Best Birthday Layout

This month The Wild Hare Kits DT at have chosen another member of the DT to scraplift - it's such a fun way to find out more about each other and learn to appreciate new styles! I lifted a lovely layout by Kelly Barron. There were a lot to choose from, as I love Kelly's style - and it seems that we share a love of stitches on our layouts!

Of course, my layout does look a little bit different. Kelly works in 12x12, while I've moved to 8.5x11. This means that I've clustered all of Kelly's elements into the centre, and I've had to add some extras at the base, and across the top, of my layout to make sure it balances well. 

I loved the Heidi Swapp Hawthorne Stamp Set that was included in my Wild Hare Kit this month - and used one of the smaller sentiments on my layout. It's semi-circular but, because it's thin, it's fairly flexible and I was able to 'straighten' it for a different look!

One of my favourite elements on the finished layout is the little row of enamel dots, mirroring Kelly's row of hearts. I normally use them in clusters (like those spread across the layout) but I think I've found a new way to add more of them to my projects!

All The Feels Layout

I *think* this may be my favourite make of 2018. When I filled out my Style Profile for this month's Wild Hare Kit, I had absolutely no idea that I would end up scrapping a wedding. It really wasn't on my radar. I had no idea what I wanted to work on, so I asked for a versatile kit - one that would work for cards, layouts and other craftiness - and that's exactly what I received. (You can see my Wild Hare Kits: September 2018 Kit Reveal on my YouTube Channel.) 

I adored all of the black and white elements in my kit; a lovely mix of cardstocks from Amy Tan's 'Shine On' collection, Project Life cards, Simple Stories washi and, of course, the beautiful (exclusive) sequin mix from Spiegelmom Scraps. 

Basing the layout on this month's sketch, I had tried several of the Project Life cards with a different photograph. But, I didn't like the colour combination and I wanted to 'lift' the layout a little. Then I found this photograph of my nephew and his lovely bride, taken at their wedding in April 2017, and I knew I was 'onto a winner'.

Once the main area of the layout was completed (it did take a little while to make sure the idea of that sequin section worked well!) I moved on to embellishment. First I added a little extra embellishment to the sequin section, with an Epoxy Badge from the Simple and Sweet collection by Pinkfresh Studios. I love the little bit of colour and how it brings out the shimmer in the sequins. I then added extra detail with a little stamp from the Heidi Swapp 'Hawthorne' set, and set it off with a few enamel dots that are also from the Simple and Sweet collection.

I added the date of the wedding, with the Hawthorne set (so, so versatile!) and then used some of the 'Shine On' cardstock to make a little bow detail above the date. At the base of the layout I added a section of washi from Simple Stories, with two score lines above for a bit of extra detail. 

I'm so thrilled with my (unintended) layout! 

You Are Wonderful Layout {Killing Kits Series}

Hello lovelies! It's Clair with the latest video in the Killing Kits Series and I'm thrilled, because in this video, I combined the leftovers from two kits to make one, fantastic layout!

Both of my Wild Hare Kits from August 2017 and September 2017 featured the Carousel Collection from Crate Paper (as well as lots of co-ordiated loveliness) but I was left with a selection of cardstock that featured bold colours, carnival/animal cut-outs and some embellishments!

I've been asked a lot, since I started the Killing Kits Series, what I do with leftover items that feature bold colours, cute animals, and otherwise 'awkward' to use bits and bobs! So, in this video, I show how I 'reduce' the awkwardness - and reduce my leftovers!

I used the Heart Board Fri-Die from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps to die-cut all of the cardstock that remained from both kits into a selection of hearts in different sizes. Then added them in 'stacks' to a white 8x5 x 11 sheet.

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I would love to hear from you!

Wild Hare Kits: Happy Together Layout

I'm back with my second take on the August 2018 Sketch from the Wild Hare Kits. It's a little less literal, but no less lovely.

Thanks to the beautiful selection from of Pinkfresh Studios stash that I received in this month's Wild Hare Kit, I've been inspired to work on some older stories - and I am so happy to have this little story documented.

