A Coordinated Celebration: Mixing Collections for a Special Birthday Layout

When it comes to creating layouts that feel cohesive yet full of personality, it’s all about the art of mix and match. In this design, we’re pairing the versatility of Island Waters Vivid Melodies 2 with the playful energy of the Birthday Bash collection

Vivid Melodies 2 is designed to be incredibly flexible, with simple patterns, coordinating textures and subtle neutrals that can easily bridge multiple collections while still feeling intentional and polished.

For this layout, that versatility comes to life in a birthday-inspired design that layers color, pattern, and dimension for a festive and coordinated look. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to stick to just one collection to tell your story, and that mixing them can lead to something even more dynamic.

To create this layout, you will need:

Step 1: Use a piece of Island Water Solid Cardstock for the base of this layout. 

Step 2: Cut 6 pieces from a variety of bold designer papers to measure 5″ x 2″. Adhere the pieces horizontally along the left edge of the layout. Layer a 4-1/2″ x 11-1/2″ piece of Island Waters Vellum centered over the paper strips, securing the corners with vellum adhesive.

Step 3: For the left-side border, trace the 12″ leaf border onto red patterned paper from the Birthday Bash Paper Pack, then cut it out. Adhere the red cutout behind the leaf border and attach it along the left edge of the vellum. On the right edge of the horizontal paper strips, add a colorful sticker border for contrast.

Step 4: Cut 2 photo mats from the dark patterned designer paper from the Island Waters Vivid Melodies 2 Paper Pack to measure 6″ x 4″ and adhere both mats to the layout on the upper and lower right side of the cardstock. 

Step 5: Cut 2 double mats using the red patterned paper from the Birthday Bash Paper Pack to measure 5-3/4″ x 3-3/4″. Adhere both mats to the top of the previous mats.

Step 6: Cut a photo mat from the speckled designer paper in the Island Waters Vivid Melodies 2 Paper Pack to measure 5-1/4″ x 3-1/4″. Adhere the mat in between the previous mats. Add photos measuring (2) 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ and (1) 5″ x 3″ onto the mats.

Step 7: Using the large CCS Circle Pattern, cut a photo out using the green blade along the inside circle. Adhere the photo behind the circle embellishment. Adhere to the layout. 

Step 8: Cut a 5-1/4″ x 2-1/4″ piece from the red patterned designer paper in the Birthday Bash Paper Pack. Then cut a piece of the light patterned designer paper from the Island Waters Vivid Melodies 2 Paper Pack to measure 5″ x 2″. Adhere the light piece to the red paper. Adhere the “What fills our days” embellishment to the top of this layered piece, then adhere it to the layout using Foam Squares.

Step 9: Finish by adding additional stickers and embellishments as desired, using Foam Squares to create dimension and journaling using the Navy Micro-Tip Pen.

Mixing collections like Birthday Bash and Vivid Melodies 2 shows how easy it can be to build a layout that feels cohesive but still full of personality. The coordinating designs do most of the work, so you can focus on the fun part!

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