Stamps Ahead

 Here is my layout for CSI Case File No. 479. I have used the colour Lemon from The Scene and the Colour Scheme.  For evidence I have used florals, flowers, leaves, ice cream, limes or other food (Birthday cake - sponge with cream and strawberries made by my mother), frames, something round (the typeface numbers of the year 1952). The topic I selected was to document a summer memory (as my birthday is in December and it is summer in Australia then) and for writing format Joy slip - one line beginning "Todays' bright spot..." and this is tucked into the top of photo on the right. On the reverse of this slip I wrote "What I would tell my 3-year-old self. Photos are of 3-year-old me sitting on the front veranda of our childhood home in Asquith, NSW.  Dad had made the bench out of tree branches, and it features in many photos of our childhood.  Mum made all our clothes and was the most wonderful cook - neither my sister nor I can make a sponge cake like she could!...

I was thrilled to be asked to be a Guest Detective/Designer for CSI June case files.  Here is the layout I designed for Country Cooking Month File No. 478.  Criteria for the Case File was to draw inspiration from the scene, the evidence and testimony I have the red from the scene.  For evidence, I used patten paper, cooking themed items (Cakes, tarts, sandwiches and much more) from Mad Hatter's Tea Party, brads.  For testimony I used 3 of the June prompts -What reminds you of your past? The best kind of laughter is.. and where do you always have fun? I have journalled the answers to these on the back of the tags under the 3 photos at the top.    My photos were taken at Scrapping Clearly retreat Down the Rabbit Hole recently held in Gundagai, NSW. On the Saturday we had a Mad Hatters Tea Party lunch, and the sign was one of the decorations as we walked into the hall where retreat was held.  The printed papers are from Stamperia Alice in Wonderland pape...

 Another layout for CSI Challenge 468 - January 2026. Here is my layout: Here is the inspiration photo: Here are the clues: In 2012 I was sent a Christmas card from my friends in the USA.  It shows her 2 boys on the cover - those boys are now adults and just as happy and love live as the 2012 photo.  I have used the following clues to complete my layout: winter/Christmas theme, stripes, labels, people, white gesso as snow falling, whimsical font (my friends writing on the card greeting), journalling in a plastic envelope (I could not find my vellum) and circles.   I look forward to what challenges are available in February and the remainder of 2026.  For more information visit  http://csichallenge.blogspot.com/ Margaret

 My first ever layout for CSI challenges - No 469 January 2026. Here is my layout  Here is the inspiration photo  Here are the clues  I was inspired by the photo and the story of then and now. I used case file colours (there is tangerine on background cardstock (CS) I used), sticky notes and a journalling prompt - what word/s would you bring into the new year. The photo was taken by my sister during dinner on The Anthem of the Seas cruise we took in November 2025, and it reminded me of the inspiration photo.  I handmade sticky notes from patterned paper (PP) and underneath each note I journalled following the words I added to the notes.  I used items from my stash to finish this layout. Thank you for looking and happy new year as we move into 2026.   Margaret