Everyday Documenting with Nathalie

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today with a new new pages using the beautiful Fresh Starts kit and the Life Crafted album.   Are you loving  the new album?!  Honestly, what is not to love about it, i mean it is versatile, compact and a time saver.  So today, i want to give  you a few quick ideas on how to use the kit and the album when documenting every day details.

I love large titles, so I took advantage of the 3x8 card that is included in the Fresh Starts kit to build this simple page about my daughter's 16th birthday picture.

I tool advantage of this month's TN stamp and This is Life stamp to build upon the title.  Since this is  all about my wishes for her, what better way than to add  a few flying wishes - dandelion seeds- to the background.

To keep the clean look of the page, i added my journal to a tag that is hidden behind the picture in a vellum pocket.  A few of the stickers from the kit complete this page.

Love how this turned out, and how fast it is to put together!, but since i am all about everyday documenting in this new format, i went ahead and added a new entry on the following page, this time is all about my son's new haircut (FINALLY!)

Once again i went for a simple but striking look for this page.   I reached for the Spencer Alpha and Outline stamps for this page, as i wanted to create a bold title for the page.

I decided to trim the picture into a circle so that it becomes the focus of the page.    Next it was all about using the large alpha stamps to create the title around the picture.  First i stamped the top word using the bold alpha, and then used the outline alpha to create the next word by stamping them on one of the patterned papers and fussy cutting them.

The beauty of CTK stamps is how flexible they are! so, i used a few sentiments from the add on and TN stamps to complete the circle around picture. Then i added a few extra stickers using foam adhesive -LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to add dimension in this new format-

I love how simple these entries are, and how easy they come together in the Life Crafted album, the following video will give you a more in-depth look on how they came together:

Remember to stop by Citrus Twist Kits to check the kits and the album, soon you will see the new kit (gorgeous one , btw!).  As always if you have questions on how these came together, leave me a comment.

XO

Let's Get Digital with Amanda!

Hi CTK Friends! 

I hope you're loving all the fabulous inspiration with the new Life Crafted Kit!
I am SO excited by this new fresh look for memory keeping, but I am also very much a 12 x 12 scrapbooker by heart! So even though this month's Digital Cut Files are perfectly created for your Life Crafted album - I've edited the size of the Retro Circle Border digital file for today's post and created this.....

"Good Vibes Only"

Oh wow!!!

You can see that Life Crafted is very much for the 12 x 12 scrappers too! 

CTK Supplies: Life Crafted January 2019 Kit - Fresh Starts, Scrapbook Add On Kit, January 2019 This Is Life "New Beginnings" Stamp, Subscriber Exclusive Digital Cut File - Retro Circle Border, Subscriber Exclusive 2019 January Printable.  

Other Supplies: Shimmerz Paints: Vibez - Jeni Be Bleu, Hermit the Frog, & Deep Blue Sea, Umbrella Crafts Premium Dye Ink - Green, Versa Ink - Lime, & Bakers Twine. 

TIP: 

To download any of the CTK Subscriber Exclusive Digitals or Printables, you must be signed into your account, before selecting the Subscriber Workshop tab. Once you've done this, scroll down the page and click the item you wish to download. 

To create this amazing layout I start by enlarging the digital file, and replicating it. This is so I have two sets of circles to work with. Before I remove the Retro Circles Borders from my cutting mat, I treat them with a few sprays of Shimmerz Vibez - as shown below.....

Lots of messy fun here! 

You'll notice that I have washi tape on the sides of my cardstock, the purpose is two fold. 

1. My mat isn't quite as sticky as I'd like it to be, so the washi tape aids to keep my cardstock in position and, 

2. It also aids against paper warping when I add all that paint. 

Once dry, I remove the Retro Circles Borders cuts, as well as the negatives. Be sure to keep the negatives, as I use quite a few of these left over circles on the left hand side of my layout.

I use pretty pattern papers from both kits to trim the top and base of my layout. Next, I glue 95% of one Retro Circle Border to my page, trimming away the excess along the right hand side of my layout. Using the gorgeous leaves stamps included in the "This Is Life" New Beginnings Stamp, I add lots of lime and green foliage to the layout base. Those stamped leaves are really something! Such beautiful details! 

