New in the Digi Shoppe today!

Making an appearance today, is our newest digital kit: Baby of Mine.

Included in the kit is a Printable and Punchable.  Wouldn't this Printable be wonderful in a pocket page  or Project Life  page that documents a little boy or girls' life?

How beautiful are these Scalloped Banner Punchables?

Is there a reason to save this kit only for babies? No way!  How about using these fresh patterns for spring layouts, picnics, and happy times of all types?!

Stop by the JBS Digi Shoppe at JessicaSprague.com - today, the kit is 25% off!

Positive & Negative

One of the best things to happen to my creativity was the debut of the Jenni Bowlin Studio shapes in the Silhouette Store. I'm finding all kinds of ways to introduce these classic JBS icons into my projects. And because you can customize the size of die-cut you need, these shapes are perfect on just about everything!

I've also discovered that both the positive and negative images that result from the die-cut are versatile page elements.  On this card, I've used the Whimsy Silhouette, cut from the Magpie paper, Compile.

"Dream"  •   card by Lisa Dickinson

I love the image of that little girl hanging tight to a star! Paired with a chipboard button, a bit of seam binding, and a sentiment stamped with the JBS alphabet, it makes a quick and easy card.

I was then left with the portion of patterned paper from which the image had been cut. I backed it with a bit of kraft cardstock and used it on this page:

"Dream"  •  layout by Lisa Dickinson

I added some of the Quilted Stickers from Magpie and a title also cut on my Silhouette. (The title is my own design - you can download an .svg file for cutting by clicking right here!)

I'd love to see what you can do with the JBS Silhouette images! If you create something, please share it with us in the Mercantile Gallery!

A Hybrid Sampler

I just love samplers ... needlework samplers ... quilted samplers ... samplers of any kind!  So when I saw Jenni's Circle Home Mixed Media Kit, it reminded me of a sampler, and inspired me to create something similar for my scrapbook:

I used the digital Frame Rub-on Kit to create the basic framework for the sampler.

It's simple to do in any word processing program.  I just dragged the digital seal image onto a document,  copied, resized, and organized the images to get  the look I wanted.  I printed the arrangement onto a printable canvas.  Each seal became a home for a photo or embellishment.  

The canvas was mounted on Inkwell paper with only a tiny border showing and then mounted on a 12x12 sheet of Nest from the Magpie collection.  This background paper works so nicely with the canvas!

Doesn't this sound like fun?!  Try creating your own framework of frames digitally, print them out, and  decorate and embellish!

Supplies:

Jenni Bowlin Digi Shoppe at Jessica Sprague Frame Rub-on Kit

Nest Patterned Paper

Magpie Mini Pattern Sheet

Inkwell Patterned paper

Hodge Podge Stickers Memo, Magpie, Souvenier

Clear Alphabet Stamps

Blue Ribbon Clear Stamp

Vintage Sew-On Button

Doily Flower Cream

Decorative Brads Rhinestone 

Malted Milk ink

Chewing Gum paint, Cough Syrup Paint

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Sticky Back Canvas

Vintage Trim

JBS Mercantile May Sneak Peeks!

It's going to be an absolutely delightful design team gallery reveal at midnight CST on the 30th!  Here is a little peek!  Briana has embossed her little heart out, using this month's exclusive stamp to perfection . . .

Megan has a bright and happy layout share that shows off bits from the Artisan Add-on and Mini-Album Kits . . .

And Doris has one that lets the Antiquarian Add-on shine in all its vintage glory.  More to come!

Stencil and Reverse Stencil with Dina Wakley

Here is another take on the Diecut Alphabet Sheet.  This time design team member Dina Wakley has chosen to use it as a stencil and misted it onto the Perforated Bank Statement with Lemon Drops.  She then painted the background with Weather Vane before adding her journaling, photo, title, and a scattering of stamped medallions and punched birds.

Notice how she's customized the Vintage/Black Shadow Alpha Stickers with aqua paint to suit her design needs.

Dina then used the same stencil that she misted in the first layout as the foundation for her second layout.  What a great idea to have it pull double duty! 

She polished off this one with some misted Chipboard Tabs, Vintage Printed Tags, and a few bits from the Perforated Stamps Sheet with her title stamped with our Clear Alphabet Set.

thanks for the inspiration Dina!

Briana Spotlights the Alphabet Stencil

Today we have a super bright and happy layout to share from Briana Johnson.  This one spotlights our Diecut Alphabet Paper.  Briana made the paper do most of the work here by slicing it and placing the two pieces on her page so the gap directs your attention to the delightful photo of her daughter.  She then added depth by misting on the cardstock behind some of the letters and then backing others with Mini Pattern Paper from Red/Black Extension IV.

