Hip Kit Club: Creating a Double Pocket Page for Christmas

Earlier this month I told you about how I was avoiding our Covid Christmas photos from 2020 because they just didn’t seem to have the same excitement as a ‘normal’ Christmas. My solution was to create pocket pages and it has worked out great! The ADORABLE products in the November 2023 Hip Kits help to connect my random photos together and add that seasonal sparkle.

Today I’m sharing the next spread in this series … a double-pocket page. To see the process, watch the video below! Or scroll down to view the photos.

CHRISTMAS TIME

The first thing I do when I am creating a double-pocket page is to decide where my photos are going to go and what size I will be printing them. I tend to print them smaller, as opposed to placing a full-photo in a pocket, because I like to place patterned paper behind the photos. The colors and patterns of the papers are what makes my creative heart HAPPY!

I make sure to leave lots of empty spaces between the photos so that I have room for journaling and embellishing. Next, I decide what cards will go in each pocket, making sure to balance the colors and patterns throughout the double-page spread.

Embellishing is my FAVORITE! (I’m sure you have figured that out already. Ha!) I always have fun with the Hip Kit Club embellishments because there are so many textures and finishes to mix together which make it so interesting to look at.

I tend to think in ‘layers’. Stamping in different colors of ink directly on the card or layering paper are the ‘flat’ layers. Next, I add dimension with chipboard and cardstock die-cuts that are popped up with thin foam dots. The ‘top’ layers are things that are sparkly or have more dimension to them, like puffy stickers, gems, enamel dots, buttons, or trim.

I make sure to add a title card to each spread and incorporate a good balance of words and images. Cutting images using metal die-cuts adds a ‘custom’ feel to your projects. For example, the pine sprigs on this layout add so much true-to-life texture. LOVE it!

I like to treat each card as it’s own little layout. I try to make sure I include different textures on a single card.

Every photo on your pocket page spread doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, that is the beauty of pocket pages. They are a good place to add the more casual snapshots that we take on our phones that probably wouldn’t warrant a full scrapbook page, but still help to capture daily stories.

For example, my daughter’s eyes in the photo below look droopy, but it was still fun to capture my girls love for ice cream to comfort their souls during this strange and different covid Christmas, so I included it anyway.

Don’t be afraid to just have fun decorating cards to fill the spots. On this page, I decorated three of the 3×4 cards with large die-cuts and stickers. They make your spread more decorative and give a place for the viewer’s eye to rest.

I get asked a lot how I print on my journal cards. There are many people who run their cards directly through their printers by attaching them to type paper. I don’t do that. It stressed me out to much! *giggle* I simply print my journaling on thin vellum, then adhere the vellum directly to the card. Once the card is inside the pocket page, you barely notice the additional layer of vellum. It blends right in!

Journal pocket cards don’t have to be just for journaling. I used a 3×4 card here to anchor my fireplace sticker. (it almost looks like the floor and trim to the room, don’t you think?) I also used a 4×6 ‘week-at-a-glance’ journal card as the background for a photo. Check it out below!

Another way to add texture to a layout or pocket card, is by using paperclips or staples. Here you can see I used mini staples in several spots to accent different areas. The silver color of the staples ties in with the silver foil puffy stickers.

The Pocket Life kit includes a variety of card sizes; 3×4, 4×6, 3×6, and 3×8. I cut some of the longer cards down to the 3×4 size. I also created my own cards with the 6×8 papers from the Pocket Life Kit, or the 12×12 papers from the Cardstock Kit and Main Kit.

Here is one more look at each page of my double-page spread. I LOVE the way it turned out!

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my take on pocket page layouts this month! Pick up the ADORABLE November 2023 Hip Kits at the links listed below.

Thanks for coming by!

