Geek Lab: Adventure Card

Hi friends,

Melissa here with you today and it’s a bittersweet post! This is my last one… not just for this current kit but also for my term as a design team member. I have absolutely loved my time here with Clique Kits but, I had to make the decision. I love designing and teaching and empowering other creative types but, it’s time to take a break from DT’s and focus on me and what I want to do. I’m looking forward to no deadlines and such. But, I will say, this team will be one I will miss. I hope you know that Clique Kits has a GREAT things here. Beautiful kits (will always be my favorite), amazing inspiration (I’m excited to see what the next team does) and a fun community (have you joined us on Facebook yet?)

For my last card with you all, I wanted to, once again, show you a card using the gorgeous cut files that are exclusive to the CK kits. I loved the fall leaves square but, was more drawn to the individual leaves. In my head, I pictured utilizing the circle stickers and then embellishing with the leaves. It turned out better than I even thought. I hope you like it too. Here is the finished card a few close ups:

I also used the little asterisk shaped cut files that were part of that square. I actually like the texture they bring with the tone on tone of the white cardstock. I was equally excited when I realized you can see them in the photo too!

How cute do those leaves look??? They really add the perfect amount of texture and help the card have a bit of interest. Those stickers are fabulous but, when in a pinch for that “one more thing”, cut files are the best!

I decided to hand write the first part of the sentiment on to one of the stickers. I just could not find the right alpha in my stash or anywhere else so, handwriting it is. Thankfully, I do like my handwriting!

Thanks for joining me here today!

The past year has definitely been an adventure I have enjoyed and I’m also looking forward to moving on! See you around!

Geek Lab: Dream Big Card

Hey friends,

Melissa here with you today and I’m sharing one of my four projects created using the absolutely stunning September Sundance kit. Seriously, it is so beautiful. I just love the two collections from 1 Canoe 2 and Fancy Pants. So Fall but, a slightly different color palette than the usual oranges and browns. Love!

Alright, so, on to my project. Today I wanted to share with you a fun card using one of the cut files from the CK Store. I love using cut files and I know there are so many posts and tutorials on using them but, it never hurts to see one more. Right? Plus, it also doesn’t hurt to remind you we have some awesome cut files here in the shop! Designed exclusively for you by some top notch ladies, too, and they go so well with the kits and product! Yay!

Alright, here is the cut file already cut out and ready to go…

To get my papers ready, I kept the “negative” pieces of the cut file and used them as a template. That way, I knew I would get slightly bigger to the true size. This helps immensely when getting ready to place them in between those spaces of white cardstock. I know they fit and will go over slightly so I can use some adhesive too. I found it easier to adhere the patterned paper strips to the card first. Especially for this particular cut file since there were some super thin pieces. It’s hard to line it up right and get it down perfect.

Because of the thin lines of cardstock, I used glossy accents as my liquid adhesive. It dries clear and I don’t mind the slight shiny parts that show. After adhering the cut file on to the cardstock, I didn’t like how the basket part of the hot air balloon looked as just white. It was too late, and too annoying, to try to cut out from cardstock something so, I dug out my Gelatos. Next time… I will remember to cut out “just in case” OR color with the ink FIRST. It got a little sketchy a few times and almost smeared on my card base. But, in the end, I don’t mind the way it looks.

The puffy sticker words from Fancy Pants are just perfect for cards! Almost all of the sentiments are PERFECT and I thought this one would go so well with the hot air balloon.

The card really didn’t need much else! Just a of the die cuts from the kit and ta da! Easy and so fun and whimsical.

Thanks for joining me today for Geek Lab! I hope you get a chance to grab some of the awesome cut files in our shop and use them to help stretch your kit! Make sure to use code melissa10 at check out to save 10% on your order!

Until next time…

 

Study Hall | VACATION

 

Hi there!

Nathalie here with you today.  I hope you all are doing well!

Here in Canada we are enjoying our Summer season, and that means travelling.  This year we headed back to my native Ecuador for a month long vacation, and brought back over 5000 pictures to live by until our next trip.  I was lucky to come back to find the gorgeous Malibu Traveler’s Notebook kit at my door step!  Right away,  the colors of the papers in the kit, and all the add ons were an open canvas to start documenting some of our vacation adventures.

 

This month’s TN kit is loaded with many so many goodies that can easily also be reworked into a scrapbook layout.   Here is small video showcasing how the layout came together:

 

 

As you can see, the kits are versatile!.  In this case I used the Malibu TN kit to create this colorful, and vibrant page about our vacation resort.  It all started with the cut file (which i had previously designed), which you can easily download below -just click on the picture-.

 

All the letter spaces were backed with the different 6×6 papers included in the Malibu TN kit, except the letter “o” which was backed with the subject’s picture.  After all the letters were secured, then i used some foam tape to add a bit of dimension to the page.

 

To add more color to the layout, I used some Prima’s The tropicals watercolor palette  to create a mixed media background.  The colors used match those of the papers in the Malibu kit.

