Sunday Sketch with Ashley Fowler

Hey Everyone, Ashley here sharing a layout that I created using an amazing sketch! When I work with sketches, I usually follow the foundation of the layout, but I just love to change it up and when it comes to the embellishing (my favorite part).

Here's the sketch:

 

I used two photographs just like the sketch, and the set up of the pattern papers was almost just alike as well. I used the main scrapbook kit, the add-on, and the embellishment kit for this layout! I hope you've gained some inspiration! Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Scrappy 'Sketchy' Sunday!

 

To play along this week and for a chance to win $5 to spend at the CTK Store, upload your projects based off of this week's sketch to the CTK Gallery.  You have until September 13th and please include "Sketch 9/7" in the discription.

Kit love with Christin

Hello and welcome to this month’s kit love.  I didn’t have the chance to really dig into my  kit until last weekend when I went to a crop to meet up with lots of nice ladies and a man.  I love going to these small crops, however it’s a nightmare to pack for these events. I dare to show you my bags, but I can show you my table you were I worked with this month’s kit.  I have worked mostly with the main kit and the Embellishment kit, but this month’s I wanted more so I bought all the kits… Click here to see this month's kits and add-ons.



When I go to crops I like to come prepared so I don’t just sit there and look at my bags and don’t really know what I want to do.  The way I work preparing for crops is also something I have started doing at home when I get a kit.   I start by dividing all the papers, embellishments and alphabet into piles and thereby making small minikits for each planned layout and put them in a plastic bag. That way I will see if I miss out on any embellishments.  This month I was lucky enough to have a readymade background that could be used and I picked and embellishments to go with that background.  The colors in the kit this month are light, but I wanted a picture with strong colors so I used a background with hot pink and added all that was pink into that pile.

Here you will see a sneak peek of  the finish layout – the rest of it you can see in the gallery)



Since I didn't have any more backgrounds I started to plan the backgrounds for my next three layouts based on the colors in the papers. I ended up with one with aqua/black tones, one with aqua/grey/black tones and the last with brown/aqua.  

Here is the kit I picked for layout two. (I got a little inspired at the crop and I am sorry that I forgot to show you how I picked out the pieces for layout 2 and 3.  All my layouts are available in the gallery.)



Sneak peek of the finished layout.
I usually cover up most of my backgrounds so they are not so visible so here  are a few closeups of the backgrounds used in these minikits.



Last I want to show you my little spot at the crop. I am a very messy scrapper and things tend to take over my desk… (My spot stops before the pink lamp...) Here I have worked with the kit for one evening and one day. (you can see pieces of the kit here and there...) It was a very productive weekend. Not often I end up with 7 layouts in one weekend. This month's kit was perfect for this crop.

Pocket Life with Jen

Happy Friday and happy September! I've been busily working through the final weeks of summer in our family album before my favorite season, autumn, moves in. Today I am sharing my week 34 using the gorgeous September Pocket Life and Pocket Life Embellishment kits. I may have squealed a bit when I opened my box this month and saw the new packaging. The beautifully presented, stamped muslin bag was like receiving a gift in the mail. In fact, that's exactly the feel of this kit! Lovely soft patterns and so many embellishments that it feels like the ultimate selection from a favorite scrappy boutique. Love...

The Pocket Life stamp set this month contains two of my new favorite CTK stamps ever: Noteworthy and Current events, in beautiful calligraphy with check boxes. One of my favorite ways to use the kit stamps is to add them to decorative labels.

I'd be hard pressed to choose a favorite embellishment this month, though the exclusive wood veneers are fantastic, and what a treat to have four complete alphabets along with word stickers!

 Here are your sketches this week. Happy scrapping!

How to use . . . with Amélie

Hi there! Here is Amélie and today I will share with you some tips to use crepe paper! As you probably saw this month, in your  main kit, you will have a piece of crepe paper. I really love having supplies that are unusual. I love to think at how I can use this or that to give to my creations something different!
Crepe paper is perfect to add texture and relief to your creations!
I will share with you three creations using crepe paper! This might inspire you!

First this layout, I use crepe paper in the layering under my picture.

 
 

Now my second layout! On this one, I use crepe paper to make a background. I simply cut some stripes of crepe paper on stick them on my cardstock. You also can stitch them on your cardstock!














And at least, this little card. I use a rest of crepe paper to create a bow:

I hope this post give you some inspiration.
See you soon.
Amélie

A View from Our Gallery: Sinead Healy

We are back today with our View from Our Gallery post. Did you know that Citrus Twist Kits is running a Gallery upload contest from August 26th to September 30th? We want to see your creations and especially how you use the Citrus Twist kits. For each layout you upload to our Gallery during this time frame, you'll earn one entry into a drawing for 1 embellishment grab bag valued at $100.

We have built a challenge based on Sinead's PL pages for those of you who love challenges. We love how Sinead used lots of color on her pages and especially love how she used washi tape as a design element. Our challenge to you this week is to pull out your washi tape and use it in a prominent way on a project. 

These pages were created using the January "Magic Days" PL Kit. I loved the Print Shop 6 x 6 paper pad which was included in this kit.

