Aloha!! Are you getting excited for the Pep Rally and the full kit reveal? It's one of my favorite times of the month. I know you will all be so excited to see the April Kit. 
I am loving all the different looks I am getting with this month's kit. There are so many different kinds of stories I am able to document. I will be sad to put to rest the March Malama kit. 
Today I want to talk about using the exclusive cut files. I love the exclusives, it's one of the things that drew me into Clique Kits in the first place. Not only do they have awesome kits with great products, I love that the exclusives go along and really make the kit better. Each month we get printables and cut files. 

This month the exclusive cut files are so much fun. I decided to use the big doodled flower. I started off by Using some of my Shimmerz Vibez and Shimmerz watercolors to make some droplets. I am loving the green and purple combo, bright and spring inspired. This color added a little something different for the background and then allows me to use the patterned paper for layers. This kit has tons of rich colors and keeping the mixed media simple will help it be less busy. 
I love cutting out the cut files, cutting it with the patterned paper, cutting plain white card stock and then adding watercolor or other mixed media on it. I also love using pieces of patterned paper inside the cuts of the file. But you are really missing out if you haven't tried out the sketch pen feature. You can buy the special pen holder and use your own markers and pens or you can use the Silhouette brand pens too. Either way it is a really cool effect. 
My favorite sketch pens are the metallic sketch pens. It really makes a cut file pop. I choose to use a copper pen for this fun cut file. It really looks like something I would have doodled on the background myself. 

I used two 3x3 1/2 inch photos of flowers from my outside flower bed that is filled with rocks. When we bought our house the owner filled the beds with rocks to help the house sell better. These best two years we are finally learning all the cool flowers the owner had planted years ago. This one bed, is really growing this year and the few days of sun are making these so pretty and sweet smelling flowers bloom like crazy. 
I knew these bright colors would work well with the March Malama Kit. I used both the patterned paper from the main kit and some of the 6x6 paper from the Traveler's Notebook Kit. 

I layered the title on the patterned paper, I think it helps the title have a solid place to sit on, we also call it a shelf. I used the Alpha in the kit, I love the floral pieces in the alpha. It really helps carry that spring feel throughout my layout. I also used some Freckled Fawn puffy alphas from an older kit. I thought the loopy font would look well against the more straight main alpha. Mixing up the fonts in a title really help add bits of the embellishment clusters and have it flow together. 

I did lots of layering. I layered the patterned paper behind my photos. I layered die cuts in the patterned paper layers. I even added some of the exclusive printables in the embellishment clusters. 

I added the Fancy Pants Designs puffy stickers among the clusters. I am really enjoying them. I added the enamel dots throughout the layout. I used them among the watercolor drops and near some of the clusters to bring out those colors from the papers and die cuts. 

I added two of the butterflies around the layout, I adhered them with pop foam dots. depending where on the butterfly you add them it can really make them look like they flying. I like to add the foam to the middle of the butterfly on the body of the bug. 
I also decided to hand write my journaling at the bottom of the layout. I like to use a black pen, like the one in the Traveler's Notebook. It really writes smooth and solid. I like to underline the lines of journaling too, just to help it stand out a bit. 
I outlined the whole layout with a copper pen. This helps to tie the cut file and the edge. Plus it helps it feel homemade especially since the cut file looks doodled. 
​Here is a final look at the whole layout. 

Using your sketch pen option with your cut files, can really change up the exclusives looks. I hope that you take the time to think about using your sketch pen or pen holder. It is the same process as you do for the Clique Kits cut files, just when you go to select the blade you switch it to the sketch pen. Then hit go, and as long as the sketch pen is in the blue holder tight, it'll look amazing. 
Be sure to be on the look out for the Pep Rally on Wednesday!! There will be tons of amazing projects with the March Malama Kit and you will see more sneaks and full shots of the April Kit. 
Until Next time Stay Inspired!!

Aloha!! It's Hannah with you today. I have been using my March Traveler's Notebook Malama Kit this week and loving it. There are lots of goodies in this kit. Let's take a look at a Traveler's Notebook spread I made with my Malama Kit. 

