Let's Get Digital with Kira

Hey friends!  It's Kira and I am back with a new scrapbook layout using some of the digitals available in the Citrus Twist Kits shop. Here's a look at my layout:

I started by cutting out the Chasing Rainbows cut file (which is a subscribers only cut file...another reason to subscribe my friends!)on white cardstock.  I sized it at 7.5" wide so it would fit nicely on my page with a tiny bit of room on each side of it.  I used washi to adhere it to my page where it would eventually be glued down, and then used my piercing tool to punch holes in my background paper where I would eventually stitch with embroidery floss.

The stitching went really quickly since they were such basic lines.  I stuck with a muted rainbow that coordinated with colors in the Life Crafted kit.  Once the stitching was complete, I used some liquid adhesive and glued the cut file to the background.

I decided to scrapbook a recent photo of me sunbathing on my new outdoor reclining chair (so I apologize for the very pale legs featured on this page).  It was so nice for a few weeks here, that I thought I could tan a little for our trip next month...but the weather has been pretty dismal since I took that photo.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the weather warms up again soon!

I used the blue puffy stickers for my title "Sun Shiny Days".  Then I created three clusters around the page using the floral cut aparts.  I layered some die cuts and stickers around the flowers but I really like how the yellow flowers draw your eye around the page.

I finished the layout by adding some yellow splatters around the page.  And that's it!  Tell me, what are YOUR favorite digitals from this month's selection?

xo, Kira

Traveler's Notebook Challenge with Marsha

Hey friends!  Marsha here today, and I'm excited to share a TN challenge with you.  For my layout, I used the May Life Crafted "Excursions" Kit, the This is Life "Free Spirit" Stamps, and the digital Free Spirit stamps.

Here's a look at my TN layout:

My challenge for you is to use the digital stamps and hand stitching in your traveler's notebook.  I used the colorful leaf patterned paper as inspiration for this page.  To begin the layout, I used Photoshop to enlarge and recolor the leaf stamp from the digital Free Spirit stamps.  I printed it on vellum at about 3 inches wide.  Using a piercing tool, I followed the edges of the image and did a simple back stitch using white embroidery floss.  This took extra time, but I love how it turned out!  I adhered it to the page using liquid glue, being careful to only add the glue to the stitching so it would not show through the vellum.

For the other side of the page, I adhered my photo to a tag from the ephemera pack.  I used some other die cuts from the pack to embellish the page, adding staples and twine for interest and texture.

Using the Free Spirit stamp set, I stamped some leaves using two different colors of ink to match the layout.  I fussy cut them and tucked them under the edge of the photo.  It's always fun to add stamped embellishments to a project.

For the title, I trimmed one of the die cuts and used the aqua mint puffy alpha stickers to finish it off.  I added a few more stamps from the stamp set and stamped the date at the bottom of the spread.

Here's a final look at the completed project:

Thank you for joining me today!  I hope you will try adding a digital stamp and hand stitching to your next TN spread.  Be sure to share your project using this challenge on the Citrus Twist Kits Fan Page on Facebook or using #citrustwistkits on Instagram.

Digital Journaling Cards as TN Pages by Patricia

Hope everyone is beginning to feel some sun come their way, if not the Life Crafted May Excursions kit will help to add some sunshine to your day regardless of the memories you document with it!  It is one of my most favorite kits!  Today I'm sharing Traveler's Notebook pages using the May Life Crafted Digital Journaling Cards as the base for my pages.

Having that option of both the original cards in the Life Crafted kits, as well as the digital cards gives you not only duplicates, but also great ways to get creative with them.  I wondered if it would work to print out cards in portrait/vertical orientation to be a one layer base page for my TN!  I also thought about if you didn't have a program to use any of the other digital files available, but had a printer, that this could be a really easy and practical way of just opening the file and printing it.  For my left page, I used a 4x6 and 3x4 combination.  For my right page I used 3, 3x4 cards.  

