Happy Birthday, Jenni * From Briana

Have a wonderful, happy, fabulous birthday, Jenni!

Products Used:

Orange German Stars - JBS Mercantile May Antiquarian Kit

Mercantile Label Stickers

Modern Mercantile Etcetera Paper

Using JBS for Project Life

Here's the page I made using JBS for my Project Life album documenting my son's birthday back in November. I used a combination of JBS digital and traditional supplies. 

I used Jenni's little red circle alpha/number stickers to mark each photo so I could reference the journaling on the cards. Instead of each photo having a corresponding card, the journaling flows from card to card so that I was able to get more journaling on the page.

The first card is simply bordered with JBS washi tape. The second and fourth cards are JBS digital and I printed them on brochure paper. The third card is simply a border line of Jenni's washi again. 

I used the 7 hexagon sticker because it was his 7th birthday. I thought the little stamp sticker was a cute, subtle touch. I used a combination of typewritten and handwritten journaling. 

I love the first small pocket! I kept it simple and the clock was the perfect finishing touch on the tag. The "journal" card is another JBS digital card. Finally, I made another washi bordered card to balance across from the other washi card. 

Thanks for stopping in today!

Briana

Supplies used:

JBS Pocket Stuffers

JBS Paper Tape - Houndstooth

JBS Paper Tape - Notebook Grid

JBS Paper Tape - Sage Lace

Printed Chipboard Pieces - Watch Faces

Vintage Mini Deck - Lotto

Postage Stamp Cardstock Stickers

Quilted Stickers - Numbers

Tiny Circle Cardstock Alpha Stickers - Reverse Red

Rockin' the Quilt Star Punch

I made this page using Jenni's new Quilt Star Punch which I used like a border punch. The punch is 1.5" wide so it's a great size. I used the new JBS Modern Mercantile line designed by Lisa Dickinson as well as a piece of blue paper from Wren. The light blue dot was an exclusive from the February Mercantile Main Kit. When I got these papers out, I knew I had the most perfect picture to use with them - a photo of my son standing in front of the stained glass window at church on Easter Sunday last year. Modern Mercantile is perfect for all kinds spring and summer stuff! It reminds me of green grass, sunshine, and blue skies.

This page is going in my Project Life album as the intro to the Easter Project Life pages I made using the February Mercantile kit.

Jenni Bowlin Studio Quilt Star Punch

Look how well these papers go together. From Wren I've used Blueprint. From Modern Mercantile I used: Hodge Podge, Patchwork, and Miscellany. After I had glued down the border strips I sewed over each of them with coordinating colored thread. I used white along the top of each row and then went back with the matching color down the center of the star row. When I used the white, I pulled extra thread out when I rotated the page without trimming it and beginning a new row so that when I went back with the colored thread it trapped strands of white thread. I love the way that ended up - kinda messy with a bit of added texture.

To ground the picture I cut banner tails in a strip from Fancy Checks and layered a printed tag, Vintage Flag, behind the photo.

Here's an example of how I made the quilt star border using cardstock. I grabbed these sheets from my scrap pile and took the punch and punched right along the edge of the paper. Don't worry about getting the spacing just right - once you get all those layers going it doesn't look like they're supposed to be perfectly aligned, in this case anyway, and it ends up looking rather charming with the imperfections. Then you simply lay one sheet on top of the next and glue them down.

To finish off the top of the page I punched the quilt star along an extra piece of the white dotted cardstock background to create a white on white border along the top. I trimmed and tucked the happy sticker under the white punched border. The dark yellow alpha stickers (Shadow Alpha Stickers) look so good with Modern Mercantile. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day and happy crafting!

Using Modern Mercantile for Project Life

Today I'd love to share the Project Life spread I made using Modern Mercantile. The card sheet, shown below, works perfectly for the divided 3x4 pockets for Project Life. The stencil used here with orange paint was from the current Mercantile February Kit. The butterfly is JBS digital and can be found HERE. These colors work so well for spring and summer. As you can see here they worked perfectly with my Easter pictures from last year. 

Jenni Bowlin Studio Modern Mercantile - Hodge Podge 

Aren't these fabulous? Lisa did a superb job designing this line! I can't get over how she was able to so perfectly marry vintage and modern. The sheet above, Hodge Podge, is what I used for several of my cards. Those doily cards are awesome! They all are! And I'm mad about the green scalloped eyelet lace on the back. You're definitely going to need two sheets of this one, minimum, so you can use both sides!

I cut the aqua floral card out, rounded the corners, and ran it through my printer using easy release tape on a scratch piece of paper that I had already printed with the text - a scratch 4x6 cardstock piece makes it easier to get a better alignment estimate in my opinion than a full 8.5x11 sheet.

The green floral card is also a pattern from Modern Mercantile - I simply cut it down to size and ran it through the printer again. I splattered mist on the green label card, let it dry, then ran that card through the printer as well to get the Ali Edwards digital brush stamp on there. 

Be on the lookout - Modern Mercantile is shipping to retailers right now! You are going to love this collection! 

Thanks for checking in today,

Briana

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)

Scrap Vintage: School & Falling Leaves

If you love to scrap vintage, then you belong right here at JBS! I made this page with the September JBS Mercantile Kit (available) and the September Antiquarian Kit (sold out). There were so many great vintage pieces in those kits: the yellow ledger paper, the flashcard, the cigar label, the vintage check, and finally the vintage math/school worksheet paper. I love all these elements on this red background - which is my son's new school color. The check shows an image of a bank but I thought it resembled an old school building so I thought it went well with my theme.

Frequently when I use vintage elements on my page I back them with white cardstock as I did on the cigar label shape. I used my Cuttlebug and my favorite Spellbinders dies to make the shape.

Sometimes you can cut vintage paper with your Silhouette and sometimes you can't - sometimes it's too fragile and it gets way stuck to the Silhouette mat. That's one reason it's good to keep an old mat that isn't so sticky for the vintage paper. So with that in mind, I made color copies on my little home printer of the math calculations paper onto white cardstock. Then I was able to cut the calculations paper into those gorgeous maple leaves designed by Lisa Dickinson for JBS Mercantile.

I love to scrap vintage because it always ends up looking so unique and different!

Supplies:
JBS Mercantile September 2012 Papercrafting Kit
JBS Perforated Tag Paper - Coming Soon!
JBS Mercantile Cut Files - Maple Leaves

Back To School: American History

What was your favorite school subject? Has your favorite subject changed since then? When I was very little, even before I knew what history really was, I loved old stories and I was drawn to different time eras. I remember looking through my great grandma's photos and asking her questions about who the people were, digging through her cabinets (she would get so mad and tell me to stop prowling!) and looking at her old Christmas cards somehow knowing they were different and more special than what we have today, hanging a star on her door and pretending we were on the set of an old black and white movie while sitting at her antique dresser and smelling her perfume, and wishing I could go back in time to be a trombone player during The Roaring 20's in New Orleans. I've always loved history.

Over the past couple of years I've been more drawn to history than ever. I've read so many books about the Civil War, fiction and non fiction and more recently the War of 1812. My new interest in the War of 1812 began when we visited Boston, a city I chose for the historical sites, for vacation this year and toured the U.S.S. Constitution. The sentence fragment :) in the middle of my layout says, "To place myself where so many of the stories had taken place in my books, like going back in time." Did you know that during the War of 1812 the invading British marched to our nation's capitol and burned the White House? History is fascinating. The War of 1812 consisted of many naval battles and the U.S.S. Constitution, launched in 1797,  fought gloriously for her country defeating the enemy in all three of her battles during the 1812 -1814 war and victorious in 33 engagements between 1798 and 1854.

A few notes about the layout: I typed the text in a 12 x 12 Photoshop Elements file. I typed the three different sections in three different layers so I could rotate them around the page as needed. I printed the 12 x 12 paper on my large format printer. Next I designed the top part of my cut title using the Silhouette software, making sure to keep the words inside the boundaries of my text in Photoshop (gotta have your grid on in both programs). Then I took the kraft paper with printed text and ran that through the Silhouette to create the negative title area at the top. The banners and scrolls were also cut with Silhouette. I used a total symmetrical design as you can see, a design principle I've been loving lately!

Do you have a favorite time era? Have you scrapped about it? Have you scrapped about the history of the places you've traveled? Have you scrapped about the important historical events that have occurred in your country?

Supplies:
Red/Black Extension IV - Accessory Sheet
Red/Black Extension IV - Multiplication
Wren Paper - Blueprint
Wren Paper - Wheatgrass
Red letter stickers, red and black star stickers, and red/cream seal stickers coming soon!

JBS Summer Games: Triathlon

Today we're competing in the triathlon! Yep, you guessed it, competing in the triathlon means you get to work out your triangular skills - flex those TRIceps! Triangles are so popular right now as you have probably noticed - and I just love them! Look at Pinterest and you can get so much inspiration. I was inspired by this piece (The link to the original artwork is broken. If you know who the artist is please let me know in the comments). I really loved how the triangles were various sizes aligned in an imperfect manner - which I think is a cool take for a triangle layout because you usually see them arranged in a straight geometric way. If you wanted to make something more similar to the inspiration piece, how fun would it be to combine triangles as masks to use with mist (or gesso) and then layer patterned paper triangles over the top?

