Focus on the Good Stuff: A Bright & Beachy Scrapbook Layout | Debbi Tehrani

This cheerful travel scrapbook layout blends bold Bramble Fox Perspextives, inky stenciled sunshine, and layered Paper Snips to create a dynamic, summery page full of color and dimension. The Just Beachy collection from Simple Stories was the perfect match for the playful icons and summery colors in the new Bramble Fox products I used. I scrapbook in 8×8 format, so products appear a little larger on my pages — which I love because it really lets those gorgeous details shine.

A Title with Big Personality

The fabulous “Focus on the Good Stuff” title from the This Is Our Year pack instantly became the star of my page. I adore the soft blue color, the mix of fonts, and the clever camera shutter used as the “O.” To frame the layout, I added a strip of striped patterned paper at the top and a light blue border punched with an old favorite border punch. A coordinating strip of blue wavy paper at the bottom helps anchor the whole design.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip:  Repeating colors and shapes — like the blue tones and circular camera shutter — helps unify your layout without overwhelming it.

Stenciled Sunshine & Layered Goodness

Once I settled on the photo placement, I originally planned to add a stenciled sun above the bottom photos. But then I realized the Adventure stencil #140 would create the perfect sunburst effect using yellow ink. I layered journaling cards from the June Fox Box Plus Paper Snips, tucking them behind the photos to add depth, color, and that layered look I love.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip:  Journaling cards aren’t just for writing — they make fantastic layering pieces. Tuck them behind photos for a peekaboo effect that feels interactive and adds instant depth without bulk. Little surprises like this invite the viewer to visually “explore” your page.

Layers, Labels & Love

Behind the top photo, I added more journaling spots and labels from the Paper Snips to balance the layers below. And of course… hearts! I always add hearts to the layouts I give away, so I chose two from my Perspextive heart stash and placed them near the sweet photo of my friends.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip:  Repeating a signature element — like hearts — becomes part of your creative identity. Let your layouts tell your story.

A Splash of Dimension

To bring in more beachy whimsy, I added sea creature die cuts and popped them up with foam dots for extra dimension and a floaty, underwater feel. The stenciled arrows (also from the Adventure stencil) help guide the eye across the page and add a sense of movement.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip:   Directional elements like arrows, waves, or diagonals help lead the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go.

Triangles That Tie It All Together

Here’s a peek at the bottom left corner of my layout. I found a blue geotag Perspextive in my stash, and it became the second point in a visual triangle with the other blue pieces on my page. This little detail helps tie the whole design together.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip:   A visual triangle is one of the easiest ways to create balance — especially on busy, colorful layouts.

The Magic of Fresh Eyes

The blue star Perspextive from the Blue Cool Stars pack completes my visual triangle. One of my favorite creative habits is leaving my layout overnight before calling it finished. When I looked at it the next morning, I realized it needed just a little something extra — so I added the lighthouse and three brads (one on the lighthouse, one on the photo at the top, and a third on the beach hut), forming another visual triangle.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip:   Walking away and returning with fresh eyes is one of the most powerful design tools you have.

This layout came together like a perfect beach day—bright, breezy, and full of little details that make you smile. If you’re feeling inspired to make your own beachy or travel‑themed pages, be sure to check out all the beautiful new products in the Bramble Fox shop.

Until next tide…