Geek Lab with Hannah

Aloha!!

It’s Hannah with you here today. I am so excited to share this post. I am always thinking of fun ways I can mix up my kits. This month I thought, wouldn’t it be cool to use the cut files we get with our kits and cut my photo?!

This month Amy Horton gave us a cut file to use with the Traveler’s Notebook kit. The Sundance Traveler’s Notebook Kit features the Wish You Were Here collection by Pretty Little Studio and designed by Ashley Horton. It is colorful, travel themed and has some really fun and hip trees in it. I love this collection and this kit is so jammed packed and perfect for the Traveler’s Notebook.

I pulled out my silhouette and cut out the cut file with a couple of pieces of 4×6 patterned journaling cards from the kit. I also decided to be very brave. (I used a different cut file but we also offer digital files with our kits as well.)

I think one of the things about learning in scrapbooking is trying new things. Sometimes these things work out sometimes they don’t and you need to rethink your approach or try it a different way. This problem solving helps you grow as a scrapbooker. I also feel like if you are happy with the way you do things you shouldn’t have to change your style. But sometimes it is just good to try something new to remember why you love your style too.

All this for trying new things. I am cutting on my photo. I printed a big photo of Mt. Rainer from the zoo. I took it with my DSLR, did a simple edit on it. Printed in as a 5×7. This size a tad bigger than the Traveler’s notebook, but once I cut the cut file most of the extra stuff from the photo would be taken out.

If this is something you are wanting to do, I suggest using a photo you know most of the main stuff in the photo will get taken off. This should help pick a photo that can handle that. I choose a mountain image because it contained a lot of blue sky and then a different colored mountain. The mountain is easy and clear to see because it is way lighter than the sky. This difference in light and dark colors and solid less detail helps you see the image even though not all of it is really there.

Using a cut file on your photo can be so cool and a fun way to showcase the cut file and your photo.

This is what my photo looks like all cut,  not on my spread.

I left most of the hello off from the cut file. It wasn’t actually on purpose but in the end I think I would have cut it off anyway so there was less blue from the sky.

I love how the plane has the dark colors from the landscape around the mountain.

Like I mentioned I cut the file with patterned paper as well. This is something I do often. I really like how using different patterns make the cut files look completely different.

I used the really nice Fancy Pants Traveler’s Notebook from the kit this month. I decided to add both the photo and the patterned paper cut file on my spread. 

I kept the spread really simple. Leaving lots of room for journaling. using the washi tape for layers. This also keeps the spread pretty flat , which is something I have been thinking a little more about lately. I want to be able to get my stories in these albums without having to not use pages because I can’t close my notebook.  Using cut files and washi tape for layers I don’t need to add as many layers, though it still looks like I did.

I love the phrase and card stock stickers in this collection. They add some spunk to my spread.

I used a small paper bag that came with my Clique Kits as a place to tuck a tag threaded with colorful twine.

I finished off this spread with some heart die cuts with similar colors as my cut files. It really adds to my journaling without being really busy.

Be sure to head over to the Clique Kits Youtube Channel and watch my process video. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss any of the Design Team videos we post there.

Thanks for joining me today. I hope you check out the store and add your add ons, before the September Kits ship out. I can’t wait to see what you all make with you Traveler’s Notebook Kit this month!!

Locker Room: Enjoy the Journey Card

Hi friends,

Melissa here with you again and I’m sharing the second, of four, projects I have made using the stunning September Sundance kit.

I love Locker Room posts! The title always reminds me of half time at a football game (totally appropriate right now since it’s football season GO HAWKS!) and the coach is getting every one fired up again… whether it’s because the team needs a kick in the toosh or maybe they are rocking it out and don’t want to lose steam. So… this type of post always has me wanting to give you a pep talk! Maybe you have no mojo… maybe you are going strong… whatever it is, I hope that I can just provide with a couple more tools for your creative toolbox and how to make the most of your kit!

