Hello my Sweets! Here is Réka again. Today I am sharing my latest layout with you. For this layout I have used the fancy February 2018 Main Kit featuring the Crate Paper – Good Vibes collection.   
This time the fantastic geometrical February cut file was used designed by Maryám. I have cut it out form the Hashtag paper.  This paper’s B side contains pink lines. It is very interesting and perfect for my photo. 
My mother’s new hobby is crochet. On the photo you can see some cute threads which was given her.
I have decided to add machine stitching to fill the gap of the line. ​

​The next step was to add some gold splashes. After I arranged my photo to the center of the page and started to layer bits from the Crate Paper – Good Vibes collection.

​I fussy cut some black hand-drawn flowers and leaves form the Flourish paper and adhered them around the photo. This paper is one of my favorites from this kit.

​For my layout’ s title I have used the shine gold glitter letters which are another ones of my favorites from this kit. I love that the letters are different in size and I could add more playfulness for the layout. 

​Some enamels added the finishing touches for my layout. 

​I am happy that you were here and hope you are inspired to add some splashes and machine stitching for your next creation. See you soon. Réka
 

Aloha!! Can you believe it's almost March already?! I can't!! Isn't this kit just dreamy? I am using the main Malama Kit with a few pieces from the Traveler's Notebook Kit and a couple of newer items I bought from the store. Be sure to check out all the newer items from Creativation and the add ons. They are great ways to make your kit stretch further. 
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Today I want to talk a little about ephemera. We all collect it, save it, and then it sits on your desk, in a basket, in a drawer and it hardly gets used. How can we get this real life pieces of our journeys and add it to our pages? 
My first advice is to not force it. If you are trying to make it work on your page and it's not. Take a second, and try to figure out if it will help carry on your story. If it doesn't really work, don't feel bad about not using it. Keep a photo box that is light and photo safe and store it in there. Or make a secret pocket to hold your ephemera. 
Second, You may actually have to plan ahead before making your layout. I am big on just starting and figuring it out well I am scrapping. Letting the layout flow. There are sometimes when you need to play, or strategize and find a place for your ephemera. 
You can layer your ephemera with your patterned paper, build a cluster with embellishments and stickers, you can even have it be your main image on the page. 

For the layout I am sharing today, I used an image that I had stored from online. I saved it to my computer a while ago for my records. I thought this was the perfect time to use it. As my image for the spread that I wanted to start telling the story of these two Aunts of mine, 11th great aunts actually. 
I love genealogy, and I have been studying my families history for about ten or so years now. Astime as went on, i gather more and more ephemera to add to my tree. What a cool way to use this stuff I collect then to add it to an actually layout. So I can make the stories come alive so much more.
These sisters and their stories are so incredible, it needed to be told. It is one of those family stories you can't believe you have, and then it hits you it is real. This is the stuff that makes scrapbooking so cool. I can add real ephemera to help tell my story. 
You can do this too and one day your family will look back and be in awe of the way things used to be, even if you are just telling the day to day stories of your life. Things like movie ticket stubs, restaurant business cards, menu's, food boxes or labels, and packaging from items you use. All these things have changed over time and it tells the story of the things you love and do. 

I wanted to give this layout a vintage type of feel because I am telling an older story. I ripped my patterned papers from the main kit. I also used the really intricate floral doily that came with the kit too. It really tied so well with my photo, one of what my great aunt could have looked like, what she wore and how she kept her hair. The Thickers from the Pick Me Up Collection really adds to the old feel, but without having that brown antiqued look. 
When using your real life ephemera remember to keep your supplies in mind. Use products that help tell your story. Use elements that have a common color, theme and feel to them. This will also make your ephemera feel like it's suppose to be on the page. 

I choose to make this layout a double page spread. I love making layouts like this especially in this situation. I have a lot of story to tell, and by having an extra page I have the space to journal a lot. For this spread it is important. I also added another title, I balanced it with some of the small paper pads from the Traveler's Notebook Kit. They are perfect for adding a few embellishments and stickers. I added a few of the My Mind's Eye puffy stickers. I thought the colors balanced, but the theme of travel worked well too. I also used a foam thicker word from Pebbles and an old Fall kit. 
Don't forget to mix in elements from older kits to your current kit if it helps tell your story and works together. Many of the add ons work for multiple kits. Like these resin flowers from the shop. They really bring out the purples from this Pick Me Up Collection and bring back that old feeling, without feeling so outdated. For me this is important but for you, don't be afraid to have your likes and stories be the focus, even if it isn't what looks like in style. Like my double page spreads may not be the hippest trend, I know in the end it will help tell my story, and I can use all that space to create something beautiful. 