This spread is about my new puppy Kailua. He is such a cuddle puppy, and I wanted to document that. This picture is just a simple picture I took from my phone and I used an app called A Color Story, to help edit and add a flare where the sun light was already leaking on the image. There are times when I find it fun to play with my photos especially when my image isn't the best quality, because it's too dark and grainy or because of weird lighting. There are lots of app's and programs that can help you add filters or edit your photo quickly and enhance it. 

I used a piece of patterned paper from the extra patterned paper pack from the store. I love getting the extra paper, for moments like this, adding full sized patterned paper to my TN Kit. I layered some of the 6x6 paper behind my photo. 
On the other side of the spread, I decided to cut up some of the vellum specialty paper from the paper pack. I love all the sayings and the one "this is the life" was perfect. I stapled it to the background and layered it with a mini 2x2 patterned paper. This helped ground the vellum. Also I knew I wanted another 2x2 paper under the photo. I always try to think about using similar pieces throughout my spread. 

I added the Freckled Fawn cork hearts throughout my spread. I love the hint of gold they add. I also added the stitching rub ons. They add a more uniformed stitching look without having to doodle or actually use a sewing machine on your spread. I added popped up adhesive under the 2x2 square paper. 
On the opposite side, I used my 1 inch circle punch to cut a circle out of the Clique Kits Exclusives that come with your Traveler's Notebook kit. I added a washi strip under the popped up circle and I added a cork heart there as well, to match the camera on the other side. 

The Paige Evans Puffy stickers are another fun touch to this spread. I may have added a few on this spread. I love how the 'hey' sticker looks near the title, I added with the Fancy Pants Designs puffy alphas. 

Here is one more final look at my spread. 

Don't forget to head over to the Clique Kits Youtube Channel for a Youtube Live at 1pm PST and chit chat about layering in a TN Notebook with the March Malama TN Kit with me. The great thing about a live video is you can ask questions while I show you my process. 
Also on the Clique Kits YT Channel are other process videos and technique videos from many of the design team. It's a great resource if you are a visual learner. In the Spring/Summer season we will be having a new Youtube team with some inspiring designers. 
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Aloha!! It's Hannah with you here today. I am sharing a simple but fun Mixed Media layout using the main Malama March Kit with bits and pieces from the Traveler's Notebook Kit and Last months Traveler's Notebook kit. There are just sometimes when I want to do my thing, and it's been a while since I pulled out some paint and got messy then built some layers on my layout. 
Here are some close ups of my layout, which is all about the color. 

This month I decided to get an extra patterned paper pack, and I am so glad I did. It allowed me the chance play with paint on the patterns. When using watercolors and paints it adds another layer of dimension when you use media on a pattern. Depending on the pattern on the paper I like to mute the pattern with a white gesso or white acrylic paint. The primer allows you to be able to see the media a bit more but it also helps the media not seep into the paper and cause it to buckle as much. 
It's been a while since I did the smooshing technique, which is when you use a plastic package or acrylic ink block with watercolor, thinned media or colored sprays on it and smoosh the media on the layout's background. This technique depending on the amount of liquid media you use can create a really soft look or a more intense look. I used some of my Shimmerz watercolors with lots of water and smooshed the paint on in two layers. I let the liquid dry completely in-between the second layers of the colors. I didn't want to make my colors to muddy or combined too much. 

I added color on the top and bottom of the layout. I find if you pick a section to add media you can plan you photo arrangement better. If you know ahead of time the photo(s) you want to use, you can figure out the amount of space you need for your media. 

On top of adding watercolor on my background, I added acrylic paint to this wood heart piece in the March Malama Kit. I wanted to achieve a dipped look on the piece so I pulled out my embossing powders and some glitter. I don't use glitter often because I am not a fan of it dropping off the layout and my projects. I have found that if I use an embossing pad first then adding glitter and embossing powder on top of the glitter and heat it, the glitter sticks better. I like to add a second coat of clear embossing oder on top of the glitter with embossing powder when it's still hot the glitter is locked onto whatever you choose to emboss it too.  
Using this technique to the wood piece from the kit, really looks striking and now I don't have to worry that the glitter will end up all over my layout. Also when I add the wood piece to my layout I use a nice and strong glue. The wood piece is heavy and you really don't want it coming off your layout. 

