Using Cut Files with Shannon

Hey there, scrappy friends! Shannon here with a pocket page using cut files. I combined the May 2020 Journeys Life Crafted Kit with the May 2020 Scrapbooking Add-On Kit and added some cut files from the May 2020 release. I loved all the colors in the kits so they were the perfect fit for this stained glass chalk art that my daughters made in front of our house.

*note: the May 2020 Journeys Life Crafted Kit has sold out at the time this post is being published. Where possible, I will link to digital versions of products from the kit that you can print at home.

I started the project knowing that I wanted to use the GEOTAGGED Cut File to create a title card for my page. I use a Silhouette so once I brought the file into the Silhouette software I erased all of the phrases except "home." I then resized it to fit a 4x6 card. Once I had it cut, I pulled some patterned paper together to back each letter. I wanted a little variety and lots of colors! The papers are a mix of the May 2020 Life Crafted Kit papers and the May 2020 Scrapbooking Add-On Kit. I used teal cardstock as the card base to let the eye rest among all of those patterns! It was the perfect backing for the lighter teal alphas that were part of the Life Crafted kit this month. I purposely added those for a monochromatic look to, again, give the eye a chance to rest.

I will admit that this was my first time backing a cut file. I have no idea if I did it in the right or most efficient way! But I'll explain my process anyway.

1. Cut the outline.

2. Choose your patterned paper. If you're going to back the whole thing with the same patterned paper then you can simply cut the file again on that and use the negative space to back it. Otherwise...

3. Cut the paper slightly bigger than the size of the space you're backing.

4. Adhere the outline to the patterned paper using a thin line of glue.

5. Once the glue dries, use scissors or a xacto to carefully cut away the excess.

The second cut file that I used is from the JOURNEYS TITLES set. Just like with the first one, I pulled this into my software, erased what I didn't need, and resized to fit my card. Since I wanted this one on patterned paper, I chose to back it with the plain teal cardstock and the rainbow cardstock. It allowed me to add a pop of color without being too overwhelming. I used the May 2020 This Is Life DAYTRIPPING Stamp to stamp an arrow that leads the eye down to my photo. A puffy sticker from the Scrapbooking Add-On Kit completes the card. The sentiment is perfect for this die cut!

Once I had my cut files completed and placed where I wanted them, I got to work on the rest of the page. I only used one other journaling card and I kept it neutral. The card is numbered for a list so I chose to list the steps we took to make this design.  I also used some ephemera, a label, a puffy sticker, and a stamp to make my own small cluster on a photo. I didn't want to take away from the artwork that I was documenting so I had to keep it simple and small. 

I finished off the page by adding a couple of small accents to my other 4x6 photos using product from the May 2020 Scrapbooking Add-On Kit. I can't get enough of those acetate speech bubbles!

I hope I've inspired you to give the Citrus Twist cut files a try. Don't forget, subscribers get some free cut files every month! I can't wait to see what you create!

Travelers Notebook Challenge with Anna

Hi dear ones!

It's my premiere to host this happy challenge Travelers Notebook Challenge. I love creating in this format for a change to my usual layouts. So I've had a blast while creating this one and I hope you will like it as well.

And my challenge for you this time: Use any of our digital files on your spread (digital cutfile or printables) I've used one of the beautiful cut files, the Winter Snowflake, as my focal point on my spread.

Here's what I came up with using bits and pieces from the December Scrapbook kit, Pattern Paper Play kit and the Pocket Life kit as well.

One of my favorite from the CTK exclusive die-cut ephmeras (Pocket Life kit) is that cute little bambi and of course these puffy stickers as well. The cut file is just amazing too, it worked just perfect for my wintery skating pic.

Also I did add some machine stitching. I love the texture it brings to my design. Those classy black labels are also a winner. All the CTK exclusives are always something extra, yum!

And there you have it! Be sure to ask me if you are wondering about anything I've done on my pages and I will try to explain:)

Remember to share with us what you create with this challenge either on social media using @citrustwistkits or #citrustwistkits or on CTK friends page on Facebook.  I cannot wait how you interprete the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by! Anna xo

Let's Get Digital with Kira

Hey Citrus Twist fans!  It's Kira and I am back with another 8.5x11 layout using a mix of the December kits.