I did lots of layering with puffy stickers and washi tape on both sides to tie the pages together. 

They don't have to completely match but they have a similar feel, and that is what I wanted. This is how I made two pages feel like one spread. 

This is what the full second page looks like, with all it's journalling. I also added some die cuts from the main kit and a tab on some more real life ephemera I had wanted to include from my research about these two sisters. (There story is quite tragic so I won't go in detail at all, but i still felt it in needed to be heard.)  By adding this info, in a hidden pocket, by sticking the patterned paper to white card stock around the edges, I can pull the paper work I printed from my online family tree site. You can see the info is there, but you don't have to read it. This is really nice for times like this where maybe not everyone wants to read all the gory details. It also can work for ephemera you don't want to get ruined by lots of hands, like broadway or musical playbooks, or report cards, or old driver licenses. You can also get envelopes through Becky Higgins or sometimes even the Clique Store will have fun different album sizes and you can use those protecters in regular albums. Just punch out new holes that work for you sized album. 
Sometimes using real life ephemera takes thinking outside of the box, but it will pay off when you see your real life stuff mixed in with you pages and cute kit products with your stories. 

Thanks for joining me today and talking about how to use ephemera a little more on your spreads. Head over to our Clique Kits Facebook group and we can continue or conversation there too. Show us your layouts and projects where you have used real life ephemera. 
Head over to the store and check out all the new Creativation products and use my code Hannah10 and get a discount and have it added to your upcoming kit. 

This exclusive collection is currently being manufactured in the U.S.A by fellow small businesses we support! It will be available in a Limited Edition kit we anticipate shipping in early April for the Clique Kits Anniversary celebration. The kit will include not only what you see in these sneak peeks, but a full complement of coordinating kit contents to work with the collection. Stay tuned for the full kit reveal.
As always, it will be offered first to our subscribers, then to the public. Pre-orders will be live soon! Please subscribe to our blog, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter to be the first to hear the announcements! Now, please let us know what you think of This is Us in the comments! One lucky commenter will win a paper pack !

Hello Friends! Maryám here with you today to share a shaker card I made using the November 2017 Kit and some sequins from the December 2017 Kit.

This shaker card was made of some ephemera pieces from the Girl Squad Ephemera Pack that came in the November kit. It only took me about 10 minutes to make so once you have made one you will not want to stop making them!

Here is the step-by-step tutorial of how on make the shaker card. 

Now, I'm going to show you a few close-ups.

I think this little card is perfect for any occasion and the best thing is that it's really easy to make and it only takes a few minutes!
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I hope you liked this project. Let me know if you have any questions.
Have a wondeful day!

 Hello Hello! It Sara...back again. This time with a Traveler's Notebook spread to share with you! 
I knew as soon as I saw that the March Kits featured Paige Evans Pick Me Up, I just had to document that one time last month when I met her! And I wanted to do it in a very ode to Paige kinda way....
So I grabbed one of her Silhouette files she designed, backed it with the fun 2X2 pads from the TN kit and it worked great! 

I think cut files are a fabulous addition to a travelers note book project. You can size them to perfectly fit the dimensions of a TN and they are a great FLAT embellishment to a spread that adds a lot of character and interest without a lot of bulk! 

I wanted my title to reflect Paige and her style. So I chose mixed fonts and used your love of Friends as my inspiration...

 Thank you so much for stopping by today! Id love to see what you can do with cut files in your next TN project! You can always tag me in The Clique Facebook group or on Instagram! Id love to see your creations!
Have A Lovely Day!

Hello Hello! I have a layout to share with you today featuring the brand new released yesterday Malama kit! This kit includes something new to a Clique Kit- embroidery floss! So I thought I would share a process for using this floss that requires very little in the way oe tools...you just need a pencil, a mouse pad, and a sewing needle....Intrigued? I thought so....

Products used- March 2018 Malama Kit
​                                 Pink Paislee Pick Me Up Thickers

Be sure to check out the video above for all the details on how I created my layout!
​Have A Lovely Day!

Welcome to our monthly celebration of all of the projects we have made with our kits as well as a look ahead to reveal what is coming next month! For inspiration and to share your projects, here are the hashtags you need to know! Like us on facebook, Follow us on Instagram, and tag your friends wherever you see these hashtags as Clique Kits will give away a prize gift certificate to one lucky commenter.
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By now the March kit gallery should be posted on the landing page of the website and on the kit pages as well. I know you are excited to head over there now to check it out! The March kit Malama features Paige Evans as our designer in the spotlight with her brand new collection called Pick Me Up.

