New Beginnings in Life Crafted Album

Happy New Year CTK subscribers, readers, and fans! I hope you all are ready for a refresh. I know that all of us here at Citrus Twist are super excited to be started a fresh year with NEW products! How about those Life Crafted kits, eh? 

I'm so excited to be able to try out this new format available at CTK and I'm here today to share how I've set up the first few pages in my album to just give myself a bit of a creative jumpstart and start off my book in the right direction. By that I mean, a jumpstart of cuteness and inspiration in my book. 

The first page, aka my cover, is simple with the exclusive patterned papers and a small gold foiled embelishment sticker in the center.

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On the back of that sheet I decided to do some layered stamping using the gorgeous florals in the exclusive stamp sets for this month around the edge of my page. Then at the bottom corner I added two little quote ephemera pieces that really speak to me...

And finally, I just filled one of the page protectors with gold glitter that was gifted to me as a secret Santa gift this past Christmas. 

That's it! 

My book is now ready to be filled with this year's memories, journaling, quotes, and all the pretty supplies I can find. I plan to use this new book and format to document my personal moments that I find most inspiring. This will be a book for myself and I'm so excited to have started it.

Now, it is your turn! Have you subscribed to the new Life Crafted kit? If you have you'll want to keep stopping by the blog to find more and more inspiration on how our creative team is using it in so many inspirational ways.

Thanks for stopping by today, and I wish you all a very prosperous 2019! Xo

Tuesday Tutorial with Neftali

Happy Tuesday crafty friends and welcome to another Tuesday Tutorial! It is Neftali here today to share with you a fun tutorial to create a “simple and minimal layout.” Let’s get started!

Here is the layout I created for this tutorial, which took me no more than 30 minutes to make:

I don’t know about you, but I am sometimes a huge fan of those soft and airy layouts that give you a feeling of “freshness” and “simplicity”. Well, that is what I tried to portray with this particular layout, and I think I achieved it pretty well.

Here is how you can take your supplies to create something simple yet evocative:

First, choose soft colors and simple patterns that contrast, but work well together. 

For that I decided to use the papers in the November “Pleasant Valley” Pocket Life Kit because there were soft colors but still fun bold patterns like the black crosses.

Second, choose a minimal amount of supplies that you think you might use. 

I decided to go with the patterned papers, my circle punch, my sewing machine, and a few of the exclusive ephemera pieces from the PL Kit. I also picked out a few other pieces that I didn’t end up using like the exclusive wood veneer word phrase pieces. I ended up switching that idea out for stamping, instead.

Go with whatever fancies you at the moment but remember to keep just a handful of pieces out on your desk so you don’t dig for anything else. We’re keeping it simple, remember!

Third and final tip, which I used specifically on this layout, was to go for a small black and white photograph. 

I feel like the small photo size helped keep my layout super minimal. But so did the black and white because there are no clashing colors with the other supplies/colors I am using.

The photo in this layout is sized 2x3 (tiny, I know) and I normally print these sizes by using an app where I can fit 4 - 2x3 photos in a 4x6 photo sheet. Easy peasy!

So, those are my 3 quick tips to create a simple, airy, minimal layout. 

I chose to punch a few circles to create 3 totally random clusters across my page. To each cluster I added a (not so perfect) machine stitched circle. To me, white stitching = simple!!

I added my photo on top of a tag and attached that in between the clusters. Then, I used only 5 pieces of what I had picked out from the exclusive die cuts.

Finally, I added a few stamps and my title next to my photo. That’s it! 

Super duper simple and you still have that awesome feeling of having had a moment to craft, especially when you’re busy but just have an itch to make something quick. I really hope you guys give this a try. If you do create something beautiful, come share it with us at The Citrus Twist Facebook Fan group! Thanks for stopping by today, xo.

Product Highlight - Cardstock Stickers

Welcome back lovely Citrus Twist fans. I am here today sharing a layout with the gorgeous Emerson Lane cardstock stickers included in this month’s Main Scrapbooking Kit.  If you ordered the Main Kit this month, you’ll find that it’s a wonderful mix of Heidi Swapp goodies and these cardstock stickers can be the perfect staple for your layouts! 

I decided to take the Heidi supplies specifically the cardstock stickers, which we are focusing on today, and two of the card stock sheets and create this layout:

The first thing I did was pick out my foundation sheet and I had to pick the “Sweet Nothings” sheet which has an amazing floral yellow and pink background. I am not always one to choose a patterned background as my base, but this sheet was too beautiful to pass up. I decided to add a bit of texture paste to the base where my photo cluster would go, just to give a little dimension and interest.

I then brought out the “Easy Peasy” cardstock sheet and used the cut apart elements to add lots of layering behind my photo. Then came the fun part!

I brought out the Emerson Lane cardstock stickers sheet and added my title using the stickers. I also added a few extra layers around the photo to give more interest. I used a date sticker to add my date, and a few of the Heart stickers to pop around my photo cluster.

Then I decided to create some fun interest to the left side of my photo by adding a column of the label stickers. I used all the different sizes, shapes and colors to add then from top to bottom. I love this effect!

Mainly, you are able to make some good use of supplies you might not normally use, like label stickers for me. But also, you find new ways to use supplies that can be very inspiring!

So lovely friends, I hope that you have enjoyed this share where I am focusing my use of the Emerson Lane Cardstock stickers. Now it’s your turn! Come share with us on the Citrus Twist Facebook Fan Page your wonderful creations using these stickers! That’s so much for stopping by today. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sunday Sketch with Neftali

Happy Sunday friends! It’s Neftali back again with another Sunday Sketch Layout for all you scrappy gals. This week I am using one of the gorgeous cut files from this month’s set of cut files that was perfectly curated for this sketch: 

Here is my take on it:

I decided to cut the Floral Garden cut file straight on to my 12x12 white cardstock background and use a mix of the Paige Evans Whimsical collection papers from the Scrapbook Kit and Pocket Life exclusive 6x8 papers. I loved the colors of the exclusive papers and how these two paper collections mix so well!

I used two bright photographs of a spring walk around a park in my neighborhood from earlier this year since the colors popped well with the rest of the colors of my background. 

I then went embellishment crazy because, well, who wouldn’t go Embellishment crazy with their Paige Evans supplies?! Am I right? I used the puffy stickers, the rub-ons, and the enamel dots, and the ephemera pieces.

You might also notice that I brought in last month’s Maggie Holmes Willow Lane Adhesive Thread bows. They fit perfectly and matched my colors and design. I was so excited I still had these sitting at my desk. Which is a wonderful reminder that we could all mix our newer kits with missed (or hoarded) treasures from previous months kits.

I used the tone on tone technique that I love seeing Paige use in her projects! It’s always fun technique of her I like to scrap lift. Can you tell I’ve got a major scrappy admiration of her style? Her talent is one who inspires many of us. 

That is why, I hope that you are now feeling inspired to take today’s sketch and get crafty with your beautiful “Sunshine In My Soul” kits. Don’t forget to come and share your beautiful creations in our CTK Facebook Fan club! Thanks for stopping by today. Be back soon, and have a happy weekend. 

3-To-Inspire with Neftali

Happy Saturday lovelies! It’s Neftali here with you today and I am super excited to be sharing my first ever 3-To-Inspire post today. I am extra happy because this month’s “Sunshine In My Soul” Kits are simply EXTRA gorgeous. I’m a huge Paige Taylor Evans fan and I was so excited to be able to play with her new Whimsical line.

So, let’s get started. I’ve got two layouts to share with you today using these three supplies:

1. Fussy Cut Patterned Paper
There are quite a few choices in this month’s scrapbooking and paper add on kits that are perfect for fussy cutting. I recommend the hexagonal patterned paper and the floral papers. The hexagons are the quicker route with lots of color options, but if you’re up for relaxing while you fussy cut, definitely go for the florals. It’s always worth it! 

2. Chipboard Stickers
We are so spoiled here at CTK that we even had the Whimsical chipboard stickers available in the Embellishment Kit (currently sold out, sorry!). However, there are also some cute chipboard stickers in the Pocket Life Kit you can use.  

3. November’s This Is Life “Thankful” Stamp
Finally, this has to be one of my favorite stamps by far. Anything with florals grabs my full attention, and this stamp set has for sure! 

The first layout I created using these three supplies was this 12x12 layout:

I really fell in love with the hexagoned paper from the Main Kit. I knew I was going to cut it up as soon as I layed eyes on it. These types of patterned papers are so quick and easy to fussy cut, and they still give you such good payoff.  This one in particular has got a lot of colors in it, but I chose the softer pinks, purples, peaches, and florals to create a random diagonal arrangement on my page.

I added a quite small photograph (3x2”), and then went around the hexagons adding embellishments with the Whimsical Chipboard Stickers and ephemera pieces to my liking.

My final touch was to use the little twig stamps from the “Thankful” Set in a soft rose color. These are so fun to play with! You can use them as is, one by one, or you can choose to mix and match them together to create some unique little floral-like clusters. I used them to compliment the hexagons in random spots throughout my page.

I also used the Whimsical rub-on stickers to add a few stitching patterns around the hexagons. It’s quite a simple layout but I feel it’s a super fun way to use these three supplies.

The second layout I created using these three supplies was this one titled “Whimsical”:

I took the same idea to create a completely different look. For this layout I fussy cut two different patterned papers: I used the floral paper to cut out the large floral cluster and the Frames paper to fussy cut a few of my favorite bits.

This layout included two photos which I framed using the fussy cut frames, and I placed them opposite of each other.

I then went in with a very popular Paige Evans technique which is the color-on-color technique.

I used a mix of the chipboards and stamps along with a few other matching items from the scrapbooking Kit to create some fun color-on-color clusters around the frames.

So, friends, are you inspired to use these three simple items to create something beautiful? I hope I have inspired you to get crafty with your “Sunshine In My Soul” kits. If you do get crafty, come share your beautiful work with us at the CTK Facebook Fan Page where we love to share all of our ideas.

That’s it from me today. I will be back later this month to share more inspiration. Thanks for stopping by! Xo

Tuesday Tutorial with Neftali

Happy Tuesday everyone and welcome back to another Tuesday Tutorial! It’s Neftali here today to share with you a sweet pregnancy book I have created using the Mini TN covers from the shop and the October Little Things TN exclusive papers. As we all know, the exclusives are always so exciting to find every month as they are so bright and beautiful. It’s a given!

But this month I found them to be especially perfect to add to a baby book since they were all light pastel colors and very neutral soft prints.

Let’s get ready, and grab your mom fuel, and let’s make a baby book!

As a side note, you can make any type of book using the items I’m using today. This can be a general guide for prepping your Mini TN’s for any theme or season.

I began by cutting each one of the papers to size so that they would fit nicely inside the wooden covers. Approximately, 3 1/2 by 8 inches. After that I placed them back to back so that they would have a pattern on each side and sewed them together.

I love the look they have when stitched all around! Such a unique and finished look.

Once I finished stitching the pages together, I ended up with 4 base pages for the mini. I simply hole punched them and they were ready to be placed together with ring binders.

My book is now ready to be filled with memories and milestones from this pregnancy.

I decided to create a cover page as the first look when you open the book. I used some really pretty details to keep with the soft pastel colors of the book.

I plan to keep adding more pages as I go and different elements like pocket pages and even smaller interactive elements like glassine bags.

So friends, the October Little Things PL Kit is pretty much perfect for a baby book. But these super easy and basic steps can help you create a base for any Mini TN book! Please feel free to share any of your creations in our CTK Facebook group.

Thanks for stopping by today scrappy friends! I hope you are all feeling inspired to play with your October kits and create something beautiful. Have a wonderful week! Xo

Product Highlight - Wood Veneer Cuts with Neftali

Happy Thursday everyone! Neftali back to share with you two very unique ways you can use the woodgrain cutouts that are included in this months "Little Things" Scrapbooking kit. If you are wondering how you can include them in your pages or need a few extra ideas I've got TWO ways for you to do it today!

First let's start off with using the cutouts as titles. I personally love using any words as titles rather than using alphas. Which is why you will always see me use up my thickers as titles in most of my pages. However, I thought that these wood veneer words would be able to complete the job perfectly. So I used the one with the word "Go" as my title of this 12x12 page below:

I not only used this piece as my title, but I tried to make it stand out as much as possible. In order to do so, I kept my layout super duper minimal by including the free October 2018 Leaf Frame cut file on white cardstock with some white stitching. 

I kept my photo black and white and the only other thing I added was typed journaling below my photo. 

That is literally all I did! I feel like it all goes well together and all the important details are the center of attention: my title, photograph, and journaling. DONE. 

If you're wondering whether you should add the wood veneers to your Traveler's Notebooks, I say go for it! They will add some slight dimension to your page, but not without some natural texture and interest. I call that a win, and that's what my next example for using these pieces is about.

I recently started a pregnancy TN using the CTK exclusive mini travelers notebook covers and have been documenting certain aspects of my pregnancy. This time I decided to use the "Eat" wood veneer cutout to document the story of my dietary restrictions while pregnant. 

I thought it would be a sweet touch to add the wood veneer straight on to my photo! It might work as a title, but it also works as the "theme" of the story from my journaling on the left hand side.

This was also a very quick way to document using the wood veneers and the pay off is great when the pieces are placed above a nice bright photograph. They just pop!

So, crafty friends, these were two fun ways you can use your wood veneer word cutouts in both 12x12 and TN formats. Can you think of any more ways? If you do, share your ideas and projects with us on the CTK Facebook group! 

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you're all enjoying these sweet crisp Fall days. Stay crafty friends, xo.