Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // altered journal for Paris plans trip

Travel Planning

May 18, 2015May 17, 20158 Comments

Welcome to another Make It Monday! Our theme this week is TRAVEL! Once upon a time, in the distant, distant past, I traveled. A lot. I was an event manager and traveled the world, although most of it was in the US. It was awesome and I definitely miss it! But it was a different time of my live {read: no kids} and as much as I enjoyed it back then, it just wouldn’t be the same now a days. As crazy as my girls can drive me, I would miss them too much! They’re still little and need me to do lots for them. I’m sure once they’re both in double digits, especially the teen years, they’ll be begging for me to have a job where I’m traveling! Ha!

As I pondered what I would share for this week’s MIM, I remembered a beautiful journal I altered as a gift for a friend! It was before our trip to Paris and I took some of my favorite stamps and created this cute look for the cover of the journal.

Using vintage inspired papers gave a great starting point to tie in the look and feel of the stamps and font used. I heat embossed the stamped image using a copper embossing powder and tied it in with an amber colored gem. Using a scalloped punch in two sizes, I created a cute title for the book, too.

This is a super quick share – just a reminder that a couple of little touches like these can completely customize a store bought item like this cute little journal. Customizing items like this is perfect for elevating those store bought goodies into one-of-a-kind gems!

Be sure to continue the Make It Monday circle and head on over to Lisa at My Kreative Pursuits. She’s about to take you on a journey in this week’s Monday Mojo post! And be sure to leave her some comment love! We really do love sharing our creations with you, and comments let us know you like what you see!

As always, thanks for stopping by my little colorful spot on the web! Have a joyful, creative, blessing filled day! Make sure not to miss any future posts by signing up for the Clicky Chick Creates email list here! You’ll get a great little freebie download as my thank you. What’s the freebie? My go-to shot list: 7-must get photos for kid birthdays!

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // #planneraddict, #plannerlove, paper, planner, organization, tips, strategies, customizing, Inkwell Press Planner, plan with me

Make It Monday // Plan with Me May

May 11, 2015May 11, 201513 Comments

Welcome to another Make It Monday! I hope you celebrated a lovely Mother’s Day this weekend with your loved ones near and far! I’m sharing a fun post with you today featuring my new Inkwell Press Planner and a video sharing how I set up my week featuring lots of stamps!

In my last Make It Monday post I shared that I was loving digging into my stash from years gone by and using stamps that hadn’t received very much (if any) love. Well, it happened again as I reached for old stamps to use in my new planner!

Have you heard of the Inkwell Press Planner (IWP)? I was torn between the IWP and the Erin Condren (ECLP) planners, and decided to make the jump with the Inkwell Press. I loved the idea of being able to break my days into segments that I needed, and the overall monthly goals page, although I haven’t set up that page yet!

I created a process video sharing how I set up my spread for the week. I ended up mostly stamping and not using very many stickers. I have quite a collection of those too, so I’ll be digging into that stash for an upcoming video. I’m sure there are some gems in there!

If you enjoy the video, let me know with a thumbs up and subscribe! I love sharing my process and hope you enjoyed it!

Thanks so much for joining the Make It Monday blog circle. Keep following the circle and head over to Jen at Jen Wright Designs! Jen is sharing a free scrapbook template to inspire you to add to your album & photobooks. She is super creative and super generous! Be sure to hop on over, check out her gorgeous goodies and leave her some comment love to let her know you stopped by!

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // One-Layer Mother's Day card, simple stamping and watercoloring

Make It Monday // One-Layer Mother’s Day Card

April 27, 2015April 27, 20159 Comments

Welcome to another Make It Monday! This month has been quite busy with photo sessions (feeling super blessed about that!), so my crafting has been on the back burner, but I’m back with a great card today! I hope you enjoy it!

Back when I dove in head first into the world of scrapbooking and card-making (I was pregnant with my now 5-almost-6 year old!), I went through a big collecting phase and bought all kinds of yummy tools. Sadly, lots of it has been waiting to be used! When I was collecting, I was waiting for the “right” project or “perfect” photos to use with it. But now, I’m loving digging into my stash and finding old pieces to use in new ways!

If you’ve seen any of my crafty videos, you know I normally add lots of layers and dimension to my cards. But making one-layer cards? Way more challenging for me! I was inspired by Kristina Werner to create a card with all the prettiness in the center of a circular area, and yes, one-layer!

