Citrus Twist Kits: Sunday Sketch!

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back to the Happy Arty Days blog!

Today I'm presenting this week's installment of the

Citrus Twist Kits Sunday Sketch feature!

This sketch is tons of fun, and I hope I can inspire you to play along!

So, without further ado, here's what this week's Sunday Sketch looks like...

Told you it was a fun one! Such a cool design, and really easy to take inspiration from!

Here's my twist on it...

"Weekend Happiness"

Isn't this pretty?!! 

As you can see, I have altered the sketch (Or kinda trimmed the right hand side off) to create an 8" x 11" layout page. That's the wonderful thing about sketches, you can edit them to suit your creative style! 

Plus, after creating quite a few projects this month I really didn't have any 3"x 4" cards left over to 'perfectly' follow the sketch. Realistically, I could have cut my own 3" x 4" card from one of the Best Of This Life Pattern Papers, or used one of the July 2019 digital printable 3 x 4 Journaling Cards but I still needed to fit the sketch into a smaller page size. So, I decided to use the 2nd photo as the card, and replaced the paper clip with an embellishment or 4! 

Here's a better look at my page...

Happiness, indeed! Ain't nobody loves the weekend like my sweet girl! In her own words, "Mondays be like, Meh! & when FriYAY calls I'm like, so there!" Ummm... yeah, teen lingo and whatever that means, lololol! 

Seriously though, such a super fun and playful page! 

I've used the Best Of This Life July Life Crafted Kit, the Life Crafted July 2019 Digital Cut Aparts & the Joyful Day Phrase Stickers (Pinkfresh Studio) from the July 2019 Scrapbooking Add On Kit. 

I have foam mounted the photo cluster to add a little more interest and some dimension to the design.

Speaking of clusters, how fantastic are all those embellishments in the top right of my photo?!

The puffy stickers in this month's kit are so fab! I'm loving the bright Summer colors and the sentiments are totally on point!

And let's not forget to mention my mixed title....

I have combined the bright colored WEEKEND ephemera with the Pinkfresh Studio Joyful Day phrase sticker, happiness to create my title. I love how effective this looks! 

You'll spy that I foam mounted the ephemera for added 'pop' against the phrase sticker. 

And there you have it!

Simple. Pretty. Lazy Sunday creating!

I wonder how you'll interpret this sketch?

Please be sure to add your projects to the Citrus Twist Kits Fan Page HERE so we can be inspired by your awesomeness too! 

We LOVE seeing what everyone creates with their Citrus Twist Kits! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Citrus Twist Kits: June Life Crafted - Around Here - Kit

Hi Friends!

A new month means new kits from Citrus Twist Kits and this month's will have you swooning! 

The Life Crafted Kit for June is called, "Around Here" & looks like this....

Isn't it gorgeous?!!

Those pattern papers are especially lovely - just look at those happy colors! 

Here's a better look at them....

SO Stunning!!!

And the Scrapbooking Add-on Kit is just as divine!!!

Gah!!! So many pretties to memory keep with! 

If you're super quick you might be able to snare one of these beautiful kits before they sell out - visit the Citrus Twist Kits Shop HERE.

Now for some inspiration with them! 

First up is a look inside my Life Crafted Album using the Around Here Kit....

Did I mention how much I am loving the colors in this months pattern papers?!!

Seriously, this color scheme is everything!

Perfect for documenting my story with! 

Here's a closer look for you....

I feel like those pattern papers were made for my photo - such a perfect match!

The exclusive die cuts and journal cards are pretty amazing too! 

Love it!

And here's a scrapbook layout I've made using both kits....

"LOVE"

Sigh! SO super pretty! 

As well as both kits, you'll also spy the K-Bows Cut File and the Do Your Own Magic subscriber exclusive cut file. Adore them both! 

This layout was created for the Kit Love / 3-to-Inspire Creative Team post, where we were asked to use the kits, pattern paper and the K-Bows file. 

You can check out the post HERE & see the amazing creations from my fellow teamies! 

Here's a few pretty close ups for you.....

Gor-jus! 

