Adventure || Clique Kits

Hey everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I wanted to jump on and share a recent layout that I made with the August kit from Clique Kits.  

I've been seeing this painted background technique a lot recently, and even though it's not in keeping with my normal, "clean" style, I really wanted to give it a try.  I pulled out a bunch of purple paints, a gold gelato and some gold glitter glue to create this background.  While I'm not totally in love with the final product, I'm glad I gave it a go:

Have a wonderful day!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Title, Phrase Stickers, Mist: Heidi Swapp; Die Cuts: Clique Kits exclusive; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps

Clique Kits May Pep Rally

Good morning, everyone!  Welcome to the Clique Kits Pep Rally...today we are sharing fun projects made with our Riga kit.  This kit is chock full of Pinkfresh Studio goodness and feels so fresh and fun.

For my project today, I made a spread for my #52favorites album.  I've fallen a bit behind in recent weeks, but I've been playing catch up and am now just one week behind.  Woohoo!  So, here's my spread for week 18:

I'm having so much fun with this project and documenting Piper's life one week at a time.

So, now the really cool news: if you leave a comment on this post and all the other stops along the hop, you'll be entered into a drawing to win a $10 gift card from Clique Kits.  Pretty sweet!  Here's the whole line-up:

Clique Kits 

Donna Espiritu 

Rachel Lowe 

Nupur Patel 

Kat Benjamin < -- You are here!  :o)

Sara Scraps 

Hannah Lemieux 

Theresa Moxley 

Kayla Webber

Angela Tombari 

Thanks so much for stopping by - happy hopping!!

iNSD projects

Hey everyone!  So...I totally forgot to post my projects for iNSD.  Oopsies :)

For Clique Kits I challenged everyone to create a project about themselves.  I used to scrap about myself all the time and then Piper came along.  Now I'm so focused on getting her memories down that I don't focus on anyone else.  But that's not okay.  I know I love seeing older pictures of my parents and I know she will, too, so I'm trying to make more of an effort to get my husband and I on paper, too.

The second challenge was created for Pattern Happy in a team-up with SpiegelMom Scraps.  I challenged people to create a monochromatic project.  I picked out a bunch of blue papers from a variety of Pattern Happy paper pads and topped everything off with some gorgeous SMS sequins:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  You can still play along with both of these challenges, so I hope you're able to!

Layout: Cardstock: Bazzill; Sequins: Close to my Heart; Everything Else: Jillibean Soup

#52favorites spread: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Pattern Happy; Alphas: Bella Blvd; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps

#52favorites Update

Hey, hey!  I wanted to pop in and share some of my recent spreads for my #52favorites album.

Special shout out for my Week 12 spread, which was created for my guest designer stint at the Inspired By challenge blog.  We were asked to create a project inspired by this image:

Here is what I created for it (using an older Felicity Jane kit):

And here are the rest of my weeks:

Week 8 used the XOXO collection from Pretty Little Studio.

Week 9 used the Potpourri collection from Pretty Little Studio and wood veneers from Color Cast Designs.

Week 10 used the It's Your Birthday collection from Pretty Little Studio.

Week 11 used the This is Us collection from Clique Kits. (use code KAT10 at checkout to get 10% off purchases in the CK store)

Thanks for popping in today!

Clique Kits' August Pep Rally

Hello!  Happy Pep Rally day!

How much fun is the August kit?!?!  I'm telling you, I love pretty much EVERYTHING that Fancy Pants Designs manufactures and the Millie & June collection is no exception!  So, obviously, this month's Clique Kits kit is one of my faves :o)

For my layout share today, I decided to scraplift this amazing layout by Missy Whidden.  I LOVE it and the cut file from The Cut Shoppe sooooo much.  Her layout is waaaaaay better than what mine ended up looking like, but I tried ;-)  

Here is the full line-up for the hop:

Clique Kits  
Gia Lau 
Erica Thompson 
Kat Benjamin (That's me!)
Marcia Dehn-Nix 
Kim Allen 
Maryam Perez 
Caroli Schulz
Melissa Vining 
Leeann Pearce
Sara Mishler 
Donna Espiritu 
Leigh Ann Odynski 

Thanks for popping in!  Have a happy week!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Die Cuts, Alphas: Fancy Pants Designs; Mists: Heidi Swapp; Doily: SpiegelMom Scraps

Scraplift Saturday || 7.16.16

Two Scraplift Saturday posts two weeks in a row!  I admit it, I'm out of town right now, so I had to schedule some posts.  These were the easiest ones for me to do :)

For today's edition, I decided to scraplift this layout.  I was never sure how I felt about it, but decided to give it another go:

And here is my result...made with my Clique into Summer kit from Clique Kits:

Thanks for stopping in!

