Traveler's Notebook Challenge with Patricia

Hi, Everyone!  Patricia with you to share a Traveler's Notebook Challenge using the April Life Crafted Make It a Venti and the April Scrapbooking Add-On Kit.

My challenge is to add some hand stitching to your Traveler's Notebook using the thread that comes in the April Scrapbooking Add-On Kit.  Using the pattern paper from the Add-On Kit as inspiration for my stitching, I pierced and followed the design, changing directions and the kind of stitching, but staying within the pattern paper design.  Then adhered this page into my TN album.

To finish this page, I fussy cut the butterflies from the Add-On Kit pattern paper to adhere along the edges, added my photo, and embellishments from the April Life Crafted Kit.  For my right side, I placed my photo and stamped the April This is the Life "Daily Grind" stamp set under it.  So many possibilities with this stamp set.  I used three different inks and added stars from the April Life Crafted Kit.

I used a die cut, more stamping, and the Exclusive Tiny Alphabet Stickers with Gold Foil from the Life Crafted Kit to type my journaling and add more stamping.  I replaced the word 'coffee' with that adorable coffee cup stamp.  It has three parts to it:  the cup, the liquid, and the smiley face.

Filled in the space between my photo and journaling with another Life Crafted embellishment to balance the blue on the left side.  I stayed within the pattern paper for the handstitching, and even did a couple of French Knots, but I think this would also work directly on your pages if you double-up that page with a blank one under it, so you have a new page to work with without seeing the stitching.  Add as much or as little handstitching to your next TN spread and share in the CTK Fan Page on Facebook and/or on Instagram using the tags #citrustwistkits @citrustwistkits so we can all see and leave a comment!

3 To Inspire With Theresa

Hello Lovelies, Theresa here with 3 To Inspire! I have an inspirational layout to share with you today and three simple prompts to inspire you to create! I am using the April Make It A Venti kit today along with the Traveler's Notebook stamp set. In this series we give you three recipe items, or prompts, to use in your layouts. Here are our prompts:

1. Mixed media background inspired by a patterned paper. I love creating quick mixed media backgrounds and using a patterned paper for inspiration is a great way to spark your creativity!

2. Use a cut file in an unexpected or unplanned way. For this layout I intended to use the patterned paper side of the cut file, but once I laid everything out realized I liked it better in white. I love the flexibility cut files give us!

3. Use stamps to help tell your story. I was so inspired by the sentiments of the Traveler's Notebook stamp set this month and created this entire layout just to use them! I think you will enjoy creating a layout that empowers you with these stamps!

 My layout today was inspired by the stamps and I knew I wanted to begin with a mixed media background. I have used the floral patterned paper below to inspire my colors for the background - pink and periwinkle. For my background I used India Inks and water on watercolor paper.

I fell in love with the Floral Screen cut file this month! Originally I planned to use it with the patterned paper side up, but as you can see, the white pops against the background beautifully and allows those gorgeous florals to show so well!

My basic design concept of this layout is very horizontal, with photos and journal cards going across the page. Everything else flows from this horizontal line, including the die cut, ephemera, and stamps. My favorite way to use stamps is with black ink against a mixed media background. They also serve as a home base for each embellishment cluster above and below the journal cards.

I also have an extended process video, if you'd like to see the layout come together:

Thank you so much for joining me today! I hope you are inspired to create and cannot wait to see how you are using your Make It A Venti kits this month! See you again soon!

Life Crafted with Marsha

Hey friends!  Marsha here again today, and I'm excited to be sharing a spread in my Life Crafted Album.  I used this month's Life Crafted "Make It a Venti" kit and the Life Crafted Stamp Add-on to create this layout.  I just love the colors and designs in this kit!  I also love that even though it is coffee themed, this kit can be used for lots of other types of documenting.

