Techniques – Gia Aloha

Holiday Blog Hop: Clique Kits & Bad Girls Couture

Hi Everyone and welcome to our Clique Kits X Bad Girls Couture Holiday Blog Hop! You will definitely be inspired with the vast array of holiday projects that we have created…there is something for everyone. Grab your favorite cuppa, join the CLIQUE, and get ready to be a BAD GIRL maker as we take you on an AMAZING creative journey!

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIZES!!!

We have lots of store Gift Certificates to the Clique & Bad Girls Couture Shops…this way you can shop to your heart’s content and treat yourself for Christmas! Make sure you enter by following @cliquekits & @badgirlscouture2007 and tagging a friend on Instagram!

To get extra entries sign up for our newsletters @ www.badgirlscouture.com & www.cliquekits.com

Blog Hop Participants:

www.badgirlscouture.com/blog

https://funkyfreshcool.blogspot.com

www.datatar.blogspot.com

https://scrappydonna.blogspot.com

http://nicolekerrink.blogspot.com

https://lovingoutloudart.wordpress.com

https://nicolemartel.blogspot.com

www.giaaloha.com

http://cliquekitsblog.weebly.com

Here is my first project! I created an altered wood slice as a holiday decoration!

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I made a 2 minute preview video to show you some of the Clique Kits Vintage Lovers Christmas kit that I used for both of my projects as well as the Bad Girls Couture products and other things in my stash. You can find the video preview on the Clique Kits You Tube Channel here. Here is a close up!

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I used Haute Mess products including some Matte Gel Medium, Molding Paste, and Acrylic Paint in Torrid.

I also used a Joy acrylic piece by Bella Blvd. from the Clique Kits shop as my title piece. I loved how the translucency of the red acrylic piece and the resin snowflake I made with 2 part resin, a Wilton silicone candy mold, and the glass glitter in the kit complemented each other and also let light through to add more depth. (see more in the video)

Everything else you see here came from the Vintage Lovers Christmas Kit including the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Christmas paper collection, the fabric scraps, and the flowers.

For my second project I am sharing some work I have started on making my Bad Girls Couture Art Journal ( which is available in a bundle with media and paint as a starter kit in the Clique Kits shop while supplies last) into a nostalgic holiday memory album. The idea is to create a foundation to go back in during the month of December and add photos and journaling to remember the holiday season this year. The Cobblestone Lane art Journal will always be stocked and fully customizable on the Bad Girls Couture website! So many great options! While you are checking out the Bad Girls website you will definitely fall in love with all of the colors of paints!

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Here is my simple but glam cover! It has been painted white like snow and I gave an old broken Christmas ornament a new life as my cover bling. I love upcycling and making something out of something else in my artwork whether it is something sentimental to me or a found object or thrift shop find!

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The inside cover of my journal started out with a fabric pocket and in order to alter it to match my Christmas theme I simply covered over the old fabric with a red and white striped fabric scrap.( I found these rolls of self adhesive fabrics in a Japanese store in Honolulu called Daiso which is like a dollar store and they come in handy when sewing is inconvenient!) . I tucked a vintage postcard and a tea bag I made with plain, empty tea bags, stamps and ink, and paper stars from the kit stapled on with a Tim Holtz tiny attacher. The tea bags came from the Vintage Vibe ephemera pack in the Clique Kits shop. The first page in my book is made with the limited edition Kraft Booklet page from Bad Girls Couture.

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In this spread you will see repetition of a theme of kraft with the haute mess fast drying matte finish paints and some molding medium which was spread over a snowflake stencil. There are numbered Advent tags in the kit which I plan to tuck in throughout the book to loosely keep track of the festivities throughout the month leading up to the 25th. I joined the next two pages together to create 2 additional pockets for some tags. I had fun again applying paint and some bits of old book pages in the Vintage vibe ephemera pack.

