Before we get started here, let’s talk breakfast…shall we? I love me a good piping hot bowl of oatmeal. And ya know what? Every time I have to toss the huge cylinder packaging I just about cringe at all the waste…and I have been secretly dreaming of what I could alter that to become. TA DA…like magic…lookie girlies at what we have here…yep! An altered canister! You’re going to have dump your oats in a Ziploc baggie or go buy some and then dump them in said baggie, because we got some creating to do! The new Limited Edition Bliss Art Journaling Kit with my exclusive mini journal was perfect for this project!

I first coated mine with about 2-3 layers of Bad Girls Couture Gesso. Our gesso is super thick and will do the job! Then I added one coat of Haute Mess “Kiss and Don’t Tell” from Clique Kit’s Paint Add On Kit. Choose a favorite paper and cut it into three pieces lengthwise. Now add three strips from another paper to take up the space, making sure you leave a little bit of space to let the paint color peek through. Now I mixed Haute Mess “Couture Pink” from the Paint Add On kit with Haute Mess Gesso. This will not work with any Gesso. Ours is very thick…making it so you can work with it as I did to create dimension. Using a palette knife work the gesso mixture into the crevices where the papers separate and onto the papers to give the illusion of rustic shabby chic walls. Using a scallop scissors, cut one of the wood patterned papers in your kit, then punch each scallop in the center. Adhere to your dried canister top and bottom with a good adhesive or double sided tape.

To complete your top…paint it exactly as above. Add patterned paper to the top. Give it the same gesso/painted treatment as above. Trim the sides and inner top with gems. Punch a hole in the center and add a small crystal knob or any knob of your choice. Tie the Chipboard Sticker tag to the top after you have backed it with pattern paper.
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Hi everybody! Today's layout is brought to you by inspiration from Quilling for Scrapbookers Explore & Learn kit and by the stinkin' coronavirus. While home on lock down like most of us I really needed something relaxing to do to cope with all the stress.  I discovered that quilling is my new favorite meditative activity.  Seriously, a few months before the year that shall be nameless began (we will never again want to say "2020"  will we?) I saw a resurgence of this paper art on Pinterest and Instagram and was impressed with its potential to add texture, colors, designs, and interest to a scrapbooking layout. And, I must also give credit to Jana McCarthy for posting some layouts that she had made using this technique. 

The kit contains different widths and colors of paper strips as well as a packet of strips with instructions for making a variety of flowers, butterflies and leaves.  Which one do I use? Well, I went with the narrow width strips because I didn't want the quilling design to be so thick that it gets squished inside the page protector. Again, I truly don't "know" what the hell I am doing.  I am making it up as I go along. As you can see by comparison, the quilled designs are about twice the height of a standard Elle's Studio laser cut acrylic piece (which I also used scattered throughout the design on this layout.) Since so much surface area of the layout is at this level there is even distribution of the contact with the page protector so neither the layout nor the page protector get damaged.

What I learned about quilling from my first attempt is that there is an "alphabet" of basic shapes (each with a number of different variations) such as circle, teardrop, oval, diamond, square,etc You then use the shapes together in an infinite number of ways to create a larger object. The scrolling is done by wrapping a paper strip around a quilling tool and then using a fine tip glue applicator to adhere the paper in position. I loved the tweezer in the kit to avoid sticky glue fingers. You can use the circle guide in the kit to keep the size of the scrolls consistent. For scrapbooking, sometimes the simplest things in repetition make the cutest embellishments on a page. Things like hearts, butterflies, and flowers will always be great choices to embellish with or to create a large background design like I did here.

I have a lot more to practice and am really embarrassed to show some of my "little boo boos" in the really close up photos, but I went ahead with sharing to show you that even though the quilling is imperfect the overall look of the layout is divine (in my biased opinion) 

I used the word puffy stickers from Paige Evans Bloom Street and some cardstock stickers from Dear Lizzy's Here and Now collection. I also used paper from the Studio Forty Bom Dia Kit and some acrylic hearts from both Elle's Studio and Colorcast Designs. The items not linked were in the shop at one time but sold out. There are just a couple of the Explore and Learn Quilling for Scrapbookers Kits left. Now that I am hooked on it we may have to make another edition!