Have you checked out the exclusive cut files for the month?  I was immediately drawn towards the poinsettia cut file.  I knew it would be perfect for this conversation my son and I had about Santa.

I started by cutting the cut file fairly large from white cardstock.  When I cut it, I thought I might cut up the cut file slightly, but didn't have much of a plan until I actually got it cut out.  I backed it with papers from the main kit and the pocket life kit.  After it was backed, I decided to cut some of the leaves and other decorative elements off, leaving just the large poinsettia.

The photo I used for this page is a filtered selfie of my son and I, since the "story" on this page is a conversation him and I had as Christmas was approaching.  I backed the photo with the "Confetti" paper included in the add on kit.  Then I tucked a couple of tabs from the PL die cut pack on top of the photo.

I decided to use the wood grain side of the "Harrison" paper (included in the main kit) as my background.  I placed my poinsettia in the lower left corner and sort of nestled my photo into the flower.  I used some of the leaves I had cut from the cut file, underneath my photo.

The title was perfect for this story!  I used the word "believe" from the Shimelle thickers included in the add-on kit.  I finished off the layout with some embellishment clusters in the upper left and bottom right clusters.  I added some typed journaling strips and black splatters and called the page done.

I can't wait to see how you plan to use the cut files this month!

xo, Kira

3-to-Inspire with Anna

Hi CTK friends! It's Anna here today on the blog to bring you this week's edition 3-To-Inspire challenge. We love to share this challenge every Saturday for those of us that are looking for a little extra push for our mojo and to get scrapbooking. Or you maybe just need a challenge to dig into :)
And you'll get the chance to win a little something from the CTK shop as a bonus,YAY!

Be sure to join me this week using the following prompts:

1. Use puffy Stickers

2. Use some of our digital elements from the shop as the cut files or printables

3. Handwritten journaling

Here's what I came up with using the November Sunshine In My Soul Scrapbook kit and the free digital beehive cut file from the CTK shop.

For my background I've used three different colors of distress Ink's and the "plastic package technique". I love these bold and vibrant colors and they works perfect to highlight my photo of our proud young artistic boy. Then I add the cut file upon together with my stack of papers and photo.

And you can spy my handwritten journaling as well. Every now and then I do handwritten journaling on my layouts even though I actually don't like my writing. Why though? Just because I think my kids will appreciate to have some handwritten words about them by their mom as a memory. Just as simple as that:)

Aren't these puffy alphas just adorable? Love them and I do really appreciate that you get them in not one but FOUR different colors.

More gorgeous puffyness! These cute puffy stickers from the Whimsical collection by Paige Evans are one of my favorites this month.

I couldn't have found any more perfect die cut than this one for my pic! Am I right? :)

And there you have it! I made it through, using all three promps (and a few more pieces, lol), YAY!

I hope I have inspired you to give it a go! Can't wait to see :)

Be sure to share your creations with us on the Citrus Twist Fans Page  and don't forget to tag us with @citrustwistkits/#citrustwistkits on any social media:)

We love to see all your lovely creations!

Thank you for stopping by here today! Take care! Anna xo

Tuesday Tutorial with Anna

Hi dear CTK friends! Anna with you today to share with you how you can use the negative pieces of your digital cut files. I love when nothing of the loveliness goes to waste :)

I've used the gorgeous Flower Cluster cut file (designed by Nathalie DeSousa), free from the CTK shop. It's so beautiful, both the "real" cut file and the negative of it as well. The papers and embellishments are bits and pieces from the October Sweater Weather  Add On kit and the October digital printables as the Cut Apart Sheet and the Little Things Journaling Cards.

I hope you are ready for some photo bombing now since here comes a few pics from my process doing this as well as a few pics of my finished page, Enjoy!

 Just unmount the "real" cut file from the cutting mat and you will have your negative image left, the pieces we will use for today's project.

Apply small dots of glue on each and every of the pieces and then place your cardstock ( this one is 12"x12") upon them. Make sure that your cardstock have contact with all of the small pieces. You might have to give it a little preassure with your hands. Then let it dry.

