From Ephemera to Layout: A Merry Little Christmas

Hi everyone! I’m Celes, and I’m so happy to be here sharing my very first project on the Pinkfresh Studio blog! For this layout, I played with the beautiful Festive Fun collection and found inspiration in one of its tiniest pieces: a little ephemera that immediately caught my eye. I loved its hanging decoration so much that I thought, why not turn this tiny design into a full 12x12 layout? And that’s exactly where this project began! I recreated the idea on a much larger scale, adding dimension, layers, and lots of playful little details while keeping the charm of the original piece. Let’s take a closer look at how it all came together!

*Disclaimer: All products used are linked below as clickable images. If a product isn’t listed, it’s been discontinued.

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

Base of layout

1. Use the green side of the Sparkle & Shine Paper, as the base of the layout.
2. Add a piece of textured white cardstock cut to 11 1/2” x 11 1/2”.
3. Optional: score the edges of the cardstock so you can lift them slightly, or add machine stitching around the edges.
4. Adhere the white cardstock to the patterned paper. Since the design is based on one of the ephemera pieces from the collection, we’ll start by creating the base of the hanging decoration. We need a piece of colored cardstock measuring 9 1/2” x 2”.
5. Lightly spray the colored cardstock with water and, using a pencil, shape it until you have a piece that looks like a small wooden stick. Adhere it in place to hold its shape. 
6. We’ll also need some colored thread. In my case, I used green embroidery thread. Cut 5 pieces. 
7. Adhere the piece that looks like a wooden stick 2 1/2” from the top edge of the white cardstock, centered horizontally.
8. Arrange the threads as follows: place the center thread in the middle, then add two more on each side. Leave 2” between each thread. 
9. You can adhere the threads first and then add the “wooden stick” on top.

Decorative details

1. With the base ready, we can start adding the decorative details.
2. I cut 5/8” and 3/8” circles from the colorful striped paper included in the collection’s 6x6 Paper Pack. I also cut some circles from Essentials Glitter Cardstock: Ivory.
3. The photo mat measures 2 5/8” x 2 5/8” and was cut from red cardstock from the collection’s 6x6 Paper Pack. The photo is adhered to create a hidden pocket where I can tuck in the journaling card. Note: The photo used in this layout is square and measures 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”.
4. The decorative pieces for this mobile/hanging ornament are a combination of elements from different products in the collection. You can, of course, switch them out and use your favorite pieces if you’d like.
5. I added Glossy Accents to the pieces from the Colored Wood Veneer pack to give them a little extra dimension and shine.
6. The photo is placed on the second strand of thread from left to right.
7. As an extra detail, I added the main title and some ribbon to create the strips from which the mobile/hanging ornament is suspended.
8. To make it look a little more realistic, I added brads to resemble tiny nails.
9. Don’t forget to adhere some of the different elements using 3D foam adhesive. This will help create the different layers and dimension that bring the whole design to life.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how this little piece of ephemera became the inspiration for an entire layout! I had so much fun taking that tiny idea and making it my own with layers, dimension, and all those little details I love adding to my projects. I’m so happy to be sharing my first project here on the Pinkfresh Studio blog, and I hope it inspires you to look at the smallest pieces in your collections in a whole new way. Thank you so much for joining me today, and I’ll see you again soon with another project to share! Happy crafting!

Celes