Guest Star: May Flaum

I’ve been a fan of Jenni Bowlin’s creations for as long as I’ve known about her! What I love most is that she indulges my love for all things vintage and antiqued while still remaining useful and perfect for my current photos. I utilize JBS products in a lot of my projects – and today I will share two layouts.

First, this is a layout all about my daughter’s new color obsession – red. It’s her signature color (so she tells me) and the red/black paper line extension papers were the perfect choice for this page. I cut ¾” strips of the damask circle die cut paper and crumpled them before adhering to the back of a hand cut heart from a contrasting paper. Then I stuck them down onto a sheet of kraft cardstock and stitched it all together. I just love paper ruffles!

I also pieced together a flower using leaves I cut out from another paper on this page and added white stitching for contrast as well as a (glitter & inked) chipboard button. I had such a good time pulling this page together – and I know these products will show up in Christmas and other layouts as well (Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!)
Next I turned my attention to a pair of photos that just tug on my heart in the best way. My daughters (in matching dresses) aboard the steamboat at Disneyland hugging and being sweet as can be.

The colors and feel seemed perfect to use with the spring picnic papers. I’ve mentioned it on my blog and I’ll mention it here now – I adore the core’dinations embossed cardstock Jenni did!!! It combines two personal favorites and I always have the best time with it.

For this page I used some of the Crackle paint (by Tim Holtz in color worn lipstick) to help show off the big dots embossed on the paper. It was hard being patient while the paint dried but oh so fun to see the results!

Adding in some random stitching (straight and zig-zag – way fun!), some felt butterflies, some older rub-ons, and a few other perfect finishing touches and I came out with this layout.

May Flaum is a lifelong crafter who never met a crafting rule she wanted to break (just for fun, of course). When she’s not making a creative mess in her studio you can find her playing with her daughters, enjoying life as a firefighter’s wife, or curled up reading a book somewhere. She is an instructor for www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com and you can read up on her latest craft-ventures at www.mayflaum.wordpress.com

And May actually had so much fun working with JBS that she couldn't resist sending us just one more fabulous layout!

Don't you just adore all the sweet details on this one?

And she's right; that JBS Core'dinations Cardstock is great to work with.

Thanks for the inspiration May!

JBS Mercantile January Exclusives

January is bright, colorful, happy, and fun! Can't wait!

Oh! And check out Jenni's December gallery! She loaded a new layout today!

Back by Popular Demand!

Good news! We have just a very few of the super popular 7gypsies Artist Printer's Trays back in stock. You can choose the Christmas Kit (shown) or the empty trays. Remember the JBS Mini Bingo cards are a perfect fit. Imagine making a darling Valentine's Day tray or a sweet baby boy or baby girl tray to show off pictures from that first year. Order today, as supplies are very limited!

Guest Star: Celeste Smith

Adorable! Be sure to read the journaling!

Thanks for the inspiration Celeste!

Happy Birthday Terena!

Happy Birthday Terena! Hope your day is stellar!!!

Terena is one of my coworkers here at JBS. She works hard to make sure all your treats get to you each month. Please join me in wishing her a happy happy birthday.

And now the long promised tissue paper flower tutorial . . .

Cut several sheets of tissue paper into small squares. (2x2, 3x3, 4x4). Fold them together into fourths. (half and then half again). Cut across the top only into the shape of a heart.

Spread the layers out and then rotate each on a quarter turn so the edges are all aligned differently as shown.

Pinch the back into a point to gather the center just a bit. Staple the center and then fluff the layers.

Add a fun buttons center and you're done!

December Gallery Updates!

Check out the gallery links for additional layouts, detail shots, and write-ups!
Keisha's gallery has two layout additions . . .

Michelle's gallery has two additional layouts and an advent calendar . . .

Becky's gallery has two layout additions . . .

and Doris's gallery has an additional layout and card!

December kits still available!

We Interrupt Our Reguarly Scheduled Programming to Announce . . .

that Stephanie Howell is joining the JBS Manufacturing Design Team! Now you can look forward to seeing her work her magic with JBS here on The Inspiration Blog each month!Stephanie says . . .

I have loved Jenni for years. She is one of the main reasons i started scrapbooking and a big reason why I still love it with all of my heart. I have always kind of thought that she must be able to read my mind because her releases are pure perfection and a perfect match for my style. This is a dream come true. ;)

We think you are the perfect match for our style too! Welcome Stephanie!

P.S. Gallery updates tomorrow . . . for realsies!