Virgo...2 Sides {CSI Case File No. 17}

We've opened another Case File for investigation at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration.

The colors are so versatile, and I was thinking travel pictures, but then I decided to go with a layout about my astrological sign because I wanted to use the cool zodiac wheel Michele included in the CSI Coordinates.  I tell, you, Michele is a gem for creating these printables to go with all of our Case Files. You can always download these printables at the bottom of our Case File reveals.

So here's the page I made. Clues I used to solve this case: Evidence: Circles, stars, pen work; Testimony: Write about your astrological sign. I had intended to use white space (can you see it?) but I'm white space-challenged, mainly due to the fact that I scrap 8 x 8.

I combined prints from the CSI Coordinates other papers by Making Memories, BasicGrey, Pebbles, and really old Scenic Route. I thought this yearly school portrait was perfect for the colors, and when I got the idea for my story, I decided I'd duplicate the photo and flip it horizontally to show the "two sides" of me.

Here are some details. The text tucked behind the teal paper lists the positive and negative traits of Virgos. I took my photo at school, and the kids kept messing with those. The one with the positive traits actually has two blue brads. In case you're wondering about us Virgos, here's what those pull-outs say:

(Negative) - fussy - worrier - overcritical - obsessive - perfectionist - conservative - tactless - skeptical - picky - shy - vulnerable - fragile - miserly

(Positive) - meticulous - reliable - practical - diligent - intelligent - analytical - observant - helpful - precise - organized - creative - compassionate - kind  -dedicated - thoughtful - efficient - industrious - charming - loyal - sensitive - trustworthy

My journaling, which I had to do on the back reads:

"Anal" and "nitpicky" are the names I'm called when family members are irritated by my Virgo-ness. I can't help it. It's driven by the stars.

I'll admit I'm a perfectionist--I care deeply about things so I want them done right. Yes, I'm picky, though I prefer to call it discriminating. And I guess I can be overcritical, but that's only because I'm trying to be helpful and get things right. After all, I can't help it--I'm analytical and observant and precise, so my eagle eye right away spots what's not right with a situation. (I don't mean to offend.) But I'm also kind and helpful and industrious, so I will help to make the things right.

I am a worrier because I'm a thinker, and when I analyze a situation, I see all sides, including the things that can possibly go wrong. I can definitely get obsessed with whatever I am currently thinking about, but that also makes me dedicated to my pursuits.

That dedication makes me a good friend. I'm trustworthy and fiercely loyal. I am kind and compassionate because of my sensitive side, so you can always find a good listener who will empathize. I'm generally shy in new situations. I'm vulnerable and over-trusting, which makes me get stepped on by people who spot my vulnerabilities. But I'm learning (trial by fire, I guess) to not be people's doormats anymore.

I'm meticulous and organized. Though I admit I really hate housework, I love to organize--it's the analytical side of me, I think, that enjoys finding the best, most practical and efficient ways of arranging things. You can find me alphabetizing my spices and my books and my CDs and my scrapbook papers, categorizing my scrappy supplies into little drawers and arranging everything ROYGBIV, color-sorting my necklaces and clothes, making folders and files to sort things on my computer. If only Farzad would let me organize all those screws and tools and bits in his mess of a storage room, I just know he'd be so much happier (though he's on to my Virgo-ness and won't have any of that!).

My "positive" Virgo trait list says I am charming. I'd like to think so. I am definitely a people-pleaser. And my favorite trait on there says I'm creative. I'd like to think that too, but my perfectionist bug says I'm not. I'm always comparing my work to all my scrappy idols and never measure up. But I never stop trying, and I enjoy creative pursuits. And my friends and family are always telling me I am creative, so I think I'll start trying to believe them.

Yes, I can get on people's nerves with my Virgo-ness, and when I see that negative list, I cringe and wish I'd been born under different stars. But then I look at the positives, and think maybe it's not so bad--I'd certainly like to have a friend who possesses those traits. I think maybe I'll embrace my Virgo-ness after all.

This zodiac wheel Michele added to our CSI Coordinates is so nifty. After my layout was all done, I wished I'd printed it on a different color paper. That always happens to me after I've stitched things and glue-dotted them down. Sigh.

This moon man is so fun--also in the CSI Coordinates, as are these little patterned flags. I didn't originally have this cluster on my page because I was going for the white space thing, but in the end, I decided to add them.

The stars and pen outlining were also things I added after I thought my layout was finished and I had given my layout a second look. I love that circle pattern Michele made for the CSI Coordinates. The brads are by BasicGrey.