I used pieces from the February Traveler's Notebook kIt on the wood piece and also scattered under the layout with the puffy stickers from Fancy Pants Designs.  I wanted to tie some of the brighter and colorful colors with the colors in the papers from the Main March Malama Kit. 
I used the puffy stickers from Pink Paislee Paige Evans and the Traveler's Notebook Kit. They are small and added the right amount of embellishment. 

I layered my photos with patterned paper and a frame from the ephemera pack. I added the journaling on the side of my photos with pen. I really love the look of handwritten journaling. With the mixed media I find it really adds to the homemade feel. 

Machine stitching and layered die cuts and puffy stickers with enamel dots add a little cluster that isn't too busy with all the mixed media. If you are afraid of over clusting really take a few minutes to match the embellishments in your kits with your photos. In the end though use your judgement when it comes to embellishing, go with your gut. If your layout seems busy take some pieces off. If you think you will want to move things around use the powder tool or make sure you keep the sticker backing on the pieces you are using. This will give you the confidence to move things around until you are pleased with the look and flow of your spread. 

Here is one final look at my layout. I added my title last to finish it off. I used a die cut to add a colored piece to the title. I also used the tile alphas from the Traveler's Notebook from February to tie in the green watercolor on the background. I used the Cooper Dear Lizzy Thickers from the Clique Kits Store in January. I love how the title brings out the colors from my photos, and the easter eggs. 
Be sure to check out the Clique Kits Store for Add On's to help bring out the colors from the Main March Malama Kit. Use my code Hannah10 and you can get 10 % off the Add On's you buy and add to your kit. 
Until next time, don't be afraid of color and having fun playing with watercolor techniques. 
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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. 

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!! 

Aloha!! It's Hannah with you here today. Today we are talking art. Scrapbooking and Paper Crafting is a fun way to let your artistic style flow. 
Today I want to share a layout I made that I took bits and pieces from my desk, last month's kit and the Crate Paper's Main Squeeze products with my main February Kit. Like an Art project I love mixing and matching products to make a masterpiece. 

I used one of my favorite mediums on white card stock, watercolor. The Shimmerz watercolor pots are a good way to shimmer and color to liven up a plain piece of white card stock. It also gives me a good place to start.  Then I used some Shimmerz Vibez to add splatters to the background. I know I do this application a lot, but I love the way it looks and each time with different colors it can look so different. 
Adding a few complementing colors to a few areas on your page leaves lots of space for adding embellishments and a photo cluster.  It also helps fills the page with some color. 

I decided to grab some leftover fabric from a Traveler's Notebook cover I made earlier. I have been wanting to use more fabrics or other materials on my pages this year. I love the way different textures look when you layer them chipboard and paper.  To attach the ribbon I used my sewing machine. I also layered last month's Dear Lizzy velvet ribbon on top of the fabric that I ruffled. I love the maroon purple with the greens. 
The ephemera from the Main Squeeze collection is so adorable too isn't it?! I mixed the hassle hearts from the pack with the cork stars from the Main Atacama Kit die cut pack.  

To mimic the tassel on the side of the layout I added the Crate Paper Main Squeeze Heart Tassel. This layered on the ruffled fabric and ribbon it just fits so right. I layered a silhouette cut file from my stash to start my title. I mixed this with a die cut to create a multi font title and finish it off. I layered some of the cork stars from the main kit and Main Squeeze chipboard. 

I layered a couple pieces of patterned paper with a doily with gold texture paste stars on it, under the photo. I raised the photo and a couple of layers on some foam adhesive. This allowed me to layer some tags under the photo and fit it in with some of the die cuts from Main Squeeze. I thought these helped me tell the story behind my photo.  My son loves to fall asleep with tons of toys in his bed and when I have to check his blood sugar at night, I am always finding them. He looks so adorable with all those toys. It makes my mom heart smile and appreciate these moments, knowing they won't last forever. I also appreciate that I can cherish these moments. 

