How to use cut files without a Silhouette

Hi guys, Diane here with a couple of ways to use the amazing FREE cut files in the Citrus Twist shop, without a Silhouette (or other electronic cutting machine)

I'm fully aware that an electronic cutting machine is a hefty investment when it comes to crafting, but just because you don't have one, doesn't mean you can't take advantage of the free cut files that Citrus Twist has for you! So I wanted to show you a couple of easy ways you can use the cut files to create stunning pages in your Traveler's Notebook or on your scrapbook pages.

The first way is to simply cut them by hand! By printing out the cut files and using them as a guide for hand cutting, you can get the exact same look as cutting them by machine. It does take a little bit longer and the results aren't exactly as precise, but it is still an easy way to create your own cut pieces.

A few tips:

• Use a really sharp knife.
• Don't apply TOO much pressure, just enough to go through the paper.
• Keep the blade flat, use the whole blade rather than just the tip.
• Always drag the knife towards yourself, rather than pushing it away from you.
• Be VERY careful to keep those fingers out of the way!

The second way to use cut files is even easier than the first, stitching guides! Simply print the cut files out and use them as a template for stitching! This is such a simple technique for adding loads of texture and personality to your pages. And its the perfect activity to do while you're catching up on your favourite series too!

Here are a couple of ideas for using cut files without a Silhouette and my process for putting together this very simple page...

I can't wait to see what you do with all the amazing digitals from Citrus Twist so don't forget to post them in the Facebook Fan Page so we can see!

Tuesday Tutorial with Cece

Hey, friends! Cece here with a Tuesday Tutorial for you all. Today, I'm sharing how this Bible journaling entry I did using the elements from this month's GraceBox came together.

First, I wanted to put some paint down on my page. The easiest way for me to get some color down was to use the paint card technique where I just put a bit of acrylic paint at the edge of my paint card and swiped the paint from left to right. I swiped down some light pink first in three different areas, then waited for it to dry before swiping down a sunny yellow color just below or above the pink.

Next, I fussy cut these florals from one of the patterned paper, used the Willow Lane alphas and "enough" die cut and placed them down to my liking.

Then I added the words "Christ is..." right above "more than enough." I knew I wanted to add more elements, so I placed some washy and layered them on top of each other on both the top and bottom and of the page. Then I took the Maggie Holmes Willow Lane Sparrow pattern paper and cut up the birds and placed them around the page and added some heart and cross die cuts to fill up some of the empty spaces.

Last, I added some lines to write down a short prayer and topped the page with the ribbon clips I made using the fabric strips that came in the kit.

I hope you enjoyed today tutorial. Come check out my on Instagram (@candiescorner) to see what else I've been doing with this kit and to follow my progress.

If you haven't already, check out the details of this kit in the shop. I look forward to see what you do with it.

Have a blessed week and keep on creating!

Inspiration with Alena

Hello  CTK friends! I am so excited to be with you today sharing a little  inspiration with the September kits. I decided to play with the colors on the page of my Project Life.

First I created and printed a photo collage - all pictures in the same size. Then I placed them in staggered order.

All embellishments were grouped by color. And finally I added accents with paint.

The second page is quite simple:

I hope you are inspired to create something with your CTK kit today!

Sunday Sketch with Amanda Baldwin

Happy Sunday Lovelies!

Amanda here with today's super fun Sunday Sketch!
Here's what it looks like....

Oooh! How AWESOME is this sketch?!! 

I loved it as soon as I saw it, & couldn't wait to play along with this design! 

For today's sketch I wanted to showcase how fantastic the September "Good Stuff" Add-On Kit is - 

here's what I came up with.....

"En Pointe" 

LOVE!!! 

Such a special moment documenting my daughter's first pair of pointe shoes! Milestone moment for every young danseur & ballerina! 

And how gorgeous is this Add-On Kit?! Everything you see (apart from my cardstock base) is from this kit! Now that's cool! 

Here's a closer look....

As it's a ballet page, I just had to draw on all the pink elements from the Good Stuff Kit. The Vicki Boutin Die Cut Ephemera pieces, combined with the MME Girl Meets Glam Decorative Brads, were the perfect option for all the ticket / tag elements in the sketch! They really pop against the otherwise black & white page!  Pretty! 

For the pattern paper trim, I use the subtle polka dot pattern paper from the Maggie Homes: Willow Lane 6" x 8" Paper Pad. This paper also inspires the use of the polka dot alpha Thicker, as well as the coordinating brad over my photo. Sweet!

Carefully considered embellishments to adorn my page!

For finishing touches, I use the MME Girl Meets Glam Enamel Dots as an alternative to the paint splatter on the sketch. Love how this looks! You can never have too many enamel dots, right?!