NOVEMBER 2023 HIP KITS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

• November Pocket Life Kit (6×8 Paper, Pocket Cards, Stamps, Die-Cuts)
• November Main Kit (Patterned Paper, Cardstock Die-Cuts, Layered Dimensional Embellishments, Puffy Phrases)
• November Cardstock Kit (Holly Bush, Evergreen, Craft, Sparkle Blue)
• November Embellishment Kit (Sticker Book, Chipboard Die-Cuts, Chipboard Button Stickers – Stars, Puffy Shape Stickers)
• November Color Kit (Skylight Ink Pad, Do-Si-Do Ink Pad)
• November Die – Spruce & Holly Die Set

Hip Kit Club: Creating with the November Cut Files

Hello! Cut files are a great way to get your creative juices flowing. There are so many types and styles of cut files, there truly is something for everyone! I tend to lean towards titles and simple cut files that allow me the freedom to add my own spin to them, including spaces for lots of embellishing (my favorite part of the creative process!).

Today I am using the simple Pine Wreath cut file and Make It Merry Title cut file from Hip Kit Club along with the November Hip Kits. If you are a subscriber to the Hip Kit Club, all of the cut files released each month are FREE! But they are also available to purchase separately, if you’d like. Check out my page below!

MAKE IT MERRY

I began by cutting the Pine Wreath cut file from white textured cardstock from my stash. (I didn’t want to chance messing up any of my FAVORITE Hip Kit Club cardstocks, if the cut file went awry! LOL!)

I sprinkled the white cardstock wreath with the Ruby Spritz (November Color Kit) then used a blending brush to add Skylight Ink (November Color Kit) to the edges. I adhered the completed wreath to the center of the Craft Texture cardstock (November Cardstock Kit).

I also cut the Make It Merry Title cut file from the same white textured cardstock and used whatever Skylight ink that was left on my brush to add soft shading to the edges. I followed that up with some Dark Grey inking to define the edges a little more.

I backed each of the letters using the solid colors printed on a 3″ x 8″ color blocked journal card from the November Pocket Life Kit. I also added in some blue patterned paper from the November Main Kit.

I added the title to the page using thin foam dots, then decorated it with ornament and floral stickers from the Sticker Book (November Embellishment Kit).

My photos are matted with the Candy Cane Red cardstock (November Cardstock Kit) and placed below the title at the bottom of the pine wreath cut file. I accented the bottom-right corner of the second photo using a Layered Dimensional Sticker from the Main Kit. The date was stamped using the Date Stamp from the January Pocket Life Kit.

Finally, I decorated the wreath cut file with the mint, green, red, and blue Chipboard Button Stickers from the Embellishment Kit. I pierced holes in each of the buttons and added thin crochet twine to each one. Aren’t they festive?!

This page was so much fun to make and will coordinate perfectly with the Pocket Pages I have made with the November Kits this month. In fact, I’ll be back next week to share a double-page pocket layout using the November Hip Kits. I hope to see you then!

NOVEMBER 2023 HIP KITS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

• November Main Kit (Patterned Paper, Layered Dimensional Sticker)
• November Cardstock Kit (Craft Texture, Candy Cane Red)
• November Embellishment Kit (Sticker Book, Chipboard Button Stickers)
• November Pocket Life Kit (Pocket Cards)
• November Color Kit (Skylight Ink Pad, Ruby Spritz Spray Ink)
• November Cut Files (Pine Wreath, Make It Merry)
• January Pocket Life Kit (Date Stamp)

Hip Kit Club: Documenting Our Covid Christmas with a Pocket Page

Hello, friends! I’ve been putting off scrapbooking our holiday photos from the year 2020 because, let’s face it, during the pandemic Christmas was a little ho-hum. We didn’t participate in the normal activities, and the world seemed to have lost it’s sparkle. My photos ended up being a collection of random snapshots that I took here-and-there throughout the month and I wasn’t sure how to scrapbook them.

After thinking about it for awhile, I decided to create pocket pages. Today I am here to share with you my first one using the BEAUTIFUL November 2023 Hip Kits. Even though that Christmas was a little drab, you wouldn’t know it because the gorgeous Hip Kits products added a touch of magic and I actually had FUN scrapbooking them. Check it out!

FALALA POCKET PAGE

I used the Pocket Cards, 6×8 Papers, and Craft cardstock (Cardstock Kit) for the base of each section, but the BEST part is pulling from all of the November kits to decorate and embellish the cards!

