An Easy, Layered Layout in 30 Minutes for Your Memorable Scrapbook

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Get some photos off your pile and only a page with this quick, layered layout in 30 minutes or less! Using a sketch from the Creative Memories blog post on September 9, 2023, get my process in this post and download instructions for it below.

What I Used to Make This Layered Layout

I used a combination of Creative Memories’ Christmas collections, Seasonal Sightings and Christmas Cheer to go with my Christmas photos here. I also found my 13 x13 mat incredibly helpful in lining up my pieces on the page quickly. To create the ornament border at the top, I used the Border Maker System and the Ornament Cartridge.

You will need the obvious tools, like the 12 inch trimmer and adhesive as well.

How This Layout is Made

Select your base, which can be a 12″ x 12″ piece of cardstock or designer paper. If you desire, mat your photos from the center of the base so you can save paper.

I did this by adhering my photos to the center, ensuring to leave a nice, thick edge around the piece your putting your layout on. I like to put all of my photos on then cut them out with the 12 inch trimmer, as it packs a lot of handy tools within it to help you know right where you are cutting.

There is a line on the side of the blade body to help you know where the cut will begin and end. This is handy for when you are avoiding cutting too far, like in this case so we can leave our edge for the base of our layered layout.

Another little-known feature of this handy trimmer is that is has guide lines hiding in the track edges of the trimmer. These clear sliders pop out of either side of the track, and you can move it over the exact spots your trimmer will cut to ensure you won’t cut where you don’t want to. Since I have known these are here, I used them all the time when I’m cutting close edges.

If you desire to mat your photos from the base, you will be left with at least a frame to start putting your layers on to create your layout. If you didn’t want to mat your photos from your base, you will start with your full sheet of 12″ x 12″ paper/cardstock.

Next you will take either your frame or sheet for your base, depending on what you did with your photos and set it aside. You will now trim your pieces for the rest of the layout.

Take whatever sheet of paper/cardstock you want to use for your top and bottom strips of the layered layout, and cut 2 strips at 11″ x 2-1/2″.

Then, take the sheet of paper/cardstock you selected for your center piece and cut a layer at 11″ x 6″.

Adhere your top strip down, lining it up on your 12×12 frame/base, so you leave a 1/2″ frame at the top and sides from the base. Using the 13×13 mat is very useful here so you can see where the layer is falling on all sides.

Repeat the process, sticking down your center piece next, then your top piece, making sure to leave that 1/2″ frame for your layered layout.

Next you will want to choose a border for your page that will go at the top layer and center layer seam. The paper I used to make my ornament border was just shy of 12″, so I simply cut the border where the photo was going to layer over it anyways to make it look that long on my page.

Once you have your pieces all on their base, you can mat your photos, if you hadn’t already done it from the first part of these instructions. The layout instructions call for a 6×4, 4×6, and 4×4 inch photos, but you can arrange those how you would like depending on what you are working with.

Stick down your photos on your layered layout base. Embellish and journal if you desire, then you are done!

This page came together very quickly and easily for me, once I knew what papers and such I wanted to use. I hope this layered layout is one you can use over and over as you get your books together.

Don’t forget to download your layout instruction page here:

See more layouts, tips, and tricks at my other posts: