Sunday Sketch with Patricia

Hello CTK Friends!  Patricia to share with you on this last day of March a fun twist to using this sketch.

I have two ways to share with you how this sketch AND the Life Chapters March kit inspired my projects.  For my first project, I created a 6x8 pocket page spread.

The left side is a full 6x8 layout and the interpretation of the sketch.  I used the Hexagon Wreath Cut file for March, die cut from white cardstock to layer under my photo and over manual die cut stars from the papers from the kit.  

I then trimmed some white strips to overlap the stars and hand stitched those in place to create more 'rays'.

Similar to the sketch, I created fun layers from the kit under my photo.

Inspired by the sketch, I wanted to be sure to use the card from the kit with the sun for a journaling card.  I used a light gray ink to add some stamping and details to the card along with typed journaling.

To finish this spread, I used 3x4 cards from the kit with smaller photos, adding little details with the chipboard heart, die cut and stickers from the kit.

Next, I created an opening page to my Life Crafted Citrus Twist Album inspired by the sketch and the kit, especially that paper!

I used the Life Chapters Traveler's Notebook Digital Papers here because the design is sized down perfectly for a TN!  Such a great option.  I traced the width of more pattern papers from the kit to layer in between the 'rays' of the paper to trim and adhere.  This pattern paper has the rays and the circular patterns.  I used both of those to inspire the pattern paper rays and then more hand stitching along the circular pattern of the paper. 

To add more to the page and especially a title page for my album, I used the stamps in the center of the design of the paper, then finished it with die cuts and chipboard from the kit.  The '3' is a digital cut file available to subscribers called Telling My Story.  I used it on my first blog project here.

A great opening page to this Life Craft Album and telling the stories of myself and my family...all inspired by the sketch and the kit!  I love popping into the CTK Fan Page to see what everyone is doing with the kits and their stories.  Please continue to share as well as on Instagram using the tags #citrustwistkits @citrustwistkits so we can see what you are creating and leave a comment!

A Pocket - Layout combo using March Digitals

Hi dear CTK friends!

Anna here today sharing some Pocket - Layout love. I have been playing with some of the March digital printables and a few leftover pieces from my February kit. I love that you so easily can use the different months kits together.

Here's what I came up with.

I just love that circle grid paper. Thats one of the March digital papers and I have printed them out in two different sizes. So wonderful that you can get as many you want of your favourite papers when you have them digital, ready to print.

An there you have it! Hope you like it as much as I do. Soon it's a new month and with that comes a new wonderful CTK Life Crafted kit in the CTK shop. Maybe you already have seen a few sneaks from my team mates on Instagram? So exciting!

Thanks for stopping by! Anna xo

Pocket Life Challenge With Theresa

Hello Lovelies, it's Theresa here today with a fun Pocket Life Challenge for you! I absolutely love how easy it is to document our family members using pocket pages, and the March Life Crafted kit has everything you need to get those pages completed. Here is my layout I created for the month of October in my 2018 album.

One thing I do to help me get these pages done is to repeat my favorite techniques over and over again, and I thought for today's challenge I would give you a list of those favorite things so you can choose. Feel free to try one, or try all, and see how it helps you as well. My first technique is:

1. Use alphas to create a working title or journaling on a card. The white puffy stickers included in the kit are perfect for this! I used these alphas for the working title with my photo, which works perfectly for journaling as well.

My title card has a working title using the same alphabet to spell October. On that card you can also see my second technique, which is as follows:

2. Use different stamp sets on your layout together and see what sentences or sentiments you can create. The March kit stamp set works beautiful with the This Is Life stamp set this month!

Up next is a technique that helps give a layout consistency:

3. Repeat an element across the page, whether it is an element, a shape, a label, or other. I have repeated the circle chipboard in several places on my layout, which not only adds a bit of dimension to the layout, but it also leads your eye around the page. You also may notice I have used the word stickers in several different places around the layout too.

You can also see another favorite technique which allows you to get more mileage out of your journal cards:

4. Cut up journal cards to create layering elements. I really love the sentiment "bits & pieces (of our day)" but felt like the blue would be a bit overpowering for the color palette on my layout. So I cut out the sentiment itself and layered it onto the strip journal card. Don't forget to look at your journal cards for opportunities to cut them up and create your own embellishments.

Notice how the pop of blue makes a nice contrast on this layout compared to the muted colors of the layout. The key to making this work was to be sure to use your contrasting color somewhere else on the layout, as I did on my filler card. I used a scrap of the blue to layer along with the stamped label and the stars.

One last technique that I have been using in order to uncomplicate my memory keeping process:

5. Leave one photo or journal card (or both!) unembellished. It can be really tempting to want to put all the things on all the pockets, but it can be really freeing to leave something just as it is. Of course, this allows that element, whether it's a photo or a journal card, to stand all on its own, just as it is. In the photo above of my studio, you can see it needed no journaling or embellishment, just the photo itself that captures a moment in time. There is incredible beauty in that!

I hope you are inspired to try some of these techniques in your pocket pages today! If you are interested, you can view my entire process in the video below.




As always, be sure to tag us when you create from this challenge and share online! We would love to see. Thank you for participating, see you again soon!

Product Spotlight & a Flip Album with Amanda!

Hi CTK Friends & Fans! 

Amanda here, and I am just loving the new March Life Chapters Life Crafted Kit!
So much gorgeousness!
Today I am shining the spotlight on two of my favorite items from this kit; the cork numerals & the die cut ephemera!
To demonstrate the versatility of our Life Crafted Kits, I've avoided creating pages for my Life Crafted Album or even making scrapbook layouts. Instead, I have featured both items in a super cute, miniature flip album!

"Our Lil' Story"

Squeeee! How cute is this mini album?!! SO adorable! 

Here's a closer view of the cover....

The sweetest!

The front cover features lots of the die cut ephemera, and in particular the book pieces to enhance the story themed album title! I also decorate with chipboard hearts, and the white puffy alphabet stickers from the Life Chapters Kit. 

To create this mini flip album, I select 3 of the Life Chapters 6 x 8" pattern papers and machine stitch them together through the center (at 4"). Fold into half, and voila, a lil flip book ready to decorate!

Here's a look inside....

Life is a fairytale seems to sum it up perfectly! With so many book references in this month's kit, story telling is definitely on the agenda!
How awesome is that cork numeral? Such a statement piece!
All good stories start with number one - so gather around, I have a story to tell.

I layered the cork numeral onto one of the 6 x 4" journal cards from the Life Chapters Kit, and then embellished it with ephemera. Simple, but so effective! I use thick double sided tape to adhere the 6 x 4" journal card to the album pages.

Our story begins with the arrival of our newest family member....

Nawww! Such a cutie! 

I use the mint Tiny Word stickers, as well as the puffy white alpha stickers, to document part 1 of this happy story! More ephemera adorns the page, and that 'found' chipboard sticker graces my sweet photo!

Moving on to chapter 2.....

Isn't this adorable! 

Again, I mount the cork numeral onto a journal card - but this time, I use a 3 x 4" one. The cork number 2 also forms the 'handle' to lift the flap....

I love interactive elements, and hidden stories & photos is such a fun element to any mini album!

I attach the 3 x 4" card with washi tape from my stash, and embellish with more of the ephemera, and chipboard stickers. Simple, beautiful creating made so easy with the Life Crafted Kit!

Chapter 3 signals the close of this flip album.....

Like previous pages, the cork numeral is adorned with the exclusive ephemera and chipboard from the Life Chapters Kit.

The ephemera label, Endings can be beautiful was the perfect sentiment to end this mini with.
And there you have it!

