I am Grateful....

Hi!  Tina here today with a project in celebration of our Gratitude month!

I wanted to take a slightly different approach and create something that could be used throughout the year to capture those Gratitude memories! 

I've created a mini envelope 'album' that will allow you to record and keep your Gratitude memories about your special someone or for your entire family.    Each Grateful pocket will safely store your notes until the time when you want to share your memories with your loved ones.

Nine separate pockets will store your specific memories of how you are Grateful.

My Grateful pockets include:

for secret messages.
for your kindness.
for your understanding.
for your love.
for your sincerity.
for your laughter.
for your support.
for your compassion.
for your thoughtfulness.

What a perfect way to record your memories throughout the year and give a special gift to a special someone.

I added a mini Velcro closure to each envelope for safe keeping.

This is such a easy and quick project, you could create several.  :)

Jenni Bowlin Supplies include:

Feather Tags-Vintage
Paper Tape - Bleached Wood
Paper Tape - Hounds Tooth
Paper Tape - Sideways Chevron
Dotted Labels - Red & Black
Mini Chipboard - Stars
Skinny Alpha Stickers - Grey
Scattered Star Stencil
 Scattered Star Stamp- November Paper Crafting Kit
Star Sticker

I hope you enjoyed by Gratitude Envelope Mini today!  What projects have you created to show your Gratitude?  We'd love to see them!

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!

Ghosts, Goblins, and Fright Oh My!

Hi!  Tina here today!

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the entire year.  I'm not sure what draws me to the season - perhaps it's the fall time weather, or the gorgeous colors in nature, or the fun ghostly characters of the holiday.  If I could decorate in Halloween decor the entire year, I surely would!

Today, I'd like to share a Halloween Home Decor project that was super fun to create, and will be cherished for years to come!

I filled each cubbie of my 7gypsies printer tray with all sorts of Jenni Bowlin goodies, vintage finds, and unique, one of a kind embellishments.

I aged Jenni Bowlin cards and stickers with alcohol ink and distressed the edges with Distress ink. 

I even distressed several vintage die and metal clock hands.

I created these little 'potion' vials with cork, embossing powder, and glossy accents.  :)

So what is your favorite holiday?  We'd love to know!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great week!

Layering Madness, September Papercrafting Kit Style!

Hello!  Tina here today with a layout using the September Papercrafting Kit!

The September Papercrafting Kit is chocked full of awesome COLOR, die-cuts, and fun little metal embellishments!

I love using color and pattern on my layouts and one of my favorite way to use all of this color is by starting with a white background.

 

I start building color and pattern by adding a bit of splatters and spray mist to my white cardstock, and the exclusive Quilt Star stencil (in the September Papercrafting Kit) is perfect for this!

 

I build on the background by adding die-cuts, patterned paper, and small little embellishments.  I even re-colored the metal embellishments with Distress Stain for a different look.

So that my photo wouldn't compete with all of the color and pattern, I changed it to Black & White.  I also hid unwanted sections of the photo with die-cuts and embellishments.

Don't be afraid to use those die-cuts and patterned paper!  And always use COLOR, COLOR, & more COLOR!  :)

Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you have a great week!

Unspoken....

Hi!  Tina here today!

Grids are seriously one of my favorite design styles.  They can be used in so many ways and they always look fresh and fun!

To create the grid on my layout today, I used the 'Perf Mark' stamp. I stamped it 4 times in the center of my page, then began 'filling' each square with JBS goodness.  :)

I used 'Notebook Grid' (which is one of my FAVE paper tapes EVER) and 'Bleached Woodgrain' Paper tape for several of my grid squares and paper from 'Wren - Blueprint' for the other grid squares.

I wanted to add some dimension to my layout, so I punched several Quilt Stars and added them to my page with foam tape.  For more interest, I added Blue Pearl buttons and several of the new JBS sequins to each star.

My layout needed some 'flash', so I added several of the new JBS Gold rub-ons.  I {heart} the Gold Bubbles and Tiny Trims rub-on's.  They are divine!

I finished my layout with a pop of RED and viola!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful and crafty Wednesday!

Summer nights!

Hello and Happy Sunday!

Tina here today with a fun layout that will hopefully bring back memories of those Summer Nights.

This photo is of my mother, circa 1960.  She was 18 and watching the sun set in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.  She is leaning against my {soon to be} father's car.  :)

I used stencils from both the July Papercrafting kit and the July Mini Album kit to create my colorful background.

I also used both the exclusive stamps and digital cuts from the July kit to make my own unique embellishments.  I stamped both with embossing ink for more texture.

I finished my layout off with some of my favorite JBS product:  Notebook Grid Paper Tape and fun Icons flatbacks.