Hello crafty friends! Rita here today and I'm so excited to share my latest project with you. It's a very special occasion! I scraplifted a layout of one of our lovely "The Clique" members for our blog posting category "my kinda people" and I can't wait to show and tell. I love the Clique community, because everyone is welcome and we support and encourage each other. To celebrate this we also want to give some shout-outs to our Clique members. Today it's my turn and I decided to scraplift the fabulous layout by Hajnal Suhai which she has posted in May for the INSD challenge at "The Clique". 

Isn't it beautiful? I loved the composition of it right away and had an idea for my layout instantly. But before I show you my (boy) "version", I want to introduce Hajnal. She's not only super kind but also has a beautiful Instagram feed, you can find it here: https://www.instagram.com/hajnal_s_kreativwelt/ - After I had asked her to introduce herself and tell us how she discovered scrapbooking, she wrote this for the blog: 

"Hi everyone! My name is Hajnal. I live in Germany and my husband and I share our life between Heidelberg, the Balaton Lake in Hungary, in the marvellous village Tihany and from time to time in Transylvania( my birth place ). Therefore, our life is sometimes full of adventure. In Tihany, being surrounded by nature gives me an endless source of creative inspiration. Having relatives and friends in these countries, four years ago I have decided to make and send my own handmade Christmas cards for them. I enjoyed the making process very much and I started to watch cardmaking tutorials on the internet. Step by step, I came in contact with the scrapbooking. These days I make more layouts but cardmaking and the album making is still in my heart. I think, I can describe my style with a couple of words: keep it simple and soft, add some flowers and hand stitch a little. "

Thank you so much, Hajnal! Make sure to check out Hajnal's feed and her amazing projects! 

While Hajnal's layout is dominated by shades of orange and pink, I mostly used bluish colors. This is probably the biggest difference. I focused more on the composition than the colors. Everything (well, apart from the yellow enamel dots) I needed for this layout was part of the Mermaid Hair Kit. It features the Vitamin Sea collection by Fancy Pants Designs. You can find the paper pads here (12x12'') and here (6x8''). I've already used some elements in my Art Journaling project and my July Moodboard Challenge project. Go check them out if you haven't already! This time I wanted to use more of the patterned papers which is very unusual for me. But I wanted a patterned background, so I made the most out of it! lol I used three different patterned papers - Seahabilitation, Happy Stripes and the Cut Apart Paper.

I cut out the Lacy Mandala Digital Cut File (for this one I also used a patterned paper from the kit) and backed it with the Cut Apart paper. This is kind of my substitution for the wreath Hajnal had used. 

Instead of florals I used the chipboard and ephemera pieces from the kit and some palm leave dies (these ones are from We R Memory Keepers/Heidi Swapp). Let's take a look at the full layout: 

While Hajnal's layout is elegant and soft, mine is a little more graphic and bold, maybe it turned out this way because it's a boys layout? Or maybe the design of the "Vitamin Sea" collection lead the way... Who knows... Any way, I love it and I hope my son will appreciate this one aswell. I hope you feel inspired to get crafty today. Don't forget to visit us over at "The Clique". We'd love to see you there! Thanks for stopping by! 

Hi friends! Dana here today sharing a layout that I created with the Limited Edition Simple Stories Garden District Kit. The double-sided patterned papers in this collection have images of butterflies, flowers, bees and birds. The sheet of cardstock stickers and die-cut ephemera pack  includes more flowers, and also labels and sentiments. It has been awhile since I loved a collection like this. The designs and color palette are so beautiful! This kit is perfect for documenting Spring and Summer activities, but also everyday moments.
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I found that the patterned papers already included many of the designs that I would normally apply to the base of my layouts like blocks of color, scripts and text, and gorgeous florals. Rather than focus on adding mediums, I had a lot of fun building up layers using the die-cuts and stickers in the kit. I chose a 49 and Market viewfinder die-cut and arranged Simple Stories butterfly die-cuts in a rainbow palette around the edge. I folded each butterfly die-cut down the center to give them more dimension and secured them to the die-cut with 3D foam squares for extra height. I cut the white edge from flower ephemera and tucked them around my photo. I finished this focal point by adding several cardstock sentiment stickers.
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To help the eye move around the page I cut leaves from the ephemera pack die-cuts and attached them to flower stems on the patterned paper. This gave the floral print area on the bottom left corner of the page more dimension.