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to be, to start in March there may be just a couple slots left for the Main kit subscription. Since our open numbers are so low we do not have a button up because we have to reconcile our numbers daily to count openings. If interested, send us an email. There will be a waitlist starting in March for new subscribers to sign up and hold a spot for the next opening to start with a future month. Follow Clique Kits blog and social media for all the news and updates! 

Hello Clique Fans!  Erica with you today and a little bit late!  Well actually way late! Sometimes things do not always go as planned but hey at least the post is finally up!  Now today I am sharing a layout using one of our past kits!  I know everyone gets excited when their new kit arrives and the old one gets pushed a side and then the process repeats when the next one comes!  So I wanted to pull this kit out to inspire you to pull out your past kits and get them used up!  Mix them in with your current kits, make some cards, some tags or some DIY embellishments!  If you still have the November kit I would love to see you pull it out and get it used up! 

When I first opened up this kit I was so excited to use this and start backing a cut file I had on my desk that I bought in the Silhouette store!  It is one from Paige Evans and I just love it!  I think there was a sale going on so I went on a bit of a shopping spree!  If you have been following me for a while you know I love to back cut files!  I think it is a great way to stretch your kits and also a great way to use up those small scraps of paper!

I usually cut my files out of white cardstock but for this one I decided to use one of the pattern papers.  It was white but had some writing all over it and I thought this would be fun to try!  I love how it turned out!

I did use a lot of the cut apart sheet to back the leaves.  I just loved all the colors on that paper!  The photo I used is of our daughter Alyssa when she was younger.  She was playing in the leaves and it is one my my favorite photos of her!  I printed it in black and white since the colors in the photo did not go well with what I had  going on in the paper and embellishments. 

Once I had the file backed I added some color to my background paper using some inks and mists.  I went with a really like pink and some aqua.  I kept it very light but I like the affect if gives in the background.  Once it was dry I added foam to the back of my cutfile and placed it down on my 12x12 paper!  I added some simple layers behind my photo keeping it pretty simple and then went to town adding embellishments!  I used the ephemera pack that came in the kit along with theVicki Boutin pack that came in our January kits!  The VB packs are like never ending!  I have used pieces of it in the last few layouts of mine!  

The specialty paper in the November kit is a piece ofPretty Little Studio vellum and it has gold foil leaves on it!  Seriously gorgeous and screaming to be fussy cut!  I tucked them in all around my layout.  Love how they look peeking out behind the embellishments!

The Maggie Holmes gold puffy words are A -M-A-Z-I-N-G!  You will love them and I just love how delicate they are!  To finish off my layout I added some sprinkles of Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine!

Here is a look at my completed layout!  I hope you love it as much as I do!  Once the cutfile was backed the rest of it did not take long at all!  I just love working from the kits!  If you are interested in the November kit you can grab it HERE!  We have other past kits available as well and you can see them all in the Clique Kits shop HERE!  For more inspiration using the November kit you can check out the November project sheet by Design Team Member Hannah Lemieux HERE or join us in The Clique Facebook group! It is beautiful and she has amazing step by step instructions!  Thanks so much for stopping by today we will see you tomorrow for our March 2018 kit reveal!

Aloha!! It's Hannah with you here today!! If you are like me and in the United States you may be happy about the extra day off of school for the kids, these are the perfect day to lounge around the house and scrap. I fully take advantage of these days. I hope you are able to enjoy your Monday no matter what you have planned. 
Today I thought I would chit chat a bit on some tips of things you can do if you don't have a digital die cutter. Digital die cutting is all the rage right now, and you know I do own one, but sometimes I just don't turn it on for many reasons. I also think back to the days when I didn't own one in my early scrapbooking days. There are so many ways around not having one, that I really want to talk about ways you can bump up your pages with little things that can mimic that die cutting look without buying a machine. 

I will also be sharing a layout I made using the February Sketch that our designer Maryam made. I love so many elements of this sketch. It was so much fun to play with. For this layout I used mostly the February Atacama Traveler's Notebook Kit that features Maryam's Collection The Sweet Life from Pretty Little Studio. 
My first tip for obtaining a layout or elements that look die cut, is to cut shapes out of patterned paper, like circles or triangles. I like to use dishes or small bowls for cutting out the circle shape. For shapes like triangles or banners and flags I like them to look more rustic and homemade. I will even doodle some faux stitching around the shape. 
​In this layout I cut out multiple circles in different sizes to place around the layout like in the sketch. 

