Free Flow Wednesday on the Crafty Maven Channel

Hey friends! I hope this week has been treating you well.  Today I am up on the Crafty Maven channel with a layout that I created using my stash, specifically items from previous Hip Kits that I hadn't used. When I break down kits (I can't kill them...I've tried), I put the contents into an iris container containing odds and ends from previous kits that I would like to use up. If I get tired of looking at it in the iris container, it then goes into my stash or purge pile. I was thrilled when I successfully used everything for this layout from the iris container...I think that was a first for me!

The mood board this week is a beautiful board filled with bright aquas and citron greens. It felt a bit contemporary to me, which is not my usual style, but I challenged myself to stay true to the board while staying true to myself. I decided to pull the colors from the board, the flower. the bow, and the layers underneath the clock.

I decided to use white cardstock as my base and then have the pops of color as my paper layers. The papers are all from Chickaniddy, and I don't know the names of the patterns since these were scraps and 6x6 sheets. I did pop the photo up on craft foam and placed a doily underneath the photo. I decided on using the white doily to keep the layout looking bright and airy. I very lightly distressed the edges of the papers to give them a bit more texture and interest. It always helps to do this before adhering the layers together...ask me how I know this :)

For the pop of yellow I decided on a Dear Lizzy tag that has been in that container for a very long time...I am not sure what collection it is from, but I am happy that it made it onto a page. The glitter bow is from Heidi Swapp, the enamel dots are from Doodlebug and MME, and the ephemera and gold hearts are from Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss line.

I had not planned on backing this layout onto another piece of cardstock, but I had to when I placed my layout directly on the Heidi Swapp mist that I had laying on my desk. To be fair, I was cleaning up, however one should always clean up liquid things first! Lesson learned.  I quickly pulled up the bottom layers and then trimmed off an inch of the left side of the layout. At this time, my phone was charging because the battery was low. I decided to finish the layout while I had the time. I found this cardstock which was a perfect match. The border was a bit too much for my tastes, so I decided on backing the layout onto a piece of vellum to soften the edges. I gutted the vellum because there is no way that I was going to waste any more than I had to underneath the layout.  I did sew the layers down with simple white stitching around the edges.

I plan on journaling on this layout, but haven't decided if I am going to do it by hand or typed strips underneath the photo. Juliet (kitty) has slept in Emily's room for as long as I can remember. Throughout the night she manages to get on Emily's pillow and Emily is lucky if she has a little bit to rest her head on. My goal is to continue to document the little things like this...for these are the things that I would like to remember in my childhood.

Other supplies used were Heidi Swapp Citron Color Shine and the word dream is also from one of her lines. Thanks so much for stopping by today! I have a link to the Process Video if you'd like to take a peek. 

Clique Kits Blog Hop

Hey there friends!  I am so excited to be a part of the Clique Kits   blog hop today. If you are just starting the hop with me, here is a list of the participants:

Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
 Gia Lau https://giaaloha.wordpress.com/
 *Melissa Vining http:yesterday2day4ever.blogspot.co.nz
 *Candace http://findingeverydayperfection.com/
 *Kat Benjamin http://kraftykat9.blogspot.com
 *Leigh Ann http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/
 *Aliza http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com
 *Elisabetta https://abcdeliblog.blogspot.com/
 Donna http://scrappydonna.blogspot.com/
 Emma Pescott http://emslifedocumented.blogspot.co.nz
 Sandy Gonzalez http://craftythought.com
 Kim Allen kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
 Mariah Hecher http://www.fun2scrap.blogspot.com/
 Renee Aslette http://www.reneeaslette.blogspot.com
 Kate Blue http://www.kateblue.blogspot.com
 Megan Blethen www.craftymeggy.com
 Kelly Barron kaybeetoo.blogspot.com (you are here)

 Bernie Miller http://weekendatberniis.blogspot.com.au/

I am excited to be sharing this layout with you today.  If you have followed me for a while, you will know that I am trying to get more stories told on my pages. My daughter is almost 14 years old, and it is just an amazing experience to watch her mature. I had been thinking about how I wanted to tell this story and when I saw the butterfly cut file offered this month I knew just how I was going to tell it. I love for elements on my pages to contribute to the stories being told so the butterfly was the perfect choice.

I used my silhouette and cut the file out.  I enlarged it so that it would be a huge focal point.  I chose to print my photo in black and white.  I didn't want to lose my photo on the page and knew that backing the different places of the butterfly with patterned paper would be a lot of color on the layout. So by printing the photo in black and white, it offers a nice contrast to the patterned papers behind the cut file.

I used my silhouette to cut the title out. I usually cut all of my files in white and then color them with inks, mists, or gelatos. I used Tim Holtz distress inks to color the title. I love the yellow twine that came in the kit and thought that it would make cute antennas for the butterfly. I had to play with it a bit to get it the way I wanted it to look. I used Dylusions white and Heidi Swapp teal mist on the background, and then glued sequins around the page. 

I did not want my journaling to be on the page. It is something that I don't mind if people read, but since it is personal to Emily, I decided to tuck it behind the photo on a tag that can easily be pulled out. I layered vellum behind the photo and that is something that I do often. I like the bit of texture and dimension that it brings without adding another color or pattern to the layout. As I was looking through the kit I noticed that the packaging of the ephemera had a pretty pale aqua stripe so I used that as well as a paper layer! Don't overlook your embellishment packages...often they will have subtle designs and colors that work well with the collection that you are using. I also popped the photo slightly off the page for added dimension as well.