Wild Hare Kits: 'This View' Layout

I want to share this 8.5 x 11 layout that I made with my Deluxe Kit for July from The Wild Hare Kits. I've been loving this size of layout recently, as it offers me a lot more room than my standard 6x8, but the proportions are similar - and a 12x12 is no for me! 

My kit was full of amazing stash - with lots of Heidi Swapp's 'Pineapple Crush', Crate Paper's 'Wild Heart' and Jen Hadfield's 'Patio Party' so I took my cue from the tropical feel of my kit and went searching for a few photographs from our 2017 visit to Madeira. I found this one, that I hadn't scrapped, from the Tropical Gardens in Monte. It was such an amazing place and I'm happy to have it on a layout!

The colours of my kit really reminded me of my time in Madeira and, I've added lots of extra leaves and 'lushness' from the Maggie Holmes' 'Flourish' die-cuts and stickers that came with my kit. To finish off, and to add a little balance, I added a little washi to the base of the layout, then scattered around some enamel dots and some of my favourite, little jewels!

Wild Hare Kits: Time To Have Fun Layout (and Sketch)

Did you know that each month there's a sketch over on The Wild Hare Kits Blog to help inspire your layouts? And did you know that sometimes our layouts inspire the sketch? 

I knew as soon as I saw the die-cuts from Crate Paper's Here & There Collection, that were included in my kit, that I wanted to create a banner effect! It's a look - and colour scheme - that's a little different for me, but I love it! 

In fact, I loved it so much that I decided to use it as the base for our sketch this month. There's a few tweeks, obviously, but the basics are there. I love how cyclical inspiration can be! There's still lots of time to order a kit this month and to join in with a layout (or card, or mini) based on the sketch!

Killing Kits: Handmade Embellishments & Quick Card

It's time for me to share the latest of the videos in the Killing Kits Series that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and I'm delving back into the leftovers of my 'Planning For Perfection' Counterfeit Kit from January 2016. 

This was such a massive kit that I had to store the leftovers in two files (!) but I've nearly finished the first file - and I've loved making new, with old! I often find it easier to work in batches, so today's video includes a set of handmade embellishments *and* a little card. Who doesn't love a two for one, eh?

Whether you are struggling to finish a current kit, or need to revisit some older stash, I hope that the Killing Kits Series inspires you to love - and use - what you have!

As always, feel free to leave comments here, on my YouTube Channel, or over in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Facebook Community. I'd love to hear from you!

Killing Kits: Clamshell Layout Process Video

Hello! I'm excited to share the latest of the videos in the Killing Kits Series that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. This time around, I'm working with the leftovers from my October 2017 Kit and December 2017 Kit from The Wild Hare Kits. I loved the October Kit so much that I asked for a similar kit in December - and, of course, that meant a fair amount of leftovers!

My inspiration for the layout was the beautiful HKC Exclusive Paper by Kimberly Hutchison, that's included in the May 2018 Kit from the Hip Kit Club - which is this month's kit to counterfeit over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

Please feel free to leave comments here, on my YouTube Channel, or over in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Facebook Community. I'd love to hear from you!

Wild Hare Kits: Remember This Always Layout & Process Video

Hello! Hello! Even if I am based in the UK (where summer is normally confined to two, mid-week, days of sunshine sometime in June) I am so excited for summer! And I have my kit from The Wild Hare Kits to thank for all of the excitement

This month I received a Deluxe Kit to work with and I could not have been more happy with the wonderful selection of neutral cardstock and fun, travel themed embellishments. I decided to start on some of my older travel stories – and I really want to focus on the actual stories – so I started with this beautiful tree, on the Etosha Salt Plains in Namibia. I like a clean look, so I chose to use the more neutral side of Paper No. 22 from the Paige Evan’s Pick Me Up Collection for Pink Paislee.

I added detail with a 6x4 Project Life Card from the kit and some of the die-cuts from Crate Paper’s Here and There Collection. Then added some washi to create a hidden section on the layout behind the central section. I’ve used some of the Palms Paper from Crate Paper’s Wild At Heart Collection to create an envelope (which I’ll stuff with notes about Namibia and some ephemera) all hidden away!