Here we go!

I know, I know. This looks like the makings of an Art Studio post but, it’s not. This piece of cardstock was a booboo. I messed up with my ink for another project. Almost threw it out but, noticed the colors went perfect with the papers in this kit. So, I added a few more splatters and decided to use it as my cardstock base. See? Even our “mess ups” end up useful! Don’t throw them out just yet!

Alright, so this next part has a lot to share. One of the ways I love taking on a new perspective and/or stretching my product is to look at what I can fussy cut. The flowers and leaves were so perfect to do this with! It definitely helps to utilize every single part of the kit. I also wanted to incorporate one of the cut files. I love how cut files can add more to the projects and, the best part? You never run out! I’m also going to be using some of the stickers on this card and those fun alpha stickers.

I want to point out something with this card, so far. When I use mists and inks on my cardbase, I notice that I use less product. Why? Because the inks provide a couple of things… texture and color. That way, I can bring in a little pop of something with the pattern papers and embellishments but, not too much. The result is my product/kit lasts longer! And I can make more! Which is exciting when I love the collection and papers and all that! Yay!

Here is the final card with the finished sentiment and embellishments…

 

Thanks for swinging by today! Head over to the shop to see more of the September Sundance kit, as well as, the ala carte shop for all the beautiful add-ons you can get! Use code melissa10 at checkout and save 10% on your order!

Until next time…

 

Yearbook | DREAM BIG

 

Hello Crafty Friends!

Nathalie here with a new project featuring this month’s super gorgeous Aquarelle main kit.   Seriously, this kit is so versatile, full of color, and watercolor designs that  are perfect for documenting all your cherished memories.

 

 

I love butterflies, and the “Mariposa” paper included in the kit was the starting point for this  layout.   However, I went ahead and search the Clique Kits digital store for a butterfly cut file, and found this one from January 2016.  The combination of color and clean lines of the butterflies in this project bring the page to life.

 

 

I love capturing my kids and littles growth, however, i always chose to photograph the difference in their progress using a fixed object.  This time, after a quick shopping trip to Michael’s, both, my daughter and niece -unknowingly to each other- bought the same bracelet.  “DREAM BIG” is what the beads in the bracelet spelled; and i used the bracelet as my point of reference to compare their developments -they are 6 years apart after all-   So sit, and enjoy a compressed version of  how this page came together:

 

 

For this page, I chose to create a watercolor background using a few Prima watercolor palettes.  The color splatters can easily be created by sprinkling some water drops, followed by some ink splatters (on top of the water ones), and then using a round brush connecting the color and water droplets together.

 

Though I created the background with a different design in mind, the change of orientation of the background helps the overall look of the page.

 

 

 

The cut out butterflies were backed with vellum, and randomly stitched to the watercolor background.   All the fussy cut butterflies from the “Mariposa” paper included in the Aquarelle kit were sprinkled around the page, and also sewn into the layout.

 

 

The exclusive cards that are included in this month’s kit serves  as the layer behind the picture.  In addition to finding the cut files, I also found some exclusive printables  in the store (September 2015 kit) that also match the colors of the Aquarelle kit.  The large tab from this printable serves as  part of one of the clusters created around the picture.  The rest of the embellishments come from the die cut pack, and this month’s exclusive printables.

 

 

 

To create a visual triangle on the page, another small cluster was created at the top of the page using pieces from the kit along with a piece of the paper’s branding strip.   The title of the page is “DREAM BIG” which is what the beads on the bracelets spell.  I am not big on alphas, but this month’s Pinkfresh Studio copper set is so beautiful,   it needs to be featured in your projects.  After adding the journal lines, here is the final layout:

 

 

Can you tell, i love butterflies?  Trust me, I think i used at least one of them in almost all my projects this month (there are still a few more projects coming to the blog soon!).  But you will also be reaching for your detailing scissors to fussy cut this lovely designs.   The Aquarelle kit is just a dream to work with.  If you haven’t checked the kit, run to the Clique Store to pick one of the few left (i hope they haven’t sold out yet!).