To begin the layout, I chose one of this month's exclusive cut files, "Retro Heart."  The best part about using this cut file is it's already sized to fit perfectly in the Life Crafted album!  I resized one of the traveler's notebook digital papers using my Silhouette Studio software.  By doing this, I was able to cut the entire file using patterned paper.   I then layered the cut file over a white cardstock base.

For my journaling, I chose one of the labels from the Make It a Venti Cut Aparts.  I layered the label over an ephemera piece from this month's kit.  The tiny tile alphabet stickers were perfect for adding the date.  To finish off this side of the layout, I added a chipboard heart sticker from last month's Life Crafted "Life Chapters" Kit.

For the other side of the layout, I printed another digital TN paper and sized it to fit in the album.  I layered a piece of white cardstock down the center of the paper, so that the heart pattern was peeking out on both sides.  Next, I trimmed a few of the kit papers to layer behind this cute photo of my niece, and used some of the ephemera pieces from this month's kit to embellish this area.  I hand cut a heart using the woodgrain paper and added it to the cluster.  Using a border punch from my stash and the pink patterned paper from the kit, I cut a scalloped border piece and tucked it behind the photo.  I saved another scalloped piece to add to the bottom of the page.  I love how this mimics the scallop from the heart cut file!

For my title, I chose the ephemera "THIS" die cut and added some of the puffy alphabet stickers from the kit.

To finish off the spread, I added some machine stitching to a few areas of the layout, and I used the Life Crafted Stamp Add-on to stamp a couple of sentiments around the page.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I can't wait to see what you create using this month's Life Crafted "Make It a Venti" kit!

Create your own caffeine-fuelled cards with Diane

Hi guys! I'm excited to share this spread with you and a couple of different ideas for stamping your own filler cards. If you're sensing a bit of a theme with Week 12, you're not wrong. This was definitely a week that was fuelled by caffeine!

I'm still dying over all the coffee themed pieces in this month's kit. My favourite is the stamp set that came with the MAKE IT A VENTI Life Crafted kit and that cute little coffee cup, which is perfect for creating your own repeat pattern filler card. Choose your colours from colours that are already in your photos, or stick to one colour for a more subtle look.

To get really crisp, sharp images on solid stamps like this, remember to prime them first with an eraser. I really love the Tombow Sand Eraser. Just a gentle rub over top before you start stamping with give you solid, clear results every time.

For best results when stamping directly on photos, it pays to print your own photos at home, using a paper designed for absorbing inks. I use Canon Photo Glossy II paper and can use nearly any type of ink perfectly every time. If you get your photos printed professionally, it might pay to experiment on a spare photo first. Otherwise, a solvent based ink such as Stazon is going to be your best bet.

I really do love how easy it is to create your own filler cards with stamps! Here's how this spread came together ...

I bet you can't wait to get your hands on this months kits so you can start creating your own caffeine themed pages!

Welcome our April Guest Designer - Missy Whidden!!

We are so delighted to share our April Guest Designer with you - the amazingly talented, Missy Whidden!  To say we are fans of Missy's gorgeous creations is an understatement and we're thrilled to be able to share on of her layouts on the blog today!

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GET TO KNOW MISSY

Hey there, friends!  I’m Missy Whidden, and I’m from sunny Central Florida, USA.  I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m married to my college sweetheart.  We’ve been married for 19 years now, and we have two beautiful daughters.  Reese is 12 and Paige is 10, and they both have nonverbal autism.  Life around our house is never boring, that’s for sure!  They are the sweetest and funniest kids, and they are very happy.  I used to teach high school English before stepping down to raise our girls.  I’m also a fitness instructor, and I’ve been teaching a variety of classes for 15 years.  When I’m not scrapping, I’m either at the gym, reading or watching Netflix.

