Summer Scrapping: Circles & Squares

We're celebrating all things summer this month at JBS, and I couldn't be happier! I love the bright colors and fun themes that accompany warm weather scrapping. Today I'm mixing some pieces from the June Mercantile Kits (Papercrafting and Historian - both of which are still available!) with Modern Mercantile papers and wood veneer. In addition, I'm combining rectangles and circles for a fun, energetic look.

I snapped this shot of Riely and her best friend Cassidy a few weeks ago on the last day of school. They were excitedly discussing all their big plans for summer, which included lots of playdates, sleepovers, and attending theater camp together.

S U P P L I E S :

InLinkz.com

For the base layer, I used the Plus One stencil and some acrylic paint to add a bit of color and texture to my cardstock.  Then I layered some paper scraps and journaling cards to form a loose grid around the photo.

The heart on one of the journaling cards was a perfect place to type in a bit of journaling. Then, to add a sense of motion and energy to the page, I cut some thin circles from coordinating cardstock as well as cutting out a circular title for my page. I arranged these three circular elements in a triangle around my photo. Both the circles and the rounded corners on the papers and photo help to soften all the straight lines and add a "flow" to the page.

A few simple embellishments - a sticker, a vintage ticket, and wooden buttons (that also relate to the circles!) are all I needed to finish this page.

The combination of circles and squares can work with so many summer page themes, from baseball to beach balls, bike riding to frisbee games, pizza parties to road trips! Together they can help you create a dynamic, lively page to tell all your summer stories.

Happy Scrapping!

White + Ivory + Gold

I recently challenged myself to try the elegant color combo of white, ivory and gold. I've seen beautiful layouts using this color scheme but haven't had quite the right photos to use with it. So when I saw these shots of our new tortoiseshell cat, Scout, I knew I had no excuse not to try it out!

I found the perfect supplies in this month's Mercantile Kits and several of the new JBS releases. On the ivory background, I used the new Scattered Stars and Pennant Rub-Ons.  These go on so smoothly and easily - just like butter!

I mounted my photos on a set of the wood veneer Book Covers, which provided a great matte that coordinated with my colors and provided a little dimension. I also layered several generic shipping tags and a Printed Kraft Tag, along with one of the Studio Calico acrylic overlays.  I love how they add a subtle touch of white but let my background show through. I used machine stitching to hold everything down and to form some subtle frames around my two photos. All of these supplies are from this month's Mini Album Kit !

 

For a finishing touch, I tucked in several pairs of the Crystal Clear sequins around the page (also in the Mini Album Kit ).  I really love their iridescent shimmer and shine!

So if you're inspired to try out the ivory + white + gold color combo, the new JBS projects are a great place to start! Several of this month's Mercantile Kits contain the new releases, and they are now available at several online retailers.

Happy Scrapping!

Washi Tape as Patterned Paper

Welcome back to another post featuring the fabulous new JBS paper tapes! This week, we'll be showing you all kinds of inspiring and fun ideas for this versatile supply.

While I am often reaching for these tapes to add that "little something extra" to a page, I challenged myself to use them as the main supply on a layout. After cutting two of the JBS Kit Cuts (from the Heart Cards set) from white cardstock, I filled the negative space with strips of paper tape:

The red Double Chevron, blue Notebook Grid, green Sage Lace and gray Sideways Chevron (combined with another yellow tape!) were the perfect touch of color and pattern for my page.

 

The paper tape was quick and easy  - much faster than cutting strips of patterned paper. I know I'll be using the tapes more often this way on future projects!

Modern Mercantile | Mini Pattern Paper

 

One of my most favorite items in the newest line is the single sheet of Mini Patterns. There are so many different ways that you can use it! The simplest is to cut them apart separately, but you can also fold them expertly and make a mini book or cut some simple patterns like i did into each 4"x4" square which creates an entirely new piece of layered pattern paper.

The silhouette cameo is perfect for this (but you could also use one of martha's all over the page punches too) as the grid in the software makes it easy to pop your shapes into it so you know exactly where to cut, and exactly how far apart to space your shape, as i did with a simple heart that i created in photoshop and then loaded into my silhouette software as a .png file. 