 

 

To bring the eye to the picture of the layout, a few clusters were created around the “o”.   The clear stickers from the Pink Paislee’s Summer Lights can easily be backed with white cardstock, so that they stand out on the colorful papers.

 

 

To complete the visual triangle on this page, i used a combination of all the Malibu kit’s embellishments.   The exclusive printables (the escape sign) along with the fussy cut heart,  die cut pieces and the holographic star bring the page together.    Here is a look at the completed layout:

 

 

I am loving the final look of this page (even after a 6 week scrapbook free vacation)!  All the colors in the background complement those of the Malibu TN kit, and bring the picture to life.   Not to mention that those Neon pens included in the kit are so smooth, and they even work on top of mixed media!!!   If you haven’t checked the kit yet, then visit the Clique Kits Store to  see all that is included; there are still a few TN subscriptions available!!

Remember I am always a comment away if you have questions about how this page came together.  In addition, I would love to see what you create with the cut file, so don’t forget to tag me if you use it in one of your projects.

Til next time!

 

Geek Lab – Shine Like the Stars

Hello scrappers and welcome back to the blog! Today I have a fun layout to share using the June Aquarelle Main Kit. I am in love with the colors in this kit – from the soft blue tones to the watercolor accents. This kit is stunning!

Here is the layout I made using this fantastic kit along with the exclusive Clique Kits “Shine Like the Stars” cut file to serve as my title.

I love using cut files as a way to create interesting titles and accents. And to be honest, I am sort of a lazy scrapper and I rely heavily on tools like cut files as a short cut to creating fabulous layouts!

I cut this digital cut file using my Silhouette Cameo (suitable to cut with other electronic cutting machines such as a Cricut). Because of the delicate detail of this file, I adjusted the cut settings in Silhouette Studio to a speed of 2 and to a thickness of 31. This ensured that the middle words “like the” would cut without issue.

I initially cut this image on dark blue card stock but I just didn’t like the look of it once I placed it on the layout. I wanted the cut file to mimic the navy blue watercolor accents that are featured in the die cuts and frames that I used on the layout. To remedy this, I cut the file a second time on white American Crafts Textured Cardstock and painted the cut file with Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors to create a navy blue ombre effect.

I used extra water to spread the paint, starting with a dark shade of navy blue at the bottom of the cut file and working my way up.

Once I finished painting the image, I used a heat tool to dry the cut file. When the cut file was completely dry, I adhered it to my layout using Tombo Mono Aqua Liquid Glue.

The result is a stunning title that coordinates perfectly with the accents featured on this layout!

Using cut files is a simple way to add high impact to a scrapbook layout without much effort!

Once the title was in position, the remaining accents of this layout came together rather quickly.

 

Haven’t tried a Clique Kits exclusive cut file? Wait no more! Head on over to the CK store, download a few cut files and give them a try! Until next time, make it a great scrappy day!

Geek Lab: Beautiful You

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Friday friends! I am excited to share my first layout using the June kit! I love Cocoa Vanilla’s Wild at Heart collection and I hope you love this month’s kit as munch as I do. As soon as I saw the butterflies, I was in love. Seriously, I can’t get enough of them. They are a personal favorite of mine and they never seem to get old.

I used this month’s digital cut file to help embellish my layout. Initially, I was going to keep it white, then opted to use some Shimmerz Paint to color it green. If you’re looking for other cut files besides florals, check out Clique Kit’s Digital Shop!

For those of you who follow my work, I love layering embellishments and papers together on my layout. I layered some of the pieces from the digital cut file with the Cocoa Vanilla die cuts. I had some enamel dots from my stash that I used to decorate the center of the flowers.

What do you think of this month’s flair? Naturally, I love it because it’s blue; my favorite color. I couldn’t decide where I wanted to place the flair so I decided to cluster the flowers and flair along with the butterfly.

Here are a few other close up photos.

Thanks for visiting today and don’t forget to check out our Digital Shop!

-Nicole

Geek Lab: Live for the Moment

Hi everyone. Nicole here, with a fun technique! A few weeks ago I wanted to find a way to use the Butterfly cut file from Just Nick’s Studio’s shop, without having to actually cut the image. I did not want to have to peel the cut file from the cutting mat. I was feeling lazy. LOL The first thing I did was open the image in the Silhouette program. Then I changed the color of the image to a teal color using the Fill Color icon.

 

Then I clicked on the print button at the top of the screen and selected my color printer.

I printed the butterflies on the “Dream On” paper to add a bit more color! I love how the circles and butterflies blend together.

I love the teal, orange and gray together. It’s such a beautiful color combination. It really makes this layout pop.

A few close ups:

Once I had the photo adhered down, I splashed a few drops of spray ink onto the layout. I tucked a die cut piece behind the speech bubble clip to add color. What do you think about the flair in this month’s kit? I love that font!

I hope your visit today was inspiring! Thank you for taking some time out of your day to stop by!