I hope this helps inspire you to reach and grab for items in your room that aren't the normal products we go to to make a fun and artsy page. Playing around with textures and different types of products really can help tell your story. That fabric really helps me think of bed sheets or the texture paste stars remind me of the glow in the dark stars stuck to my son's ceiling. These reminders are what takes your spreads to the next level. 
I can't wait to see what you create with your February Atacama kits this month. Don't forget to tag us and share in our Facebook group what you make. 

Aloha!! It's Hannah with you here today. I am using a mix of both the Main and the Traveler's Notebook Rhapsody Kit. This is the kit that keeps giving, I have made quite a few layouts and Traveler's notebook spreads at this point of the month and it feels like I still have a full kit. If you are looking for a bang for your buck this kit will not disappoint. I have been able to get a variety of different styled layouts out of my kit too. 
Today I thought I would something a bit different and hopefully helpful. When I create with mixed media I will use up all the paint, ink, modeling paste, etc in a Traveler's Notebook. My thought is that one day I will go back and use these backgrounds as starting off places. It seems all the cool mixed media artists do this, so it can't be that hard for me to do , right?! The real problem is that I never go back to these backgrounds and use them. 
I think some of it for me is that it isn't white. I have mentioned this white page syndrome before. I don't suffer from this at all, actually I have the opposite now, the white page inspires me because I can create anything my mind can concoct.  When the background is covered with something or a busy pattern my mind goes blank. It is crazy and frustrating no matter which of these you suffer from. It really shouldn't matter whether a page starts off white or with color and a basic pattern on it.
Today I am starting off with this Traveler's Notebook background.  

This background has a basic wash and then I added acrylic paint in leaf and dot like pattens. I did this background in multiple steps over a period of at least three months. No joke. The copper leaves at the top are from a pen i have and I think I did them after I was using the darker acrylic teal to make leaves. I also used a fine line bottle filled with equal parts black-navy acrylic paint and airbrush fluid medium. This makes the paint very liquid and easy to doodle with.  This background really has no meaning or direction, which is why it sat untouched. 
Today will be the day I turn it into something beautiful and makes sense. To do this I grabbed more mixed media products. I figure adding another layer of media can help tie the past with the present. I also want to add another color. Right now it's pretty much mostly teal, and the Rhapsody actually has this color but it also has tons of purples. I am gonna add more purple. 
First I attached three strips of leftover negative cut file pieces from an old Clique Kits Cutfile. The team was challenged this month to use it. While I have part of the file on another patterned paper waiting for me to turn that into something amazing, the negative pieces were just sitting on my desk. I notice lately I tend to grab for bits of pieces leftover from other projects. Thankfully I didn't just throw them out. I used my sewing machine to attach these three strips. I love the texture sewing them gives. 

I glued a few other Vicki Boutin die cuts onto the background and covered a lot of them with absorbent ground. Absorbent ground is similar to gesso, it is more transparent than gesso but works better for watercolor media. I really like absorbent ground for my mixed media projects the more and more I use it with really liquid mediums. Just like gesso it tones down the other colors on my page in certain areas. I just used my finger to rub it in because I was only wanting a little and in a few spots. Once this dried I added my color.
For this spread I really want a vibrant watercolor, so I used my prima watercolors. I really love the concentration I get with the color. I can really tone it down by adding water too.  If you wanted a shimmery watercolor look you could definitely use something like a Shimmerz paints color. The shimmer won't be as translucent but you can water it down with water to get a light tone. 
I added my watercolor in many different areas around my spread. I added it to the patterned paper and die cuts. I let it drip down my paper. I blotted it up in certain areas so it didn't pool around and I let it get watered down and almost clear in some areas. I added both purple and I mixed a simple teal.  I let this dry, which didn't take too long, because I didn't add the watercolor all over the page. I used my heat tool when I thought it was just about dry to finish it the rest of the way. I didn't want any more paint getting on my pieces now. At this point I pulled out my absorbent ground again and added it to a couple areas I wanted a bit lighter and whiter.