My pages trimmed down perfectly to a slightly smaller width to a full TN size, and then added stitching all the way around each page.  I can now easily adhere these pages to a pre-made TN or my Life Crafted Album.  With my base pages already filled in, it was just a matter of adding layers, a photo, and journaling to finish.  To create layers on the digital 3x4 sun journaling card, I detail cut the sun from the original 3x4 journaling card.  Then I was able to just stamp right over the digital 3x4 sun journaling card creating my 'waves' in three shades of blue ink using the image from the Free Spirit stamp set.  Then foam adhered the fussy cut sun to make it look like the sun is setting in the water!  Came out exactly how I hoped it would.

I purposely picked the 4x6 card with the tropical leaves, because I knew I wanted this spread to be all about a beach vacation.  I stamped several of that same leaf image from the Free Spirit stamp set.  Some in solid blue, and then I started using two inks, using the lighter color first all over the image, then dipping the edges of the stamp into a darker shade before stamping.  You can see in the video below, how I got this look.

I used my typewriter to type my journaling on the bottom 3x4 card, added the sentiment 'Sunshine & Water' from the Travelers Notebook stamp set available this month.  I used that same stamp set to stamp sentiments along the inside edge of my pages along with the May Life Crafted Kit labels.

I trimmed my photo down to fit with a slight border around it on the 4x6 whitespace of the card, then added stamping, a die cut from kit, and more of the leaves I stamped and fussy cut.  

Thank you for stopping by the Citrus Twist Kits blog today.  Hope you are enjoying either some sun or some relaxation, and definitely get a chance to document some memories using this amazing kit!  You can watch my video of how this came together below or in HD on my YouTube Channel here.

Sunday Sketch with Anna

Hi dear CTK friends! Anna here with you today to share this weeks Sunday Sketch. This is my favorite challenge. I love to kick start my layouts using a sketch, makes everything so much easier.

Well, let's have a look at our super inspiring sketch.

I've sticked pretty close to the sketch for my design. All the papers and other goodies are from the May Life Crafted Excursion Kit. Also I've used a circle sentiment stamp from the Life Crafted This Is Life - Free Spirit set.

Ok, let's have a look at what I came up with.

Who can resist a polka dot paper and especially a pink one?! At least I can't, lol! I imidiately fell in love with this gorgeous design.

Also I have a big crush on these absolutely amazing mint-aqua puffy alphas, gorgeous right!?

So much to love in this months kit (I know I say the same every month but that's the truth! Trina is the best kit maker EVER) beautiful puffy stickers and ditto die cut pieces. I'm in scrapbook heaven!

This mountain/landscape puffy sticker has a special place in my scrappy heart, I can't even! Also it worked just perfect for my page this time ( I may have choosen a photo that fitted this puffy sticker..lol)

Of course theres some tabs and labels in the ephemera/die cut pack. You never can get too many of these, that's for sure.

And there you have it! Now it's your turn and don't forget to share with us on CTK Fan Page and /or Instagram @citrustwistkits #citrustwistkits. We can't wait to see what magic you'll create.
Be sure to head over to the CTK shop and grab some goodies or maybe sign up for a subscription, you'll absolutely love it!

Until next time! Anna xo

3 to Inspire with Suzanna

Hey friends, Suzanna here! I'm so excited to share my 3 to Inspire post with you today. I really love this month's Life Crafted kit and had so much fun putting this layout together.

If you've followed along with me on Instagram or here on the CTK blog, you'll know I love love love my Life Crafted Album. I'm a big fan of traveler's notebook layouts and love the fact that I can create them without the bulk of a bound notebook!

For today's 3 to Inspire project our three are:

1. Torn Edges

2. Tabs

3. Stamping

Funny enough, all three of my pieces ended up on the left side of my layout. Using torn patterned papers from the kit, I created a layered panel. Tucked between each of the layers is a label with a simple word or phrase that described the story of my layout.

On the right side of my layout, I included a piece of that same patterned paper, again with a torn edge. This gave the layout a cohesive look that flows well. I also added a label to highlight the simple date stamp.

