Tourist Mode | Julie Taylor | scrapbook layout

Hello Magpies.

There’s always something so exciting about the first day of a trip, and for our weekend getaway to Belfast, I just had to document those classic airport and plane photos! Using the beautiful new Been There collection from Arden Creative Studio, I created this layout to capture the very beginning of our adventure and all the excitement that comes with travel days.

I started with one of the patterned papers from the collection and trimmed it down to 11×11”, then backed it with the striped paper to create a subtle border around the page, adding machine stitching to the edge. The patterned paper featured printed arrows, which immediately caught my eye as the perfect detail to enhance with some hand stitching. Stitching over the arrows really helped bring movement and texture to the layout while adding a fun handmade touch.

Of course, the star of the page had to be the obligatory plane photos! I backed three photos and arranged them across the centre of the layout. To add a little extra interest and dimension, I carefully cut out two of the arrow tips from the patterned paper and slotted the photos underneath them. This helped guide the eye across the page beautifully and tied everything together.

Around the photos, I tucked in lots of ephemera pieces from the collection to add layers and detail without overwhelming the design. I also created a small embellishment cluster below the photos where I added my acrylic title, grounding the page nicely. To finish everything off, I added two more small clusters — one in the top left corner and another in the bottom right — to help draw the eye around the layout and create balance across the page.