CSI - 101 - BELIEVE in the magic of Christmas

This is the challenge for this week.  I loved the colours, but found it difficult as we dont have white Christmas's so, I just improvised!

Here is how I solved case 101:

Scheme - the colours are all there.
Evidence – Frames, Silver accents, Ribbons, Something Shiny, Circles, Christmas Accents & Something transparent.

Testimony – IW:  Peace, Family, Ready.  Journal about the holidays.

“We just love Christmas morning.  Often Jack and I end up waiting for the kids to wake up so we can open all the presents and spend time together as a family.  We were ready and waiting for the kids very early.  Riley was very tired and kept yawning – but the girls were great at keeping the peace and making sure that everyone was happy.  I love the way that instead of a gift opening free for all, the girls hand one gift out to each person and we all watch as they open their goodies.”

CSI - 100 - 9 Months

Here is how I solved case 100:
Scheme - the colours are all there.
Evidence – Stripes, Stars, Glossy Accents, Flags, Frames, Bricks.

Testimony – IW:  Picture, Stay, Light – add a border to the journaling spot

“I really don’t like having my picture taken.  But sometimes you just have to have one to remind you of something special.  When I was 9 months pregnant with Riley, This photo was taken of me and Mitchell.  Hard to believe, but Riley was born the week after it was taken – he was supposed to stay in there for another week, but he decided he was going to come early!  I am so glad that Jack snapped this photo otherwise I might not have a record for Riley of me carrying him.  At the time, I thought I was huge, but looking at this photo, I think I was just right – not too heavy and not too light.”

This was the case file that I was given - I really loved the colour pallette - there is something to be said for simple colour schemes:

CSI- 99 - Flight of the fairy

CSI - 98 - Snooze

CSI - 97 - Spring BBQ

Here is how I solved case 97:
Scheme - the colours are all there (a little bit off this week)
Evidence – Leaves, wood, dry embossing, chevron pattern, Diamond shapes, something shiny.

Testimony – Be inspired by Chedder X (What do you look forward to in spring?  Repetition.  Spread journaling over the page.  IW: Bright and Living: “Every spring, we go to Brenda’s house for a BBQ.  It signifies the end of spring and getting ready for summer living, beach trips, BBQ’s and bright sunny days.  We look forward to this BBQ, with the girls playing in the yard with all the other kids.

Sketch used.

CSI - 96 All Hallows Eve

This was an interesting page to do, it took me a while to get it just the way I wanted it to be.  So cool that the colours were the ones we had in our 2013 Halloween photos!

CSI - 95 - blue eyes

Woooooooho!!!  CSI have the blues this week!  As this is one of my favourite colours, I put this page together in 2 hours as it was easy to find the 'right' elements!

Here is how I solved case 95:
Scheme - the colours are all there
Evidence – Paint, distressing, wood, flower, book page, tie something, metal and tearing.
Testimony – IW: study and old; “At nearly five months old, Riley has the most amazing blue eyes! I just study them for hours... 29 April 2010”

Quick, easy and to the point!!!

Little Girl Birthday Card

I went to the local craft show, and amongst all the normal stuff, I managed to find a stamp that I have wanted for a while.  She is a little girl, opening hat boxes and she is super cute!

She was just what I wanted to make a card for a little 2 year old!  I am still loving my Spectrum Noir Pens, and having heaps of fun colouring each stamped image to be and individual creation for each card.

The lacy circle die set the colouring off and a little bit MORE than the usual scalloped circle I would use.

I find it really hard to get a nice shade of pink when it comes to colour matching for pink paper and pink cardstock, so I was feeling particularly happy with this one.

CSI - 94 - spooky party

Here is how I solved case 94

So here is the challenge for the week, and when I saw the colours I thought I would use the photos from Katies birthday party last year!

This was definitely a Halloween inspired colour scheme!

Scheme - the colours are all there
Evidence – Cat Accent, Something Furry (cat made from felt), book pages, stacked items, Black Background, Silver metal, wood & woodgrain.
Testimony – Typewriter font and Journal as a poem.  IW: end, bold, laugh; “I thought it really was quite bold, when you turned seven years old.  You wanted a party designed to fright, so we made it like Halloween night.  We had a laugh – we had a scare, with all your friends in spooky gear.  What a lovely end to being six, with frightfully more treats than tricks.”

CSI - 93 - A trike for 2

I was dreading this page - yet another page challenge with orange in it!  But I decided to play up the green, and minimise the orange!  I love how it turned out!  Here is the CSI challenge for 93:

I ended up dulling the colours a little, and didn't do as much layering as I would normally.

