Monogram Photo Tags by Amy Kingsford

Personalize your holiday tags this year by adding a family monogram or photo or maybe even both like Amy Kingsford has done with these adorable, vintage-inspired photo tags.  Read on for instructions to creating your own Monogram Photo Tags.

Supplies:

1 Sheet JBS Preforated Kraft

1 Sheet - JBS Haven Mini (or leftovers work great too!)

1 Pkg. Chipboard Stars

JBS Mercatile Exclusive Frame Stamp (Sept. 2012 Kit)

JBS Stamp Pad Fountain Pen

Baker's Twine and Glitter

Adhesive and Foam Squares

Your Favorite Family Photo

Your Favorite Monogram Font

Makes 8 tags

1. First you'll want to separate your perforated sheet of kraft into 8 equal sections.  Your sections should be three boxes wide and four boxes tall. Then remove some of the sections and fill them with leftover patterned paper scraps or use one of the JBS Mini Patterned sheets for lots of patterns in a single sheet of paper. 

2. Choose your favorite monogram font and type a sheet full of letters (9), spaced out enough so that you can stamp your frames around them once printed out.  Amy has used the free font Rosewood for her monograms.  Once you've stamped the frame around your monogram cut each frame out using a craft knife or precision scissors.

3. Edit and crop the photo you've chosen to adorn your tags with to 2.85" x 5.75."  You may choose to add a sentiment or fun photo treatment like Amy has done with this great photo of her two boys.  Then have your photos printed or print them off at home.  Three photos fit nicely on a landscape page when arrange like so:

4. Cover the back side of your tags with your printed photo.s 

5 Add your framed monogram to the center of the front side of each of your tags using foam squares.  

6. Alter (16) of your chipboard stars with glitter and attach one to each side of your tags near the top and then punch a hole through all three layers of tag and chipboard.  This will create a reinforced hole for your tag strings. 

7. Thread bakers twine through the hole at the top of each tag and knot it leaving long tails.

These monogram photo tags are perfect for attaching to gifts or may even provide you with a great alternative to your annual Christmas card!

Digi Monday: Vintage Christmas Collection

Hi everyone! Amy Kingsford here and I am so excited to share this week's digital release, Vintage Christmas with you all.

This wonderfully charming collection is jam-packed with lots of goodies perfect for your seasonal scrapbook pages, holiday crafting and more.  I've personally used this collection in a few different ways to help me get a jump start on my holiday gift wrapping!

First I've put this kit's awesome patterned papers to work, by printing them onto inkjet fabric sheets and fashioning them into little sachet-style gift bags. These will be perfect for small gifts that can sometimes be a pain to wrap.

Then I've also personalized the fabulous collection of vintage holiday tags included with the kit so that I can print them out and use them to add a bit of vintage charm to each of my packages.  And finally I've created decoupaged holiday buttons with the digital button designs from the kit and used them to make cute little toppers for these simple coin envelopes.  I think it helps to add just the right amount of handmade goodness to your average gift card--don't you?!

We can't wait to see what you make with this beautiful Christmas collection.  Head on over to the shop at JessicaSprague.com and grab Vintage Christmas for 25% off--today only!

Holiday Gift Bags with Megan Klauer

With the Holidays just around the corner and that list of to-dos growing by the day; I knew I needed to get a head start on a few things. 

Each year I am at a loss as to what to get my boys' teachers. This year I decided to decorate these fun little kraft gift bags I found at the Target dollar spot & I will be filling them with a variety of things like hot cocoa mix, chocolates, note pads, & pencils. I'll work on picking up those items once I start my shopping.

Getting these bags done ahead of time makes me excited! No last minute gift wrapping the night before the boys are to take them to school. I'm not the only one who does that right?

I pulled a variety of items from my stash including: dollies, vintage letter stencils, vintage buttons, and the following JBS products: Mini Bingo Cards - Christmas, Haven - Cherries Ripe paper, Chipboard Buttons - Vintage Christmas, Stick Pins - Garnet & Vintage German Foil Gold Trim from a past Antiquarian kit. 

Before attaching the Vintage Stencils to the music paper, I personalized them using my typewriter. Many of my vintage buttons in my stash came from my grandmother as well as flee markets. An old Ball jar full of vintage buttons is always a fun find. 

Get a head start on your gift giving this year by working on packaging now. These can be easily altered for any occasion!