 

You can always leave me a comment if you have any questions on how this page came together.

 

Thanks for stoppping by!

Art Studio | Right Now

Hello Clique friends!

Today, I am sharing a new project created with the beautiful “Jellybean” kit, and one of the exclusive cut files included in this month’s kit; I think the entire DT is in love with this cut file, not to mention the colors and patterns in the kit!

This project is the happy result of the fusion of scrapbooking and Bible Journaling,  as it was created inspired by the  beautiful cut file, the colors in the kit, but above all Psalm 9:1, “I will give thanks to you , Lord with all my heart;  I will tell of your wonderful deeds” 

To frame the beautiful flowers cut out, I chose to go all artsy,  and use a combination of watercolor, ink, stamps and gelatos to create the background of the page.  Using the packaging technique, some green ink was spread on the page.  A little bit of gelatos was then smeared on the  page using some water and watercolor.  Once all these dry, I used the new Altenew’s Daisy layering stamp, that can be found in the Clique Store – to add just a few of the outline  of the leaves.   I have created  a small video on how the page was created, so sit and enjoy!

I hope you like the video!  As you can see, even when i mistakenly  smeared ink on the page, the beautiful flowers (created with the exclusive cut file and Paige Evans’ Oh My Heart collection  paper #14  -both included in the Jellybean kit- ) cover a large amount of the background, so the big smeared just becomes a hint of color under the flowers.

I created this page after working on my Bible journal,  and since I had just taken the picture for an updated head shot, i used the page as  a ways to journal about me and what i am thankful for.

For the title, the beautiful wood piece in the Jellybean kit fit this layout perfectly.  So i simply added a thin layer of gold acrylic paint, and then gold embossed the letters for that added shine in the page  ( i love the end result!).  Here is the final layout:

I am happy with the end result of this page (even when the subject of the layout is me!).  The inspiration i found in combining my Bible journey, the Jellybean kit and color soothes my soul.  I hope you like it, too!  If you are not a subscriber, there is still a few a la carte Jellybean kits available, so don’t forget to check the store.

I am always  a comment away if you have a question on how this came together.

Thanks for stopping by!

Yearbook: You go girl

Hello!

It’s Donna here for my last project using the April “Jellybean” kit.

Here is my scrapbook layout I made for today

I wanted to use the “You go girl” word art cut file so bad but I was stumped which photo to use (adding that my printer isn’t working yet so I had to choose from the ones I’ve already printed). I try to remember the stories behind each photos and I decided to use this one photo of my daughter slumped on the floor with lots of Hello Kitty shoes. We were there to buy shoes but it’s not the kind we were looking for at that time. She wasn’t even two yet when this was taken and she knew what she likes already and kept on saying “Kitty” while gathering ALL the HK shoes she can find. So I focused my journaling on how I wish she grows up to be a strong-willed individual who knows what she wants in life.

Good thing I cut the word art already before my printer broke. But I used a plain white cardstock. Since the Silhouette studio software is still crashing when I try to open on hubby’s computer, I had to use my good old scissors to cut around the paper that I used as backing. I did this twice since I wanted to use this colorful Bella Blvd paper and the polka dot Paige Evans paper as well. I adhered the white cardstock first and carefully cut around it, alternating my scissors and sharp cutter. Then I adhered it again on the polka dot paper. I used a thin cardboard to add a bit of height to the big title.

 

I love the colors in the kit but I need some black to somehow “balance” the look I’m going for. So I used the b/w bag which stores the embellishments in the kit. And then I used the polka dot vellum paper to make a little paper clip bow.

I doodled randomly as well using my PITT pencils.

I used mists/paints to create splatters. You can find similar products in the store especially the April Product of the Month Acri-Tonez Shimmerz Paints.

