Decorating My Traveler’s Notebook Insert- February “Hot Mess” Kit

Woohoo!  Excited to be back with you lovelies to share another project using the February Hot Mess Kit!  This time I’m decorating a new insert in my Traveler’s Notebook.

I love the concept behind the Traveler’s Notebook because it’s such a fun, pretty way to house all sorts of memories- I personally use my notebook for anything and everything!  I use some inserts for daily journaling & also a place to write inspirational quotes, scripture verses, and anything of that sort.  Then there’s another booklet that I draw in some nights while I cuddle up with a cute cat and some Netflix.  But I was really wanting to start a new one specifically to use as a mother-daughter journal.  It’s something I hope to give to my sweet girl one day in the future.  But for now, it’s mine to play in.  😉

For this insert, I covered the front using some of the leftover papers I cut down when I made the mini album.  It’s amazing how you can always find use for the scraps when it involves something with a super cute pattern.  😀

For the cover, I used the {incredibly cute} alphas from the kit this month, scraps of paper, a couple stickers from the Shine collection, and a Fuji Instax photo I took of Nadia and I right when I started working on this insert.

Then I started a few pages, and to be quite honest, I was completely doing this without a plan.  Some days I work much better when I just wing it!  Once I get out a few supplies and decide to stick with just those, it’s much easier to get going.  That’s one nice thing about getting a monthly kit- it’s all right there for you to use.  And it makes a very cohesive project.

I started the booklet by washi taping a piece of vellum to the front page and putting a sticker from the collection in the middle.  Underneath I wrote an introduction/letter to start out the journal and also did some watercolor painting to add just a pop of color to the page as well.

On the next page, I cut down the 12×12 calendar paper and used the February one along with a doily I had on hand and yet another scrap of leftover paper.  🙂

On the page beside it, I decided to make a February book list & write out Nadia’s current favorites.

After those pages, I decided to use some more of the ephemera from the pack to document a “Dream Day Together.”

I printed out some small photos of us from different days, and then I sorted them out on the pages in order to tell a story.  That was a fun prompt I’ve been wanting to do for a while, and I like how it turned out.  🙂

And that’s where I leave off!  If you’d like to watch a process video, check it out on my YouTube channel here.  I can’t wait to continue working in this booklet, so if you’d also like to follow me on Instagram and Facebook, I’ll be sure to post photos when I do.  To get your hands on the Clique Kits February Hot Mess kit CLICK HERE and use the code MARYBETH10 to get 10% off!

Thanks for letting me share this with you!!  Have a lovely Valentine’s Day, sweet friends!

XOXO, Marybeth

February Guest Designer- Project Share #2

Hey there, everyone!  It’s Marybeth again to show you another project I’ve made using some of the February Hot Mess kit.  I decided late last year that I was going to approach Project Life differently for 2016.  Instead of making one giant 12×12 album like I usually do, this year I’m making 12 albums total- one per month of all different shapes and sizes.  It hit me at some point that Project Life doesn’t have to be limited to a particular size, shape, or even style.  Don’t like pocket pages?  Don’t use ’em.  Want to make your own book?  Make it.  It’s not about the album you use, it’s about just simply documenting your life the way you see it and the way you want to.  So that’s what I’m doing this year… just rolling with the punches and using whatever I feel inspired to use each month!

The gals over here at Clique Kits apparently read my mind when they asked me to guest design this month and then sent me this glorious kit full of the Maggie Holmes Shine Collection… because that’s what I was already planning on using in my January Project Life album anyways!  Perfect timing, right?

Some of the things I used in this album were things I already had, but a lot of it did come from the kit.  I also used the 6×6 Shine paper pad just because it was easier with the small size of my album, but you could easily just cut down the large papers that come in the kit, too.  So let’s get to it!

I used this tiny little tag in the ephemera pack to journal my best moments in 2015.  Then I adhered the “Year in Review” cut-apart on each side so the tag could still slip behind it.  The wood veneer on the tag keeps it from falling through when the album is standing up!  I thought that was a good idea if-I-do-say-so-myself.  😉

I really loved using the ephemera on these pages!  One of my favorite parts is how this “LOVE” acetate piece looks after being slipped into the pockets.  It was kind of hard to get in place (probably should have just cut it in half to make it easier!  haha!), but I think it was worth the effort.  I like having little clear pieces that give that peek-a-boo look!

I think this journaling card that came in the kit was perfect for this small album!  🙂

I had some scrap pieces of paper left over from my other project, so I simply folded the 4×12″ strip in half & punched some holes to make a folder-like page.

I used another small leftover scrap to make this tiny little pocket that can fit one of the tags from the ephemera pack.  On the back of that tag I just journaled about the photo on the right.

I think the Clique Kits cut-aparts were so much fun to play with this month!  I used one of the larger ones to punch out this tab using my We R Memory Keepers tab punch (it was the perfect size!!), and I used the matching “Today Rocks” one at the bottom of the page.  Such a fast & easy way to add a little extra something to your photos!

