Merry

A very Quick layout to finish out 2018, and CSI 268--challenge can be found here on their blog:   
http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2019-01-01T01:30:00-05:00&max-results=1

Here is my layout: I used reindeer, poinsettias and wood/woodgrain pattern.
I journaled about our Christmas celebration with family. The picture is of my niece Hannah
and her nana.

Happy New Year everyone!

Let it Snow

Christmas is a magical time, as is the month leading up to it. Family and friends met up for a Holiday Walk....perfect to scrap for CSI 267. The non-traditional colors can be challenging but fun to play with. The CSI challenge is here: http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/

For my layout, I used all 5 colors, stamping (the trees in the background), snowflakes, winter elements (snowmen), and a tag, and journaled from a hanging tag. Picture is from my childhood- of my dad, my sister and me. We built a snowman together in winter of 1978. Just one of the great memories of childhood.

Beautiful garden

For csi 266, we have a very bright color palette for November--thought this worked perfectly with some photos I shot this summer of hour family outing to Conservatory/Botanic Gardens in Ohio.

The challenge can be found here: http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/

I was inspired by the flowers, the frames, the bright colors, and birds. I journaled in a frame. I used some gelatos to color the frames (originally paper was from the Amy Tan Plus one collection, which I cut out and colored. The color theme was bright and cheery, perfect for the bright floors our family saw at the Botanic Garden/Conservatory in Columbus, OH. I also incorporated some squares which I colored with gelatos and stamped.

Come join the fun at CSI: Color, Stories and Inspiration!

Hello Friend

For CSI 265 we have a wonderfully girly color palette, with pinks, white and black.I did my own inspiration on this--chose 4 of the 5 colors (pinks, white and black) to work with for this challenge.
I was also inspired by the stripes, flowers, glitter and text print. I used a framed journaling spot as well.

The CSI challenge:

For my layout, I did lots of layering, and did some stenciling with some glitter paste, and journaled about my niece. After her dance performance, she met up with her friend, Brandon.

Betty Crocker

CSI 264 The inspiration for this challenge is about books. I really dont read too many books anymore--there are a few I still enjoy. One that I enjoy looking at is my parent's Betty Crocker cook book. It brings back many memories of childhood, so this layout is about the Betty Crocker cook book.

The CSI challenge is here: http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/.


For this challenge I used some text paper, inked the edges and a pocket to hold hidden journaling.
The Betty Crocker cookbook holds many memories for me-- of dinners my mom cooked for us growing up, Christmas cookies we baked together and birthday cakes for birthday celebrations.

To make this layout, I made my own background with blue paint, splatters, and modeling paste to create the checker pattern. I also layered some die cuts and the flower stickers.

Fall birds

In honor of our fall themed CSI challenge (263) I decided to do a layout of some fall birds.
The csi challenge is here on their blog:  CSI blog.

For my layout I used metal corners, flowers and leaves, bird (owl) and journaled about fall birds. I used some pretty Graphic 45 paper and made some die cut leaves for our fall theme. I also added some stickers from my stash.
I journaled about Fall birds. Fall is a great time to do bird watching. Lots of birds migrate through our area in the fall. Some birds here over the summer will migrate south. And some of the birds that spend fall months here will start collecting and storing nuts.

Come join the fun at CSI!

Kitty Convention

My layout for CSI 262

I used brads, flowers, and stripes. And journaled about my kitty:

You are Beautiful

The challenge for CSI 261 can be found here: http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/

My layout:

The layout is based on a sketch from Diane Fisher at Scrapbook circle. (the website is no longer around, found it on pinterest. Picture is of my niece Hannah.

For this layout, I used leaves, a frame, and a punched border (pink scallop)/
I put journaling in an envelope: Hannah-11 years old: Just started middle school, Beautiful, Curious, Eager and compassionate--is growing up.

I used some flowered paper from cocoa daisy--fussy cut the flowers and then layered them.
I did some water color in the background to add interest. Added some ink to the edges, also to add interest. Stamped the "you are" and used stickers for the "Beautiful."

Come join the fun at CSI-Colors Stories and Inspiration!

COSI Adventure

I love the colors for CSI 260 and had the perfect photo in my stash to boot.
The CSI challenge can be found here:  http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/

So for my layout I used flowers, gold, glitter and trim. I put the testimoney (journaling) in the form of an itinerary. Photo is from when our family visited COSI a couple years back. And journalling describes some of the exhibits we saw while at the museum. (The times, naturally, being a rough estimate).
9:00 Be curious about the mechanics of pullies
11:00 Discover decades paste
12:00 Refuel at the deli
1:00 Adventure through space
3:00 Return to Rendezvous spot.
I used some mixed media on this to create the background. Prima acrylic paints and some misc. ink sprays from my stash. I also painted the flowers blue and gold (with prima acrylics) and pink with Tim Holtz pearls. I did a little stenciling with bo bunny glitter paste and added a little bling (gems and sequins). I also painted the gears pink with acrylic paint. Had lots of fun playing with mixed media and paint on this.

                                   
                                       Come join the fun over at the CSI blog!!

