And So This is Christmas...

Usually, I am stumped when it comes to using ampersands on a layout. This time however, I immediately thought of the song Happy Christmas by John Lennon. Songs can be a powerful tool when it comes to creating titles or inspiring layouts. This layout began with the title and a single piece of patterned paper. From there, I found my photo and my story.

I chose papers and embellishments from both the main kit and the Artisan kit. The design is based on a Page Maps Sketch. The picture really doesn't do the gold foil ampersands justice. They are far richer in real life.

I chose to document one of our traditional holiday activities. Visiting the local department store and seeing the decorations on display marks the beginning of the holiday season for me. What makes you think " so this is Christmas"? 

Christy

A Love Affair with Wood Veneer

When wood veneer shapes first became available, I wanted them all. You can imagine how delighted I was to see JBS Mercantile kits featuring exclusive wood veneer shapes. This month's shape did not disappoint!

The wood veneer doilies are the perfect accent to any layout. I love how they have a small hole in the center which allowed me to tie a bit of twine. The stamped design is both warm and elegant. In this layout, the wood doily softens the heavier feel of the grey floral print. I used it as an anchor to "hold" my photos in place.

If you don't want to use the full doily, it is possible to cut the shape in half. When doing so, it's best to cut with the wood grain. Cutting against the grain may result in the shape breaking apart. Should your shape break apart, simple piece it carefully back together and adhere it to your layout. Liquid glue seems to work best.

 I confess that I was tempted to hoard these wood veneer doilies along with my other wood veneer shapes. They are so unique which is precisely why I am glad I used them. They look so much better on the layouts than hidden away in my supplies.

Christy

From Pinterest to Scrapbook Page: Bold Letters

I will admit that I was a bit intimidated by the large letter stickers from the October Artisan kit. I could have skipped using them. However, I am not one to shy away from a challenge. Instead, I chose to peruse Pinterest for a few ideas.

It's easy to get lost on Pinterest. I like to approach the pins with a purpose and to set a time limit for me to search within. My goal was to search my boards for layouts or magazine ads that featured large bold letters. Almost immediately, I found a magazine cover that would work. Don't waste too much time second guessing yourself. Choose the inspiration that stands out to you in that moment.

Pin from Cover Junkie

This particular cover reads almost like a scrapbook sketch. It is clear where the title and photos should be placed. Journaling can easily fit in the space allotted to list magazine articles. Looking at this cover, I knew I wanted a four letter title and at least three photos.

One Halloween, my son went around Sea World posing as though he were one of the theme park characters. He had the parade day hand wave down pat and even offered to pose with strangers for photos and autographs. I had a big kick watching him ham things up that day. It was easy for me to conceive the four letter title to match these photos.

I began the layout by placing the title on cardstock. I then added the photos, leaving space in the center for journaling. My photos weren't quite large enough to fit the space in the same manner as the photos in the magazine cover. I chose to add a piece of patterned paper as filler. I could then cut down the cardstock and mount it to a piece of patterned paper.While I like the bold graphic look of the magazine cover, it's just not quite my style. I chose to layer in vintage tickets, patterned paper and stickers. 

Pinterest can yield many inspiring results. Approach Pinterest with a specific goal in mind,then set a timer and look around. It never takes long to find the perfect inspiration. 

Christy

Scrapbooking with Anchors, Part Two

On Monday, Betsy shared some a wonderful project featuring anchors. Like Betsy, I also live close to the sea. It's easy to use anchors in their literal form and slip them into an ocean themed layout.

I wanted an additional shade of blue to go along with my sea theme. I added in the Novelties paper from the Modern Mercantile line.

                    In this layout, I used anchors to convey security and stability. 

You don't need to live near the ocean to use anchors on your layouts. Use them to document swimming pool high jinks or trips to a local lake. You can also opt to use them in a symbolic manner.

Christy

A Simple Twist on Red, White and Blue

I loved the patriotic feel of the July kits. Who wouldn't! However, I decided to challenge myself to use the kits for a non patriotic layout. Though red, white and blue remind many people of the Fourth of July, simply adding in an unexpected color can change the feel of the layout. I chose to add pink and gold.

