Sunday Sketch with Lilith

Hello. I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday. Today I am sharing the Sunday sketch with you. I used the May Brighton kit and the add on kit to create my layout. There are so many products to choose from that I didn't know where to start but I quickly picked a color combo based on the Die cuts from Shimelle's collection.

Here is a look at the sketch:

Instead of using two photos I used one photo and a card which I cut out of one of the patterned papers from Shimelle Lane's collection.  I kept the placement of the title and the embellishments as well as the added detail at the top right hand corner.

I used the flower die cuts from Shimelle (Little By Little Paper Die-Cut Shapes (American Crafts)). I added a couple of Shimmer ink splatters to create flow like on the sketch.

To play along with this week's challenge, create a layout inspired by the sketch, upload it to the Citrus Twist Kits Gallery with the sketch date (5/27) in the title, and you might win a $5 gift certificate to the CTK store.  

Tuesday Tutorial: Easy Layers Using 6 x 6 Paper

It's Trina here with the Tuesday Tutorial. I'm here to share 6 x 6 paper play with you today. For those of you who have leftover 6 x 6 pads, this is a great way to use that paper. One of my favorite things about scrapbooking with 6 x 6 paper is that I get a smaller version (reduced-size) of the full-size collections that I love. The petite patterns can be just perfect, especially when you use them with small polaroid-style prints like these.

I used 6 x 6 paper from the September Pocket Life kit--Crate Paper Notes & Things--mixed together with elements from the September Main kit, too. Here is the finished layout:

Because I liked this lined chevron paper I decided to cut some triangles to layer over my photos. I have lots of chevrons left over for other projects:

I worked on this layout during a weekend away at a family wedding. I brought my compact Instax printer from Fujifilm to print photos straight off of my iPhone. I use the Instax Share phone app so I can easily access the small portable printer. (The printer easily fits in my purse!) To create my layers I set the Instax polaroid photo over white cardstock and trimmed around the picture. Each layer is slightly larger than the layer above it. Two of the layers were cut from the white crepe paper that came in this month's Free Spirit Main kit.

Before I glued my layers together I ran my fingernail along the edges to rough them up and purposely tore some of them a little so the patterned layers behind could peek through:

Here is a close up so you can see what my distressed edges look like once I'm done running my fingernail over them:

I used a cut out of this cute little bird from one of the 6 x 6 paper pieces for a corner embellishment. I used the same layering technique, cutting the back layer slightly larger than the overlapping layer, then distressing the edges:

It was hard to resist using the cork stars and metallic sequins that came in the Free Spirit kit. I glued some to the background and stitched down others. Shimelle's new reverse date roller stamp is fun to use:

I hope this little layer tutorial inspires you to use your leftover scraps or 6 x 6 paper to create your own easy layers.

Trina

Citrus Twist Pocket Life Kits: A New Price, New Look and Less Expensive Shipping

We thought we'd do a post today about the new Pocket Life packaging and changes coming to our PL kits beginning this September. When you begin your PL-only subscription this month on or before August 31st, you'll get to keep the current Pocket Life kit pricing ($18) coupled with the new shipping costs, beginning in September ($6.25 US, $9 Canada, $15 International).

If you haven't seen the new look yet, here is a sneak, neatly tucked in a cloth bag, nestled in it's shipping box:

You can begin your subscription today by visiting our Kits page.

Why the changes? We've been listening to our subscribers and the many requests we get for cheaper shipping and not as much paper.

What can you expect from our newly-packaged Pocket Life kit?

• It's lighter and smaller which is how we were able to lower the cost of shipping.
• Instead of a full pad of 6 x 6 paper you'll get roughly 1/2 pad of 6 x 6. You'll still get the fabulous paper lines we have been featuring in our kits.
• We will be adding more embellishments to play with on your PL pages. You'll already see more in August's PL kit.
• The price of our 3-month PL subscription is going to be $19.50 beginning September 1st, but as long as you begin your subscription this month and as long as you continue your subscription without canceling, we'll hold your sub at the current price of $18.
• Lower shipping! (Our Main kit and Main plus PL kit subscribers will continue to pay the current shipping costs as they are now set up.)
• Each PL kit comes packaged in a cloth drawstring bag with a little special treatment applied.
• An idea and sketch sheet packed with each PL kit. Having trouble keeping up with your PL? This monthly addition to your kit will share ideas on staying up with your Pocket Life project.

