Matchbox Advent Calendar Tutorial

Hi there!  Amy Kingsford here, with a fun idea for using this week's digital release in your holiday crafting.

I created this matchbox advent calendar for my family last year, using Jenni's 2012 Christmas line. And so many great holiday memories were made using it over our holiday season.

Unfortunately a few of the boxes met their demise at the hands of my two year old--so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that this collection was making its way to the digital shoppe.  Now the fix will be "easy-peasy" AND I have the opportunity to share my project and the steps for making it, for the first time with all of you!

What you'll need:

• (24) Mini Match Boxes
• Advent Star Accessory Sheet (included in Vintage Christmas 2 Digital Kit)
• Patterned Paper (Digital or Paper)
• Chipboard Quilt Stars
• Bingo Pieces (Numbers 1-24)
• Glitter 
• Adhesive

Step 1 - Remove all of the matches from your matchboxes and put them away in a safe place.

Step 2 - Print out 3-6 (depending on the variety you want in your advent calendar) of your favorite pattern papers from the Vintage Christmas 2 collection as well as the Advent Star sheet onto white cardstock.

Note: If printing on 8.5 x 11 you'll want to split your Advent Star Sheet into two like so:

Step 3 - Cut your patterned paper into strips that will wrap around the outer shell of your matchbox. My match boxes are 2" wide and required a length of 4" to wrap around the outside of the shell.  

Note: Depending on how many patterns you chose to work with you'll need the following number of strips: 

• 3 patterns - 4 strips ea.
• 4 patterns - 3 strips ea.
• 6 patterns - 2 strips ea.

Step 4 - You will also cut your entire Advent Star Sheet into corresponding pieces as well, but do your best to make your cuts in the gutters between each row of circles and make sure that they are oriented with the two numbers sitting side by, like so:

Step 5 - At this point you'll need to choose whether to use the odd or even numbers from your Star Advent Sheet and then locate the rest of the numbers needed to count up to 24 from your bingo pieces. 

Step 6 - Wrap your patterned strips and advent stars around your boxes.  Do your best to have the wrap positioned so that the numbers on the advent stars are somewhat centered--deepen creases if needed before adhering.

Step 7 - Cover your chipboard starbursts with glitter and allow time to dry before adhereing them to the top of your patterned boxes.

Step 8 - Using a glue gun or tacky adhesive, attach the numbered bingo pieces to the centers of your stars.

Step 9 - Now your boxes are ready to fill with small treats, prompts for daily holiday activities or whatever else you can fit into these cute little boxes.

I adhered magnets to the backs of my boxes so I could arrange them on my fridge and keep them away from the greedy little fingers and prying eyes of my boys.  We include a small treat and a fun little holiday activity in each day's box.

I can't wait to see how you use yours!

Remember, Vintage Christmas 2 is on sale for 25% off in Jenni's digital shoppe over at JessicaSprague.com through Sunday, so why not grab it now and get a jump start on your holiday crafting!?  

Have a great weekend!

Digi Friday - General Store Postage Kit

It's Friday again...which means there's another new release in Jenni's Digital Shoppe over at JessicaSprague.com!

The General Store Postage Kit is the perfect addition to your digital stash.  With 12 stamp designs, you've got a great variety that will mix well with other digital elements, both vintage and contemporary.

My page, "3 A Day" is an example of how well these stamps mix with both vintage and contemporary elements and can be both a basic staple or even a great way to tie into your page's theme.  This page chronicles my youngest son's love of chocolate milk.  So I've used a mix of mercantile-inspired products, including Jenni's Milk Cap Buttons and the General Store Stamps to tie into my theme and then I've sprinkled in more modern elements like the splash brush and the straws.

Supplies: Jenni Bowlin Studio Digitals: General Store Postage Kit, Milk Cap Buttons,
Vintage Bling, Vintage Number Cards; Creashens: Early Morning (Thread) and
Whale of a Time (Splash); Anita Designs: Quick Scraps Vol 4 and Classy.  

Don't forget to grab today's release while it's on sale for 25% off!  Sale ends Sunday, so hop on over to Jenni's shop and snag this versatile Postage Kit today!

Have a great weekend and I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween holiday!

Digi Friday: Three Brand New Releases!!!

Today is a big day for Jenni's digital fans, because over in her shoppe at JessicaSpague.com she's got not one, but THREE brand new releases for you!!! Let's have a look...

The Boy Meets Girl Collection (Red and Black Extension V) is finally here and its perfect for scrapbooking, back to school, anniversaries or even everyday life!   And the Red on Black Block Alpha coordinates perfectly!

The Mercantile Mix Cut Files, include 4 JBS exclusive stamp/stencil designs released over this year and because of the variety of files offered in this download, these designs can be used as brushes or clipping masks in your digital scrapbook pages or are also suitable for use with several electronic die cutting machines.  

