Sunday Sketch with Chantal

This week, our layout sketch is a 12x12 layout with pretty patterns, pops of colour and loads of layers. Fellow creative team member Anna Uhras, is joining me this week and sharing her take on our scrapbook sketch.

For my project, I converted the original sketch to a 8.5 x 11 and stuck to a fairly neutral colour palette using five different patterned papers & the vintage music book page, from the Main Scrapbook kit.

I first used the word "loving" from the Main Scrapbook kit stamp set, to make a pattern at the bottom of my page and once everything was dry, I proceeded to glue on all of my layers including my photo.

For some colour, I choose a Maggie Holmes navy ephemera bit, added some text and used the exclusive stamp set to stamp a grey circle onto the polka dotted piece. I then glued on a gold sticker from the Flourish sticker set, finished it off with a Thicker and glued it onto my page. 

The title and flag (at the top of my page) were created in Photoshop and cut with my Silhouette Cameo. Next, I added a little paint splatter and some buttons and the flag + title pieces were finally sewed down to my project. As a last minute add on, one of the heart paper clips was slipped onto the ephemera piece as well...it was too cute not to include!

Sketches are a Godsend when you have no idea what to do and they are an excellent starting point for any project (layout, project life spread, mini album or card). Creating a sketch in Photoshop has always been my starting point, when putting together a layout. It saves me heaps of time!

And here is Anna's take on our Scrapbook sketch;

I'm so happy to pair up with the super talented and lovely Chantal today, with this edition of CTK Sunday Sketch. My interpretation is pretty close to the original design though, with a little twist.

I've used the Main Scrapbook kit, Embellishment kit and The February Pattern Paper Play to create this page. I'm totally IN LOVE with the Maggie Holmes Flourish Poppy patterned paper! Just saying...

Now it's your turn! To play along with this weeks sketch and be eligible to win a $5 gift certificate to the Citrus Twist Kits store, create a project inspired by this week's sketch and upload it to the CTK gallery with today's date (02/25) in the title.

Happy creating!!!

3-to-Inspire with Anna

Hello lovelies! Anna with you today for this week's 3-to-Inspire. I've been playing with the fantastic February Cedar Grove Main Scrapbook kit, Embellishment kit and the lovely Patterned Paper Play kit.

Let's have a look at my three prompts for this week:

1: Use two, or more, ephemera pieces
2: Use a digital cut file ( or a diecut by your i.e  Big Shot/Cuttlebug)
3: Use your CTK stamps

And here's the page I came up with!

I did some serious smooshing here using a Distress Ink pad, Faded Jeans, with a plastic bag and some water. Also I've done some black ink splatters and stamping, using the CTK stamps. On top over the smooshing I've mounted one of this months free CTK digital files, designed by talented Nathalie.

I spliced it in two and used both the pieces as you can see :)

Actually I'm not a "blue person" but I must say I really, really like this denim blue color , YUM!

Love this pic of my dear friend Christel <3

Now it's your turn! Use the three promts to create your own projects and share them whit us here in the gallery and/or at our Facebook Forum. I can't wait to see your take on this challenge!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs Anna xo

Product Highlight: Playing with Crochet Thread

If you have received your kit and need inspiration as to how to use the crochet floss, this is the post for you! Crochet thread can be used to anchor buttons and charms, tie ribbon onto tags, binding albums, and my favorite technique is to stitch on the layout. Myself, Kira and Nathalie will be sharing our projects today and hope to inspire you to use the crochet thread.

On this layout I used a stencil to draw out a leaf. I then cut the leaf out, traced around the edges of the leaves, poked holes in the cardstock, and then did a simple backstitch. This method is easy and the only supplies needed are a needle with an eye opening large enough for your thread.

Hey everyone, Kira here to share another way to use the thread included in your kit.  If you are familiar with my scrapbook style, you'll know that I loooooove stitching on my layouts.  But I knew Kelly does too!  So I decided to stretch my creativity a little with this project and think of a way to use it in a non-hand stitching way.  

 

Enter the mini album!  I have been on a bit of a mini album kick at the moment (I think I've made 4 this month so far!).  But I have never attempted a coptic binding style mini and I thought this thread presented the perfect opportunity to do that.  I started with two 4"x5" pieces of chipboard from my stash (it is relatively cheap on Amazon, or you could even re-purpose the packaging from a 12x12 paper pad!).  I covered the front/back of the chipboard with the "Passion" paper from the main kit.  And covered the insides with the B side of the same paper.  

Then I created my "signatures" (apparently that's what the inserts in a coptic book are called...who knew? This is my first time making one.  Lol.) with plain, white printer paper and covered them with the 6x8 paper included in the Pocket Life kit.

