Four Little Chicks by Stephanie Howell

Click HERE to read the entire charming story behind these plates.

Sketch Challenge!

Hello! This week's challenge is a sketch based on Ranjini's layout, "Sweet Autumn." Share your project inspired by this sketch in the JBS Mercantile Customer Gallery and mention "Sunday Star: Sketch" in the comments section. We'll pick a winner on Sunday, February 27th and that winner will receive a $10 gift card to spend at JBS Mercantile. Happy Scrapping!

CHA Winter 2011

Here is just a tiny glimpse of the creative genius that is Jenni Bowlin. The new booth she designed is just amazing. We hope to have more and better pics for you soon! In the meantime, here is a delightful video featuring Jenni Bowlin and our Jenni Bowlin for Ranger Paint DABbers from Scrap Yard Chicks. They have lots of great Jenni videos . . . check them out!

I Love You To Pieces by Danielle Flanders

I was thinking of Valentine sayings for cards when this saying popped into my head, then I immediately thought of a patchwork heart with pieces of different patterned papers! So, I found a Jenni Bowlin chipboard heart in my stash and cut it into 3 pieces, then covered it with some of her new mini papers from the new "Be Our Guest" line. The sentiment was printed onto the card base with my printer before I added the calendar die cut and heart. The little rose was made using Jenni's crepe paper and twisting it into a flower shape, then I adhered it over one of Jenni's buttons. I love the sunny colors against the clean white background! To me, it feels warm and shabby, yet clean and happy.

JBS Supplies used: Die Cut Mini Paper Pad- Calendar, Be Our Guest Mini Papers, Crepe Paper - Red, Stick Pin - Shell, Chipboard Heart, Printed Tickets - Valentine's, Vintage Sew-on Button - White, Other: white cardstock, Typewriter font, seam binding.

Delightfully Clever! Thanks for the inspiration Danielle!

Vintage Valentines with Tracie Claiborne

When I saw Jenni's vintage Valentine finds in the mid-month release I thought they were almost too fabulous to use. Vintage Valentine's are all so adorable and unique . . . they make a wonderful collection.

I just love how one of our local talents, Tracie Claiborne, displays hers each February. Many are propped along her mantle while the rest are clipped to a bit of gingham strung below. The mini clothespins she uses hold them in place without damaging them - so clever!

Thanks for the great idea Tracie!

Sweet Treats from Dina Wakley

It's never to early to start packing some treats for your sweetheart!

Valentine's Day Sampler

I love samplers - needlework samplers, quilted samplers, and even chocolate samplers!  I think it's looking at all the interesting and different pieces put together to make a whole that I like so much. I've always wanted to make a sampler with my scrapbook supplies and finished one with a Valentine's/Love theme. This is one of those projects that actually looks very much as I imagined when I started the project. That rarely happens to me!

Jenni Bowlin's Bingo Cards are the perfect base for each square of the sampler.  I alternated Bingo cards with Core'dination cardstock and connected them together with flea market jewelry pieces and jump rings.

Each card is embellished differently.  

I used Jenni's Bingo Cards, Core'dinations cardstock,  JBS chipboard shapes, JBS patterned paper, Vintage Sew-on buttons,  Rhinestone buttons, Pearl flowers, JBS rubons,  May Arts ribbon, vintage buttons, and chandelier crystals.  

This was so much fun to make!  When ds saw this, he said "You should make one like a calendar with those monthly Bingo Cards!"  Great idea Matt!

Welcome to the JBS Team! Celeste Smith!

We are very excited to announce that Celeste Smith is joining the JBS team! She brings flawless design skills, fabulous storytelling, and boundless energy. We think she's an amazing addition! This is her very first JBS Mercantile layout . . . from the February kit, of course. She'll have lots more ready for the big reveal at the end of the month. Welcome to the team Celeste!

JBS Mercantile February Peeks!

The February Kit will bring a warm rush of spring to your door even if you're still snowed in! Becky says of this kit, "Such a great mix of papers and embellishments! The contrast of colors and textures work so well together!" The design team is really loving working with it and we know you will to! Remember, the big reveal is Monday at midnight. Here's a sampling to tide you over . . .