Documented

CSI 259 Tis the season to document summer and vacations. I thought this would be a great opportunity to document my family reunion. Relatives from Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio and Georgia all came out to socialize and visit family members we haven't seen for some time.

The CSI challenge can be found here: http://csichallenge.blogspot.com.

For my layout, I was inspired by cursive writing, stamping and flags. I journaled about the time we shared over breakfast with cousins and family.
For this layout I was also inspired by a sketch I saw for a card (which can be found here: https://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/image/sketch/6180031.html ).
I translated it to a scrapbook layout for this. I was also trying to use some older material on this. I created a sunburst with some hoarded papers.The papers are hoarded, esp the textured blue paper. The washi tape is hoarded. I used a strip across the top and made banners (flags) with some different tapes as well. I stamped the orange paper with a small sun stamp and also stamped hearts by the word documented. I also doodled stitching along the sunburst and circle.
My layout:

Products:
wood veneer arrows: recollections
papers: various MFR's from my stash
washi tape: various MFR's from my stash
"Documented" title and sun stamp: Cocoa Daisy
Heart stamp: Prima

Come join the fun at CSI!

Trains

Loved the color theme, and also thought it worked well with this photo, so i did another layout, same case file 258.
The challenge over at csi blog is here: https://csichallenge.blogspot.com/2018/07/case-file-no-258-deadline-july-31-2018.html,

My layout which uses wet medium(white paint and modeling paste, circles, and glasses, journalling on back describes summer time visits we had with our grandparents.
Photo was taken of a visit with my grandparents when we went to see some trains.

Dream

CSI 258--loved the red white and blue theme for this month.
Nothing says summer like the beach. And I am lucky enough to live close to one!
The challenge can be found over here at the csi blog: https://csichallenge.blogspot.com/2018/07/case-file-no-258-deadline-july-31-2018.html

my layout is here. For evidence I used stripes, animals (seagulls), beach accents (lighthouse, seashells) And Journalled about sea gulls on the beach.

Sunrise

We have a very pretty image for inspiration this July over at CSI. Wonderful summer colors.
The CSI challenge can be found here:http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-07-15T00:30:00-04:00&max-results=1

My layout for the challenge:

I used some paper and embellishments from Cocoa Daisy. The watercolor paper from Cocoa Daisy matched perfectly with my theme. For the challenge I used tissue paper, clouds, black and white accents and leaves. I journaled in a circle: Beautiful summer skies: Being at the beach at sunrise is one of my favorite was to relax. I used some tissue paper and some texture paste to create some texture. I used some stamps to create a black and white pattern (which I fussy cut into circles.)..

Donut Days

I excited about this month's CSI challenge (255). Great colors, and donuts, no less. Busy month, so I didn't complete the second challenge. Lots of fun Donut places are popping up around Chicagoland--so this layout is devoted to donuts.

The CSI challenge is here:  http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-06-15T19:05:00-04:00&max-results=1&start=3&by-date=false

For my layout, donuts were my inspiration, and used a bunch of rings (matted with Graphic 45 patterned paper) for the background. And the picture is of one of our recent visits to a donut place in Chicagoland.  One of my favorite donuts is Stan's Bacon caramel pecan bar. Heavenly.

I used circles, rhinestones, and donuts as evidence (I fussy cut some donuts from some of Shimelle's paper). I thought Graphic 45 Parisian Cafe papers were a perfect accent for a page about donuts.
To make the circles I used nested circle dies to cut rings-kind of like donuts!

My testimony is about my favorite donut!

A delicious challenge indeed! Happy National Donut day!

Grandparents

I had lots of fun playing along with CSI challenge 254, which can be found here:
http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/. Such pretty colors to play with.

For this layout, I created a background with die cut hexagons (edged with black ink). Most of the die cuts were created with Kaisercraft's Cottage Rose collection (in the 65 x 6.5 size).
I also used some vintage stickers from TPC for the top and bottom borders and under the photo.

For CSI 254, I used all the colors, floral patterns, flowers, gold elements, and vintage elements. I journaled on a label about my grandparents, who were sharing a meal together in this photo, circa 1968.

My layout:

Come join us over at CSI for challenges and inspiration!

State Fair

For CSI 253, we have a bright and summery palette, and I had the perfect picture and papers to scrap this.  When a was a teenager, I got to go to the state fair with my cousins. And the colors of the picture matched nicely with Graphic 45's World Fair collection.


The challenge:

My layout: I used solid cardstock, stripes, hand cutting and metal (brad). I Fussy cut the balloons out of the Graphic 45 paper. I also used some simple stories enamel dots and a layered colorbok flower.


My journaling was hand written and reads State Fair 1986. With Cathy, Theresa and crew. (hidden--we had lots of fun, got to see Chicago in concert, one of my favorite music groups in the 80's)

Come join the fun athttp://csichallenge.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-05-10T16:40:00-07:00&max-results=1&start=2&by-date=false

Memories

For CSI 252


I started with some Kaisercraft striped paper, then added some yellow paint stripes and splatters. Then added a black diamond die cut border.
 The picture is of my niece at about 6 years of age..