Finally, I used a glassine bag (actually the one that the ephemera was packed in!!) and put it in the very back to hold some extra treasures like Nadia’s artwork or extra photos.  The stickers were the perfect touch!

I can’t believe January is coming to an end!  Seems like this month flew by, but then again, I’ve been saying that each month for practically my whole life.  Isn’t it great to have so many documented memories to look back on?

This was just a peek into the album, so be sure to watch my YouTube flip-through video of this album to see more!!  You can find it here: https://youtu.be/6WXwqo0pVBg

Thanks for sharing life with me this month!  So happy to have been chosen as a guest designer.  Keep in touch on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, will you?

XOXO, Marybeth

February Student of the Month- Marybeth Hancher

Hi, everyone!  I’m Marybeth, and I’m oh so happy to be here with you as a guest designer this month.  I’m a happily married mama to one sweet little lady named Nadia, a journal shop owner, blogger, and very messy documenter.  😉

I fell in love with documenting my every day life in 2012- I’m a photographer, so I’ve always taken my fair share of photos, but I never really did much with them in terms of archiving in anything but the standard photo album.  It wasn’t until my husband’s final deployment in the Navy that I intentionally printed and journaled the day next to all the photos I took.  He was going to miss our daughter’s first birthday along with every other milestone she hit during the 280 days he was out at sea, but I was determined to capture as much as I could each day and welcome him home with a book filled those memories & stories.  After I did it for that long, I simply couldn’t stop.  I enjoy making Project Life albums, filling homemade smash books & junk journals, and basically anything else I can get my hands on.  I typically don’t work in traditional scrapbooks or make large layouts for them, but I have a hunch I’ll be trying it out in due time.  😉

SO, now that you know a little about my story, let’s get on with it.  Shall we?

The February kit is AMAZING, isn’t it?  I just couldn’t wait to play with all the bits and pieces in that beautiful collection.  I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to make first, but I decided to start off with a mini album.

I’m a big fan of using my We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board whenever I have the opportunity, so I knew it would be fun to use some of these papers to make some fun envelope pages to be scattered throughout.For the cover, I used a couple pieces of chipboard that I had on hand, and after dribbling some of that beautiful Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Peacock that came in my kit, I just layered on some scraps left over from the pages, ephemera from the pack, and a wood veneer + sticker.  Easy peasy.
For the pages, I just mixed up some of the journaling cards, created some envelopes, and using the scraps of paper left over from them, I also cut out some tags.  And don’t you just love that acetate sheet?  SO fun!I also wanted to make the envelopes have a velcro closure, so I cut an adhesive velcro oval in half for each envelope…. it’s a little sloppy because my scissors got stuck!  Note to self:  Invest in those non-stick scissors you’ve had on your wish list for years.I also took a 4×4 page from one of my small Project Life albums and filled the 2×2 pockets with sequins from the kit.  I used my Fuse tool to close the pockets into little triangles & then filled the other two with ephemera from the pack.One of my favorite things about my albums are having all the little bits and pieces sticking out all over the place.  I enjoy watching people look through them in person and seeing their faces when they discover all the interactive pieces on each page.  It’s like watching them go on a treasure hunt.  😉I thought this “Awesome sauce” cut-apart was appropriate for this photo of Nadia looking like a cool kid in her big heart sunglasses.I also used the little scraps to punch out a couple tabs to staple on a couple envelopes.  I think it adds a nice touch and also uses up even the tiny pieces of paper.After I made this (and took the photos!), I gave it to sweet Nadia.  She LOVED it!  🙂  If you would like to see a process video, you can watch it here.

There was still tons of the kit left over, so I decided to make a quick pocket letter to share some of that gorgeous collection with a friend who just sent me some happy mail.  I don’t usually make pocket letters (this is only my 3rd one), but I couldn’t resist trying- especially since some of my scrap papers left over from the mini album fit well into the baseball card sleeves!The 12×12 cut-apart sheet in the Shine collection already has some great background images for Pocket Letters, so the only thing I had to do was cut them down slightly smaller so they would fit into the sleeve.  Worked out great!I decided to sew together a tiny vellum pocket and fill it with a bit of the sequins from the kit.  I embossed the front of it with “Sparkle & Shine” in my own handwriting to make it more personalized, and then put the pocket, well, in the pocket.  😉Then I glued one of the flair buttons onto a gold paperclip to make a fun little embellishment that she can use in her planner, journal, or wherever!Now all that’s left to do is stuff it with some more personalized things, write my letter, and then fold it up & mail it!

Thanks so much for taking a peek into how I’m using the Hot Mess kit!  I still have TONS left over, so I’ll be working on some more things throughout the month.  Be sure to keep in touch if you want to see more- plus I love meeting new crafty friends.  😉  You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Until next time!  XOXO