I created a title cards for the top left pocket of the pocket page. I accented the chipboard FALALA title (Embellishment Kit) with ornament & flower stickers from the Sticker Book (Embellishment Kit). I added a bit of silver/white Baker’s Twine (Main Kit) to the top of one of the ornaments for a soft texture.

I stamped a title onto the pink journal card using the November 2023 Pocket Life Stamps. I printed my journaling onto vellum, then, adhered the vellum to the card. — I couldn’t resist highlighting the photo of my cat curled up for a nap in a shipping box. I framed the photo with a chipboard frame (Embellishment Kit), then accented it with Sticker Florals (Embellishment Kit), Chipboard Star (Embellishment Kit), and silver foil puffy dots (Main Kit).

My daughter’s choir didn’t get many chances to perform this holiday, but the ones they did were outdoors. They sang with their masks on, but I made them take them off for these photos. I’m so glad I did! I remember how awkward they felt, but their smiles were a sight for sore eyes!

I highlighted these photos on these cards with more die-cuts, chipboard accents, shiny silver puffy dots, and even a few pine sprigs that I cut from the Evergreen cardstock using the Spruce & Holly Die Set.

Using the colored inks from the Color Kit along with the Pocket Life Stamps made accenting these pocket cards so much FUN!

If you are like me and have been hesitating to scrapbook your Covid Christmas photos from 2020 because they don’t feel as ‘special’ as a normal Christmas, try creating a pocket page. It was the perfect solution for me and the beautiful November 2023 Hip Kits actually made it a joyful process.

I will be sharing more of my Covid Christmas Pocket Pages later on this month, so keep an eye out for them. In the meantime, here’s wishing you a crafty (and Covid-free) Christmas!

NOVEMBER 2023 HIP KITS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

• November Pocket Life Kit (6×8 Paper, Pocket Cards, Stamps, Die-Cuts)
• November Main Kit (Cardstock Die-Cuts, Puffy Alphas, Trim, Puffy Phrases)
• November Cardstock Kit (Holly Bush, Fuzzy Pink, Evergreen, Craft)
• November Embellishment Kit (Sticker Book, Chipboard Die-Cuts, Chipboard Button Stickers – Stars)
• November Color Kit (Skylight Ink Pad, Do-Si-Do Ink Pad)
• November Die – Spruce & Holly Die Set

Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine: 12 Days of Holiday Giving with Simple Stories

Be sure to pop by the Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine blog this week as we continue to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas! Today I’m sharing a layout featuring the beautiful Simple Stories ‘The Holiday Life’ collection. The traditional color palette of red and green in this collection, underscored with black and soft cream, will compliment your holiday photos perfectly this season!

OH WHAT FUN

I began this layout by stitching various 11″ wide strips of patterned paper in a block to a base of Color Vibe Avocado cardstock. These patterns looks so cute together and add a homespun, cozy Christmas vibe to this layout.

Next, I created a cascade of snowflakes floating down the left side of my layout using two die sets from Scrapbook.com, Nested Circles and Snowflakes. The snowflakes were die-cut from Color Vibe Warm White cardstock and the circles were die-cut from the dotted side of the Color Vibe Brick cardstock. Each snowflake circle is accented in the center with a shiny Simple Stories Decorative Brad.

I also accented each snowflake circle with floral stickers and die-cuts for added holiday flair! The cluster of Journal Bits in the top-left corner of the photo call your attention to the journaling.

I love to look for larger scale pieces that I can fussy-cut from the Simple Stories Element papers or 6×8 paper pad to decorate my pages. This time, I found large tile letters in the 6×8 Paper Pad that I used for my title. I tucked in more stickers and die-cuts around the letters to tie the title in with the rest of the elements on the page.

The Journal Bits include so many fun shapes and word die-cuts that are perfect for accenting your layouts. I found two tiny tags that I layered together, then tied to the bottom of the photo using white twine.

Scrapbooking with the Simple Stories ‘The Holiday Life’ collection definitely put me in the mood for the Christmas season. I’m ready to deck the halls! How about you?!

Thanks for coming by today, see you again soon!

SUPPLIES USED IN THIS PROJECT: