Pocket life sketch Friday with Diane

I don't know why I don't use enlarged photos more often as I REALLY love the look. The truth is: I had to enlarge this photo because I didn't really have many photos for this week. So, double win! I stuck with a really neutral scheme using pieces from the October Citrus Twist Kits Pocket Life kit with pops of lavender and copper. There was a slight mistake on my behalf when I stitched in the wrong week number, blonde moment! But luckily it was easy to recreate the title card using that lovely script stamp from the kit.

Here are a few close ups...

And here's the sketch for you to work with ...

Check out my process video of how this layout came together... 

Thanks for visiting Pocket Life Friday, where every week we share PL sketches and a chance to win. For your chance to win, create a layout based on the sketch in this blog post, post your layout to our Gallery or our Facebook Fan Page by Friday, October 28th 2016. Be sure to include PL 10/21 in the title!

A Simple Layout with Jen Chapin

Hi everyone! Jen here, and today I'm sharing a quick layout created with the October kits about my son at 4 years old.

I used the Crate Paper patterned paper and adhered it to the top of a piece of white cardstock. I used a single photo that was printed at a bit less than 4x6 and adhered that to the top half of the layout.

For my title, I used one of the large chipboard words from the add-on kit, as well as some of the Pinkfresh alphas from the Pocket Life kit. I wasn't sure going into this page how the title was going to turn out but I ended up loving it! My journaling was printed on paper and trimmed into strips.

I also scattered some chipboard stickers across the layout, along with enamel dots and a bit of mist.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today! I hope you are enjoying your October kits!

Feeling autumnal with Suse

Hey, sweet friends! Today I'm getting in an autumnal mood with a bit of a 'go to' layout design of mine: one featuring lots of pretty hand-cut leaves, falling fairly randomly on my page.

I'll be honest with you: it took me three attempts to get this background looking how I wanted it! Those mixed media ladies make it look so easy, don't they? 

I wanted to use modelling paste over my leaf templates, then brush on subtle washes of colour, before adding lots of splatters. What I found tough was knowing when to stop and with the first two sodden attempts, I definitely got too carried away!

I wanted my leaves to feel as if they were among the ones being thrown up in the air by Kitty in the photo... I'm not sure I achieved it, but I do love the relaxed, haphazard feel of all the layers. 

And there were plenty of beautiful patterns and textures in the October 'Waverly' kit to get really stuck in with! I do love the extra details in our kits like the buttons and the beautiful trim.

My final cute touch was this little bird that I fussy-cut from the Maggie Holmes Gather 'Kindred' paper - isn't it sweet, sitting there, turned away from all the action?

I'd really recommend having a play with shapes inspired by nature. Oak leaves have a lovely shape too, and there are all sorts of flower shapes that can look lovely treated in this random, layered way. 

It's a look that really is hard to get wrong, because nature gets it so right in the first place. Happy scrapping, gang!

Tuesday Tutorial - DIY Template for Hand-stitching

Hello! It's Tara here sharing an easy tutorial today. I fell in love with Mira's 'Let's Get Digital' file this month. I don't own a cutting machine, so I decided to use it as a template for hand-stitching. You can use this method for anything you would like to stitch - just print out the words/phrases, re-size, and go!

The supplies you need are:

• paper piercer
• mouse pad or soft mat
• needle
• thread
• printed phrase
• removable adhesive

After printing out the re-sized digital file, I used some removable adhesive to attach it to my 4x6 card.

I tried to space most of my holes consistently, but not too far apart. I didn't worry too much about measurements. This part took a little longer than I expected! Also, you may need to use more pressure if you are using your tool over a few layers of paper or on photos.

Tip: Do not place holes too close together! I didn't think about it too much and when I started stitching, the small space between a couple holes ended up giving way. Don't fret if this happens to you, just keep on going. With practice it gets easier and no one will be able to tell the difference.

I found that using a back stitch was the easiest way to hand-stitch. If you're new to hand-stitching, Amy Tangerine has a great tutorial with some helpful tips!

Here is a look at my finished 4x6 card:

I really love the "hello, I love you" title paired with a "3" stamp from my stash documenting my son's third birthday.

An up close look:

I added a couple enamel dots from the October Sprinkles Kit to dot my "i" and cover up a little oopsie.