I hope you enjoyed my share today.  Here's to summer nights and summer memories!

Jenni Bowlin + Fiskars = Happiness

Hi and Happy Wednesday!

This month, Jenni Bowlin is teaming up with Fiskars!  What a wonderful and happy combination!

I would like to share a short/quick view of how I created this super easy way to use your favorite Fiskars Paper Trimmer and your favorite JBS kit paper.

1.  Cut several strips of paper.  Mine are all approx. 1/4 in in width, but I didn't pay close attention when I was cutting, so some are wider and narrower than 1/4.  Embrace imperfection.  :)

 

(by the way, this Fiskar ProCision Rotary Trimmer is AMAZING!  It cuts like 'butta')

2.  Weave the strips of paper.  

Quick tip:  Weave your strips of paper on top of a piece of cardstock.  Hold it together with strips of washi tape on each end of each strip.    

3.  Since my shape was a circle, I traced the circle on top of my weaved strips and stitched in place.  This ensured that the strips were secure and would not move once placed on my layout.

4.  Trim up any 'extra' pieces and place behind your die cut shape.

And here's the finished layout!

This layout is very special to me. My oldest just graduated from Otterbein College, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Music Education. I am so very proud of him and his accomplishments. He is really a star in my eyes!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful week!

Oh Happy Day!

Oh Happy Day! Tina here today!

That is how I feel when I receive my monthly box from Jenni Bowlin.  I’m like a kid on Christmas morning, anxious to see what goodness is awaiting for me behind the cardboard flaps.

The May kits are SO full of happiness and joy, I wasn’t sure where to start.  This month’s Mini Album was especially full of yummy product, so I used it as a base for my c.1960 layout.

This layout is a really special one to me.  This is a photo of my mom, circa 1960, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, sitting on the hood of my dad’s car.  I thought the wonderful colors and designs of the embellishments in the Mini album kit would be the perfect complement to this special photo.



I especially loved the Chic Tags die cut sheet included in the Papercrafting kit, so I used it with the fun Basic Grey stickers and Studio Calico wood accent pieces.  Did you notice that I used the entire die cut sheet?  I couldn’t bear to cut it up and use the individual pieces, so I used the entire sheet as a fun paper accent behind my photo.  Did you spy the product packaging on my layout?  I never throw the fancy product packaging out.  I try to incorporate it into my layouts and projects as often as I can.  Another favorite item in the Mini Album kit is the American Crafts vellum.  Vellum is a current love of mine and how fun is this red dot pattern?  It added the perfect little POP of color!

Be sure and stop back!  More May kit projects will be shared and the inspiration is unbelievable.

The Play Date Cafe #176 - Antique Dolls

Hello and Happy Sunday!

JBS is sponsoring The Play Date Café this week and several of the JBS design team members are playing along.

Let’s get right to the challenge.  Just look at this fabulous color story!

Wanna play along?  All you need to do is create a layout or card AND use this color story.  You can post your entries on the PDCC blog. 

To make this even MORE exciting, JBS is giving an awesome prize to the winner!  A $25 gift certificate to JBS Mercantile.  How cool is that?

This week, you have already seen some other JBS design team member layouts featuring the color story, and here is my take on the challenge.

 

I was so excited to be able to use some of the new JBS washi tape and stamps for my layout.  The grey chevron tape is seriously one of my all time fave washi’s EVER.  I also pulled out the new alpha rub-on and flair.  Fantastic!

That’s all for today.  For more inspiration, be sure to stop by the PDCC blog. 

Have a wonderful day!

Playing with Gesso, stencils, alpha stickers and spray mist.

Hello and Happy Monday!

Tina here today with a layout I created using bits & pieces of the March Papercrafting kit, the March Artisan Add On kit, and the March Mini Album kit. I added some gesso, stencils, alpha stickers and spray mist to create a fun and unique background.

To create my 'one of a kind' squares for my background, I started by randomly placing stickers on a piece of scrap chipboard.

Then, using one of Dina Wakley's FABBO stencils, I applied clear gesso to the letters and chipboard.

After this was dry, I sprayed several shades of yellow spray mist on the letters and chipboard and randomly cut into squares.  I lightly patted (removed) some of the spray mist to reveal the chipboard underneath.

Before I stitched the squares to the base layer, I used the exclusive stencil from the Papercrafting kit to add more texture and depth to the background.

And here is the finished layout and several more close-ups.

Next time you want to create an interesting background for your project, or create a 'one of a kind' look, try using some gesso, a stencil (or two), some alpha stickers, and spray mist.

Don't forget to check out our latest challenge - CALVINBALL 2013!   There is still plenty of time to play along!

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have a great week!