Christmas Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Wouldn't this set of Jenni Bowlin paper lined cookie cutters make a cute gift? I've shown them here in a shirt box lined with red tissue paper. You could give the entire set or break them up or tie them onto a package. One of these would really dress up a plain gift sack for a special touch. You could also use a special photo inside one coupled with a patterned paper cutter as a gift. I'd like to make a few more with black and white pictures of the kids to give to their grandparents.

Jenni's small scale Christmas papers are perfect for this project like the mini red ornaments paper, the small scale green chevron paper, and the mini bingo pieces paper.

I found this tub of cookie cutters at Hobby Lobby which is regularly priced at $8.99 for 25 cutters but I got it at half price - $4.49 for 25 cookie cutters is a pretty sweet deal.

Trace the cookie cutters onto your paper with a pencil, cut them out, then erase the pencil lines. Using a thick, clear glue such as Aleene's Platinum Bond 7800, gently apply it to the back of the cutter. Use a scratch piece of paper to dab the cookie cutter to get off any excess glue then put it on top of the cut out shaped paper. Aleene's 7800 is perfect for this project because it's thick enough to stay on the cookie cutter without running, it's clear, and it's a touch flexible and easy to wipe off the edges of the cutters (before totally dry).

After the paper lined cutters are totally dry, thread a large needle with bakers twine and make the hangers. Insert the needle at the top back of the cutter through the paper, as close as you can get to the metal, ideally at the seam through the clear flexible glue. Tie a knot on the top of the cutter (so it will hang straight and not to the side), leave a about a 2" loop, and tie another knot. I used this awesome chunky bakers's twine from Sundance.

They look so pretty on this old tin top. This made me think these might make cute magnets too.

And of course, here they are on a mini Christmas tree. This would be so cute on my kitchen island!

Supplies:

Christmas 2012 Paper - 6

Christmas 2012 Accessory Sheet

Christmas 2011 Accessory Sheet

Wren Wheatgrass Paper

Wren Accessory Sheet (I used the dots paper from the Magpie Accessory sheet but the Wren Accessory Sheet is similar)

JBS Mercantile November Antiquarian Kit (sold out)

Christmas 2012 Advent Tag Set

Hi everyone!

This is Ashley here today, with my first JBS Inspiration blog post as a JBS Ambassador! I was very excited to see Jenni's Christmas 2012 line and knew right away I wanted to make a home decor project with it. I loved the shade of red paired with that lovely cream colour. I couldn't resist adding in some gold and glitter, because it just doesn't feel like the holidays to me, without some shine and sparkle!

I used JBS Christmas 2012 papers, and lots of other great JBS products to make a set of 25 Christmas tags. These could be used as an advent calendar: add numbers and hang one a day, or hang them up daily on little numbered pins. I think they would also be great strung along a fireplace front as a garland, or even given away as gift tags on holiday presents. Or, how cool would they be hung on a Christmas tree? Right now I have them displayed on a large idea board frame. 

Here are all 25 tags together. I used shipping tags and some of the new JBS perforated tags for others. Some have no actual tag component at all, while some are made like fair ribbons. I tried to use a variety of supplies and really just stuck to the red, cream and gold theme. I also pulled out some of my favourite vintage supplies for this tag set. There are some very similar pieces available at the JBS Mercantile Flea Market, or that sometimes come with the JBS Antiquarian add-on kit, like vintage pen nibs, vintage trims, and vintage milk caps.

For the first four tags. I was heavily inspired thinking about fair ribbons and letters to Santa. The numeral 1 star is from the Christmas 2012 Accessory Sheet, and so is the bingo chip bordered tag behind it. For the second tag, I topped a gold tissue paper ribbon with a medium vintage flag tag and a vintage jingle bell. The lovely mini December calendar is just embellished with a leaf coated in gold German glass glitter -- and I love the simplicity of this tag. The mini envie tag is stuffed with a stamped vintage typewriter image, a vintage pen nib, and a sweet little  airmail sticker.

Lots of new JBS Christmas products in this next set, and some of my stashed faves. The bank of happiness bank note is from the Christmas 2012 Accessory sheet, and there is some full size bingo chip paper, and some mini sheet bingo chip paper. I love using button cards as a complete embellishment, and this great cream and gold JBS button card was perfect for this set! I used a 25 cent General Store postage stamp sticker, and a postage stamp label on the glitter-filled test tube. The Accessory Sheet also has some great little to-from tags, and I cut the banner out to wrap around the bottle brush tree. The happy flash card seemed like a good choice to go over the vintage eye and hook card, because, well -- Christmas is a happy time!

