Clique Kits & Just Nick Studio Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to my blog!  I'm so excited you're here because today is our blog hop with Just Nick!  You may have come here from Heather's blog, or you may have come here on your own.  If you came on your own, make sure you hop along to all other the other designers blogs (list at the bottom on my post).

We all had the gorgeous February Kit from Clique Kits called "Hot Mess" featuring Maggie Holmes' Shine collection, and beautiful exclusive cut files designed to match by Just Nick.  Make sure you check out the Just Nick store for modern and unique digital cut files.

Here is a look at the kit:

And here are the exclusive cut files (I used two of these for my projects).

For my first layout I used the gorgeous heart cut file, and duplicated it in Silhouette Studio it all over the page in different sizes.  I cut it in white cardstock and then went through the 12x12 papers in the kit to find a perfect background.  I choose the navy geometric paper because it made the hearts pop, and then I hand stitched all of the hearts with embroidery thread.  My page is about my oldest daughter Azaria and her love for our very elderly cat.

I decided to stitch all of the hearts in white thread, except for two, which I stitched in pink and blue for contrast and interest.  I used the "Moments" title from the chipboard sheet (an add-on to the kit), and I was so happy to get it on a page and not hoard it (you know what I mean!!).

I kept my embellishment very simple and minimal, to ensure the stitched hearts and photo were the main focus of my page.  For something a little different, I used twine to tie the tassel sticker to the wood veneer heart, and I used foam dots under the sticker for dimension.

For my second layout I challenged myself to make a boy page.  I started with the die cut phrase "follow your Heart", and choose an older Instagram photo of my son Sam when he was 5 (he's now nearly 9).  I love this photo so much because its a close up of his beautiful eyelashes.  I made a big decision on this layout to use part of the B side of the Shine cut apart, because I adore the black and white stripe.  This design style is a go-to for me, because I love featuring a favourite piece of patterned paper.  

I painted the die cut and some of the wood veneer from the kit with gold acrylic paint.  I love the contrast of the gold against the black and white stripe!

I tucked lots of ephemera under the paper, and cut a strip of the speciality acetate to provide separation between the paper and white cardstock.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my layouts.  Your next stop is Suzanna's blog.  Below is the blog hop line up.  There will be a $25.00 gift certificate to the Clique Kits Store given away to one person who comments along the way.  

Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
Heather Leopard: http://thespottedleopard.blogspot.ca/ 
Melissa Vining: http://yesterday2day4ever.blogspot.co.nz/  <<<You are here!>>>
Suzanna Lee: http://www.lifestrivialities.typepad.com/ 
Leigh Ann Odynski: http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/ 
Melissa Elsner: http://www.theprofoundbrunette.com/ 
Carolina Schulz: http://www.carolinaschulz.com/
Jaclyn Rench: http://jaclynrench.blogspot.ca/
Aliza Deutsch: http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com/ 
Diana Waite: http://wonderwoman-diana.blogspot.ca/
JustNick Blog: http://justnick.myshopify.com/blogs/justnick 

Thanks so much for looking!