Next, I glue down the left over 'negative cuts' from the Retro Circles Borders, and foam mount the odd one or two. I just love how effective this looks! With circles as a dominant shape in my design, it seemed a no brainer to use the circular frame from the Dear Lizzy Die Cut Shapes (included in the Scrapbook Add On Kit) for my sweet girl's photo. I also needed an accent color - something with a lil warmth to balance and cut through all those cool greens and blues. The answer was that fabulous golden Hello Love chipboard sticker. This is from the CTK exclusives included in the Life Crafted - Fresh Starts Kit. And even better, it's a circle too! Love it! 

I fussy cut a few of the Dear Lizzy Die Cut Shapes so that they better suit my design. In particular, the Good Vibes Only title piece. I have snipped away the cacti so it now mimics my stamping and flatters my photo! For finishing touches, I also add that pretty green tag from the Subscriber Exclusives for January and the Tiny Word Stickers from the Life Crafted Kit. 

Simple. Beautiful. Life Crafted! 

I hope my layout has inspired you today! 

Life Crafted is all about you and your stories - so craft it your way! 

I can't wait to see what you create! 

Be sure to share your projects with these beautiful kits & Subscriber Exclusive Digitals & Printables in the Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fan Page HERE! 

Thanks so much for visiting today! 

Til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, Amanda xo 

Sunday Sketch with Kira

Hey friends!  It's Kira and I am back with my take on this month's Sunday Sketch!

I am such a sucker for a good grid layout and today's sketch is no exception.  It's a grid layout with some fun little twists to it.

Since the sketch is in a vertical format, and I typically scrap in 8.5x11, I decided to stick fairly close to the original sketch.  I first decided on my color scheme, and was mostly inspired by the heart die cuts included in the Life Crafted die cut pack.

I used the polka dot paper included in the LC kit to border the top and bottom edge of my page.  Since the paper is only 8" long and my layout is 8.5" wide, I layered the paper a bit to give it a fun look.  I added some machine stitching over top of it, which is a recurring theme throughout this page.

I pulled in some of the same polka dot paper to layer behind one of my three photos (which are of my youngest son on a trip to the zoo).  Then used the three tone paper included in the LC kit to add pops of color around my layout, including some "photo corners" in yellow, a frame in pink and yellow and a scalloped piece in mint.

I used some of the labels, die cuts and chipboard to embellish my page.  Since there wasn't much to say about these photos, I left journaling off the page, opting instead for a simple label stating "San Antonio Zoo".

 I finished off the page with some black splatters to tie in some of the black from my photos.  I can't wait to see how you interpret the sketch!

xo, Kira

3-to- Inspire Saturday with Trina

Hello everyone and happy weekend! Today I'm on the blog sharing a 3-to-Inspire challenge and a peek at how I'm using the new Life Crafted Album. It's time to tell your stories.

First let's begin with your 3 prompts for the challenge:

1. Use multiple formats within an album (switch up the page size, pocket format, add extras, etc.)
2. Mix elements from at least 2 kits. (Hint: I'm combining [and sneaking] elements from both the January 2019 and the February 2019 kits . . . for those of you who can't wait to see what's coming.)
3. Mix black-and-white photos together with color photos.

Now onto how I'm using my new Life Crafted Album. My main approach for memory keeping this year is using it mini album-style. My first album begins in October. (I am breaking out Christmas into it's own separate album plus any big vacations into their own albums, too.)

For the left-hand page I've punched holes into an oversize 4x8 tag. (We'll be carrying these tags in the Citrus Twist Shop beginning February 1st, plus the February Life Crafted "Love Stories" kit includes one of these tags so everyone will have the opportunity to play with one.) For my right-hand page I've inserted a small scalloped pocket that has a hidden photo tucked into the pocket. Here are some close-ups:

On the flip-side of the scalloped envelope I attached a 3x4 journaling card plus a little bit of Amy Tangerine washi tape and a chipboard heart circle. (Washi tape is great for small attachments.) I used my American Craft fringe-cutting scissors to cut fringe for the right-hand page.

