Sunday Sketch with Amanda!

Hi Citrus Twist Kit Friends! 

It's Sunday, and that can only mean one thing - let's get our sketch on!!!
Amanda here, & I just love the Sunday Sketch challenge! Such a fun & relaxing way to start off the week!
Here's the sketch we're playing along with this week....

Isn't this a cool layout design?! 

Here's my take on it....

"Xmas"

Oh, what a cutie! Such a lovely Christmas moment documented!

CTK Supplies | Pleasant Valley Pocket Life Kit, Pattern Paper Kit (Crate Paper Merry Days pattern paper), & the December Embellishment Kit. 

Other: Watercolor paint droplets.

I have drawn on the colors in my darling photograph, and created a Christmas layout with no actual Christmas supplies. For this to be successful, I use a crisp white, mint and red color scheme, as well as puffy sticker stars and a reindeer die cut embellishment. Combined with my Christmas photo, it totally works! I have pretty much kept to the sketch design, only giving it a little Happy Arty Days twist! 

Here's a few close ups for you.....

There are so many beautiful details here! From lovely layers to sweet embellishments - the Pleasant Valley Pocket Life Kit is really something! 

Loving the Puffy Sticker title, and those layered tags! 

I used those fabulous printed label stickers as my journaling, and the die cut hearts in place of the banner at the top of the page. Perfect! 

Simple. Sweet. Sketch complete! Now it's your turn! 

What will you create with this week's sketch?

Be sure to share your creating with us in the Facebook Citrus Twist Kits Fan Page HERE - we love seeing everything you make, & love to talk paper too! 

Thanks so much for visiting today, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Three to inspire with Melanie

Hey crafty friends, Melanie here with another three to inspire post for you. 

Here are my three things to inspire 

1. tear paper
2. use labels
3. use alphas

For my layout I used the Main Kit only and I really love the patterned paper in the kit this month. So I made strips of different papers by tearing them and put them on top of my white background. For more texture I sewed along each strip with my sewing machine.

I saved a WhatsApp conversation we had with our niece about a package we had sent to her about 8 weeks ago and she finally received. We were all so very happy about it. 

I printed it out, cut it apart and put it on top of the labels from the Heidi Swapp sticker sheet. For more dimension I used foam adhesive to glue the labels on my paper.

I also used a label for my journaling and placed it on the bottom of my page along with some paper strips.

My title went between the top and bottom stripes and I used the wonderful puffy alphas from the kit. I  love the colored ones too, but for this page I went with the golden ones because there is so much pattern and color going on already.

I hope I inspired you to make a page by using my three to inspire. Don't forget to share your creations in our Facebook Group and on Instagram using the hashtag #citrustwistkits.

Until next time,  have fun creating,

Melanie

Sunday Sketch with Diane

Hi Guys! Diane here with another Sunday sketch to kick start your creativity! I'm a huge fan of sketches so lets see what we're working with...

Instead of creating a traditional 12x12 layout, I wanted to show you how easily these sketches can translate into a Traveler's Notebook page. The size is almost exactly the same and the only thing you need to be aware of is not layering paper across the fold of your notebook and keeping your embellishments as flat as possible!

Here's how mine turned out...

I followed the sketch pretty exactly with the only difference being that instead of one large group of papers behind my photos, I made two clusters so that one could go on each page.

As you know I'm not a huge fan of green but because it is Spring here and everything is SO green at the moment, all the lovely green tones of the December Scrapbook kit worked in really nicely.

I kept everything as flat as I could, with the exception of my title, I couldn't resist using those foam alphas, they really are my favourite alpha of the year! Again, I made sure to only used the green toned ones and then added a few tiny stamps underneath in lieu of journalling from the sketch.

I still created a stitched strip at the bottom like the sketch has but I made sure to cut it where the fold in the notebook is so that there isn't too much bulk down the centre and my book will still lay flat.

Grab your kits and start creating and don't forget to post your layouts in the Facebook Fan Page so we can all see the gorgeousness you create!

3 To Inspire with Amanda!

Hi Citrus Twist Kits Friends & Fans! 

Amanda here, and boy-oh-boy am I excited to be sharing some of my first creations with our gorgeous Pleasant Valley Scrapbook Kit! This kit is all kinds of awesomeness - so many beautiful pattern papers, and sweet embellishments! Speaking of beautiful pattern papers, I decided to make pattern papers a feature of today's challenge! But enough chatter, let's get started!