Another tip I have is to use your patterned paper to it's fullest. There are so many patterns out there now that have flowers, hearts, or other items that you can fussy cut out. Use that pattern to your advantage and fussy cut them out of the whole page and add them on top of a piece of white card stock. If you add media to the card stock and then layer the fussy cut elements it looks like a brand new piece of patterned paper and really close to something that was die cut. 
For this layout instead of splatters I painted with a thick bristle brush acrylic paint. I also added it on top of the black and white floral patterned aper from the Main Kit from February. I really love the contrast between the black and white and the bright acrylic paint. It really stands out and will draw your eye to the circles in those areas with paint. 

Another tip I would suggest is to try and practice brush script and use that with alpha stickers for a title. Often the dic cut titles I use have that brush script or calligraphy look. Where those look really uniform and perfect, I find it fun try to create that brush script look with watercolors and a paint brush. You can do this right on the layout background or use scrap white card stock and fussy cut around it. 
I had fun layering all the die cuts from the Traveler's notebook kit with my circles and other stickers from a dimensional look. 

My last tip for creating a digital die cut look with actually using a digital die cutter is to pull out those maple die cutting machines you have tucked away. I had bought an Evolution from We R Memory Keepers and since I have lived in Washington, I have only pulled it out a few times. I have so many dies and embossing folders, that it's a shame. Pull the out, bulk cut a bunch of shapes and pieces from your scraps and now you have some really cute pieces that you can use on your layouts. 
One thing I also have found is making use with the items and things I do have in my scrap room. We can't all have every single piece of cool craft equipment, so finding uses for the pieces we do have in our rooms really helps us be better scrapbookers and more thrifty in our projects.
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For this layout I used tons of dimensional adhesive for my circles and other elements on my layout. I really love how the circles layered when they were different heights. 
For this layout I also used a small photo so that the main focus is actually the paint and the circles since they are a huge focus in the sketch. I choose to use the die cuts as the text elements throughout the layout helping your eye travel around the space. 

Often I will let my elements lay off my layout let this one. I kinda like that my canvas doesn't just have to be on the 12x12 piece of patterned paper. 

This sketch was created for the February Challenge. Be sure to use it and share in the Clique Kits Facebook group in the comments of the Challenge post for a chance to be entered into the challenge. We really would love to see your take on this sketch!! 
Can't wait to see you around the community and next time I am up the blog. For more of my work check out the Clique Kits Youtube Channel and watch my process or share videos!! 

Happy Sunday! I hope that you getting some time to create this weekend. I would love to see what you are working on so please share and tag me in your post! Today, I am working in my daughter's traveler's notebook. Each of my kids has a set of inserts where each spread includes a letter that I write talking about some aspect of their life or personality that I want them to remember. Often, the pictures are things that I have scrapbooked elsewhere or are some everyday images that don't really require a full-page layout. Today, I wanted to write a letter to my daughter talking about how we seek out experiences that are going to grow confidence in the kids so that they grow into adults who aren't afraid of difficult or scary things. 

This particular photo was a little bit tricky. I have several photos from this experience, however, I love the perspective of this one because you can see the entire obstacle course and her looking so small in the middle. I knew that I wanted my photo to spread across both sides of the page so I offset it to the left to make that work. I also knew that I wanted to find a way to cover up the other little girl so that my daughter was the focus in the middle of the this bright and busy photo. This is a great strategy to use to help get rid of distractors in your images. Here you can see the before and after of how I used one of the cut-apart phrases to achieve my goal. 

I created two different embellishment clusters as a way to frame my photo and add some texture, depth, and dimension. Including elements from both the main kit and the traveler's notebook kit (along with a few phrase stickers from last mont's kit) is one of my favorite things to do. My biggest tip is to just focus on a couple of colors and find elements that will work. The two kits this month don't have the same color palette but pulling out just the pink, blue, and yellow elements allowed for a cohesive look. 

Lastly, I added that letter to my daughter as well as some pen detailing around the edge of the page. I really like the look of using one panel of patterned paper and one panel of plain white card stock. Adding that pen detailing lets the viewer know that I did that intentionally. 

Have you started working in a traveler's notebook yet? I was super hesitant at first but I have loved growing and working with this format and I just know that you will too! Happy Crafting this weekend....