I finished the layout with a sticker title, some handwritten journaling, and a silver dragonfly charm.  The dragon fly charms are detailed on both the front and the back, so they would look amazing on handmade jewelry or journal charms.

​If you're looking to add some whimsy to your scrapbooks, pick up this kit from the Clique Shop!

Hi Clique friends, today I am sharing a quick and easy craft for you to make using old jars with lids. I never throw out glass jars and often upcycle and make storage containers for my craft room.

I used the new kit Let's Stay home to create these as I loved the patterns, colours and embellishments, all go beautifully in my craft room!

I decided to paint one jar so I could use it to store the not so pretty things in my craft room and the other I left so I could see its contents.  Clique Kits have a huge amount of paints to choose from but I chose to use the beautiful Bad Girls Couture paint. Once it was dry and then dry brushed  (simply add white to a dry paintbrush, wipe off any excess and then brush over your jar)  a white over it so it gave some highlights which avoids it looking 'flat'.

I then cut a paper strip adding machine stitching and attached to my jars with wet glue. To cover the lids I cut a round circle for the tops and again adding machine stitching to add texture. The unpainted jar I added a paper strip to the outer of the lid to add more colour.

I created a pretty tag for each jar, layering embellishments and adding machine stitching.

I added some puffy stickers to create some dimension and a sweet material bow from the collection. I used coloured twine to add my tags, because you cab never have too much colour!

I use cotton buds to apply wet glue so this decorated jar will look so pretty on my desk!

All that's it from me, before you throw out those glass jars have a go at making your own pretty craft storage containers. Thank you for stopping by today and I will see you again later in the month with a mini album. Stay safe and well in these challenging times.

Product used:
cliquekits.com/12-x-12-paper-pack-lets-stay-home-pinkfresh-studio/
cliquekits.com/add-on-kit-bliss-bad-girls-couture/
cliquekits.com/add-on-kit-lets-stay-home-pinkfresh-studio/​




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Hello scrappy peeps! Nicole here and today I'm super excited to share what I've been working on. If you follow me, you know that I mostly create mixed media and scrapbook layouts. Well, for today's project, I'm using the Let's Stay Home Sampler kit and creating not one, but two weekly layouts in my project life album!

This year, I've changed up my format to the 6x12 and I love it! For the amount of photos that I take, it's ideal...and for the weeks that I take more, I just do two! 

I'm documenting weeks 21 and 22, witch is mostly the end of May and the start of June. My kids were very much into staying at my parents house while my husband and I worked and they were having a great time sleeping in every day with their dogs. My husband also go a flat to griddle (after setting his grill on fire the week before), so we spent a lot of time cooking with that. 

Week 22 had a few more photos, so I created a flip photo.  I don't put it in a sleeve, just attach them together and add a tab.

Also for week 22, I documented my week number and dates on the rainbow curve.  This is another way to add interest and continuity to they spread.

Here are several more close ups of my final spread.  I hope you've enjoyed and got inspired to look at your scrapbook kits a little differently and use them on all your crafty adventures, not just layouts!

Thanks so much for joining me today! Have a creative week!

Hello everyone!!
I am very happy to be here again with new projects to show you. Today the topic of this post is Inspired by... and I have created and art journal inspired by the sentence "She believed she could, so she did". I think that this inspires me to create, not to have any fear of what may comes and I think that the May Day collection designed by my friend Mima Molina is nothing but dare in all the papers and designs. You can find the collection for purchase here. 

To prepare this art journal I took some cloth that I had at home and I decided to add some cardboard on the inside and filling, like the ones we use on cushions. I am not quite an expert in sewing so I try to use all the spare things I find at home and the things I try to steal from my mom hehehehe. I sew everything. I have to say that in this project I haven't used any glue or tape to put together everything. Just my sewing machine. 

