Hello Today – Simple Stories | Amy Kattenbelt

Hello Magpies, Amy here sharing some layouts created with the new collection from Simple Stories called ‘Hello Today‘. It’s a really bright and fun collection that is centred around the months of the year. Each of the 12 papers in the collection as a cut apart side – one for each month- but on the B Side are glorious versatile patterns suitable for a whole range of themes.

Home School

My first layout has the theme of home schooling, this collection is great for that as it has some stationary themed ephemera such as pens and typewriters.

I used my silhouette to design and cut out some large outline letters in black cardstock. Because the font is such a plain one, you could also create these by printing and hand cutting too.

I then used the colourful patterned papers to cut little shapes that fit behind the letters of my large title. I used all kinds of motifs, from 3 little stripes, circles, triangles, banners and half letter shapes.

I used some of the arrows and puffy stickers in the collection to embellish on top of my letters as well. The letters were stuck onto plain white cardstock for contrast. I layered some of the die cuts behind my photo, and then added the date to the typewriter sticker. I added my journalling in black stamped ink.

To frame the layout I added some angular stripes of patterned paper to the top of the page, along with the scalloped dotted sticker and the rainbow ephemera piece. At the bottom of the page, instead of using paper I used some of the washi tape from the collection. I also placed this at an angle too.

A Year in Review

Every year I like to end my album with a ‘year in review’ summary layout(s). This Hello Today is perfect for this. I decided to use the 3×4 cut apart cards from each other patterned papers. I created a double page layout for this as there was just too much to try and fit onto one single layout.

I assembled my 12 little cards together, placing a photo from each month, some journalling about the photo, and the circular month sticker onto the 3×4 cards. I added these in a grid patterned to two pieces of white cardstock.

Along the outermost sides I added three stripes of the washi tape, this helps frame the layout and also ties the two layouts together with a consistent style.

I added my titles to the tops of the layouts using the foam phrases and also stickers from the Simple Stories Color Vibe Alpha books.

I then had great fun adding extra little embellishments to the 3×4 cards. Some or the little phrase stickers were absolutely perfect for my 2020 photos, with phrases such as “If it Friday yet?” and “I have no idea what I’m doing” great for home schooling.

The “It’s gonna be okay…promise” phrase was ideal for March’s Lockdown photo. Also I just had to use the “Heck Yes” sticker from September’s Back To School photo!

My 2020 year in review spread is somewhat different from other years, as we really did not do very much exciting this year and I have to admit it was a little hard to find a ‘highlight’ photo for each month. But the Hello Today collection made my layout come together easily once I had selected my photos.