Hi crafty friends! If you saw my post last week then you know that Hip Kit Club is offering a free sketch in the HKC Facebook Forum! This week sketch number 2 was released and I have a new layout to share based off of that sketch using the 2016 November Kits and the December Documented Kit!

I started with an American Crafts white textured cardstock included in the Cardstock Kit for my base. I then cut banners using one of the Crate Paper Snow and Cocoa pattern papers included in the Main Kit. I designed the banners in Cricut Design Space and used one of the Hip Kit Club exclusive cut files to slice out snowflakes from each banner. Speaking of cut files, did you know the HKC offers free cut files to everyone?! All you have to do is create an account on the HKC website. There is no obligation to purchase a kit….Just create an account and then click on the downloads tab. I love the little something extra that cut files bring to any papercrafting project!

Once I had the banners positioned I moved onto the layers behind my photo. I used multiple Crate Paper Snow and Cocoa pattern papers included in the Main Kit and also a dark grey American Crafts Cardstock from the Cardstock Kit. To add a little more interest and pops of color in the photo mat I added a couple of ephemera pieces from the exclusive HKC ‘Tis the Season ephemera pack from the Main Kit and ephemera pieces from the Crate Paper Snow and Cocoa ephemera pack included in the December Documented Kit.

I added a couple more clusters around the page to create a visual triangle. The cluster next to the photo consists of ephemera pieces from the Crate Paper Snow and Cocoa ephemera pack, snowflakes cut on white cardstock from an exclusive HKC cut file, and a light pink scalloped circle that was cut from one of the cardstock papers included in the 2016 October Cardstock Kit. I also added a small cluster using similar elements towards the bottom of the layout. I also pulled out my Martha Stewart Scoreboard (that I haven’t used in YEARS!) to add a little details around the border of the page.

Now moving onto my title…I used a combination of the Crate Paper Snow and Cocoa wood veneer shapes from the Main Kit and the beautiful teal and gold chipboard alphas from Pinkfresh Studio from the December Documented Kit. The wood veneer pieces were blending in with the kraft colored pattern paper so I grabbed my silver glitter embossing powder from my stash and altered the wood veneer to help it stand out from the background. Mixing gold and silver on a layout has never bothered me especially when it is a winter or Christmas themed layout. I know there are people who like to stick with one or the other on layouts but I think as long as there are equal measures of both that they balance out. So to help equalize the gold and silver I added multiple areas of stitching using gold & silver metallic thread.

This photo is so sweet and I just love these kiddos!!! This photo was taken last year at recess after I had lunch with Aidan. Aidan’s cousin is in the same grade and I just love the friendship they have with each other. I didn’t have cousins close to my age growing up so it has just been so fun watching their friendship develop. I’m so glad that they will always have a friend and always have someone to play with! And seriously, how cute are they?!?

I wanted to add a little more detail to the layout so I grabbed white embroidery floss and the fun Crate Paper Snow and Cocoa pom poms from the December Documented Kit and made a garland that runs across the page! It adds a little dimension and pops of color! I also added a few splatters of gold Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

I’ve put together a process video showing how this layout came together! It also includes a Cricut Design Space tutorial showing you how I created the banners from scratch!

Be sure to head over to the HKC Facebook Forum to check out the sketch and to see what the other Design Team & members of the forum have created! Remember you do not have to be a HKC subscriber to join us over on the Facebook Forum! It’s just a fun place to chat with other papercrafting loving people and to share your projects if you wish! Thanks for joining me today!