How awesome would these vintage test tubes be made into a set of ornaments, like the one above?

This give Silhouette mini deck card was too perfect for a Christmas tag! I layered it over one of the big red lined tags from the perforated tag paper sheet. It is topped with a paper bow made out of the mini pattern sheet. The red game card is also from the new lotto mini deck set -- love the way a non-themed piece can look perfectly festive if in the right colour! The Christmas Ribbon paper sentiment made such an easy embellishment for the game card and key tag; I think this paper is going to make holiday card-making fast and lovely! 

A red label from Red Black Line Extension IV Accessory sheet, a gift tag from the Christmas 2012 Accessory sheet, and a few pieces of paper and ribbon filled out the rest of these tags above. I really love  JBS Accessory Sheet patterned paper sheets. They are such good value, and so useful. I like cutting them up as soon as I get them and store the pieces in with my other labels and cards, so I can pull out whatever colour is needed for a current project.

 To see the rest of the tags in the set and close up-details of all of them, please come visit my blog, things that shine.

It is too early to say happy holidays, but definitely not too early to start some happy holiday crafting!

Vintage Decorations

The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving is in a few weeks (can you believe it!?) and Christmas is just around the corner which means of course it's holiday crafting time. Today I'm going to show you how to make a simple vintage inspired ornament or wall hanging with old book covers.

It should only take you about 15 minutes to make, and at this busy time of year I love fast, cute crafts that I can use to decorate my home. I especially love cute holiday crafts that incorporate texture and a good mix of vintage & new products.

Supplies needed :
JBS - Christmas Ribbon paper, Red Black line accessory sheet paper, rhinestone stars in red, rhinestone brad in red, seam binding in red & white,
vintage - book cover, reflector, milk cap & sewing bobbin (from Nov 2012 antiquarian kit), chandelier prism, german foil
misc - eyelets, foam adhesive squares

Gather your supplies & cut a 1.5" piece of the Christmas ribbon paper and make an accordion flower. glue the reflector onto the center of the book cover and glue the accordion flower on top of the reflector. add punched hanging holes to top of book cover, add eyelets and ribbon.

Layer the milk-cap onto the accordion flower and cut the "J" & "Y" from the new red black extension accessory sheet.

Layer & glue all of the elements until they're stacked as shown. use the sewing bobbin as the "O" in "JOY" and add the rhinestone brad as an accent. Add the Chandelier dangle to the bottom of the book cover and accent with a red rhinestone star sticker.

Simple & fast.

Happy holiday crafting!

Home & Wreath Christmas Cards by Briana

With Jenni's new class, "Home for the Holidays," she's got me thinking about houses and decorations! Both of these cards began with wreath shapes, flower shapes actually as I'll explain. I had previously cut several layered flower shapes (nested_flowers_and_frames_set_C00141_21585) with my Silhouette from the November Project Kit that I didn't end up using on a page. I thought those little shapes looked like wreaths so that's where the idea for these cards was born. And how perfect are her little bow embellishments for these? Um . . absolutely perfect! The front of the card measures 4 3/4" wide x 7" high. I used foam dots under the triangular roof directly above the wreath block.

Supplies used for house card:

Christmas 2011 Accessory Sheet
Christmas 2011 Mini Pattern Sheet
Be Our Guest Journaling Cards
Mini Chipboard Pieces - Star
Rhinestone Bow Embellishment - Red
Stamps: Cursive sentiment by Papertrey Ink, Chrismas by Michaels

 

For my next card I took more of those outlined flower shapes and layered them all together. I didn't try to get them perfectly layered. I wanted to be able to see in between some of the flower points to the layer below. In order to get the right scale for the bow on this card, I tied a little seam binding bow and layered Jenni's rhinestone bow on top. I cut banner shapes from her Inkwell Paper for ribbon tails. Finally I cut the Peace sentiment from the packaging from the large Christmas Card Bingo Set. The phrase "Joy to the World" from the Christmas Mini Pattern Sheet (used on the house card) works in that spot as well or type out any sentiment you like. The front of the card measures 4 1/2" wide x 6 1/8" high.