I maximized the remaining doily from the kit by cutting it in half.

That’s all from me today!

Happy crafting,

 

Yearbook: Be Impossible To Forget

Hello Crafty friends!

Happy Spring to everyone!   Today,  I wanted to share with you all a new project created with the beautiful Jellybean kit.   This kit has the most beautiful papers from Bella Blvd.’s Make the Mark collection, as well as Paige Evan’s Oh My Heart collection, and it is full of embellishments that complement the papers.

We all have special ways to mark the height of our kids as they grow.  My choice has always been to photograph them against a fixed reference.  Last summer as we took the littles (my niece and nephew) to the fair,  they all had to be measured before going on the rides.  Finally my daughter (now 14) reached the adult height requirement, and the littlest also reached the height to be able to go on the rides.  To mark this growth spurt, I simply photographed their bracelets showing the milestone.

I was drawn to the words on the Impossible paper from Bella Blvd. -included in the Jellybean kit-, and I knew the title was going to be formed by fussy cutting the words out.

The background for this project was created using a heart cut file (#65661) from the silhouette store.  The patterned papers used to back the cut file all came from the Jellybean kit, I simply followed the color palette of the Impossible paper (that is what is so wonderful about these kits, all papers are curated to work harmoniously together)

I love this kit so much, I set to use a piece of each of the goodies included in my little pizza box from Clique Kits, even the doily (and I am not a doily person! 🙂  ) Here is the final layout:

I have created a small video on how this layout came together,  just sit down and enjoy!:

Aren’t the colors in the Jellybean kit just amazing?  I hope this has inspire you to find  a creative way to capture your kid’s growth, and a fun way to document it, too.  Remember that you can find all the details on this kit, and add ons on the Clique Kit Store -there is always new goodies available at the store-.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Traveler’s Notes: My Journal

 

Hello there!,

Hope you all are doing well.  Today  i am bringing you a few entries of my personal journal (aka my Traveler’s notebook).

 

This month’s PLAY kit was ideal for documenting  my every day happenings.  The kit is so well put together, it makes is so easy to work with.

 

 

For my first entry (as you all know by now, we have a new member in our family), I used the  PLAY kit to create an entry of the first picture of my cousin holding his baby.  For this i started by using Crate Paper’s Oasis collection stamp, that i picked up in the Clique Store and has sold out-  with some archival black ink.  I simply drew some slanted lines with a 2h pencil on one side of the spread, and stamped the word HELLO along the line.   Once i was about to finish stamping  the page, I simply switched the letters to read BABY, and the color of the ink, and finished stamping the page. There is also a bit of shimmering watercolor in some of the words.

 

For the opposite side, i simply cut a piece of paper from the kit to match the angle of the stamped words, and placed the picture in the middle of the page.  All the embellishments come from the PLAY kit, and from the Clique Store (there you can always find paper supplies to complement their kits).

 

 

The next entry i am sharing shows just how versatile the PLAY kit can be.   A few weeks ago, it snowed heavily here in Toronto; that means play time for my kids and the littles.

 

 

I dug into my stash, and pulled this spotted vellum that reminded me of snow falling.  Using the Very Merry cut file from the Cut Shoppe, the snow flake was cut;  a simple font was used to cut the word snow.   The paper was then trimmed to fit in the insert, and a half an inch was added to the left side of the page.  The word JOY was formed with the Shimelle’s Little by Little collection foam thickers  -available in the Clique Store-.

 

 

I folded the extra half inch of the vellum, and glued it under the large picture of my niece and nephew walking in the snow.   The  opposite side of the page was created by using the b side of one of the papers in the PLAY kit (the dots continue the theme of the spread).   I pulled my type writer to add the journal in one of the  pieces from the ephemera pack included in the kit, and glue them to the page.  Here is a quick look at the picture  behind the vellum.