I began scrapping back in 2006.  My mother-in-law asked me to help her put together a baby book of my husband’s baby photos.  I was hooked instantly and started scrapping all of our travel photos.  Once Reese arrived, I went crazy scrapping her baby photos.  I haven’t stopped…haha!  I love using mixed media on my layouts.  I love using watercolors, acrylics, gelatos, spray inks…you name it.  I also using cut files and pretty papers.  A few other things I love are stitching and thread.  I tend to stick with 12x12 layouts mostly, and scrapping pool and summer photos are my favorite!

Q & A WITH MISSY

When did you start scrapbooking?

I’ve always been creative, and I used to collect stickers in elementary school.  I had several sticker books, so I guess you could call that scrapbooking.  My very first scrapbook was my senior memories book in high school.  It was so thick it would barely close!  I didn’t realize at the time that it was scrapbooking.  I was just collecting memories, and I had no idea that years later it would become my passion.  I put together a few photo books of my students when I taught high school, but I didn’t get serious about scrapping photos until 2006.

What is something most people would not know about you?

Most people don’t know that I was part of a Super Bowl Half-Time Show.  Back in 2001, I was a JV Cheerleading Coach at the high school I taught at.  There was a call for groups of girls to take part in the show, so somehow our group was chosen.  The game was in Tampa that year, and the performers were NSYNC, Aerosmith, Britney Spears and a few more.  All of the groups of girls were to be the “fans” screaming and cheering for them on the field.  We all got bussed in and had to wait in the stadium tunnels until it was time to run out for the concert.  We jumped and screamed and yelled while they performed.  It was such a fun experience, but we never did see ourselves on TV…haha!

What are the 3 scrapbooking products you can’t live without?

I definitely can’t live without gesso, spray inks and thread!  It’s so hard to only pick three.  I’m a gesso addict because it makes mixed media work so much better!  Spray inks (or any kind of watercolor) are just magic as they spread, flow and blend.  And my beloved thread…ahhhh.  It makes my texture & color loving heart so happy!

What do you love about the new Life Crafted kit?

The Make it a Venti Kit is so cute and versatile.  My favorite things are those super bright patterned papers!  I knew right away I needed to create a rainbow color scheme of some sort.  I also love the tiny white foiled alpha stickers.  You can use them on any type of project!

Finish this sentence "If you could see my scrapbooking space right now . . . "

If you could see my scrapbook space right now, you would be mortified!  It stays in a constant state of chaos.  I scrap in our home’s old formal dining room, and I’m so thankful I have my own space.  However, it’s very brown…haha.  Our house was built in the 50s, and it’s wood.  I have two walls of just windows, which I love.  But the other two walls have doors.  I have pretty much maxed out the remaining space with IKEA shelves and my big desk.  I have papers and things scattered this way and that, and my desk looks like a total disaster 98% of the time.  You would definitely not be inspired by it at the moment…haha!

The only thing that is semi organized at the moment are my rolling carts full of Shimmerz Paints.  I keep them right behind my desk so when I need them I can just turn around and grab what I need.

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Here is a layout I made using mostly the April Scrapbooking Add-On Kit mostly.  

I was inspired by the Crate Paper Sunny Days Washi Tapes, so I used those and some of the patterned papers to create circles using different sized punches.  

I used some white gesso & pink spray inks on the patterned paper background first, and then I glued & machine stitched all the circles.  

I added some of the Crate Paper Ephemera as layers behind my photo and added some tangled thread.  

I mixed and matched my title using a Crate Paper word sticker & some letters I fussy cut from patterned paper.  

I tucked those letters behind the photo so they would peek out at the top.  I finished things off with a few cute Citrus Twist stamps!

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You can see more of Missy's amazing work on Instagram or her YouTube channel!

Sunday Sketch with Anna, Emma and Nathalie!

Hello friends!  On the blog today we're sharing our Sunday Sketch and have three (3) of our CT members joining in to share their take on it! :)

First up let's have a look at our sketch:

Hi CTK friends!  I love sketches, they make putting layouts together so much quicker for me, but I have to admit that I struggled with this one.  Not that I don't love the sketch (because I do, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it, ha!) but I went back and forth for ages trying to put my layout together before deciding to chop it up completely! And that's one of the great things about using a sketch - you don't have to follow it completely - you can mix it up to suit your style (or mood in my case ;) ).

