are My Sunshine Collection. Am I allowed to say that this is my absolute favorite Pretty Little Studio collection? Because this collection is so colorful and happy. It just feels like ME! And that will always make me want to create. Like I was telling you in my last blog post, we recently went up to Tennessee to have vacation with family. One of the things we did was swim in Aunt Betty's pool several afternoons to try to combat some of that heat! These are some of the photos from our swimming pool afternoons!

Sunshine & Summer Adventures with Pretty Little Studio There’s something about bright sunshine, cheerful colors, and adorable woodland friends that instantly makes you smile! Today's card celebrates everything we love about summer while showcasing the beautiful You Are My Sunshine Collection from Pretty Little Studio. This fresh yellow and blue color combination is everything we love about cardmaking. The sunny yellow accents paired with soft aqua and sky blue papers create a light, happy palette that perfectly captures the feeling of warm summer days. It's a classic seasonal pairing that is both vibrant and refreshing.

Howdy all my Pretty Little Studio Friends! And Happy Wednesday to you! Misty @mommyofkidz here with you today sharing my take on the August Scraplift challenge! I had the pleasure of lifting my own layout!!! And of course I could not do the exact same thing right??? Well...let's just say that I tried really hard to do it differently while maintaining the integrity...but I absolutely LOVE the Comfort & Joy Collection ...and I could not resist the urge to use it again! I started with my 12x12 collection pack and started sorting through...finding the pages and patterns that I would want to use for my layout.I landed on the pale pinks, mint greens, and go course, black. I do keep my scraps together, so I had plenty of those to choose from also! Once all of my background was covered in my paper strips, I began decorating. I didn't think I needed a lot since there was already so much going on with the background. I simply dumped out my Filled With Love Heart Die Cuts and sorted through for pink, black, and green ones to match. I did choose to have the strips going vertical instead of horizontal...but I did stay pretty tru to the original layout. **Scroll to the bottom to see my original** Y'all, I absolutely adore this photo of my great niece...she is so stinking' cute! I also enjoyed scrap lifting myself! Ha HA! Thank you all for stopping by. I hope to see you over on the Pretty Little Studio Facebook Fans Page playing along with our monthly challenges!

Hi Friends! Today I decided to play along with the August Scraplift Challenge just for fun! You will be able to play along with this and the other August challenges for a chance to win the monthly prize! All of the information is on the Facebook group linked above. This gorgeous layout was created by designer, Misty Foresman.

Hello Pretty Little Studio friends! It's Monique here today and I'm sharing two Memorydex cards created with the "Well Read" collection. I love reading and everything connected with books. My hobby is not only reading, but also collecting books, working in my reading journal, updating my GoodReads account (I'm busy putting my library in there so I know which books I can safely buy and which ones are already on my shelves), hanging out in the library and various book stores and visiting book markets. I would love to go on a book retreat one day, but that's one for the bucket list. Here's what I made for today's blogpost:

Hi crafty friends! Shanel here with the Pretty Little Studio Design Team. Today I'm sharing a bright, colorful and happy summer layout featuring the beautiful SunKissed Collection . I absolutely love the joyful colors and patterns in this fabulous collection. On any project, it brings all the summer vibes! I started with the SunKissed Paper Plates patterned paper as my background - a white lined background with soft mixed media details. I created a simple and colorful design using 1/4" to 1/2" strips in purple, turquoise, green, yellow, orange, and pink cut from the Sidewalk Art patterned paper. Arranging the strips vertically across the page added lots of color and movement while still allowing the white background to keep everything feeling fresh. The soft mixed media touches on this patterned paper make it perfect for using a fresh, clean background with touches of pretty subtle color. Once my design was finished, I layered my beach photo with papers and embellishments from the SunKissed collection using fun die cuts from Sunshine Mix and cute labels from Feel the Sun and Sunbeam Label Die Cuts - layering them to add dimension while keeping the design balanced. I tucked in die cut words from June Word Cut-Aparts around the design without covering the colorful strips, then finished the layout with the "Fun in the Sun" title, a hand-stitched heart, and a few more colorful hearts scattered across the page. This design is a fun way to use lots of color to bring the page to life in a vibrant way while keeping the focus on a favorite summer memory! I’ve linked some of the products below that I used in my layout. I hope this layout inspires you to pull out your Pretty Little Studio Sunkissed Collection and create something bright and happy! Thanks so much for stopping by the Pretty Little Studio blog today :)

Hi Friends! Today I have a layout for the August Texture Challenge. You will be able to play along with this and the other August challenges for a chance to win the monthly prize! All of the information is on the Facebook group linked above. I can't wait to see how you will add texture to your layouts!

