My Creative Scrapbook

 Claire Hawkins: June 2023 Main Kit

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Hi everyone,   

Claire back with you today, and this month I am documenting my travels using the June 2023 Main Kit, which is packed full of wonderful bright, bold patterns, travel and floral pieces that will be perfect for all your summer adventures.

I love documenting my travels – It’s actually the reason I started scrapping, over 10 years ago now.

The ticket paper that came with the kit immediately caught my eye, so I wanted to make a feature of it on my layout, to document a cruise I took a few years back.

I cut a large panel, roughly 8”x8” and placed this centrally on my base of white cardstock.

Next, I wanted to create a pocket effect, so cut a long triangular shape to sit along the top, using the b side of the 3x4 paper. To add to the pocket effect, I added a row of white machine stitching along the top edge, and added foam underneath to create some extra lift.

Once this was in place, I took this fun title from the Happy Life Phrase Thickers, positioning it along the top of the panel. 

For this design, I wanted to have one large cluster along the bottom, reflective of a cruising itinerary where you stop at lots of different places, with lots of different things to see and do.

I started with my photograph and the large cruise ship from the ephemera pack.

I backed my photo in the black floral paper, and added the ship on top. A black tag behind the photo helps to ground the layout and bring together the other black elements on the page.

Next, I took a range of travel icons from the sticker sheets and ephemera packs, layering the different elements one on top of the other to give the impression of lots to see and do.

If you are going to re-create something similar, start with the largest pieces on the bottom, and fit in the smaller pieces around and on top of those, as this will be easier to manage.

I used a combination of elements, which are made with different materials and finishes, helping to add extra interest to the page.

For example, cardstock ephemera, with some chipboard pieces on top, followed by stickers. The larger pieces are stuck flat, with some of the smaller elements raised on foam to provide lots of depth and interest to this large cluster.

Once all these elements were in place and I thought the layout was finished, I realised it was very busy, very bright and looked a little too much – but I loved the design.

I decided that the patterned paper I had used with all the tickets was a little too much, and meant the cluster was getting lost.

I thought for a while about what I could do to rectify this, and decided I would add a thin layer of vellum over the patterned paper to soften the effect – it worked perfectly and gave me the effect I had been looking for.

Top tip – do not leave this til last!! It was quite tricky to get the vellum cut to size, and insert it to lie flat once all these clusters were stuck in place – but we all make mistakes and it was definitely a good learning curve for me! 😊 

Other than the issue with the vellum, this was a really quick layout to put together and I really do love how it turned out. I hope it has inspired you to create with these beautiful kits.

See you next month!

Claire xx

@Scrappysoulmate