Hi crafty friends! Rita here with a new project using the Sao Paolo Add-On Kit and the Keeping it Real Kit Mini Kit (the Sampler Kit is still availalble at the moment!) I was inspired by this month's "A photo a day challenge" hosted by Clique International in our Facebook group "The Clique". 

Instead of making a photo everyday, I "documented" my weekend following the prompts and it was so much fun and a great opportunity to experiment with my camera and look for new details and objects in my surrounding. I used the Traveler's Notebook by Amy Tangerine from the Sao Paolo Kit. There are two in the package, one with white pages, the other with kraft paper. I used the one with the white pages, so the colors of the embellishments and patterned papers would pop more. I didn't follow the strict order of the prompts, they were mere an inspiration for me, so there would be not too much pressure and freedom to add my own ideas. I tried to make my layouts not too dimensional, so the TN wouldn't be too thick in the end. That's why I used a lot of different Alpha stamp sets from my stash instead of stickers. But let's start looking at some of the layouts. 

One of my goals was to use all the embellishment pieces from the Paige Evans' "Wonders" pack included in the Sao Paolo Kit. I also used Catherine Pooler inks which are available in the shop in different beautiful colors.  They are so fun to work with! 

I think the Pinkfresh Studio "Keeping it Real" collection suits the Sao Paolo Kit perfectly, that's why I combined both. It was so fun to play with the patterned papers and ephemera pieces. Also I tried to change the sizes of my photos so every page would look different and interesting. I opted to write my journaling with the pens included in the Sao Paolo Kit - they are really awesome to write with and the colors are so fun! On the layout below you can see how the color of the pens pops on a white background - perfect for spring and summer journaling! I also love the included stamp set by Amy Tangerine. So easy to use and the patterns are so versatile and lovely. One of my fave's for the spring season for sure! To see more of the stamp set, the pens and the new "Brave + Bold" watercolor set by Amy Tangerine and  how I used this stamp set in my planner, check out my video on my Youtube Channel. 

I love working in a TN because you can fill the pages so fast (add a full page photo and it already looks cool! lol) and have a nice little notebook full of memories and stories after a couple of hours. I'm already working on finishing this TN and have more layouts to share on Facebook and Instagram in the next couple of days, so make sure to follow if you're interested. 

I hope you feel inspired to scrap small and follow our April Challenge. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Make sure to join "The Clique" if you haven't already. Thanks for stopping by today and happy crafting! 

 Hi friends! Gia here with an "Inspired by" post and 12 x 12 layout. Today I want to talk a little bit about accent colors. Accent colors are like when you decorate a room with an eye pleasing color palette and then BOOM there it is...the throw pillow with just a POP of unexpected color! A game I love to play for inspiration is to pick a color and type it into the search bar in Pinterest and see what it brings up.  Our eyes are magnetically drawn in to the images with colors in certain proportions. The dominant color is important of course. But then there are the harmonious colors used with it in lesser amounts, and finally the finishing touch...that statement accessory. You get the idea! 

There is really nothing difficult or time consuming about this layout...no hard work, no need for technology or electricity even. All of the magic is in the color which is layered in from background texture to the last embellishment- a faux wax seal by Maggie Holmes from one of last years fall kits (Gaia).

I hope you will try taking some inspiration from all of the beautiful color palettes in the fall kits! Thanks so much for stopping by today- leave a question or a comment below!
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Hi everyone!
Nicole here and today I'm super excited to share a layout inspired by someone from our Clique International group on Facebook!  My challenge today was to create a layout inspired by one of our very own followers and I'm using this layout that was posted during INSD  by Jennifer Cain (pictured left)!!

What drew me Jennifer's layout was the use of lines and her choice of colors.  Each very bold and defined her layout beautifully.  I chose to follow her layout very close, as I wanted to carry those strong lines thru my project.  When adding the lines, I used the branding strips from 12x12 papers and it was a great way to bring in other patterns from papers that I did not have from this collection.

Here are a few other close ups from my project:

....and lets have one more look at Jennifer's project!  A huge thanks to Jennifer for letting me "scrap lift" her design and layout today! You're layout is beautiful and I can wait to see what more you share with us!!

Good morning everyone. Nicole here with a super fun mixed media layout I created. 

