Documenting 2020 with Nathalie

Hi there!
Happy New Year to you all! I am so excited to share the first pages of my Documenting 2020 series... I think one of the highlights of 2019 was the Life Crafted albums,  it is the perfect size for daily documenting in style.   One of the advantages of the size is that it makes the documenting simple and quick especially when using the beautiful Citrus Twist Kits goodies, let me show you:

I always start my albums with a picture of  my family on January 1st -our first selfie of the year-  My word of the year of 2020 is "GATHER"  so i thought of ways of incorporating  it on my page, and decided on printing my journal on vellum so that it brings translucency to the layout.

I did not glue the pages together so i can show you how i created the page.  It started by enlarging one of the bonus PL cards (subscribers receive this for free with their kits) so that it fits the page of the album.  I used Tattered Rose Distress Oxide ink to stamp the word Gather on the center of the page using the Spencer Solid Alpha Stamp.  I layered the printed vellum on top and then added a few stickers from the Life Crafted kit and finished the page by stamping the year using the  Typewriter Month and Number stamp set.

To complete the page, i added a small cluster of ephemera pieces at the bottom of the enlarged picture.   This time i used the Typewriter Month and Number stamp set and This is Life:  Fierce stamp set to add the sentiments and date.

Here are the entries for the first day of the year.   I combine two single layouts by matching colors and then adding the small  branding strip (Add-on Kit paper) to both layouts. 

For the background, I enlarged one of the Digital PL cards to fit the page of the LC album, then once again, i used the Subscriber bonus PL cards to print the card for the first layout (i enlarged it a bit), and trimmed the small label so that i can create the pocket.  I used ephemera and stickers from the Add-on kit to create the journal and cluster for the page.  Then used the TN stamp, Life Crafted Stamp and This is Life Stamp to finish the cluster on the pocket.

For this layout, i trimmed white cardstock to fit the page of the Life Crafted album and then glued the left over paper branding strip at the edge of the page.  The 3x8 card that comes included in the Life Crafted kit was then glued to the page.  I used one of the ephemera frames to layer under the picture and then used labels, stickers and those glorious glitter stars to finish the layout.

For my last layout, i kept the page simple so that the focus will remain on the pictures.   This time, i backed the enlarged picture with a paper from the Life Crafted kit, but created  a small pocket where i could add my lines of journal in a tag.

All  it needed was the small banner and a small puffy star to complete the page.   Since i chose to keep the pictures to black and white, i decided to look for pieces in the Life Crafted kit that had the same tones of blue.

Once i set them in an #2 insert, i used puffy stickers from the Life Crafted kit to embellish each pocket.  This time, i set the stickers above the page protector so that there is texture and a tactile effect on the page.

I hope this has given you a few ideas on how to simplify your documenting.   I cannot wait to see how my series will grow and evolve through the year.   Remember to stop by the  CTK shop to check all the materials that i used in these pages.

You can always contact me with any questions about the pages..

XO

Sketch Sunday with Lorilei

Hello and Happy New Year friends!!  Today I am sharing a new layout using the Sunday sketch!  I am pretty sure I squealed a bit when I opened the January Scrapbooking Add-On kit!  It is fresh and gorgeous and so lovely to work with!

I decided to use the 8.5x11 sketch for a 12x12 layout.  I wanted to use loads of patterned papers!  I began with white card stock and trimmed papers at various widths and all 12" long.  I stacked the papers and adhered the stack together.  Before I adhered the stack down I added a bit of mixed media on either side of the stack.

I spent some time fussy cutting flowers from the Dear Lizzy paper and then went to work on my title.  I used the Spencer Outline Stamp to stamp on pink paper and fussy cut the letters.  I added tiny white dots with a gel pen for a bit of pizazz!  I finished the title with the tiny blue Pinkfresh Alphas and the exclusive gorgeous pink foam alpha from Citrus Twist Kits.  I used the "This is Life" stamp set to add the cute hearts and the new Italic alpha stamp for the word love.

I love how my layout turned out.  The fresh fun colors were just what I needed for a bit of zip this time of year!  I'd love for you to use the sketch and see what you come up with!

Here is the sketch for you to play along!

3-To-Inspire with Elizabeth

Hello friends.  HAPPY, happy New Year.  And, HAPPY Saturday too.  I'm DELIGHTED to share another 3-to-inspire challenge with you.  This weekly series is designed to help YOU channel your inner MOJO.  To participate, simply include ALL three of the following prompts in ANY project.

The prompts this week include:

1.  Make a LIST.
2.  MODIFY a card.
3.  Add a PUFFY sticker (or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5).

Here's my take on this challenge using the "Fierce and Fabulous" kit...

As you can see, I chose to do a two-page spread in my Life Crafted Album.  The first prompt, Make a LIST, seemed TIMELY for the beginning of a new year.  This kit has SO many options for lists - numbers, symbols and icons.  I used one of the number stamps to document five of my personal GOALS for 2020.

The second prompt, MODIFY a card, can take courage.  You're the BOSS.  USE the kit.  Don't be afraid to cut, punch or use PART of a quote or phrase.  In this layout, I cut a 3x8 bookmark into three pieces.  I used the largest one to create my list.

I used the second piece to REPEAT color and add journaling to my right-hand page.  ( I still have the top to use on yet ANOTHER project).

The final prompt is PUFFY stickers.  I'm a bit OBSESSED.  I love the variety and DIMENSION.  I try to add embellishments in ODD numbers.  I also try include a VARIETY of shapes and styles.

I hope this challenge provides some inspiration.  HAPPY crafting.