Here is how I solved case 93
Scheme - the colours are all there (but not to spectrum)
Evidence – Numbers, something dangling, pinwheel, stripes, mixed media background, book pages, string.
Testimony – IW: Daring and unexpected; “You both wanted a turn on the trike at the same time.  The solution was an unexpected one!  You both rode it at the same time.  What a daring approach you had to give each other rides!”

The sketch – I really loved this sketch so I was very literal with it!

CSI - 92 - all that Sparkles is you

After last week being taken up with Katie Rose's birthday, I left my CSI weekly challenge till the last minute, but I really love how it turned out!

The colours were really me, and I already knew the papers that I wanted to use - the hardest part was finding a photo that fitted into the testimony theme!  I found the perfect photo though:

It was taken at a birthday party for Aisha that Maddy went to:

Here is how I solved case 92
Scheme - the colours are all there (but the teal is a little off)
Evidence – Rhinestones, Pearls, Book Pages, Cabochon Flower, Heart, Ribbon, something that dangles, Charm, Cameo, Handmade Flower, Lace, Distressing, stacked embellishments.
Testimony – Tuck journaling between layers; IW: Sparkle, Secret, Quiet:
There is a pull-out tag with the metal brad tucked into the layers: “It’s not very often that Madison sits so quiet, but she did today at Aisha’s birthday party.  Madison loves to have her face painted and she didn’t want to wash it off afterwards.  Her face lit up when she saw the glitter on the wings of the butterfly.  She just loves the sparkle, but the biggest secret of all is that she shines brighter than any glitter! – 24 May 2006”.

CSI - 91 - Gotta Scrap

This weeks CSI challenge took me a while to decide on what photo to do, but I kept thinking about what I do everyday (which was one of the journalling points), and I kept thinking how I do a little scrapping, or card making every day.  So I got Katie Rose to take a photo of me while putting the page together!


I really loved the colours, and maybe if I had these colours again, I would do more of the coral red.  This is what I came up with:
Here is how I solved case 91
Scheme - the colours are all there.
Evidence – Leaves, Wet Medium, Stripes, Bird, Metal Accent, Something Iridescent, Border Punch, Teapot Accent (stamped and embossed in iridescent powder), Ribbon, Tearing, Speech Bubble.
Testimony - Journal about something you do every day; IW: enjoy and need:
There is a pull-out tag with the metal brad (to the left of the title and bird: “I think I might be a spectacular scrapaholic! I really enjoy being creative and find myself at my crafting table everyday. It takes me a while to do a layout as I do a little bit at a time, always moving papers around, until I get it just right. If I don’t get time to craft, I get a bit stir crazy and need to make something. As far as addictions go, mine at least produces pretty pages – 02 October 2013”.

CSI - 90 Buddy Boy

So I just had to get a CSI page done quickly because we have school production, Ballet Exams and Jazz exams this week and I dont expect to have much free time after today!  I love how this page just came together!

I really dont like Orange, but I really like how it looks on my page!

  
Scheme - the colours are all there
Evidence – Cat (if photo counts), Bird, Hearts, Stripes, tie something, polka dots, white space, two different alphabets, something transparent and fabric
Testimony – Journal about a pet and IW: friend, different and before:
“For a cat, you have many different names. I call you Buddy Boy as you have always been my fury friend, and you were my fur baby before we even had any kids. The full and formal name we gave you is: Buster Aloysius Greyfur, but we normally introduce you as Buster. Regardless of what name you get called, you have so much personality that you will suit all our ‘pet’ names”.

CSI - 89 - Krazy Kool Kindy Kid

I took a whole heap of movement photo's of Riley at Kindy and felt that they needed to be scrapped.  I was so happy when I saw the CSI challenge for last week, and had to use these photo's!



Here is how I solved case 89
Scheme - the colours are all there
Evidence – Animal Accents, Polka Dots, Stripes, Brackets, Two different alphabets, Alphabet’s as part of design, Scallops, Musical Elements, Triangle banners/flags
Testimony – Alliteration (it title) and IW: fun
“Riley always has fun running around at Kindy! He is my “Kindy Kid.”

Gorjuss Card

I made this thank you card for Susan, and as she is blonde, decided to colour her with blonde hair and just loved how she turned out.

I used Spectrum Noir, GB8, GB10 and CT3 for her hair, and FS2, FS3 and PP1 for skin tone.  Other colours are:  DG2, DG3, TN7, TN8, IG2, IG4 and EB1 for shadowing.  I just loved how this turned out and added little polka dots in green kindy glitz to add some sparkle.  I think Susan will really like her!

CSI - 88 - Needful Things

Ok, so one of the challenges for this week was to use a book title for inspiration.  I read this book in 1993, and one of the things I remember was what item would be my needful thing and what would I be prepared to pay for it!  Well there are many things in life that I would "Just love to have", and most of them are to fuel my crafting addiction!  Both Leanne and I are frugal shoppers and we both strive to get the best product for the best price, so going to classes and getting new product is one of our Needful Things.

The case file for this week:

Here is how I solved case 88
Scheme – the colours are all there (just a little off correct spectrum)
Evidence – Floral Pattern (paper and doodling), Notebook Paper (for journaling on), Clock (in embellishment cluster and on background), Stars (in cluster), Globe, Use pen (doodling), book page (from a book I am altering), Frame

Testimony – Book title as inspiration (Needful Things by Stephen King) and IW: create, and inspiration  “Leanne and I love to make cards and learn new techniques to help us create them.  We were lucky enough to get to a Saturday class with Jax.  She does have lovely ideas and we find inspiration to try new things.  I really enjoy spending time with Leanne and we always get to share a laugh (or two).  We also get to buy new products to add to our collection of Needful Things.”

Lili of the Valley Stamps

Last week, I got an order of LOTV stamps from the UK.  I just love the style and cuteness of these stamps, and found it really hard to limit myself to just two.  I already have another 3 on my wish list, but for now, I have 'little mermaid 2' and 'boys - computer fun'. 

The mermaid stamp is perfect to do girl birthday cards and Katie Rose has two parties coming up, so I made two cards for her. 

This was my first attempt with this stamp, and I copied the colours from the sample on the LOTV website because they were sooooo pretty! 

I coloured using Spectrum Noir pens and with a blending pen and TB5, LV2, BT2, BP2, PP1, FS2, FS3, GB8 and GB10.  I used liquid pearls (white opal) on top of the bubbles to make them stand out. 

I think I will try this with more blues next time and layer it up with blue cardstock and patterned paper. 

After doing the purples and blues, I thought I would try using pink for a little girl who still loves pink.  I know she isn't a traditional mermaid colour, but she is so pretty, I am finding it hard to contemplate giving her away!  Her hair was done with yellow in it (CT3) with GB8, and it was the first time I EVER did blonde hair!  I did the pinks using PP1 and BP2 and blender pen to soften the darker pink.

Katie Rose went to a party for her friend Adrian yesterday, and I made him this card using the computer fun stamp.  He was coloured up using my Spectrum Noirs - even the gems were coloured!

I also made two of these for kindy to put on their trade table, just for the extra practise in colouring.  I am new to colouring and still collecting my pens, so as I get more, I will be able to do more shading, blending and colour matching.

CSI - 87 - Beach Babe

The challenge for this week was so much fun!  I just loved the colours and the inspiration I got from the case file!  

This is the case file for the week:


In 2006,  when Katie Rose and Maddy were very little and we went on a holiday to Russell for a week.  We stayed with Jodi and every day we went out and did fun  stuff!  These photo's were taken when we went to the beach for the day, and there was no one else around. 

Here is how I solved case 87
Scheme - the colours are all there (just a little off correct spectrum)

Evidence – Map Print (Stamped and coloured map), Transportation Accent (Compass), Fish (Whale and starfish), Butterflies (only one), Flags, Arrows, Wave Shapes, Stitching, Mist, Word Stickers (lovely on flag)

Testimony – Make your journaling wander across the page and IW:  wander and lost:

“Madison is in her happy place, wandering along the beach, lost in thought while she looks for shells.  She loves to build sandcastles at the beach and feel the sand between her toes.”

Lots of Scarves

A friend of mine started knitting a scarf for her daughter (Julie and Jessica), and I just loved the look of it, so Julie picked me up some wool to have a go.  Maddy took a photo for me of the scarves that I had done, but can now add 3 extras!  I love they way these feel and am thinking of making another couple for gifts.

CSI - 86 - Surfers Paradise

Last week, I started doing the CSI (Colour, Stories, Inspiration) weekly challenge.  I just love the way they give you lists of what to use and a deadline of when to get the page done by.  So, my first layout was based on Case File 86:

 
I wasn't too sure about the Orange, but I loved the pastel shades.  I am still using my "scrap my stash" attitude to use up what I have, so I made the base sheet by cutting strips of grey and putting on top of white cardstock.  Then I rubbed paint all over in random "smooshings" so that it looked like wispy clouds.  I have decided that I am going to try to use as many of the "Evidence" ideas as I can!  This was my finished product:



Here is how I solved case 86 (my first ever case file!):
Scheme - the colours are all there.
Evidence - Scallops, art mediums (paint, texture paste), stripes, speech bubble, transportation accents (aeroplane) and vellum
Testimony - Journal about a city, hand write journaling.
I wrote a small sentence on the page, but have extra journaling on a pull out tab which talks about where we stayed in Surfers Paradise.

