Life Crafted | Mini Album | Video | with Patricia

Hello CTK Friends!  Today I want to share a Life Crafted project using the August Scrapbooking Add-On kit.  

This kit is a great mix of vintage soft colors but also a great mix of vibrant bold colors.  I pulled the soft colors for today's project!  I started by cutting pattern paper from the kit with the Affirmation Screen cut file.  The middle 'LOVE SELF' cuts out separately, so after backing everything, I foam adhered it to make it stand out even more.

I used the pattern paper cut out pieces from the cut file to stitch and frame my left side.  I chose a pattern paper background that was a complement to the overall colors of the blush, peach, and grey.  After adding my stamping with the Typewriter Alpha Set, and typed journaling, I started adding layers to mat under my photo.  The doily comes in the kit!  And then finished with trimming a die cut, adding stamping with Stories stamp, and embellishments from the Add-On.

The right side was perfect with the cut file cut from pattern paper and then partially backed with more pattern paper and the peach textured cardstock.  To create more motion from the cut file, I added the large butterflies from the Add-On.  

I finished the bottom with a circle chipboard from the August Life Crafted kit, and stamping with the August Traveler's Notebook stamp set in grey and black for added interest and focus on 'reality strikes.'  I added black machine stitching all the way around the right page before adhering anything, and added the same stitching on the left side to create balance and repetition.

I have two more projects to share here that are part of the video this month on the Citrus Twist Kits YouTube channel.  You can watch the video in HD here or at the end of this post.  The first project uses the August Life Crafted kit and two new Instax photo page protectors coming soon!!!  You will love them!  The August kit is sold out, but the Stories stamp and cards from the kit are still available here!

The video shows the measurements of the photos and the trimmed cards to fit the pockets.

These new pockets are great for adding layers, especially for this beach trip.  I printed my photos to look like Instax photos, but if you have an Instax camera or printer, documenting trips will be super fun and quick with these pockets.

Inspired by the Instax photo size, the Stories Stamp set, and the clothing tags from my daughter's recent Justice shopping spree, I created this little mini album using the August Scrapbooking Add-On kit.

I used the Stories arch stamp image four different ways in this mini.  You can see how in the video below.

I created a pattern of using the trimmed pattern paper from the Add-On to the same size of the Instax, the foam flower embellishments from the kit (a must-have), and die cuts from the kit, alternating until I finished with the gold doily from the add-on kit as well!

You can watch the video here to see how I created these two projects.  Thank you so much for watching and joining me!!

Easy Peasy with Kira

Hey there!  It's Kira and I am back with another layout in my life crafted album.  Today I am focusing exclusively on the add-on kit.  Here's a look at the layout I made:

I want to start out by saying that neither the photos nor the cut file was influenced by one another and this was totally serendipitous...don't you love when that happens?!  I started by printing my photo, which is this adorable lemonade stand photo shoot I did with my kids.  I have about a million photos but narrowed it down to one for this layout. 

Once I had my photos printed, I always like to flip through the kits to see what would work and pull out the papers and embellishments I think will work.  I was immediately drawn to the bright yellow and blues from the Pink Fresh Studio papers and as always, the grid paper from Crate paper, which I knew would make the perfect background.  There were a few pieces from all the embellishments that I knew would work as well, so I set those aside while I looked for some inspiration. 

I didn't really have a plan for how I was going to scrap this photo, and when that happens, I love to browse the cut files.  Well, it didn't take long for me to fall in love with the Easy Peasy cut file...I mean, it couldn't be more perfect right?!  I decided to separate the pieces, cut out two of the lemon bunches and cut out only the "Easy Peasy" part of the title (which I also welded together in Cricut design space so it would be easier to adhere to my page). 

I backed the lemons with the yellow paper.  And cut "Easy Peasy" out of the blue paper.  On the left page, I attached the lemons to the background paper with some foam adhesive.  Then I glued the title directly on top.  I added a few of the tiny puffy stickers for a little bit of whimsy. 

On the reverse page, I adhered the lemons directly to the background paper (not foam adhesive).  Then I layered, behind my photo, the white doily and blue paper.  I adhered my photo to the paper with foam adhesive.  I added a foam thicker flower to the corner of the photo and finished off the embellishment cluster with a "celebrate" die cut and some more puffy stickers. 

And that's it!  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!  I'll see you soon!

xo, Kira

Using Cut Files with Shannon

Hey there, scrappy friends! Shannon here with a pocket page using cut files. I combined the May 2020 Journeys Life Crafted Kit with the May 2020 Scrapbooking Add-On Kit and added some cut files from the May 2020 release. I loved all the colors in the kits so they were the perfect fit for this stained glass chalk art that my daughters made in front of our house.

*note: the May 2020 Journeys Life Crafted Kit has sold out at the time this post is being published. Where possible, I will link to digital versions of products from the kit that you can print at home.

I started the project knowing that I wanted to use the GEOTAGGED Cut File to create a title card for my page. I use a Silhouette so once I brought the file into the Silhouette software I erased all of the phrases except "home." I then resized it to fit a 4x6 card. Once I had it cut, I pulled some patterned paper together to back each letter. I wanted a little variety and lots of colors! The papers are a mix of the May 2020 Life Crafted Kit papers and the May 2020 Scrapbooking Add-On Kit. I used teal cardstock as the card base to let the eye rest among all of those patterns! It was the perfect backing for the lighter teal alphas that were part of the Life Crafted kit this month. I purposely added those for a monochromatic look to, again, give the eye a chance to rest.