I hope you give hand-stitching a try! I found it relaxing to stitch while watching television or listening to a podcast. Once I got started, I was able to get into a good rhythm and was done in no time.

Have a lovely day!

Xxo, Tara

Wendy Morris-Saponaro | Stamping Simplicity and Watercolor Dreams

Hello all and Happy Monday!  Wendy here to share up some simple stamping and watercolor fun.  Let's kick start the week with a bit of watercolor and stamping.  I love all things watercolor and lately I've committed to getting back into my artistic flow along with a new watercolor set in hand, I'm gonna make it happen.  Investing in a nice palette of watercolors is all worth it for colors that are vivid, vibrant, and crisp.

My 9"x12" layout, "Life is Lovely", was created using the October 2016 kit(s) and the stamp set from the October 2016 Scrapbook Main kit.

My husband, Vincenzo, and I recently went to Europe last month for 2+ weeks to visit family.  One of my sister-in-laws lives on the beautiful island, Isola d'Elba (founded by Napoleon) in Italy.  It was the quite literally the island of dreams. The type of island where there is not a bridge and you put your car on a boat to travel one hour to the island.  Yeah, epic.

I wanted to simply capture the beauty of the memory with an airy watercolor touch and stamped words or phrases to transpire my emotion at that time.  I love it when a kit has so many elements (i.e. diecuts, phrases, cork shapes, etc) that flow so well together in creating a magical feel to my layout.

I added some floral stems and sprigs from the Pinkfresh Indigo Hills puffy stickers (October 2016 Pocket Life Kit) and coordinating diecut shapes (October 2016 Main Kit).  Also, the stamped floral stems from the CTK exclusive stamp set (October 2016 Main Kit) were a nice touch that matched perfectly.

Then, as a finishing touch, I added some handmade 'enamel dots' using the Nuvo Crystal Drops (Neptune).  Those drops are addicting!

Hope I inspired you to grab your watercolors and stamps for some simple fun!

Wendy

Sunday Sketch with Lilith

Hello everyone. It's Lilith with my very first blogpost for Citrus Twist. I can't tell you how excited I am to be on this amazing team. Today is Sunday which means it is SKETCH TIME. 

Of all the sketches planned for this month this one spoke to me the least and that made it THE SKETCH to work with because I LOVE being challenged. 

The first thing which I found challenging was the large photo. It is very rare that I use large photos and I didn't really want to so I came up with a way of still have a large centered element but didn't use one photo. I grouped 4 photos to create my larger piece and worked from that. 

To play along with this week's sketch challenge, create a layout inspired by the sketch, upload it to the CTK Gallery with today's date (10/16) in the title, and you will be eligible to win a $5 gift certificate to the CTK Store!

3 to Inspire with Aimee

Yay! It's my favourite day of the week with my ALL TIME favourite challenge to host!

Oh yeah, doesn't it feel good! Okay, it probably feels better for me because I've done the challenge and I don't mean to toot my own horn here, but in the many years I've been here at Citrus Twist, 3 of my top 5 layouts have been made for Citrus Twist. Today we make it 4.

Here is your challenge should you choose to accept it:

1. Pick a shape and go wild with it.

2. Use Twine - preferably from your kit packing.

3. Use something from a past kit.

Did you read it all in the mission impossible voice? I did when I wrote it. 

Originally, I thought I was going to make a layout titled "My Busy Little Bee", hence the hexagons. I got as far as constructing the 'honeycomb', when I decided to change the photo and the title didn't work anymore. Good thing it looks like a pretty quilt. In fact if your struggling with this challenge that would be a good place to start - search quilts on Pinterest for great ideas on how to go wild with shapes.

The twine for my layout has 2 great uses not only is it a pretty bow that adds great texture and movement to the page, its also a great way to hang the tassels in this months scrapbooking kit.

For the challenge to use a past kit, I choose a few pieces of left over ephemera from the Maggie Holmes Gather pack. It was in last months "Maggie" Scrapbook kit. I swear one day I'll use up an entire ephemera pack. It hasn't happened yet, but you know... we should all have goals.

I really hope you love this layout as much as I do and I really look forward to seeing your take on the challenge. Remember: Use the three prompts to create your own projects and share them with us here in the gallery and/or our Facebook Forum. Better still there is Instagram too! Don't forget to tag @citrustwistkits and hashtag #citrustwistkits #ctk3toinspire.

Aimee Xx