A few weeks ago, I saw this beautiful layout created by Anett Gelencser  and loved how colorful and vibrant the  layout is.  I am a sucker for circles! She used the Noteworthy collection from Pinkfresh Studio which was the main  collection in the Skies of Blue kit.  The kit is sold out but the paper is available here. 

Before I show you how I created the background of my layout, let me share the layout with you! Here is my take on Anett's layout. As you can see, I lifted certain elements from her layout. I did not copy the layout exactly how she created hers. 

For this layout, I am using the Rainbow Connection Kit and the Rainbow Connection Add-on kit, featuring Vicki Boutin's texture paste. To begin, I cut the patterned paper to measure 8 1/2x11" and a piece of white cardstock to measure 8"x10 1/2". I mounted the white cardstock to the center of the patterned paper. Then, I punched several 2" circles from white cardstock and placed them onto the cardstock, adhering them with glue.

I applied a thick layer of white gesso all over the base. It's OK if the circles start popping up at the edges... let them pop up to give the layout more texture and dimension!

Next, I added a tiny bit of the paste and mixed it with a water using a paint brush to water down the paste. For this layout, I wanted to see if I could get more of a watercolor effect from the paste. I love how Vicki's mixed media products can be used in a variety of ways! 

I used a piece of paper towel to lift the excess water from the circles. I splashed some yellow water color all over the back using the end of my brush. Then I tapped a few drops of yellow spray around the background. Once the circles were completely dry, I added my photo and embellishment along with some stamps for my title work and journaling!

I hope I inspired you today with my scrap lifted layout and showed you that you can do so much with mixed media products. I love working with mixed media products. They are fun to play with. Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Aloha, it's me Gia and I am excited to be kicking off a new series of posts on the Clique International blog this term all about recycling, repurposing, and reducing waste as we create. Ordering the products for your kits means I get deliveries of lots and lots of cardboard shipping boxes. It feels like I could start my own landfill, which is the opposite of the impact I want to have on the world. It is wonderful that many companies are reusing shipping materials and using more sustainable materials than they used to--but I still end up with a shit-ton of corrugated cardboard. Fortunately, I love to use corrugated cardboard in mixed media artwork. Some other items that I just can't bring myself to throw away are the little baggies that are used for packaging of small embellishments in the kits- whether they are little glassine or bags made of japanese rice paper like these pink ones that were used in packing the limited edition Easter kit. I never throw them away  because I always find a way to work them into a layer here or there on a project.
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Since we live in Hawaii we are lucky to have a climate where we almost never have to use the dryer because we can hang our clothes to dry on a clothesline. This saves on use of electric power from the grid which in turn uses fossil fuels. My fiance sometimes gets annoyed with me when he can't find any room on the line because the space is taken up by me hanging pieces of deli paper covered in smears of wet paint. Whenever I clean my gelli plate or have to wipe excess paint off a brush I use deli paper (like wax paper but thinner and less waxy) and when I clean up I hang them on the clothesline to dry for long term storage. Once they dry, I keep them in a drawer I can sift through later.
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I wanted to do a layout that would capture the feeling and the memory of the idea, "Not stuck at home...safe at home" to document staying home during the Covid-19 pandemic and I pulled out a photo of my son looking angelic asleep in his bed at home. This photo was my starting place and for some reason I thought of using corrugated cardboard to make a grid of little houses on my layout. Are you thinking of the song, "Little Pink Houses" by John Mellencamp also? So am I,  and it's stuck in my head and probably yours too now...you're welcome.

Here is a little list of the other materials I used in my project:

• The blue paper from Heidi Swapp's Art Walk collection that was in the Wonderful World kit and is available in the shop as part of the paper pack.
• The LOVE paper from the Bloom Street collection which was an add on kit ( with all the word strips on the B side)-- I just used a few of the word strips in my collage.
• The B side of the Amy Tangerine Picnic in the Park collection paper with all the hearts on it. This paper was in the Over the Rainbow kit and is also available in the paper pack.
• A wood veneer bird embellishment from the limited edition Easter kit.

Since these base kits as well as the add on kits have sold out, I will list each individual paper that is left over in my "spare parts" collection individually in the shop- though I tend to procrastinate on doing that because it's kind of tedious. But I promise...I will get to it soon.

