Hi friends! Dana here today sharing a fun summer layout that I embellished with colorful gilded hearts. I quickly fell in love with the 12x12 Mixed Media Paper Pad from the Color Study Collection designed by Vicki Boutin for American Crafts. This paper pad includes 36 sheets (3 each of 12 designs) of 170lb ready-to-use mixed media paper. I didn't have to struggle to create a beautiful mixed media background because that was done for me! Instead, I spent time creating gilded hearts to embellish the page.
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I was inspired to add hearts to the background of this page because of the gold foil heart outlines that are printed on the mixed media patterned paper. I cut colored hearts from an older Vicki Boutin paper collection, applied gold pigment ink to the edges, and then a layer of clear embossing powder to seal the ink. I used patterned paper with printed hearts because I had it on hand. These gilded hearts could easily be cut free-hand or with a punch or die for the same effect.
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I attached the gilded hearts to the page in rainbow order using thin 3D Foam Squares to add some dimension. I placed the paper hearts at various angles to allow some of the foil heart outlines on the base paper to be seen.
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I applied stickers from the Vicki Boutin Color Study Embellishment Add-on Kit to several of the gilded hearts.
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The Embellishment Add-on also features vellum and cardstock die-cuts that are great for layering.
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I hope I have inspired you to create your own embellishments. It is a great way to stretch the life of a kit.

Clique International Supplies:
Vicki Boutin Color Study Sampler Kit
Vicki Boutin Color Study Patterned Paper Add-On
Vicki Boutin Color Study Embellishment Kit Add-On
Vicki Boutin Color Study Mixed Media Paper Pad
Vicki Boutin Color Wheel Metallic Pigment Ink
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Hi all,

So nice that you stop by! This month it's my turn to experiment! So, I used the free cut file that was given during the June Clique Con event and started painting a "galaxy"! It's super easy to do, so tag along!
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For this layout, I used the Limited edition Little One kit, not just for babies as you see!
If you are looking for some great shimmering galaxy paint, check these out, awesome colors!
So let's start. 
You don't need much:

• square brush
• palet 
• black cardstock (or canvas, or prepped paper with gesso)
• 3 colors paint light-medium-dark
• white paint
• old tooth brush or small brush
• piece of sponge (I used a kitchen sponge)

Start with adding the lightest color in a circle (or what looks like a circle haha) and add the other 2 colors around it. Give a good layer because you want it to stay wet...

Now the fun begins! Take your piece of sponge and start dabbing in circular motions from the light inside to the dark outside. Don't worry if it doesn't look smooth. If you want, you can add a little extra light in the middle to create that sparkle. Make the edge of your darkest color a bit "rough" as on the picture, that give a more spacious effect.

Now it's time to create some "stars"! Water down some white paint and take that tooth brush or your small brush and start splattering. The tooth brush makes tiny tiny splatters which look like litte stars, perfect for our galaxy!
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And that's all there is to it! 
​I cannot wait to see your galaxies in our Facebook group! Thanks for stopping by, and if you have any questions... let me know!

Love
​Petra

​For this layout, I used the beautiful Les Jardin Kit. 
As this beautiful kit, you can find others on the Clique Kits. 
I hope you liked it!
See you next time,
Karlla Dauer.

Hello Everyone, it's Piroska here today with my latest post for Clique International. My task for this was to experiment, so I decided to play with my new Catherine Pooler ink pad, and try some of the things you can use this ink pad besides stamping.
I chose an older photo of my daughter - I can't believe how time flies! She was such a cute little girl 6 years ago! (I need to add the date stamp on this layout ;-P )

First I got out of the Lilac Avenue Kit, which is a new paper crafting collection from Teresa Collins in the  Clique Chromatics series. It has beautiful purple colour and silver foil accents, and a silver glitter cardstock -  it's just gorgeous! I really like the florals in the Lilac Floral paper, so I wanted to fussy cut some of them. I also decided to make a larger border on the left side of the layout, so I layered the lilac washi tape, the glitter cardstock and 2 patterned papers on each other.

I fussy cut some of the florals and started to make some leaves to complete them. For this I used a leaf stamp from Newton's Nook, you can find it in the Glorious Foliage kit and an older Altenew leaf stamp from my stash. I stamped the images with the Drive-In ink pad of Catherine Pooler, it has a beautiful purple-blue colour. This ink stays wet long enough, so I added different embossing powder on the stamped images and heat embossed them. I used clear, lilac and glittery embossing powders to get different types of leaves.