Then I cut some 4" x 4" papers and added them behind the hearts to create some extra patterns (the ledger paper is from last month's antiquarian kit).

After creating the new background i added a few pictures and some simple embellishments. fast and easy but makes a big impact.

happy cutting!

Rub-on Tip from Ranjini Malhotra

One thing I love about Jenni's rubons is how easy they are to use - they go on like butter. I used the silver damask background rub-on single to make this card. This is how I created the white space that forms the heart in the center of the card:

1) Use a chipboard shape of your choice. I used one of Jenni's chipboard hearts.
2) Carefully peel the rub on up from the background and slowly slide the chipboard heart onto the backing sheet, being careful not to allow the rubon to touch the chipboard until you have it centered exactly where you want it (in this case - I placed the chipboard right on the center of the backing sheet).
3) Apply the rubon ONLY to the chipboard heart, being careful not to apply pressure directly onto the backing sheet.
4) When you are sure the rubon has transferred only to the chipboard, carefully lift the backing sheet up, using a craft knife if needed to trim the rough edges around the heart. You can set the heart aside to use in another project.
5) Now you should have a heart shaped space on the rubon sheet with the damask background surrounding the heart.
6) Place the damask background on a white cardstock and apply to create the background of your wedding card.
7) Embellish with a photo, a bit of bling, and a penciled sentiment, and voila, you have a quick and beautiful card!

You can try this with any of the background and any chipboard shape that will fit under the rubon sheet.

Gorgeous! and such a clever idea! Thanks for the inspiration Ranjini!

Designer's Workshop Challenge with Lisa Dickinson

One of my favorite design tricks in my book, Designer's Workshop is to use directional lines to convey a feeling on your page. A horizontal line represents a feelingof rest or relaxation (like a sunset on a horizon) while a vertical line denotesstrength, growth, and even action.

My layout, New Lawn Boy, has predominately horizontal lines because of the borders I created with rows of circles from the embossed brown cardstock and the Target Practice patterned paper. I also used a piece of green grid from the Homespun Paper Pack and a strip of royal blue ribbon to complete the background that worked with the colors in my photos. I love the instant stability you get with horizontal lines - they always make a page feel balanced!

And while the strong horizontal lines definitely work here, I didn't want the page to look too restful or relaxed, as that doesn't work with the action photos. So I slightly tilted my photos to add diagonal lines into the mix (these lines almost always indicate movement!) and used a big, bold title treatment with the Mini Die Cut Label in red and the Black Ledger Alpha Stickers which I colored in with a green Sharpie. These details break up the horizontal lines and add a bit of motion and color into the layout.

The final embellishment was a pair of embellished butterflies in brown. I carefully removed the rhinestones on them and replaced them with vintage yellow buttons laced with twine. This Helmar adhesive is perfect for adorning anything with buttons and it dries quick and strong!

So now I'd like to issue a challenge to you: use lines (vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or all three!) to create a page with your favorite JBS products. And be sure to share what you create with a link here in the blog comments or in the Mercantile Gallery!

Thanks for the inspiration (and the challenge) Lisa!

Design Tip from Dina Wakley

I have to admit, I generally choose solid cardstock as my page backgrounds. Very rarely do I begin with a whole sheet of patterned paper...not sure why, because like most scrappers, I adore paper! The new JBS bullseye paper just stood out to me, and I knew I wanted to use it as a background.

As I created my layout, I used several design tricks to help the photos stand out from the busy paper background:
1. I cut a rectangle out of the center of the paper so that there would be some solid cardstock peeking through. This gave me some visual white space to use in my design.
2. I put a piece of coordinating JBS paper through the layout horizontally. The paper gave me something on which I could anchor my photos.
3. I sewed around the photos with black thread. The sewing helps lead the eye to the photos.
4. I added some strips of black cardstock on the side of the photos to help them stand out from the paper background.
5. To break up the bullseye pattern, I tore the corners of the paper and added another JBS paper from the new line.
6. I used the circle element from one of the new JBS journaling cards for my title & journaling. The circle helps focus the eye on the center of the layout, and continues the bullseye motif.

I hope these little tips & tricks help you when you're creating with a patterned paper background! If you try any of them, let me know, I'd love to see your pages.

