Sweet Summer Rose: Customizing a Hearts-N-Crafts "Sweet Baby Girl" Layout

Hello and thanks for stopping by!

Today, I’m sharing a double-page layout I created using the gorgeous Hearts-N-Crafts "Sweet Baby Girl" Kit.

On May 31st, my sweet Great-Niece, Summer Rose, made her grand entrance. She was in a bit of a hurry to meet us—arriving over four weeks early! She spent her first month getting things sorted out in the NICU, but she has already proven she is one fierce, strong little girl. I’ve spent years scrapbooking her mama’s antics, and I am absolutely thrilled that I now get to start documenting hers!

What I used:

While the Hearts-N-Crafts kits come with almost everything you need—including patterned cardstock, solid cardstock, pre-cut embellishments, and a placement guide—I always like to add a little extra to reflect my own scrappy personality!

 

The Scrapbook Recipe:

The Goodies

• The Kit: Hearts-N-Crafts "Sweet Baby Girl" 2-Page Layout Kit

• The Extras:

  • Small white shipping tags (from the office supply store)

  • Pink and white baker’s twine

  • Glitter (Heidi Swapp Marquee Love)

  • Floral stickers (Carta Bella - Floral No. 6 Collection)

  • Sequins (always!)

My Tools

• Adhesives: Art Glitter Liquid Glue & Creative Memories Dimensional Foam

• Stamps: Alpha Stamp set from Stampin' Up

• Printer: Epson PictureMate PM-400 Photo Printer

Photo Sizes & Prep

• Page One: Two 4x6 photos printed as a collage with borders on 5x7 photo paper, matted with black cardstock (using the Epson Creative Print App).

• Page Two: Two 3.5x5 photos printed with borders, plus one 2.5x3.5 photo.

  • Scrappy Tip: I printed the smallest photo as a two-picture collage with borders, then matted it on black cardstock to make it pop!

Step-by-Step: How I Built It

1. Prep and Sparkle

Before assembling, I gave the kit a little facelift:

• Add the Shine: I started by applying glitter to all the heart die-cuts that came with the kit. A little sparkle makes everything better!

• Create the Border: I trimmed both of the patterned background sheets down by 1/4" and mounted them onto black cardstock. This tiny step creates a beautiful frame that makes the pastel colors instantly pop.

Notes on Page 1:

Crafting Page One

For the first page, I followed the kit's guide but made a few custom tweaks to better fit my photos and story:

• Embellishment Shift: The guide suggested putting the largest die-cut at the top center. Because my photo had a lot of empty "white space" in the lower right, I moved the die-cut there to balance the page perfectly.

• Baby's Birth Stats: To document Summer's birth details, I stamped the numbers onto tiny white shipping tags using my Stampin' Up alphabet stamps. I inked the edges of the tags in pink, tied them off with pink and white baker's twine, and tucked them in.

• Finishing Touches: I popped up the glittered star die-cuts using dimensional foam, added some sequin clusters, and tucked a few floral stickers near the title.

💡 Cool Technique: DIY Rub-On Title

 I created a completely custom title using a DIY transparency transfer! Here is how you can do it too:

1. Create your title using Word Art in Microsoft Word.

2. Flip the image horizontally (mirror/reverse it 180 degrees) so it reads backward.

3. Print the reversed title onto a transparency sheet.

4. Let it sit for just a minute (be careful not to smudge it—unlike me, who rushed and had to do a quick repair with a fine-tip black Sharpie!).

5. Press the wet ink side down firmly onto your page to transfer. It's an easy way to get custom fonts in the perfect size!

Crafting Page Two

To keep the layout cohesive but distinct, I carried over the design choices from Page One:

• Going Off-Grid: Once again, I shifted the larger die-cut positions from the sample layout to better accommodate my photo arrangement.

• Tie It Together: Instead of using more floral stickers here, I punched a circle out of a piece of patterned paper from the same Carta Bella collection. I tucked this circle behind the large teddy bear die-cut, instantly marrying Page One and Page Two together.

• Final Details: A few more matching sequin clusters completed the look!

I love how this turned out, and I can't wait to fill many more pages with Miss Summer's adventures.

Have you ever used a transparency transfer for your titles? Or do you have a go-to trick for adding a personal twist to layout kits? Let me know in the comments below!