Cradstock: Bazzill;

Scraplift Saturday || 7.9.16

Good morning everyone!  I have a new Scraplift Saturday layout to share today.  Here is the layout I chose to lift:

Here is my new take on it:

I was excited to be able to use the Clique into Summer kit from Clique Kits.  It's full of the fun "You Are Here" collection from Simple Stories.  I have a few more layouts in the works - this kit is too much fun!!

Have a nice weekend!!

**For the first layout's supply list, click on the link to the layout.**

Layout 2: Cardstock: Bazzill; Alphas: American Crafts; Cut Aparts: Clique Kits; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Patterned Paper, Stickers, Die Cuts: Simple Stories

Project Life || May with Clique Kits

Good morning, everyone!  For all those living in the U.S., Happy Independence Day! I hope you a safe and happy holiday.

I am up on the Clique Kits blog today sharing my May Project Life spread.  

If you've been following along with me this year, you know that I have really simplified my Project Life process, but that doesn't mean that I don't like adding some fun bits and pieces to my monthly spreads every now and then.

For the first page of my May spread I decided to make  a flip-up title card.  I did this for a couple of reasons: I prefer 4x6 title cards and the page protectors I like only have 1 4x6 slot...and I had a 4x6 picture.  Also, the picture contains a bunch of people from work and I knew that I was going to be sharing this spread online, so I decided this was the easiest way to cover it up :)  Here is the spread:

Here is the flip-up title card...I included journaling notes on the other side of it:

For the second page of my monthly spread I really wanted to find a unique way to use that awesome paper from Pinkfresh...and hence the giant "Life" title in the middle...I also managed to use the whole remaining package of SpiegelMom Scraps sequins here:

My third page is less exciting, but does include a few details that I think are fun; mainly the handmade filler cards:

Thanks for popping in...I leave you with a look at this month's kit:

Page Protectors: Becky Higgins (Design F); Journaling Cards: Clique Kits, Pinkfresh Studio; Alphas, Patterned Paper, Rubber Stickers, Acetate Words: Pinkfresh Studio; Arrow Clip: Freckled Fawn; Wood Veneers: Studio Calico; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Enamel Hearts: Bella Blvd; Staples: Tim Holtz; Printable labels: Clique Kits

Lots of Layers || Clique Kits

Hello!  Happy weekend! :o)

Today I am popping in to share another layout made with the Clique Kits Raskog Kit.  I usually have a semi-plan for how I want to arrange my page before I begin, but recently I've been sitting down with no real plan in mind.  That's what I did for this page.  I knew I wanted to incorporate a lot of layers, but after that, I really didn't know what I wanted to do.

I was so happy with the color scheme that ended up emerging on this page: black, white, grey, yellow, green and blue - so pretty! The colors look really nice with the handsome pictures of my Moose Dog :o)

After I had my pictures matted, I just started playing with scraps of paper and layered away.  I moved things all around until I got everything just where I wanted it.  I guess you could say that I "free-styled" this one:

Here is one last close-up...I kinda love those Bella Blvd/Illustrated Faith Enamel Hearts add on!

Thanks for stopping by today - enjoy the weekend!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps; Enamel Hearts: Bella Blvd; Patterned Paper, Alphas, Acetate Word, Rubber Banner: Pinkfresh Studio; Cut Outs, Flair: Clique Kits

Fringe and Mist || Clique Kits

Good morning, everyone!!  I shared another Raskog Kit layout on the Clique Kits blog yesterday.   I am really enjoying this kit and it's fun patterns and colors.  It's a little bit different from what I'm normally attracted to, but I've found that it's been so easy to create with.  I'm definitely a fan :)

As soon as I saw the acetate words in the kit, I knew I wanted to use one to create a mask.  The very first thing I did on this layout was use the acetate "Capture" as my mask and then I built the rest of my layout around it.  After my mist had dried, I outlined the word with a black marker to make it stand out more.

I also decided on a whim to add some fringed patterned paper.  The "fringe trend" is really popular right now, so I decided now was the time to experiment with it myself.  To pull everything together, I cut out tiny pieces from the 6x6 paper pad add on and created borders along the top & bottom of my page.

Here is my final layout:

And one more close-up:

Thanks for popping in today!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps; Patterned Paper, Alphas, Rubber Shape: Pinkfresh Studio; Arrow Clip: Freckled Fawn; Flair: Clique Kits

Lift Yourself || Clique Kits

Hello, all!  Earlier this week I shared a layout on the Clique Kits blog that I made with the new Raskog Kit!!  This kit is full of the Pinkfresh Studio "Life Noted" collection and I am having so much fun playing with it!

