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Hey there, crafty friends! I am so excited to share this gorgeous scrapbook layout from our talented design team member, Shanel Pettyjohn. Shanel took a tool that most of us already have sitting in our craft rooms – a simple circle paper punch – and turned it into something absolutely stunning using the March 2026 Main Kit. She created a beautiful, colorful heart shape entirely from punched circles using the patterned papers in the Live Life and Dance It Out collection, and the result is one of those layouts that looks incredibly detailed but is actually so doable. If you have been looking for fresh ways to use supplies you already own, this one is for you!
What I love about this project is how Shanel combined clean and simple design with bold, colorful details. She used teal cardstock and black and white striped patterned paper from the March 2026 Hip Kits as her background, added hand stitching for texture, and then let that gorgeous punched-circle heart steal the show. She also incorporated floral die cuts from the March 2026 Embellishment Kit and the Here and Now title to finish everything off. It is a perfect example of how a little creativity with common supplies can give you a layout that really pops. Grab your paper punch and let Shanel walk you through it!
Step-by-Step Punched Circle Heart Layout Tutorial
Step 1: Punch Circles from Patterned Papers
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Start by selecting a variety of patterned papers and colors from your March 2026 Main Kit. Using a 7/8 inch circle punch, punch out plenty of circles. Shanel recommends punching more than you think you will need since you can always save the extras for another project. Choose a good mix of colors and prints so your finished heart will have lots of visual interest.
Step 2: Cut a Heart Template from White Cardstock
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Before building your heart design, cut a heart shape template from white cardstock. Shanel made hers 8 and 3/4 inches by 8 and 3/4 inches. Having a template to work from makes the whole process so much easier because it gives you a guide for placing your circles evenly and keeps the shape consistent.
Step 3: Arrange the Circles on the Heart Template
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Loosely arrange your punched circles on the heart template without gluing anything down yet. This is your chance to get a balanced mix of colors and patterns across the entire heart. Move the circles around until you are happy with the placement. Slightly overlap them in areas to give the heart a fuller shape and create a pretty scalloped effect around the edges.
Step 4: Glue the Circles in Place
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Once you love the arrangement, begin gluing the circles down using Mono liquid glue. Shanel stresses that it is very important to adhere them well because in the next step you will be cutting along the edges of the heart template. If the circles are not secured firmly, they could shift or lift when you trim. Take your time and press each one down.
Step 5: Trim the Heart Shape
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Using your scissors, carefully cut away any circle pieces that overlap the edge of your heart template. This is where all that solid gluing pays off. You want a clean heart silhouette with those beautiful scalloped edges created by the circles. Take it slow around the curves to keep the shape looking smooth and even.
Step 6: Create a Hand-Stitched Background
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Build your background using teal cardstock layered over the black and white striped patterned paper from the March 2026 Main Kit, all on a 12 by 12 white cardstock base. Using a ruler and paper piercer, create stitch holes close together around the outside edge of your mat. Stitch around the border using three strands of white embroidery thread in a simple backstitch. Keep the holes close together because you will fold up the edges once the stitching is complete to create a 3D frame effect around your layout.
Step 7: Assemble the Layout with Photos
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Adhere your finished heart design to the stitched background, tilting it slightly for a playful feel. Add two 3 by 4 inch photos offset to the right side of the layout so the heart design remains the star of the page. The off-center photo placement gives the whole layout a balanced but dynamic look.
Step 8: Add Embellishments and Title
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Finish your layout by creating a cluster with the floral die cuts from the March 2026 Embellishment Kit. Shanel used the Here and Now title which fit perfectly with the colorful heart design. Tuck the die cuts and title around your photos to tie everything together. And just like that, you have a finished layout that is all about clean and simple meeting colorful and detailed.
Products Used in This Tutorial
About the Designer
Shanel Pettyjohn
Hip Kit Club design team member with a love for clean and simple layouts that pop with bold, colorful details.
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