scrapbooking

How to Make Pretty Scrapbook Layouts with Inlaid Die-Cut Roses

by Kari

Inside: Use inlaid die-cut rose embellishments in distinct ways with these two scrapbook page ideas.

Like a rose, sisterhood has both its beauty and its thorns. As we took a family walk through Chatfield Botanic one summer afternoon, the day was, fortunately, all beauty. A blessed day, filled with shared curiosity and exploration, piggy-back rides, and companionable strolls rather than petty tiffs and competitiveness. A day when the nature of sisters was as in sync as the gardens themselves. The kind of day worth remembering through a scrapbook page.

Whether it’s representing the facets of love and relationships, as used in my “Walk at Chatfield” page, or symbolizing the blooming of new possibilities in “Accidental Sabbatical”, inlaid die-cut roses are well-suited to all kinds of scrapbook layouts. Flowers, with their complex beauty and infinite variety, lend themselves perfectly to many themes.

Read on to see how I used the same inlaid die-cut rose technique to create two different scrapbook pages.

Create Distinct Looks with a Versatile Technique

In my previous article about how to construct inlaid die-cut roses using patterned paper, I showed how the same technique and supplies can yield unique results depending on how the papers are combined. I used the Prima Lavender papers, rose gold mirror cardstock, and lavender vellum for all my examples, and yet, as you can see from the comparison chart, was able to create a multitude of different roses. Here are just eight different examples.

8 versions of die cut inlay roses

Read more: How to Make Beautiful Inlaid Die-Cut Roses with Patterned Paper

Because of their unique qualities, the roses from this batch can also be used to make scrapbook layouts and cards with distinct appearances. Following my die-cut making session, I got to work on the scrapbook pages.

Incorporate Inlaid Die-Cut Roses into Scrapbooking

I made the “Accidental Sabbatical” layout first, following my sketch. I had three different 12 x 12” patterned papers and the 6 x 6″ paper pad from the Prima Lavender collection to work with.

paper collection and scrapbook layout sketch

When finished with my first layout, I planned the composition of the second page in a way that would make the most of the remaining 12 x 12″ papers.

In addition to the inlaid die-cut roses and Prima paper collection, both layouts (and many of the cards) utilize these shared characteristics:

  • Desaturated photos: The soft vintage tones of black-and-white or sepia-toned photos feel well-suited to the style and coloration of the Prima Lavender collection. Printed in desaturated format instead of color, the photos stand out rather than compete with the intricate patterns on the papers.
  • Rose-gold stitching: I used my sewing machine, loaded with shimmery rose gold thread (Sulky), to add a finished detail to the edges of both layouts.
  • Metallic-rimmed phrase tiles: These accent pieces were cut from a patterned sheet in the Prima Lavender 6 x 6″ paper pad. By using Versamark ink, rose gold embossing powder, and a heat gun, I gave the phrase embellishments a metallic edge that ties into the other rose gold accents on the layouts. 

Accidental Sabbatical scrapbook layout

This scrapbook page tells the story of my time away from the working world, those SAHM years while my kids were little. Making the shift to working again was a personal milestone I wanted to record.  Photos of my two babies show my reasons for becoming a SAHM, and a third picture of my husband and growing girls demonstrates the passage of time to their current age.

"Accidental Sabbatical" scrapbook layout

Top left photo on layout: Michelle Pesce / Foxfish Photography

Read more: How One Creative Mom is Crafting a New Career

For the layout base, I used two 12 x 12″ double-sided papers from the Prima Lavender collection. I also added tactile texture with a beautiful piece of fabric. This linen fabric includes an embroidered pattern with rose gold sequin-like embellishments. 

Doodle tip: Want to incorporate some unexpected texture into your scrapbook pages? Order a 13 x 13″ sample swatch of a high-end decorator fabric for an easy and economical way to get a perfectly sized piece for scrapbooks.