After drying a few minutes you can carefully start to peel off the cutting mat from your cardstock and if not every little piece is attached on the paper there is no panic, just glue them afterwords where it should be. Now you have your background to work with.

I was playing around with my photo and embellishments to get an idea of how my design would end up and then I put them aside and had a blast plyaing with some color mists using a plastic bag and made some splatters. After drying I started to mount my embellishment and layers of paper plus photo.

Actually my title is another negative from yet another of our lovely CTK October cut files, "Falling". Nothing goes to waste, lol!

And here's my finished page, I'm so happy how it turned out! 

Hopefully I have inspired you to give your negatives a go and just not let them go to the trash bin.

Thanks for stopping by here with me today! Don't forget to head over to our website to buy a kit or why not sign up for a subscription?  Also be sure to join us on our Facebook page, CTK Fan Page and share your creations with us, we would love to see what's going on at your crafty space.
And last, but not least, have a look at our lovely weekly challenges up on our blog, as the Saturdays "3-to-inspire" and the Sundays "Sunday Sketch", they are both super fun challenges!

Until next time! Hugs Anna xo

Mixed Media with the Perfectly Posh Kits!

Hey Friends!

Amanda here, sharing some mixed media fun with our gorgeous Perfectly Posh Kits!

I know, these kits are too pretty to get messy with, right?

Well, when teamed up with the Pinkfresh Studio Liquid Watercolors you just can't go wrong! 

Today I am sharing a really delicate, purposeful and soft approach to mixed media!

Here's what I'm talking 'bout......

"Some Kind Of Wonderful"

Isn't this lovely?!! 

So super pretty & that Butterfly Ring cut file (created by our awesome Nathalie DeSousa) is just divine!!! I've combined a few of our pretty kits for this layout; Perfectly Posh PL & Scrapbook Kits & the Embellishment Kit. I was especially inspired by the butterflies in the cut file & those Crate Paper Willow Lane embellishments, as well as the pastel pretty colors in the exclusive PL Kit ephemera. Loving this soft & feminine color scheme!

It's no secret that I LOVE Pinkfresh Studio, & their Liquid Watercolors are all kinds of magic! 

I've used Lavender, Bubblegum Pink, Aquamarine & Sapphire, with lots of splatters,  as well as the wet-on-wet technique to create that pretty base. I've also softened the color intensity with lots of water, and by soaking up the excess color with paper towel. You can shop ALL the colors in the Citrus Twist Kits store here. 

You can see exactly 'how' I made this layout on my You Tube Channel HERE. 

Here's a few close ups for you.....

Gosh! It really is dreamy and divine! From that pretty ephemera, to that cutesy lil blue bird,this layout is beautifully adorned! And I am totally loving those glossy enamel dots from Pinkfresh Studio! 

Here's a better look at my photo cluster....

You'll spy all the Crate Paper Willow Lane loveliness here! Lots of pretty layers, & how cute is that tiny tassel?

So.much.pretty!!! Mixed media makes everything magic! 

I hope I have inspired you to get creating & that you enjoy watching my process video! 

Thanks so much for visiting, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Layout inspiration with Perfectly Posh!

Hi there! Anna here with you to share some layout inspiration made with the CTK August Perfectly Posh kits. I've also used a pair of the gorgeous cut files by August. They are both designed by our own and very talented Nathalie, YAY!

Ok, here we go with my first page, it's a 8.5x11 size page made with the Add On kit, the Pocket Life kit, the Embellishment kit , the Outdoor Adventures stamp and one of the cool  August cut files.

As you can see I've yrt again used the negative part of the cut file. I love when nothing is wasted.

And here's my page no2 made with the Main Scrapbook kit, the Pattern Paper Play kit, the Add On kit, the Pocket Life kit, the Embellishment kit and again one of the lovely cut files by August.

And don't you just love the gorgeous pink pom-pom trim, I'm totally in love!

To getsome dimension and texture I mounted one of my paper strips with some 3d tape. Even the pom-pom trim and the stitches enhance the feeling of dimension. I like it!

I hope you've got some inspiration to create something by your own now, and don't forget to share it with us on the CTK Fan Page.

Thanks for stopping by! Anna xo