Down By the Sea

Here it is!  This weeks reveal over at CSI! Totally loving this Case File, but it's probably due to they're right in my comfort zone.  Let's get to it shall we?

I used the following evidence:
Stars - I used stars in the form of punched vellum and then stitched into a chain, a left over felt star from Creative Imagination Station,  and some left over bling sticker stars from Paper Studio.

Something translucent - I spritzed just about every sheet of paper w/ Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  I also used a circle of self stick glitter paper, which I learned is opaque/translucent.
Wet Medium - smears of white gesso
Something grainy - smears of "Sand Effects" in sand gold.  I also dropped seed pearls into the wet gesso, and the glitter paper has a gritty texture.

Textured paper - I created texture by coating a piece of Basic Grey with crackle medium.  I brushed it on one direction and allowed to dry.  Then I brushed it on again across the "grain" I had created.  Once it dried and crackled, I applied my TH Distress Stain in Broken China.   I also dragged gesso across another piece of BG to knock down the brightness of the pp.

Vellum - I punched stars from vellum and stitched together to create a chain.  I also ran a scrap thru my printer to create my title block, "Down by the Sea".  While the ink was still wet, I sprinkled clear embossing powders and set w/ my heat gun.

Dots - pp by Basic Grey
Soften the edges of my papers - using a distressing tool, I distressed all the edges of my block papers.

For my testimony, I documented a beach trip from our time up in Maine.  I created two journal tags to slip under the paper blocks.  One from TH kraft glassine paper & a 7 Gypsies tab.  Another from the kraft glassine and a tag by Creative Imagination Station. 

Tag #1 reads:

Beach Adventures

Amanda:  "Shaunery, you want to come with us to the beach?"

Me: "Sure!"

An hour long drive later, a wagon, a stroller, a cooler, an umbrella,

beach chairs, a gold retriever, loads of sun block, multiple

diaper bags...

Her two boys, Cobie & Casie

My two girls, Erin & Sarah

Another handful of her daycare kids, all toddlers, all in swim diapers.

We are finally unloaded and enjoying a day at the beach!

Absolute chaos, but so much fun!

Tag #2 reads:

Beach Activites

 ~ Explore tidal poos.  The kids always

were excited and fascinated!

~ Create sandcastles and dig moats

~ Devour Amanda's peanut butter &

fluff sandwiches

~ Splash, crawl, float and soak in the water

I took my sketch inspiration this week from, yup Sketch Inspiration!   I used this weeks sketch #332, however I did flip my title around.  Thanks Trisha for the motivator!  :D
That's all for this week, I hope you enjoyed!   Looking for colorful challenges and product prompts?  Come visit us at CSI!  Need a good sketch challenge?  Head over to see Trisha over at Sketch Inspiration!

Brother & Sister

IT'S FRIDAY!!  And it's reveal day... YEAH!!   I had too much fun with this Case File.  One of my favorite colors are in it.  But I praddle on.. let's get to it! This weeks colors are:

Pale blue, golden yellow, pale green, teal & olive green.  Guess which is my favorite??  OLIVE green.

This is also my last nod  to our Sponsor:  Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits .    One random player over at CSI will be the lucky recipient of one of their fabby kits!!  You still have time to play!  So head on over!
I am using a combination of sketches for my layout this week.  The first is February 17 Sketch by Jenny Evans and the second is from Creative Scrappers # 196.   If you're scratching your head and going "Huh?"  please know that I saw both of the sketches and my creative juices started flowing.  And I have to give credit where credit is due, thank you for the inspiration!!

One of the challenge elements was glass or transparent element.  I was thumping my head on my desk wondering HOW to fulfill this challenge!  I've been admiring a blog post from Amy Coon, titled "Wishes Do Come True"  She had created these beautiful wishing wands, you MUST go see.  She is dear friends with the one and only Teresa Collins and between the two of them.  WOW.  So I pulled out my Tim Holtz accordion flower die and started messing around.  THEN, I pulled out my box of transparencies.  (I bought a box on clearance somewhere, but the ink jet printer HATES this brand) and behold!  Transparent accordion flowers with glitter stars!  Photo's don't do them justice.

Another challenge element was a liquid medium.  Grrrhhh this was hard.. then I remembered a jar of Structure Gel by Winsor & Newton Galeria.  This stuff rocks!  Grabbed a star stencil and a putty knife and poof!!

The picture is of my father and his older sister, Arleen.  I remember this picture sitting on the book shelf as a child and always liked it.  (I have an old soul)  But I remember my dad's story telling.  He is a GREAT story teller. And many of his stories include his brothers and sister.  Many of my childhood stories hold memories of my aunt and mostly her children. And we have a few of our own now that we share with our children.... Thanks for the story dad. ;)