Here's a look at how I've used all three products in my own digital scrapbook page.  I've paired the bold patterned papers in the Boy Meets Girl Collection and the Red and Black Block Alphas with this fun gallery-wall inspired template to scrapbook one of my favorite photos of my husband and I as a tribute to our life together.  I also used the Mercantile Mix Cut Files to create the framed silhouette cut-outs and the feather die cut embellishments for my page.

Supplies: Jenni Bowlin Studio Digitals: Boy Meets Girl, Red on Black Block Alpha and
Mercantile Mix Cut Files 1; Creashens: Bare Necessities Cardstock; Mye de Leon: Torn
& Stitched; Wild Blueberry Ink:Gallery of Memories Template.

All three of these new releases will be 25% off through this weekend--so hop on over to Jenni's Digital Shoppe and grab them while they're on sale.

Have a great weekend!

Digi Friday: Flag Tags

Hi all!  I hope you are ready for the weekend, I know I am!  And to make it even better, Jenni has got something new for us all over in the Digital Shoppe!

These Flag Tags contain (6) styles of banner shaped tags, that coordinate perfectly with several of your favorite JBS lines and are great for drawing attention to important details, thoughts and stories on your scrapbook pages. 

Here I've used a few of the tags to create a fun banner across this page about my son getting ready for his first day of Kindergarten.  I've used one to journal on and the others I've added charming details to including an embroidered monogram and a stamped image.

School Bound by Amy Kingsford | Supplies: Jenni Bowlin Studio Digitals: Flag Tags, Wren Collection, Birds and branches Brush Set; Chalboard Alpha Red; Karla Dudley: Blah (background paper); Creashens: Bliss (banner w/ clips and deckle edge frames)

  

Chrissy Guido has also used these fabulous tags to capture her own Back to School memories, in a page about purchasing her daughter's Kindergarten supplies. I love how she's mixed these tags with some of Jenni's school-themed products!

Back to School by Chrissy Guido | Supplies: Jenni Bowlin Studio Digitals: Flag Tags, School Days Alpha, Number Die Cut Label, Know THis label, Keep This Label,Definitions , Star Border, and Printed Ticket Smiley

Don't forget that this new release is on sale for 25% off thru Sunday, so hop on over to the Digital Shoppe and grab the Flag Tags today!

Digi Friday: Hexagon Numbers

Hi all!  It's Friday again...which means that Jenni has another new release available over in the Digital Shoppe!

The Hexagon Number Tiles offer versatility, in that they coordinate perfectly with Jenni's extensive Red and Black Collection (as well as many others), not to mention they are a great way to add a trendy graphic punch to your pages.

In my page, "Lucky Number"  I've used these bold stickers to accent my misted hexagon background and to reinforce the relevance of numbers to my story.  As you can see these stickers coordinate perfectly with a variety of JBS products including the Classic Labels, The Souvenir Embellishment Kit and Alpha and the Soda Water Collection.

Lucky Number by Amy Kingsford | Supplies: Jenni Bowlin Studio: Hexagon Number Tiles, Word Arrows, Souvenir Embellishment Kit, Classic Mercantile Labels, Soda Water Collection, Vintage Sew-On Buttons, Vintage Bling; Creashens: Hello; Crystal Livesay : Shapes - Hexagon V. 1; Scotty Girl Designs: Skinny Stitches - Shapes.

In addition to using a few sequential series of the tiles on her page, Chiara Castelluccia also used half-tiles to create decorative tabs merged a row of the tiles together to create a decorative border.  How very creative!

Happy Birthday by Chiara Castelluccia | Supplies: Jenni Bowlin Studios: Hexagon Number Tiles Wren Collection, Victoria Collection, Classic Chipboard Shapes, Be Our Guest; Crafty Button Designs: Vintage Birthday; Fonts: Splendid66-Bold

As always this week's new release is on sale for 25% off through Sunday, so hop on over and add it to your digital collection today!

Have a great weekend!

Digi Friday: Two New Products and One HUGE Sale!!!

Hi all!

If you haven't heard JessicaSprague.com is celebrating their 6th Birthday, which means that there is a big sale going on and everything in the JBS Digital Shoppe is 40% off!!!

Included in the big sale are Jenni's two latest digi releases, one of my all-time favorite JBS collections, Wren  AND the ever-popular Vintage Number Cards.

Let's take a look at how our wonderful digital CT was inspired to use the new releases in their pages.

Van Nguyen has created this beautifully layered page using several of the patterned papers from the Wren Collection.  Can you see the Washi Tape on her layout!  That's a new addition to the Wren kit!

Don't you just love the artsy look of this page by Audrey Tan?!  The addition of the brushwork and transfers on the bookprint background give her page a real art journaling type of feel.

Chiara Castelluccia showcases this beautiful photo by playing up the blues in it with her patterned paper choices from the Wren Collection.  And the repetition of the bird motif throughout the page is just perfect for her page subject!

Roelien van den Berg's beautiful hybrid page really showcases the depth of this collection, as she brings the papers, borders, journal cards and labels together perfectly in her design.