I used one of my small (like, really, teeny-tiny) dies to create some arrows, which I’ve added to the central section of the layout. I’m so happy that I was able to stitch over them without difficulty. Sometimes I hold my breath a little when I add stitches – as it’s a make or break moment!

Finally, I stitched a little at the bottom of the layout, for some extra texture and added a little sentiment from One Canoe Two’s Twilight Collection (I received that last month and it’s the only element that I’ve added from my stash all month!) and some enamel dots!

There’s a Process Video for this layout over on my YouTube Channel today, so do head on over and subscribe, if you want to see these layouts in action – and catch a little look at the hidden section!!!

Wild Hare Kits: Making Memories (and Embellishments)

Today with my take on this month's Wild Hare Kits 'Handmade Embellishment Challenge.' I love to make my own embellishments - and often use my selection of dinky, little dies to make hearts, stars and flowers. In fact, I make my own embellishments so often, that I was already halfway through this layout when I realised that it would fit this month's challenge. It still counts, right? *I won't tell, if you don't!*

I used a small die-cut to make lots and lots of little banners from the beautiful selection of papers in the Pinkfresh Studios 'Let Your Heart Decide' collection. I then shuffled them, so that there would be variety in each banner, before running them through my sewing machine.

Once I'd attached the banners to my layout, I realised that they looked nice, but a little boring. That was easily solved, by adding some more interest with the stickers from One Canoe Two's Twilight Collection. The little crosses and hearts are just lovely!

Long Live The Adventure Layout

Finally found a little time to sit down and craft with the all of the iNSD inspiration available online - and if this is all I make, well, I'll still be happy! I decided to use a bit of my 'It's The Little Things' Counterfeit Kit and combined the Scraplift Challenge from For The Love Of Pretty Paper and the current Counterfeit Kit Challenge Shapely Photos.

I loved Kerry Bruce's Layout from the For The Love Of Pretty Paper community, and made mine in 6x8, rather than 12x12. But I think it's easy to see how I've used Kerry's for inspiration. I loved the circles and the hand stitches, but I used my machine instead.

Photo wise, I decided to die-cut one of Granada into a small circle. It fits a little better into the overall layout - and, of course, fits the theme of this month's first challenge from The Counterfeit Kit Challenge

Then, I took my final little bits of inspiration from Kerry's embellishment clusters! Done!

Wild Hare Kits: Clair Scraplifts Iris ❤

Hello! Hello! Did you know that the Wild Hare Kits Design Team have been busy scraplifting each other all month? If you've not had chance to check out our work this month, now is the time! I'm over on the Wild Hare Kits Blog today, sharing my scraplift of the amazing Iris Fox.

I was so happy to hear that I would be scraplifting Iris! She has a style that, somehow, combines structure and whimsy and I knew that there would be a lot of fantastic layouts for me to choose from ❤

I knew that I needed to find a layout that I could 'transcribe' to 6x8 - which is the standard size for most of my layouts - and, in the end, I lost at least an hour or two scrolling through Iris' Instagram feed (@whimsyfox) and found one of her older layouts that called my name. (Can you spot which one it was? Head on over to the Wild Hare Kits Blog to check whether you're correct!)

First, I added a few embellishments from earlier Wild Hare Kits to the leftovers of my Petite Kit - it still amazes me how each kit co-ordinates so well with my stash - and with all of my older kits! To 'Square Off' the layout a little, I added some washi to the bottom, then concentrated on a 'Grid' for the rest of the layout.

Of course, it needed to be a little smaller than the one on Iris' layout, so each section is a little smaller than 2 x 2 in. I cut down some of the cardstock from my kit and layered them with some embellishments for a little added detail. Then I added a small 'Title' from the stack of Reset Girl Labels I received in my kit. (I love them!) The little leaves, behind the label are stolen from one of the Pinkfresh Studios Frames I received in my kit - they were just the right size and colour to add a little detail to my layout!

Finally, I added a little stitching. Iris's layout includes some hand-stitching but I love my machine - and I also wasn't sure I would be able to fit hand stitches between each element as neatly.