If you are a frequent reader of my blog, you know that one of my go-to ways to get my creative juices flowing is to scraplift myself.  It always gives me new ideas and reignites my desire to create.  For today's layout, I chose to scraplift the layout that I made for June's pep rally:

It's  an easy design to copy, but there are ways to mix it up a bit, too.  I decided to rotate it and lift that design:

Here is my new layout made with the July kit.  You can tell that it was definitely created with the inspiration layout in mind, but it's different enough to stand on its own:

Simple and easy!  What do you do when you get "scrapper's block"?

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Enamel Hearts: Bella Blvd; Cut Outs: Clique Kits; Patterned Paper, Acetate Word, Alphas: Pinkfresh Studio; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps

June Pep Rally

Hello everyone!  Happy Clique Kits pep rally day!  This month's kit was so much fun to work with.  I wish I had more time to play with it...it's definitely one that I'm going to leave in kit form for awhile so I can come back to it when I have more time.

My layout for today is fairly simple.  It came together with no real plan.  I just sat down and started cutting paper and moving stuff around on the page.  I kinda love when that happens.  The results are usually awesome or terrible.  Ha!  I'll let you decided for yourself which category this layout falls into:

Here are my other projects created with this month's kit:

And here is the full hop line-up for today:

Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/ 

Gia Lau https://giaaloha.wordpress.com/

Kat Benjamin http://kraftykat9.blogspot.com (you are here!)
Elisabetta Margini https://abcdeliblog.blogspot.com/
Marcia Dehn-Nix http://onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/
Aliza Deutsch http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com/
Candace Perkins http://findingeverydayperfection.com/
Kim Allen http://kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
Maryam Perez http://maryamperez.blogspot.com/
Sara Mishler https://sarascrapsblog.wordpress.com/ 
Audrey Yeager http://audreysreflection.blogspot.ca/
Maryam Perez http://maryamperez.blogspot.com/
Kim Oedekoven http://krodesigns.blogspot.com/
Donna Espiritu http://scrappydonna.blogspot.com/
Janet Perafan-Babar http://janetperafanbabar.blogspot.com/
Janet Zeppa ​www.janetsjoy.blogspot.ca
Mariah Hechler www.fun2scrap.blogspot.com/

Hop along for your chance to win a prize!  Thanks so much for stopping in - happy hopping!

New layout supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Patterned Paper, Die Cuts: Elle's Studio; Sticker: Jillibean Soup; Sequins: SpiegelMomScraps

A Clique Kits' Share

Hello, all!  I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend.  I always get a little sad when it's coming to an end!

I was able to get come scrapping done this weekend.  I have a ton of assignments due, but I really just wanted to scrap for fun....so I did - and made this layout with the current Clique Kits' kit.  The Elle's Studio Little Moments collection is so pretty and soft...and I feel like it's just so easy to scrap with.

For this layout, I was actually inspired by one of the images on the kit's mood board this month.  There was a block that had a ton of butterflies in a grid and I decided to do something like that using one of the Just Nick cut files that came with the kit.

Aren't these pictures of my niece adorable?  She's such a bright and happy little girl.

Thanks for popping in!  Enjoy your Sunday evening!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Die Cuts, Cut Outs: Elle's Studio; Word Sticker: Pinkfresh Studio; Acrylic Word, Paint: Jillibean Soup; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps; Mist: Heidi Swapp

June Clique Kit

So, Clique Kits just revealed their June kit...and it is pretty spectacular!  I am such a big fan of the pretty mix of Elle's Studio and Jillibean Soup products.  When the kit arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago, I instantly had to play and made a layout within hours of receiving it.

I broke out a cut file from The Cut Shoppe and had fun filling in the negatives while zoning out in front of the TV :)

Here's my layout:

Seriously, is this kit not adorable?!?!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Die Cuts, Wood Veneers: Elle's Studio; Alphas: Bella Blvd; Word Sticker: Jillibean Soup; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps; Mist: Heidi Swapp

Party Time! || Clique Kits

Good morning, everyone!  I wanted to pop in and quickly share my last layout made with the Northern Lights kit from Clique Kits.

