Scrapbooking Disney's Wild Side: Grizzly River Run Adventure! 🌊🐻🎢

Wild Rapids & Scrapbook Magic! This Grizzly River Run layout captures the thrill of the ride, the beauty of the wilderness, and the magic of hidden Disney moments!

Ahhh, Grizzly River Run — that glorious Disney ride where you laugh, scream, and pray your mascara survives! 💦🐻 Between the roaring rapids, the shrieking riders, and that “I-should-have-worn-poncho” moment, there’s a hidden side of this attraction that most guests totally miss. Tucked behind the rush of water and the smell of adventure lies a quiet trail lined with towering pines, echoing waterfalls, and a serenity that feels like stepping into another world. 🌲🌊

That little secret path inspired one of my favorite scrapbook memories — and one of my very first layouts ever! Back then, I wasn’t chasing perfection or process photos… I was just a girl with some patterned paper and a dream of making magic. ✨

What I didn’t know was that this layout would change everything. It’s where I discovered that scene-building isn’t just a technique — it’s my creative heartbeat.

So grab your trimmer, dust off your daubers, and let’s dive in — because this scrapbook adventure is about to make waves, and the only thing wilder than the rapids… is the creativity waiting on your desk! 🎢💖

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🌲🎢 The Perfect Papers for Scrapbooking Disney’s Grizzly River Run

To capture the balance between the thrill of the rapids and the peace of the wilderness, I reached for textures that felt alive: rustic woods, flowing blues, and adventure-ready neutrals.

✨ Pattern Papers & Cardstock

Plaids, planks, and patterned perfection — the paper that built the wilderness. 🌲🪵

• CTMH “The Good Life” Paper Pack – bold patterns + earthy colors = instant rustic charm

• CTMH Mix-In Paper Pack – perfect for layered strips and subtle texture

• 12×12 Woodgrain Pattern – my full-page base; nothing says “wilderness” like woodgrain

• Cardstock Colors:

  • Mocha (title + mats)

  • Toffee (warm accents)

  • Soft Gray (photo mat variation)

  • Blue & Blue-Green Shades (for water, waves & rafting scene)

  • White Daisy (outer mats & contrast)

  
  

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The Good Life Digital Art Kit - Rustic SVGs on deck — because even Disney magic needs a good tool kit! 💻✂️

✨ Dies, Digital Art & Stamps

• CTMH “The Good Life” Digital Art Kit – barrels, canisters, rustic props

• CTMH “S’mores Adventure” Stamps – those adorable rafting bears

• Cricut Design Space Cuts:

  
  

  • Grizzly River Run–inspired sign

  • Trees

  • Oars, mining tools, cowboy hat

  • Waves + inner tube

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✨ Tools & Finishing Touches

• White Gloss Spray – instant splashes + water motion

• Sponge Daubers + Pine Ink – distressed edges for wilderness texture

• Foam Tape – because dimension = storytelling

• Adhesive Runner + Fine Tip Glue

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🌊🐻 Ride the Rapids — Building This Disney-Inspired Layout

⭐ Note for New Readers:

Okay, full disclosure — this layout is OG scrapbooker April, back before I even dreamed of writing tutorials or sharing my process with the world. 😂 I was just over here matching papers, chasing vibes, and hoping for the best!

So while this post gives you a peek into my creative beginnings (aka “pre-blog era chaos”), most of my newer layouts on This Chick Loves Paper now include full step-by-step instructions and process photos—because who doesn’t love a good play-by-play with a splash of glitter? ✨

If this happens to be the first post you’ve found, welcome to the wild ride! Buckle up, grab your trimmer, and don’t judge my rookie glue lines too hard. 😉 You’re gonna love where this creative journey goes from here! 💖

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🪵 Step 1: The Base Camp Begins — Building the Foundation

Every great adventure starts with a solid base — and a splash of woodgrain never hurt anyone!

I used two 12×12 sheets of CTMH The Good Life woodgrain pattern paper for my foundation. Then I cut 1″ × 4″ strips from The Good Life and the Mix-In Paper Pack (Sep–Oct 2023). Each strip was inked on the edges with Toffee Ink, then staggered down the far left and right sides of my double-page spread — no boring straight lines here, just mixed-up rustic fun!

To frame it all, I added ¼″ × 12″ strips along the top and bottom of both pages, giving the entire layout a polished border that feels like it’s mounted on a sturdy wooden frame.

💡 Pro Tip: Staggered strips = instant texture! Think “wood lodge quilt” without the stitching.

