I’m so excited to be joining my favorite blog hop group for the Use It Or Lose It Blog Hop! You may have come from Amie Kiger’s Blog, but if you’re just starting here you can still make your way around the entire hop by clicking the link at the bottom of my post.  This month we are focusing on items that have been in our stash and putting them to good use.

I am using products from my stash, but they haven’t been in my stash very long. I decided to take a slight spin on this hop and use a photo that has been in my stash for a long time! I typically print my photos at home using my Canon Selphy Printer, but for years I ordered my prints online. So needless to say I have a large stash of photos that still need to be scrapbooked. This particular photo was taken in 2013 from a vacation we went on in Grand Haven, Michigan.

I used one of the beautiful floral watercolor patterned paper from the Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Kit for my background. I wanted to add just a little more color to the layout so I grabbed my go-to yellow No Yoking Coloringz from Shimmerz Paints. I added a yellow wash around the floral image using the packaging technique.  I did use Clear Gesso on the background before applying the yellow mist. I was a little concerned how the yellow would mesh with the floral image but it ended up being exactly what I wanted! Sometimes you just have to take a risk, but it does help that there are two of each patterned papers in this kit! HA! I’m usually a little more daring when I know I can start over!

I then backed my photo with a piece of vellum. I thought about adding a layer of white cardstock or additional patterned papers layers but I didn’t want to distract from that gorgeous flower!! I then grabbed a few acetate words from the Reflection Scrapbook Kit plus a sticker with the word ‘smile’ and positioned them next to the photo for my title. Aidan was so little here! That baby tooth smile just about melts my heart!!

I also positioned an acetate butterfly to the layout. Acetate can be tricky to adhere because the adhesive will show through, but I’ve found if I use my Xyron Sticker Maker that the adhesive is not noticeable.  I also grabbed another sticker from the sticker sheet included in the Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Kit. The yellow color on both of the stickers blended in beautifully with the yellow Shimmerz mist. For final touches I added a few more accents from the Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Kit including  wood buttons and a wood veneer origami hummingbird (or is that a crane?! either way it’s cute!). I also placed a few green enamel dots from Freckled Fawn on the layout and a few splatters of Black Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

Now you can take a look at my process!

I hope you’re finding inspiration on our Use It or Lose It Blog Hop! Now it’s time to head to Becca Whitham’s Blog! She’s sure to impress!

-Kelly