Now is the fun part of building a photo cluster. A lot of my job is already done because I still have tons of big ephemera pieces and 3x4 journaling cut apart from the patterned paper in the main kit.  I also added to my cluster white card stock, a white doily and teal tissue paper from my stash. I wanted my layering to be fairly tight and light. I am only using a 3x3 photo because it is a Traveler's Notebook. I also didn't really want my picture to go over the spread much. I have done this in the past and can look really cool but today I really wanted pretty much everything contained inside the page. 
The 3x4 cut apart card I fussy cut the floral part and added it to the back ground. I thought about layering this on the side of my photo in the white space above my head, but after playing around I felt like this was just too much stuff hanging off the layers. It also was a bigger space around the photo then I wanted. This kind of decision is really a preference of your own eye. I hope you get to the point where you can decide for yourself what your taste is for how the layers look on your page. 
I layered lots of flowers and floral die cuts on the top right and bottom left of the photo. Some of the florals I added once my photo cluster was glued down some of it was added before. 

I added dimensional adhesive behind some of the die cuts. I wanted the textures of the vellum, the card stock flowers and other elements to really stand out. One way I find really helps is to have different elements at different heights and leaving a bit of space in between them so you create shadows. 
This can also make your butterflies look like they are flapping or your flowers look like the moving in the breeze. It really makes the difference and can set your spreads above a flat layout. 

On the left side of my photo and the left side of my Traveler's Notebook I decided to build another cluster of florals and die cuts. Since I had already added the fussy cut floral from the cut apart patterned paper, I decided to use that piece as an anchor for more die cuts and ephemera. One way I like to do is use a square and circular frame and use that as a guide or holder of my embellishments. By keeping the embellishment pieces near or contained inside to frame you can really layer pieces but have it not feel over whelming on your page or spread because it is in a small area. I made sure I tucked pieces in, used dimensional adhesive and curled the edges of my pieces to create dimension and texture. 
Inside the frame I also added part of my title with the cute tile alphas from Pretty Little Studio. I only added half of the title because I didn't want to over crowd the letters but I also wanted to draw eyes back to my picture after you look at all the goodies in the the cluster. 

I also made sure my frame touched the original die cut I added watercolor to at the bottom of the left side of the Traveler's Notebook. This connects the page and doesn't make my cluster and title feel like its floating in the air. I feel like it also helps highlight more of the drips and watercolor media I added to that side of the page. 

I added a bit more doodling on my spread with that copper pen I have in my stash. I looks so sharp on this watercolor looking tag from Pretty Little Studio from the Traveler's Notebook Kit. 
I also added some Maggie Holmes gem hearts around the top and bottom of the photo. I lined the bottom of the photo with some of the Dear Lizzy Ribbon attached with my sewing machine. I used the same zig zag pattern I used on the strips of paper to create continuity.  

I really love how I was able to take a Traveler's Notebook page that had leftover bits of media into a spread with purpose and tells a story of a friendship. The Rhapsody Kit really has so many elements you can create lots of different types of layouts and tells many different types of stories with it. 
Don't forget to check out the January Add Ons as well as the Valentine's Day products like Crate Paper Main Squeeze. There are some many cute pieces in that collection.  We also have a ton of new Shimmerz Paints products, which are one of my favorite things to play with. They are so shimmery and and colorful. Check out the Clique Store and see if they have your favorite color!!
I can't wait to see you around in the Facebook Group this week!! I hope you stop by and share the projects you are creating this moth with your kits.
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Aloha!! It's Hannah here with you today and we are going to be talking a bit about photo taking.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If you are anything like me, when you have amazing pictures I am even more inspired to scrap our memories. When my pictures are too dark or blurry I found it hard to feel the mojo to bring together a good layout that helps tell the story behind the photo. 
Now sometimes I know we only have one or two photos from an event or a certain time in our lives. But I though I would give a few good tips I use even before I take that shot to capture those memories that are happening right in front of me. 
I am also going to show you a layout I made with a cool photo I took a couple of years ago. I am using both the main and the traveler's notebook Rhapsody Kits combined to make this layout. 