I cut out a circle from a piece of scrap paper and used that to mask off a circle in the (somewhat) middle of my card (A2 – 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″). I then stamped a few of the flowers (a very old set from Recollections) onto scratch paper and created masks to work with. I then started stamping onto my card, into the inner circle, overlapping the edge of the circular mask. I then used the flower masks to make sure the big flowers were front and center on the card. I stamped all of it using Staz-On so I wouldn’t have any problems with bleeding.

Then using a combination of Distress Inks, paint brush and water, I watercolored the flowers for a sweet and easy card! Once it was dry, I added a little Wink of Stella for some extra sparkle!

Watercolor has been a HUGE inspiration to me lately! Have you noticed that?! And I’m super excited my watercolor birthday banner AND bonus Mother’s Day banner is being featured as part of the National Scrapbooking Day 2015 Bundle! I’m one of twelve designers – and I’m tickled pink to be among some of the most innovative and talented scrapbooking instructors in the industry today! We’re bringing you an amazing value – 12 digital products, valued at $180 for only $29.99. But it’s only available for a few days, so be sure to get on the list to be notified once the sale starts in less than 2 days! We know that you’ll love this inspiration-packed bundle. All classes, handouts, and videos are available immediately. How fun is that?!

Thanks so much for joining the Make It Monday blog circle. Keep following the circle and head over to Jen! You’re in for another Mother’s Day inspired post… Jen at Jen Wright Designs is sharing a free template “All About Her” to celebrate Mothers Day! Be sure to hop on over, check out her gorgeous goodies and leave her some comment love to let her know you stopped by!

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

PS. Lucky day! Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is “Anything Goes” and the Wednesday Challenge is “Clean and Simple” so I’m linking up at both spots! If you’re looking for more card inspiration, hop on over there, too!

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com //Easter shaker card, blessed Easter, DIY, video, tutorial, easy, shaker, card, Easter

Make It Monday // Easter Cards

March 23, 2015March 23, 201515 Comments

Welcome to the Make It Monday, Easter edition! I hope you’re ready to be inspired to get Easter in full swing! I know, we just got done with St. Patrick’s day last week and here we are ready to hop into Easter {see what I did there? uh-huh! 😉 } Let’s get hopping!

You won’t believe where I found the inspiration for these cards… emptied out egg shells we filled with confetti and smashed on each other when I was a kid! I’m not sure if that was a 1970’s thing or a Mexican thing, but we did it every Easter! Thinking of those Easter’s spent with my family, particularly my cousins, at a park not far from our grandparents homes, filled me with nostalgia and fun memories! The memory of the confetti filled eggs made me want to recreate a modern version in a card!

I ended up making 4 of the cards, and even share how I made them in the video below. I hope you enjoy the video and learn a few tips and tricks!

Thanks so much for joining the Make It Monday blog circle. You’re in for another treat with cards from Beth at Scrapping Wonders! Beth shares how to make fun and glittery Easter and Project Life cards, so be sure to hop on over and leave her some comment love! And if you haven’t been to her blog before, be sure you poke around at some of her app reviews, tips and tricks. She’s done some great reviews, like on the Collect App, as well as other photography and crafting apps!

And of course I must mention True Stamp, yet again! It’s just a few days away…we’ll be having the time of our lives on March 28! If you like crafting, if you like taking classes from the best teachers out there, if you like mind blowing inspiration, if you like meeting friends who have the same crafty interests, and if you like staying comfy cozy at home, then True Stamp is for you! I really can’t say enough good stuff about True Stamp. If you’re at all into stamping, even a teeny tiny bit, then you should certainly join us for this phenomenal event! This will be my 3rd year and it is so totally worth it!

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get stamping, then check out True Stamp here!

As always, thanks for stopping by. Have a joyful, creative, blessing filled day! Make sure not to miss any future posts by signing up for the Clicky Chick Creates email list here! You’ll get a great little freebie download as my thank you. What’s the freebie? My go-to shot list: 7-must get photos for kid birthdays!

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

PS. The Pinterest Inspiration challenge over at Simon Says Stamp provided great inspiration for this post, too! The chocolate confetti cake reminds me so much of those confetti eggs from my childhood!

Make It Monday // Green Watercolor Card

March 2, 2015March 4, 20158 Comments

Welcome to our Make It Monday: “Green” circle! You may have noticed some of our Monday’s have themes? Well today we’re sharing Green posts! I took it quite literal, but you’ll have to read along on the circle to see how the other creatives interpreted green! So, here we go…

It’s been a while since I made a watercolor card, so that’s exactly what I wanted to this week. I knew the colors I wanted to use and the stamps/embossing I wanted to do, too! I really do love when an idea or inspiration hits and it turns out like I was hoping it would!

