Life Crafted with Tina

Hey there! It's Tina here, and today I'm sharing a double layout in my Life Crafted Album using this month's Life Crafted "Explore" Kit and the Typewriter Alpha Stamp.
I decided to document one of our summer hikes, and September kit was just perfect for this.

My layouts are pretty simple. I started by grabbing a page protector #2 and a page protector #3. Then I've printed one large photo and trimmed it to fit into a Life Crafted album. In order not to distract too much from the photo I just added a cut apart label with a puffy sticker "feeling blessed" and a small heart from the ephemera pack. After that I placed smaller photos in the protectors and started adding embellishments from the kit.

I matted this photo with a piece of gray pattern paper and added a tab sticker "weekend" with some floral ephemera behind it.

For the second layout I used a 3x4 journaling card and added a few die cut flowers.

To add some accents I stapled a few ephemera pieces to the photo. And finished my spread by adding a cut apart label with the date of our trip stamped on it.

Thanks for joining me today! Be sure to share your creations using the new Life Crafted "Explore" Kit on the CTK Fan Page on Facebook or on Instagram using #citrustwistkits. And have a great weekend!

A magical adventure documented with Elizabeth

Hello friends.  I'm DELIGHTED to share my first blog post as part of this TALENTED creative team.

As soon as my September box of goodies arrived in the mail, I knew the "Explore" kit would be PERFECT to document my summer trip to Disneyland with my teenage son, Joshua.  The cards are BRIGHT and COLORFUL with sayings like, "Yay for Today."

I definitely follow a RHYTHM when I create a Project Life spread.  I ALWAYS start with my photos.    I typically print my three of my BEST 4x6 photos, then move on to five or six 3x4 photos.  For this spread, I wanted to add a progression of my jumping photos so I created a film strip.  I cut the blue polka dot patterned paper to 4x6, added my photo and stapled with circle puffy sticker.

I also decided that I'd like to add the photo of our feet (I'm FOND of those) to my title card.  For the date, I simply added a label and stapled with another puffy sticker.

I was also DRAWN to the 3x8 journal card in the kit.  I LOVE the color, and I knew it would be an IDEAL place to write WORDS about our two days at the park.  In addition, it would give me the opportunity to enlarge one of my FAVORITE photos on the opposing side.

After photos, I TACKLE cards.  I like a BALANCE of journaling and filler cards.  I also pay close attention to color.  I always try to REPEAT color with cards OR photos.

My FINAL step is embellishments.  Like color, it's REPETITION (preferably in odd numbers) and STAMPS, STAMPS, STAMPS.  In this spread, I repeated puffy stickers and stamped on photos AND cards.

I hope I provided MUCH inspiration.  Please reach out if you have ANY questions.  HAPPY crafting:)

Life Crafted and cut files with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today with a few ideas on how to combine the fabulous EXPLORE Life Crafted kit with this month's digital cut files.  One of the perks of subscribing to Citrus Twist Kits is that you receive digital subscribers only  cut files and additional PL cards that will stretch your kit.   I pulled a few of these files and created a few entries in my albums:

Let's start with a simple idea on using the cut file to create title PL card. 

I cut the "Find Joy Everyday" cut file to create the 4x6 title card in this layout.  The cut file was sized to fit inside a 4"x6" card and cut from white cardstock.  It then was glued to a piece of the Explore kit papers  cut to fit inside  Insert 3 configuration.

I added a few embellishments using pieces from the add on.  The journaling spot was created using digital files and embellished with puffy stickers and some stamped sentiments from the Traveler's Notebook stamp set.

I used a tag  (available in the CTK shop) to add my picture.   A small cluster  was then added using a combination of pieces from both the Explore kit, cut apart elements and Pinkfresh Studio embellishments (available at the CTK shop).

Each month there are new cut files added to the subscriber's perks, and the new BeYouTiful was one that i wanted to use to create the title page for this layout.

The cut file was sized to fit the width of the Life Crafted page, cut from white cardstock and then backed with papers from the Explore LC kit.   I used the woodgrain paper as the background for the page, so that all the colors and butterflies will pop from the page.

The collage  of photos of my girlies fits the 4"x6" space from Insert 3, so all that was left to do was create the journal spot.  This was easy to do by combining pieces from the PL cards, cardstock and puffy stickers and some of the cut outs.  The following video will show you how it was put together:

If you are a subscriber remember to check the Digital tabs to get all this month's cut files.  You can also purchase some of the cut file designs in the CTK digital shop, but consider subscribing to CTK  -our subscribers receive a few perks each month-.

That is all for me today.  If you have questions on how these came together, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Til next time,

Pocket Life Challenge with Patricia Roebuck

Welcome Citrus Twist Kits friends!  This is Patricia with a Pocket Life Challenge using the Explore Life Crafted kit with a 6x8 pocket page.  I actually have three ideas or challenges to bring to you today!

The papers that come in the Life Crafted kit are perfect for my love of 6x8 layouts, for example, my project from last month here.  Instead of using the 6x8 pattern paper as is for a layout, my first challenge is to cut it to fit the pockets of a 6x8 pocket page.