As a scrapbooker our picture is a big part of this story we tell, whether it is something that happened yesterday or ten years ago. We may not be able to change our past photos much, we can change the way we approach the next photo we are taking. 
My first tip is to be intentional when you take your photo. This means you really need to get to know your camera, whether you are using a phone camera, a point and shot or a really expensive DSLR. This means you need to take lots of photos. Don't think you need to keep these photos though. Just by taking random photos around your house, your yard, your neighborhood, your life you will get to know your camera and what it does in different situations. This means taking shots in the rain, trying to see how it does with those big rain drops. This means taking pictures in the sun shine when your kids are playing in the grass or at the playground. The more you use your camera you can start to predict what your pictures will look like in different situations. 
This will help you the next time you take a photo. You will know if you want to capture a certain shot you need to this_____ and it will look better and more like what you really see. 

The best thing I have done was taking a photo class. Not one where you just learn how to use that huge DSLR, but one that helps you learn the perspectives you can take in. You can find many classes like this over the internet. I really recommend looking into something that can help test your eye for taking pictures. This will really help you capture images that are appealing. 

For this layout I am sharing today, I used my DSLR. Now you don't need an expensive camera to get good quality pictures. But if you do have a really nice camera, I really urge you to pull it out a bit more and try to capture those moments in your life with it. The more you use it the more comfortable you will get with it. 

In my layout I layered lots of patterned papers from the main kit and lots of ephemera from the Vicki Boutin packs and the Cocoa Vanilla Studios die cut pack.  I even layered the vellum speciality paper up at the top and bottom with pieces of the cut apart patterned paper. I love the way these papers draw your eye to my 5x7 photo. 
Because my layers were busy I floated leaves from both Vicki Boutin and Cocoa Vanilla Studios about and below the photo. I felt like they kinda looked like sea weed and had that beauty feel. 
I really wanted my pieces to have that feel you get when you look at the photo. This photo is really playful. Let me point out here that this is not the perfect photo. My daughter's foot is a bit distorted because she is kicking the water and the waves are crashing over her feet as she is kicking. I used all this movement to my advantage though. I focused on the sand grains under her feet and that is the part that is really clear. 
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This brings me to my next tip, don't be afraid to play with perspectives. When I am taking pictures of things I crouch down, get down to the level of what it is I am capturing. I let the object or person do what they are doing and adjust to that. If that means laying on the ground to get just that right shot. Now I know not every time you can do this, but the more you practice moving to gain the perspective you want to get the better you will get the shots you really want to get. When my kids and dog are running and playing ball, I adjust my camera so it takes a quick shot and I have the run towards me. I get right in their line so I can get that smile or grit of their teeth as they run. I of course need to be aware of what they are doing so I can move out of the way too. I find capturing things especially kids, and animals look better when you let them do their thing and you find the angle that is going to best show that. 

For this layout I added minimal words for the journaling because I really wanted the picture to do the talking. I love how when I look at this picture it really reminds me, of getting my feet wet in the ocean. I can still feel the big sandy grains rubbing between my toes. I still feel the undertow pull against my feet as it heads back into the ocean trying to pull me with it.  
I think if I didn't focus on the bottom of the ocean floor and the sand under my daughter's feet I don't know if I would get that feeling when looking at it. 
I might capture a whole new feeling, that of joy as she smiled trying to kick the water back out to sea. I might capture the feeling of contentment of knowing there is nothing better to do than feel of the sun smoking into our skin and the coolness of the water sprinkles as the waves splashes against her legs. There are lots of perspectives and you as the camera holder get to pick those emotions you can capture when you choose the ones you want to highlight. 

I loved playing around with a mixed font title. I love the shine of the gold, and the coolness that the purple gives off at the end of the title. These things that are very little choices really help carry through the feeling and emotions I want to share and work along with my photo.