-Nicole

Sunday School: Right Now by Evi

Hello lovely scrapbook ladies!  Thank you for joining me for Sunday School blog post.  I am playing with the April 2017 Jelly Bean Scrapbook Kit.  I am scrapping two smaller photos of me and my Doxie, Kobe on a walk recently.  I started out with cutting out the flowers of the Bella Blvd Make Your Mark, Magnifique.  These flowers are large and colorful which is totally my style.

Once I gessoed my card stock, I did the packaging technique with Mint colored mists and yellow.  I then used the current flower cut file, available under the Varsity Team, and cut it on pink card stock for an added layering effect under the flowers.

I used black embossing on the wood veneer from Fancy Pants and made my title “Right Now” pop off the colors of my layout.  I then added one of the words from the Freckled Fawn pack, ‘Amazing’ above my title.  The black pops off of both against the colors of my background.

I then started adding elements from the ephemera pack from Bella Blvd.  I love the flair in the kit, and decided on the yellow ‘She’s Crafty’ flair and nested it on yellow thread.  I also used the yellow swan exclusive piece in my cluster in the lower right area.  Enamel dots from Freckled Fawn were added for color and contrast.  All pieces are available in the April kit.

Thank you for joining me for todays post.  I hope you have had an amazing weekend.  ~Evi

Create Beautiful Art- Geek Lab

 

Hi everyone!  Happy Saturday!

Today I am sharing a page I made with the new April kit, “Jellybean”!   It is absolutely gorgeous and full of amazing, bright colors. For our Geek Lab, I am going to be using cut files, AND using the exclusive PRINTABLE that comes with the kit!

There were two particular things that inspired me for this page:  a piece of the exclusive flair that says “she’s crafty”, and a piece of the Bella Blvd “Make Your Mark” paper with lots of colorful paint strokes.

I had a photo of my daughter watching a Bob Ross video on YouTube and painting, so I thought these items would be a great way to highlight this photo.

I began by cutting out some large paint stroke shapes from a digital cut file and also the word “Art”.  I planned on backing these areas with the bright paint stroke paper.

 

I used a dry, 1″ paintbrush to stroke some areas of dark paint and over my title area and for some journaling areas.

I framed my photo with a cut file frame to make it look like a picture frame and hung it with some twine and a brad from my stash.

I embellished with cut outs from the exclusive printable that includes phrases and lots of tags and other elements.  There were also quite a few Bella Blvd bits that had sayings relating to making art and creating, so I had to add those in!

 

Finally, I added some stitching and doodled some stars.

 

You can watch my entire process here:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and don’t forget about the printables that come with the kit!

 

Locker Room: Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

 

Hello crafty friends,

Nathalie with you today bringing you a colorful and cheery project using this month’s beautiful, colorful and so versatile “PLAY” kit.

 

I was inspired by all the color in the papers, and Dr. Seuss’s famous quote, “Oh, the places you’ll go” to document a memory of my little nephew on one of our summer outings.   He is our baby, but -trust me- he keeps us all busy whenever he visits;  he is a small-cute-beloved tornado.

 

 

This project started with the  Arrows with Attitude cut file from the Cut Shoppe.  The empty spaces were backed with the mostly the branding strips of the  Shimelle’s Little by Little collection papers in the PLAY kit.

 

 

 

Once the arrows were backed, a bit of color shine spray mists and the packaging technique were used to create a colorful background that matched the colors in the  backed cut out (which are the same in my nephew’s shirt).

 

 

 

The arrows were then stitched to the page, and the picture was framed with pieces from the PLAY kit, and pieces from the add-ons that can be found in the Clique Store.

 

 

Dr. Seuss’s quote became the title of this project.   A simple font was used to cut the words from the specialty paper in the PLAY kit, and an offset of the words was created, so that the words will pop  in the title.  Some machine stitching holds the title in place.  A few journal lines, and ink splatters complete the layout:

 

 

I totally love how this layout came together.   The PLAY kit’s colors are rich and versatile that can be used to document all types of memories.  Here is a small video on how this page came together,  enjoy!:

 

 

I hope this inspires you to use all the little pieces the PLAY kit has to offer.   It is really a beautiful kit filled with colorful papers and gorgeous embellishments.  Remember to visit the Clique Store, where you can find products that work seamlessly with this kit, as well as many products for your crafting needs.
Remember i am a comment away if you have a question on how this page came together.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Love

Hi scrappers! Today, I hope to inspire you with another layout using Just Nick Studio’s digital cut file and Clique Kit’s February kit. I love working with digital backgrounds and the heart background really caught my eye. I used lime cardstock to really make the cut file pop off the page. This layout was super simple to make. I just layered some patterned paper together for the base, cut the image from my Silhouette Portrait, and added some mist and embellies.

I added some random heart stickers and chipboard to the digital cut file. The little banners were stamped images that I applied to scraps of patterned paper and hand-cut them to use as embellishments. It makes the hearts stand out much nicer than without.

I added some mini word stickers, butterfly rub-on and some Nuvo dots at the bottom to fill in the layout a bit.

Thanks for visiting today!

-Nicole