And there you have it! 

My take on today's awesome Sunday Sketch! 

Needing the Good Stuff Add On Kit? Get yours HERE. 

I hope I have inspired you to play along - I can't wait to see what you create! 

Til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

3 To Inspire-Candace

Hello CTK friends!  Candace here today to share a little 3-to-inspire pocket page challenge with you. I have been having so much fun playing with the beautiful September kits.  The September kits are packed with lots of fun goodies to tell your stories and the perfect "final touch" embellishments.  Here is a look at the final spread I created for today's challenge.

Challenge #1: GO BIG!  Use a large photo on your next spread.  This is one of my favorite techniques to use on a pocket page.  Using a large photo adds lots of impact to the spread and looks so fun!

Challenge #2: Work with shapes.  Look for shapes on your spread that you can mimic with embellishments or journaling.  This is a fun technique and can add a fun new look and feel to your spread.  

Challenge #3:  Mix colors!  Mix both color and black and white photos or mix colorful journal cards with monotone journal cards.  This is a great way to add contrast and balance to your spread.  This also helps the reader to focus in on the elements that are different on the page.

I hope these challenges give you new jumping off point for your next spread and inspire you to tell your stories in a new a different way.  I love the big photo, the mix of color and black and white and finally the fun use of shapes and embellishments across the spread.  

I am so pleased with the final spread and the stories and memories captured.  Memory keeping is the best!  Thanks for stopping by today, I am excited to see what you create!

Candace

Travelers Notebook Challenge!

Hello, there!  I am so excited to be back with you to give you a little fun challenge for your travelers notebook!  I am a big fan of using my travelers notebook inserts for everything - planning, memory keeping and lists.  One of the things I love to do most in those inserts is STAMP! Do you stamp in yours? No matter the answer, let's get to the challenge!

 For today's challenge, I am personally using the September Heartbreaker Pocket Life Kit and the This Is Life, Magic Happens stamp set. However, you definitely can use whatever materials you love! My challenge is this: use patterned papers and/or pocket page cards to stamp on!  That's right - no plain cardstock for us!  [Well, okay, you can include that as well. But, as an accent!] We're going to use those patterns and make them work for us!

I think that this looks so cool and it's one of my favorite techniques.  Depending on what you're going to use the shapes for can help determine if you use a busy pattern or a more neutral pattern.  I wanted to stick to a red + yellow + black color palette since I was documenting Disney -- but you can use your photos and materials to choose your patterns.

Don't those look great?!  I think they make pretty much the perfect embellishment, since we were able to customize them completely.  You don't have to worry about what to use to color the images and you don't have to think about if you have the right color ink pad.  Just use what you've got!

Do you see the red ticket with the word Enjoy?  Do you remember how that was a 3x4" pocket life card?  I think that just turned out positively amazing!  It's even better than I imagined and is so perfect for this space. I also love how the black ink gives each of these pieces of patterned paper a distinctive edge or frame. So cool!

I also highly recommend having a few extras.  You don't know if you'll need them, and if you don't, you can add them to your stash for next time!

Are you going to play along with my challenge?  I sure hope so!  It's really fun and I think you'll enjoy it, too.  If you do, make sure you share on the Citrus Twist Facebook page or tag Citrus Twist on Instagram so we can see!

Layout using vintage book page

Hey crafty friends, Melanie here with another Layout for you. Recently we spent a week on vacation in Wales and you can imagine how excited I was about finding a Vintage Music Book Page with a welsh folksong in my September Heartbreaker Kit!

I immediately knew I wanted to use it on a page about the lovely Bed and Breakfast we stayed. I started with the bookpage and my photo and chose matching papers from the Scrapbook and  Pattern Paper Play Kit for layering between.

I ruffled up the edges and tore the paper for more structure and used a tag from the 'Good Stuff' Add On Kit  for my journaling. I also used a border punch on one of the papers to add more interest.

I placed my title (name of the B&B, means house by the oaks) on the bottom of my page and used the note lines as a guide. The adorable alphas are from the Add on Kit and I love the whimsical touch they add to the page.

I placed the cute bird embellishments from the Pocket Page Kit on top and bottom of the bookpage to guide the eye over the page and added some black splatters and the stars from the gorgeous 'Magic Happens' Stamp Set (which is one of my absolute favorites, it's truly magical and versatile, you won't wanna miss it!!!) for some interest and contrast. Some flowers from the Embellishment Kit finish the layout off.

I am very happy about how that page turned out, it's one of my favorites this month.

I hope I inspired you to use those vintage book pages on your projects and can't wait to see what you're all making. Don't forget to share your creations in our Facebook Group and use the hashtag #citrustwistkits on Instagram, so we can see your work.

Have fun creating, bye Melanie!