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🪧 Step 2: Entrance Magic — Crafting the Grizzly River Run Sign

The heart of this layout is the Grizzly River Run entrance — I wanted to recreate it, and you know I wasn’t about to settle for a flat printed image!

The real-life inspo! Because you know I wasn’t about to settle for a flat printed sign. 🎢💦

I cut the main sign on my Cricut from Mocha cardstock, inking the edges in Mocha Ink for that perfectly weathered, sun-baked wood look.

The supporting beams were created from White Daisy cardstock, stamped with my favorite woodgrain stamp in Toffee Ink, and inked around the edges for that “straight-from-the-lumber mill” texture.

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Built with cardstock, ink, and a whole lotta wild ideas — no admission ticket required!

The sign face was another Cricut cut from White Daisy, stamped with the same woodgrain, and finished with “Grizzly River Run” printed in a font that matched Disney’s actual signage (as close as I could find 😉).

Now for the detail everyone notices first — the two oars sitting on top of the sign (not behind it!). Each oar has River Run printed on it, making them part of the sign itself — just like the real one. The lettering and oars are popped slightly with foam tape, giving the title just enough lift to feel carved right out of the mountainside.

Behind the sign, I layered pine trees cut from various Mix-In patterns, each one inked with Pine Ink for shading and depth.

Once my sign scene was complete, I had my layout’s center anchor — and a perfect visual cue for where every photo mat would flow next.

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🗺️ Step 3: Trail Markers & Photo Mapping

Blocking out the magic before the memories move in — every great layout starts with a little paper choreography!

This double-page spread walks you through Grizzly River Run exactly as we experienced it:

• Top Left: the bridge view — the moment you hear the first roar of the rapids.

• Bottom Left: that secret waterfall hidden behind the ride.

• Center: the Grizzly River Run entrance photo — the star of the show.

• Right Side: the mill and character statues that wrap up the trail.

Each photo is double-matted on White Daisy plus either Toffee or the light side of Charcoal cardstock, with edges inked in their matching hues for that weathered, woodsy finish.

The result? A trail-map on paper — you can literally follow the ride from left to right and relive the whole adventure.

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💦 Step 4: Adventure Corner — The Rapids Come Alive!

When your cardstock starts splashing back — ride the paper rapids! 🌊✨

This is where the page splash-lands into life! 💦

Originally, this section was meant for one more photo — but instead, I turned it into a full scene-building moment. I layered waves cut on my Cricut from CTMH Lagoon, Misty, and Seabrook cardstock, inking every edge with Journey Ink for fluid motion.

The raft and inner tube were also cut using CTMH Capri (for the raft body) and Black (for the rope trim). The two adorable grizzly bears came from the CTMH S’mores Adventure Stamp Set + Thin Cuts — stamped on White Daisy, colored with TriBlend Markers in warm browns, and popped up with foam tape so they look like they’re riding the rapids.

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Meet the real stars of the ride — bears, logs, and plenty of s’more charm!

Right beside this action sits the wooden Adventure sign, a Design Space SVG cut from Toffee cardstock and stamped with “Adventure” from that same S’mores set. I perched a pair of Cricut-cut oars behind it (inked with Journey for grain lines) to tie the theme together — a perfect transition between water and wilderness.

Finally, a few flicks of CTMH White Gloss Spray created glistening splashes that shimmer under light. The result? A miniature ride scene that practically moves on paper.

💭 And this — right here — was the moment I realized scene-building was my thing. This layout didn’t just tell a story; it became the story.

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🪵 Finishing the Wilderness — Details That Bring It Home

With the rapids roaring, I turned my attention to all the little rustic touches that would make the layout feel alive. Every accent came from either Cricut Design Space or the CTMH The Good Life Digital Art Kit, then customized with inks, textures, and layers to match Disney’s Gold-Rush aesthetic.

Where cowboys meet waterfalls — saddle up and splash down!! 🤠🌊

The mining tools and hooks 🪓 were resized and cut from CTMH Mocha cardstock, then brushed with Journey Ink to give them a time-worn, metallic patina. The cowboy hat 🤠 began as a simple SVG from Design Space; I cut it from Toffee cardstock, shaded the edges with Pine Ink, and curved the brim slightly with my bone folder for extra dimension.

Those half-barrel tubs and metal canisters were drawn from the Good Life Digital Art Kit and cut from the striped pattern DSP in that same collection. I backed the “metal” sections with light-gray cardstock and flicked on a touch of White Gloss Spray to imitate aged tin catching the sunlight.

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Gold-rush vibes and Disney tides — rustic never looked this cute.