I added that flower because it sort of looks like it's got a text print on it (for the book pages part of the challenge)--maybe it does but it's kind of blurred. I've been admiring all the hexagons on people's pages for a while and thought I better get those on my page before the trend dies. I do that a lot--jump on the bandwagon way too late. 

As always, the CSI design team and guest designers have amazing projects this week, so you should definitely pop in and see what everybody made. This is the last week for a chance at winning a prize from our April sponsor, The Paper Bakery Kit Club (the deadline for this Case File is Sunday, May 6 at 11:59 pm).

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading about my page.

Petal Music {CSI Case File No. 16}

What a fun and beautiful Case File we have this week at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration. In addition to National Poetry Month, we're celebrating National Karaoke Week with this fabulous Scene:

Here is what I came up with. First, I looked for a picture that might go with these colors. We had recently been to a nursery dreaming up what plants we'll plant at our new house and I had some pictures that I thought would work.Next I decided to try out the online magnetic poetry and it just so happened that the words that popped up onto the screen worked to create a poem about my favorite flowers.

Here are a few details. Once I crafted my poem, I took a screen shot and then pasted it into the program I use, cropped it and printed it out. I cut the individual words out. They were a little fuzzy because they were from a digital screen shot, but I still liked the way they look. The die cut leaves are by Cheery Lynn.

This die-cut doily is also by Cheery Lynn. I added the musical notes from the CSI Coordinates after I saw how cool they looked on my friend Tracee's layout. The brads are BasicGrey and Recollections. Most of the papers I used are by BasicGrey, from different collections.

The banners are also from the CSI Coordinates, which are printables Michele Singh creates for us to go with each Case File.

These damask bits are cut form a Teresa Collins paper. I originally just had a line of them but it didn't feel right and I added a few more and topped them with some bling.

The design team and guest designers created gorgeous art, as always, so you'll have to go over and check it out and play with us for a chance to win a prize from our April sponsor, The Paper Bakery.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and reading about my page!

Mama-San {Sketchabilities Sketch #69}

I'm so excited to share that I made it onto the Sketchabilities design team! I love creating with sketches, and Karan makes beautiful sketches! Today was my first reveal for this terrific site!

Here's the sketch I got to play with this week:

And here's my page. I mixed a bunch of older and newer My Mind's Eye papers to create this.

Here are a few details. I wanted a crisp summery feel, and the My Mind's Eye papers were perfect against the textured white cardstock. There's a little Lime Twist, a little Bloom & Grow, even some Bohemia in here. I thought the numbers punched out of the paper would be fun on top of a button.

These lovely butterflies are Cheery Lynn dies. I added some really old Autumn Leaves MOD brad, and I resurrected some old green vellum.

I love this K&Co. journaling spot. I love the shape and all the detail work. I wish they'd make them in other colors. 

The rest of the design team made beautiful pages. You'll have to go check out what they made!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and reading about my page!

Monster in the Cupboard {CSI Case File No. 15}

Case File No. 15 is open at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration, and do we have a fun, fun, fun challenge this week! In addition to National Poetry Month, we're celebrating National Library Week, and we went with Maurice Sendak's fantastic artwork to inspire our Case File:

I love, love, love the CSI Coordinates Michele Singh, made for us this week and used them on my page.

The monsters inspired my page. Please note that no animals were harmed in the making of this page. My cat Maggie loves to jump into cabinets and cupboards and closets whenever I open them, and as soon as I close the door, she wants out. I was loading books into the bookcases my husband put together for our new library, and Maggie kept getting in our way, jumping into the bookcases. So Farzad, being the practical joker he is, put her in the top bookcase and closed the door. She looks so cute and so funny looking down at us.

Clues I used to solve this case: Evidence: monsters, metal, zig-zags, stacking/layers, pom-pom, and something transparent; Testimony: document an adventure, poem type, poem in a pocket, and inspiration word imagination.

My poem in the pocket (vellum envelope) reads:

In her little kitty mind
I'm sure wild adventures await
inside every cupboard,
behind every door.
When I reach for a doorknob
she's always right there, 
summoned by some extrasensory 
purr-ception.
Door opens, cat jumps in.
Door closes, cat wants out.
Some cupboard monster behind that door
Instead of the glorious adventure she'd dreamed up.


