Pcoket Life with Jen

Happy Friday! Jen here bringing you the first pocket pages with the November Pocket Life and Pocket Life Embellishment kits. These kits are jam packed with lovely patterns and goodies to accent your photos and cards.

I had so many photos I wanted to use this week (and, even more that I still need to add to an insert!) that every card and picture is sized to 3x4, including my weekly title card. I love the "Together" CTK exclusive card and the light orange watercolor effect. It was a perfect pairing for a family photo snapped at a trip to the pumpkin patch. The "Keep Calm" card stood out to me right away but, honestly? I prefer another coffee chain's Pumpkin Mocha coffee to the famed PSL so, I made the card my own with a label, the Gossamer Blue tiny alpha, a star sequin from my stash and reached back in time for the Nov CTK Coffee First stamp.

One of my favorite things about pocket scrapping is the ability to capture so many stories in one place, snippets that would likely never end up on a full page layout. This week has a few examples of that: 1) my first attempt at baking bread. Let's just say it was not a success, 2) my older son keeping a running count from our front door until parking at his preschool. Exactly 100! 3) our middle son is mischievous. To put it mildly. Using one of the CTK exclusive vellum cards as an overlay, I documented his imaginative additions to our dinner one night.

Here's a closer look at that story and how I used the vellum:

I'd love to see what you do with the November kits. If you're on Instagram, hashtag your shared projects with #citrustwistkits so we can check them out!

Here are your sketches for this week...enjoy!

Tips for Catching Up on Pocket Life and My PL Week 36

For anyone who is doing Pocket Life this year, are you keeping up?  Right now, I am currently around 2 months behind.. the most I have been all year.  I don't know about you, but it's always around this time of the year that I manage to fall behind.  Today, I just wanted to share some tips and my process on playing catch up.

1.  Write everything down!  Whether you use a paper planner, filofax, or a phone app, spend some time during the week to write things down.  It doesn't need to be everyday.  I usually write in my planner every other day or so.  Having everything written down makes it easy to look back on everything when you're ready to plan your spreads.

2.  Plan your spreads!  I just create a rough sketch of my spreads on scratch paper, then start filling out each pocket while referencing my planner and the photos on my iPhone.  I only use photos from my iPhone for my PL (it's just what works for me), but if you use photos from another source, don't forget to have those with you while you're planning your spread.

Extra tip: using primarily photos from my iPhone makes it so that I can plan and edit photos while on the go like when I'm waiting at my doctors office or waiting for my car to get maintained.

3.  Once I have my spreads planned, I edit my photos (again, all through my iPhone usually while I'm waiting for something or while watching TV).  Once I have my photos edited, I print all my photos at one time.  I use a Canon Selphy, if you're wondering.  Then I go ahead and start filling my page protectors with the photos and memorabilia that I plan on using.

4.  Once I have all my photos and memorabilia in each page protector, I start working on each individual spread.  I work on whatever spread I feel inspired by since I am able to see what photos I am working with and where they are in each spread.  Sometimes that means I'll work on week 41 even though I haven't worked on weeks 36-40 yet, but that's okay.  Just having my photos printed and in my page protectors makes me feel less stressed out because then comes the fun part... playing with product to make a pretty spread! :)

Another extra tip:  In your spare time and if you have some spare materials on hand, create some PL cards, so they are ready for you to fill into your spreads above!  I had taken a class at my local scrapbooking store with Kelly Purkey and she gave us a bunch of product to work with, so I had a lot leftover after we finished with the mini album.  I had some down time when I got home from the class, so I went ahead and made some PL cards using the supplies.  Now, I'll be able to slip these in to some of my spreads shown above!

There you have it!  I know the tips I mentioned above doesn't work for everyone, but that's what works for me!  Hope you found it somewhat helpful! :)

And before I leave, I just wanted to share my Pocket Life Week 36 using the November PL and PL Embellishment Kits (plus some leftover alphas from the October kits).

Left side:

Right side:

Don't forget: even the bad days need to be documented!  I used this Jillibean card as a cover for some journaling about my bad day.

I had an insert this week on my friend's bday celebration.  For the "seriously" card, I plan on finishing up some journaling on the story of the cake in the bottom photo.  I created the card using another Jillibean card mounted on the packaging from the Amy Tangerine puffy stickers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Citrus Twist November Kits are Here along with a Pocket Life Special!

Hello November! Our beautiful lineup of November kits and Christmas kits are available for sale here. We have many things lined up for our followers and subscribers this month. We start off November with a week-long feature over at The Pocket Source. Be sure to visit their blog where we are offering a Pocket Life subscription special.

Here is a preview of this month's happenings at Citrus Twist Kits:

• We will have a Black Friday Sale that will begin Saturday, November 22nd. What can you expect? Embellishment grab bags, Pattern Paper Grab Bags and some discounted older kits.
• We have a new subscriber giveaway drawing going for both Main and PL subscriptions that begin subscriptions in November. Begin your subscription in November and your name will go into a drawing for one of 12 Christmas Grab Bags. These grab bags have a retail value of approximately $25.
• Be sure to watch our Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fan Page (and request to join this group if you haven't already). We'll be doing a giveaway this month there. More details to come.
• Christmas Daily kits and November Kits begin shipping on November 15th.
• Guest Designer Kay Rogers joins us this month, playing with "Get Cosy" November Main kit.
• Remember our new referral program: Subscribers who refer a new Pocket Life or Main kit subscriber get a $5 gift certificate for each referral. Have your friend mention your name in the comments section at checkout and we'll send you your $5 gift certificate.

