Sunday Sketch with Diane

Hi everyone, Diane here with your Sunday Sketch challenge! I adore sketches as a jumping off point for any layout. Today I decided to adapt this 12x12 sketch for a spread in my Life Crafted album.

Here is today's sketch:

And here is how my spread turned out:

Because I was scaling this sketch down from a 12x12 to my Life Crafted album, I had to shift a few things from the sketch around to fit. For instance, I moved the banner flags from in between the photos on the sketch to above my photos on my page so I could allow for slightly larger photos.

I used a combination of punches and hand trimming to create enough flags for both the top of my page and a few under my title cluster. I stuck with the yellows and blues from the Peachy Keen paper pad but also threw in some woodgrain paper and a few teal elements from the die cut pack and tiny word stickers to add a bit of interest.

Before I adhered everything down, I typed my journaling directly onto the background and then added my title in black foam alphas to tie in my black and white photos.

I also stitched down my clusters and top strips, I love the texture I get from my sewing machine but it also helps to make sure all those small elements are adhered nicely. Lastly, I added a cork sticker for a bit more texture.

Here's a look at the process this spread took ...

Thanks for stopping by today and I'd love to see any page you create using this challenge so don't forget to tag me and share over on the Citrus Twist Facebook Fan page!

3-to-Inspire with Desiree

Happy Saturday crafty friends!

I am so happy to share some inspiration today for this week's 3-to-inspire challenge.

Here are the items on today's list:

1.  large tag

2.  ephemera

3.  patterned paper

I decided to do this challenge in my Sea Glass Life Crafted Album (one of my favorite colors).  I wanted to record this fun family picnic picture from a few years ago.  I also used papers, ephemera, and stickers from the June add-on kit.

This layout starts with the white textured paper from the add-on kit.  Next, I cut the word fun vertically on my electric cutting machine into the white cardstock.  I knew backing the cut-out word with patterned papers would be a great way to include the beautifully colored papers.  

Here is the list of patterned paper I used:

• Brave & Bold "It's Electric" by Amy Tangerine from the add-on kit.
• Garden Party "Happy Growing" by Maggie Holmes from the add-on kit.
• Yellow striped paper from the Peachy Keen paper pad by Fancy Pants Designs.

Next, I took my 4x8 tag and covered it with the same yellow stripe patterned paper.  I placed my photo on the tag.  I added fun, summery ephemera and puffy stickers from the Simple Stories Sunkissed collection that come along with the add-on kit.  I also included labels from the Citrus Twist Kits Butterfly and Tags ephemera pack to my cluster.  

Just under the cluster, I added my typed journaling.  I used the "Story" word stamp from the Storytelling Stamp Set to complete this cluster.

Last, I add fun touches to each side.  I had to include a butterfly from the Butterfly and Tags ephemera pack.  I add the sunglasses, sun, and pinwheel ephemera from the Sunkissed ephemera pack.  I couldn't resist all the little foam hearts from the Sunkissed foam sticker sheet.

I really enjoyed getting a chance to play with all the fun pieces in the June add-on kit this month.  I hope you are inspired!

XO, Desiree

Sunday Sketch with Nathalie

 

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today to bring you this week's sketch challenge.   Sketches are a simple and easy way to get your pages done in a short amount of time.  A good sketch will provide a blue print for your page, the rest is up to you.  Let me show you this week's sketch:

Here is what I have created -inspired by the sketch- using a combination of the June "Sunkissed" Add-on kit, May Digital files, and our exclusive products.

My choice was to keep the center design of the layout as set on the sketch, and played around this focal cluster.

I replaced the small strip of paper on the right of the sketch  with strips of paper ( Sunkissed Add-on kit).  My choice to soften the straight edges of papers.  So, using a border die ( Pinkfresh Studio), I created the soft rounded edges.    These were set on the right edge of the layout.

I mixed papers from the Add-on kit ( Amy Tangerine - Brave and Bold collection, Maggie Holmes - Magical Garden collection ) with papers from Fancy Pants 6x8 Peachy Keep paper pad, and digital files (May 2020 release) to create the paper layers just  as shown in the sketch.