Here are a few details. I adore these little monsters Michele created! I printed them on a textured cardstock that had vertical ridges. I added Glossy Accents to their eyes to give them a more googly-eyed appearance. I think I put too much on there! I put the little guys on my page with pop dots. You can see I used vellum paper as one of my layers. I was originally going to try to make a banner out of the monsters, but it wasn't working on my pages, so I just connected them with the baker's twine.

I was determined to use CSI Coordinates bookshelf paper on my page, but I couldn't work it into my design--until I got the idea to have some of the books hold part of my title. I used Headline rub-on letters. They're nice and small and perfect for things like this. The little striped ticket and the "Live the life you imagine" bit are from the CSI Coordinates too. I used raw chipboard letters to match the gray in the palette. The gray grid paper in the background is by My Mind's Eye, and the orange paper is by Dream Street.

Here are some more layers that show you some more bits from the CSI Coordinates--the chevron paper and the orange label. I tucked some tiny yellow pom-poms between some of the layers.

Some more shots of those cute monsters. I like how the ridged cardstock makes them look striped. That "wild thing" bit is also in the CSI Coordinates.

The Detectives and guest designers have some awesome creations this week, so you should definitely go have a peek, and I do hope you'll play along! The Paper Bakery is sponsoring us, and you might even win  a voucher to their store.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and reading about my page!

Still {CSI Case File No. 14}

Our first Case File of April is open at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration, and we have a gorgeous reveal! With a new sponsor and new guest designers, there's lots and lots of inspiration. And Michele Singh, our digital Detective extraordinaire, has given our Case Files a whole new look:

Here is my page, featuring my sweet old kitty Maggie, who seems to be able to make herself comfortable ANYWHERE. She found a spot on my scrap table as we were packing to move, boxes everywhere, and made a pillow out of my long-arm stapler.

Clues I used to solve this Case File: ruffles, animal accent, wet medium, something sand-like, and waves; Testimony: haiku.

I started out with the current Sketchabilities sketch but sort of veered off the path. That happens a lot with sketches since I scrap 8 x 8.

Here are some details.  I discovered BasicGrey's Porcelain collection was perfect for this palette. The dark green is from the Wassail collection. The chipboard letters and this brad are also by BasicGrey. 

The hotel ledger paper came from an old kit--can't remember which. I added Distress Stickles (for my sandy clue) to the torn edge.

I struggled and struggled with where to put my haiku I finally decided to make them little banners hanging from this Making Memories brad. The birdcage is cut from a Porcelain paper, and I adorned it with pink pearls. You can see a little mist on the right. I'm misting-challenged, but I gave it a whirl.

I decided to add some z's to my sleeping kitty. Fortunately, I'm obsessed with these BasicGrey letters, which are the perfect size for my 8 x 8 pages, so I had three packs of the letters. The border sticker had a sort of wavy pattern on it, which went with one of the Case File clues.

Our sponsor this month is The Paper Bakery--a really cool scrapbook kit company--so you'll certainly want to play along for a chance to win one of their kits. And definitely stop by to see all the awesome pages created by our design team and guest designers.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and reading about my page this week.

Windy at the Top {CSI Case File No. 13}

Here's our current Case File over at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration:

I just love the colors and that fun pinwheel. I almost didn't get to this week because I'd had such a busy week and missed scrapping the previous weekend because I was traveling to a funeral, but I made a page in a jiffy because I just couldn't not solve this Case File! Clues I used are: Evidence: pinwheel, hearts, string, map print, jewels, tuck in a little surprise; Testimony: partially hidden journaling and the inspiration words surprise, delight, play.

Here are a few details. For my little surprise, I couldn't help copying the tiny heart tucked into the pinwheel from The Scheme. Such a sweet little detail! I got my map paper by Googling a map of Maine.

I love these Scenic Route leaves. My supply is dwindling. How I wish they hadn't gone out of business. The label behind the leaf is from our CSI Coordinates, which you can download at the bottom of the Case File reveal.

That great big compass was cut from a My Mind's Eye paper. I made the little flag from some elements from CSI Coordinates. The lettering on the flag is Sassafras Lass.

I tucked my journaling behind the map paper. The tags are all from the CSI Coordinates Spots. My journaling talks about how we were surprised it was so windy at the top of Cadillac Mountain but that we made the best of it by pretending to fly and taking in the gorgeous views.

Come see what the other CSI Detectives made, and I hope you will get a chance to play. You still have until Sunday at midnight to solve the Case File and have a chance at winning a prize from Words or Whatever, our March sponsor.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and reading about my page today!