Dina

True To You

TRUE TO YOU...

have you ever created a layout where upon completing it you look at it and just feel like the colors don't fit the mood? or the embellishments are taking the attention from the photo? or do you ever just look at a page and think "wow, that's just not at all ME?!" i do. and when i do i can almost guarantee that it's a page that i overthought while creating it.

take, for instance, this layout i created using the may kit. i was excited about using this photo that was so slanted it could be scrapped both vertical and horizontal, i was excited to break out the new sandable green alphabet cardstock, and i hadn't used a bingo card on a layout in awhile and i really wanted to use one this month. the thing is, i try to go with my first instincts as far as color and design and when it comes to my scrapbooking, i try to get my pages finished in less than an hour. why? because i feel like if i'm taking more than that amount of time i am over-thinking it and forcing things that just don't "feel" right to me design-wise. as a result almost always end up with something that isn't me. i have learned over the years that very often it's those first instincts that i always go back to...no matter how hard i try to make something else work.

for me, staying true to my style is using lots of color, shades that fit the mood of the photos, a simplistic design and a few embellishments that add to the feel of the page without taking the focus off the photos. obviously, everyone's style is a little different (that's what makes art so fun!), and we all have a speed that works for us (i realize that an hour is way too long for some and unrealistically short for others), but it's important to stick to your own personal style.

and that is why i simplified my page, using the yellow cardstock that fits the warmth i feel when i look at this photo of my little family and that's design is smaller and more fitting for a multi photo layout. i also took off the bingo card, extra title and redid my journaling on the computer. the result is a layout that is much more cheryl and much less forced. i just wish i'd have gone with my first instincts...because if i had this layout would have been in my album days ago instead of sitting on my art desk screaming at me to tone it down and warm it up. :)

just remember, everyone else only sees our art for a day or 2 online, but we are the ones that will be looking at them for a lifetime...so stay true to you!

-cheryl
Thanks for the inspiration Cheryl!

Baby Mine by Ranjini Malhotra

I love to keep all the unused extras from JBS Monthly kits so I can create a random layout when the inspiration strikes. On this one, I simple added the Baby Girl diecut label paper on the edge as a border and then used the large monogram letter B from a past JBS kit to start off my title. I staggered a few photos underneath and finished it off with a butterfly, a few buttons and an old mini tag from my stash. When creating a layout like this, arrange your text and font work on a document and print it out on copy paper before you print on cardstock; that way you can line everything up and make sure it's all aligned where you want it.

Thanks for the inspiration Ranjini!

You and Me by Stephanie Howell

I have loved JBS for years.I gather and hold onto all sorts of lovely bits and pieces that Jenni makes. I have to MAKE myself use them. :)all of the beautiful trinkets, ephemera, and bits and bobs are absolutely perfect for making a collage style layout. lots of white space, and gorgeous bits of paper, tickets, die cuts, and textured embellishments tucked here and there.i scratched the rubon with my fingernail to remove some of the black and make it look more "antique".other than that, i just added touches wherever i fancied. no rhyme or reason really, just playing. JBS is fun to just *play* with.

Gorgeous! Thanks for the inspiration Stephanie!

Guest Star: Angie Lucas

Hello! Angie Lucas here with two nearly identical layouts created with Jenni Bowlin Studio's Homespun line. I LOVE this line!

Why on earth would I create two nearly identical layouts? One to give away and one to keep, of course! Here's the story:

A couple of years ago, I started a series of layouts about my siblings and siblings-in-law. The idea took root when my sister-in-law Suzanne turned 30. As a gift for her, I created a layout listing 30 things I loved about her (which sounds daunting at first, but it was really quite easy). I gave her a copy of the layout, and then I decided I just had to create a second version of the layout for me to keep. Since then, I’ve finished layouts for my brother-in-law Mike and my sister-in-law Becky (see below) right around the time they turned 30. But lately I’ve decided not to wait for my family members to turn 30 before I create their layouts, otherwise this project will stretch on for 7 more years! (My youngest sister is 23.) I do keep ongoing lists of "things I love" about the five remaining people on my list. And as ideas and attributes come to mind, I jot them down. (Does that sound like a LOT of people? Well, it is. I'm one of six children. And I'm not exactly sure why I've only completed layouts for the three in-laws so far. I DO love my siblings, I promise. All five of them!)

