You Put a Song in My Heart | CSI Case File No. 309 and Paper Issues Free File Free-for-All Challenge

We've got a brand-new challenge live at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration. All three of our Case Files are open, but we've revealed inspiration for the first February challenge, and here's what I created:

And here are the Case File and clues that inspired my page:

Evidence clues I used: tone-on-tone pattern, distressed patterns, stripes, bird, birdcage hearts, quote stickers, branches, flowers, sunburst, metal, white rub-ons, cut files, hang something. Tstimony clues:I used the inspiration word song and made my journaling serve as my title. I also used the color scheme, except I substituted dark brown for the black because of the tree branch I wanted to use.

I always love to combine my CSI challenges with Paper Issues challenges since I'm on their design team, and I especially wanted to do so this month because they're sponsoring CSI. I decided I'd play in the Free File Free-for-All challenge because I knew I'd be able to find the perfect cut file in their hundreds of FREE cut files. The Sunset cut file was perfect for what I was envisioning for my layout, which was to try to recreate the look of The Scene.

I used older distressed and tone-on-tone patterns to meet that clue, and I added white BasicGrey rub-ons.

I was going to use some flowers to add to this felt Prima tree branch that's been in my stash forever. One of the clues was metal, and when I went to look for some brads, I discovered I had these orange metal flower brads, so I decided to use them for my flower clue. I found the bird cages on an old American Crafts paper and fussy cut them. I always put a heart on the pages I make for the kids in my world, and I found a sweet green heart brad.

I raided my alphabet stash to find the perfect colors. BasicGrey never disappoints, and I used some old Heidi Swapp chipboard letters and some super-old Chatterbox letters (the white circles).

I love it when I can find all the perfect accents in the perfect colors. The little blue bird brad has been in hmy stash for a while. I also found a bird punch that matched the birds on the American Crafts birdcage paper.

I hope you'll come play along with CSI this month. Look at all the awesome sponsors donating prizes:

And of course you could win a second gift certificate at Paper Issues for playing in one of their challenges. Check out all the free cut files, and if you shop the store, please use my code Debbi (no e on the end) and you'll get 20% off your entire order!