The Catherine Pooler ink pads are also great for faux-watercoloring the background. I stamped about 2-3 times on an acrylic block, added some water to it with a bigger brush and started to colour my background. I could have used some gesso before that, but I only wanted to make a light watercolored background, so I left it. I haven't used much water, so my white cardstock did not curled up much ;-)

I also used the butterfly washi tape from the Lilac Avenue Kit for decorating my layout - it has also silver foil, just beautiful! I fussy cut some butterflies and added them as a sticker on my layout. I also glued them on white cardstock and fussy cut them. This way I could bend their wings and add some dimension to the layout.

At least I added some purple sequins from the mini sequins. I really love how this layout turned out.
I hope I could inspire you to try these awesome and versatile Catherine Pooler ink pads! I already have some ordered, can't wait to get them! ;-)

Hello Clique Friends!
Valeska here today on the blog sharing a easy and fun tutorial using the Hearts Shaker Album Cover available in the Clique International Store. 
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To assemble this project, I used the Mintopia Mistletoe kit, some ribbons, sequins, acrylic paint, distress oxide  and a yellow book ring from my stash.
​Also, to decorate the pages, I used the Mistletoe Alpha Stamp & Die set, that are perfect for any project.

First of all, I painted the wood cover with a white acrylic paint. I separated the acetate and the paper cover. The hollow part of the hearts I stuck on the wooden cover with Tacky Glue after painting them.
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The paper part that goes in the front I painted with Distress Oxide but you can paint with acrylic paint too.
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After gluing the hollow part of the hearts on the wood cover, I put the sequins in the spaces of the hearts, glued the acetate on top and covered with the paper part.
Then, we have the shaker cover ready. It's time to decorate pages.
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I tied some ribbons around the book's ring, using the same color palette to make everything harmonious.
I cut vellum paper to put before the decorated pages.
This Mintopia paper pad is perfect for this size of shaker album!
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 To make the letters in different colors and make the page even more fun, I used the Mintopia metal die set and some die cuts glued with 3D foam stickers.
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I hope you enjoyed it and be excited to try new techniques and ways to make scrapbooking.
What matters most is to let your creativity flow!
Thank you for stopping by.
LOL
Valeska
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Hello crafty friends! Rita here with some new projects I wanted to share with you. I don't know about you, but I loooove to document my December in a 6x8'' album. It's such a special month and I really love everything about it, so I make an album to capture these moments and the best part: I can use all the cute christmas collections. For this year's album I chose Crate Paper's "Hey Santa" as my fave. First of all I made a cover for my album. This was kind of my first "experiment", because I haven't done something like this. I used my Ipad and the "Procreate" app to create it and I'm happy to share it with you here. My version is in german, but I changed it to english, so you can use it. 

LetI cut it out on a 6x8'' page and painted the background with watercolors. Afterwards I used the pretty stickers from the "Hey Santa" kit to decorate it. I also put some snowflake stickers on the back, so it would shimmer through. I backed the page with vellum and machine stitched around it. Let's look at some close-ups. Maybe you'll notice that I also used metallic watercolors. I love how they correspond to the golden puffy stickers.

I also made a little pocket which I included in my album. It also was kind of an experiment, because I played around and made it without instruction. First I folded it, but before glueing everything together I handstitched some of the snowflake with pink yarn, similar to the color of my album cover. 

Then I decorated the pocket with die cut pieces and stickers. 

Finally I want to show you another page I made using acrylic paint, stamps and embossing powder. The first thing I did was to use my embossing stamp pad and powder to achieve a shimmering effect. Then I used acrylic paint and a dotted stencil. While it was drying I used the stamp set by The Stamp Market on vellum and embossed it as well. Also I made some snowflakes with a die. This one is by Mintopia but everyone is suitable. In the end I used the different branch stamps to make some highlights and machine stitched around the page again. 

I hope you liked my "experiments". Make sure to follow me on Instagram to see more December Album spreads which I will post in the next couple of days. Here are some of the products I used and the download file: 
Paper Pack | Hey Santa + Falala
Acrylic Paints 
Ink Pads 
Clique Chromatics | Nordic Pine | Add-On Kit
Sweet December | Hey, Santa | Crate Paper 

Thanks for stopping by today! Wishing you all happy Holidays and a happy new year! 