Hello Scrappy Friends! Tara here with a layout using Frosty and Friends. I don't know about you, but I am struggling a little bit with the high temps we've had so far this summer. I just moved from a dry climate to a humid one and it's a struggle. It has me beginning to wish for cooler temperatures. I know...bite my tongue! It'll be here before we know it. Today, I am playing with the August Sketch challenge and making it my own. For me, a sketch is a jumping off point and I like to change them up to suit my photos, stories and style. I started with plain, white cardstock and ran it through my electronic cutting machine to cut out three hexagons in different sizes. I added some mixed media to my white cardstock using the packaging technique. From there, I used patterned papers from Frosty and Friends to back those hexagons, popping up my background with foam tape. After that it was easy to add some embellishments from the collection. For my title, I used some tile letters from a collection that is no longer available, Grateful Heart, but I linked up a similar set from Frosty and Friends below. 

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to share my first project as a member of the Pretty Little Studio Design Team! For the August Scraplift Challenge, I took inspiration from Misty Foreman's beautiful layout and created my own interpretation using the You Are My Sunshine collection. I had so much fun making this page, and I hope it inspires you to join the challenge too. I can't wait to see everyone's creations!

Hello creative friends. Shanel here to share my layout using the Pretty Little Studio Well Read collection. I created for the Pretty Little Studio Facebook group August Challenge. I love how Misty used simple paper strips in varying lengths to create a beautiful vertical design! I cut my strips in wider widths continuing her design of varying lengths. A soft palette of blue, brown, and orange gives the page a feel that perfectly complements the story of my love of reading with a cozy feel! Beginning with a white cardstock background, I chose a mix of soft blue, warm brown, and muted orange prints balancing smaller patterns with a few solids. Arranging the strips vertically along the left side of the page, I stitched down the center of the strips with coordinating thread. I thought this design element would mimic an open book with pages. I added labels and emphemra from this collection scattered across the strips, keeping them relatively flat so the stitched strips remain an important design feature. To create balance against the vertical strip design, I placed my photo on the right side. When matting the photo, I cut the mat longer than necessary vertically (4x12) so that I could fold it over and score the crease, hiding journaling underneath. The photo lifts up and my recent reads are inside. I love to visit my local library every week and find my next adventure! Saturday mornings you’ll always find me there cruising the shelves. As part of the journaling, I included some of my favorite books read this year and how I felt about them with a quick star rating. Oh and don't mind my "Saturday morning, library hair" in the photo :) This was a fun layout design to lift! Join in the August Challenge and show us your take on this beautiful design by creating with your favorite Pretty Little Studio collection and sharing in the Facebook group. I’ve linked the group below - click on the button. We love to see what you create!

Oh the joy of welcoming a new baby!

Hi Pretty Little Studio friends, it's Kim and I'm here today with the August sketch challenge. I created a bright happy summer layout using the fabulous Hey Summer collection.

Sketch Challenge using Wildflowers Collection!

Hi Friends! Today I have a layout for the August Sketch Challenge. You will be able to play along with this and the other August challenges for a chance to win the monthly prize! All of the information is on the Facebook group linked above. This lovely sketch was inspired by a layout from designer, Misty Foresman.

Hello Pretty Little Studio friends! I'm so happy to be back sharing another layout using the bright and cheerful Good Vibrations collection! This page documents a fun afternoon spent with my daughter, Hailey, exploring all of the shops at Disney Springs. We wandered through some of our favorite stores, stopped to browse all the fun displays, snapped lots of photos and enjoyed having nowhere we needed to be. Those unhurried afternoons together have become some of my favorite memories. It's days like these that remind me the best memories aren't always the big adventures—they're often the simple moments spent together. For this layout, I wanted to create a design that felt just as fun and energetic as our afternoon. I started with the bold black-and-white Currently single-sided patterned paper, which provides the perfect contrast for all of the colorful elements in the collection. I then added a wide strip of the Good Stuff double-sided patterned paper across the top of the page. I love the playful rainbow pattern that looks like it was drawn with crayons -- it immediately sets a happy tone. To tie everything together, I included a one-inch strip of Happiness , another crayon-inspired patterned paper, to bring in one more pop of color.

