Punch Challenge!

Hello! This week's challenge is to get punchy! Post your projects featuring punches in the JBS Mercantile Customer Gallery and mention "Sunday Star: Punches" in the comments section. We'll pick a winner on Sunday, March 6th and that winner will receive a $10 gift card to spend at JBS Mercantile. Here are a few samples from the February Gallery to get your started. Happy Scrapping!

Punched clouds sewn in a row by Doris . . .

Variations on the circle scattered across the background by Doris . . .

Delicate hearts clustered around the focal photo by Michelle . . .

Hearts, circles, and hydrangeas on a garland by Keisha . . .

Stars punched on the negative space by Danielle . . .

Hydrangeas drifting down the age by Betsy. :)

Grid Challenge Winner!

Congratulations to Chris Aiton our Grid Challenge Winner! I love her creative out of the box approach to this challenge. The embroidery card with the Superior Stick Pin is such a sweet touch too. Chris, email me at doris.sander@gmail.com and I'll get your gift card sent!

We have several Sunday Star Challenges currently open; you can see them to the right on the sidebar. Post your work in our customer gallery for a chance to win a $10 gift card to JBS Mercantile!

February Customer Spotlight!

Our February Customer Spotlight winner is Clouds Shadler. I have been charmed by this first layout since she posted it and admire it every time I swing through our customer gallery. I love every little detail but most especially the way she used the Group Photo paper.

Here is a sweet layout she made from the December Papercrafting Kit. I love the contrast between the obvious winter motif and the warmth of her color choices on this one. It makes me feel all cozy when it's cold outside.

And here is one she created with the January Papercrafting Kit. The subtle tone-on-tone in the garland is just perfection. I also love the way she rocks bingo cards and circles.

Do check out her blog. I saw some awesome cards on there that I think you will enjoy as well.

Thanks for the inspiration Clouds! Email me at doris.sander@gmail.com and I'll get your prize sent to you.

We'll be spotlighting another creative talent right here on March 5th. We'd love to see your work and the winner just might be YOU. Post some of your creativity in our customer gallery. The winner each month receives a $20 gift card to JBS Mercantile.

Love Notes

I bought these beautiful little works of art at a Flea Market last summer.

The woman who sold them to me said they were Victorian Calling Cards. She explained that in the Victorian era, a person would bring this card with them when visiting a friend and place it on their friend's entry way table.

These cards are inscribed with the callers name underneath the flowery decoration:

If you google "Victorian Calling Cards" you'll find lots of information about them and how they were used. I'd love to incorporate them into some type of project, but I'm just not sure what yet. Aren't they sweet?!

The postcards below were my dear father-in-law's and were discovered after he passed away. He was great at saving memorabilia and showed us most everything, but these we did not know about. My father-in-law was Italian, and my husband thinks these may have been given to him while serving in the Army during WWII in Italy. Each card depicts a pencil drawn scene of a man and woman in love and some have an Italian sentiment.

Some of the sentiments are:

"Ti prometto il mio sincero affetto." I promise you my sincere affection.

"Sogno un amore puro e sconfinato." I dream of a love pure and without end.

And this post would not be complete without a photo of my fil:

I imagine this kind, quiet young man in his uniform with these postcards in his pocket.

It makes me smile!

Altered Clipboard by Michelle McCord

Michelle made this adorable altered clipboard from our new release, Be Our Guest, to hang in her daughters' room. The colors are just perfect for a vintage loving mama.

She made her folk art inspired sun from one of the Maya Road XL bottle caps in our mid-month release.

The charming flower garden was made from her stash of circle and heart punches while the butterfly was soaked in her favorite ink, Chilli Powder.

Thanks for the inspiration Michelle!

Happy Valentine's

We hope you enjoyed all our Valentine's ideas last month. You can find a complete directory of them HERE in case you missed any. This is a sweet hanging heart set that Jenni made. You can find a project kit for them with the mid-month release. This month we'll be sharing some creativity with our Jenni Bowlin for Ranger line, so stay tuned!

JBS Mercantile February!

The February Gallery and Kits are up! Welcome to another amazing month at JBS Mercantile!