Simple Traveler's Notebook techniques with Diane

There's nothing I love better than sitting down for a few quiet minutes to create a page or two in my Traveler's Notebook. And those pages don't always have to be a work of art or take hours to do.

Let me show you a few ways that I used my April Pocket Life kit to create thre simple pages in my notebook...

For this first page, I used the FOOD HAPPENS stamp set to create my own pattern on one page and then a small cluster of embellishments around my photo on the other. Adding one embellishment from the right onto the left page helps to tie the two pages together.

For my second page, I went even simpler! That cloud paper was too beautiful not to use the whole sheet, so I simply added it into my book, making sure to cut down the middle to allow the notebook to bend. I printed a large photo to go with it and then added a single journal card with washi tape on both sides. This creates a flap where you can hide your journalling underneath.

If you struggle to write straight like I do, add some lines first. I also added a tiny stamp to fill up the space at the bottom.

For my last page, I backed my photo with a journaling card and added it, along with some lovely woodgrain paper, to the right hand side of my page. Then I used the half circle stamp from the DETOURS set to stamp half and full circle across my spread. Again, this ties the two sides of the page together.

I added a couple of die cuts as my title along with some journalling and called it done!

All of these pages took me less than an hour, which in my books, is an hour well spent.

Do you have any tips for creating quick pages in your notebooks?

Pocket Life Challenge – with Melanie

Hello friends! Excited to be here today to share a fun Pocket Life challenge! I’m a strong believer that in order to stay caught up with my projects I need to keep things simple, so my challenge to you today is just that – Keep it Simple!!! 

My 2018 album is currently 9x12, I say currently because at the beginning of the year it was 6x12 but I didn’t have space for all of my stories so I switched to 9x12. I’m very tempted of going back to 12x12, which I used years ago, maybe I’ll keep that for next year! 

So far this year I’ve stayed caught, well almost, with my 2018 album. I’m about 3 weeks behind, which is really good! I think I stayed “caught up” mostly because I use more pictures and keep my design very simple.

As you will see, I used one of the 4x6 journaling card from the Savannah Pocket Life kit, for the top right pocket. I could have certainly added journaling, embellishments, even a picture to “fill” the card, but I decided to keep it as is. The title of the card says it all, “highlights”, from the week I’m documenting. I didn’t feel it needed anything else.

So I challenge you to use your cards and leave them blank, do not add journaling or embellishment, even if you feel the need to “fill” it. 

Simplicity is often the best way to go! Hope you enjoy my challenge, happy crafting!!

“Love This” Pocket Pages by Suzanna Stein

Hey there, crafty pals! I’m so excited to be back sharing another project and post here on the Citrus Twist Kits’ blog!

If you’re anything like me, you might forget to take pictures in the moment, and then find yourself trying to document small stories with only a few photos. Today, I’m going to share a few tips on how to work with just a couple photos and tell a small story in a full layout!

For this layout, I wanted to tell the story of a fun lunch date - I only took 2 photos (one before we left and one in the car), the photos are very similar, and my story isn’t super long.

A lot of everyday moments and memories end up like this, and if you’re not a weekly pocket page scrapper, these little stories can go untold.

I started out with my two photos, and then chose 6 cards from the kit that I liked together. I chose the placement of my photos - because these two photos are so similar, I chose to put them on opposite ends of the layout.

When deciding on the “ratio” of cards, I used this model: 2 decorative, 2 title, 2 journaling.

By following a layout model, or ratio, for layouts like this, I am able to go into it with a plan and not feel lost or overwhelmed. I started by embellishing my decorative cards, since this was the simplest step.

Then, I moved to embellishing my photos.

From there, I worked on my title cards - I used one for a very descriptive “title” or large sentiment, and the other for a general sentiment that described how I felt about the story I was telling.

I’m a person of few words when it comes to my layouts. I usually go with a sentence or two and let the photos tell the story. With a story like this, where the photos don’t tell very much, except who I was with, using your feelings on the moment can make a huge difference!

Thinking outside the box with the cards you choose can also make a big difference. The “Here & Now” grid card was perfect because there isn’t a ton of journaling on that card, but when you’re looking at it, it seems as though it tells a big part of the story of this layout!

I also used stamps to fill in empty spaces on cards throughout the layout. It’s a subtle step, but makes a huge difference in the overall layout.