Hello Pretty Little Studio Fans! Suzanna here today to share with you a little Love (of the Love is Kind variety!) in my travelers notebook. I used to keep a separate TN for my reads and document monthly while also documenting random about me things in another TN. I decided to integrate the two and so I have a spread a month documenting what I've read. Today's share is my ongoing documenting of my July reads, let's take a look!

It's been a fairly hot summer for us in Michigan, but my grandkitty, Rigatoni, is as cool as always! I used the You Are My Sunshine collection to show off his latest glamour shot.

Hello Pretty Little Studio friends! It's Shanel with the Pretty Little Studio Design Team, and I am excited to share a new layout with you created with the beautiful Wildflowers Collection! I love how this layout brings in so much color yet still has a cohesive feel. I wanted the design to feel light, playful and full of movement to document these precious photos of my son and his girlfriend enjoying time together. It was a beautiful Spring day and they caught the perfect sunlight to capture beautiful memories! The combination of patterns and soft colors of the Wildflowers Collection creates a joyful palette that compliments the happy, carefree feeling captured in these memories! A cascade of colorful hexagons became the design foundation, leading the eye naturally across the page. I cut the hexagons from the patterned paper - Apple Blossom. The pretty mix of florals, gingham, tone-on-tone prints and subtle patterns creates a lot of interest while still keeping the color palette cohesive. Arranging the hexagons so that they flow diagonally across the page, I varied the spacing for a more organic look. Then, I placed the two photos within the flow of the hexagons so they became part of the cascading design, tucking a couple of brackets from the Gentle Breeze Die Cut pack behind them. To soften the geometric background, clusters of purple gingham die cut flowers are nestled near the photos. I also added hand-stitching to them as well for more texture. I love the look of hand-stitching on a layout! To fill in gaps, I used the cute little flower stickers from the Daisies Sticker pack (from the SunKissed Collection) and scattered some in the flower clusters as well. These tiny details truly add big impact to a page! To finish the page, the " Oh Sweet Sunshine " title is placed near the center (using foam adhesive) where it connects the photos together. I added a sub-title with mini alphas in Larkspur from the Wildflowers collection as well. They are a beautiful lavender that coordinate perfectly! Hope you enjoy my layout and feel inspired to create with Pretty Little Studio! Stop by the Pretty Little Studio Facebook Group and join in on the fun monthly challenges. We LOVE seeing what you create!

We're still celebrating Christmas in July! It’s the perfect excuse to pull out your favorite holiday supplies, enjoy festive creativity in the middle of summer, and get a jump start on your Christmas cardmaking before the busy holiday season arrives. A little pre-planning now, means less stress later, and more time to enjoy sharing handmade cards with the people you love. For this card, I reached for the beautiful Sugar Plum Christmas Collection, combining the gorgeous patterned papers and festive die cuts to create a cheerful holiday scene. The classic red and green color palette immediately brings timeless Christmas charm, while the touches of green plaid and delicate holiday florals add warmth, texture, and a cozy vintage feel. One of my favorite details are the die cut Christmas ornaments set against the tree in those beautiful papers. Use foam squares to add dimension and lift the die cuts off the page. The layered ornaments, scalloped edges, and festive florals create plenty of dimension without overwhelming the clean white background. I also love how the sentiment, "It's not what is under the tree that matters, it's what's around it," reminds us that Christmas is truly about the people we share it with.

Hi Pretty Little Studio friends, it's Kim and I'm back today sharing a layout that I made using an older, but fabulous collection called Chasing The Sun. There is a freebie in the shop Chasing The Sun . The colors were perfect for this photo of my granddaughter.