Before I adhered the butterfly down to the page, I sewed around the edges of the entire cut file and around the layout. I have been on a sewing kick lately and thought that this would be a nice touch to complete the butterfly. I love how it turned out!

Be sure to check out the other members of the blog hop. There are so many beautiful creations being shared you are sure to find inspiration! If you want to see a close up of my process, the video is linked below.  The supplies used for this layout all came from  Clique Kits January kit - Alegria which is still available for purchase at the present time. 

Scrap the Challenge with Kelly and Mari

I am so excited to share that Mari Clarke and I are working in collaboration to bring a new series to both of our channels.  It is called Scrap the Challenge and it will involve a series of videos where we challenge ourselves in some particular way.  Our goal is to have two videos a month.  This month we chose a sketch that Mari found on Pinterest.

I decided to use the Shine collection by Maggie Holmes. I have only used this collection for one other layout, and I *need* her new collection. So that means I need to make room in my stash! I stayed pretty true to the sketch.  I knew that on the chipboard sheet of the Rise collection that there was a banner and I was determined to use it on this page. Banners seem to be a bit difficult for me to successfully get on a page, so I was making sure that this would was going to be used.

The sketch had some type of mixed media in the background. I decided that I wanted to bring out more of the pink in the collection, but I really wanted it to be subtle. I used light modeling paste and a bit of ink from my Tim Holtz distress ink Victorian Velvet and it made the most beautiful shade. The stencil that I used is from Crafter's Workshop and is called Believe Script.

One thing that I love about Maggie's collections are her birds. I love birds and will not tire of putting them on a page.  I was finally able to get one of these diamonds on a page, so if I never use another one I will be just fine. 

I had a package of Heidi Swapp rub-ons in my stash that are old and it was apparent when I used them on the page. They didn't quite rub on clean, but that was perfect for this page. It just added to the distressed look on the background and I love the way that it turned out. I also sewed through some of the paper layers and through the title as well. The final touch was a few sprinkles of Heidi Swapp gold color shine.

I have a process video that can be found here:

Mari's video can be found here:

Another Cllique Kit layout...

I had so much fun with this layout!  This was definitely a push out of my comfort zone and I  love how it turned out.  I used a member exclusive kit file (November kit) and backed it with several papers from the kit.  The graphic look of these papers worked beautifully with the cut file. 

Everything that I used on this layout can be found in the main kit, or as add-ons in the Clique Kits store.  I thought the computer-like smiley face was perfect to add underneath my journaling on the tag.

It was definitely a labor of love, but I think that the stitching made the layout.  It did take some time, but some things are worth it.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to share.  I love to hear from you.

Clique Kit Guest Design layout #2

I've had a lot of fun playing with  the Alegria kit from Clique Kits.  For the new year I'm challenging myself to think outside my box, mix it up, get out of my comfort zone and to have fun while creating and these papers certainly inspired me to do it. I knew as soon as I saw this paper that I wanted to use that top quote in some fashion.  When I was shuffling papers around and placed it with the yellow triangle paper, felt like I hit the jackpot.  I love the combo!!

These pictures are silly ones that my daughter and I did at a theme park while waiting for her brother to get off a roller coaster that she didn't want to go on. I love these and I think that the next time I see a booth like this, we'll pop back in. 

I really like the sayings that are on the ephemera in this collection.  They are perfect for everyday photos and so easy to use.

Everything except the vellum and cut files were included in the January 2016 kit.  The cut files are exclusive to Clique Kit and were in the December 2015 kits, but I know that the silhouette store has several leaves and flourishes that are similar.

If you like to take a peek at my process, I have included the video. 

Crafty Maven Getaway post a few days late :)

I'm up on the Crafty Maven channel along with Jen Stokes with a layout created that was inspired by the lovely Missy Whidden.  Missy is known for her mixed media and use of colors.  I decided to use my November Hip Kit because of all the bright colors with the silver embellishments.  I strolled through Missy's layouts and lifted little bits of different layouts, but the main thing was the spelling of Chrithmuth with the title.  I had already printed these pictures and knew that I wanted to do a layout, so when I saw her version I knew what I wanted to create. Here is a link to view her page, and here is my finished layout.

 

I used the silver paint dauber that was in the color add-on to help create the silver color to my modeling paste.  The stencil that I used was in the add-on as well. It's a little bit over the top for me and I wish that it wasn't quite so busy, but not every layout has to be perfect and I'm learning to embrace imperfection.

 

I used a mixture of fonts to create this title.  The aqua PinkFresh Studio letters were in the kit, and I also used October Afternoon mini market stickers in Peppermint and the Brighton Pier Thickers.  This was not my original title, but this change definitely was needed and gave more equal weight to the title. 

 

This little party penguin was adorable and I thought he'd be perfect on a page about losing your front teeth.  Why not? It was definitely a celebration for Emily. I couldn't find my supply list to write them down, but most everything I used is from the November 2015 Hip Kit.  If you have any questions, send me a message or leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer it. Here's a link to my video on the Crafty Maven channel.