Making pink letters was a breeze. I simply painted the chipboard letters from the kit with some pink paint. I added some vintage pink buttons and chose one of the cards from the Historian kit. I cut the card down to fit my page. Most people don't expect pink on a boy's layout. I like how it brings an unexpected pop of color to the red, white and blue palette.

What have you created with your July kits? Share your projects with us in the JBS Mercantile Flickr gallery.

Christy

Christy's Creative Space

 

Hello! It's Christy and it's my turn to share my creative space. I have to warn you. It's an unusual spot. However, it's my first ever dedicated creative space and I am so grateful to have it. I am an American expat living in Nassau, Bahamas. My family tends to move every two to three years. Currently, we're renting an older townhome which comes with a few quirks. One of those quirks just happens to be a walk-in closet with a built in desk and shelving. This has become the space in which I create.

Over the year or so that we have lived here, I have managed to spread a bit outside the closet. At the entrance is a narrow section which features my cutting station. I have a shelving unit with a large trimmer and my big shot with dies stored in wooden crates. The bottom shelf is filled with plastic tubs of paints, mists and inks. I store my cardstock across from the cutting station. It's sorted by color into plastic drawers. My sewing machine sits atop the cardstock. You will have to pardon the National Lampoon's style wires showing. There are no plugs in the closet.

The built in desk is L shaped. I have added a Raskog cart to give me a little more desk space. I have also taken advantage of the vertical space. Kits are stored in two gallon zip loc bags which I hang from a rod using coat hangers and clothespins. Under the desk are more Sterilite style containers with embossing powders, punches, and embellishments. I store tags and embellishments inside the cart as well. At my feet, are shelves which house older patterned paper and baskets of 6x6 paper pads. I also have a cubby for my Silhouette Portrait.I keep my lap top on the desk at all times. Since space is limited, I also leave up my video recording equipment. It's mounted to the PVC pipe frame.

One of the Sterilite containers on the desk houses my tools. I have them sorted into silverware containers so that I can find them easily.

I have a small shelving unit which houses jars of sequins and small embellishments. I also keep my ink pads here as well. Can you tell I have an obsession with date stampers? My cats often like to hang out with me while I work. I have a box with a soft blanket for them to lie in. I like to keep baby wipes on my desk. I'm not near a source of water. So the wipes make for a nice quick way to tidy up if I am working with something messy.

The closet extends back behind me with floor to ceiling shelves.I house my albums on the upper shelves. Sterilite containers hold my other supplies on the lower shelves. I have my letter stickers sorted by color on the left. On the right, I have die cuts, stickers, and chipboard sorted by theme.

One of the few vintage items I own is a metal drawer I found the the JBS Mercantile Flea Market. I store my most current pocket page supplies in it along with a few favorite stamps.

This is my favorite item in my creative space. My dad found this camera when I was a little girl. He gave it to my sister and I. We kept it with our dress-up clothes and would pretend to be photographers.

What I Love About My Space

I love how cozy my space is. Despite it's small size, I have been able to make it function well. It's also very portable. It's easy to tape the drawers shut and move them around. Perfect for someone like me who moves often.

What I Would Change About My Space

I wish I had a window for more natural light. I also wish I had a bigger desk with enough space for all three of my cats to hang out at the same time. 

Thank you for visiting my space!

Christy

At Summer's End

Summer is a little different for my family. Most families are prepping for vacation and road trips. My husband usually finds himself busy, preparing for the many tourists who will visit his place of work. You see, my husband works in the theme park and resort industry. My son and I stay close to home, spending our time poolside.

We do have something to look forward to. At summer's end, when most kids are headed back to school. We spend a little time together as a family. When we lived in Orlando, we often swapped tickets so that we could visit Disney World. I have so many wonderful photos from those trips and it's about time I get them onto layouts.

I loved the car themed paper from the June kits. It was perfect for documenting my family on the go-carts. My son steered and my husband worked the pedals. I added one of the Vintage Sew On buttons. It reminded me a bit of a car tire.I cut the journal card in half which allowed me to slide it above and below the photo.