I finished the layout off with a couple embellishment clusters and a splattering of gold craft mist.

I hope this layout gave you a few ideas for your next project. I'll be back later this month with more crafty inspiration!

Big Plans | Life Crafted With Theresa

Hello Lovelies! Theresa here with a Life Crafted layout for you using the May Excursions Life Crafted kit. I am absolutely loving the size and format of this fun album! For today's layout I wanted to work with a grid and a bit of stamping, so let's get started!

For the left side of my layout I had the back of a watercolor paper that I simply inserted into the album. This became the springboard for a grid of elements. My photo felt really creamy and pink, so I added the floral cut outs and other pink die cuts to the page.

I love using a grid for the simplicity of it! For this one I placed the center element first, then the three elements above, and mirrored the three elements below. I also left room in between for adding stamped words and sentiments. I have used the Life Crafted stamp set included with the Excursions kit this month.

On the right hand side I began with the black and white patterned paper. This is the perfect background paper and I had so much fun layering photo + die cuts on top.

Look at all these luscious layers and colors. The tags, tickets, labels, and floral die cuts all come together so easily on these pages!

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have you been using your Excursions kit this month? We would love to see, so be sure to share and tag us! See you again soon!

Meet our May Guest Design - Lorilei Murphy

We're super excited to share this month's Guest Designer with you - the super talented, Lorilei Murphy!  We have been such big fans of her creative projects for so long - Lorilei always amazes us with her stunning work and this month is definitely no different!

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GET TO KNOW LORILEI

Hi there!  I am Lorilei Murphy (pronounced Lauralee), and I live in the country just north of Calgary, Alberta with my husband and 15 yr old daughter!  I love to create and adore all things related to memory keeping.  I have the privilege of working with some wonderful companies such as Crate Paper, Pinkfresh Studio and Felicity Jane as a design team member and enjoy being part of the community!

Q&A WITH LORILEI

When did you start scrapbooking?

I officially started scrapbooking in June of 2017!  Over the years I have dabbled occasionally, but I could never really figure it out until then!  I had been doing Project Life for a couple of years before I started scrapbooking.

What is something most people would not know about you?

I suppose most people wouldn't know that my left arm is held together with screws at the elbow.  Five years ago fell and shattered my elbow and the surgeon put it back together the best he could, my arm is permanently bent at an angle.  I still think about straightening my arm!

What are the 3 scrapbooking products you can’t live without?

Foam/Dimensional Adhesive (love me some layers), Busy Bee Scissors (love me some fussy cutting) and White Cardstock for backgrounds!!

What do you love about the May Life Crafted “Excursions” kit?

I made two projects with the May Scrapbooking Add-On kit; I love how well everything co-ordinates (I tend to be matchy-matchy) and how many products are in the kit!  I adore the Life Crafted Albums, and the new page protectors are fabulous!!

Finish this sentence "If you could see my scrapbooking space right now . . . "

Is clean!!  I usually clean up in between projects so that I can start with a clean slate when I head down to my craft room.  In the middle of projects, it is a disaster!!

And here is just a look into her beautiful creative space:

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For my 2nd project with the May Scrapbook Add-On I made a 12x12 layout featuring the All Heart collection by Crate Paper.  I decided to make a painted background inspired. by the gorgeous colors in All Heart.

I added two photos and a chipboard "photo" onto a line with some small clothespins from my stash. I knew I had to keep a good spot for the Heidi Swapp Gold phrase as well!

I decorated the photos with chipboard, puffy stickers and gold hearts from the Heidi Swapp stickers.

Once I was almost done I decided to add a little cluster of embellishments at the bottom of the page where the trail of paint thinned out.  The chipboard Happy was the perfect piece to built the small cluster around.

I had a fantastic time guesting for Citrus Twist Kits!  I hope you enjoyed my layout!

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If you are not already then you must make sure you are following Lorilei so you can continue to be inspired by her beautiful work! You can see more of Lorilei at: