Fly | CSI Cold Case No. 329

I always love making pages for our stash-busting Cold Case Files at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration. I also used a sketch from Paper Issues. Here's what I created.

Here are the Case File and Clues:

Here's the Paper Issues sketch:

I just love using my older stash! I looked through my papers in search of a photorealistic paper and found this cloud paper, which was my starting point, and then I found a giant hot-air balloon sticker and matching paper with hot-air balloons that I fussy-cut.

I found the perfect photo to go with these two elements. I found some older patterns with dots and stripes and florals, which I fussy cut. 

You can also see that I used, from the list of clues: clouds, white rub-ons, older labels, hearts, butterflies, a banner, and I used magic number 20--those blingy elements (the flowers and insects) are from the 20th embellishment drawer. The chipboard pieces (except for the alphabet) are 2crafty pieces, from when I was on their design team a while back. They're one of our prime sponsors.

I found a mutli-color banner in my stash, by KaiserCraft, that I've had for a while, but I never seem to be able to use because of all the different colors. And that circle thing is ancient--by K&Co. A the end, I added the yellow Nuvo drops for added texture and interest.

If you're like me and delight in using up some of your older stash, come play along with us! You can make room for new stash that you might win from one of our sponsors this month:

To the Moon | CSI Case File No. 289 + Paper Issues This or That

I made a second page for CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration Case File No. 289. I was invited by the awesome Russian sketch challenge blog Tell Us a Story, with whom we collaborated in May, to be a guest designer this month. Here's what I made:

I loved the sketch they gave me so much that I pretty much followed it to the letter, except I added the little cluster to the top:

Here are the Case File and clues.

Clues I used: I used all the colors in The Scheme; Evidence clues: dots, stripes, other transportation (rockets), banners, geometric shapes, people (sort of--the robots), wet medium.

I also played with Paper Issues' This or That challenge, where you have to choose one thing or the other from either column. I cheated and added a tiny little heart because I add a heart to all the layouts I'm making for the kids for whom I make pages.

Here are some details. I used a 2Crafty chipboard frame and coated with silver embossing powder. I printed the quote on vellum and tucked that into the frame. I used some stencils with texture paste, a circular one that I thought might look like a planet and a triangle one for the geometric shapes clue. Those puffy stickers have been in my stash forever, and I thought of using them when I was wondering if I had any astronauts for the people clue. I've been trying to use stamps on my pages lately. I used some ink splat stamps by Denim Tampons in the background.

That little banner is a die I have--I got it from eBay for super cheap. I like the pop of red it adds to the photo clusters. When I was thinking about geometric shapes, I thought of triangular photo corners and added those.

The little rockets were cut out of an Echo Park paper, and the sparkly planet was cut from a paper by BestCreation. The cut file is a free cut file from Paper Issues called Moon and Stars. I erased the stars and just used the moon. They have another moon cut file that didn't have things attached, but I really liked the shape of this moon.

I hope you'll come play with us at CSI and also Paper Issues! These were both really fun challenges.  To add icing to the cake, we have seven sponsors donating prizes and gift certificates this month, including Paper Issues, who is donating a $20 gift card to their shop:



While you're shopping at Paper Issues, please use my code, Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire purchase!

Splash {CSI Case File No. 28 + Paper Issues Scraplift Sunday}

I made a second layout for our midmonth reveal at CSI: Color, Stories, InspirationI combined CSI's challenge with Paper Issues' Scraplift Sunday challenge.

Here's Stacie's beautiful layout we scraplifted:

Here are the CSI Case File and Clues. Evidence clues I used: stripes, flowers, sun, flamingos, wet medium, sunglasses, camera, and summer accents; Testimony: Document summer vacation. I also used The Scheme.

Here are some details. I primarily used Simple Stories' Hello Summer collection and some 2Crafty chipboard pieces--they're a sponsor this month, so if you'd like to win some of their chipboard, be sure to play! I'm fortunate to have lots of their chipboard because I used to be on their design team.

I used a large circle chipboard piece, painted white, in place of the heart in Stacie's layout. I painted the chipboard sun yellow and added a yellow puffy heart.