This colorful scalloped paper reminded me of waves. It seemed destined to help me document our ride on the paddle-wheel boat. Since we saw a Moose on our journey, I chose to add the vintage label from the May Antiquarian kit.

We still haven't decided where our end of summer family adventure will take us this year. I do know it's a tradition I look forward to every year. What summer traditions does your family have?

Christy

Sprinkle on the Mess

Sometimes, I like to get my hands messy while I work. When I am short on time I find it's a little easier to sprinkle on the mess. Sequins are such an easy way to add a carefree feel to your layout while adding a little bit of sparkle.

Sprinkling a little sparkly mess isn't hard at all. People often ask how it's best to scatter on a few sequins.The key is to not over think it. Pinch a small amount in your fingers and literally sprinkle them over the page. Remove any strays that appear out of place. Let some of them overlap one another. If there is a clump, remove it and try again with less sequins. Once everything looks right to me, I use a liquid glue such as glossy accents to glue each sequin down. It sounds a bit time consuming, but it really isn't. 

Have you sprinkled on a mess recently? Share it with is in the JBS Mercantile Gallery.

Christy

The Positive and the Negative

One of my goals this year has been to use my Silhouette Portrait more often. What better way to work on that goal than with the JBS Mercantile kit cuts! I am completely in love with this month's kit cut. Especially since I realized that both the positive and the negative bits were so easy to use.

My first layout was made with the stencil. I used one of the new chalkboard style flatbacks to highlight my journaling. I love how it adds just a touch of the chalkboard trend to my layout.

The stencil leaves behind plus sign shaped confetti! I used a glue pen to adhere rows of little plus signs to this layout. I love that I can use everything from one cut to create two layouts! I snuck in another of this year's trend's bu using Lavendar Sachet ink. It's very close to the Pantone color of the year, Radiant orchid. I used the ink pad to color the letters in the first layout. I have a homemade mist which is the blend of the re-inker and water. I used the mist on the second layout.

How are you using this month's kit cuts? We would love to see them in the Gallery.

- Christy

Something Old, Something New

My husband ranks at the top of my list of loves, so this month, I thought I would revisit my wedding album. We were married in 1997. I started scrapbooking our wedding photos. Started. I never finished. Every so often, I jump back into the project and work on a few of the photos.

What was it that inspired me to jump back into my wedding album layouts this month? The vintage valentine in the Antiquarian Kit.  Each kit comes with a slightly different Valentine. The one I received depicts a brunette girl kissing a blond boy. It just so happens that I am a brunette and my husband is blonde. I remember that I had yet to document our first kiss as a married couple.

I combined some of my left over supplies from the October Papercarfting kit with this month's kit selections. Combining kits from different months is easy to do. Look for common colors or motifs that will work well together. The February kits contain bits of blue which allowed me to work in some of the blue papers from the October Kit. Gold was also common in both kits. 

My biggest challenge wasn't merging the two kits together. My scrapbooking style has changed so much since I began the project many years ago. I opted to keep this layout very simple so that it wouldn't look so odd when compared to other layouts in my wedding album. I could go back and redo some of those older layouts. However, I would rather just keep working onward and concentrate on getting more photos onto pages.

Have you merged any of the JBS Mercantile kits together? We'd love to see! Share them with us over in the gallery.

Christy

So Many New Beginnings

January is a time to focus on new beginnings. It's kind of obvious since it's the start of a new year. However, there are fresh starts and new adventures all year long. After viewing the soft palette of January's kits, I wanted to focus on something that was just as gentle and beautiful.

In 2004, my family rescued several orphaned kittens. They were quite tiny with their eyes just barely open. We ended up keeping two of them. In those early months, we met with many new beginnings. This particular layout focuses on a newly forged friendship between our older dog and our cats. I entitled it Love Etc. because love encompasses so many things including friendship, acceptance and comfort. 

Each stage in life is a new start. Birth, learning to walk and play, maturing... all of these are a beginning we can mark and document. Our new kittens sort of regarded my son as a litter mate. I wanted to capture this stage of life marked by the endless cycle of playing, eating and sleeping. I added white sequins and punched circles to the swirling background. These help convey this cycle and the energy young children possess.

