Get ready to be inspired, friends! Our incredibly talented design team member Jana Eubank is back with a gorgeous process video using the January 2026 Hip Kits, and this one is so good you will want to pull out your kits and craft along with her. Jana documents a sweet memory of laughing and taking silly photos with her daughters during the pandemic, and she leans into the bright, cheerful energy of the Let's Get Real Collection to bring that story to life. She uses pieces from the January 2026 Main Kit, Cardstock Kit, and Pocket Life Kit, pulling together patterned papers, die cuts, journal cards, and stamps into a layout that is layered, playful, and full of heart.
What I love most about Jana's process is how she thinks through every decision, from why she chose a purple background paper to how she used black elements like butterflies, a camera die cut, and twine to zigzag your eye across the whole page. She even does a last-minute fussy cut on a puzzle ring paper from the Pocket Life Kit to create a bold rainbow statement piece at the top of the layout. Whether you are brand new to kit scrapping or just looking for fresh ideas, Jana's approach to starting a layout will give you so much confidence. Follow along below and let her walk you through every step!
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Start with Your Pattern Papers
Before gluing down a single thing, Jana recommends pulling out all your patterned papers and holding your photos up against them. You are looking for colors and patterns that complement the feeling or memory of your photos, not just the literal colors in them. For her black and white photos, she chose a purple background paper and a cream grid paper with bright florals because they matched the fun, girly energy of the memory she was documenting.
Step 2: Mat Your Photos to Make Them Pop
Once you have chosen your background papers, mat your photos to help them stand out from the busier patterned papers underneath. Jana used the bright polka dot brushstroke paper and teal cardstock from the January 2026 Cardstock Kit to mat her photos, which made them pop off the floral background in a really bold, clean way. The goal here is contrast so your photos remain the focal point even against a colorful, patterned page.
Step 3: Build Up Layers on One Side to Anchor the Page
With her basic photo structure in place, Jana started building up layers on the left-hand side of her layout using tags and label shapes from the journaling die cuts. Layering these pieces creates visual depth and gives the other embellishments something to rest against so they do not get lost in the patterned paper background. Go through your die cuts and pull out any tag or label shapes that fit the mood of your memory.
Step 4: Fussy Cut a Pocket Life Paper for a Bold Focal Piece
Jana spotted the puzzle ring paper in her January 2026 Pocket Life Kit and realized it was a smaller version of a 12x12 patterned paper - and it reminded her of a rainbow, which was the perfect symbol for a silver lining memory. She fussy cut around the circle shape and placed it at the top of the page to create a bold, colorful statement piece. This is a great reminder to look at your Pocket Life cards and papers as design elements, not just journaling spots.
Step 5: Use Journal Cards Strategically for Journaling and Balance
Jana brought in the playing card-style 3x4 journal card from the Pocket Life Kit to hold her written journaling, loving the bold black postage stamp border on it. She also tucked a soft grid card behind the fussy cut rainbow circle to soften the background and keep the busy florals from competing with her title area. Think of your journal cards as both functional and decorative tools that can do double duty on your page.
Step 6: Add Die Cuts to Create Visual Triangles
Jana pulled in several die cuts to bring energy and movement to the page, including bold black butterflies, a View Master reel, and a black and pink camera from the January 2026 Main Kit. She placed butterflies at the top left, on the right edge, and at the bottom of the stay weird oval, intentionally spacing them to form a visual triangle that pulls your eye across the layout. Look for opportunities to repeat a shape or color in at least three spots on your page to create that same sense of movement.
Step 7: Stamp Phrases Directly onto Journal Cards and Tags
Using the 6x8 stamp set from the Pocket Life Stamp Set, Jana stamped the phrases "find joy in life's messy moments" and "it's not so bad" directly onto her journal card and the tag layered beneath the globe die cut. Stamping directly onto your elements connects them to the page in a more personal, handcrafted way and gives you flexibility to add text exactly where you need it. Choose phrases that tie back to the specific memory you are telling so the words carry real meaning.
Step 8: Finish with Dimensional Details and a Little Sparkle
To wrap up the layout, Jana added an orange chipboard heart on the edge of the top speech bubble and sprinkled in a few clear gems from her personal stash. These small touches add just enough dimension and sparkle without overwhelming the page. Jana's rule of thumb here is subtle - a little shine goes a long way, and the gems help tie all the black and white elements together as your eye moves across the finished layout.