My last tip when it comes to getting good photos you want to use, is to know when to put away your camera and live in the moment. When I am taking photos at an outing or of my kiddos playing, I have my camera ready at the beginning. I set all my settings before or at the beginning. I take some shots then I put down my camera and be in the moment. As much as I want that perfect shot, sometimes it doesn't happen and seeing the smiles, and hearing the giggles of real life really doesn't get any better.  
So if my photos end up not being exactly what I want I use black and white. This helps when your picture is a bit pixelated from low light. It also helps when there are lots of crazy colors. I have saved lots of pictures from inside my house because our peachy walls make evening photos so yellow. Also know the power of the lighten tool. Many photos look better when you play around with the white and dark sliders. These simple editing tools can help save a photo you think is not useable. 

I hope I have inspired you to play and learn how to use your photos to help tell the stories of your lives. Tell the stories you want to remember for a lifetime. 
Here is a final look at my layout for today. with some layers and a few bold dies cuts I really love how my photo is enhanced. This Rhapsody kit was perfect for this summery memory. Use my code Hannah10 and you can get 10% off any of the add ons you add to your kits!! 
Until next time Stay inspired and take some amazing photos that capture your life!!

Aloha!! It's Hannah with you here today and I am loving the Main Rhapsody Kit this month. The colors are my favorite to work with. That is what I as my inspiration for creating the layout I want to share with you. 
I am often inspired by colors and use that to guide my layouts and spreads. There are a few ways you can use color on your layouts to really help elevate your spreads and make something visibly pleasing but help tell the story of your photo. 
​Here is a look at my full layout. 

The First thing I think about when I am using color, is am I sticking to a certain color combo or use whatever colors are in the papers and embellishments in my kit. This will help guide me to picking my patterned papers and embellishments as well as help me decide the media I might want to add to my background. 
For this layout I decided to try to stick with a Teal and Purple combo with black accents.  This color palette is just calling to me lately. Maybe is makes me beckon warmer weather and sunshine or maybe I just love them. 
I used Shimmerz Acritonez and other acrylic paint from my stash to create that really fun and graphic background. 

After my background is finished I think about if I want to mat my white card stock. Sometimes I decide to just leave the white and doodle a line around the layout to frame everything in. This time I used a watercolor patterned paper from Cocoa Vanilla Studio in purple and pink to highlight the purples on the background. 
I layered some of the frames on the top and bottom of the layout in between the card stock and the patterned paper mat. I then sewed around the whole layout in a light teal. Still thinking about color, I decided to use the light color to give a variation on the teal color. The background has a really bright teal and I thought the light color would help tone it down a bit. 
This is the point where I really decide am I going to pick patterned paper to compliment my photo or my background. I still haven't picked a photo and this decision will help me decide what photo I want to use too. 

I decided I really wanted to use similar colors to the background. I then found this photo that I thought really complimented the papers and colors on my page. I haven't actually picked the paper layers but I know that it won't be too hard at this point. I really liked how my shirt was a bit of a different blue/teal than the background. This kit actually had a bit more blue in it so I was thinking it would bridge and connect the media colors and the collection together. 
Another thing to think of is if a black and white photo makes more sense. I really love using black and white photos on really colorful layouts like this one. it really helps focus on just color and the only the colors you want on your spread. 
I used quite a bit of the papers and the vicki boutin ephemera as the layers behind my photo. It was really fun picking and choosing shades of purple and teal. I also stuck in some black pieces to tie in the black dots on my background. 

I added some of the black words in the Vicki Boutin ephemera pack right over my camera lens for something fun. The picture isn't really a need to see everything in the photo type of photo. It's a self portrait and I just love what it represents. I also added a small alpha font in white to pop against the black. These Elle's Studio aplha's from an old Clique Kit were the right size.

