Sisters

It's reveal time again!!  And I'm tickled that I'm on time for the first time in AGES!  This month has been FULL of funky out of the box case-file color challenges!  Part of me has been thrilled with the challenge and the other part is just plain relieved and ready for a new month full of fabulous colors and evidence to test my skill set!  So, head over to CSI for all the details on how to play along and to view the reveal UP CLOSE!

So this week we had Mr T and ET inspiring us... (I know crazy!) and if you're scratching your head.. GO OVER TO CSI and check it out!

My evidence includes:
FLOWERS:  I used up old Prima stash, and Petaloo stash after recoloring them with my Distress Stains and some Tattered Angels mists.
HOUSES:  I had this fabby chippy with some "city houses" and was excited to use it!  I coated it with Silver Distress Paint and then went back with silver distress stain, Ripe Persimmon DS and Weathered Wood DS.. hopefully the close ups will show the subtle color changes.
NUMBER ACCENTS:  My number washi tape
METAL:  Sisters in metal letters, some TH mini staples and the metallic finish on the chippie
LEDGER PAPER:  "Now and Later" by Teresa Collins
JEWELS:  Prima flourishes and some fancy Crystals

My testimony is based on "unlikely friendship"
These are pictures of my daughters from Easter 2008.  They rarely cooperate with posing together these days.. they rarely cooperate together period..

"Sometimes you two are pals, sometimes you two fight, sometime you're the unlikeliness of allies but no matter what, you two are sisters.  Sisters, young or old, till the end"

For this layout I used a fabulous sketch by Susan Stringfellow from her blog "Sketch Savvy" .  This is sketch #95 with a few tweaks of my own!  (Remember when you use a sketch, remember to share and give credit to the creator, playing nice is nice!)

Hope you enjoyed!  Have a great weekend everyone!

We are Family!

This weeks colors were OUT of this WORLD!  You have to come play along over at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration.  We are into week two with our sponsor this month, Echo Park Papers.  So you still have time to play along and be entered for a chance to win!

I am using EP's paper collection, Note to Self.  All of the papers, stickers ad chippies coordinated so well with this weeks Case File.  When I spied the spiral graph pattern paper, it brought to mind a Face Book conversation I read from a friend, so I had to use this in her honor!  ;)  I also tucked in scraps from MME, 7 Gypsie, Prima and even Martha Stewart.
Another thing I used was another fabulous sketch from Sketch Savvy!  Susan's sketch #92 was perfect for showing just how many times one has to try to get a decent picture of our family.

The evidence I used in Case File #28 consists of:
Circles:  The spiral graph inspired patterened paper by EP, the Doily by MS, the "photo-matic" sticker by EP.   Even the half circle scalloped sticker strip.... there are circles represented everywhere.
Repeat an Element:  Your first thought was circles huh?  I used numbers.  Again on the papers, the Prima wood accent ticket, the 7 Gypsie tag, the MME cent tag.
Use Chalk, Ink etc. to create shadows:   I attempted this, but it doesn't photograph well at all.  I inked the edges of my torn paper on the left.  I inked the doily with two distress inks; allowing the brown to go onto the background paper a touch.
Mimic the chocolate chips:   I scattered some "Dew Drops" around, that I recolored with my Copic markers to better match the tones of the case file.
Put something upside down:   Did you find it??  It's the MME 5 Cent tag.  :D

My testimony was inspired by the prompt:  Document something silly/wacky/crazy.   My pull down tag shares like I said above, it takes soo many attempts to get family pictures.  It's my son's graduation day and my hubby is acting like a goober.  Erin is Miss Attentive and Sarah refused to be photographed.  It's like pulling eye teeth.  Sigh.

