Awwww Shucks {CSI Case File No. CC-1}

This month, at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration, we've got a special bonus challenge, our very first Collaboration Case File.

A few months ago, Julene Matthews, founder of Archi-Scraps invited me to submit one of my layouts for her challenge. I was delighted to discover a new challenge. Archi-Scraps is a creative take on the inspiration challenge, where players are presented with an architectural image that inspires elements for your layout. I've long been a fan of and cheerleader for challenges, which is why I often will combine other challenges, like sketch challenges, with my CSI layout. CSI has been blessed with a great following, so I thought it would be a great way to pay it forward and create a joint challenge to bring attention to this very clever challenge blog. So, I proposed the idea to Julene. She sent me their March Archi-Scraps image, and I created a Case File using that image.

I created another page for my mom's album. For those who don't know, my stepdad died the day after Christmas. I'm writing the journaling as if Ed were speaking to her and tucking those stories into an envelope adhered to the back of each layout.

Clues I used...Evidence: stripes, decorative border, trees, architectural accent, clouds, wood, zig-zag; Testimony: Inspiration Word: See.

Here are some details. It was fun picking through my stash, old and new, to find elements for this page. I used some old rubber accents, like this tree from the Detours Collection by October Afternoon. The chipboard speech bubble is new, from the Daily Flash collection by October Afternoon. The wood piece is Studio Calico. Those labels are really old, by Fontwerks.

I used two stencils by The Crafter's Workshop in the background and rubbed ink over them. Then I used several stamps. "This is Good Stuff" is from an October Afternoon roller stamp; the green splotches are from a stamp (I can't remember the brand--it was on a wood block. Tracee and I took it off the wood and cut it in half." The triangles are by Glitz design. That  Fabulous bingo card is by Simple Stories.

I had to add a little Studio Calico wooden Tweet, of course. The yellow scallops are an old Doodlebug "paper frills" that I outlined.

I cut out the clouds with my Silhouette Cameo. That blue paper is by American Crafts. Other papers I used are by Glitz Designs (green triangles), Simple Stories (red polka dot, gray stripe, red stripe, chevron), and Echo Park (yellow). I used an old Maya Road chipboard window for my architectural accent clue. That little rubber charm on the "Good Times" speech bubble is by Ki Memories.

"The story" sticker is by Echo Park, and I cut out the "on back" from a tear strip on a patterned paper--it said "coordinating paper on back." My journaling reads:

What folks can plainly see in this picture is my love for my family, the joy I get from celebrating summer with juicy silver queen corn that I'd always get from a farmer's market, my readiness to take charge and pitch in wherever help is needed. What they might not see, but I'm sure you can hear is the way my brain is always cranking out corny puns. I've always been quick with a play on words, and how I love to hear laughter when people giggle at my corny puns. More often than not, my puns evoked groans, but I knew inside you were giggling--I could tell from the smiles on your faces. What delights me even more is knowing how I've rubbed off on you guys. I'm up in heaven chuckling and smiling every time one of you makes a pun and thinks of me.

This was a super-fun Case File to work with. You'll have to come over and see what the rest of the team and the Archi-Scraps team made. The Case File is open for the whole month of March, so I hope you'll find time to play along!