The design was inspired by the gold doilies in the kit. I like the combination of the vibrant colours with a pop of gold. I also like to include the beautiful twine that is tied around the kits in my pages. I adore the designs of the exclusive Citrus twist 3 x 4 cards, so if I can't use them all I cut them up and use them as an extra embellishment.

Thank you Sinead for sharing your beautiful, colorful pages in the Citrus Twist Gallery!

September Reveal at Citrus Twist Kits

We have switched our monthly reveal to the 1st of each month at 10 p.m. PST. You can now visit and view the new monthly kits at the beginning of the month. Our subscriber presale still runs beginning on the last day of each month at 10 p.m. PST. You can view our September kits here. You'll also get to see our new refreshed website design.

Be sure to visit our September 1st blog to see who is guest designing at Citrus Twist this month! We will be giving away one of her 5 favorite products in a drawing.

Christmas Daily kits are coming soon and will become available for sale during presale for our subscribers on September 30th. We are offering two kits: one for PL'ers and one for traditional scrapbookers. Our Christmas Daily kits are affordable, too. Those kit subscribers who order a Christmas Daily will get their Christmas kit shipped with their November subscription. Non kit subscribers can begin purchasing the kits following reveal.

Other news? For our PL-only subscribers we have lowered shipping. New rates* are as follow:

• U.S. and APO addresses $6.25
• Canada $9.00
• International $15.00

(*Note: when you first place your new PL subscription, our Main kit shipping price will appear in your cart and we'll issue a refund for the shipping difference: U.S. $2, Canada $3, International $4)

The style of our Pocket Life kit has changed a bit to make this pricing decrease possible. We are also adding new embellishments. The PL kits are available by subscription at $19.50 per month, plus shipping. Let's start off with a picture of this month's "A Reason to Smile" PL kit:

This month's "Free Spirit" Main kit is like a farewell to summer celebration. There are many sweet touches to this kit:

September's add-on kit is "I Want to Play." It's fresh with bright pops of pink, lovely printed cork, chipboard, printed vellum, 2 alphabets and more:

"Spread Your Wings" embellishment kit pairs perfectly with our Main and PL kits this month. You'll see lots of creative ways to use this kit on September's Design Team blog posts.

You'll say "Lucky Me" when you get your Pocket Life embellishment kit this month. The set of journaling cards that come with this kit are some of our favorite ever and have stitching and dimensional elements:

We have put together a Pattern Paper kit this month that is perfect for summer-to-fall transition:

Our "Stars and Labels" stamp is a twist on 5-star rating and includes stamps that you'll reach for over and over again when making labels for your projects or when you just have to do a 5-star rating:

We are eagerly awaiting this month's video reveal and will include a link on our Citrus Twist Kits Facebook page once the video arrives in our studio. The video link will be here.

We are calling for your work in our Gallery and are running a contest with the giveaway of one $100 embellishment kit grab bag when the contest ends. Your Gallery entries must be posted on or before September 30th (all Gallery posts from August 26th-September 30th will earn entries into the drawing) and you'll earn one entry in the drawing for each layout--Pocket Life or scrapbook page--you upload during the contest period.

September Guest Designer ~ Elena Stefanidou + Giveaway

Hi everyone. My name is Elena Stefanidou. I live in Greece with my husband and my 18 month old daughter. I am a teacher in a primary school. Actually I haven't worked since I had my baby but I am getting back to school in a couple of days. Still don't know how I feel about that but I guess time will tell.
I love the sea & summer, drinking coffee, pink things, funny people and my camera. I like watching tv series and taking naps on the couch.

Q&A

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

Three years ago, I came across a scrapbooking video and it caught my eye.When i realised what it was about,I felt that I had to give it a shot.Not to document my life or anything like that.I reallyneeded to create something beautiful since I've  always liked making things.I now know that it was meant to be.

2.  How would you describe your scrapbooking style? 

I don't know if there is a name for my style. I like empty space, small embellishments, simple design and lots of pink! 

3.   What scrapbookers have influenced you most?

My all time favorite scrapper was and still is Rachel Menig. But I realized that inspiration for each one of us is a combination of lots of different works of many different crafty hands.   

4.   What is your favorite thing about kit clubs?

The theme is that I don't have a craft room. I "own" a small corner in our living room. Plus I have a baby climbing everywhere all day long. All of my supplies are safely stored in boxes ,locked drawers etc. So it's a real headache having to dig into many different boxes for gathering supplies, not to mention that leaving everything as it is (eg a total mess) is not an option. But with kits, things are completely different. I open the box, (no need to remember where is what) and when I want to stop I put everything right back in. Paradise!

 

5.  What are your 5 favorite scrapbooking items?

1. Gold Heidi Swap color shine(in love)
2. Enamel dots
3. Roller Date Stamp by Shimelle(the day comes first... yay)
4. Doilies
5. Wood Veneers

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

The September kit is soft and dreamy. I loved the pinks, the golds and the mints. It's colorful but subtle and sweet. For me it is like the perfect farewell to summer. A kit to scrap the last summer photos. I think that it is exactly what I would fill my cart with! Thank you CTK :)

So, like I said before, I have a small corner in our living room to call my scrap space. This is it:

And this is a sneak of what I created with the September kit.

**You can win one of Elena's favorite things by leaving her a comment/question below in comments.**