This is the first layout I created about Becky, who's the wife of my little brother, Jon. I think this is the version that will be hers to keep. Almost everything on the layout is from Jenni Bowlin's new "Homespun" line. This layout came together very quickly, thanks to the coordinated products. The little pennant stickers were so fun to play with!


This layout also features "Homespun" products; I used the remainder of the pink-polka-dot paper and combined patterns in a slightly different way. And I did a much better job aligning the "B-E-C-K-Y" pennants the second time around. It was an incredible exercise in creativity to create the same layout twice. Certain elements and their placement stayed exactly the same on both layouts, but a few other things shifted the second time around. In fact, as I worked on the second layout, I added a few things (the button and the horizontal strip of patterned paper) that weren't on the other layout. I liked the additions so much that I made sure to apply them to the original layout as well.

There's such a huge reward in shaking up your creative routine every now and then, whether it's by assembling the same layout twice, or choosing a different starting point (usually start with photos? try writing your journaling first!), or simply trying products you've never tried before. For even more creativity boosters, I'd encourage you to pick up a copy of the amazing UR2 Cre8ive eBook by Stacy Julian, available at ellapublishing.com. In fact, I'll even offer you a $1 coupon if you'd like to try it out! Just enter the code JENNISENTME at checkout to enjoy your discount (it expires April 9, 2010). And don't forget to download our FREE Super Sampler —a 22-page eBook that features one project or idea from every eBook published by Ella Publishing Co. so far.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy this beautiful first week of spring!
Guest blogger Angie Lucas is the owner of Ella Publishing Co. The former managing editor of Simple Scrapbooks magazine (RIP), Angie writes, edits, and scrapbooks professionally from her home in Sandy, Utah. The layouts above were previously featured on her personal blog at angielucas.com. To see the layouts about Suzanne and Mike mentioned above, click HERE.

Guest Star: May Flaum

I love the packaging on Jenni’s products, and the buttons and pins are especially lovely since they are a great size, have a hole already in the top center, and are sturdy. I put mine on a binder ring to store them as I gather more, and then realized that perhaps they would be good just like that – as a mini book!


I have a friend expecting a baby girl and I thought that it would be fun to pull photos off of her facebook page, print in small sizes (like 2 x 2) and place in this mini book so I can make her a little brag book for those first precious weeks. I covered the backs of the product cards with Core’dinations cardstock, and for the fronts I sanded, covered some parts with patterned paper, and just had fun!

I love how the butterflies, pins, and buttons add to my projects, and how a few things went a long way to make this book.

Next I wanted to do something with this cool paper from Jenni’s latest without covering it up. I remembered I have an unfinished wood tray that I’ve been meaning to dress up to use as a portable crafting tray for my beading and other small craft projects I want to work with outside my studio. I trimmed the paper and added two strips of another patterned paper and laid them all inside the tray (coated with liquid adhesive) and coated them with a sealant/adhesive. I used a foam brush to rub out air bubbles and purposely make creases and worn looking spots in the paper. I love the results!

Then just a bit of paint, some squares of paper for the front and back, and a few of my favorite buttons ever complete it!

I love how Jenni’s stuff is inspiring me and I just can’t stop playing! - May

http://www.mayflaum.wordpress.com/

A January February Merger

I still had lots of fun stuff leftover from my January and February kits, and since I love red and pink together I decided to blend the two. Delighted with the results. I must try it this again sometime. And here's a little fyi for you . . . Jenni just posted another March sneak plus a charming leprechaun kit that i think i NEED.

Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

Wait! Don't throw away that Jenni Bowlin Studio product packaging! It's way too cute! Yes I'm telling you that you even have to save your trash!

See that fun piece of patterned paper covered chipboard? Know what it is? You guessed it! Chipboard button packaging! I just covered the back with patterned paper and then distressed the edges a bit.

I even left the plastic shell on the front; I thought it looked like the whole piece was pop-dotted off the page only no pop dots. Plus, when I trimmed the top of that plastic just a bit it made a nice pocket for my journaling tags. Seriously happy trash to treasures.