Story Play Gratitude | Special Guest Denine Zielinski

Hey friends! It’s Denine, and I am excited to be here today to share a project using the Story Play Collection: Gratitude.

This spread is going into my Project Life album for 2025 as it documents events and moments from this past March. I’ve been working on my 2025 PL album here and there just jumping around from month to month as I go. That’s not usually how I roll, but sometimes we just have to go with the flow.

Working with this kit gave me the opportunity to pick some photos out from March and write about my feelings of gratitude for each of them.

I began by using the digital files of the 3x4 cards in PSE to type my journaling, and then I ran the physical cards through my printer. I made sure to leave a bit of space between the word art and my journaling to be able to add a zig zag stitch with my sewing machine. I did this for all seven cards.

I created two photos collages sized 5.5x8.5. In my video, you will see that I ended up having to trim .25 of an inch from the bottom of both collages as I should have sized them to 8.25 inches. I sized the collages to the outside of a 6x8 page protector when I should have sized them to the transparency from the kit. It was an easy fix and not a big deal.

Next, I added four of my 3x4 journaling cards in the pockets of a 6x8 page protector with four pockets. I then cut two 1.75 inch strips from the floral paper in the kit. I chose 1.75 inches because I honestly was not sure how wide I would need them to be. I decided to err on the side of caution as I could cut them down if needed.

I adhered the strips back to back to each side of the part of the page protector where the holes are.

I used book tape to adhere my first photo collage to the other end of the page protector. I like book tape because it is super clear and see through, and I knew that part of it would be on the pockets.

I slipped the other three 3x4 cards into the pockets and then adhered the second collage back to back with the first using regular rolling adhesive.

I then folded the page protector in half making the photo collage meet the strip of floral paper and used my scoring tool to crease the fold so it would lay nicely.

I laid the transparency on top with its right edge matching up with the collages and marked the floral strip with a pencil where it needed to be trimmed off. After trimming it, the strip ended up being 1 3/8 inches wide. Remember that I originally made it 1.75 inches wide to be safe, so I did end up cutting it smaller. I held the transparency and my folded page together to punch holes in both.

I adhered the Started Counting Blessings Journal Card on the front of the transparency with rolling adhesive. On the back, I added a 3x4 Story Card from the Color Storyteller Kit. This card hold my general journaling.

For the last pocket in the page protector, I added another Story Card from the Color Storyteller Kit with the chipboard tag from this kit.

To add the month and year, I used letter stickers from the High Low Storyteller Kit and Ali’s Monthly 6x8 Stamp Set on one of the Label Stickers from this kit.

To finish off, I added the one of the circle chipboard shapes to the other collage and a tab to the edge of the collage.

You can see how this project came together for me in the video below.

Here is how this project looks in my album. You can see that I added Red Adhesive Scalloped Border across the top of the journal card. I felt like it needed an extra bit of color.

When you turn over the transparency, you can see my journaling and first collage.

When you pull the tab, it reveals the first four journaling cards.

Turning that over, you see the rest of the journal cards, the filler card, and my second photo collage.

Thank you so much for joining me as I played with this mini kit. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below. I love hearing from you guys! You can also find me on Instagram @denine2 and YouTube @Denine2.

Happy storytelling, my friends!