For today's edition of 3-To-Inspire, your projects will need to feature the following....

1. Pattern paper as the layout base/background (no cardstock!).
With so many beautiful pattern papers in both our Scrapbook & PL kits this should be a great opportunity to showcase them in your creating!

2. Use stamps! 
Feature any of the exclusive CTK stamps (past or present) in your layout!

3. Include a heart. 
Stickers, ephemera, stamps - whatever takes your fancy! Hearts are such an easy embellishment to adorn your layouts with!

With these 3 things in mind, here's what I crafted with the Pleasant Valley Scrapbook Kit...
First up is my 'boy' page, "Better Together" 

CTK Supplies Featured: Pleasant Valley Scrapbook Kit, Embellishment Kit. 

Other: Black stamping ink, & Shimmerz Paints: Spritz Bamboo Leaf. 

Isn't this awesome?!! Such a fun, masculine layout!

You'll spot the fabulous Pinkfresh Studio: Indigo Hills 2:  Meadow pattern paper as my layout base. I fussy cut the Heidi Swapp: Emerson Lane: Easy Peasy Paper so that I can utilise all the journal cards, tags and labels in my photo cluster. For my stamping element, I repeat stamp the arrow that features in the 2" x 3" clear polymer stamp in the Scrapbook Kit. 

You'll spot a variety of hearts on this layout, including the Emerson Lane Cardstock Stickers, Journal Studio Puffy Stickers (both from the Scrapbook Kit) as well as the One Canoe Two: Golden Rod Chipboard Phrase Thickers (from the Embellishment Kit). While we're on the topic of the Golden Rod Thickers, how incredible is that chipboard title?!! That gold is just SO striking against the indigo paper base! LOVE!!!
Here's a closer look at my photo cluster....

 

So many lovely layers here, mostly from the Emerson Lane supplies. They coordinate beautifully with the Meadow paper, and I love the inclusion of that olive green! You'll spy that I do add some painty splatters in a similar green color (from my personal stash) to enhance these embellishments.

So cool! A boy & his puppy documented perfectly with Pleasant Valley!

My second layout for today is a softer, more feminine take on the 3-To-Inspire challenge....
"Sweet Puppy Love" 

CTK Supplies: Pleasant Valley Scrapbook Kit, Pattern Paper Play Kit, Embellishment Kit. 

Other: Black stamping ink, & watercolor paint.  

Naww! How cute is that puppy?!! No secret that I am totally smitten by him!

I have used the beautiful Heidi Swapp: Emerson Lane paper that comes in this month's Pattern Paper Play Kit as my layout base.  I've also used lots of the Journal Studio goodies that feature in the Pleasant Valley Scrapbook Kit, as well as a bit of everything from the Embellishment Kit! (There's no such thing as too many embellishments, right?) You'll notice that I do remove the paperclip backings from the Journal Studio Swan Paper Clips and use them as an epoxy sticker instead! Awesome! 

Here's a closer look at my page.....

Omgoodness! I can't handle his cuteness!!! Such a darling lil pup! 

And yes, that's me in the photo - awkward as always (I much prefer being behind the lens!) but this lil guy just has to be documented! If your familiar with my style, it's well known that I love all.the.florals!!! So naturally, I use a lot of them for my layout! 

The hearts featured are from the Golden Rod Thickers set, & on the subject of Thickers, how gorgeous is that soft, glossy pink title?!! Those alphas are from Pink Paislee's Paige Evans Whimsical collection & are from the Scrapbook Kit. SO pretty!!! 

Lots of repeat stamping from the exclusive CTK stamp from the Scrapbook Kit and watercolor paint droplets to complete this pretty page. 

And there you have it! My first two pages with the divine Pleasant Valley Kits! 

I hope I have inspired you to get creating & play along with today's 3-To-Inspire challenge! 

Be sure to share your beautiful creations in the Citrus Twist Kits Fan Page on Facebook - we love to see what you've crafted! 

Thanks so much for visiting today, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Two ways to use the free 'HOLLY JOLLY' cut file with Melanie

Hey crafty friends, Melanie here.
Today I have two layouts for you I made by using the wonderful December Kits and this free cut file from the shop.