Hi friends! Dana here today sharing the results of my experiment using The Stamp Market Embroidery Hoop Dies to create a set of woodland winter greeting cards. In the spirit of the challenge running this month in the Clique Facebook Group, I have tried the crafty crossover of incorporating cross stitch, embroidery, and quilling techniques on a project. This was a real challenge for me because I don't usually create projects that use any of these skills. The extra time I put in to these cards was absolutely worth it! I'm loving the results.
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I used the same basic design for all the cards. I used the larger embroidery hoop dies to cut the hoop embellishments from cardstock and specialty patterned paper. Once I added stitching to each hoop, I added them to the cards.
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To finish each card, I added a Pretty Little Studio sentiment sticker, handmade quilled acorn embellishments, and some glittered adhesive dots to the cheeks of each animal.
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Step 1: Use the slotted quilling tool to roll strips of quilling paper into a tight coil large enough to fit inside an acorn cap. Join more than one paper strip together by using a micro adhesive runner or liquid glue.

Step 2: Use a mini mold to transform the tight coil into a 3D dome. If you don't have this tool, simple push on the center of the coil, or use the rounded end of the slotted quilling tool, to form the dome.

Step 3: Coat the inside of the paper dome with liquid glue and let dry.

Step 4: Glue the paper dome into the acorn cap.

A note about acorn caps: I purchased the acorn caps that I used for these cards. They were cleaned and dried for me. If you collect acorns from nature for use on craft projects, first clean them with soapy water and let dry. To be sure that there aren't any insects in the caps, heat them in a 175 degree oven for about 90 minutes.
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Thanks for stopping by today! I hope I have inspired you to try a new craft. These winter woodland cards are will make the perfect greeting all season long.

Clique International Supplies:
Explore & Learn Series: Quilling For Scrapbookers
Alexandra Renke Cardstock
Altenew + The Stamp Market Mega 6x6 Paper Stack Sampler Kit
The Stamp Market Embroidery Hoop Dies
AC Specialty Cardstock
Kaisercraft Patterned Paper
Pretty Little Studio Sentiment Stickers

​Other Supplies: Acorn Caps; Glitter: American Crafts; Embroidery Floss; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Hi friends! Dana here today sharing a fun technique that fits with our Stamp-tember theme this month: how to emboss velvet using rubber stamps and a household iron. I love to incorporate different textures in my art and there is something about the cooler Fall months that always has me reaching into my fabric stash. Embossing velvet is a simple technique that produces beautiful results that are sure to add a wow-factor to your work.
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Lift the velvet from the stamp to reveal the embossed design. The resulting impression can appear shadowy or lustrous depending on the angle and reflection of light.
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Here are a couple more examples. I liked the branded edge of the velvet so I left it along the bottom rather than trimming it away. I'm looking forward to using these pieces on future projects!

I used bits and pieces from several kits to create my tag. I pulled patterned paper prints and colorful embellishments in a fresh Fall palette.

Clique International Supplies:
​Limited Edition Bliss Kit (Mintay Chipboard Sentiment)
Limited Edition Wind Beneath My Wings Kit (Script Patterned Paper,  Gold Washi Tape, Blue Buttons)
Over The Rainbow Clique Base Kit (Amy Tangerine Whole Lotta Love Blue Floral Patterned Paper)

Other Supplies: Shipping Tag; Velvet; Small Openline Bow Rubber Stamp (Stampington and Company); Orange Lace; Brown Seam Binding Ribbon; Yellow Twine; Ball Pin