The Tim Holtz Distress Inks are the easiest and most versatile way of creating gorgeous watercolor projects. Check out my YouTube videos – this one in particular walks you through the step-by-step process to make this, and I share lots of tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years! From saving money to using up all the ink on your craft mat…

Ready to continue to Make It Monday fun? How do you bring special attention to a special object of a story? Have you ever scrapped your shoes? Alice at Scrapbook Wonderland shares her lucky shoes with us! Check out Alice’s post – her creativity is splendid and she shares tips and tricks quite generously!

Need more inspiration?

Are you looking for some creative inspiration? Join me, my friend Carole from Scrapbook Campus and about a dozen other designers as we share Inspiration: A to Z – a free month long inspiration series, working through every letter of the alphabet and areas to scrapbook, make cards, projects and more! It’s free, so you’ve got nothing to lose! We just started yesterday, March 1st and it will run until March 26th, so jump in now before you miss any more of the alphabet!

Another great event to gather inspiration from is the annual True Stamp event. Whether you’re a newer stamper looking to advance your skills, a more experienced paper crafter wanting an inspiration infusion, or a stamping dabbler looking to use your supplies in new ways, you need to hear about True Stamp! My friend Lain Ehmann of True Scrap has pulled together six of the hottest stamping companies around to offer a full day of inspiration and fun… Including Lawn Fawn, Technique Tuesday, Paper Smooches, Mama Elephant, Raisin Boat, and Simon Says Stamp.

True Stamp is a one-day, online, LIVE event on March 28. All six classes will come to YOU via the magic of the Internet in a state-of-the-art web room. You’ll watch class demonstrations, chat with instructors and other students, and have the time of your stampy life – all without leaving home (or even changing out of your PJs!). I hope you’ll join me and a few hundred other of your new stamp-loving BFF’s ❤ Click Here to Sign Up!

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

P R O D U C T S U S E D / / A F F I L I A T E L I N K S

PS. I love playing along with card challenges like the Curtain Call and Simon Says Stamp! Where do you find your inspiration?

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Halloween Tags, ghostess hostess gift, bats, gate, beware, spooky, shattered, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Ranger Ink, Slice, gesso

Make It Monday // Halloween Tags {Feeling Crafty}

October 20, 2014October 20, 201425 Comments

Time for another Tag Swap with my crafty friends, and lucky for me, it fits in perfectly with our Make It Monday Fall / Halloween hop! Be sure to check out the entire hop – lots of fun projects being shared. Have you tried any previous Make It Monday projects yet? Be sure to let us know in the comments – as much as we love sharing our projects with you, we love hearing we inspired you to take action and Make It too!

Did you land at my blog from my friend Gina at Messtaken Identity? Her upcycling super powers are showing again: she’s using paper from an interstate move to make fall tags, so be sure to check out her post if you didn’t already!

Today I’m sharing Halloween Tags and not one, but TWO videos showing how I created each tag! But before we dive into those, do you remember my Halloween tags from last year?

You can check them out in more detail here if you’re looking for more tag inspiration!

For this year’s Halloween tags, I really wanted to play with the textures in the background, so gesso* was in order! {*See product links below!!} And do you remember my big tip from last week about cohesion? Be sure to think beyond what colors and patterns you are using – incorporate texture and themes in your backgrounds, to create a cohesive look for your projects!

For the first tag, I wanted to use the Dylusions Shattered stencil and thought that was a great one to create an eerie sky in the background. What do you think? Did it work?

I often get asked what I use these tags for… besides using them for decor, and in scrapbook pages, they’re awesome gift tags! I thought the “Beware” tag would be fantastic to hang from a bottle of wine as a ~~Hostess~~ Ghostess Gift!

The next tag, I was inspired to use the Dylusions Bubbles stencil, and I envisioned a witch’s brew, creating an unearthly color coming from a cauldron, and the “bubbles” coming from the pot! I ended up using the bubbles stencil on the entire tag, and created my own mask for the smoke/fumes. Check out the video for details!

Doesn’t that spider look totally creepy?! I added Stickles to give it some sparkle and life. But I think it gave it a little too much life, lol!

I added a warning label on the cauldron, and this tag could just as easily be used on a bottle of wine or any adult beverage, I thought it would be a fun Ghostess Gift with a tray of decadent desserts!

Time to hop on over to Karen at Photos Kept Alive. Karen is sharing some Hybrid Halloween Tags she made this week. It’s definitely a Halloween Tag kinda week! Totally appropriate considering Halloween is eleven days away! Are you ready for Tricks or Treats?!

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

PS. Linking up with Simon Says Stamp’ “Color Coordinates“!

P R O D U C T S U S E D (Affiliate Links)