I hope that these layouts inspire you to try sewing on your layouts. This month try doing something different. Dig out those beautiful photos and create a layout using stitching. If you do not have a sewing machine, try “faking it” with an ink pen, use templates or use rub-ons. Have fun and enjoy the process!

Cute by Emmy Branstrom

Supplies: Papers, Die-Cuts: Lily Bee Design, Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Flower: Prima Marketing, Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts, Other: pen, butterflies, trim.

Design Notes: I used my sewing machine for all the stitching, I liked the look of all the threads hanging so I didn't cut them out. The layout is based on a sketch from the Nooks scrap challenges this spring.

Journaling: It’s not always easy to remember. Hair hanging, clothes to tight, bags under my dark eyes... but I AM cute! At least when I'm asleep ...

House of Love by Nicole Pomeroy

Supplies: Papers: Heidi Swapp, Scenic Route, Paper Company, Chipboard: Scrapware, Stickers: Making Memories, Pink Paislee, Pen: American Crafts, Other: ribbon, embroidery floss.

Design Notes: Machine stitch journaling lines directly onto your layout for a little added texture.

Journaling: Our house fills with an even greater love as every child is born.

Ancestor Doll by Janneke Smit

Supplies: Paper: Scenic Route, Cardstock: Canson, Buttons: Making Memories, SEI, Ink: Rubber Stampede, Alphabet Stickers: Making Memories, Marker: American Crafts, Ribbon: Offray, Stamp: Staples, Fonts: Baby Boston, Tahoma, Other: buttons, chipboard, fabric, machine stitching, staple, zipper.

Design Notes: I used the same fabric and ribbon to embellish the page as I used to dress the doll. I took a photo of the doll, cut it out and adhered it to some chipboard packing material. The journaling bubble is the same one my son made for school; I reduced the size and printed it out on cardstock for both journaling and embellishment.

Journaling: One of Darren's school assignments for history was to dress a paper doll in the traditional apparel of his ancestor's native homeland. Darren and I picked the traditional clothing for a man from Volendam. We had a lot of fun dressing the doll! He also had to make a family tree, write about some of the Dutch customs, foods and holidays, and do an oral presentation on his project (for which he got an A).

Text bubble: I am Hans from the country of the Netherlands, in Europe. "Nether" means lower. 70% Of the country is either at or below sea level. Dikes protect the land from the sea. Let me tell you about a few of the customs, foods, and holidays that are important to my family. Just like in the USA, the Dutch celebrate New Year's Day, Easter and Christmas. Two special Dutch holidays are "Koninginnedag" and "Sinterklaas". On Queen's Day we celebrate the Dutch Queen's birthday with many outdoor activities like flea markets. Saint Nicholas' Eve is celebrated with special candy and by exchanging gifts. It is customary to camouflage your gift so it looks like something else, and to write a funny poem to go along with it. Traditional Dutch dinner consists of boiled potatoes, boiled vegetables, meat and gravy. Some typical Dutch foods are "vla", a thin custard pudding, "hagelslag", chocolate sprinkles you eat on bread, "drop", black licorice that comes in many varieties, and "stroopwafels", syrup waffle cookies. The costume I am wearing was the traditional clothing for a man from a city called "Volendam". More than 25 regions in the Netherlands had their own costumes, but all these different costumes have disappeared over time. I came to America to provide a better future for my children than the one I could give them in Europe.