Paper and Ink: Kids Crafts

Hello! Wilna here! So, for most of us that have kids, the summer holidays need to be more than hours of video games or watching TV. Here is a cool idea to get the creative juices flowing for the young at heart. I saw this cool idea on pinterest and thought it the perfect craft.

You will need:
*The tree template printed out on the background paper. You can also just have the kids draw it in pencil.
*Patterned papers
*Ink pads
*Glue
*Scissors
*Kids willing to be creative (I got 2 out of 3 for this one)

Click on this tree to open it big and then you can right click the image and select save as. Or just drag it to your desktop. The format is 8.5 x 11.

 How to:
*Print the tree on paper. I had some 13x19 papers so i printed it big.
*Now ask the children to cover the tree with patterned paper cut in little strips so that you can't see any of the outlines except the top branches.
*Once that is complete, the can print the leaves using ink pads and their fingers.

Time:
* it took my girls about an hour to complete it.

More ideas:
* We were on a schedule, but if you have more time use some water colors and add some grass/clouds. You can also make some birds from patterned paper and add it to the tree.

Here's a few pictures of the process:

love and a kiss

Wilna Furstenberg

Happy Fourth of July!

We hope all of you stateside are having a lovely Fourth of July weekend!

Here is a lovely bit of decor from Kerry Lynn Yeary. Be sure to check her blog for the details on how she created this charming slice of Americana. :)

Guest Star Kimberly Neddo!

Hello, my name is Kimberly Neddo. I am both pleased and honored to be guest designing with these gorgeous new products by Jenni Bowlin. I’ve been crafting for 15 years and counting! My favorite subjects are my beautiful family that I have been blessed with. They include my husband Todd; My children Noel (18), Foster (15) and Olivia(9) and 3 bonus children; Mike (21), Alex (21) and Charlie (15). My favorite productsto create with are Stamps and Patterned papers. I love to find ways to create unique embellishments using premade products. Thank you so much for having me as a Guest this month, I’ve enjoyed working with this AMAZING new line of products!
Loves,
Kimberly

Thanks for the amazing inspiration Kimberly!

You can see more of Kimberly's lovely creations at the following sites:
My Blog: http://kimberlygarofolo.typepad.com/capturing_the_moments/
Photo a day Blog: http://kimberlygarofolo.typepad.com/cme2011/
Photography website : http://www.kimberlyneddophotography.com/

Here is a list of the products I used to create this layout: Patterned Paper- Haven- Cherries Ripe (PP658), Haven Mini Pattern Sheet (PP661) and Haven Accessory Sheet (PP660) Stickers: Mini Chalkboard Alpha-Red (SK570) and Cardstock Alpha Stickers- Black tiny dot (SK359)Stamp: Lace border (AS649)Ink: Fountain Pen (JBP28574)

July JBS Mercantile!

The July Gallery is loaded and it's AMAZING! Stuffed with inspiration! You'll especially want to check out the fun things that have been done with the new exclusive Butterfly Mask and Soda Water Clear Stamp that are only available in July's Main Kit. Here are just a couple gallery teasers from Lisa Dickinson (beautiful butterfly above) and this month's guest, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer (stamped soda water label paper below).

Guest Star Jill O'Neal!

Our special guest star today is Jill O'Neil who shares this sweet layout and beautiful bookmark with us. Jill says, "I am a wife to my amazing hubby of (almost) 13 years, mommy to 3 beautiful girls, I work full time as an Ultrasonographer and enjoy paper crafting/design and photography in my spare time. I am truly blessed!"

"When I opened up the kit, I fell in love with the vintage feel of it. I was drawn most to the black and cream polka dot paper, sheet music paper, and pink grapefruit pearl flowers. You can see that I used those elements on my 12x12 layout and also the bookmark. If you look closely, you'll see that I also used the ledger paper packaging material from the acrylic stamps and pearl flowers on each project, I am a true "scrapper," never letting much hit the trash can!I also love the heavy cardstock-quality letter stickers and labels."

Thanks for the inspiration Jill!

Guest Star Jodie Butler!

Hi, my name is Jodie Butler and I live in Western Australia. I have been married for eleven years and am mum to six beautiful children, three boys and three girls, all aged between 4 and 12 years.I discovered scrapbooking about 5 years ago after buying a card making book written by Emily Falconbridge and have been hooked ever since! I'm not sure how you would describe my style...but I love imperfection. I like layouts that show "real life" and I almost always include journaling on my pages. I love neutrals with bright pops of colour, fabric, masking tape, floral patterns, and vintage trims. I love incorporating vintage finds and unusual bits and pieces on a page for an eclectic look.I have been published in Scrapbooking Memories magazine and also served as a Creative Team member for the magazine in 2010. I design for the online store Scrapboxx and the Aussie challenge site Scrap The Girls. You can visit me at my blog Creativity and Love.

Guesting in July - Julie Fei-Fan Balzer!

My name is Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and I am a mixed-media artist and avid scrapbooker living in the middle of New York City. I tend to focus on integrating my every day life into everything I create. I love art that looks handmade - lots of tearing and inking and handwriting and hand cutting. I believe that mistakes are opportunities and hold fast to the notion that enjoyment of the process is just as important as the finished product! I like to think outside of the box --experimenting with paper, paint, and fabric. I'm also a technique and tool junkie, always trying to find a way to push my supplies further and see all the possibilities. You can see more of my work on my blog, on the upcoming season of Scrapbook Soup TV (PBS), and I have a line of stencils debuting with The Crafter's Workshop in July!

This was a very joyful layout to make. I think that's why it's myfavorite. It was one of those layouts where everything I tried just seemed to work. I had an idea for the background and I wasn't sure how it was going to come together. I was delighted when all of those tone-on-tone strips worked together and then the splash of turquoise seemed to jazz it up a bit. I'll admit that I was nervous when I decided to scrawl the big black scratchy circle on my layout. But Ialways try to embrace those kooky ideas, those things that scare me,and force myself to take the creative leap. And I'm so pleased that I did! One of the important creative lessons I've learned in the last year has been to stop making things so precious. So with that mantra in my mind, I cut up my Sassafras stickers, layered in paper and somevintage items, and just did what felt good. And I love the title with its glittery "glam" and hand-painted "girl." That combination of hard and soft has always appealed to me.

We live in a two-bedroom apartment and my sweet husband handed over the master bedroom to me for my studio. My creative space is all about the drawers. I *adore* drawers. They're the easiest way I knowof to stay organized because you can be messy, but still know where everything is.

I recently stopped by my husband's law firm and snapped this photo of him before he was aware that I was there. He was chatting on the phone with a client and reviewing some documents on his computer, but he's so relaxed and comfortable with his feet up on the desk. I think it's great that he loves his job. He's one of those lucky people whois spectacularly good at something that he loves to do. I smile everytime I look at this photo!