I have used all the patterned papers from the collection. The approximate size of the pages is 4.5x5 inches. I have added some watercolor paper and some laces that I had at home. To add more decorations to the project I have used some stickers and enamel dots that I had from the Unforgettable Kit of Cocoa Vanilla Studio that I had from my first projects as part of the DT.

For the cover I have used some tags that are included in the collection, torn paper, buttons, thread, laces and I have made the title with my Dymo machine. I couldn't decide for an alphabet to use so I made the title myself. I love the effect that all the stitched that are in the project. It gives a grunge touch and it encourages you to create freely and start adding complements and pictures in this art journal!

I will post also on my Instagram account a short video so you can see the full project! I hope you liked this project and I hope to encourage to create witn no limits!! See you soon with new projects!! Lots of love,

​Isa

Hi Everyone, it's Piroska here today with my latest layout for Clique International. Do you like ice cream? We do :-D But by the time I got older, I don't eat anywhere. I like good quality, no artificial flavours, real fruits and real chocolate! :-P We are lucky, because there is a good Italian ice cream shop near by, and sad, because they haven't open up this summer because of family issues. And as though we have to walk further for a great ice cream, I still can scrapbook about our favourite ones.

For my layout I used the A Cherry on Top Collection Kit of Fancy Pants Designs. I decided to use the Waffle Cones paper as the background. I cut a 4x11"long sheet from the All the Yum paper, then cut apart the Cut Apart paper, distressed the edges and used the cards to create my layering under the photo. I really like the soft colours, they are perfect ice cream colours ;-)

I took the round elements from the Tags & Labels pack (part of the sold-out Base Kit), cut them and added them onto both sides of the photo.

I added the Sweet chipboard as my title, and some letter stickers from my stash, The Chipboard is part of the collection kit.

Finally I added a cluster onto the right bottom corner using the ephemera pack (part of the Base Kit) and added puffy dots - part of the collection kit.

I hope I could inspire you to create a layout of your sweet treat. Have a nice day with scrapping, and treat yourself! ;-)

Hi everyone! Nicole here. I created a 12x12 layout for a change... I know, right!! It's funny because I started this hobby over 20 years ago scrapbooking 12x12 and sometime along the way, I decided to create 8 1/2x11 because it seemed easier. But, I didn't have any problems creating this cute layout!

Every night, Edward and I chat... we just talk about whatever he wants to talk about. I think he does this to stall bedtime...but I'll take it because during the day, all he wants to do is play on his computer with his friends. Check out his hair... he's starting to look like a hippie. I love it... the hubs, not so much.

Loving these foam stickers soooo much and the color scheme. It's perfect for scrapbooking those totally awesome boys of ours!

I layered a few of the foam stickers over the printed stars at the top and bottom of the layout to add dimension.

What do you think? Cute, right?! I just wish I had some more of this cute collection. I might have to grab a few more pieces of this collection so I can create a mini of this little guy.

​Thank you so much for visiting today!

To make the background I used several patterned papers to recreate a kind of sunburst; I distressed the edges to add texture.
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I added embellishments from ​International Series Add-On Kit | Lila & Elena Embellishments | Creative Studio | Italy and ​International Series | My Brilliant Friend | Creative Studio | Italy (they say "live the life you dream" and "adventure & freedom" and I think they are pretty accurate for documenting our road trip, since we really lived our dream during that month, breathing freedom and adventure!)

I used mini letter stickers from Sticker Book | Paige Evans Bloom Street | Pink Paislee to add pictures description.

Here it is my finished layout:

The following year we took another road trip, on US East, and I hope to come back soon to visit all that places we didn't have time to visit already :)

Here it is the list of products used:

• ​AROUND HERE | VICKI BOUTIN LET'S WANDER | AMERICAN CRAFTS
• BLUES | HEIDI SWAPP ART WALK| AMERICAN CRAFTS
  
• Sticker Book | Paige Evans Bloom Street | Pink Paislee
• RAINBOWS | HEIDI SWAPP STORYLINE CHAPTERS| AMERICAN CRAFTS
  
• International Series Add-On Kit | Lila & Elena Embellishments | Creative Studio | Italy
• ​International Series | My Brilliant Friend | Creative Studio | Italy
  

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A presto, ciao