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The last page I am showing today is set up for me to document my youngest baby’s list for Santa this year. It came together fast with a piece of the Altenew Gradient Lines washi tape in the Clique Kits shop. White gesso is a perfect medium to use to prep a surface for journaling later on!

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Once again, everything needed for this project can be found here or go ahead and start exploring the customization possibilities at Bad Girls Couture! Now it’s time to head over to the Clique Kits Blog for the end of the hop and wrap up post!

-xGia

Multi-Photo Layout using Farmhouse

Today I am sharing a layout using my September Clique Kits Farmhouse kit (Main Kit). I have found that there are two main ways to incorporate a large number of photos on a single page layout. The first way is to create a grid design with photos of a uniform size. The second way is to use a cut file where the design includes frames suitable for multiple photos. For this layout, I obviously chose the latter technique.

I customized this cut file by duplicating it and then making the duplicate a mirror image just below it on the 12 x 12 cutting space.

This file had an additional layer which I cut from a different contrasting color pattern paper. It was interesting to use a vector file that was designed to use in laser cutting wood- for my purpose it worked well for paper too!

First I created a simple background with just a little bit of the black and white papers in the kit keeping it simple stitching triangular shaped borders at the top and bottom of the page. Then I used some gesso and acrylic paint to create a distressed painted background. I wanted to tie together the blue-grey siding on my parent’s house which shows in most of the photos because they were taken on the front porch.

I printed all of my photos on one page by creating a collage of different sized and shaped photos to be cropped as closely as possible to the dimensions in the frame. They did not need to be exact because I was able to trim them when backing the cut file to just the right size.

I loved the black word/phrase stickers in the kit because they allowed me to use them for journaling without distracting from a layout where there is already quite a bit going on. This family reunion was the first time in years that my siblings and I were all together with our children and my parents had almost all of their grandchildren in the house at the same time! Actually, 3 out of 17 were missing, which is pretty amazing considering we live all around the world and came together for just 1 week around my father’s birthday. I will probably make a mini album using all of the candid photos from the reunion but wanted to include a 12 x 12 layout with these special “posed” pictures to document all of the cousins together at this once in a lifetime event.

I feel like the September Farmhouse kit was perfect for this layout because it is totally a kit that is all about family and home and simple pleasures of loved ones gathering together. If you are not a Clique Kits subscriber you can pick up one of the Farmhouse kits a la carte but in order to ensure you get a kit every month the best way is to become a subscriber!

-xGia

DIY Watercolor Embellishments with The Ink Road Stamps

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Hi guys. Today I am sharing another traveler’s notebook spread using my Clique Kits Riga Traveler’s Notebook and Main kits and a little bit of my process using a new stamp set from The Ink Road to create some watercolored embellishments. I actually did this because I had mixed some watercolors to use on a scrapbooking layout which I shared here and had leftover paint, which of course must never go to waste.

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I started with a blank sheet of hot press watercolor paper. Some people ask what the difference is between cold press and hot press watercolor paper and it has to do with the process of how it is made, and the outcome in terms of the texture or “tooth” of the paper. Cold press watercolor paper is the most commonly used and has a bumpy texture. This paper tolerates lots of water as is needed for doing washes. Hot press, on the other hand, is a nice, plump, thick absorbent paper that is smooth and therefore is very practical for drawing or stamping in combination with watercolor paint, mists, inks, or other wet media. 133755_x

So there you have it-if you enjoy using mixed media on your layouts or in your journals, I highly recommend keeping some hot press watercolor paper in your stash. My favorite is Fluid: an economical brand that is not as expensive as a brand like Arches but for my purpose is high quality enough. It also comes in square as well as rectangular shaped pads! So you can buy 12 x 12 for layout backgrounds, and you can also buy 8×8 which you can turn into traveler’s notebook pages, and even 6×6 pads.

Another important pearl of wisdom for combining stamping with watercoloring is that you have to remember to use permanent, waterproof ink such as Ranger Archival ink. If you use regular water base dye ink your stamped design will certainly smear when you add any water media.