Love the addition of the Pinkfresh Studio Joyful Day products with the Around Here kit - so good!

The cut files are really something, aren't they?! 

Simply beautiful! 

And there you have it! 

My first play with the new June Kits at Citrus Twist Kits! 

I'll have a few more projects a lil later this week for you! 

Thanks for stopping by today, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Citrus Twist Kits: May Life Crafted Kit

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back to the Happy Arty Days blog! 

I am so excited to be sharing my first layout with this month's Life Crafted Kit 

from Citrus Twist Kits! 

The 'May' kit is called Excursions and is all kinds of loveliness! 

If you haven't seen it yet, here's a quick peek....

So gorgeous, huh?! 

If you're fast, you might be lucky enough to snare this beautiful kit in the CTK store HERE. 

And here's the layout that I created with Excursions....

"You Two - Besties Since Like Forever"

Sigh! Isn't this the prettiest?!

Soft, fresh and very feminine! 

All the pastel pretties for these darling girls!

Let's take a closer look.....

I just adore the pattern papers and vintage book paper in this month's kit - so gorgeous!

The floral die cut ephemera is totally divine too! 

I used the bonus subscriber cut aparts to create more of these blooms for my page, and tucked them into that fabulous butterfly heart cut file. 

And speaking of cut files, how beautiful are those butterflies?

I've backed them with those gorgeous pattern papers, then layered ephemera hearts over the top - so sweet! 

That amazing cut file is a freebie one but again, it is an exclusive to all the CTK subscribers. 

Yet, another great incentive to start a subscription today!

I should add that the sequins are from my stash, but everything else you see on my page is from the May Life Crafted Kit & subscriber exclusives. I know, so much loveliness in one kit! 

Check out those awesome puffy alphas and my favorite, the monthly Life Crafted Stamp! 

So much goodness in one divine lil kit! Love, love, LOVE!!!!

***Shop the Citrus Twist Kits Life Crafted Kits HERE ***

I hope you enjoyed seeing my first layout with this month's kit. 

Thanks so  much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Citrus Twist Kits: Let's Get Digital!

Hi Friends! 

I hope you're loving all the fabulous inspiration with the new 

Citrus Twist Kits Life Crafted Kit!

I am SO excited by this new fresh look for memory keeping, 

but I am also very much a 12 x 12 scrapbooker by heart! 

So even though this month's Digital Cut Files are perfectly created for your Life Crafted album, 

I've edited the size of the Retro Circle Border digital file for today's post and created this.....

"Good Vibes Only"

Oh wow!!!

You can see that Life Crafted is very much for the 12 x 12 scrappers too! 

CTK Supplies: Life Crafted January 2019 Kit - Fresh Starts, Scrapbook Add On Kit, January 2019 This Is Life "New Beginnings" Stamp, Subscriber Exclusive Digital Cut File - Retro Circle Border, Subscriber Exclusive 2019 January Printable.  

Other Supplies: Shimmerz Paints: Vibez - Jeni Be Bleu, Hermit the Frog, & Deep Blue Sea, Umbrella Crafts Premium Dye Ink - Green, Versa Ink - Lime, & Bakers Twine. 

TIP: 

To download any of the CTK Subscriber Exclusive Digitals or Printables, you must be signed into your CTK account, before selecting the Subscriber Workshop tab. Once you've done this, scroll down the page and click the item you wish to download. 

To create this amazing layout I start by enlarging the digital file, and replicating it. This is so I have two sets of circles to work with. Before I remove the Retro Circles Borders from my cutting mat, I treat them with a few sprays of Shimmerz Vibez - as shown below.....

Lots of messy fun here! 

You'll notice that I have washi tape on the sides of my cardstock, the purpose is two fold. 

1. My mat isn't quite as sticky as I'd like it to be, so the washi tape aids to keep my cardstock in position and, 

2. It also aids against paper warping when I add all that paint. 

Once dry, I remove the Retro Circles Borders cuts, as well as the negatives. Be sure to keep the negatives, as I use quite a few of these left over circles on the left hand side of my layout.

