Lovely

Hello CSI friends! Today I'm sharing my latest layout. These colors were wonderful to play with and they were perfect for this photo of my 94 year old mother standing in front of her beloved garden at her home.

Here is how I solved Case File 198: 

Scheme: All five colors used

Evidence: Leaves, flowers, animals

Testimony: I tucked the journaling behind the 

      photo. 

I am entering this layout in the Blue Fern Studios April challenge. For this challenge I used an early Blue Fern Studios from the Blue Fern Garden Collection, named Parlour. I also used Blue Fern Studios Imagine Ink Embossing Powder, stamps and Chipboard designs Brand Park and Latice Bits. 

Techniques used: layering, painting, heat embossing, stamping, 3-D work, masking and fussy cutting. 

Another embellishment I enjoy using is a "wax" seal. This is one,  with a bee impression seemed perfect for the subject. 

Products:

Blue Fern Studios 

• Garden Collection paper (Parlour)
• Stamps 
• Chipboard: Latice and Brand Park
• Imagine Ink Embossing Powder

Crafter's Workshop template

Hobby Lobby sealing wax

Liquitex modeling paste

Lisa Pace doll head

Petaloo flowers

Prima Color Bloom Spray

Pro Art gesso

Ranger Perfect Medium

Stampendous embossing products

StazOn ink

The journaling reads, "They planned and oversaw the building of their home together. It was an old fashioned marriage, and one that lasted almost sixty years. He did his part financially and she has always been the "homemaker". Their home has been her pride and joy and still remains so although he has been gone for ten years. She has put her heart and soul into her home."

See you next time, blog friends! 

Million Dollar Smile

Hello everyone! Today, I am sharing a layout for the CSI design team. These colors are absolutely screaming to be used on a young woman's layout. I decided to turn the map 1/4 turn to the right. 

Here is how I solved the case.... 

     Scheme: all five colors used

     Evidence: stripes, flowers, paint

     Testimony: I penned a free form poem about                       Elizabeth's Million Dollar smile.

Products

Blue Fern Studio, chipboard, embossing materials      flowers and stamps
Crafter's Workshop template
Liquitex Modeling Paste
Melissa Francess resin embellishment
Prima Colorbloom Spray
Pro Art Gesso
Ranger Perfect Medium
Stampendous embossing powder
StazOn ink
Webster's Pages embellishment
From my stash embroidery floss, pink beads,               cheese cloth and metal heart

Techniques include 3-D, texture, inking, heat embossing, painting and stamping.

For the journaling I decided to do a free verse poem. It reads, 

"Mischievous, fun laughter

Sincere, tender hearted understanding

Infectious, easy to cheer others

What sunshine is to flowers, your smile is to me

Something I need like the air I breathe

The world is a better place because of it."

Until next time, my scrappy friends....

Love

Color Stories Inspiration has, and still is one of my favorite places to spend time and enjoy the ideas and art of other scrapbook artists. Much of the work that goes into this challenge site is due to the hard work of Debbi Tehrani. I am so grateful to be on the design team at CSI for another term. Thank you, Debbi and CSI!

Here is Case File 193. At first, I was not sold on the color scheme, but after it was all put together, found it to be very pleasing to they eye. 

Can you tell that I love creating three dimensional elements in my scrapbooking work? I can barely remember when I did not use 3-D as my "go to" technique. 

Anothother favorite technique for me is heat embossing. It highlights areas I want to show off. Look at the backround here. It is embossed with Blue Fern Studios Embossing powder and Stampendous embossing powder. The chipboard word, "Love" is also heat embossed using Blue Fern Studios embossing powder. 

Something I always do when it comes to fussy cutting is to go along the paper edges with markers of the same color, so the popped up piece doesn't show white edges, unless the piece being popped up is white. 

I am pleased with how beautiful the layered chipboard looks. 

Here, I decided to use a little Blue Fern Studios embossing powder on the background paper as well as the chunky white embossing powder by another company. 

Products

Blue Fern Studios chipboard, embossing

              powders and stamps

Crafter's Workshop template

Liquitex modeling paste

Petaloo flowers

Prima spray color

Pro Art gesso

Ranger Perfect Medium

Stampendous embossing powder

StazOn ink

From my stash: ribbon, thread

A layout is not a treasure until there is some journaling to accompany it to tell the stories of our lives. The journaling for this page reads,

 "Dear Hack, 

     In a busy world I sometimes forget to tell you how much you mean to me and how I appreciate you for so many reasons. To begin with, you have always been helpful with the little things such as changing a light bulb too high for me to reach or lifting something I cannot lift. You always helped Daddy into and out of his wheelchair when he could no longer help himself. Now, you help Mother with tasks she cannot do for herself. Thank you for the many kindnesses you show to those you care about. 
      Another thing I am grateful for is the way you have helped Lee and Liz from the time they were born and throughout their lives. You always loved and nurtured them and when necessary, you were firm with them. You have maintained a solid, fatherly relationship and have guided them with love and understanding. Most of all, you have set a great example for them. Thank you, Honey. 
     Most importantly, I want you to know how appreciative I am that you still love me after forty one years of marriage! You have prepared for our futuare, been dependable and your love has been as steady as a rock. When I am hurt or broken hearted you hold me tight and dry my tears. I love that you are a kind, Christian man who cares for and loves his family. 
     Honey, I couldn't ask for a more romantic sweetheart. You have brought home flowers to me more than a hundred times. Thank you for your amazing sense of humor; that is why I fell in love with you in the beginning. Most of all, thank you for letting me spend my life loving you!

                                         
                                               E.T.E.M.
                                               E.F.E.O.,
                                               Patty"

Until next time, my bloggy friends....