Challenge 1:  Cut a 6x8 pattern paper from Life Crafted kit to fit the pockets of a 6x8 pocket page

What I love about this idea, is it creates repetition from each pocket and makes for a great canvas to then begin adding photos, die cuts, embellishments, etc.  I used a 6x8 pocket format of 4-3x3, and 3-2x2.  

Challenge 2:  Use the Explore die cuts, stickers, and cut files to create movement and flow

My idea was to create a flow, a continuous design or motion.  The same pattern paper in the pockets helped to start that idea, and now I want to continue it with the die cuts, stickers, and cut files.  I used the Beyoutiful free subscriber cut file, cut from white cardstock, and adhered it to extend from the first pocket to the right pocket, adding in the butterflies from the same cut file and filling in with die cuts and stickers from the kit.  The 'it's the weekend' is stamped with the Life Crafted September stamp.  

I used the small 2x2 pockets for journaling and more ways to add stickers and die cuts from the kit to extend off of the pockets to create that movement and flow, as well as a creative way to include my date with more kit stickers.  The three stars stamp image is from the Travelers' Notebook September stamp.  

Using the die cuts like this allowed me to use the golden ticket die cut on three of my pockets.  Two of the 2x2 pockets above horizontally, and another part of that same die cut vertically on my photo on the right side of this spread.  To continue the movement of my spread, I added another butterfly from the Beyoutiful cut file and a die cut, trimming the excess off the side for my next pocket.  Before adding, I stamped the circle image from the Let's Wander stamp set in a complementary color, the 'no time to be bored' sentiment in black from the Travelers' Notebook September stamp, then adding the puffy stickers from the kit.

Arrows always create great motion on your projects!  For my 3x4 photo in my next pocket, I used the rest of that golden ticket vertically, with more of the kit die cuts along the edge of that photo, trimming off the excess.

Challenge 3:  Select favorite photos taken from over a weekend or a week

If you are a true Project Lifer, you may already be doing this, but if like me and tend to select photos from the same day or same event, challenge yourself to break out of that routine and maybe try documenting a weekend like I did here.  This idea really is a great at-a-glance look at the events of the weekend and also tell a story.  For the pocket on the right, I used a 3x4 card from the kit and the 'A no-spend weekend!' sentiment from the Life Crafted September stamp to journal more about the weekend.

My bottom pocket is a 4x6.  I used one of the 4x6 cards from the Life Crafted kit, and adhered my 3x4 photo on the right.  Adding stamping from the Let's Wander, more die cuts, as well as butterflies to repeat the movement and flow, creating balance also with the butterflies on the left side.

Hope you get your September Explore Life Crafted kit soon and try out these simple but great design tricks and/or break out of your pocket page routine to try documenting a weekend for your next Pocket Life spread!  Enjoy!

Time Together with Marsha

Hey friends!  Marsha here today sharing a layout in my traveler's notebook.  I used the NEW September Explore Life Crafted Kit to create this spread.  It is such a beautiful kit, and the colors are gorgeous!

Here's a look at the layout I created:

For my spread today, I documented a photo of my mom and me, taken last month.  Every year, around our birthdays, we spend a day together shopping, eating lunch at our favorite restaurant, and just enjoying the day.  It is such a fun tradition!

I began my layout by printing two of the digital Traveler's Notebook grid papers, altering them slightly in Photoshop to remove the word "FUN" from the bottom of the paper.  I love that Citrus Twist is now offering this option of digital TN papers!  Next, I chose one of the 4x6 journaling cards and trimmed it to fit in the TN.  I love the design of this card, and it works perfectly with my photo.  I also trimmed a woodgrain paper from the kit and layered it behind the journaling card.  To embellish around the photo, I did some stamping using the Explore Life Crafted Kit Stamp and added some of the ephemera pieces and puffy stickers.

To complete this area, I added some machine stitching using a zig-zag stitch.  I love the texture and interest it adds to a page!

For the title, I used the chipboard alpha and a stamp from the kit.  I added some ephemera pieces and a puffy sticker and added more machine stitching to complete the page.

This TN layout came together so quickly using this kit!

Thank you for joining me today!  Be sure to stop by the Citrus Twist Kits shop to check out the new kits and stamps!

Sunday Sketch with Kira

Hey there!  It's Kira and I am back with another Sunday Sketch.  Here's a look at our sketch this week:

My favorite part about this sketch is the sewn strips of paper, so I started with that, and sort of built my layout up from there.  Here's a look at my finished layout:

I used the September Add-on kits only for this page, and I am obsessed with all of the Maggie Holmes Heritage that is in here!  I started with the navy floral paper for my strips.  I originally cut up different patterned papers and thought I would do a variety, but I loved the navy floral so much that I decided to just stick with that.  I cut the paper up in 1/2" strips, and then cut them at varying widths.

The photos I am using are of my son at Target.  We sneak off to Target about once a week and have so much fun just browsing the aisles.  He loves the home goods areas where they usually have a few chairs set up, he calls it the "cozy spot".  So for my title I chose "together" because that is what this time at Target is all about, just us having some fun together.

I stuck pretty close to the sketch as far as placement so my pictures are set apart from each other on different levels of the page.  I bumped them both up on some foam.

I added a final strip of paper at the top of my page.  Then I did some simple embellishing with the die cut pack and sticker book.

I can't wait to see how you interpret this sketch!  Make sure to tag us on social media and share in our Facebook group!

xo,