Once I added fun color to my stamped phrases and designs I fussy cut them with a small scissors. I also used a scrap of the painted black stripe paper that I had used in the previous layout, again waste not want not.

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Finally, I wanted to use a couple of houseplant embellishments from my Riga kits because they were gold foiled and added a little pizzaz to an otherwise very simple layout.

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Thanks for stopping by today I hope you will come back soon or better yet follow me.

-xGia

Using Tim Holtz Dies on a Layout

Have you noticed that even with the popularity of electronic/digital die cutting machines and software like Silhouette there are still so many gorgeous dies being created by more and more new companies? Even the oldest company that I am aware of making dies- Sizzix- continues to evolve with the trends producing more interesting dies all the time. I used to think that dies were something used more by card makers than scrapbookers only because the scale of dies is smaller.

For this layout about our outing to a beautiful lavender farm on Maui I picked out this Tim Holtz wildflower die set. When I went to look for a link for you I realized it was on sale on Amazon for only $11.99.

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Another tidbit about this layout…I had already pretty much killed my March kit from Clique Kits but decided to use the Traveler’s Notebook kit to create this layout. While the papers are from the same collection, I used the 6×6 pad and things like washi tape and rub ons from the TN kit on this layout. The versatility of both kits is something I truly love!

-Gia

Using a cut file to frame a photo

In this layout I used one of the add on cut files I designed for the Clique Kits March 2018 kits. The CK Malama kits feature the Paige Evans Pick Me Up collection for Pink Paislee and the color palette in this collection reminded me of the colorful scenery in Thailand when I took my trip there in 2016. If you missed it, I shared this layout also about my trip to Phuket, Thailand.

I separated the inner and outer circles after cutting the file so that I could use the large one to frame my photo of the view of the countryside and ocean on the Phuket coast, which was an enlargement. I challenged myself to do some hand stitching using the embroidery thread that came in the main kit. As it turns out, I am not good at stitching. But I do like the texture it added to the layout even though it was pretty crappy looking embroidery.

I found this Kesi-Art stamp in the Clique Kits shop and it is going to show up a lot on my travel layouts! You can download this cut file right here! Use my coupon code to save 10% GIA10.

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Mixed Media Monday: Monochromatic

Happy Monday! Tonight I am heading to Salt Lake City for the Sierra Pacific Mixed Media show excited to scope out new products for Clique Kits. I thought it would be apropos to share a mixed media layout today!

A quick and easy way to get appealing results from a composition is to use a monochromatic or analogous color palette. This layout combines yellow and green gelatos from the Clique Kits Mixed Media shop colored on and then stroked with a wet brush, together with some great stamps from Precious Remembrance layered on with Altenew Crisp black ink. I know that this stamp set is currently out of stock but is hopefully going to be back in stock along with other great stamps soon!

I dripped some Prima watercolors in blue and green as an accent to tie in the “Fierce” design on my daughter’s shirt in the photo.

Here is a listing of the rest of the supplies used on this layout!

Rubber embellishments and paper layers from Clique Kits July Kit Raskog and add on item papers from Pretty Little Studio and Elle’s Studio.
Clique Kits Clique Cards Spring 2016– pineapple die cut from the kit
Pineapple Washi tape and green embellishment grab bag from my Etsy shop Gia Aloha
This awesome Happy Art Stamp Set

Precious Remembrance stamps seem to fly off the shelves as soon as we get them in, so please check the website often for new releases and make sure you follow Clique Kits and all of our associated blogs! Don’t forget the amazing Design Team!

You can find more colors of upcycled embellishment grab bags pre-organized by color to make your scrapbooking layouts easier in my Etsy shop.

See you soon!

-xxGia

Tuesday’s Topic: Marbled Hearts

If you are a follower of Giaaloha on instagram you may have seen this pic recently! If not, please follow my Instagram feed!

