CSI Case File #266 - Enjoy Reading

Here is a layout I created for a CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration case file (a challenge in the form a police case). If you have never seen them before, just click on the link above and check it out. It is a lot of fun and you can when prizes.

I made a very simple layout especially since I had time constraints but I really enjoyed it.

Here was the "crime scene" photo that was used as inspiration for this challenge.

The Scheme (colors) that you had to use were:

• 252.225.30 – bright yellow
• 21.173.178 – right between aqua and turquoise
• 205.73.24 – in between orange and red
• 248.250.249 – white
• 30.23.17 – black

I chose to use from the evidence list embossed or textured paper, stars, hearts, bottle or jar, and dangle something.

For the testimony (journaling idea) I chose to use one of the prompt ideas from the website that was linked to. 

All of the papers I used were from We R Memory Keepers Scrapbook Stack Pack "Anthologie" collection except for the black cardstock I used for the background border and the mat the photo. The collection matched the color scheme so that helped to make the process go much quicker. 

I used an acetate word (Enjoy) from Heidi Swapp. The tabs, hearts, stars, jar, chipboard words, and doilies were all random pieces in my stash and do not remember the manufactures. The stacked books is a Cheap Die that was part of a prize package from Dies R Us that I won from CSI and I got it today! What great timing. You can find out more about that in my previous post. So the die makes an outline of a stack of books and reading was my story so it worked out great. I didn't really want just an outline though because it was blending in too much with the background. So I took scraps of the paper from the collection and cut out several and used different pieces to fill in the blank spaces. Now I have several outlines to use for other layouts or cards. Loved it! Can't wait to play with the other dies. I also used some Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine sprinkled over the page.

Here are some close ups of the details:

Hope you enjoyed it! Happy Scrapping!

Got my Dies R Us prize from my CSI layout!

Yay! Christmas early! I got home today and I had my prize order from Dies R Us!!! I won a prize, gift certificate, from a CSI: Color, Stories, and Inspiration challenge. I choose several types of dies but they are from the same company but they carry several different companies plus other types of supplies. I am using the stacked books die tonight for another CSI challenge. I got several Christmas ones to use for my December Daily. How fun!!!

Here are my die haul! Enjoy and stay tuned for my next challenge layout that I will be posting real soon.

Mixed Media Canvas "Life is Better at the Beach"

I tried something new. I have seen many videos on art journal pages and sometimes I think what a cute picture that would make so I finally tried it. I was asked by a friend if I could supply something that her non-profit could raffle off and I didn't have a lot of time to create something. I decided to try something similar to what Gerda van Dijk did in one of her art journals. I didn't have the exact things she used for the background and the foreground I did totally different. But she was the inspiration for my piece. 

I put gesso on the canvas before starting. Then I drew the lines for the separate areas for sand, sea, and sky. I didn't have any heavy gesso and the local craft stores didn't carry it so I had to use something else for the water. So I tried to use some Golden Molding Paste to try and create the waves in the water. Then I used Prima Finnabair Texture Paste White Sand for the sand area of the canvas. I used the Ranger Heat It Craft Tool to dry everything. I then took some Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink in Vintage Photo to color the sand. Then used a light blue to cover the sky and water sections of the canvas.  Then I mixed some acrylic white paint with some Liquitex Glass Beads. Added them with a small flat brush at the edge where the sand and water meet on the canvas. Also, I placed everything on the edges of the canvas for a more complete look. Then let that dry over night.

Now it is time to finish the canvas. I wanted some more waves in the water since I didn't use a heavy gesso and the molding paste didn't create enough of a lift. I used some Golden Regular Gel Gloss and mixed it with some darker water colors. I placed the gel gloss mixture in the area where the molding paste. It actually dried darker than what it looked like while it was still wet. So that is something to watch if I use watercolors again. I imagine if you used acrylic paint it wouldn't be as much of a change in color. But it still turned out cute. I cut a beach chair with an umbrella from my Silhouette Cameo. I chose that because my friends non-profit is called Women on the Beach (WOB) and the logo is an umbrella. I stamped some small sandpipers using the Stampendous Seaside Chair stamp set, colored them with some Tim Holtz Distress Markers, and then cut them out. I glued everything down and covered them with some multi-purpose glue and sealant. Then I printed out the phrase and cut it out. Glued it down and covered it with the sealant. I added some extra white sand texture paste around the chair legs and as it dried it took on the color of the ink. I let it dry and then I took small tiny shells that I had previously gathered on our beaches and glued them in various places over the canvas. I took a Faber-Castell Big Brush Marker in black to out line the pieces of the phrase because I didn't have anything with a smaller tip. It worked but next time I think I want to use something with a smaller tip.

My friend loved it and they made over $300 from it. Hope you enjoyed this.  It was really easy and fast to make!

2016 30 Days of Thankful album review

Hello everyone! I am currently working on the 30 Days of Thankful album for the third year. I really like doing this album because you really have to stop and think of something each day that you are thankful for. Sometimes in this crazy world we are always so busy and so many things happening constantly, good and bad, that we don't stop and think of what we are thankful for each day. It doesn't have to be something profound everyday. Just something, anything, that you are thankful for each day no matter how small or even large.

I decided to do a walk-through of my past albums although there are only 2 since my first one was in 2016.  I didn't buy a lot to do it with, just an album with sheet protectors and the class that came with some digital products. If you are interested in learning about the class to do your own or want to purchase some 30 Days of Thankful digital specific items you can check out Cathy Zielske's website.

Here is my walk through...Enjoy!