 So there you have it... another reveal over at CSI.  If you get to play along, be sure to share your layout at Echo Park's Facebook Page.. tell them you're playing along at CSI and thank them for being a Great sponsor!!  :D

It's Good to Be Queen

Oh my goodness what a great way to start a month and start a summer!  Look at these fabulous colors for this weeks Case File over at CSI!!!
When I originally saw the color swatches, I thought "military" and started digging out my husbands Navy pictures...but the more I dug, the more I didn't "feel" the vibe.  So, I just browsed thru my picture files and I came across this picture of my dd Erin.  This was take in November, but the colors of her shirt matched so well..and she's a bit of a Drama Queen.. sooooooo  LOL

 My journaling is hidden again this week.  I took two manila tags and covered each with patterned papers.  On one I used Michele Singh's digital creations, CSI Coordinates, that she creates for each and every casefile and are available to our CSI members for FREE..  One tag has my wish list for Erin.  The other, has some sentimental mom journaling.  Eeewww gushy stuff.

I was originally inspired by Susan Stringfellows sketch #84, but this is where thing went awry.  Folks, you can be inspired by a sketch and have your layout look NOTHING like the inspiration.  What's important is that YOU were inspired.  If you've taken a creative turn, it's okay.  I just wouldn't try to spin that in a contest or anything like that..  (folks will scratch their heads and say "Um, not seeing it!")  But do share when and who you receive inspiration from, it gives them a thrill and keeps us honest.

 I had fun playing with some Canvas Corp stitched tags, my rubber stamp and many of my Tim Holtz gadgets and trinkets.  I've been inspired by Tammy Tutterow again on the tag, she stitches, inks, stamps  and just makes wonderful things with tags.

 I hope you enjoy this weeks Case File.  I highly recommend playing along and seeing what YOU create!  We'd love see what you make!  Until next week!!

My Favorite Things

I'm starting this weeks reveal off a little different.  First and formost I want to thank my friend Karan Whitehead for sharing her picture with me.  That beautiful young lady is her daughter!  I know, gorgeous.  My son Taylor is on the left and their dear friend Marshal is on the right.  This was taken at Timbercreek High School in Keller TX.  We had just arrived and were awaiting the students turns for their solo competition.  (BTW have I already mentioned, Taylor and Madison are going to STATE!  Wait that's for a little later..)

Okay, this week over at CSI  Case File #7 , we are working with some fabulous color challenges, awesome element prompts and GREAT journaling jump off points.  Shall we get to it??

Tell me that inspiration picture isn't awesome!  Continuing as our sponsor this month is Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits.  Their February kits are all about KRAFT and totally awesome.  If you have a boy you wanna scrap for, this kit is perfect.  I combined that Kraftiness (sorry for the pun) with this weeks challenge.

But I also used my fellow DT member, Susan Stringfellow's sketch #72  from Sketch Savy .   If you like fun sketches, pop over and try a few.

I took some creative freedom with it, but I still had a blast with it.  I used a large circle instead of a heart, turn my photo sideways, popped in an extra photo and then tucked the bushel basket in the corner.

My supplies include:  Tim Holtz resist Kraft paper, MME, Bo Bunny, Creative Imaginations, TH grunge letters, TH tissue tapes, Distress Inks and some Cosmo Cricket.  All my supplies I bought from my favorite LSS, Cat's Creations out in Mineral Wells.  Stop in a say hello if you're in her neck of the woods! 

Choir

Playing again over at How Much is Too Much?  This week was a very simple straight forward recipe. 
Lined paper - I used some ancient Basic Grey (check)
7 paper clips - I used a combination of stickers, by Bo Bunny and a few "real ones". (check)
9 staples - I used Tim Holtz mini stapler and my mini Fastenater.  And I'll admit, I went a little over board on staples.
Use primary colored papers, red, blue & yellow - I used Bo Bunny from last year along with coordinating stickers.
I also used used sketch #64 from Sketch Savvy as my jumping building spot.  

I kept everything fairly simple this time around.  But these are pictures from Taylor's Mens Choir his Junior Year at SHS.  I'm probably pushing the limit with ribbon.  Sorry boys, you'll just have to deal.  This was a fun challenge and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to play along!