Here is a close-up. (The little gold fabric star is from Maggie Holme's. Willow Lane) I twirled some thread clippings around two fingers to make a thread nest and tucked it under one of the layers and stitched it down.

Confession: This spread has quite a few elements from February 2019 Life Crafted. I used a simple grid pattern for the left-hand page. The base for my right-hand page is one of the 5x7 ledger pages that come in our Stories & Details Class and Kit (that is now on sale).

These close-ups will show you how I created my grid (and roughed up the pieces of pattern paper using my finger nail) and my journaling page. I have made a conscious decision to include more journaling in my albums this year. Since losing my dad, mom and brother over the past 5 years my sister and I have come to realize that some of the stories are gone forever when we lose loved ones. I want my daughter to read the stories behind the photos and share them with her kids one day.

Some of these stories are simple, like the walks my husband and I take Maggie on, down by the local river. We have walked so many miles on that trail!

I feel so lucky and happy that my daughter frequently sends me photos from school. They sure do brighten up my day and let me know that she is doing okay at college. The left-hand page uses the back side of the ledger page from the previous spread. The right-hand page is a traveler's notebook page that I've tucked into one of the Life Crafted Album's TN sleeves. The 4x6 photo fit perfectly at the top of the page and left room for journaling down below. NOTE: I have mass cut white base pages at standard TN-trim size plus more at 5x8.25 so I can easily grab and use them in my album.

Here are close-ups:

The flip side of the previous TN page is a partial book page trimmed to fit. I love how the black-and-white photo looks against the rustic color of the page. I fussy cut buildings from a 4x6 journaling card in the January 2019 "Fresh Start" Life Crafted kit and layered them at the base. I fussy cut my own "washi tape" strip from a piece of pattern paper. The right page remains blank because I'm not sure whether to keep the next spread in this album or move it into my Christmas album.

For this next spread I documented an accident. I fell off a ladder on our driveway and shattered my wrist. This is what my afternoon in ER looked like (there were no smiles until the pain meds came, LOL.) Crafting has been a bit of a challenge for me over the past 2 months as my right wrist heals. While the bone is fully healed, the tendons still have a ways to go. Because of this—and because one of our subscribers from the UK (thank you, Rhie!) has encouraged me to keep on crafting, even while sitting on the couch on the days my wrist is not feeling too good—my pages have been very basic of late. One of the joyful things that have come out of my fall is that the pages are coming together very quickly and this album is now filled with many stories. 

There is nothing pretty or frilly about this page but rather it's a documentation of life happening. When I couldn't use my right hand at all I found I could still type one handed...so I did.

Here are some outside shots, peeking in, of my album so far. I love how chunky it's getting inside and how I can keep adding pieces and pages to it. There is plenty of room in the album to add more, too.

I am very excited to see what you do with today's challenge and to see how you are using the new Life Crafted Kits and Albums.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Trina

Life Crafted - Fresh Starts kit - Be Fiercely You with Anna

Hi dear CTK friends! Anna here today and I'm so excited to share my latest page(s) made with the gorgeous January Life Crafted Fresh Starts kit with you. I do really love this new Life Crafted album. It's perfect for Travelers Notebook pages, Pocket Life as well as smaller regular layouts. Also the LC kit is designed to fit all kind of memory keeping: I've made regular 12x12 and letter size layouts using it, I love it! I think Trina has found the optimal documenting system.

This time I opted for a Travelers Notebook spread and here's what I came up with.

This spread I've dedicated for my youngest son. It contains some of my thoughts and prayers for him for this new year or actually his entire future.

Oh My Heart! Who can resist this golden chipboard sticker? Not me for sure, haha! And together with this teal washi sticker it's just a perfect match don't you think?

And there you have it! Now it's your time to grab your kit and start to creating, you will love it for sure. Oh, and don't forget to share your creations with us in the Facebook Fan Page so we can give you some love. Can't wait to see all your goodness!

If you haven't subscribed to your Life Crafted kit yet be sure to head over to our website right now, you won't regret it!

Thanks for visiting today! Until next time! Anna xo