For this layout, I decided to keep the design pretty simple.  I went with a big, simple title cut from my silhouette and backed the letters with the pretty papers from the kit.  Then I used a bunch of small photos from my husband's family birthday celebration to border the title.  Here was the end result:

I think I like it...although, I'm not totally sure.  I do know that I like how simple it was to make - probably only took  me about 15 minutes.  And that, my friends, is always chalked up to a win!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants Designs, Basic Grey; Puffy Stickers: Fancy Pants Designs

Creative Scrappers + Clique Kits Team-Up

Hello, all!  I hope your weekend was fabulous!  I'm excited because two of my design teams teamed-up today for a fun challenge.  The Clique Kits design team was challenged to take on one of the sketches from Creative Scrappers.  So fun!!

Here is the sketch:

Here is my take on it, using the Spring Card kit from Clique Kits:

I hope you can play along - the winner gets a $20 gift card to the Clique Kits store!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist, Pink Label Sticker: Heidi Swapp; Doilies: SpiegelMom Scraps; Alphas: American Crafts; Patterned Paper, Acrylic Word, Die Cuts, Enamel Dots: My Mind's Eye

This Year's Annual Rainbow Layout

Every year I make at least one rainbow layout...and every year I really like how it turns out.  This year is no exception!  My rainbow layout this year was inspired by the Northern Lights kit from Clique Kits.  It is full of so many fun colors and patterns and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to get all those pretty colors on to one page.  And hence this year's rainbow layout:

Have you made anything rainbow-y recently?

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper; Fancy Pants Designs, Basic Grey; Alphas, Puffy Sticker, Washi Tape, Tag: Fancy Pants Designs; Die Cuts: Clique Kits

Clique Kits' NSD Celebration!

Good morning, all!  Happy (inter)National Scrapbook Day!  It's definitely one of my favorite days of the year - a whole day (usually weekend) dedicated to my favorite hobby?  Yes please!

Clique Kits has a really fun event going on for the NSD festivities.  You can find all the Scrap Your Heart Out challenges at their Facebook event here.  There are going to be a lot of great prompts to try your hand at and a lot of fabulous prizes up for grabs!

I just posted my challenge - a recipe challenge.  My recipe is pretty simple: Sparkle, Shine and Flowers:

For my 'sparkle' I used shimmer mist and sequins.  For my 'shine' I used metallic gold accents.  And for my 'flowers' I used a floral die cut.  I'm still digging the Clique Kits Spring Card Kit, which you can still pick up in the store.  There is a big sale today - 30% off everything with code NSD30.  Check it out!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps; Die cuts, Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Date Stamp: Shimelle

Beautiful Girl || Clique Kits

Good morning, everyone!  I was on the Clique Kits Blog yesterday sharing another project I made with the Northern Light kit - this time it was a layout.  I also shared a few of my favorite scrap tips - definitely nothing revolutionary, but just little things that I like to do when creating.

1.  Bold patterns scare me.  I adore them, but I never know how to use them without my page getting too busy.  I'm really a white background, white space kinda girl.  However, when I find a pattern that I adore and just *HAVE* to use, I usually cut it into a strip and use it as the anchor for my design.  In this case, I used half of the paper I loved...this helps me feel like the paper isn't overwhelming my project.

2.  Keep the rest of your design simple when using a bold pattern.  Without the bold background, my page would be pretty blah.  But paired with a simple design, the bold pattern becomes a great accent - and I actually really like how the page turned out.

3.  Use embellishments in threes to make invisible triangles all over your page. 3 tags, 3 sets of enamel dots, 3 groups of mists, 3 strips of washi...you get the idea :)

Like I said, nothing earth-shattering here, but hopefully something you may find at least a little bit helpful!  Thanks for stopping in!

Cardstock: American Crafts; Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants Designs, Basic Grey; Tags, Flair, Washi Tape, Alphas: Fancy Pants Designs; Die Cuts: Clique Kits; Mist: Heidi Swapp

March Project Life || Clique Kits

Good evening, all!  I've been having a lot of fun playing with my May Northern Lights kit from Clique Kits.  It is full of fun, bright patterns from Fancy Pants Designs and Basic Grey.  The exclusives are really great this month, too.

For my first project I decided to tackle my March Project Life spread.  I'm still keeping things simple...

Here's my left side: 

Here's my right side:

I had so much fun making the title card:

And a little peek at my Project Read status this year:

The kit's colorful elements and graphic designs made it easy for me to keep everything simple and whip this baby up in no time!

Page Protectors: Becky Higgins (Design F); Journaling Cards: Clique Kits, Studio Calico; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Fancy Pants Designs; Alphas, Puffy Stickers, Flair, Tags: Fancy Pants Designs; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Die Cuts: Clique Kits; Staples: Tim Holtz