It’s back to school season here. Although my kids are OLD (me too – lol!), I wanted to create this School Days Shaker Layout featuring one of our newest product, 3D Foam Strips 3mm White. It is our highest height of foam at 3mm or just under 1/8”. Taking advantage of the height, I used thicker buttons as part of the shaker mix. What do you think?
School Days Shaker Frame
Start by fussy cutting the rows of pencils and cut slits in between each pencil to make it curve. Using a couple of pencil rows, I framed the 6” white cardstock circle with the E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots Refillable Dispenser. To make the frame fuller, I added another layer but this time, I used the 3D Foam Strips 3mm White to give it interest and dimension.
Shaker Base
Looking at the shaker frame, I thought it was boring, so I cut a circle out of patterned paper and made a wall around the circle with the 3D Foam Strips 3mm White. Also, I tested the height of various buttons to make sure they didn’t go over the foam well. #Passed
Assemble the Shaker Feature
Adhered together the frame and the base with the E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots Refillable Dispenser.
Add the Shaker Mix
Using my fingers or tweezers, I pulled a star from the E-Z Runner® Stars Refillable Dispenser to foil both sides of the star and powdered it to alleviate any stickiness. Then placed it to the shaker well. Repeat the steps until you get your desired amount.
Lastly, I applied three stars from the E-Z Runner® Stars Refillable Dispenser on the shaker surface. Use pieces of foil from Metallic Transfer Foil Sheets (color side facing you) and rub to transfer the color to the stars. A couple of buttons were secured with the Adhesive Dots Micro on the surface too. So, when the layout is upright, not all the shaker pieces will fall to the bottom.
Remove the top liner of the foam strips from the base and add a 6.25” acetate circle press to secure. Add more pencil rows to cover the gap between the frame and shaker base with the E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots Refillable Dispenser.
Make the School Days Shaker Layout
Trim the used patterned paper from the shaker feature to 11” square and mat with a 12 x 12” coordinating patterned paper with the E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots Refillable Dispenser. Then attached the shaker feature using the same adhesive.
Mat and Add Photo
For the photo mat, I used a fun zig-zag design to create a decorative edge to the bottom. Using a combination of the E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots Refillable Dispenser and 3D Foam Strips 3mm White (because of the uneven surfaces), I secured the matted photo to the lower corner of the page.
Create the Title
To anchor the title, I cut a strip of sentiments from the back of the collection cover page and secured it with a combination of the E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots Refillable Dispenser and 3D Foam Strips 3mm White across the lower part of the page.
Die-cut “SCHOOL” in teal cardstock (to match the school door) and used 1” circle punch to cut out the super cute alpha from the patterned paper used for the photo mat, I put together the page title “SCHOOL DAYS.”
I hope you enjoyed the School Days Shaker Layout tutorial. Give the new 3D Foam Strips 3mm White and add those bulky bits into your next shaker creation!
We also have the 3D Foam Strips 3mm Black as well as the 3D Foam Squares 3mm White Mix and 3D Foam Squares 3mm Black Mix to give you three varying heights in your paper crafting projects! See more product details, click here: New Products in 2026.
Thanks for stopping by!
Margie Higuchi
Creative Time: 80 mins
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials Needed:
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®
E-Z Runner® Stars Refillable Dispenser
E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots Refillable Dispenser
Metallic Transfer Foil Sheets Variety Colors, Metallic Transfer Foil Sheets Pastel Colors, and Metallic Transfer Foil Sheets Celebrate Colors
Other: Patterned Papers + Cutting Dies: Paper Rose Studio (School Days Basics Collection and Jumbo Uppercase Alpha Dies); Tools: Creative Memories (Circle Cutter); Shaker Mix: Catherine Pooler Design (Shaker Mix); Clear Acetate: Lawn Fawn; 1″ Circle Punch; Buttons; White + Teal Cardstock
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