Finally, every photo was double-matted on White Daisy and layered with Mocha, Toffee, or Soft Gray cardstock, all inked around the edges with coordinating hues. A thin line of Foam Tape beneath selected mats created lift and shadow, echoing the rugged texture of the wooden bridges at Grizzly Peak.

Each embellishment earned its place — the tools nod to the mining heritage of the ride, the hat adds personality, the barrels ground the wilderness theme, and the raised photos guide your eye through the trail-map composition.

Together, they tell the full story: the thrill, the calm, and the craftsmanship that define This Chick Loves Paper.

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🏞️✨ A Wild Ride, a Hidden Gem & My Creative Awakening

From splash zone to scrapbook — where every wave, bear, and barrel tells a story. 🌊🐻

When I look back at this layout, I still feel the rush of that first Disney trip—the splash of the rapids, the chill of the mist, and that quiet magic hiding behind the noise. 🌊🐻

What started as “just a layout” became a creative turning point. This was where I learned that paper can transport you—that scene-building isn’t just cutting and gluing, it’s reliving the story. Every flick of ink and shimmer of White Gloss Spray brings me right back to that bridge, that waterfall, that perfect moment where adventure met peace.

So if you ever doubt where to start, start here—with your memories, your imagination, and the courage to try something new. Because that’s where the magic lives. 💫

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🌲✨ Explore More Magic Beyond the Rapids

If you loved this wild river ride through Grizzly Peak, you’ll adore the rest of my Disney-inspired adventures! From Haunted Mansion Holiday chills to Cars Land thrills, my scrapbook layouts capture those hidden Disney details you only find when you slow down and look around. 🏰🎢

Ready to keep the magic rolling? Head over to my Disney Scrapbook Layouts category and get lost in more scene-building inspiration — waterfalls, castles, fireworks, and everything in between. 🌟

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Disney Adventure Scrapbook Layout: Capturing Magic at Grizzly Peak Airfield!

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This Is Halloween – A Disney Haunted Mansion Inspired Scrapbook Layout Full of Tricks, Treats, and T

🏎️ Radiator Springs Adventure: A 12x12 Disney-Inspired Cars Scrapbook Layout – A Collab with Jayma

🚪 Monstrously Fun! Scrapbooking Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! at Disney California Adv

🏨 Midnight Explorer: A 12x12 Disney-Inspired Grand Californian Hotel Scrapbook Layout

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🌲📸 Wild Trails, Wild Stories — Share Your Disney-Inspired Creations!

Your turn, crafty explorer! Show me your wild-side layouts — let’s see who else can tame these paper rapids! 🐻🌊

Did this rugged, water-splashed, wilderness-inspired layout spark something creative?

Maybe you’ve scrapped your own Grizzly River Run photos… or captured a magical moment from another outdoor Disney-inspired adventure.

Whatever you’ve created, I’d love to see it! Share your layouts in our Members’ Gallery so we can cheer you on, celebrate your storytelling, and keep the creative trails open for all of us who adore a little wild magic on paper.

Share Your Creations

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🦬🌊 Final Thoughts: Where Wild Memories Become Art — And Art Brings Them Back to Life

🎢🐻 Adventure Awaits! From rushing rapids to quiet trails, this scrapbook layout is a perfect mix of thrill and tranquility—just like Grizzly River Run! 🌊🏞️

Even now, years (and a whole lotta layouts) later, I can still hear the roar of those Grizzly River rapids — the laughter, the splash, and that spark of this is why I scrapbook. 🌊🐻

This layout wasn’t just cardstock and ink; it was my creative turning point. It’s where I discovered that storytelling doesn’t stop when you put down the camera — it just shifts to paper. Every oar, every barrel, every shimmer of White Gloss Spray brought that memory rushing back to life, one layer at a time.

It may have started as a “newbie layout,” but it became the moment I realized that art and memory share the same heartbeat — they both live to relive the magic. ✨

So go on, friend — grab your trimmer, cue up your favorite Disney playlist, and let your imagination paddle you somewhere wild. Because every masterpiece starts with one brave cut, a splash of color, and a whole lot of heart. 💖

Until next time, stay wild & keep crafting! 🌊🐻✨

April – This Chick Loves Paper

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Disclaimer: The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of April Raine - This Chick Loves Paper as a Stampin’ Up!® Independent Demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services, or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up!

🌊🐻 Dive into Scrapbooking Disney’s Wild Side: Grizzly River Run Adventure! A 12×12 double-page, 7-photo Disney-inspired layout tutorial designed by This Chick Loves Paper. This scene-building guide brings rustic CTMH The Good Life papers to life with grizzly bears, white water splashes & that signature PaperPixie magic! ✨💦