Last but not least, I used the Heartworthy epoxy flair badges from My Creative Corner shop on Etsy (the owner of which happens to be on this design team!) The colors matched so perfectly I decided to go ahead and use almost the whole pack!
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To create each house I free-hand cut out the cardboard in house shapes of different heights and widths, then layered a piece of patterned cardstock on top using some iridescent gel medium. I next used the medium to adhere a square of paint smudged deli paper, and finally stitched a pink heart free-hand cut from the rice paper bag on the top layer. I left the natural texture look showing on the roof because I liked the way it looked striped. I love the way the layers look with some of the paper scraps semi-translucent.  I used a good strong glue (3 in 1 by Beacon) to adhere my houses to my background cardstock. 

After cutting the squares from the blue patterned paper I used more scraps to free-hand paper piece the letters in the word "Home." I used one of the epoxy flair badges as an "O" because I thought the design on the flair really popped and looked coordinated with the photo.

I hope you keep and re-purpose as much of your cardboard as possible because there is so much you can do with it and in reality when it goes to the recycling center not that much of it is ever really re-used- the most helpful thing to do is re-use boxes as much as possible before discarding them. Also, if you haven't started using solar energy (a.k.a. a clothesline) to dry your clothes I hope you will consider it. And leave some room for drying paint LOL.

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Hello crafty friends! Nicole here and today I'm super excited to share my first layout with Clique International!  Today, I'm creating a mixed media layout with an experiment theme.  I really loved the Amy Tan papers and embellishments with all the rainbows in the Clique shop, so what a better way than to create my first project with an emphasis of the "aloha leilani" paper!

For this project, I wanted to experiment with bold liquid watercolors and how they would drip on a non gessoed surface. I began using Vicki Boutin Foundation Paper that was not gessoed. I did not prep the paper in any way.  I laid out my rainbow that I cut from the "aloha leilani" paper to see where I wanted my watercolor to start. I drew a pencil line to indicate where I was going to start my color and also where I wanted different colors to begin and end.

Next, I took my liquid watercolors and using a dropper I squeezed color along my pencil line in the same color order as the rainbow.

Once the color was on my paper, I moved the rainbow and started tapping my paper against my desk, using a paper towel to soak up extra color.  The photo below shows one color application.  I did this process twice.

After two layers of color application, this is what my page looked like.  I was happy with the bold colors, the mixing of colors where they met and all of the white space. 
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I let all of the color dry on its own.  Because the foundation paper is this and works well with mixed media, the paper did not buckle. In fact, it was nearly flat!  I added my large rainbow back onto my page using foam adhesive. I then added my photo and lots of embellishments, again in color order to match my mixed media.
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I absolutely LOVE how this color dried! It's bold, bright and beautiful!  I think my favorite part is the combination of the watercolor and the enamel heart stickers and rhinestones that I put at the bottom of the page.

Thanks so much for stopping by the Clique today! Be sure to tag us on social media when you experiment with mixed media!

Today we are sharing guest designer Laura Rahel Crosby's final post using the fall Changing Seasons kit. We have really enjoyed seeing her beautiful projects this month. Make sure you don't miss out on her videos to go along with each of her projects, which can be found on her You Tube channel (see link below)

Hey friends, today I'm sharing a gorgeous layout I made using the October Changing Seasons fall sampler kit by Clique Kits. I loved all of the bright colors in the kit and couldn't wait to use them in a layout. I started by fussing cutting the moths out of a Paige Evans paper from the Truly Grateful collection. And the kit also came with her floral die cuts and some bright and colorful Amy Tangerine phrase stickers and puffy stickers. I painted the puffy phrase "Adore" with metallic gold paint so it would fit in with all the warm orange and pink tones I have on my page. I also hand embroidered fun flight paths from each moth with white thread and it adds so much texture and dimension to the page. If you love this layout, you can follow me on YouTube to see more of my creations and what else I end up making with the kits this month! 

While you are over on the You Tube channel checking out Laura's channel you can take a peek at the unboxing video for the Changing Seasons kit and workshop taught by Nicole Kerr! We are so excited to offer this workshop with this kit this fall which will inspire you to create several gorgeous layouts using exclusive cut files also included with the kit! Changing Seasons kits are available and shipping now! Hope you will subscribe to both channels for more  inspiring videos!

