Thank you for your patience while I was away sailing the high seas — I’m back on land, logged in, and ready to dive into our mid‑month mystery. And that means it’s time to reveal the second Case File in our May lineup!
May’s challenges celebrate Gifts From the Garden Month and National Stationery Week, inviting you to explore stories of growth, creativity, and the beauty found in everyday details. Our first reveal focused on Case File No. 476 and all things blooming; now it’s time to turn the page — literally — and shine the spotlight on our cozy, analog‑inspired second Case.
Our Detective Squad is always hot on the trail of standout scrappers! If your layout leaves us awestruck, you just might get deputized as a Guest Detective. We’ll be combing through the case files on the 4th of each month, so make sure your evidence—er, layout—is filed in the album by then. And don’t worry—our cold cases are always open, so feel free to revisit old clues whenever inspiration strikes. Crack enough crafty cases and leave a trail of wow-worthy work… and you could find yourself recruited to our elite Design Team Task Force!
At CSI, we love giving our Case Files a playful twist, and this month’s investigations are blooming with inspiration. May’s challenges celebrate Gifts From the Garden Month and National Stationery Week, inviting you to explore stories of growth, creativity, and the beauty found in everyday details.
Case File No. 476 – Gifts From the Garden Month
There’s something magical about watching things grow — whether it’s a garden, a dream, or a relationship. This Scene is bursting with soft florals, leafy greens, and gentle encouragements that remind us to nurture what matters most. The palette blooms with teals, pinks, siennas, and greens, while the imagery whispers of sunlight, laughter, and renewal. Whether you’re inspired by the gardening motifs, the sense of flourishing, or the idea of transformation, this Case File invites you to tell stories about growth — literal or metaphorical — and the gifts that come from tending your world with care.
Case File No. 477 – National Stationery Week
If Case File 476 celebrates what grows, Case File 477 honors what we record — the notes, lists, and scribbles that capture our daily lives. This Scene is a love letter to the analog world: pens, paper, calendars, and creative clutter arranged in a tidy grid of inspiration. The palette mixes soft greens, pinks, and kraft tones with a hint of teal, evoking the cozy charm of a well-loved workspace. Whether you’re documenting your creative process, your routines, or the words that shaped your story, this Case File is all about celebrating the art of writing things down.
And remember — you’re never limited to the theme itself. Let the Scenes spark your imagination, or follow the traditional clues at the bottom of this post to guide your investigation. However you interpret the evidence, we can’t wait to see how you solve the Case!
Looking for the traditional CSI clues? You’ll find them at the bottom of this post and on our Facebook page—just head to the first entry under the Case File album (click the Case File images above to go straight there).
Ready to submit your layout? Click on the Case Files in our sidebar to be taken to the corresponding Facebook album, where you can upload your evidence for all to see!
Investigators, are you ready to crack the case? Let’s take a closer look at the Scene for Case File No. 477 — National Stationery Week.
This month’s second Case invites you into a world of cozy creativity — a workspace filled with pens, paper, cameras, calendars, and the quiet magic of analog tools. The palette is soft and nostalgic, perfect for stories about planning, documenting, organizing, or capturing the little details that shape your days.
You’ll find a full set of traditional clues at the bottom of the reveal, but you’re also welcome to draw your own inspiration straight from the Scene. Whether it’s the color palette, the stationery motifs, the sense of everyday creativity, or a title that jumps out at you, follow the clues wherever they lead.
Our Detectives took Case File No. 477 in wonderfully varied directions — each layout capturing the charm of stationery, storytelling, and the analog world.
Cynthia Baldwin documented “bits of life” in a vibrant grid of photos and icons, layered over a diagonal rainbow background. Cameras, typewriters, and tabs frame snapshots from 2025, creating a joyful, everyday‑life collage that feels like a colorful bulletin board of memories.
Kathy McElfresh followed the “out of office” clue straight into nature, pairing serene photos of ducks on the water with layered florals, grids, and office icons. A cup, camera, ruler, and leaf embellishment bridge the gap between desk life and the great outdoors, perfectly echoing the balance of work and rest.
Morag Cutts built a dreamy, layered story around cozy interiors and creative spaces. Vintage ephemera, houses, butterflies, and typewriters cluster around her photos, with phrases like “Tell your story” and “Such wonderful things surround you” reinforcing the theme of documenting the beauty in everyday corners.