The layout title is built with a combination of die-cut frames (Altenew), rose gold Thickers letter stickers, and rose gold-painted word strips.

To make the word strips, I formatted the title in Copperplate font and printed it out on purple cardstock. I then used rose gold acrylic paint and a tiny brush to paint over the letters. Hand-painted lettering is practically foolproof if you use printed letters like this as a guide (along with a right brush and a little patience).

detail of scrapbook page title with inlaid die-cut rose

I made this sophisticated title accent using an inlaid die-cutting technique that I explain in a previous post (click to read it). I constructed the eye-catching flower using rose gold mirror cardstock as the frame, filling in the interior spaces with insets of ledger paper and lavender rose paper. The shadow background on this die-cut was cut from a map print in periwinkle and cream.

I printed my journaling on an ink-jet friendly transparency sheet, then painted the reverse side with rose gold shimmer paint (Prima). I attached the transparency with machine stitching. I used a metallic-edged tile and a hand-cut letter to create an illuminated drop cap for the journaling block.

I finished the page with die-cut sprigs, velvet ribbon, and phrase tiles.

details from Accidental Sabbatical scrapbook page

Accent with a Bevy of Butterflies

I also made a flock of butterflies with vellum under-wings for tiny, dimensional accents on this scrapbook page and for the cards I made using the inlaid roses die-cuts.

This is how to make the butterflies:

  • Rough cut butterfly from sheet of the 6 x 6″ Prima Lavender paper
  • Glue center body section of butterfly to lavender vellum
  • Glue to a second piece of vellum. Let dry.
  • Fussy cut both layers of vellum and butterfly at the same time
  • Add rhinestones, enamel dots, sequins, or glitter to center body section
a flock of lavender paper butterflies

Walk @ Chatfield Botanic scrapbook layout

I had enough pieces of 12 x 12″ paper leftover to make a second layout. But the challenge here was to avoid making this page look like a regurgitation of the first. Because both layouts had a few things in common (some paper patterns, desaturated photos, and rose die cuts), I wanted to make sure they also had plenty of differences. 

inlaid rose die cut with dark pink cardstock layers

Here’s how I changed up the design:

  • Composition: 3 x 3 grid of small squares to house photos, title, journaling, and accents
  • Accent color: raspberry pink (instead of the dark purple of the first layout) brings out different tones in the pattern papers and creates a vibrant contrast
  • Die-cut pieces: the inlaid rose and sprig die cuts have a different look. The rose has just a few raspberry-colored pink inlays and is backed by lavender vellum. For an unexpected pop of color, the die cuts are layered on a stack of dark pink cardstock.
  • Embellishments: using the butterflies again would be one too many similarities, so instead I used buttons, vintage-style ephemera, and vellum
  • Texture: I used different ribbon on this layout, as well as inky outlines and distressed edges along the stitching
  • Typography: the journaling is hand-printed on ledger paper rather than printed on painted transparency, and the title is a different color and style. Grouping the title on a tag, I used rose gold Thicker stickers combined with small pink letters cut by a digital cutting machine (Cricut).
Walk at Chatfield scrapbook layout

This second layout, ‘Walk at Chatfield,” celebrates the simple pleasure of a family nature walk, particularly when the siblings were simpatico (a true gift, as any mom knows). Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield is a lovely outing located minutes from our house. We enjoy strolling the grounds of this farmstead turned free-form nature center, as well as bird-spotting and playing Pooh sticks in the stream. This satellite location is a nice contrast to the urban vibe of Denver Botanic‘s downtown site.

Two unique roses, two different layout themes, two distinctive page compositions – not to mention a batch of cards — from the same set of papers and the same die-cutting technique. I love getting so much out of my supplies! If you try the inlaid die-cut technique for your layouts and cards, please share the results with me here!

walk at chatfield scrapbook layout with rose detail

Supplies

die cut sprig embellishments on scrapbook layout

Tools & Adhesive

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