To embellish the page, I pulled ephemera from our June and April release, and decided to replace the washi tape in the sketch with tiny leaf die cuts ( Pinkfresh Studio - Curvy Leaves die set) .  The large butterfly replaces all the small ones in the original sketch!

I love how this layout turned out! Plus, it took little time to put it together using the sketch as a reference!  Remember to share with us any project created with the sketch; use #ctksketch, @citrustwistkits, #ctklifecrafted. We love to be inspired by you, too!

3-to-Inspire with Shannon

 

Hello there, crafty friends! Shannon here with a 3-to-Inspire to get your creativity flowing. I primarily used the Butterflies & Tags ephemera to bring this page together in my Life Crafted album. Let's get to my list of 3 prompts:

1. Make a list

2. Use butterflies

3. Design on the diagonal 

[supplies used: Navy Life Crafted album, Butterflies & Tags ephemera, June 2021 Sunkissed add-on kit, Loved This Day puffy stickers, White Puffy Alphabet]

1. Make a list

Lists are kind of my thing both inside and outside of my scrapbooking. I'm a lister by nature so it's fitting that lists show up often in my scrapbooking. The Butterflies & Tags ephemera has these great numbers with arrows. I used the colors of the numbers to lead the color scheme for my whole layout. When I noticed that the arrows alternate which direction they pointed, I knew that I wanted my blocks of journaling to follow that same alternating path. My list isn't quite a true "list" but each block of journaling lists out my favorite things about each of my daughters. 

2. Use butterflies

You know that a product called Butterflies & Tags ephemera is going to have beautiful butterflies! I went through all of them and chose 3 different ones that matched the colors on my page. Quick tip: don't let your ephemera overpower your photo! Originally, this photo was zoomed out more and my daughters didn't quite fill the frame. But, when I placed my butterflies on my page, the proportion was all wrong. So, I reprinted the photo with my girls filling more of the frame and the proportion was just right. This can happen with any embellishments!

3. Design on the diagonal 

This is a go-to design style of mine. I absolutely love the movement across the page and how it inherently allows for white space. This allows my page to flow and my eyes to rest! The way I designed on the diagonal here is a little more subtle. You could make it more obvious by adding a diagonal line of patterned paper, stamping in a diagonal pattern, scattering small puffy stickers or enamel dots diagonally across the page, or arranging your photos in a diagonal pattern. Here, I kept my photo in the middle and added plenty of layers. But even with all of those layers, my layout felt like it was lacking something. When I added in a few pieces of ephemera at opposite corners, it instantly tied my page together. Take a look below at what I mean about the diagonal design.

I hope my 3 prompts have given you some ideas on how you can get started on your next page. I can't wait to see what you create!

Sunday sketch with Alena

 

 Hey everyone!  It's Alena with  layout for Sunday Sketch.

 Here's a look at the sketch this week:

 And here's what I came up with using the store's new products.

I used a lot of pieces of ephemera. The numbered journaling cards were perfect for my layout. They were glued to thick foam pads. 

The photos were placed on bent strips of paper. 

For the title I combined two types of alphabetic stickers.

Well, then it is time for you be inspired by the sketch to create a page of your own.  Remember to share your creations with us on the Citrus Twist Kits Friends page on Facebook or by using #CTK, @Citrustwistkits on social media.  I cannot wait to see what you create with this sketch.

3-to-Inspire with Patricia

 

Happy weekend, Citrus Twist Kits Friends!  I have a project to share with you that has been on my to-do list of things I have wanted to get back into doing...art journaling.  I had the perfect sized book in mind to start altering!  

This book was shiny, so I did use a regular fingernail file to rough it up as much as I could to help the paint stick.  I altered the cover using about 2 layers of white gesso and paint, mixing in old and new stickers in between those layers, and then the final layer was adding stamps and more stickers.  Here is a quick video with music to show you step by step how I altered the cover and a few of the inside pages.  You'll see in the video, I did remove some of the inside pages, thanks to looking at other art journalers.  The reason for this is to not have the book so full.  I will be adding paints and other media to the pages on the inside, so removing some pages helps that.   I did add the gesso to the sides of the pages and let it dry, but then as soon as it dried, I fanned out the pages a bit to separate since the gesso can act as a glue.  With some of the pages being removed, I wasn't looking for perfection.  Just know if you paint your edges like I did, you will want to do the same.  And be sure to use just a little paint.