Hi friends! Dana here sharing a tropical themed layout that I created using the 49 and Market Lilac Vintage Artistry Add-On Kit and the Miss Mamamint Give Me Color Acetate Specialty Paper. I found the specialty acetate paper while browsing in the shop and thought it would be fun to pair it with the gorgeous floral patterned paper in the 49 and Market kit. My favorite way to use acetate is as an overlay to add an additional print to my projects. Whether starting with a store bought specialty paper or my own design, it is important to use the correct mediums for a permanent finish. Today I'm sharing how to color, stamp, and write on acetate, plus how to remove any mistakes.
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When coloring designs printed on acetate it is important to use a waterproof permanent marker or paint marker. I used both water-based (Posca) and oil-based (ZIG Painty) paint markers to color the printed design on this acetate sheet. Both formulas of paint work great on acetate. Sharpie permanent markers and Sharpie paint markers are also a great option. Use what you have in your stash! I like to add color to the inked side of the acetate rather than the smooth side to help keep the color inside the lines. The water-based paint is a bit thinner than the oil-based formula and is easier to spread and blend. The oil-based paint marker provides more coverage with one coat and a more shiny, or wet looking, finish. As shown above, both the water-based and oil-based paints give vibrant color. Both paints dried quickly without added heat. Any small imperfections can be scraped off the acetate with a fingernail or plastic scraper tool.
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Solvent ink is oil-based and perfect for use on non-absorbent or slick surfaces. Solvent ink is also fadeproof, waterproof, and scratch resistant. I used StazOn ink to add butterflies to my layout using the 49 and Market Springtime Harmony Clear Stamp. If you like to keep your stamps clean, a stamp cleaner will be needed to remove the solvent ink from the stamp. Soap and water will not work. 
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Sharpie permanent markers are a great choice for writing on slick surfaces. Any permanent marker will work. I like Sharpie for the variety of colors and tip sizes and relatively low cost. Paint markers similar to the ones used above will also work.
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Permanent marker and StazOn ink can be easily removed from acetate if necessary. Simply color over the undesired ink with a dry erase marker and wipe away with a tissue.
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Adhering acetate to projects is tricky because it is transparent. I like to use clear adhesive to have my layers be as seamless as possible. I applied Adhesive Dots to each of the painted flower centers on the acetate sheet and then pressed it onto my base piece of patterned paper. I attached the acetate to the patterned paper with the painted side facing down to protect the color from being scratched. Then I used the washi tape included in the kit to secure the top left and bottom right corners of the acetate to the patterned paper.

Once my colored acetate was attached to the patterned paper base I topped it with layers of ephemera, paper leaves, and my photo.
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I added a glittered wood title from my stash to finish the page. I took this photo while vacationing in the Dominican Republic. The Starburst or Shooting Star Clerodendrum is named for its flowers that resemble delicate white stars shooting forth with a pink tail in their wake. Definitely bella!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope I have inspired you to try incorporating acetate into your art.

Clique International Supplies:
49 and Market Lilac Vintage Artistry Add-On Kit
49 and Market Springtime Harmony 4x6 Clear Stamp
Miss Mamamint Give Me Color Acetate Specialty Paper

Other Supplies: Glittered Wood Veneer Word (Heidi Swapp); Leaves (49 and Market); Stitched Die-Cut Frame (49 and Market); Paint Markers (EK Success, Posca); StazOn Ink (Tsukineko); Chalk Ink (Clearsnap); Permanent Marker (Sharpie); Adhesive Dots (Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L)
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Hi friends! Dana here today sharing a fun tutorial that uses a digital cut file as a template for wood burning. Some days I feel like the only crafter who doesn't own an electronic cutting machine. I often click through the Digitals Section of the Clique Shop to admire, with a bit of envy, all the super cool designs that are available. I selected the FREE You & Me Digital Cut File and processed it in a fun old school way. I resized and printed the .PNG file, and after a little bit of hand tracing using carbon paper (gasp!), I was ready to design with a digital file for the first time. Once I burned the letters onto a small wood plaque, I colored the piece with watercolors that I made with Lindy's Magical Shakers. I added a clip-on hook to create a key holder to share with my husband.
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Step 1. Resize the .PNG digital cut file to fit the project surface and print. I chose a 4.5 inch wood circle plaque for the base of my project. I like the size and these small wood plaques are inexpensive, less than $2 at the craft store. Place a piece of carbon paper, black side down, under the printed cut file pattern and trace around the image with a pencil.

Step 2. Use a wood burning tool to burn over the pencil lines. I needed to change tips to burn the smaller detailed areas. If you don't have a wood burning tool, try completing this step with a marker or paint pen.

Here's the completed burned design before color.

Step 3. Create watercolors by adding a small amount of Lindy's Magical powdered dye to water. Use a waterbrush or wet paintbrush to first wet the plaque with plain water. Wet wood absorbs color much better than dry wood. Color the plaque with watercolors. Don't worry about color bleeding! Once the plaque dries, dip a wet brush directly into the powdered dye and cover up any unwanted color on the plaque with more concentrated color.

Here's my plaque after coloring. The Lindy's Magical Shakers contain a low key shimmer so there is a fantastic subtle sparkle to this finished piece!

Step 4. Add a clip-on or screw hook to the top of the plaque and hang to help organize small items.