Candy Cane Collection

Happy Sunday! MandaJane with you here today with an all new layout. I just got back from vacation and we went on many little adventures! We went to visit my aunt and cousins up in North east Tennessee. While we were there, we went shopping downtown and found several large murals. I, of course, made everybody stop and take all the photos! My kids were completely DONE with picture taking by the end of our trip. What can I tell you? They are teenagers!

Morning, y'all! It's Jinny here today, and I'm ever so thankful it's Friday. My hubby has been out of town most of this work week, but he's home now; and I'm hoping he'll let me sneak away for a bit just to rediscover myself. I've gotten a little lost in the chaos of this week; but before the week ever began, I whipped up a sweet, little, pocket letter, inspired by the You Are My Sunshine Collection , for you all. So, let's just get right to it.

Hiya Pretty Little Studio fans! Suzanna here today to share with you my first blog post as a PLS DT member! I'm so excited to be here and share my creative endeavors with you. Today I'm sharing a large photo, swimming layout created with the Sunshine collection. If you know me and have followed me for some time, you will know that my kids were both competitive swimmers. Yes, were, neither one competes any more. But there were many, MANY years of swimming layouts. And if you knew about the swimmers, you also know my love of large photos. Nothing has changed in that regard! Here's a look at the full layout; 

Hi Friends! We got rained out of a little princess in the park event and got soaked running to our car. When we got home this beautiful rainbow and the sun was out so we took a few pictures. This little princess thought it was just as fun to jump in the puddles so I took a few pictures of that as well! (We did get several pictures with the princesses in the park too so those will make it to a layout soon!!)

Hi Pretty Little Studio friends, it's Kim and I'm back today with a layout using the Love Is Kind collection. This was the perfect collection to scrap this vintage photo of my husband and I on our wedding day.

Hello Pretty Little Studio Friends, and Happy Sunday! Misty @Mommyofkidz here with you today sharing my latest layout. For this one, I chose to pull out the gorgeous Ginger Snap collection and put it to use. While some of our DT members are sharing Christmas in July projects...I decided to focus on Fall. As some of you know, Melissa is currently working on a new collection, and OH MY WORD it is gorgeous! It has me all up in the Fall Feels with its warm colors and Heart Warming elements! **If you haven't seen the teaser, go to the FB Fans page and sneak a peek! Anyway, after that little tease, I could not resist the urge to pull out Ginger Snap and create. Once I started, I couldn't stop! I used the 12x12 Ledger for the base of everything, but also for my title. My handy dandy Cricut Machine cut that for me using the Dictionary page from the Ledger Pack and The Baby Claire Digital alphas. I LOVE this alphabet! It is missing a few letters, and I am not 100% sure that I have used it as it was designed...but y'all...I LOVE these letters! I created a vibrant surface using Distress oxides in colors that matched with the colors of the papers I would be using. The 6x6 Accent pack was perfect for creating th top part of the layout to place my photo. I wanted to incorporate all the colors...and it worked! I also used the Cozy Weather Banner at the base of my title, and several pieces of ephemera from the Potpourri Mix throughout the layout. Some Apple Pie tiny word stickers rest on the tabs for my hidden journaling some clear word stickers on the photo. Finally, Since this is my take on the July Scraplift of Rona's layout, I did add in the very distinct distressed "fault line" to mimic the technique that she used in her layout. This was a fun layout to create...and I very much enjoyed scrap lifting Rona's layout! Head over to the FB Fans page to see the original and join us in the challenge!

Hello all! Happy July! It's Lisa here today to share a layout I created with the incredible Love is Kind collection and a photo that AI created for me of me my late father. I was trying to get the photo to be animated but it created this for me instead and I love it because right before the original photo was taken, we had toasted just like this. It's a fond memory of my dad and I feel like I found a new photo thanks to AI. I guess its powers can be used for good, too! It makes me smile to remember this day with my dad and to have this photo created was really special to me. You'll also see the "dad joke" under the title...my dad loved a pun on words and "you're one in a melon" would have been right up his alley. And he sure was one in a million. The layout itself is pretty straightforward, but it's worth mentioning that the white printed paper behind my photo and the frame is from the packaging of the die cuts. I just trimmed the title off the top and used it as is. I love that we get that bonus in the packaging, too. Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you'll find the Love is Kind Collection as versatile as I do and get an older (or new AI!) photo scrapped today!