I use pretty pattern papers from both kits to trim the top and base of my layout. Next, I glue 95% of one Retro Circle Border to my page, trimming away the excess along the right hand side of my layout. Using the gorgeous leaves stamps included in the "This Is Life" New Beginnings Stamp, I add lots of lime and green foliage to the layout base. Those stamped leaves are really something! Such beautiful details! 

Next, I glue down the left over 'negative cuts' from the Retro Circles Borders, and foam mount the odd one or two. I just love how effective this looks! With circles as a dominant shape in my design, it seemed a no brainer to use the circular frame from the Dear Lizzy Die Cut Shapes (included in the Scrapbook Add On Kit) for my sweet girl's photo. I also needed an accent color - something with a lil warmth to balance and cut through all those cool greens and blues. The answer was that fabulous golden Hello Love chipboard sticker. This is from the CTK exclusives included in the Life Crafted - Fresh Starts Kit. And even better, it's a circle too! Love it! 

I fussy cut a few of the Dear Lizzy Die Cut Shapes so that they better suit my design. In particular, the Good Vibes Only title piece. I have snipped away the cacti so it now mimics my stamping and flatters my photo! For finishing touches, I also add that pretty green tag from the Subscriber Exclusives for January and the Tiny Word Stickers from the Life Crafted Kit. 

Simple. Beautiful. Life Crafted! 

I hope my layout has inspired you today! 

Life Crafted is all about you and your stories - so craft it your way! 

I can't wait to see what you create! 

Be sure to share your projects with these beautiful kits & Subscriber Exclusive Digitals & Printables in the Citrus Twist Kits Facebook Fan Page HERE! 

Thanks so much for visiting today! 

'til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Citrus Twist Kits: Let's Get Digital for Fall!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for more Citrus Twist Kits inspiration!

Today I'm sharing a super fun Fall layout that spotlights the awesome Digital Cut Files at CTK! 

I have used the FREE Leaf Frame file with my Silhouette Sketch Pens for a really fabulous mixed media layout! 

Here's what I created....

"Small Things, Great Love" 

CTK Supplies | Little Things Pocket Life Kit, Little Things Scrapbook Kit, October Pattern Paper Play Kit, Leaf Frame Digital Cut File, Pinkfresh Studio Liquid Watercolors. 

Isn't this gor-jus?!! All the Fall fabulousness here! 

I have featured the Little Things Pocket Life Kit, and combined it with wood veneer from the Little Things Scrapbook Kit, as well as fussy cut butterflies from the Vicki Boutin paper in the Pattern Paper Play Kit. 

But it's the Leaf Frame File that really makes this layout! 

The Leaf Frame file has been designed by our very talented Nathalie DeSousa, 

& looks like this....

So awesome!!!

You can download the Leaf Frame Digital Cut File from the CTK Store HERE. 

I enlarged this file so it would frame around edge of my 12 x 12" cardstock base, & then used Silhouette Sketch Pens (Orange & Red ) to draw the enlarged digital file.

I loosely paint the leaves with the fabulous Pinkfresh Studio Liquid Watercolors in Candy Apple, Clementine, Sunshine & even a tiny amount of Lavender! I love the flow and vibrancy of these liquid watercolors! 

Here's a closer look for you.....

Sketch Pens are water soluble, so I use this 'ink bleeding' to my advantage,  & blend to create a little tone within my messy water coloring. I also add a few inky splatters for good measure. So cool! 

Here's another view for you....

Sketch Pens are really good fun, and combined with the Pinkfresh Studio Liquid Watercolors, they're super effective too! 

Those fussy cut butterflies are such a pretty adornment too! 

The laugh veneer from the Scrapbook Kit coordinates perfectly with both the Fall, outdoorsy theme of my layout.

It's also a pretty accurate descriptor of the story in my photo too! Aren't they just the cutest?!

I layer my favorite Fall photo onto that exclusive PL journal card, and then layer die cuts and 6 x 8 pattern paper beneath it all. 

Super simple creating that's tons of fun, and looks super effective! 

And there you have it! 

My fun take on this month's Let's Get Digital highlight! 

I hope you'll download this FREE file (and more) from the CTK shop HERE, 

and get a little creative too! 