2020 Vol 1 | Life Crafted Album | Patricia Roebuck

Happy New Year beautiful CTK friends and fans!!!  I hope 2020 brings lots of health and blessings your way!!  I grabbed some of the Life Crafted albums at the Black Friday sale and am using one to start my 2020 Vol 1 memories.  Trina will be coming out with new albums, so no worry if you don't have a fresh new album, be on the lookout for more to come!  Today, I want to walk you through how I set up the exterior of the album, the intro pages and the start to documenting the year.

For my cover, I used a combination of the new stamp set Solid & Outline Alpha and Numbers, the January Life Crafted Fierce & Fabulous kit along with the stamp that comes in the kit, and the January Travelers Notebook Stamp.  It was a little tricky heat embossing with the white for the 2020, you can see some imperfection.  A resistance powder before stamping helped a little, but with the album being fabric you will get some strays.  I'm okay with is, because I've learned to embrace imperfection!  For my spine, I used the new Solid & Outline stamp set to stamp 'Vol 1.'  

For my title and intro page, I used the new Fresh Start cut file for subscribers, cutting it in white and using vellum to stitch to the front and back of it to create a star confetti pocket using die cuts from the kit.  Then embellished the outside.

Since this is the start of 2020, at the time I created this, I had no photos, but I've printed out day 1 to share how my album is coming along so far.  This is a new look of the intro page a large photo printed in the first pocket behind it.

The vellum creates a nice softness to the very busy 'new year' photo under it, but also helps make the '2020' cut file stand out more.  I am really loving the theme of this kit 'fierce & fabulous' along with the circus feel to some of the die cuts.  This kit provides not just the die cuts and puffy stickers but fabric ephemera.  I used one on the cover of my album, hand stitching around it before adhering.

My 'new year' photo really doesn't need anything else added to it, but I did find this banner die cut from the kit that not only had the color but the saying that fit well.

My next two pages, start the everyday memory keeping starting with our traditional black-eyed peas and cabbage on Jan 1st.  The 'real life' fabric ephemera is perfect here, because as much as we would love our counter to be spotless and without a cat on it, this truly is 'real life.'

I printed the paper from our Notebook digital papers so it would fit the length of my full-size Life Crafted pocket, but used the paper with the lemons from the kit to hand cut, intentionally making it look hand cut to create horizontal lines for layering with embellishments, stamping, and the photo.

I think this is my favorite cluster with the stamps and embellishments.

Every Life Crafted kit has a 3x8 card.  I decided to use it as a divider by adding embellishments to the front, but then on the back, adding journaling and stamping.  I also corner rounded one corner to give it a slightly different look.

I wanted to share this about the new Solid & Outline Alpha and Number stamp...don't think you have to use both the solid and outline together.  It is subtle here, but I really think this is great look to add to your pages by using the solid alone and then the outline alone.  In this case, I did the month in solid in one color, and the number in the outline in black.

I used pockets on the right side for a photo at the top with a cluster of embellishments in the whitespace of the photo.

This card is gorgeous all on its own, but to create a little bit of texture and just a touch of color and a visual triangle, I added a fabric ephemera and a puffy heart.

Thank you for stopping by and looking into the first day of 2020 for my family.  Looking forward to creating memories and documenting them with you, the CTK friends and fans!  Happy New Year!!

Open Post

Wow!  It's hard to believe that it's January already.  I was trying to clear out my mind and get ready for the new year, and the new date stamp was the perfect fit for my introspective morning! Nothing is better than starting your morning with some coffee and some pretty paper!

I started with the stamp and made my date, then I used the numbers to create a list.  Because I was using lined paper, I put the stamps (with no ink) in the spots I wanted them (double spaced) and then I picked them all up at once with a stamping block.  You could do this with a stamping platform as well if you wanted to.

Once I had my list, I couldn't leave it without adding some of the great die cuts from the add on and the Life Crafted kit.  The fabric tags from the Life Crafted kit are probably my favourite thing right now, they are such great colors and I love the texture they add to a layout.  On this one, I sewed two of them together to start the embellishment cluster on the left.

Thanks for joining me today, I wish you all a good new year, and I hope that you will find this kit and stamp set as inspiring as I have!

You Are My Favorite with Krystal

Hi everyone! Krystal here with a layout featuring the Add-On Kit for January. This kit is so gorgeous! It's full of bits and pieces from Dear Lizzy's She's Magic as well as the new Lucky Us collection from Pink Paislee. I love every bit of it, and I was so excited to use it on a page.

I started with Paper 4 from Lucky Us and decided to use that as a border for my page. I trimmed down a sheet of white cardstock from my stash to be 11" x 11" then added it to the B-side of Paper 4. I love the graphic nature of this black and white print, and I knew it would go really well with my photo.

I also added some stitching along the border of the page for added texture and stability. Then I moved on to backing my photo. I added a thin border of white paper, then layered the Imagine paper from She's Magic behind that. I loved that the floral pattern had lots of blue in it, so it worked well with my photo. It also set the color scheme for this page. 

For my title, I decided to fussy cut a phrase from Paper 3 from Lucky Us. I finished the title by adding some of the little Pinkfresh Studio alphas that were included in the kit. I love the combination of these two fonts. 

I added lots of pieces of ephemera from the Dear Lizzy pack that was in the kit, including a spot for my journaling. Once those were in place, it was time to add the finishing touches. I chose a couple of hearts from the She's Magic puffy stickers and a couple of enamel hearts from the Lucky Us set as well and sprinkled them around the page. 

I also added a couple of phrases from the She's Magic Confetti Stickers in blue and pink to bring some additional color to my embellishment clusters. Then I added some stamping using the January This is Life stamp set. I used black ink to tie in the paper I used as a border for the page. 

And that's it! A pretty simple page, but I love how it turned out. You can see the entire process in the video below.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you found some inspiration for using your January Kits, and I hope to see you back here soon!