Mixed Media with Nathalie

Hello everyone!

Who is ready to get messy!?  Nathalie with you today with a new Mixed Media post, and today's post is a rather colorful one as we are using the Sunshine on my Soul Scrapbook, Patterned paper Play and embellishment kits to create a new page all about creativity.

All the color in the new Paige Evans' Whimsical collection included in the Sunshine on My SOul kits was the inspiration for this page.   As soon as i saw all the art supply stickers and embellishments, I knew that i would be using them to documetn a picture of my daughter in one of her creative moments.

To start, i decided to use all the colors of the rainbow in the page.  So, i started adding texture using gesso and a stencil to the page, then used a bit of distress Oxide in Black soot and Hickory Smoke - the dark tones are going to make all the colors pop nicely off the page- and to finish added splatters of Heidi Swapp color shine ito the background in a rainbow order.

While the background dried,  i create the large title of this page using the December 2017 cut file and one of the word from this month's free Titles cut file.   I used papers from the Sunshine on my Soul scrapbook and patterned paper play kits to back the title.   Don't you just love the vibrancy of those large letters!!

The picture was kept black and white so that it will pop along with all the colors.  To embellish the page, i used all the colorful art supplies in the puffy stickers, chipboard stickers, and ephemera pack included in the Scrapbook and embellishment kits. 

To finish the page, i used a combination of the TN stamp and add on stamp sets to add those boxed sentiments using gold ink.  The following video will show you how it all came together:

I am in love with this month's Sunshine on my Soul kits, and i hope that you are also inspired to add some color to your background using mixed media.

Remember to check the kits, stamps and cut files at the CTK shop.  These are truly gorgeous kits!  You can alaways contact me if you have questions on how this all came together.

XO

Delightful Moments - October Kit - Anna Uhras

Hello Lovelies! Anna on the blog today to share a delightful page I created using the absolutely awesome October Main Kit. The kit is jam-packed with gorgeousness, as always. And I think everytime the kit arrive that this one has to be the best ever, until Trina sends me a new totaly amazing one next mont, lol.
I went with the yellow - pink - mint colors on this page and did some major fussy cutting out of one of the Maggie Holmes Carousel papers. Also I dug into the lovely Pink Paislee, Paige Evans Turn the Page ephemera.

The first thing I did was to prepare my background with some color mist and the "plastic bag technique" and some splatters as well.

 Then I layered my photo with another two patterned papers, the dotted one from Maggie Holmes and the flowery from Paige Evans. I also used one of the lovely doileys from the kit in my stack under the pic.  As usual I added some thread and stitches.

Loooove these ctk-exclusive epoxy stickers, I may be a little addicted to be honest, lol!

And also these pink transparancy word stickers with gold text, totally divine.

I've made a cluster with some of the "Turn the page" ephemeras and one of the epoxy stickers heart, YUM!

You can't get enough of these goodies, can you ?!

My journaling is in Swedish and says (ish) - "It works perfectly well with horizontal playing at the stairs, according to Astrid". 

 Maybe not the most comfortable way if you ask me..lol!

I did really love to play with this awesome kit, can't wait to dig into it again.

You can find more information how to subscribe on the kits here.

Thanks for stopping by here today, I really hope you found it inspiring.

I would love to see how you use the kits - remember to share on the Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fanpage or/and in our Gallery.

Take care ! Hugs Anna xo

Tuesday Tutorial: Hand-Stitching, Shine Bright

Hello everyone!  Happy Tuesday!  Wendy here to share up some inspiration for you in a quick hand-stitching tutorial.

Stitching (by machine/hand) is an inexpensive way to add flair to your scrapbook projects with just simple needle and thread.  I used to love cross stitching (just not enough hours in the day for it now).  So, I have quite a stash of threads (all sorted in colors of the rainbow, of course).  DMC® thread is my preferred brand but you can make it work with any embroidery/cross stitch thread from your local craft store.

Since I really wanted to highlight the theme of my layout as "shine bright", I chose to go with stars as the focal embellishment.  I used various stars in different elements as puffy stickers, stamps, and my most favorite the hand-stitched stars.