How do you begin your day? Each morning is, after all, another new beginning. Though it may seem a bit boring, it does tell the story of your life right now. For this layout, I took a few photos of my son and his cat sleeping. I used a block foundation and  added a bit of the bleached woodgrain tape to symbolize the stability of our current morning routine.

What are your new beginnings? Are you documenting an everyday beginning or perhaps a big event?

~ Christy

Keeping in the Holiday Spirit

Christmas is hectic. We're busy baking, decorating,shopping and spending time with friends and family...all of which means we sometimes miss out on scrapbooking. This week, I was so grateful for my December JBS Mercantile  kits. I used them to take a time out from the hectic holiday hustle and bustle.

I printed up a few older Christmas photos which feature my son. It was so easy to mix and match the coordinated kits this month. Since I didn't have to worry about choosing just the right products, I was able to spend my limited creative time just letting the story unfold.

 The Mini Chalkboard Alpha Stickers in red came in handy to mix my journaling in with the main portion of the title. I saved some of the small dots from the Queen and Company borders in this month's Artisian kit. They made a lovely confetti like sprinkle among the stars in the title.

Being able to see the photos and create the layouts really brought my focus back. The photos, after all, represent the end result that comes from all of the rushing about and planning. Sometimes it helps to take a deep breath and remember just what this season is all about.

 Taking a little time out with the December Kits has sure helped me keep in the holiday spirit. I invite you to do the same. Take some time for yourself to create a little something. If you do take a creative time out, we'd love to see the results in the JBS Mercantile gallery.

Christy

Thankful for Someone Special

We are very excited to announce that Christy Strickler is joining our Kit Club Design Team!  Here are a couple pages she's made with our November Kits and you can look forward to a peek at her work with the December Kits tonight at midnight in the Design Team Gallery!  Welcome Christy!

Documenting gratitude isn't just for the month of November. It can be a year round habit. The easiest way to practice is quite simple. Just look through your photos and watch for the moments, both big and little that really catch your heart.

As I looked through the photos of my family, I was quite taken by several little moments that I had captured in which my husband was interacting with our son. I am so very grateful that he spends so much time with our son. I love to see the joy apparent in their faces while they are at play. Each of these small moments bring me so much happiness.
 

The bold, bright colors and playful pattern were perfect for these photos of my husband swinging my son in a blanket.I layered the washi tape over small strips of white cardstock. This enabled me to punch the hearts out with a standard hole punch. The die cut originally said "Love of my Life". I used a white gel pen to trace over the letters and to add a letter "s" to the end of the word love. 

These photos were taken in the Spring. My husband and son are playing on a Squirrel themed video game. Playing on the theme of the game, I was able to create a layout featuring tickets and a bingo card. They are indeed collecting tickets like a squirrel collects nuts. I am grateful for this day spent together as a family. I love the expression on my husband's face as he looks down at my son.

You can find gratitude all year long. It's simply a matter of taking a moment to find little things that fill your heart with joy. We'd love to see your gratitude layouts over in the JBS Mercantile gallery! Take a look through your photos, find a few pictures from a different season and see how you can stretch your Autumn themed supplies to document your gratitude.

Christy

Quick Pages with 4x6 Photos

I often have more ideas for layouts than I have time to make them. I am willing to bet that many of you are in the same boat. My JBS Mercantile kits always save me time. Since all of the kits coordinate well together, it's just a matter of choosing the photos and getting creative. If I am short on time, I print a few 4x6 photos. Their standard size makes them easy to work with whether you choose to make a pocket page or a 12x12  layout.

For a quick 12x12 layout, choose 1-2 photos. Cut a large block of pattern paper and adhere it to your cardstock. Layer a few embellishments on diagonal corners of the photos and just like that you are done. I had a lot of white space in the bottom section of my photos. I chose larger pieces of ephemera to hide it. While I could have cropped the photos down, layering items on the photo saved me quite a lot of time.

Pocket pages can also be a huge time saver. Take a look at the photos you wish to use and then choose a page protector that suits the orientation of most of the pictures. Cut 4x6 cards from a sheet of patterned paper. You can then easily use both sides to create the layout.Just slip the photos in place and spend a little bit of time embellishing the title card and journal cards.