Becky Novacek

Jill Sprott

Keisha Campbell

Michelle McCord

Tiny Tart Tin Pincushions by Kerry Lynn Yeary

when i received my packet of the new jbs be our guest release and the project foundations my heart skipped a beat when i saw these vintage inspired round tart tins. i knew instantly hat i wanted to create a few pin cushions with them with some scraps of a vintage cutter quilt that i had been hoarding.

to start i cut a round piece of the quilt and then stuffed it into a circle over a wadded up piece of old batting. i stitched along the edges, which are hidden underneath {inside the tart tin} to form a nice tight ball. then i used hot glue to attach the quilt ball into the tart tins.

after putting it all together i hand-stitched along the quilt seams to add some dimension and then added a little hand-stitched heart to one as well. the pins are a mix of handmade, the paper hearts and flag pins as well as some jbs garnet rhinestone stick pins.

happy tuesday!

Seasonal Sightings

Snow is in the air for most of the design team! Here are a few seasonal sightings for you from the January Gallery . . .

Ranjini welcomes winter with a lovely vintage stamp collector's sheet that she found in our new Vintage Paper Packs.

Michelle made a gorgeous layout that reminds me of an old barn thanks to her much loved Chilli Powder Dye Stamp Pad.

Charming white cardstock snowflakes falling down Lisa's page . . .

More snowflakes from Doris using a Martha Stewart punch . . .

Still more snowflakes from Doris plus a handcut title from the Vintage Paper Pack . . .

Even more snowflakes from Ranjini using the January Add-on . . .

and Betsy created her snowflakes from that same die-cut paper that Ranjini used.

And if you made resolutions this year but haven't scrapped them yet . . . hers an awesome bit of inspiration from Lisa!

CHA Winter 2011: Index

Isn't this just the most adorable little photo display? Ranjini is so clever and talented! I hope you didn't think all the excitement was over now that we've shared all of our CHA Winter 2011 release . . . we've got lots more fun and inspiration planned for you! Along with our regularly scheduled posts this week we'll also be sharing more projects created with the new stuff PLUS Jenni has the most amazing new show booth . . . we hope to show it to you this weekend.

Here's an index of last weeks posts introducing our new products in case you missed one or just want another peek:
Be Our Guest: Papers, Die-cut, Mini Papers, Journaling Cards
Embellishments: Bows, Blue Ribbons, Charms
Project Foundations: Hodge Podge Mini Albums, Tart Tins, Wooden Spools, Chipboard
Acrylic Stamps: Pennants, Pinked Circle, Blue Ribbons, Receipt, Butterfly, Labels
The Basics: Flag Stickers, Mini Chipboard, Rub-ons, Mini Bingo Cards

Dabber Challenge!

This week's challenge is to get painty! We just love our new Jenni Bowlin for Ranger Paint Dabbers . . . here are a few projects to get you inspired to break out your paints and play!

Kerry Lynn Yeary used our Mini Chipboard Butterflies and her favorite colors to paint a rainbow (from top to bottom: Chewing Gum, Cough Syrup, Lemon Drops, Stick Candy, Spice Tin, and Brown Sugar).

Get artsy like Dina Wakley did with December's Kit . . . experiment! It's fun!

Use the Dabber's foam tip to make a great grid design like Lisa Dickinson did with Malted Milk.

Paint a frame behind your photos like Wilna Did with October's Kit.

Another Lisa Dickinson design . . . this time plaid using Stick Candy and Lemon Drops.

Dina loves to add extra color to her kits. Here she's heated up the January Kit with a little splash of orange.

Danielle Flanders used the lace die-cut from Dina's layout above as a stencil and dabbed a little Malted Milk onto her thank you card.

Doris Sander used masking tape to make fun stripes.

Michelle loves to add a subtle touch of color to her projects with our Dabbers. Here she's added Chicken Feed to the doily overlay.

One of Jenni's favorite techniques is to use our Rub-ons to create a resist to the paint like she did with November's Kit.

Share your painty project in the JBS Mercantile Customer Gallery and mention "Sunday Star: Get Painty" in the comments section. We'll pick a winner on Sunday, February 20th and that winner will receive a $10 gift card to spend at JBS Mercantile.

We have two more challenges currently runningn too! Click on the images under the Challenge header to the right for more information! Happy Scrapping!

CHA Winter 2011: The Basics

Here we are! The last day of peeks! Just a few more basics to round out the collection . . .

Adding to our banners, butterflies, and stars . . . flag banner stickers!

Plus coordinating Flag Chipboard!

As well as stars to go with our previous release!

Mini Bingo Cards now available in Pet and Greetings!

And finally, a new collection of Rub-On Singles! (Lady and Gentleman also available in black).