I will admit that this was my first time backing a cut file. I have no idea if I did it in the right or most efficient way! But I'll explain my process anyway.

1. Cut the outline.

2. Choose your patterned paper. If you're going to back the whole thing with the same patterned paper then you can simply cut the file again on that and use the negative space to back it. Otherwise...

3. Cut the paper slightly bigger than the size of the space you're backing.

4. Adhere the outline to the patterned paper using a thin line of glue.

5. Once the glue dries, use scissors or a xacto to carefully cut away the excess.

The second cut file that I used is from the JOURNEYS TITLES set. Just like with the first one, I pulled this into my software, erased what I didn't need, and resized to fit my card. Since I wanted this one on patterned paper, I chose to back it with the plain teal cardstock and the rainbow cardstock. It allowed me to add a pop of color without being too overwhelming. I used the May 2020 This Is Life DAYTRIPPING Stamp to stamp an arrow that leads the eye down to my photo. A puffy sticker from the Scrapbooking Add-On Kit completes the card. The sentiment is perfect for this die cut!

Once I had my cut files completed and placed where I wanted them, I got to work on the rest of the page. I only used one other journaling card and I kept it neutral. The card is numbered for a list so I chose to list the steps we took to make this design.  I also used some ephemera, a label, a puffy sticker, and a stamp to make my own small cluster on a photo. I didn't want to take away from the artwork that I was documenting so I had to keep it simple and small. 

I finished off the page by adding a couple of small accents to my other 4x6 photos using product from the May 2020 Scrapbooking Add-On Kit. I can't get enough of those acetate speech bubbles!

I hope I've inspired you to give the Citrus Twist cut files a try. Don't forget, subscribers get some free cut files every month! I can't wait to see what you create!

Life Crafted with Marsha

Hey friends!  Marsha here again today, and I'm excited to be sharing a spread in my Life Crafted Album.  I used this month's Life Crafted "Make It a Venti" kit and the Life Crafted Stamp Add-on to create this layout.  I just love the colors and designs in this kit!  I also love that even though it is coffee themed, this kit can be used for lots of other types of documenting.

To begin the layout, I chose one of this month's exclusive cut files, "Retro Heart."  The best part about using this cut file is it's already sized to fit perfectly in the Life Crafted album!  I resized one of the traveler's notebook digital papers using my Silhouette Studio software.  By doing this, I was able to cut the entire file using patterned paper.   I then layered the cut file over a white cardstock base.

For my journaling, I chose one of the labels from the Make It a Venti Cut Aparts.  I layered the label over an ephemera piece from this month's kit.  The tiny tile alphabet stickers were perfect for adding the date.  To finish off this side of the layout, I added a chipboard heart sticker from last month's Life Crafted "Life Chapters" Kit.

For the other side of the layout, I printed another digital TN paper and sized it to fit in the album.  I layered a piece of white cardstock down the center of the paper, so that the heart pattern was peeking out on both sides.  Next, I trimmed a few of the kit papers to layer behind this cute photo of my niece, and used some of the ephemera pieces from this month's kit to embellish this area.  I hand cut a heart using the woodgrain paper and added it to the cluster.  Using a border punch from my stash and the pink patterned paper from the kit, I cut a scalloped border piece and tucked it behind the photo.  I saved another scalloped piece to add to the bottom of the page.  I love how this mimics the scallop from the heart cut file!

For my title, I chose the ephemera "THIS" die cut and added some of the puffy alphabet stickers from the kit.

To finish off the spread, I added some machine stitching to a few areas of the layout, and I used the Life Crafted Stamp Add-on to stamp a couple of sentiments around the page.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I can't wait to see what you create using this month's Life Crafted "Make It a Venti" kit!

Let's Get Digital with Kira

Hey Citrus Twist fans!  It's Kira and I am back with another 8.5x11 layout using a mix of the December kits.

Have you checked out the exclusive cut files for the month?  I was immediately drawn towards the poinsettia cut file.  I knew it would be perfect for this conversation my son and I had about Santa.

I started by cutting the cut file fairly large from white cardstock.  When I cut it, I thought I might cut up the cut file slightly, but didn't have much of a plan until I actually got it cut out.  I backed it with papers from the main kit and the pocket life kit.  After it was backed, I decided to cut some of the leaves and other decorative elements off, leaving just the large poinsettia.

The photo I used for this page is a filtered selfie of my son and I, since the "story" on this page is a conversation him and I had as Christmas was approaching.  I backed the photo with the "Confetti" paper included in the add on kit.  Then I tucked a couple of tabs from the PL die cut pack on top of the photo.

I decided to use the wood grain side of the "Harrison" paper (included in the main kit) as my background.  I placed my poinsettia in the lower left corner and sort of nestled my photo into the flower.  I used some of the leaves I had cut from the cut file, underneath my photo.

The title was perfect for this story!  I used the word "believe" from the Shimelle thickers included in the add-on kit.  I finished off the layout with some embellishment clusters in the upper left and bottom right clusters.  I added some typed journaling strips and black splatters and called the page done.

I can't wait to see how you plan to use the cut files this month!

xo, Kira