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

 Amanda xo 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio: Throwback Thursday - Hello Lovely!

Hi Creative Friends!

Time to share a lil  Cocoa Vanilla Studio love, 

& today I am celebrating Throwback Thursday with the gorgeous Hello Lovely collection!

I made SO many beautiful creations with this line when it was first released back in 2015, 

but it seems I'm still LOVING it as I had no trouble creating with it again! 

It's just soooooooo preeeeeetty!!!

Here's what I came up with,

"Love You"

Ga ga gorgeous!!!

You'll spy lots of pretties here!

I start with a white cardstock base, to which I add a scalloped punched border trim with pattern paper, CV-HL002 GLIMMER.

Next, I cut out that divine Butterfly Ring cut file (from Citrus Twist Kits) with our super beautiful CV-HL006 FLOWER PATCH pattern paper.

 Absolutely gor-jus!!! This pretty floral paper is simply heavenly! I draw on the colors to inspire my mixed media base.

The media is a simple series of coordinating watercolor rings, paint flicks & splatters. Lots of fun! Once dry, I apply the Flower Patch butterfly ring, and begin to embellish the cut file.

First, I frame my darling photograph with an DIE CUT EPHEMERA frame, and then adorn it with pretty blooms....

Oh how darling is this?!! 

So super sweet!

Next, I take as many butterfly embellishments that I can find, and add them to my page! I love the look of layered butterflies, so I use a few DIE CUT EPHEMERA ones on my cut file butterflies. Cute! For a bit of 'wow' factor, I also fussy cut that beautiful Monarch butterfly from pattern paper, CV-HL005 LUCKY DIP and add it to the largest butterfly in the ring. Talk about a feature piece! This is such a beautiful detail!

Isn't it something?!!

If you look carefully, you'll also spy a few teeny tiny WOOD VENEER butterflies layered on the cut file, as well as scattered around the ring, too! Speaking of veneer, I use the exquisitely cut 'love you' WOOD VENEER as my layout title. So awesome!

To draw a lil more attention to the title,

 I add that stunning brass LUCKY CHARMS arrow to direct you in!

For the remainder of my layout, I simply decorate and embellish on and around the butterfly ring with SEQUINS, ENAMEL DOTS, DIE CUT EPHEMERA & more WOOD VENEER. With such a darling photograph, I can't resist adding a few DIE CUT EPHEMERA & VELLUM HEARTS. So Beautiful!

 

Such a simple design, and yet so incredibly detailed and beautiful!

 

All the butterfly LOVE!!!

I hope my layout has inspired you to go back and revisit some of the older 

Cocoa Vanilla Studio collections! 

I think it's safe to say that they're still winning my heart over! 

Hello Lovely, indeed!

You can view ALL the collections HERE in the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Shop.

Thanks so much for visiting!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Citrus Twist Kits: Let Your Dreams Take Flight!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for more Citrus Twist Kits inspiration! 

I am just loving being part of this team, & am having so much fun! 

Here's what I've created today with their July Skyland Kits, 

"Let Your Dreams Take Flight"

Oh, isn't this cool!?!!

One for the boy - documenting his love of aircraft and all things planes! 

You'll spy a mix of the July Skyland Scrapbook & Pocket Life Kits, July Pattern Paper Play Kit & even the exclusive Citrus Twist Kits Digital Files! 

You can see all the kit contents in the store HERE 

Here's a closer look at my layout....

Loving the mixed alphas title! 

The tiny puffy alphas are CTK exclusives from the Pocket Life Kit, and the larger, multi colored letters are from Echo Park: Imagine That (girl) collection & are included in this months Scrapbook Kit! So awesome!

For my pattern papers, I have used the B sides of Heidi Swapp's Hawthorne: 'Dreamscape', as well as Bella Blvd's Little Man: 'Star'. The map print was perfect for the 'journey' story happening in my sweet photo! 

All boy, all awesome!!!

Hope my layout has inspired you to check out this month's amazing kits, 

& sign up for a subscription so you never miss a kit again! 

See more inspiration from our amazing team in the Creative Team Gallery HERE!

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo