Color me Happy - Shanel Pettyjohn - March 2026 Hip Kit
Hey there, friends! I am so excited to share this gorgeous layout from our amazing design team member, Shanel Pettyjohn. Shanel created the most bright and cheerful scrapbook page using the March 2026 Main Kit, and honestly, it is one of those layouts that just makes you smile the second you see it. She used a super clever stacked strips technique that is not only stunning but also a fantastic way to use up your paper scraps - so if you have been hoarding little leftover pieces like I do, this one is for you!
What I really love about this layout is how Shanel paired those colorful strips with scallop circles cut from the March 2026 Patterned Paper, plus she added the sweetest flower cluster and layered die cuts behind her photo for that extra dimension we all love. She even used the branding strips from the bottom of the Hip Kit Club pattern papers, which is such a smart trick because those little strips have unique designs you will not find anywhere else in the kit. Grab your scoring tool, your Sizzix die cutter, and let's walk through how Shanel put this beauty together!
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Cut and Score Your Paper Strips ▶ Watch
Start by cutting strips of patterned paper from your March 2026 Kit, each about 1 inch wide. Once your strips are cut, run them through your scoring tool along the center to give them a little dimension so they pop up off your page. This simple scoring trick adds so much texture and interest to your finished layout.
Step 2: Trim the Branding Strips ▶ Watch
Grab the branding strips from the very bottom of your Hip Kit Club pattern papers - these have unique designs that add extra variety to your layout. Using your scissors, cut a ribbon-shaped angle at the bottom of each strip. These little accent pieces mix beautifully with your other strips and give your page a fun, layered look.
Step 3: Die Cut Your Scallop Circles ▶ Watch
Set up your Sizzix die cutter with the scallop dies and choose a few different pattern papers from the March kit to cut your circles. Shanel used five circles total - one large and four small - to create a circle theme throughout the layout. Pick papers with colors that complement your strips for a cohesive look.
Step 4: Assemble the Strip Background ▶ Watch
Start laying your scored strips across the page, mixing up the patterns and colors as you go. Shanel originally tried a polka dot background paper but switched to a solid cardstock from the March kit because the scallops looked better against a simpler base. Do not be afraid to change your mind mid-project - that is the beauty of scrapbooking! Arrange your strips so the ribbon-cut ends face one direction and the square ends face the other.
Step 5: Add Your Photo and Flower Cluster ▶ Watch
Place your photo on the layout - Shanel used a 4x5 print. Then build a little flower cluster in the bottom left corner using foam adhesive to give it height and dimension off the page. Shanel also created a clever tag accent by cutting a small strip of patterned paper and threading it through the tag slit to look like a ribbon. These little details really make the layout feel finished.
Step 6: Layer Die Cuts Behind Your Photo ▶ Watch
Look through the die cuts included in your Hip Kit and find pieces that work for layering behind your photo. Shanel cut one of her die cuts in half to get the perfect size, and she saved the leftover title piece for a future layout - waste nothing! Slip the trimmed die cut behind your photo to add depth and that beautiful layered look.
Step 7: Finish with Title Letters and Stickers ▶ Watch
Complete your layout by adding your title using letter stickers. Shanel combined the glitter mini alphabet letters in green and pink from the March kit with blue letters from her February kit for a fun, colorful title. She also scattered puffy circle stickers from the March kit randomly around the page, which tied in perfectly with her scallop circle theme. Step back and admire your bright, happy layout!
About the Designer
Shanel Pettyjohn