This technique uses nail polish and shaving cream!

Spread some shaving cream in a container

Drip some nail polish on top. I also spritzed some gold lame mist.

Then use a toothpick to make a design

Gently lay each heart down on the surface and lift it straight up.

Once the foam settles and the air bubbles pop

Wipe the surface with a smooth cloth

such as a piece of clean cloth used to clean electronic screens or eye glasses

If you do not have these, a scrap of any soft rag such as flannel or old t-shirt will work.

Each one has it’s own final appearance.

It takes a little experimentation to get different effects.

If you don’t have the time or or the desire to get messy, you can buy some of these handmade embellishments already made for you in the Clique Kits school store. April is our anniversary month and one of our goals for this year is to educate and share even more with our followers and community about our values and our goals of carrying MORE handmade, sourced from small business, Girl boss owned, and fair traded and eco-conscious companies! If you happen to be a DIYer or the owner of such a company and would like to contact us about your products, please feel free to email me at gia@cliquekits.com.

-xoGia

Sunday Funday

Aloha! I hope you are enjoying your Sunday and maybe even spending some time creating today! Today I challenged myself against every fiber of my colorful being to do a very simple and clean monochromatic Valentine layout using my February Clique Kit Hot Mess. This layout features a photo I just love of my oldest son with his girlfriend being playful. I am really excited to watch him graduate from law school this May.

I am usually a very colorful scrapbooker, but sometimes the impact of black & white is irresistable, even when it requires a lot of restraint to execute! This kit is full of bright colors, and the elements all coordinate making it easy to create with. I had fun playing with this challenge today! What kinds of layouts are most challenging for you? I love to read your comments!

-xo Gia

Clique Kits August Pep Rally: Featuring Ambrosia

Hi friends! I am very excited to particpate in this month’s Pep Rally! This month’s Clique kit Ambrosia featured the Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss collection and so much more! This kit was so inspiring to me to get started creating again and I have been working on this mini-album documenting my recent long weekend in Kauai. You should have come from the Clique Kits Blog. Here is the full line-up:

Clique Kits

Here—>Gia
Erica <—Next
Sophie*
Sandy G.*
Megan
Emma Prescott
Mariah
Cassandra*
Donna*
Aliza*
Kim Allen
Tyra
Karrie
Evi Ortes
Hannah

So I have written a lot so far about this mini album and today’s post for the Pep Rally will be a continuation of the series. Since this is a brand new blog it isn’t too hard to find the last two posts if you are interested 🙂

For today’s post, I decided to show you a watercolor technique to make a multicolored or ombre colored pineapple with a diamond cross hatch pattern much like the pineapple design in the Pink Paislee collection. I used this technique to create a personalized layout in my mini album featuring a photo of my son Jesse.

Here we go!

And now let’s head over to see what great project Erica has today!

Documenting Snorkeling Na Pali Coast

The beautiful Na Pali Coastline of Kauai is one of the most amazing pristine places to snorkel and observe the gorgeous tropical fish and other sea life along a living reef. It is only accessible by boat or by air. We were lucky enough to take a cruise on a 65 foot catamaran called the Blue Dolphin II. I wanted to create a special interactive layout that my son would appreciate when he looks at this album and remembers our snorkeling experience in Kauai.

I started with a package of tropical fish embellishments from Little B. I felt like these stickers were exactly the fish we saw underwater! Perfect! In order to create the transparent watery effect I was looking for, I left them attached to the clear plastic backing in the packaging. I cut them apart in random shapes and dipped the plastic in some paint from Jillibean Soup that came with my Clique into Color kit.

Once I had the fish inside the pocket I used my fingers to smoosh the paint around a little until I was happy with the appearance. You do have to be careful not to use too much paint or it will ooze all over the front of the fish.I used some sequins and enamel dots for finishing touches.

And here is how I made the adjacent page