My layout is set to fit in my Life Crafted album so it's roughly 5" x 8.25" - which meant the sketch was a little too wide for me to set out.  So instead of having the cut file on left and title/photo on the right of page - I just made that entire left side (where the cut file is) the base of my page and layered everything on top of that.  

I flipped the photo/title sections so they are the top/left side of my page and and instead of having layered papers underneath my photo, I went with word strips/chipboard pieces underneath to give it that layered look!

I also went with a patterned paper background, which isn't something I do often, but I adore the colours of this paper from the Life Crafted, Make It a Venti, kit that I just had to use it!  I actually created this page when I was having one of "those" days (where all.the.things just seem to go wrong, lol) so the stamps in this month Travelers Notebook stamp set were absolutely perfect in reminding myself to just keep going!   

Then I just added a border of machine stitching all the way around my page, popped the chipboard piece and a couple heart stickers (from the Add-on kit) on my page and called it done :)  The end result looks a little different than the original sketch but that's the great thing about sketches, you don't have to follow them - you can just take bits and pieces from it to inspire you in creating something all together different!

Hi dear ones! Anna here today sharing my take on this week's gorgeous Sunday Sketch.   This one is extra fun since I'm teaming up with Emma & Nathalie

Here's what I came up with using the fabulous April Life Crafted "Make it a Venti" kit.  Also I have been playing with one of the gorgeous Subscribers exclusive cut files (designed by our own super talented Nathalie).

I started up my page being a little bit messy using a few color mists with the "plastic bag technique".

That gives my page a more vivid and fun look and also make the cut file pop.  Then I cut a few of the lovely papers from the kit for my layers underneath my photo.   To get an even more layered feeling I add a few labels from the cutaparts.

I made my title using the two different alphas from the kit and to get more texture I made a few stitches using my sewing machine.  Now to to finish my page of I add a few puffy stickers and some stamping.  The stamps I used are from the Life Crafted" Make it a Venti" kit as well as the Life Crafted "Travelers Notebook" stamp set.

That's all from me.  I hope you got some inspiration here.  We can't wait to see what magic you will create using this sketch.

Anna xo

Hi there!

This week i get to team up with Anna and Emma to show you how versatile the sketch can be.   I love working with sketches as they help to start my layouts, and usually make them come together in a short amount of time.

For my take, i decided to work with this month's Scrapbook Add-on kit and a few goodies from the CTK shop.  It all started  with a bit of the new Maggie Holmes paint set that is available in the shop as a canvas for my background.   Once it dried, i followed the sketch to add the layers behind the picture of my daughter using papers and pieces of ephemera from the add-on kit.

Once i had everything down, i decided to decorate the page by fussy cutting flowers from the Sunny Days paper collection that are included in the kit, and create a cascade around the picture.   

To complete this page, i added embellishments from the kit and the Sunny Days Sticker book -also available at the CTK shop-  as well as some stamping using this month's Add-on stamp set.  

And now is your turn to use the sketch to create a project of your own!   We love seeing what you create with our kits and stamps, remember to tag us (@citrustwistkits or #citrustwistkits) when sharing your work on social media, or share your work on our Facebook Fans and Friends page.

Thank you all so much for joining us today!

Emma, Anna & Nathalie

Kit Love with Trina

Hello everyone!

I'm so excited to be sharing the first look at our April Life Crafted Kit - called Make It a Venti!  I've filmed another unboxing video and are also sharing a few of the new pages in my Life Crafted Album.

I'll be sharing more of my pages using our April Add-on Kit over the next few days - be sure to keep an eye out for those in our Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fanpage!

I hope you enjoy!

- Trina