For my first layout I created a background by adding some more of the snowflakes in the Silhouette software.

I layered my background onto the green paper from the Main Kit  to match my photo and added some white splatters by using acrylic ink. The picture show my parent's dog while she experiences her very first snow. It was so cute and fun!

I backed my photo with pattern paper from the Pocket Life Kit  and the Main Kit and added some die cut pieces as layer too. I also added a journaling card from the pocket Life Kit to my cluster to hold my journaling.

To balance the page, I made a cluster on the bottom of the layout. I punched out the quote from the green card which is included in the Pocket Life Kit and added some Embellishments from the Embellishment Kit. 

To finish my page I added some more Embellishments (I removed the shapes from the paper clips and glued them onto my paper) and added some stamping.

For my second layout I used the snowflakes and glued them onto  white textured cardstock.

I really love the white on white effect.

I used a large photo for my page and I placed a golden title from the Embellishment Kit on top of my photo as a highlight. I took this picture during our winter vacation in the Alps on a perfect day and I am so happy we had the opportunity for enjoying the snow, as we don't have a lot of snow where we live but I LOVE winter and snow!

I used a stamp from the Favorite things set and wrote my journaling underneath with a grey pen. I really wanted this page to be light and make the picture the star of the page.

To make the eyes move around the layout I added two clusters on my page, one on the bottom right of the picture and one on top left and I am so happy I found a way to include the cute deer.

 To finish the page I stamped some golden hearts between the snowflakes and added some black stamping for contrast. I'm really happy how the two layouts turned out and love the two different looks of the pages.

I hope I inspired you to create something! Don't forget to share your work on Instagram using the hashtag #citrustwistkits and in our Facebook Group! 

Until next time, have fun creating,

Melanie

December Daily with Sarah: Documenting Our Christmas Card

Hello, everyone!  Today I'm back to share how I added in the Christmas card we sent out this year to my December Daily album.  Last year was the first year that we started ordering photo cards and it's a tradition that I hope to continue for as long as I can.  I'd also like to make sure I document these cards every year in my December Daily album so I can look back on them and see how we've changed. 

There were so many beautiful papers and embellishments in this month's "Pleasant Valley" kits that went with the colors of our Christmas card so I got to play around with a lot of options!  However, I will admit that my main inspiration for embellishing this page was the "Postmarked" stamp set.  I just love all of the buildable pieces, and the sentiments and illustrations are so perfect for documenting or sending happy mail! 

For the left side of my page I used some pattern papers to back every other 2x2 inch square.  I used the Heidi Swapp letters from a pattern paper to spell out "Family" and I just love the nice bold look that made.  I wanted to have some see through pockets in between my pockets filled with pattern paper so for those I either used buttons (adhered to the outside of the pockets) or some labels that I stamped on.  I added a piece of transparency to each of the clear pockets so I could adhere whatever went inside to ensure that nothing would move around.  

I also adhered my Christmas card to a piece of transparency mainly because I didn't want to punch through the card itself, but also because I wanted to make sure the backside, which has a photo of my daughter on it, was visible.  I really enjoy the floating effect that that gave.

Thank you for letting me share this simple and fun page with you!  If you're working on a December Daily album this month I hope it's going well and that you're enjoying the process.

Happy Crafting!

Using Embellishment Formulas with Diane

I'm sure I'm not the only one who is busy with life, celebrations and a documenting December project at the moment. And with things being as busy as they are, I REALLY don't want to let my everyday documenting slip by the wayside.

One way to make your documenting quick and easy, and to avoid the dreaded decision fatigue, it to use "embellishment formulas" on your page. 

Simply put, this means you decide on one little grouping of embellishments which could be a stamp + a word sticker + a puffy heart and repeat that same grouping throughout your page. To be honest, it could be as simple as one stamp or as complicated as you like. But the point is to make one decision only. 

As well as making things easy, it also helps to bring your entire page together as one cohesive layout. I used two different formulas three times each on my page and I'm so pleased with how it turned out AND how quickly it came together.

Here's how I put my embellishment formulas to good use to create a quick page of Project Life ...

This really is a great technique and I can't wait to see what you make with it, so don't forget to post your layouts in the Facebook Fan Page so we can all see!