Be sure to visit our Friday blog each week for PL Friday and see what our PL design team is doing with their kits and sharing PL sketches. If you haven't done so yet, send a Facebook request to join our Citrus Twist Kits Fan Page.

Have a happy week of Pocket Life.

Trina

In the Studio with Olya

Hello, lovely Citrus Twist friends!
Today I'm sharing with you a little tour of my studio, where all the scrapbooking and art magic happens. So grab a cup of tea, get comfortable in your chair and let's have a peek into my creative space, shall we?
First things first: my desk. I love clean, organized spaces, especially when it comes to desks. It helps my mind feel more clear and inspired. When I create, however, this is what my desk looks like. Messy with barely any room to actually put my projects on.
What's on my desk? Why, Citrus Twist August kit, of course. When I get my CTK happy mail, I immediately unpack everything, lay it out on my desk and just swoon over all the little bits and pieces. Pocket Pages layouts start popping in my head, seeing all the pretty papers and embellishments. I get super giddy and excited, like a kid in a candy store. I store my monthly Citrus Twist kit in a dedicated wooden caddy from a dollar store. (it even has some broken English and French on it! Bonus ; ) )
Then eventually admiring all the pretty papers turns into printing the photos, selecting patterned papers to go with the photos' themes and colors, gluing everything, decorating with embellishments, and adding some journaling. Badaboom, that's my crafting process in a nutshell.
I have two bookshelves in my studio, one holds miscellaneous stuff, and another one is filled with art and crafts books, scrapbooks, notebooks and art journals. Here is my favorite shelf with my go-to books for easy reference and inspiration.

and here are 'some' of my countless pretty journals, photo albums and scrapbooks. Yes, I have a problem. No, I'm not willing to do anything about it : ) 

I also have a 'snailmail' station, where I gathered all the stationery I've collected over the years, as well as stickers, mail related stamps, tags and washi tapes. Now I don't have any excuses for taking too long (read forever) to reply to my penpals.

And last but not least, here's my art station. Though most of my work happens outside, walking around my city and doing urban sketches on the go, I create some art at home as well. 

Well, this is mostly it. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a tour around my studio, guys.

Have a happy creative weekend!
xo

New in the Citrus Twist Kits Store

We stock our store on the last day of each month in preparation for our presale, sprinkling a few new items here and there throughout each month. Subscribers know that their store and kit add-on items will ship at  no additional shipping charge with their kits.

These are just a few of the products we added for August, with more on the way in our store.

Shimelle

If you are like us, you've been waiting months for Shimelle's new line of products designed for American Crafts. The new reverse date roller stamp is a perfect addition for scrapbookers and PL artists.

Yes, Shimelle came out with a set of 3 fine-tipped journaling pens in her favorite colors. The set includes one each of aqua, grey and a rosy pink.

Have you ever wished that foam dots were just a little bit thinner? Then these new foam dots are for you!

A New Handbook from Studio Calico

One of our favorite Handbook albums yet, this herringbone pattern album with a leather clasp is perfect for your mini album and PL projects. We love the soft grey printed fabric and clasp that set this Handbook album apart.

New from Teresa Collins, designing for WRMK

This little 4" x 4" album stole our hearts here at Citrus Twist Kits. It comes with page inserts and you can stock up on more page inserts in the CTK store.

Aqua and gold foil dots steal the show in this new 8.5" x 11" Albums Made Easy Album. Designed by Teresa Collins for WRMK, the size of this album is perfect and we are carrying new page inserts in different photo configurations in our store including one configuration featuring 2" x 2" pockets.

The new Teresa Collins journaling cards are flying out of our store. This is a set of 3" x 4" and 4" x 6" journaling cards in lovely golds and aqua.

These are just a few of the new items that we've added over the past week. Thanks for visiting the Citrus Twist Kits store.