For this Challenge I was inspired by the bold stripes, diamonds, circles and hearts. Used all of them in my layout. I journaled in a frame. "Hannah's beautiful smile could light a room.:Age 6"


My layout:

For lots of fun and inspiration, join us over at CSI: Color Stories and Inspiration.

Shake it like you mean it

This layout was created for CSI 251....
Had fun creating this one. This winter I have had the opportunity to watch ducks on Lake Michigan. Some tend to be very timid, but some actually enjoyed putting on a show. I took pictures of some very photogenic Merganser Ducks.


Used some hoarded materials on this (polka dot paper is from an old stack of paper, ribbon is from my stash, as it the background paper, which i doctored up a bit.
Most of the accents on this page are from cocoa daisy (clouds, butterflies, leaf branches, feathers and enamel circles), except the birds (paper studio) and prima flower at bottom and ribbon. I also edged a lot of the papers with ink. I painted the top of the page with some white and light blue acrylic paint, to make it lighter, like the sky

CSI 251 --used all colors , clouds, animals (birds), stenciling (fish net pattern), used circles (photos and mats are cut into circles) and journaled about an animal--my experience watching ducks.

Journaling reads: "Merganser ducks on the lake putting on a show, strutting their stuff".

Challenge can be found over at:

http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-04-15T02:00:00-07:00&max-results=1

Come join the fun on their blog!

Chicago

CSI 250

I went more the traditional route, used all 5 colors, and used stamping, clouds and architectural elements (city buildings on the paper). I journaled on a label about the city of Chicago.

So Grateful for Family

For CSI 249....for this challenge I picked my own color scheme and inspiration....I was inspired by the green, white, tan, orange and brown (orange from the banners). And I picked the following elements from the photo to incorporate into my layout: trees (stamped on background) outdoor theme (flowers and butterflies) and a decorative border. Journaled about my family's trip to a park in Van Wert OH.

Wild Backyard Cardinals

CSI:248
Love the photo for this challenge, very natural and has birds! I love watching birds, and have feeders in my yard, so I see a variety of birds out my window. Cardinals in the winter are particularly striking, so I decided to use a sketch from here: https://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/image/sketch/6068433.html
And document some of the Cardinals I have seen this February.

I decided to use the traditional color palette, all 5 colors are used and then used in my layout.
For my layout, the background paper is recollections, springy and floral (a newer acquisition) where as most other papers are older, from my stash. Red letters are BoBunny. Die cut the scalloped circle and banner. Punched the scalloped border. Used some wood butterflies from my stash. I stamped the hearts on the banners, and the date at the bottom. Cardinal at the top of the page is a die cut from my stash.  Also used some stickers from my stash (heart and awesome banner).

All colors used
Evidence used: birds (die cut), heart (sticker and stamp) and butterflies (wood).
Testimony: Journaled about something wild: birds. Journaling reads:
This year I set up bird feeders in my backyard.A pair of cardinals showed up and ate lots of seed. They are beautiful birds with a unique personality, striking against the winter snow.

Here is my layout:

For more fun and inspiration, visit CSI: Color, Stories and Inspiration:

http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/

Walking on Sunshine

What a bright and summery color palette we have for us this month. (Which I think is awesome, since the weather here in Chicagoland has been snowy and dreary.)

For this challenge, I scrapbooked a photo taken on our 2016 family reunion, where a bunch of us are walking to a thrift store in the quaint little town of Milford PA. I did use a sketch, which I thought lent itself to my theme-which I rotated 90 degrees. (Sketch can be found here :https://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/image/sketch/6068437.html)

For this challenge, I used flowers, bird, something fridgy (frayed burlap) and mixed media background (added some orange mist with a stencil). And Journaled about a summer memory: our family reunion.

And here is my layout:

For more fun and challenges join us over at CSI: Color, Stories and Inspiration:

http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/

Birthday Cookie

CSI 246

This was a cute image with lots of inspiration to pull from my own childhood. My parents were always very creative with celebrating birthdays. On my fifteenth birthday, my parents got me a birthday chocolate chip cookie which was perfect, cause I loved chocolate chip cookies (and still do).

I was inspired by the hearts, dollies and clocks; and I am sharing a childhood memory of my 15th birthday.  I did a little mixed media in the background. I stenciled with some paint, added some drops of ink and ink splats. I also did some doodling (circles) and stamping (clocks). I die cut the red borders. and used a bunch of stickers.I used all 5 of the colors, but was also inspired by the gray-ish script writing and the dark gray hair in the picture and added that into my layout as well.

The CSI challenge can be found here: http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/, Come join us for inspiration!

Shine

Alas, Christmas is over, and a new year has begun....and CSI has a great challenge to kick off the new year. I spent Christmas with family and have lots of photos to document. The CSI challenge can be found here: http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/

 

Had fun creating this, used some mixed media (paint splatters and paste) ad used some older papers (Colorbok and G45).  For the challenge, I used stars, dots, string and banners.I used the word shine as inspiration. My niece is so happy in these photos showing off her Christmas presents, her latest beanie babies.

So come join the fun over at CSI and be inspired.