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 

3 to Inspire with Kira

Hey friends!  It's Kira and I am back with another 3-to-inspire to get those creative juices flowing today!  Here's the 3 items I am challenging you to use on your layout today:

1.  Stamps
2.  Stitching
3.  Splatters

And here's a look at the layout I created:

I started this layout with the Emerson Lane "Details" paper (included in the Pattern Paper Play kit).  I love a simple ledger paper for backgrounds.  It adds the right amount of pattern without completely overwhelming your page.

My layers consist of pieces from the cutapart paper, also from Emerson Lane, called Easy Peasy, which was included in the main "Pleasant Valley" kit.  I used my sewing machine to add some messy stitching to the my photo and the layer behind it.  I also added some stitching to two more places around my layout.  But if you don't have a sewing machine, you could always hand stitch or add hand drawn "stitches" for the same effect!

I used the "Better Together" thickers as my title, which are found in the Embellishment kit, and then finished off my embellishing with puffy stickers (also in the embellishment kit) and cardstock stickers (included in the main kit).  I used a few of the stamps included in the Postmarked stamp and the TN "Favorite Things" stamp set. 

 The splatters were the last thing I added.  Your splatters can be done with any medium:  watercolor, watered down acrylic paint, etc.  But I used my Shimmerz Coloringz in the color Night Moves and Shimmerz Blingz in Gold Glimmer for mine.

I hope these prompts inspire you to get your kits out today and get a cute photo scrapped!  Join us in our Facebook group so you can share your layouts, or to grab even more inspiration!

Until next time,

Kira

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 Kira

Hey friends!  It's Kira and I am back with this week's Sunday Sketch!  Here's a look at the sketch:

I have been playing around with a new scrapbooking size recently, 8.5x11.  And if I am being completely honest, I haven't been sold on it until this layout.  This sketch was the perfect way to really find my groove with this size.

I stuck with the main kit and started by cutting down the PFS "Happy Life" paper.  This paper is basically my love language.  The subtle grid pattern topped with fun icons in gorgeous colors???  Swoon!  I thought the paper worked perfectly for these photos of my youngest son at the beach.

I wanted a nice contrast between my background paper and the next paper layer, so I grabbed the Heidi Swapp "Sugarhouse" and used the b side with that gorgeous blue stripe which pulled the blue from my son's shorts.  I used this same paper for the lower strip of paper as well.  Some machine stitching was added for some texture. 

The PFS "Lemon Lush" was perfect to break up the blue a bit.  I used both sides to add lots of brightness to my page.

And then the alphas...oh em gee...how perfect are these alphas?!  I need about ten sheets of them.  I decided to title my page "Just Beachy" and chose letters in the pink/teal/gold.  I layered "just" under "beachy" to give some added dimension to my page.

I finished off the page with a few die cuts from the Sweet and Simple die cut pack, along with a label from the cut apart sheet.  I added some splatters in gold and called this page done.

I loved this sketch so much, that I thought it would be fun to use in a travelers notebook spread.  I stuck fairly close to the sketch again, but this time using the add-on kit.  Here's a few pictures of my layout:

I hope you've been inspired to try out this sketch, regardless of what format you scrap in!  I can't wait to see how you use it!

xo, Kira                    

     

Fussy Cutting with Kira

Hey friends!  It's Kira and I am back with a 12x12 scrapbook layout featuring some fussy cutting.  If you aren't a fan of fussy cutting...don't worry, I chose the easiest paper for this!  Even the fussy cutting haters won't mind.  ;)

I started with the Heidi Swapp Pineapple Crush "Good Vibes" paper.  I didn't necessarily have an end goal in mind when I start this layout so I just started cutting out hexagons from the paper.  I fussed around with those for a bit, then cut the hexagons into diamonds and chevrons.  Still no plan.

So I kept cutting.  Lol.  I had cut about 1/4 of the paper and decided to sort the diamonds and chevrons by color.  I am definitely a color scrapper so this made it easier for me to determine a design.

I started playing with a pattern on my paper, alternating between a diamond piece and a chevron.  Which eventually turned into a circular shape.  So I thought a few of these on a page might be cute.  I laid out a pink, yellow and blue shape.

Once I had placement approximately where I liked it, I lightly traced around the shapes so I could place some mixed media behind them.  I stuck with some light, subtle watercolor and the packaging technique.  After that had dried, I adhered the shapes to the page over their coordinating colors.  I decided to add some machine stitching down all of the diamonds and chevrons for some additional texture.

The embellishing was rather easy since I decided color blocking would look best.  I went thru all the embellishments in the main, PL and embellishment kits and sorted them by color.  Then added a few of each color to the coordinating shapes.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo, Kira

3-To-Inspire with Kelly

Hello friends! Today I am back with our first 3-To-Inspire challenge for the month of May. I have loved playing with this kit and hope that you will play along for a chance to win a prize!

My prompts are as follows:
1. Use tulle
2. Stitch (machine, hand, or both)
3. Use at least 3 patterned papers

Here is the page that I created using one of the cut files available as a NSD freebie in the shop.

For this layout I used the Malibu Main kit, Malibu Pocket Life kit, and the Paradise Add-on kit. I started creating the page by backing the heart cut file with papers that contained pink, coral, or aqua. Adding in the black and white polka dot brings a bit of contrast to the page.

I'm a sucker for birds and knew that this sweet bird would make the perfect accent on top of the photo.

The doily and twine are from my stash. I stitched through the title to add a bit more detail to the page.

 My mom has dementia, and we have had to make some serious life changes for her. It's been hard, and when I saw these stickers from Pinkfresh Studio, I could not believe how well that they told the story of my layout. Sometimes journaling is not even needed when your products say everything that you need to say.

I chose to layer the tulle behind the heart. I cut several squares so that the color would be a bit brighter, and adhered it to the back of the cut file with hot glue. I wanted to make sure that it would stay in place, and knew that hot glue would do the trick.

I have included a link to my process video if you would like to see how this layout came together. Now, it is your turn to use these prompts and post your projects on  our CTK Facebook Fan Page. Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!

xoxo, Kelly

Birthday layouts

Hi Guys!
Mira  here today with very simple idea of documenting changes in Your and Your family members life.
First of all - I love layouts with huge pictures! Don't You? There is something magical in them - I don't know what but I love it!
Whenever we celebrate birthdays in our house I tend to create big-picture layouts. And they go straight to my PL Album!
I promised myself that when my daughter will be growing up - year after year I will do the same: birthday layout with a few points of journaling telling the most important things about her!
Here's the first one:

So currently Ola is one year old, and even though she can't speak, she is a real babbler. She can talk for hours using this strange language of hers - and I admire that! She is also a wise guy and super cheerful girl with a million-dollar smile. She can sometimes be really nervous too. She loves eating and she's definitely a daddy's Girl! She makes our life beautiful and we looooove her to the moon and back :) In short - this is what my layout says.

I created this page with absolutely wonderful February Pocket Life "Stories" kit and Sprinkles kit from Citrus Twist Kits. I especially love that pinkish numbers from Sprinkles kit, that helped me with journaling! They are adorable and even though my layout is very simple they stand out from the first glance!

And for the title I used this amazing die-cut paper word "beautiful" by Heidi Swapp coming from PL Kit. Don't You just love this cute handwriting?

Do You think it is manageable to create layouts like that for every birthday in Your house? I really hope I can do it (keep Your fingers crossed for me, please)! It might be real fun to go through those pages after 18 years or so, don't You agree?

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great Thursday Guys!

Just Driving with Brenda

Good Morning everyone!

Brenda here to bring you a layout with my lovely little munchkin.  Last weekend I had a photoshoot an hour away so Daddy drove and we all went.  This little bugga went to sleep on the way there and on the way back.  There is just something about riding in the car that knocks her out every time.
When she wasn't sleeping, she had her face up to the window watching the trees and snow go by in a blur.  She is my little bird, always looking for the next adventure.

My favorite part of this months "Heartfelt" Add-On Kit is that pretty paper with the birds from Maggie Holmes.  It is very much like my little bird.  I couldn't wait to use it.  Of course, the stamps in this kit are perfect.  I will be using it a lot.

Thank you for stopping by today.  Have a lovely one.

Brenda

3 to Inspire

Hello! Michelle here with this week's "3 to Inspire" challenge!

Your take on this challenge can be a layout or a PL spread and you must include all 3 prompts on your project. This is what I have for you today:

1. Use 4 or more patterned papers.
2. Stack your title.
3. Repeat 1 or more elements.

Here is my take using the January Main " Vernona" Kit:

Using four or more pieces of patterned paper is right up my alley!  I went to town and used a total of five (which includes the background.) The super cute letters from 7 Paper were the perfect size for stacking a title. My repitition of the circles is pretty obvious, but I also added multiple stars and sentiments at the bottom of the page. 

Now it's your turn! Use the three prompts to create your own project, share it with us here in the gallery, and you will be eligible to win a small prize from the CTK Store. Make sure to include the date of the challenge in the title of your gallery submission. Can't wait to see what you create!

Michelle