The great banner at the bottom was created by layering pieces of Perforated Receipt Paper and patterned paper with a sticker from the Memo Hodge Podge Sticker Sheet.  This layout is so fun and fabulous! 

Thanks for the inspiration Briana!

Mercantile Labels - Digi Monday

This week's digi release at the JBS Digi Shoppe is one of my favorites!

Jill Sprott used these labels in her hybrid layout posted last week! Take a look at her gorgeous work right here!

Creative team member Emily used this kit in her digital layout:

Emily also used the JBS digital kits Soda Water Paper Collection, Black Bingo Cards, and Frame Rub-Ons.  Lovely Emily!

Remember! Today, on release day, the new Mercantile Label kit is 25% off!

So Sad to Say Goodbye . . .

We are sad to share that Becky Novacek and Stephanie Howell are leaving the JBS Team.  We will truly miss the sweetness, sincerity, and love of vintage that these two ladies brought to the team.  They will forever stay on our Honorary Blog Roll though.  We love them so.  Thanks for all the scrappy shares Becky and Stephanie!

Happy Sunshine Smiles by Waleska

Today we have some amazing cutting skills from Waleska.  Notice how she trimmed out the design in the background paper and then backed it with other pattern papers to customize her page. So clever!

 We also love how she's used the new JBS Seal Silhouette Cut.

 These layouts were made from the April JBS Mercantile Kits.

 Thanks for the inspiration Waleska!

journal what's inspiring you

Like everyone, I'm constantly in search of what inspires me to continue to to strive to be a better person, a better wife and mom, and maybe a better "artist"... My husband and I took the time to watch the film Gandhi this past weekend, and just like we had heard - it's a life changer. You can't see that, really take it in, and not be changed. I now have two books about the man and his teachings in my queue for reading.

For my layout, I loved layering a bunch of the media {all of jenni's yummy paints and inks} together to create the background for my title - then using the stencil paper to add texture medium for the main bit of it.

I also highlighted the texture in the butterflies by brushing over it with the speckled eggs ink pad.

Here's a list of supplies if you're interested in creating something similar!

Magpie Grid paper, Stencil guide paper, coordinations butterfly paper, chipboard tabs and buttons, quilted stickers identify, printed tags - vintage, keep read write stickers, row houses border punch, ink pads - speckled eggs and weather vane, paints - chicken feed, speckled eggs, malted milk.

{I loved using Louise's splatter technique from this post for the paints!}

Have you journaled what's inspiring you? ~ Leah

Using JBS Silhouette Cuts As Stencils by Briana

Okay, I'm nuts about the JBS Silhouette cuts. I can't get enough of the butterfly. I love them all, don't ask me to pick a fave! So far I've been using the cuts the traditional way: cut from cardstock and used as is on my layouts.  I wanted to try something a little different and have some fun experimenting so I decided to use the cuts to create my own stencils/masks. I made three cards on the JBS Perforated Papers and two gift tags.

Here's a look at the supplies and the process.  For the butterfly I mixed modeling paste and india ink and I spread it pretty thinly over the cardstock butterfly on top of my paper and gently peeled the delicate butterfly mask off. For the Lady Silhouette and the Cabbage Flower, I used modeling paste, gloss super heavy gel, and India Ink. I applied the mixture pretty thick this time. I like adding in the gloss gel to give the raised areas a bit of sheen. You will need a palette knife to mix your crafty concoction :) and to spread the concoction over the stencil in an even manner. But the modeling paste is nice because it creates a crisp image unlike regular paint that would seep under the fine lines of the stencil (which is cool too if that's the look you're after, no rules).

If you want to make the multi seal card, in Silhouette, you'll need to open the seal from your library and release the compound path then delete the middle rings of the seal: Object - Release Compound Path. Replicate the first seal (sized at 1.9" x 1.89"). The command is found under Object then Replicate. Replicate it three times to the right - Row of Three. Then choose each seal and duplicate each one below. Now you're ready to cut. Save the two inner pieces for your mask. You'll need to use adhesive that is easy to remove for those pieces as you need them for the mask but then they'll be discarded.

Here's a shot showing you how much texture and definition you can get with the modeling paste. I used it on medium weight paper too, not cardstock, and it only barely bent my paper, definitely acceptable for me. Before I used the paste/ink on the card, I dropped a few India Ink splats then turned the card up and let them run down. After I applied the paste/ink layer, I dripped the ink again (but leave the mask in place if you only want the splats on the damask). Originally I had used a Speckled Egg Paint Dabber so if you see some aqua paint below, that's what it is. I wanted more dimension and that's when I thought to use the paste. It's kind of a nice effect seeing a little of the paint around the edges. But the modeling paste alone would have been very crisp. Try it out as many ways as you can think of!