When using color, when you repeat the same colors throughout your layout intentionally it really helps tie everything together. It helps your eye go to the area's you want to highlight. I did this with keeping my embellishments above and below my photo and on left side. 
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I scattered Maggie Holmes hearts and bows around the layout. I also added the exclusive sequins around my layers. I love the little bit of shine they add to my layout. 
Adding embellishments in the same color palette also help your embellishment clusters tie into the whole layout. Like using green mini staples on ephemera to the layout, adding tiny purple sequins in the big sequins, and adding black and white pieces to your clusters. 
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I even tucked in pieces of the Dear Lizzy Ribbon in the layers and on one of the Vicki Boutin journaling tags. I love the texture they add as well as different tones of purple. 
Being really intentional with my colors I was able to create a beautiful layout. Using color can really help tell a story of a photo or a feeling. Here is one last look at my layout. 

Be on the look out for the process video over on my Youtube Channel where you can see me put this layout together.  Also don't forget you find some really cute Valentine's day add ons in the Store as well. Use my code Hannah10 and you can get a 10% discount on them too. 

Aloha!! It's Hannah with you today, and we are going to get a little bit messy. But only a little I promise. I am also going to be using the Traveler's Notebook January Rhapsody Kit. This kit is so amazing, and really bright and bold for ringing into the New Year. 
Let's take a look at what I created, and let's start playing in our Traveler's Notebook. 

I was inspired by the water color flowers in the Cocoa Vanilla embellishment pack, the ones in the main kit. They are a washed out type of flower with lots of little dots for the inside of the flower. I knew I didn't really want to copy the flowers but I wanted them to be similar, I made watercolor dots all over my Traveler's Notebook paper. I made some big and some smaller, and blended in different colors. 
I stuck with mostly purples and a teal color I made from combining a blue and green watercolor from my Prima watercolor palette. These watercolors are so vibrated and concentrated especially for their price point. You don't feel like you are giving up quality. You can get them individually which is awesome because you can mix the colors you like in your pan. Be sure to check out the store and see what colors appeal to you. 
Watercolor is a fun way to add a touch of color and media to your page without much effort. Use a round brush and add a blob of watercolor to make each dot. 

I added little tiny dots to each of the watercolor dots. I used a fine line bottle with acrylic paint that was thinned with airbrush medium. This allows the paint to flow thin and it lets me use the paint to doodle and draw. I get a lot more control with the fine line bottle. This is my newest favorite tool. 
I made sure to layer some the black and white and similar colored Vicki Boutin die cuts over top some of the watercolor dot areas. Using similar colors with the black and white really helps all the colors of the spread to pop. I really love this dramatic look. I even doodled with the fine line bottle on the embellishment cluster.  The pink glitter ribbon from Dear Lizzy helped tie in the cluster and tie in with the photo as well. 

I added these super cute birds around the spread from Vicki Boutin. They tuck in really easy into the layers behind my photo. 

This photo I used is from a set I took of my kiddos on the first day of school. I am wanting to have a small spread in this notebook where I highlight their favorites for the year. I also really like to pick embellishments and phrasing that is encouraging and words of affirmation for them. I really want my girls to know how beautiful they are and how amazing they will be in this world. This kit has so many phrases and pieces that help me do this. The 6x6 pad even has the cut apart sheet in a smaller size that fits the Traveler's Notebook size. 
I love the look of all the layers, from the cut apart to the glitter ribbon to the paint purple flower behind my paper and photo . By using the Vicki Boutin phrase stamp with black One Canoe Two Ink pad I could add a bit more doodling on the top and bottom of the spread. 

Matching my colors in the watercolor pan really helped tie the paper collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio with my spread. I like to might everything feel like it is suppose to be together. It sometimes is the little things that help do this, like matching colors, and taking elements that are similar feels like the went together. The cut apart piece, the Pretty Little Studio watercolor label and my watercolor dots. The black and white from the embellishment pack and the Simple Stories Sticker pack al look like they are the same collection. 

Here is a look at the full spread I made. 

Don't forget you don't need much mixed media to have a big effect on your layout or spread. Also using a pice from your kit as inspiration can really help tie things together and look cool as well. I hope you are excited to get your January Rhapsody Kits soon when they ship out. I know I can't wait to see you create with it. 
Use my code Hannah10 and you can get 10% off your add ons. There is some really cute Crate Paper Valentine's day stuff too, I hope you check it out before it runs out. 
Until next time my friends, Stay inspired!!
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