Supplies used for wreath card:
JBS Coredinations Black Magic Collection
Christmas 2011 Accessory Sheet
Red/Black Extension IV - Inkwell
Rhinestone Bow Embellishment - White

Wishing you a Merry Christmas,

Christmas Tag by Dina Wakley

This little Christmas tag could be used as a gift tag, or even as a card. There's just something about tags that I love. They're easy and fun, and you can adapt them to many uses.

I hope this holiday season is happy and full of loving memories for all of you!

Dina

Supplies:
Inventory tag (from a previous JBS kit)
Vintage Bingo card (from a previous JBS kit)
Christmas Mini Pattern Sheet (I cut the song titles from this paper)
Christmas 2011 Accessory Sheet (I cut the cute little children from this paper)
Ribbon (from a previous JBS kit)
Delicate Brads
Mini Christmas Bingo Cards (I cut the "Noel" from one of the cards)
Vintage tickets (from a previous kit)

Christmas Cards by Shimelle

There is still plenty of time to make some Christmas cards - or so I'm telling myself as I haven't made nearly enough yet! But good news: today you can make three cards in a flash, with your JBS stash!

Gather a mix of materials: I used the accessory and mini paper sheets from the Vintage Holidays collection, plus label stickers, buttons, star stickers and doily flowers. (I started with the big bingo cards too but didn't use them in the end.) You'll also need some card blanks.

You may also want some numbers or letters at the end. I just used numbers and mixed and matched various sizes and colours.

Start by selecting one 4x4 mini pattern and one large accent card for each card you will make. I inked all the edges with brown ink.

Arrange the paper and accent card side by side to create a landscape card and adhere to the background. You may want to trim a bit from the sides of the card so it will still fit in the envelope after more bulky layers are added.

Then assemble a group of small embellishments for each card. I cut the Season's Greetings sentiment from a border on the accessory sheet, then added a rectangle and circle label, a doily and a button to start, but this design will work with any collection of small embellishments you have to hand.

All those little things get layered onto a plain tag to dress up the card. I covered each tag with a layer of green tulle netting to soften the look, or you could add ribbon or fabric scraps. Then layer the embellishments, scraps of paper and number stickers until you're happy with the amount of embellishment and adhere the tag to the background when everything is secure.

By the placement of the embellishments, choice of papers and the mix of stickers, each card will look unique, but they all come together quickly by following the same process. For this day on the calendar, I think that's a win!

Have a very merry Christmas!

Love and glitter,

Shimelle.~*

PS: If you're feeling extra-Christmassy (or wish you were!) it's never too late to join me for some Christmas scrapbooking with Journal your Christmas!

Vintage Snowflake Cards

I made a bunch of Snowflake Cards to attach to gifts this season.  They were very easy to put together and a lot of fun to individualize!

The Snowflake shape was created from the Christmas 2011 Mini Pattern cardstock.  Each sheet has 9 patterns on it, so you can make 9 cards from one sheet. The shape was cut from my Cricut using the Winter Lace cartridge.

The snowflake center is made from layering various vintage buttons and Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons. Each one is unique, just like snowflakes in nature!

The front and back of the cards are attached with a paper hinge cut from the Fabulous Finds cartridge.  A ribbon is laced through the hinge.

I was inspired to make an extra special card by cutting out the snowflake from my favorite piece of pattern on the mini patterned paper sheet and layering a bunch of white vintage buttons for the center.  I may just need to save this one!

Supplies:

Christmas 2011 Mini Pattern Sheet

Chipboard Buttons

vintage buttons

cardstock

ribbon

Christmas Garland #12 by Lisa Dickinson

 

 

It has been fun to watch our Christmas Garland Project come together, piece by piece! My contribution to the garland is a simple scallop-trimmed heart with the jolly old elf himself in the middle.

Heart Garland by Lisa Dickinson

 

I started with a large chipboard heart base, covering it with a pattern from the Mini Pattern Sheet of the Holiday 2011 collection. I punched a scalloped border from the Christmas Carol Index paper and adhered it along the back edge of the heart.  The plastic Santa ornament is from the November Project kit.  I took apart the "halves" of the Santa and glued the front half to the center of my heart.  Topped off with a bit of twill ribbon, baker's twine, and a dangling chipboard button, it's ready to add to the design team garland.

 

 

Be sure and check back here, as we'll be posting the completed garland all together soon!