I really love the way this layout turned out and am so happy I documented this small everyday moment. These are the memories I love to look back on, and I know in the future, I won’t care how many photos I had, how similar they were, etc. All that matters is that the story was documented!

Whether the memory is huge and you have tons of photos, or it’s a small everyday moment with just a photo or two - I encourage you to document it and don’t be afraid of using an entire layout for it - every memory is special!

I’ll be sharing more crafty goodness with the Savannah kit throughout the month over on Instagram!
Thanks for reading!

- Suzanna

Meet our April Guest Designer & Sunday Sketch with Suzanna Stein

Today we are so excited to share with you our April Guest Designer, Suzanna Stein!

Born and raised in California, I have always had a love of sunshine. I try to reflect that sunshine and positivity into everything I do.

In 2014 I was diagnosed with Behcet Disease, a rare autoimmune disease. As my Behcet progresses, it has started to affect my central nervous system causing loss of memory among other things. Because of this, I am SO thankful for the ability to document my favorite memories as they happen to help me remember even the smallest of details. I like to think it turns a less-than-perfect situation into something pretty darn perfect! It is my dream to share happiness with others and remind those struggling that your weaknesses do not define you! No matter what you are facing, tomorrow is another day, and you will make it through it!

I’m a bit of a coffee snob, Harry Potter obsessed, and a lover of animals. I'm silly more than serious, love to laugh, and hate wearing socks.  If you want to know more about me, you can visit my personal blog Noodoso.

Q&A with Suzanna

When did you start scrapbooking?

I started scrapbooking around the age of 8 with my step-mom, but I’ve been a creative person my entire life. I took a break from scrapping/memory keeping during high school and college, but was still doing other crafty things during that time (like bookbinding!). I picked scrapbooking back up around 2014 and have been at it ever since!

What is something most people would not know about you?

For someone that shares so much online, there are actually quite a few things people probably don’t know about me. One of the biggest, least crafty things though - I was in graduate school for Functional Medicine and Human Nutrition before having to take a break due to my health. It’s still one of my biggest goals to go back and become a Functional Nutritionist, helping people with autoimmune diseases develop diet plans that work with their bodies and needs.

What are three scrapbooking products you can’t live without?

I cannot live without my tiny roller date stamp, word strip stickers, and gold craft mist! You can find all three of things on almost every project I create.

What do you love about the Savannah kit?

I absolutely love the summer vibes of the Savannah kit, but even more so, I love that the sentiments are so versatile! Rather than having a very specific theme of love or friendship, etc. the Savannah kit has sentiments and die cuts that you can use for most occasions and relationships!

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

If you could see my scrapbooking space now, you’d laugh. It looks nothing like the pretty pictures you see here - it looks like a crafty tornado hit!

And here is a little peek into her gorgeous space (tornado or not, we still love it!)!

      

     

And now onto our Sunday Sketch..

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Hey crafty pals, Suzanna here! I am so excited to be the April guest designer and to get to play with the gorgeous Savannah kit! Using the sketch and the Pocket Life kit, I created a 12x12 layout that is super colorful and feels like Spring!

Here's a look at our sketch for today:

I used the sketch as a guideline, and modified little things here and there to put my own style on the layout. Rather than using one photo, I used two smaller photos and placed them side-by-side. I love that this adds to the texture, dimension, and a whimsical feeling to the overall project!

Following the sketch, I created one main strip on the page as the focal point. From there, I added layers to the layout, as well as behind my photos. I used lighter colors down the strip and tied in the black with the bold spotted patterned paper behind my photos - I love how this makes the photos pop amongst all the layers and embellishments.

I love clustering my embellishments. I created small clusters of hearts, sentiments, pieces from the cut apart sheet, and some tiny gold hearts that I punched from a piece of gold paper I had in my stash.

I typed my journaling and cut it into strips, then adhered it toward the bottom of the page, as shown in the sketch.

I finished off the layout with splatters of gold craft mist, and love how it tied in the gold from the tiny hearts!

I had so much fun creating this layout using the Sunday sketch! I can’t wait to see what you create with it as well!

I’ll be back later in the month for more crafty inspiration using the Savannah kit. In the mean time,  you can follow along with me over on Instagram where I will be sharing more projects with this kit! xo, Suzanna