 

 

one of the CK exclusive printables was perfect to complete this spread.

 

Thanks for stopping by today,  I hope this inspires you to check the  new Traveler’s Notebook kits that are available in the  Clique store.   I have journaled my entire life, but love the format of the TN, and Clique Kits monthly kits make it so easy to add my daily entries.   Remember to always check the Clique Store, there is always new items in the shelves that quickly sell out (just like the stamp used in this  spread).

Remember you can always reach me if you have any questions on how this came together.

Til next time!

 

Art Studio: Beautiful Boy

Hello Crafty friends,

Nathalie here, with a new project using the colorful and so beautiful March kit, “PLAY”.   This  kit features Shimelle’s new collection, “Little by Little”, and it was perfect to document a  new member of our family.

 

 

I am the firstborn grandchild in our family.   My sister and I loved playing house, the only difference is that our dolls were real life babies, our cousins (who are at most 9 years younger than us).  Now my babies are having babies of their own, and i get to enjoy it all once again.   This project was created for the newest addition to our family, baby TADEO.

Here is small video on how the page came together,  please enjoy:

 

 

For this layout, I wanted  to recreate a sky where i can nestle the baby’s picture in the clouds.  It all started by  wetting the part of the card stock where the mixed media was located ( I am using Bazzill heavy weight Marshmallow 12x 12 in, so there was no need to gesso the page).  Next, using a brush add some water droplets to the page.  Then load a round brush with the color you want to use, and add drops of the paint to the page ( for this project Prima watercolors were used).  Using the same brush gently join the water and paint drops together, allowing the color to mix, and flow on the  page.  Since the papers in the PLAY kit have some teal on them, some drops of teal ink were also added in the same fashion as the watercolor.

 

 

 

The clouds were created using the Happy Clouds cut file from The Cut Shoppe.   The empty spaces were backed with some of Shimelle’s “Little by Little” collection featured in this month’s PLAY kit.  To add softness to some of the clouds, they were backed using vellum.  In addition, a little bit of hand stitching to some of the images helps to add texture to this project.

 

Once the picture was attached, clusters of ephemera from the PLAY kit, and the kits add ons -available at the Clique market – were created around it.   The title of this project was formed using the alphas included in the kit, and the foam thickers from Shimelle’s Little by Little collection available at the Clique store.   Finally, a few lines of journal, and a few small details  complete this layout:

 

 

I love the feeling of serenity and cheerfulness in this layout.  The PLAY kit is just so beautiful, and all the playful colors in the papers are perfect to document all types of memories.  If you want to see details on what is included in the kit, just visit Clique Kits, and while there don’t forget to check what the ladies are stocking in the Clique Store shelves.  Remember you can use the DT’s codes to obtain a discount at checkout.

 

As always let me know if you have a question on how this came together;  I am just a comment away.

 

Thanks for visiting today!

Art Studio – Love Everlasting

Hello Clique Kits Fans!

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend.

 

Today I am back with a new project using the gorgeous “Hey, Sugar” kit (have i mentioned how much i love this kit).   It is packed with beautiful papers from Crate Paper’s Heart Day collection, and Simple Stories’ Love and Adore collection, and lots of beautiful and colorful embelishments.   Since the colors made me think of love, I chose to translate the inspiration into a sweet layout about my sister and her love for her son.

 

 

For the focus of this layout, i used the Just Nick exclusive cut file  for Clique Kits from February 2016.  I cut only the outlet of the heart on water color paper, and used  the pencil attachment to lightly draw the triangles inside the heart, all this was done using my Silhouette Cameo.

 

the heart cut out was colored using the watercolors.

 

To make sure to  leave a white edge around the heart image, I simply used masking tape to attach it to the silicone mat.  Next I sprinkle water inside the taped lines, followed by varying shades of pink watercolor.  Using a lightly wet brush i connected the splatters together allowing the watercolor to run into the water splatters.

