It's JULY and it's really special - a joint ARTastic/CSI challenge ...

We have a very exciting challenge for you this month. ARTastic is joining forces with CSI – Color.. Stories.. Inspiration.. to bring you a joint ARTastic challenge and CSI collaboration Case File that will be open on both sites for the entire month of July.

We will be working with this amazing Australian Government promotional travel poster circa 1930. The ARTastic criteria is to use striped patterned paper somewhere on your page.

We're delighted to have some of the CSI design team joining us this month (please see their wonderful layouts on thre right sidebar) and you will see many of the ARTastic team acting as Special Deputies for the month of July over on CSI.

CSI is a weekly challenge designed to inspire scrapbookers to tell their stories and to create beautiful, meaningful pages based on a color scheme and an inspiration image.We want our challenges to inspire you to try new color schemes. We've designed our Case Files to give you a jumping off point and an excuse to shop your stash and possibly rediscover some oldies but goodies gathering dust. And we want our challenges to give you a push to tell your stories. We often hear that journaling is the most difficult part of the scrapbooking process, and we hope that our ideas will put the fun back into storytelling!

CSI encourages scrapbookers to explore the artistic side of scrapbooking while preserving the essential reason we started scrapbooking in the first place--capturing on our pages the bits and pieces—the stories--that make our lives special and meaningful and unique. CSI is all about inspiration and sharing and, most important, fun (with prizes, features, and guest designer opportunities as icing on the cake)! We can't wait to see the stories you'll tell and the art you'll create!

So two challenge blogs and now double the chances of winning for July. Please upload your layout both here at ARTastic and in the CSI Gallery to be eligible for monthly donated prizes on both sites BUT please remember you must include the criteria of striped patterned paper for ARTastic and then the additional case file criteria for CSI on your page.  Of course if you don't wish to play along with CSI you are most welcome just to upload your ARTastic criteria page here with us.

This month we have two main sponsors - each offering a $15 voucher to their stores.

 Julie from Time to Create

and Flourish with a Bling

and of course every month we also offer a prize pack totally by random draw.

And because this month is special you will get to see most of our creative team in action right now on the first reveal.  Don't worry ... we will still have a few surprises in store for you on the 15th !!

ELAINE

I went with the beach theme and scrapbooked a photo of my girl at the beach. We spend the cooler days at the beach dune boarding or fishing. Followed the colours and elements for CSI which made this page easy to put together.

MAJA

I used the colors in the inspiration picture and went by the beach theme. I realized when 

I started with this page that I don´t have much striped paper... but I finally found a piece that 

I could use.  I also followed the criterias over at CSI evidence: stripes, polka dots, distressed edges.

Testimony: documented a vacation, journaling on stripes.

DEB

When I saw the backview of the lady standing on the balcony,   I immediately thought of these photos that I had taken which I had previously considered not scrapping at all.   Also the scallops on the awning prompted me to include some scalloped lace and paper doilies.

DI

I've used the beach idea and the theme from the topper to create a collage, this month (about a hot air balloon race). The background paper, from Fabscraps has been left as it was. The hot air balloons have been cut from different papers and finished with washi tape, ribbon or braid.Colours used all come from the inspiration poster.

WENDY

I’ve used red striped paper as matting. I was inspired by the beach scene and clear blue sky –so typically Australian. I like the poster so I tried to do my layout like a poster as well.

TONE-LIL

The Seaside inspiration photo made me "dig out" some more photos from Cornwall and the beach in the background reminded me of the beach in St.Ives.  since ARTastic are having a combined challenge with CSI this month it was just to follow the colour swatch, and some old October Afternoon papers had just about the right colours

HELENE

Some water play while on vacation.  Lots of layering and the use of paint.

LESLEY

I went for the vacation theme and used a photo of me and my girls playing tour guides to friends. I have used stripes, glitter, scallops and the colours that reflect the painting.

JANE

I just loved the colours in this poster - so vibrant and carefree.  I've used scallops and polka dots, added in a little bird and used photographs from a summer vacation from a few years ago.

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT by 11.55pm on July 31st, 2014. We'd love to see your new paper, digital, or off the page entries.  Please no back-dated submissions.  You may combine with a sketch and/or colour/technique challenge and international entries are always welcome.   Remember we are Australian based so you need to allow for the different time zones - if in doubt check our clock.  

Please pop back on the 8th for The ARTastic 3T's - Tips, Tricks and Techniques brought to you this month by our wonderfully creative team member, Maja Stokk.  I am sure she will inspire you.