It was so much fun to join in with this challenge and I recommend any one to join up and try! http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/

It's been a while...

Since I last logged on!  Well between the school holidays and then getting settled back to school and kindy and doing some extra jobs, it has been a lot longer than I realised since I last blogged.  I have been working on some projects, but it is more of a 'pottering around' rather than focussed craft time.  I did a hockey layout in the school holidays, and once I take a photo, I will put it on here.  Currently, I am working on a speedway page - its only been on going for 4 weeks!  Fingers  crossed, I will be able to figure out the last few embellishments to finish it off!

Christmas 2012

Every year, we take a photo of the kids under the tree on Christmas morning - this is a tradition from when I was a kid, and my cousin and I were photographed under the tree every year!  This year the kids knew the drill and sat waiting for their photo before they started touching presents from under the tree - normally I have to ask them to wait for a minute.  I had a 6x6 Kaisercraft twig and berry pad, and one of the pages was a calender page of December 2012 that just begged me to use it on this page!  So I decided that this was the only year as it was dated with the year and tailored the page around the paper (normally I do it to the photo).  I didn't get any of the embellishments that go with this set, I only got the pad.  The cardstock is Rosie's Studio and the spotty paper is MME.  The other layering pieces are from the Twig and Berry Pad.

Photo and more info coming

Jessica's Elephant

This is a card that I made for Jessica's 7th Birthday, I just love this Elephant and did a similar card for Emily with it!  I coloured this in with Spectrum Noir Pens, using shading and blending techniques.  I really love using my Cuttlebug, and the dies that I used for this card are Marvellous Squares, Circles, Scalloped Circles, Squares and a butterfly punch.  I just love to see the reaction when I give a handmade card to someone, and Jessica's face was delightful!

Hedgie Card

Last week, I got a new selection of Spectrum Noir Pens.  These are alcohol based pens that blend beautifully to give texture and vibrant colours.  I made this card using a Docraft stamp with black ink then coloured the image with the pens.  The brown is done with a dark brown and a very light brown then I used a palette blending technique to achieve the mid brown.  I only got one shade of green, so I used my blender pen to take back the colour in the middle.  I really like how it turned out so had to put it in a card straight away!  I used the green from the boots to choose my paper and cardstock and as I have just got the new butterflies last week as well, had to use these.  They are so cute and cut out five small butterflies at once!  I chose the biggest three for this card and finished them off with a teensie tiny pearl.

Brush Holder

I was getting a bit frustrated with my paint brushes, so I made this brush holder.  I used my favourite glaze, Mayco Peacock Eyes which is a moving glaze and so you have to get the right amount of glaze on your piece.  I love the blue and purple crystal explosions!

1st Tooth Fairy Visit

Katie Rose was very upset that she had to wait for so long for a wiggly tooth and as her right of passage, I had to scrap about it!  I got the fairy paper, chipboard fairy and rose, butterflies and doily, from a kit from Scottie Crafts, and thought that this would make a fantastic fairy page for all the photos of Katie Rose's first tooth falling out.

Turning 10

Last year, Madison had her 10th birthday and it has taken me this long to scrap about it!  I have a process where I go through my photo's and print out a selection from the last few months, and some from the previous year that I have not done yet.  This way, I can keep current, but also have time to reflect on what happened in the past.  Maddy had a big party last year, and she wanted me to teach the girls how to make a butterfly book. 

When the girls arrived, I took a photo of each girl, then got them to put together a book instead of party games.  I also made mini pizza boxes and taught them how to decorate with the same colours and theme of the book.  They turned out great, and all the girls loved them.  I even slipped in some chocolates and lollies for them to take home in them!  When it came to scrapping this page, I could have done the same colours and even put a little book that Maddy made, but I decided to base it on the colour of her new hoodie that she loved - Plum as this was what stood out in the main photo of her blowing out her candles.

I looked everywhere for the right heart stamp and couldn't get the right one, so I used my heart punch and cut out a heart from a die packet to use as a template.  Then I stamped through it with the script from Graphic 45 ladies diary and sponged over the top with the residual ink on the template.

Riley Loves the Tablet

I had so much fun with this layout! I used the "sunburst" like the game, Angry Birds, has in the intro screen. I didn't have the right paper, so I made this from green and yellow cardstock.  I used the green from the pigs and added in the yellow and red as accent colours to match the birds.  The stickers were given to Riley for his birthday and he was happy to let me use some on his page.  Riley says the cutest things, so I had to put his words on the page, in my journaling.

About Time

So...  I have been thinking about creating a blog for AGES, but never seem to "get around to it".  So no more procrastination - fingers crossed it wont take me too long to get the hang of it!