Cork numerals and ephemera stealing the spotlight in this super sweet (& easy to recreate!) mini album!
I hope I have inspired you to get creating with your Life Crafted Kits today!
Needing more supplies? Visit the Citrus Twist Kits store HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by today,
til next time,
Happy Arty Days, 
Amanda xo

Kitten Traveler's Notebook Page with Laura Rahel

Hey friends, it's Laura Rahel Crosby here and today I'm sharing a gorgeous page I made for my Life Crafted album by CTK. To make this page, I'm using the March 2019 Life Crafted Citrus Twist Kit and there's an awesome process video for you to see how the page came together.

This layout was sweet and easy. I wanted a neutral color background paper to go with the neutral colors in my photograph so I created my own. I used lots of phrases from the stamp sets this month and stamped them to make that gorgeous patterned background paper. I layered my photograph on some patterned paper from the kit and embellished using white thread and various ephemera and chipboard pieces from the Life Crafted Kit this month.

My favorite part of this page (aside from the photo of my kitten of course,) is that adorable scalloped envelope and the tag I made to go inside which holds some journaling. I love the simple, neutral mood this page has- exactly what I was aiming for.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this traveler's notebook layout I made! Make sure you follow me on Youtube to see all of my crafty projects and I'll catch you next time. :)

Happy crafting friends,
Laura

3-to-Inspire with Amanda

Hi CTK Friends! 

Welcome back for more March Kit inspiration!
Amanda here, & today I am sharing a few projects for the awesome 3-to-Inspire challenge!

Before we get started here's the 3 things you'll need to feature in your projects to play along;

1. Use pattern paper. There are so many gorgeous designs in both kits this month - so use them up!

2. Include chipboard embellishments. Again, there's a vast array of these in both kits!

3. Add Die Cuts / Ephemera. An easy one to keep things light hearted, &  just get you creating!

Now, onto the good stuff!
Firstly, here's what I've created with using my Life Crafted Album & March Life Chapters Kit!

Sigh! Sweet dreams, indeed! 

Such darling pages & a great design to showcase that fabulous pattern paper! 

Here's a closer view....

On closer inspection you'll spy that I have also used the 3 x 8" book mark as part of my page base too! The vintage appearance of this book mark softens the boldness of the pattern paper, and also adds a more masculine feel to the page! 

The chipboard sentiment circles, combined with the star ephemera are the perfect finishing touch! 

I also created a new 'tabbed' section for my Life Crafted Album using the March Life Chapters Kit too.....

Sigh! Isn't this pretty?! I instantly fell in love with that floral paper and knew I'd make a real feature of it! The cream scalloped pocket is also a fave of mine from this month's kit! 

(Especially as I love hidden journaling and interactive album pages!) 

& speaking of interactive elements, the "Did you ever hear the story of..." journal card is the BEST prompt card for this new section of my Life Crafted Album. A place to record all life's little chapters & stories! 

The hearts are such a soft take on chipboard stickers, and really add an elegant touch! Beautiful!

Next up is a super pretty layout that I've created using the March Scrapbooking Add On Kit,

"Happy"

Oh!!! Such loveliness! 

You'll spy pattern papers Happy Place & Good Times from the Pinkfresh Studio Everyday Musings collection. I may be a lil biased when it comes to Pinkfresh Studio, but this line really has my heart! Oh.so.pretty!!! 

To showcase more of these gorgeous pattern papers, I also fold up the edges to reveal the B sides....

I layer & embellish this page with lots of the Everyday Musings ephemera too! 

For the chipboard element, you'll spy more of those exclusive ones from the March Life Chapters Kit, as well as a chipboard frame from the February Scrapbooking Add On Kit. 

Such a gorgeous photo cluster! 

Love it!

And there you have it! 

Three very beautiful projects for today's 3-to-Inspire challenge! 

I hope you'll join me and play along! 

Don't forget to share your CTK projects with us in the Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fan Page HERE! 

We really love seeing what you create and love to talk all things paper craft!

Thanks so much for visiting today! 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, Amanda xo