I'm so happy with how my scraplift turned out - and I have several more of Iris' layouts saved in my favourites, so I'm sure there will be more scraplifting of Iris in the near future!

Wild Hare Kits: Adventure Ahead Layout & Process Video

I'm back on The Wild Hare Kits Blog today with this little layout about a (fabulous) weekend I spent on the Isle of Man, with my bestie. I think it's my favourite from this month's kit! The die-cuts from 1Canoe2 are just amazing!

There's more details on The Wild Hare Kits Blog (have a little look) and I have another process video up on my YouTube Channel!

Wild Hare Kits: Hometown Layout & Process Video

I'm on The Wild Hare Kits blog today with this layout based this month's sketch by the lovely Jess. You'll find more details about the layout on the blog and - drumroll - my first process video is ready and viewable on my YouTube Channel!!!

Processing the video was at least five times more effort than the layout - so a massive shout-out to teammates Jess Claire, Kira Ness, Iris Fox and Sarah Yerke who make it look easy!

Wild Hare Kits: Madeira Layout

I'm off work for an extended weekend and it feels so lovely to be in the craftroom - and it's sunny. I've been busy with my kit from The Wild Hare Kits and I only have a little bit of it left!

I've been scrapping from a random selection of loose photographs on my desk - and decided it was about time I added more stories to my layouts, so this one includes my own handwriting!!! *shock*

Wild Hare Kits: Love This Man

This layout is one of my recent favourites (made with leftover bits from my September and October kits from The Wild Hare Kits.)

I love this man so much. He's so kind. And he never fails to make me smile. Aw. 

Wild Hare Kits: December Daily, The Reason Why

My 'The Reason Why' layout for December Daily is finished and I am so very happy with how it turned out. It features lots of lovely die-cuts from (or made with) my latest kit from The Wild Hare Kits.

I have that 'Holiday Joy' feeling every time I look at it! 🎄❤ 🎅

I'll have December Daily foundations to show soon - I seriously love scrapbooking the holidays!

Wild Hare Kits: Simplicity Itself

Before The Wild Hare Kits Design Team reveal our November kits (tomorrow!) I have one last little October layout to sneak in. Well, really, because the UK kits went missing here in UK for several weeks, I have *lots* more to share from this kit - so November will most likely be a bit of a double-act!

This little layout is simplicity itself. One 6x8 photograph, combined with washi, stickers and a little sequin! Done and dusted - and, more importantly, in the album! ❤❤❤

Wild Hare Kits: Favourite Little Layout

Hello! Hello! I'm excited to be sharing my latest layout from my October Kit. (You can see my reveal video here - Wild Hare Kits: October Kit Reveal.) This month the DT are all working with the Petite Kits, but I still seem to have a lot of new stash! It's wonderful!

This really is one of my favourite moments from the last few months and I've created this little 6x8 layout to add into my Project Life Album for 2017. We took several, increasingly, silly selfies at the Haigh Hall Foodie Friday in June. I still can't believe how daft we all are and how much we love being daft with each other - and on camera! We had a really lovely evening!

Now, whilst I have liked all of the kits that I've received from the Wild Hare Kits, I loved this one. In fact, I am still loving it and despite the fact that I still have a lot of it left, I'm already worried about what will happen when I've used it all! I really believe that, having received a few kits now, I've worked out my own style - and what I work with most - and our curators are now able to send me kits that really hit my sweet spot! 

Since I started on my kit fairly late this month (when my kit was lost somewhere in the UK!) I still have a lot to share. In the meantime, read a little bit more about how I created this layout by visiting the Wild Hare Kits Blog. The DT are over there each and every month, with more detail on all of their kits and makes. Seriously, these ladies are killing it (and I still can't believe that I am one of them!)

Wild Hare Kits: Let Your Heart Be Free Layout

Scrapbooking really became 'me' when I discovered 6x8 layouts. I adore these little canvases. I've already made six (and some other bits) with my kit from The Wild Hare Kits - and my next kit is on the way!

Yay! Love having all of these memories out and in my albums! Has anyone else been busy scrapping this weekend?