Winter Memories: A Cozy Scrapbook Layout | Debbi Tehrani

Cozy winter photos always inspire me to focus on layers, texture, and comforting details when I scrapbook—especially when I’m creating with beautifully coordinated supplies that make building that cozy foundation effortless. This Winter Memories layout captures a sweet, simple moment: my friend’s daughter enjoying a warm cup of hot cocoa on a chilly day.

Aside from the patterned papers and a few odds and ends from my personal stash, nearly everything on this layout comes from the January Fox Box Plus. I especially love how easily the Paper Snips and Perspextives mix with other collections, making it simple to create a custom, one‑of‑a‑kind layout. I scrap in an 8×8 format, which lets the Paper Snips and Perspextives shine a bit larger and really enhances the cozy feeling of the page.

A Title That Sets the Mood

The Winter Memories title from the Fox Box immediately sets the tone for the page. I love how the soft, rounded font pairs with the fanciful script—it feels playful yet cozy, perfectly capturing the winter theme. To add extra warmth, I nestled the beautiful etched lantern from the Fox Box beside the title, finishing it with a bit of twine and a tassel for texture. Every image on the Paper Snips sheet—from books and mugs to the sweet kitty curled up on a pile of blankets—reinforces the feeling of winter comforts, while the cozy phrases help tell the story of this sweet memory. Starting with the title really guided the rest of my design choices as the page came together.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip: Choose your title early—it acts as a visual and emotional anchor for the entire layout.

Sweet Cocoa Moments

When I saw this photo of my friend’s daughter enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, I knew it was the perfect match for this page. The sweet kitty mug pairs beautifully with the adorable mug Perspextive, also from the Fox Box, and I added a small blue star from the Blue Cool Stars to visually connect the photo with the title. This month’s stencil included in the Fox Box Plus was a fun bonus—it includes text and coffee rings, which I stenciled in brown beneath the mug for subtle texture and interest.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip: Echo shapes or themes from your photo with embellishments to create a strong visual connection.

Choosing the Perfect Foundation

Before building the page, I pulled out the title and Paper Snips and auditioned several background papers. I ultimately chose a wintry blue Echo Park Winter Magic paper to complement the title and a wood‑grain paper with tiny hearts to add warmth. I wanted a border that tied into the reds found in some of the snips, so I created my own by rubbing Barn Door Distress Ink onto the white backside of an old K&Co. border I found in my stash—yellow on the front, but perfect once flipped and inked. Note the dangling snowflake charm hanging from the lovely etched teapot Perspextive, which adds a delicate touch of winter sparkle and movement to the page.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip: If a decorative border doesn’t quite match your layout, don’t dismiss it right away. Try flipping it over and inking the backside instead. For this page, I rubbed ink onto the back of a border that didn’t work on the front, instantly creating a custom piece that coordinated perfectly with my color palette.

Cozy Layers & Heart Details

I always add hearts to the pages I give away, and this layout was no exception. I found a rust-colored heart that perfectly matched the lantern and layered it on top of the sweet sweater from the Paper Snips. To help balance the design, I added two fabric hearts—one in a soft light blue—to form a visual triangle with the title and star. The mix of a fuzzy heart and a fabric heart adds extra softness and really enhances the cozy feel of the page.

For even more warmth and texture, I used textured twine on the tag and tucked in a silver snowflake charm for a subtle winter touch. After letting the layout sit overnight, I came back with fresh eyes and finished it off with enamel dots and white punched foliage—one of my favorite ways to know when a page is truly done.

💡 Debbi’s Design Tip: Mixing textures—like fabric, fuzzy elements, metal charms, and twine—adds warmth and depth to a layout. Even when the colors stay soft and cohesive, varied textures keep the page feeling cozy and visually interesting.

Until next time

Making this layout wrapped me in all the cozy winter feels! I can't wait to see what you'll create with the January Fox Box. Be sure also to check out Bramble Fox’s festive collections and let your creativity snowball into something magical.

Until next time, may your heart be cozy, your pages cheerful, and your scissors magical…