Here are a few more photos of how the first few pages of the inside are coming together.  The new June paper pack was so perfect for the look I wanted.  I used double-sided tape to adhere these pattern papers.

My problem with art journaling is making the journaling part too tedious, not knowing what to write, or just not knowing where to start.  These first two pages came together I think because I had these beautiful papers and the trimmings all on my desk, so I grabbed what I loved, and knew the words I wanted to put down using the stickers and stamps.  With everything on my desk, I just reached for the gesso and a small paint brush to act as my 'glue' for my pattern papers on the left.

I used the Narrows Alphabet stamp set for the word 'Breathe.'  All the papers and die cuts are from the June release.

The journal couldn't be more timely as I find myself needing a brain dump these days!  So how about you?  Any interest in art journaling or at least incorporating mixed media and altering into your projects.

Here's 3-to-Inspire:

- Change or alter an embellishment by adding paint over it and maybe adding stamping, or go big like I did and alter a book!

- Doodle!  I forget how fun this is.  I did it around the circles on the cover...grab a pen and just create messy doodles.  

- If you don't go the art journal route, I challenge you to at least create a layout or spread using no photos as I did!

Have fun and please share in our Facebook group!

MEET OUR GUEST DESIGNER: NANCY DAMIANO

 

Hello there!

Today, we are very excited to welcome our June 2021 Guest Designer.  Many of you might know her from social media, and her gorgeous projects.  She is an amazing designer with a clean and colorful aesthetic, and she loves our Life Crafted albums.  WE are so happy to welcome NANCY DAMIANO.   We cannot wait for you all to get to know her, too.

Hello! My name is Nancy Damiano and I am so happy to be a guest designer here this month. I'm married, mom to a teenage son and favorite aunt to two bonus kids. I was born and bred in New Jersey and have been a maker all of my life. I love photography, reading and memory keeping

Q&A with Nancy

 

When did you start scrapbooking/story telling? It's unbelievable, but I've been scrapbooking 20+ years ago. I've been around for all of the trends and my scrapbooks definitely reflect that. I still love the idea (and making) of words + photos.

 

What is something most people would not know about you? English is not my first language. It took me about 3 months of immersive English in Kindergarten to learn the language. I also credit Mr. Rogers and Scooby-Doo cartoons.

 

What are the 3 scrapbooking products you can’t live without? Stamps, puffy stickers and die cuts. It's hard to narrow that down though since I like to change things up story to story.

 

What do you love about our products? I love the colors and the versatility of the die cut packs. I have a big collection of Life Crafted albums and they are my favorite. The smaller size is what got me back into scrapbooking after a 2-year hiatus.

 

Finish this sentence “If you could see my scrapbooking space now . . it's pretty neat and organized. If I was in the middle of a project though, my entire desk would be covered in stuff that I pulled out.

Let's check some of Nancy's work:

Hi there Citrus Twist fans. It's so good to be here. It's Nancy, and I'm excited to be here with as a Guest Designer this month. I have been a long time fan of Citrus Twist kits and the Life Crafted albums.  Today I'm working with the new June release.

 

 

I used six different die cuts from the June ephemera pack to create this summery page. I love the colors in these butterflies and built the page around the palette. The scattered butterflies and stitching lend the page some movement. The labels are great journaling spots for lists.

 

 The right side is all story about what I'm looking forward to this summer. It's decorated a bit with aqua puffy letters from an older Citrus Twist kit. The photo is accented with a label ephemera from the June kit as well.

 

My favorite embellishments from Citrus Twist kits are the ephemera packs. I used them almost exclusively to tell this story. They're versatile and add the perfect punch of color to any layout. 

We just love what Nancy has created with our June release and cannot wait what she will share with us next.  You can always find more of Nancy's work on Instagram   You are going to love her projects.

XO