Kirei Baldwin (Kure in the earlier draft) turned the Case into a love letter to Hatch Show Print in Nashville. Bold title work, letterpress imagery, pencils, scissors, and glasses surround photos from the print shop, celebrating typography, history, and hands‑on creativity in a way that feels perfectly on‑theme for National Stationery Week.
Lisa‑Marie Watling created a soft, wood‑planked backdrop for a black‑and‑white photo, layering tickets, tags, and a tiny camera around a “CAPTURED moment.” Pastel accents and the phrase “you are my favorite person” keep the focus on connection and memory, with stationery details quietly supporting the story.
Julie Taylor leaned fully into the office‑supply angle with a teal, stencil‑style background and a dense cluster of clipboards, notebooks, tags, and labels. Phrases like “Noteworthy happenings,” “Official record,” and “Doing what I love” turn her page into a beautifully organized hub of creative documentation.
Nina Straume (Straume in the footer) combined academic and analog motifs to document “STUDIETID.” A photo of a building is surrounded by rulers, glasses, note cards, and a “While you were out” message pad, along with fall‑themed touches. The result feels like a thoughtful blend of study, routine, and captured moments.
Jackie Ashton used a bold pink background and layered tickets, rulers, and tags to frame a joyful photo from “Drawn to Life” at Disney Springs. Handwritten journaling, “good vibes” phrases, and playful stationery bits make the layout feel like a ticket stub–filled scrapbook of a very good day.
Antonia Sherlock documented a milestone school moment across a two‑page spread, filled with photos, balloon “2026” numbers, and academic icons. Brick buildings, books, clocks, and motivational quotes like “The best is yet to come” and “Be so good they can’t ignore you” turn her layout into a celebratory case file on new beginnings.
Wendy Meffan captured an artsy weekend away with the Dream Crop Girls, layering photos of themed backdrops and creative play over a grid‑and‑paint background. Brushes, palettes, and phrases like “Noteworthy happenings” and “Doing what I love” highlight the joy of making—and documenting—memories with friends.
Debbi Tehrani celebrated the power of words with a deeply personal, typography‑rich layout about her coach. Butterflies, ampersands, and a typewriter frame affirmations like “Be curious, not critical” and “You already have what it takes,” turning the page into a visual manifesto about growth, mindset, and the life you’re creating.
Together, these layouts show how one Case File can unfold into a world of creative storytelling — from cozy analog charm to bold, expressive design. Each page captures a different facet of stationery‑inspired creativity, proving that pens, paper, and everyday details can spark endless imagination. Scroll through the gallery and let their interpretations inspire your own investigation.
💡 NEED HELP GETTING STARTED?
f you’re feeling stuck, here are a few ways to jump into Case File No. 477:
Play with stationery textures — grids, kraft, ledger, notebook lines.
Document a written moment — a note, list, quote, or message that shaped your day.
Lean into analog charm — typewriter fonts, labels, tabs, index cards, sticky notes.
Create a workspace cluster — layer office supplies, tags, and journaling bits.
Tell a story of routine — planning, organizing, creating, or capturing life’s details.
Whether you interpret the theme literally or metaphorically, let your creativity flow — this Case File is all about celebrating the beauty of everyday creativity.
Investigators, the clues are waiting to be uncovered — tucked between paper layers, hidden in soft greens and pinks, scattered among textures, tags, and tiny details just waiting for you to gather them up.
You might find yourself drawn to the cozy calm of the workspace — the quiet beauty of pens, paper, and analog tools that whisper of creativity and reflection. Or perhaps you’ll follow the vibrant pull of playful patterns, bold stationery motifs, and joyful energy — where color radiates outward and inspiration feels like it’s buzzing across the page.
One path or both — the choice is yours.
Let the Scene be your story. Let the details guide your design. Gather your supplies, layer your elements, and listen for the clues that speak loudest to you.
Will you document a moment shaped by words? Will you capture the beauty of everyday rituals — the ones that ground you? Or will you blend whimsy and warmth into a story uniquely your own?
Use what sparks your imagination and challenge yourself to collect as many clues as you can carry.
Your mission: investigate the Scene, assemble the evidence, craft your layout, and tell the story only you can tell.
The case is open. The inspiration is waiting.
You have until June 4 to file your layouts, with a little extra time if you’re aiming for that coveted Guest Detective badge.
Whether you’re inspired by things that grow or the cozy charm of stationery and everyday creativity, we can’t wait to see what you uncover.
When your case is complete, drop your layout into our Facebook Group. The albums are open and ready for your reports.
The colors are blooming, the inspiration is flowing, and May’s Cases are officially open.
Let the crafting — and the investigating — begin.
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