Life's Trivialities

Twig House

Another week of November means another new Case File up at CSI:Color, Stories, Inspiration, Case File #45. I know that I tell you every time post about CSI I love the color palate and this week is no exception. Though I usually prefer the bright and vibrant colors, this layout with a more neutral color palate is really speaking to me right now.

This is a better representation of my layout than that seen on the CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration blog. It looks horrid over there... Not sure what happened in the uploading, loading process. I think the white balance got changed and it has a warmer tone.

Evidence used includes; wood/woodgrain, book pages, buttons, silver metal, windows, vintage text and textured paper.

The base of the layout is ivory/cream part of the layout is actually something remnant from a class I took a long time ago at the LSS that no longer exists. It may even have been from bookclub... Not sure what exactly. There were patterned papers that were supposed to go underneath the circles with some of them being pictures. Maybe... I don't know, clearly. So I re-purposed it for this layout!

Testimony includes; document a favorite room (a bit of a stretch really) and add a button to your journal spot.

I hope you are inspired! I would love to see what you can piece together, you have two weeks before these challenges are due!

Wow! Special Investigator and a Winner!!

What a day!! I was invited to be a Special Investigator (like a guest designer) over at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration this month and my first layout is up AND I was one of two winners chosen for the Bella Blvd color challenge this month!! I will receive the latest release Kiss Me and some other fabulous goodies!! I've been waiting for this release so to win it is special bonus!

The latest case file, file number 44, posted this evening. The color palate, as always, is amazing. I am a bright color kind of gal so these colors were particularly appealing to me. I began with the City Park collection from American Crafts and things fell into place from there. A package from Elle's Studio had just arrived and elements from "The Sweet Life" collection worked perfectly!

Evidence used includes; stripes, flowers, swirls, frame, something woven and doily pattern (inspired by pillows). Stripes are in the teal paper and the chevrons (they're made of stripes, right?). Flowers and swirls speak for themselves. Frames abound if you think about it. Each rectangle is framed, the picture is framed with patterned paper, Mia's drawings are framed with patterned paper and the whole layout is framed with the yellow cardstock. Very loosely, the something woven is the teal paper... I didn't weave it, but it sure has that look don't you think? Doilies are self explanatory too.

Testimony used includes; Write your journaling in a swirling shape (inspired by those swirls on the framed print) and frame your journaling. The journaling is about the little love notes that Mia leaves under our pillows to surprise us. This particular night, Michael had the picture of me and I had the picture of Dad. Not in the story is about how upset she got that Michael came to bed late that night and didn't see her drawing. It is lost somewhere... She had to make another to replace it and complete the pair!

Thanks for sharing in my little joys these evening! The Midget (Mia) and I are home alone tomorrow as the boys are heading north to Maryland for a big swim meet. We'll be living vicariously through texts from Michael updating us as to his progress! I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Guest Designing!

Good morning (or after or evening, depending upon the time of day you read this)! I was fortunate to have received a very generous supply of goodies from Scrappin' Sports & More and be featured as their guest designer for the month of July. My first layout is up on their blog this morning. Be sure to stop over HERE and check it out!

The versatility of the papers available from Scrappin Sports & More is fantastic!! You would never know that over half of the papers I used on this layout weren't baseball related.

What's the fourth without a little bling and pizzazz? I used one of the new(er) American Crafts do it yourself alphas and put some of their longer glittery stuff on the 4 while the blue star (from My Minds Eye - forever old, at that) has blue glitter to light up the page. The title is fussy cut from a piece of paper. If you are ever looking for sports stickers, Scrappin' Sports & More is the place to get them from!! They look so realistic and are durable. Highly recommended!!

Be sure to check back later in the month for more layouts featuring this sporty manufacturer!