Chrissy Guido used this Vintage Number Card to support her story while adding visual interest, in this great milestone page.

And here I've used the Wren Collection to create a masculine feel for this page about one of America's (and my 5 year old son's) favorite pastimes, baseball.  I've tucked a few Vintage Number Cards in behind my photo to denote the year and substituted my customary stitching for the new washi tape strips included with the collection--I love how real it looks!!!

Don't forget to hop on over to the JBS Digital Shoppe and grab these new releases and any other JBS items from your "digi wishlist" while they're 40% off.

Have a great weekend!

Get Boy Crazy with Elle's Sudio and JBS!

This month we're excited to team up with Elle's Studio to bring you double the inspiration and double the chances to win in our monthly contest!  

We'll be sharing inspiration all week long both here and on the Elle's Studio blog.  Get inspired and then create a layout or other project featuring your favorite Elle's Studio product and your favorite Jenni Bowlin Studio product.  Post your projects HERE on our message board for a chance to win a $25 gift card from JBS Mercantile and then check out the Elle's Studio blog for details on how to win a $25 gift card from them as well!  

We can't wait to see your lovely creations!

Hi everyone Amy Kingsford here and I'm so excited to share this fun little ALL BOY mini album I'm working on using the Elle's Studio Cameron Collection and the Naked Chipboard Journal from Jenni Bowlin Studio.

I love getting my hands on a great collection of "boy-inspired" products and I must say I'm a huge fan of the Cameron line's vibrant color scheme and contemporary feel.  It was absolutely perfect for bringing together some of my favorite photos and stories about my three guys!

And this 15-piece journal kit from JBS was the perfect base for my project, as the basic ledger, graph and lined papers mixed perfectly with the patterned papers from Elle's Studio and the tabbed dividers and pocket pages helped me to organize my memories.

I accented the pages of my mini using a variety of JBS staples including coordinating Paint Dabbers, Vintage Sew On Buttons, Alterable Graph Alphas and the True Vintage Milk Caps.    

And I've also used several of the tags from Elle's Studio to prompt stories and record fun facts about my guys in my album pages as well.

Don't forget to join in the fun this month by uploading your own projects using a fun mix of JBS and Elle's Studio Products here.  For a chance to win the $25.00 gift card, your entry must be posted by June 24th!  

I had a blast taking this challenge and I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with!

Happy Scrapping!

  

Digi Friday: More Backgrounds Please!

That's right its Friday...which means there's new digi goodies awaiting you over in Jenni's Digital Shoppe!

This week Jenni has released a new set of Vintage Backgrounds, perfect for adding an extra  layer of pizzazz to your scrapbook page foundations.

You can use them as clipping masks, you can use them with your personal die cutting machines or you can use them to make your very own custom background papers!  We can't wait to see how you use them and if you grab them this weekend you'll save 25%.

Here I've used the Butterfly Background to make a simple layered clipping mask which helped me to combine a few of my favorite patterned papers from the Magpie Collection in an underlying grid foundation on my page.  

While Nirupama Kumar has used the Red Cross Background with her die cutting machine to create this wonderfully dynamic background for her page.  I just love everything about this page, including those adorable photos!

  

Don't miss your chance to grab this awesome new set of backgrounds while they're 25% off--sale ends Sunday!

Have a great weekend!

A soft and breezy digital kit : the Victoria Collection

Our new digital release this weekend is a classic Jenni Bowlin Studio pattern and reminds me of breezy summer days sitting on a front porch, rose bushes in view.  So versatile, I can see this kit is definitely "muli-themed" but wouldn't it be wonderful for a wedding project?

JBS-Victoria Collection

This kit also comes with a Punchable PDF which is made to use with the Fiskars/Jenni Bowlin Quilt Star Squeeze Punch:

and of course we always include a Printable PDF whenever we have journaling cards in the kit:

Amy Kingsford created this beauty with  digital stitching, die-cuts, cut-outs, glitter and embellishments that just pop off the page.  How gorgeous Amy!

3 Months by Amy Kingsford | Supplies: Jenni Bowlin Studio Digitals: Victorian Collection, Vintage Bling, Butterfly Rub-Ons; Robyn Meierotto: Cut It Out Stitched Frames (stitching); Pixels & Company: Free Love (leaves).

Chrissy Guido created a "painted" effect with one of the patterned papers:

Supplies: Victoria Collection (5/31/2013) Magpie Collection, Frame RubOns

and did I say something about porches?  Perhaps it has something to do with Susie Moore's gorgeous layout of her summer porch. 

and from Audrey Tan ... she used the colors of the kit as a soft background for her bright photo:

Supplies:
Jenni Bowlin Studio: Victoria, Feather Stencil Cuts, Frames Rubons, Jeweled Butterflies, Playful Emblishment Kit, Vintage Calendars, Timeless Elements, Rhinestone Buttons & Bows, Block Alpha Navy On Green
Font: Sue Ellen Francisco

The kit is 25% off this weekend!

Have a wonderful and creative weekend!