I accented my cards and tags with glitter tulle, small metal rimmed tags, staples, stamps, and stickers. The XOXO sticker is from the Jan. kit and the word stickers are from the Feb. kit. I also used Jenni's Ranger re-inkers in Seed Packet and Stick Candy to create the various green colors for the seals.

With the butterfly, I allowed a few of the colors to mix together as I pulled the palette knife over the butterfly cut. After it dried I splattered it with watered down acrylic paint in orange and hot pink. But remove the mask right away, don't let it set, it does begin to dry quickly and with the delicate butterfly it's best to get the mask off ASAP.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Silhouette cuts:
Classic JBS Butterfly, JBS Seal, Lady Silhouette, and Cabbage Rose (Damask)


Supplies:
Die Cut and Perforated Papers - Bank Statement, Receipt, and Stamp
JBS/Ranger Speckled Egg Paint Dabber
JBS/Ranger Re-Inker in Lavender Sachet, Seed Packet, Speckled Egg
Jenni's Butterfly Punch
JBS red label stickers
Alterable Alphas Graph
Hodge Podge Stickers - Playful
Magpie Paper Collection - Gather


Other supplies: colored India Ink, modeling paste, gloss super heavy gel medium, small metal rimmed tags

Louise Nelson Joins the JBS Team!

We are very excited to announce that Louise Nelson is joining the JBS Team!  We know you'll love her artistic style and innovative techniques.  Read more about Louise in the April edition of the JBS Mercantile Gazette, and then enjoy her first JBS video (with more to come).  Welcome to the team Louise!

JBS_LNelson from louise nelson on Vimeo.

From Digi to Paper with Jill Sprott

Digi? Paper?  Why choose, when you can have the best of both worlds?  That is exactly the question I asked myself when I laid eyes on this new collection of Mercantile Labels from Jenni Bowlin Studio's Digital Shoppe at JessicaSprague.com.

Although they are due to be released on April 23rd, I had the chance to play with them a few days early, and oh, I am in some serious label love.  There is a distinct advantage to having these beauties at the ready on one's desktop.  I will never, ever run out of them. I can't even begin to tell you how happy that thought makes me.  

I printed out a bunch just for this layout:

I pasted the label multiple times on a document, printed it out, and then trimmed the labels.  I then misted over them using Lemon Drops, Speckled Egg, and Seed Packet re-inkers.  My recipe is simple: fill up a mini-mister 1/4 of the way with ink, and then fill up the rest with water, shake, and spray (I like to dab the excess after spraying, using a paper towel).  When the labels dried, I added my journaling over them, pretty much spilling the contents of my head onto the page, creating a "snapshot" layout in the process.

I have most definitely learned that blurring the line between digi and paper scrapping is well worth it!

Guest Star Alexa Gill!

Today we have a fabulous post to share from Guest Designer Alexa Gill featuring our Red/Black Extension IV Collection.  Here's a bit more about Alexa and you can see more of her work on her blog, Curlywiggles.

Alexa is a 20-something girl who lives on the south coast of England in a city by the sea. She spends most of her free time wearing navy blue, scrapbooking, day dreaming, getting lost in stories, taking pictures, drinking chocolate milkshake, avoiding wearing socks, or going on adventures. She has been published in The Scrapbook Magazine, Scrapbook Inspirations and Entre Artistes.

I took an evening course at college this past term called 'Exploring Typography' and this line was perfect for documenting it! To create the alphabet pattern on the first page I used the Days of the Week stamp by inking individual letters with versamark ink and stamping onto the kraft cardstock.

 

 Jenni's packaging is so beautifully designed I hoard it even when I've used all the embellishments that it was originally housing! Here I managed to work into my page the left over backing of some rhinestone buttons by layering some pattern paper, a doily flower and a decorative brad on top of it.

 

I turned 29 last November so this page is about my feelings on this year being the last of my twenties. The Large Dot is my favourite pattern in the JBS Core'dinations line. I really love to use the reverse side as a background paper for some subtle texture, but for this page I wanted to try something a little different. To highlight the pattern I sewed around some of the dots with embroidery thread. I used a punch with the mini pattern sheet to create frames for my photos.

Last summer I went on holiday to Germany and whilst there we took a day trip to visit Salzburg in Austria. It's the birthplace of Mozart and they are very proud of this, he is everywhere! And you can buy pretty much anything you want with his face on it. To fit the theme I used a vintage music sheet for my background paper and I added some colour by covering a mask in JBS ink and stamping it directly onto the paper. I hate to throw any scraps of paper away so I used all of my leftovers to make a border around the page.