Hello scrappy friends! Nicole here and today I'm sharing my first layout with the May kits!  This months kit features a lot of softer colors from Crate Paper All Hear collection.  I'm not going to lie, I was a little intimidated by this collection at first because I'm a bold and colorful type of scrapper. However, I find now after working with this line on a few projects that it just might be my new favorite style!!!!  Along with the May main kit, I also received the color kit this month which is the beautiful water color kit from Amy Tangerine.  On today's project, I used them both to create this cute layout featuring our new pup, Odie!

Let me start by saying this dog has a personality that I've never seen in an animal before! He has such character and is so funny! This photo was taken on Easter Sunday and he was wearing his cute bow tie.  After all the playing and visitors, he fell asleep on my dad's lap and was sleeping in no time! I just thought how he fell asleep was so stinkin cute and funny!

Ok, so on to the layout!  I loved the rainbow paper for the background and knew I wanted to match that with a larger rainbow. I pulled out the new Amy Tangerine watercolors from the color kit and created my own unique rainbow. Once dry, I cut each color of the rainbow out and stitched it with my sewing machine.

Once adhered, I sketched and cut two clouds from some off white paper I had in my stash.  I stitched it the same way.  Once those two main elements were glued to my page, I stitched around the outside boarder of my page to tie it all together.

Next,  I added my photo, layers and only a few embellishments because I really wanted the rainbow and cloud to be the star of the show, next to the photo itself.  Lastly, I used the pink Thickers in the main kit to create my title. I didn't think it really stood out, so I put it on white cardstock and then trimmed around it. I think this finishes it off nicely!

Thanks so much for joining me today!  I can't wait to see what you create with the May kits!!

Hi guys!

Jodie here with you today with a classic black, white and gold card set.

One thing I love about a scrapbooking kit is the ability to pull different elements from it to create a totally different mood in your projects for the month.  This card set is completely different to the bright and fun travellers notebook layout and the sweet mixed media style travellers notebook spread that I've created with the November Seneca Falls Main Kit already.

The main elements I've pulled from the kit for these cards are the Amy Tangerine Hustle & Heart gold foil die cut specialty paper, the black and white floral paper, and the die cut wreath ephemera piece.  

​I also pulled some essentials from my stash, some white cardstock, black cardstock and a couple of dies.

For both cards I used the leafy circle cut file that is the special edition free cut file from the Clique Kits collaboration with Spiegelmom Scraps this week as part of my background.

For this card I cut the file in white cardstock on my Silhouette, then trimmed it to the same size as my card.  Then I backed each of the leaves with the specialty paper, and adhered it to my card.

The November Clique Kits Colour Kit includes the absolutely gorgeous 'Grateful' stamp set from Avery Elle. To create my sentiment I've stamped the Grateful stamp on white cardstock, curving it a little bit so that it fits into the space left by the wreath once it is layered over the top of it.  

I've also created a shaker pocket with some foam tape and sequins from my stash and some packaging from the kit, and layered the wreath from the ephemera pack (which I've turned upside down so it matches my theme for this project) over the top of that.  Then I die cut a bow from the specialty paper and adhered it to the top of the wreath with some gold thread, and called this card done!

My second card is really clean and simple, but I love the contrast to it.

This time I used the same leafy circle cut file cut from white cardstock, and trimmed it down to half the card size, on the diagonal.  I trimmed the black and white paper to be the other half of that diagonal, and edged it with some scalloped black cardstock.

I stamped the Thankful sentiment from the Avery Elle stamps onto a die cut circle that I popped up on foam tape, and added a few black splatters.  I adore these scripty font sentiment stamps from Avery Elle and I can see me using them a lot in my projects.  I was really impressed with how crisply they stamp on the page.

I die cut another bow from the specialty gold foil paper, slipped a paper clip over the die cut circle and adhered the bow.  

I love the contrast of the black and white with the texture of the cut file and pops of gold in these cards.

Even if you didn't get a chance to check out the collaboration with Clique Kits and Spiegelmom Scraps this week, you can still pop by the Clique Facebook Group and grab this gorgeous free leafy cut file.

Thanks so much for dropping by today!