I had originally intended to create a two page layout. However, using the pocket pages took a lot of the photo placement guesswork out of the equation. I also feel like I was able to add more journaling to accompany the photos. 

I did add some bulky items to my pockets which made the cards want to slide out. Use a staple, brads or a bit of clear glue to keep cards in place.

Most of the items used in these layouts came from the September kits. I like to keep some neutral supplies on hand that I can mix in as needed. There are a variety of letters, chipboard elements, brads and stickers in the JBS Mercantile store which coordinate well with each month's kit. Today I used:

Alterable Alphas- Microdots

Mini Chalkboard Alpha Stickers- multi

Chipboard Buttons- Milk Caps

Decorative Brads-Rhinestone

Creating with 4x6 photos and JBS Mercantile kits sure makes scrapbooking easy! What's your favorite size photo to work with? Join in on the discussion on the JBS Mercantile message board.

Christy

If You Give a Girl Some Sequins

It all started with a photo and some sequins. My son had a wonderful afternoon in the pool with a friend. This led to him getting a minor sunburn on his cheeks. While sitting in traffic, I decided to snap a photo. He had that awesome glow one gets after time in the sun. You know the one...the sort of lazy, relaxed but energized glow you get from summer. Anyway, here I was with this great photo of those sunkissed cheeks. I even had a title all ready to go in my head! All I needed was to choose some products to create a layout with. I knew right away I wanted to use sequins from the latest release.

My first thought was to grab my new package of Doily Sequins. I stamped a grid backgroundwith some Brown Sugar ink and begin happily stitching them to the grid. I have to say that I am in love with the soft shimmer and the texture of the doily sequins. They are so delicate and yet they have such a fun vibe.

After finishing the background, I added the photo, title and the rest of my embellishments. I liked what I had but somehow, there was still something missing. I tried a few things and finally decided it was time to set the layout aside for awhile. After all, I did have an awesome stencil to play with. I set about stenciling with black gesso on a box I plan to alter. That's when it happened. PLOP! I dropped the stencil and the corner landed on the bottom of the layout. My heart sank.

At this point, there was only one thing to do...add more splotches of black gesso. After inspecting my handiwork, I decided it needed just a little something else. Sequins to the rescue! I cracked open the classic assortment of sequins and sprinkled a few over the gesso splotches. They proved to be just the right amount of sparkle. Sometimes accidents have happy endings.

The new release sequins are one of my favorite products right now. How about you? Share your favorite new release products with us in the JBS Mercantile forum.

Christy

The Perfect Combination- JBS and Elle's Studio

Hi everyone! Christy Strickler here to share some more JBS and Elle's Studio Inspiration. My son is almost a teenager and I find myself looking back over the days when he was small. I guess you could say that it's a good thing I am not completely caught up with my memory keeping.When I saw the Cameron collection from Elle's Studio, I knew it would be perfect for documenting how my son has grown and changed over the years. I used the chipboard dominoes and vintage lotto cards to compliment the theme of my son's evolution as a video gamer.

It wasn't hard to mix in Jenni Bowlin products with the Elle's Studio kit. The hardest part for me was determining how to use the tags. I love them so much . I just hate to cover up any of the cute designs as I layer parts of my layout.

The answer to my dilemma is easy, but it does take a little getting used to. Simply cut your tags apart. Look for ways to cut the tag  so that you can use it elsewhere. Whether it's a different project or the same layout, cutting the tags allows to you layer without losing any of the awesome designs.

You can also add a little extra pizzazz using your craft knife. Carefully cutting the stars allowed me to slide the photo over the tag without hiding the stars.

Gently cut a slit in the tag and insert a small handmade banner. I layered a flag banner sticker over red paper tape and added some small rhinestone stars. I then carefully slid my banner into the slit.

I had a lot of fun mixing Elle's Studio products with my JBS supplies. So much so, that I made a second layout to share. I just love how the Cameron line pops on the Paraphernalia background.

Did you make a project which mixes your favorite JBS and Elle's Studio projects? If so, don't forget to share them with us here. Today is the last day for you to enter the contest.