 

 

Once the heart cut out dried, a paper piercing tool was used to make holes in each corner point of the triangles of the original  cut file (you cannot see them in the picture, as I used a 2H pencil to draw them in the Cameo).   Using simple back stitching,  all the triangles were completed.  Here is a few close ups to the heart piece.

 

A few splatters of Metallic Prima watercolor were also added to the center of the heart

 

This heart is the focus of this layout, so it was attached using a large piece of fun foam to the layout.   Next i fussy cut quite a few flowers from the Crate Paper’s Adore You paper included in the “Hey, Sugar” kit, and tucked them behind the picture and lower edge of the heart.  The clusters around the picture  were formed using chipboard stickers from the Heart Day collection, and card stock stickers from Simple Stories’s Love and Adore collection, these can be found in the Clique Store.

 

 

 

To complete the layout, the title was formed using the beautiful black and White alphas included in the “Hey, Sugar” kit, and one of the word stickers from last month’s Wonderland Kit.  Here is the final layout:

 

 

 

The beautiful papers and embelishments in this month’s, “Hey Sugar” kit worked seamlessly to construct this layout about my sis and her little one.  Remember you can still purchase the kit, just click here, or better yet check the limited edition “Love, always” kit available at the Clique Kit Store.  You can use one of the DT’s codes to obtain a discount at checkout.

Let me know if you have any questions on how this came together.

Thanks for visiting today!

 

Study Hall: DONUT DELIGHT

Hello Clique friends,

Happy New Year to you all!  May 2017 be full of love, peace and blessings.

Today, i wanted to share with you a new layout created with this month’s “Hey, Sugar” kit.   Isn’t it lovely?  All the beautiful papers and embelishments are so fun to work with, but there is also a set of cut files that is included with each kit.   One of this month’s cut files features an image of a donut;  once i saw the cut file, I knew that it would work perfect for what i had in mind.

 

 

I started by printing the image of the donut, using the Silhouette software, in my printer.  I  used a pencil to transfer onto trace paper the image of the donut.  Using the Prima watercolor palettes, i created a few circles on watercolor paper to look like the dough of a donut.

 

 

Using the trace paper image as a guide, the watercolor circles were cut to obtain the donut shape.  At the same time, I isolated the icing image of the donut, on the Silhouette software, and cut it from some of the papers in the kit, as well as the Heart Day 6×6 pad (this month’s kit add on) available at the Clique Store. 

 

 

Once i had the “donut icing” cut outs, i glued the pieces together, and added a bit of hand stitching to secure the pieces, and add texture to the donut shapes.  Putting the page together after that was so  simple, and fun!

 

The donuts were attached to the page using adhesive foam (in different thickness), so that they create dimension on the page.   All the sprinkles in the donuts are the part of the Joy Parade (from Fancy Pants) puffy stickers included in the kit, I simply cut the triangles to create the sprinkles for the donuts.  I created a photo strip  of my nephew eating only the sprinkles of a donut, and nestled it amongst the donuts.  This month’s exclusive printables were perfect to create little clusters along the photo strip.

 

 

For the title, I used the circumference of the donut to create a playful design with the Crate Paper’s Heart Day Alphas  included in the kit, and one of the word stickers (from the Joy Parade collection) also included in the “Hey, Sugar” kit.  I love the color combination, and the retro vibe it adds to the page.  To finish the project, I simply added my journal lines along the circumference of the donuts, and added the date to the project.  Here is the complete project:

 

 

I love when i can bring my ideas into a reality, and this is the case with this layout.   It was all possible using this month’s “Hey, Sugar” kit.  This is a must have, even if lots of pink is not your thing!.   Trust me, you want to make sure to subscribe for it, and get all the add ons at the Clique Store, just use one of the DT’s code to obtain a discount at checkout.

I am always a comment away, if you have any questions on how this came together.

Thanks for visiting, and have a great New Year!