Our November "Get Cozy" Main kit:

Introducing November's "Happy Blessings" Pocket Life Kit:

"This Life of Mine" Add-on kit is perfect for fall layouts:

"Special Order" is November's Embellishment kit and it is packed with fun:

Our "Daily Life" Pocket Life Embellishment kit was designed with Pocket Lifers in mind. 

"Family Time" has been designed to celebrate family in this month's versatile, use-over-and-over again stamp, available by subscription or individually:

"Daily Life" Pattern Paper kit beautifully compliments this month's Main and Pocket Life kits:

April Joy's Jingle Bells Christmas stamp has arrived in our warehouse:

We can't wait to see what you do with this month's kits with your Gallery or Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fan Page shares.

Have a happy November!

Tuesday Tutorial

Hello, I'm here to share a fun tutorial with you all!  I love creating layouts, but once in a while I like to create a mini layout and frame it for my family to see all the time. 

I created this piece using the November Main Kit only.  I love all the gorgeous paper choices in this kit.

First I grab a cheap frame.

The I adhered a background paper right to glass. This makes a nice sturdy backing.

After the background paper is down I layer patterned paper on top.  I love the book pages that come in the kit.

I used some water colors to add some colors to the leaves.

I cut out the word love to add to the title.  I also added the flair button to the inside of the camera.

Ok now it's your turn to go create a mini layout in a frame for everyone to see!

In my Studio with Amélie

Hi there! As you may know, now I live in USA. We have moved mid July. It was a big big move and that at this moment that you look at your stash and you say NO!!! It isn't possible that I have all of these supplies... I made a big sort before the moving and sold some papers, stamps and others!
Early September, we have moving in our new house. And all my supplies was here to be set up in my new scraproom!
I don't have the same organization than in my house in France but I will improve it with time. We are renting here I can't really do what I want. We are here temporary so...
But I'm good. My room is bright and this is very important for me to scrap and to make my videos.

Now some pictures:
When you enter in my room along the wall on right you have my papers shelf. I bought in in France at a scrapper who sold it! I'm really happy about this transaction! I can stock lot of papers there!

Here are my two dessert trolleys! That is here that I keep my mists, sprays, inks and all my mixed media stash. I like these, it is so practical! You can approach these only when it's needed.

 

 On the wall in front of the door, you have  my cameo, my stamps and some others supplies.

My Selphy is here too.

Here is my typewriter. I bought it recently to work on my PL.

My masking tapes! Yes I have a lot!!

I also have some boxes for storage my layouts and mini albums. It is probably not the best solution but for the moment, it fits to me ;)

The two other walls are for my desk. I have two work zones. This one is for my video tutorial.

And the second zone:

I would love now to have some wall storages.
I hope you enjoy the ride!
See you soon.
Amélie

Sunday Sketch with Michelle

Happy November!  Wow.  November already??  With the holiday season officially upon us, time is going to start flying by!  A sketch is the perfect tool to use during these busy times because they take the guess work out of creating layouts and allow you to get scrappy when you have little time to spare.

This week's sketch calls for multiple photos.

 

Using both November's Main and Embellishment Kits, this is what I created:

 

 

 

 

Now it's your turn!  We are always excited to see how you use our sketches so if you can, please share your take on today's sketch with us by uploading your project to the Citrus Twist Gallery. And remember, if you upload it by November 7th you will have a chance at a $5 gift certificate to the CTK Store.  Happy crafting!!
 



November Guest Designer Kay Rogers

Hi my name is Kay Rodgers and I'm a high school math teacher with two daughters, Emily and Jenna. Emily is a high school biology teacher in Chicago, and Jenna is a 7th-grader. I also have two dogs and a cat. I have been scrapbooking for the last 11 years, and love it as much now as I did when I started. ​

1.   How long have you been scrapbooking and why did you start? 

I've been scrapbooking for the last 12 years. When my youngest was turning  1 I decided to do an album for her first year. I've been hooked ever since! 

2.   How would you describe your scrapbooking style?  

SIMPLE. I am a working mom, and I don't have a ton of time to scrapbook. Not only do I do traditional pages, I've been doing Project Life for the last three years. To make it doable in my life I've got to keep it simple. I'm also quite linear in my style, which isn't a big surprise as I'm a math teacher.

3.   What scrapbookers have influenced you most? 

I think I was first inspired by Cathy Zielske. Her simple, graphic style really appealed to me, then and now. I don't quite achieve her simplicity, but she continues to be a source of inspiration. 

4.  What is your favorite thing about kit clubs?   

I LOVE kits. I got my start on a kit design team years ago, and I loved the challenge of putting together layouts from the same kit that had a different look. I also love the time-saving factor of someone coordinating items that all look good together. I also like kits because they allow you to try new products, techniques, or color schemes, pushing you out of your comfort zone. 

5.  What are your 5 favorite scrapbooking items? 

Glue Dots - couldn't live without them

Die-Cuts  - I know it's old-fashioned, but I love them.

Patterned Paper - it's my obsession

Enamel Dots - love the splash of color and dimension, without adding bulk.

Stickers - again, old school I know. But I tend to like flatter pages.

6.  How would you describe the Citrus Twist November kit and what do you love most about it?  

I love the colors in the kit. It's muted, mixed with some bold colors. The punches of color in the floral papers make me insanely happy. I could wallpaper my house with the Recollection paper. I love the mix of embellishments as well. That alpha from Jillibean Soup will be used often!

Here is a look into my scrap room.  I have a small corner in our formal living room to scrap. I am determined to stay within that space, and get rid of supplies often. I find having too much stuff actually hinders my creativity. Recently my daughter Jenna added her chair and craft storage so we can create at the same table at the same time. I love that she shares this hobby with me!

And here is look at a layout I created using the November Main Kit.

**Remember to leave some love for Kay to win ONE of her favorite things!!**