1.  Choose and locate your preferred shape template (i.e. star) either online, cut out a shape from your metal dies and cutting machine (i.e. Sizzix Big Shot), or diecut machine (i.e. Silhouette).  For added interest to your layout, try different sizes of your shape of choice.  I used one large star and one medium star.

2.  Use a paper piercer (Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick) or needle along with your cut out shape to punch holes evenly around your shape.  Also, I like to use a mouse pad under my paper as a cushion as I pierce along the shape.

Maybe you were lucky to grab up one/both of those We R Memory Keepers (WRMK) Sew Easy Templates (when they were available, now sold out, over in the Citrus Twist Kits shop a while back). They are perfect for this type of project!

3.  Now the FUN part, to thread your needle and start stitching.  (Hint:  I like to tape the loose ends of thread - start and finish- on the back of my layout with a scrapbook adhesive tab/transparent tape/masking tape.)  Also, stitching of the shape(s) is the perfect activity to do while catching your fav series on Netflix or lounging on the sofa.

4.  That's it! Easy peasy.

Feel free to add some misting around the shapes (before stitching to avoid staining your thread) to add some pop to your stitched shapes.  The Heidi Swapp Color Shine Mists in the CTK shop work nicely with this technique!

I stamped some of the Pocket Life cards with CTK stamps and added matching accents from the kits to finish off my layout.

Hope you enjoyed my tutorial and go sew away on your next project!

Be sure to share up your take on this tutorial over in the Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fan Page and/or Citrus Twist Kits Instagram to tag us @citrustwistkits. I would love to see what you create!

Wendy

Sunday Sketch Challenge with Trina

Welcome to the Sunday Sketch Challenge. We hope you'll play along with our sketch challenge this week and earn a chance to win a $5 gift certificate to Citrus Twist Kits.

This month I thought I'd mix it up and use Kasia's beautiful 12 x 12 sketch for an 8-1/2 x 11 page. These days I'm loving this size format more and more. This smaller, trimmer size is faster to complete (I did this in under 30 minutes), playful and fun.

I get to play with the "Seriously Happy" kit add-on this month and feel lucky to dig into its bright, happy colors. (If you aren't a subscriber yet but you are ready to join the Citrus Twist Kits family, email us at CitrusTwistKits@yahoo.com and we'll get your access set so you can subscribe prior to reveal day on June 5th!)

Here's Kasia's sketch to get things rolling:

Here is my 8-1/2 x 11 take on the weekly sketch:

When I saw the circles in Kasia's sketch I just couldn't resist getting my cheese hole punch out and creating a cheese hole strip for the bottom of the page:

I used the "Seriously Happy" kit add-on plus some of the new Kaisercraft washi tape (black and white with sentimental expressions) that we've just added to the Citrus Twist store. I also used a couple of circle punches, my Silhouette Cameo, my Brother sewing machine (inexpensive and it gets the stitching job done!) and Heidi Swapp's Teal Color Shine. I didn't follow Kasia's sketch exactly but used it as a jumping off point:

If you follow my work you know I love to layer and bend up the edges of the layers . . . and sometimes my photos, too. The Heidi Swapp Favorite Things Ephemera from this kit are so versatile and I think it's going to take me a long time to use them all up. Yum . . . so many possibilities!

Here are more of my layers and some stitching. I was pretty random with my stitching and did not plan it out. I just sewed where it felt right:

Here's one last shot of some layering and stitching. I hope you've enjoyed my take on this week's Sunday Sketch Challenge:

Since I'm here and have a sneak to show you, I'm going to share another peek at a second layout I made with the "Seriously Happy" kit add-on. Yes, I loved that little blue flower so much I used it on my second layout, too. Here you go:

And remember, to play along with our sketch challenge, upload your layouts to our gallery by June 8th to get your name in a drawing to win a $5 gift certificate to the CTK store. When uploading to the gallery you can name it as you would normally but please include "Sketch 6/1".

Thank you for visiting our blog today.

Cheers! Trina