Also, you will notice I created a visual triangle with my triangles :) I tried to use at least three of the same patterns arranged in a triangle throughout the collage - like the three black triangles, see how they're spaced out?

I wanted to use summer brights for this page and of course, I aways want to use Jenni Bowlin Studio whenever I can! So I remembered my experiments with re-coloring JBS Digital and knew this layout would be the perfect time to pull out the papers I had already made and printed a while back. I mixed my brights with two patterns from Wren for a dose of eclectic.

This is the Tangerine Dream Collection available at the JBS Digi Shoppe at Jessica Sprague. The floral I worked with is the 5th pattern to the right as well as the aqua polka dot next to it.

Here are some of the results I got from replacing the original colors. Design team member Betsy Sammarco created the two tone pink and orange floral from the Digital Tangerine Dream Collection, the one I've shown you in the center, which was originally aqua and orange. Inspired by Betsy's new colorway, I wanted to try this too! I'm kinda partial to the black one.

I made the new colors in Photoshop Elements 7 by using the commands -> Enhance -> Adjust Color -> Replace Color. Using the Replace Color command, I was able to change the leaves and flowers any color I wanted! But using the Replace Color command for the background, beginning with a white base, I could only change the background to shades of gray or black (there might be a way to do it - I just skipped to the paint bucket tool because that works for me). Note: if you increase the "fuzziness" (located on the replace color window) it will color the leaves and flowers all the way to the edges better. In order to get the vibrant colors for the background, I used the paint bucket to manually fill in the large area of the background and then zoomed in and filled in the few small areas that were left with the paint bucket again. There aren't many small areas of white left after the initial fill, so it's not very difficult or labor intensive.

I printed my paper on both textured Bazzill and Epson Presentation Paper Matte. The presentation paper creates more vivid and deep colors than the Bazzill - it just depends on the look you want. With the black paper, I wanted it as close to true dark black as I could get and I had excellent results with the presentation paper.

I've shared with you how "paper scrapbookers" can get a real benefit from dabbling in hybrid :) It's worth the extra effort - just look at these florals - are they not insanely gorgeous? It's like making paper with Jenni Bowlin!

Supply List:
Wren - Typing Lesson
Wren - Lace Curtain
JBS Digital Tangerine Dream Collection
Both of the cuts for titlework are Ali Edwards Digital

Circles, Doilies, & Stamps

The JBS Mercantile Exclusive Medallion Stamp is one of my very favorite JBS stamps. It can be cut apart to make a circle border or to cut the central flower out and it's just the perfect size, measuring three inches in diameter. On the layout I'm sharing with you today, I stamped it on top of small, pastel doilies. It goes perfectly with doilies I must say! I love it! I think part of it is the texture pattern inside the stamp works so well with the texture on the border of the doily. And it's on sale for $2.00 until the 5th :)

I used a 3 1/2" circle punch on several patterns of JBS Magpie Collection paper and arranged them in a grid with the stamped doilies. I made this also for our Rubix Cube grid challenge going on right now on the message board ($25.00 Mercantile gift card up for grabs, ladies!). I added my photos then layered smaller circles of stickers, metal rimmed tags, and circle and seal punches.

I used photos I had on hand, already printed, so I tried to make them work into the grid sized as they were. I let the larger photo (4x6) take up almost two circles and centered the two smaller photos (4x3, 2 1/8 x 2 7/8) on a single circle. I like that with everything being the same in terms of the circles that I've got the variation in photo sizes - worked out well I think. Finally I typed my journaling on the computer in landscape, printed it out, and ran it down the length of the sides of the pages.

This is an easy design, simple to re-create (use your die cutting machine for the circles if you don't have a super giga circle punch), and oh so much fun to embellish all those circles! And if you like it enough to be inspired by it, lets see what you come up with and share it here on the Rubix Cube Results page!

Supplies:
Hodge Podge Stickers: Playful, Souvenir
Magpie Paper Collection: Collect, Complie, Gather, Nest, Stash, Mini Pattern Sheet
Wren Paper Collection (available very soon!): Wheatgrass, Lace Curtain
Mercantile Exclusive Stamp - Medallion
Apothecary Stickers - Red
Shadow Alpha Stickers: Orange/Black, Vintage/Black
Tiny Circle Alpha Cardstock Stickers - Reverse Red
Ranger JBS Dye Stamp Pad - Chili Powder
Red/Black Extension IV - Mini Sheet
Other: pastel metal rimmed tags from Staples, pastel doilies
Pink polka dot vellum from the March JBS Mercantile Kit

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!

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