  

I stitched everything up according to this tutorial.  And I added some of the Good Vibes charms that were included in the main kit, along the spine.  I plan on decorating the inside with my Citrus Twist kit, so stay tuned for progress on this later!

xo, Kira

Hi there!  When Trina mentioned to us that there will be crochet thread in the kit, I did a small happy dance.  I have crocheted my whole life, it is one of my favorite things to do, and i was itching to add it to one of my pages.  

I used the crochet thread to create a textured edge to one of the ephemera tags from the Flourish collection included in this kit ( i would crocheted the entire page, but there was not enough thread in my kit!)

I kept the page fairly masculine, and included small accents of mint/teal so that the texture in the tag will show  as you look at the page.  I just love all the small sentiments in the stamp , they are perfect to personalize the page.

I hope you are all inspired to use the crochet thread included in the Cedar Grove Main Scrapbook Kit.  It can easily be used to stitch on your pages, bind your mini books, tie your small pieces and tags, add texture to the page, or simply as decoration on the pages.  It is all up to you!

We cannot wait to see what you are inspired to create with it!!!

XOXO

Nathalie

Let's Get Digital with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie back with you all, bringing you a bit of inspiration using one of this month's digital cut files.   You can find all the digital files in the CTK Fans Page on Facebook.

The wreath file was inspired by the Flourish collection floral motifs include in this month's Cedar Grove kits.  The small branches in the wreaths are delicatee and soft, and can form the perfect background for all the florals in the collection.

If you have seen my work before, then you know, I love wreaths, but this time i used a combination of them to creaete a vertical design for my page.  To emphasize the softness of the wreath, a piece of the Always paper from Flourish collection, and stitch it to a piece of white cardstock.

Once the three small wreaths were glued to the page.  I added the picture of my baby girl inside the middle wreath.  To keep the romantic look of  the page, i layered a piece of the music sheet to the picture, and fussy cut ( my favorite floral) from the 6x8 paper from the Flourish collection included in the PL kit. to create the clusters around the picture.

A few lines of ephemera, and little sentiments from the stamp sets complete this page.  I just love how this all came together.    

Remember to stop by the CTK Fans Page on Facebook for your copy of this month's files.  I cannot wait what you create with the files and this month's Cedar Grove Kits!

XO

Nathalie

Sunday Sketch with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today bringing this week's sketch!   I was drawn to all the layers behind the picture, and  i knew it can easily work for me (with a few twists, of course!).  Here is this week's sketch:

and here is my take on this sketch ( i tried my best to stay true to the sketch!)

It all started by creating the layers of papers behind the pictures, for that i used the B side of some of the papers from the Good Vibes and Flourish collections included in the Cedar Grove Main Scrapbook and Patterned paper kits.   A few extra details in between the layers just adds more interest to the pictures!

All those large pieces of ephemera (from the Flourish collection) were the right size to fit as distress layers behind the pictures.  The sketch also contained a small vertical piece in the back of all the pictures,  since i couldn't find anything that caught my eye, I chose to replace it with a cut file and a bit of mixed media (just blended some Distress Oxide inks and sprinkled a bit of water to bleach it a bit!)

I am in love with the beautiful alphas included in this month's Cedar Grove Main kit, and used them to create the title of this page. A few lines of journal, some rose gold ink splatters and a few stamped images (This month's stamps are awesome!!!) complete the page.

Now it is your turn to put your touch on this week's sketch!.   Remember to use today's date when uploading your project to the CTK gallery or the CTK Facebook Fans page (you can be eligible to win a $5 gc to the CTK store).

I cannot wait to see what you create!

XOXO

Nathalie

Let's Go Monochromatic with Kelly

Hello friends! Today I have a layout and process video to share using the Main kit, Embellishment Add-on, and Project Life kit. I was inspired to create this layout with several of the romantic themed elements that are in the kits, and my starting point was the gorgeous vellum swan die cut. I consider neutrals to include gold, so for my pop of color I chose to use pink.

This photo is of my husband and I when we were on a cruise. The background of the photo is a bit distracting, so I cropped it close. I could have easily turned the photo to black and white, but ended up liking the pop of color the photo brings off the neutral background.

The music sheet that is included in the main kit makes a great layering piece behind the photo and the vellum die cut. I trimmed down the music sheet by using a ruler as a straight edge and tearing down to size. Tearing the paper with the ruler edge gives a bit more control of how much is torn off and keeps it relatively straight.

Usually when working with metallics I stick with one color. The mix of rose gold and gold works beautifully with this page and the pink tones. The large floral was fussy cut from one of the 6x8 papers included in the PL kit and helps to bring balance to the right side of the page.

To finish off the layout I machine stitched in gold thread around the edges of the layout, and added gold mist. Misting led to a happy accident when a blob of gold mist fell onto the page. It bothered me so much that I decided to use the word phrases to cover the mist blob and then layer a few more down the page to balance out the phrases.

I hope that you enjoyed this and will perhaps challenge yourself to make a monochromatic layout in the future. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!