The title below is also from 2Crafty.

I loved Stacie's background and tried to mimic that with watercolors on my page. I added some sparkly enamel dots to mimic water drops.

Paper Issues awards two gift certificates each month to their store, so I hope you'll play in this or one of their many challenges. While you're there, check out all the cool new products in the shop. Use my code Debbi (no e on the end), and you'll get 20% off your entire order!

And I hope you'll come play with us at CSI. We've got 6 sponsors donating awesome prizes this month.

Joy {CSI Cold Case + Paper Issues Free File Free-for-All}

I created this page for a friend using the February Cold Case File at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration and Paper Issues Free File Free-for-All challenge.

So, this year, we introduced Cold Cases. These are designed to get us using our old stash. Here's the Case File I used.

Here were the clues:

And here are some details. That frame is by Making Memories. I'm quite sure I didn't buy it but it came in a Noel Mignon kit years ago. I didn't think I'd ever use it, but as I was digging through my box of Christmas embellishments, I saw it and thought it looked like a wreath, which was one of the clues in the Case File. Those glittery poinsettia flowers are also pretty old.

The cut file is a free cut file from Paper Issues called Songs of the Season.

The chipboard present is by 2Crafty. They're sponsoring us this month. I adhered BasicGrey paper to the present and tied on a little tag to hold the title. The red paper in the background is also an old BasicGrey paper, as is that striped strip at the bottom.

I hope you'll come play in our challenges. Look at the sponsors we have donating prizes this month at CSI:

And come play with us at Paper Issues too. There are TONS of free cut files so you could play in the Free File Free-for-All challenge, and if you don't have a Silhouette,  there are many other challenges to play in at Paper Issues. You could win a gift certificate to the store! While you're over at the store, if you do make a purchase, please use my code, and you could get 20% off your entire order!

Selfism {CSI: Case File No. 261}

Our September 1 challenge is live over at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration! Here's what I created:

Here is the Case File for this challenge. I used all of the Evidence clues (which you can see if you scroll down to the bottom of the reveal here) except for the calendar. In retrospect, I probably could've crammed that in--it would've been a lot easier to manage than the teacup, which I did include! For the Testimony, I used the inspiration word "lesson." And of course I used the colors, which were just perfect for this set of pictures of Tracee and me.



Here are some details. Clues you can find in the photo below are: solid white background, diagonal stripes, ledger paper, animal, fruit, leaves, filmstrip, frames, ruler, school-themed elements, stamps, hand-drawn-looking elements, ink). That chipboard filmstrip piece is by 2Crafty, painted black. The frame is pretty old--by K&Co. The pencil and apple were cut from a Bella Blvd Star Student paper, for the school-themed clue. That red paper has a ledger patttern on it. It's super old.

How fun are those stamps on the labels? They're Paper Issues Snarky Stamps and were just perfect for this page. Tracee and I loved the way those green shutters looked against the red building, and we tried so hard to get a nice picture, but the sun was so bright and made for some pretty hilarious photos. We did manage to get one half-way decent shot.

The paper with the doors is by We R Memory Keepers, and I used that for the hand-drawn-looking clue. The clock, by Maya Road, was another clue, as was the clip and numbers on the brad. Notice I managed to stick a teacup in that puffy animal sticker's hand. I know the teacup has nothing to do with the layout, but it added a little whimsy and I don't think it's too obtrusive. I was happy to use some 7Gypsies ruler rub-ons, another clue.

Lightbulb was another clue, and I cut it out of that same Bella Blvd paper as the apple and pencil. The camera came from am Amy Tangerine paper, but I thought it matched the other black and white cut-out elements petty well, and they also went with the hand-drawn element clue. Notice I stuck a key on the clock, another clue. That leafy stem, another clue, is cut from a Simply Graphic die.

The chipboard title is also by 2Crafty. I'm so fortunate to have lots of their wonderful chipboard from when I was on their design team. I used a tiny envelope (another clue) as one of my layers. And finally, I splashed some ink on the page for that clue.

I hope you'll come play with us. Check out all our awesome sponsors this month who are donating prize packs, collections, kits and gift certificates!