{ my secret heart }

Walking down memory lane

I'm wrapping up Back to School month on the Jenni Bowlin blog today with this new layout. You can check it out here.

Yep, that's me. 1985. Yikes!!! I was rockin' the perm back then.

"INSPIRED" LAYOUT:  Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned paper: Jenni Bowlin; Stamps: Jenni Bowlin; Ink: Staz-On; Glitter: Martha Stewart; Stickers: Jenni Bowlin; Die cut alpha: MM Slice Handwritten; Punch: Fiskars; Other: machine stitching, Tim Holtz tiny attacher

As I was working on this layout, that Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire" kept playing in my head. So much was going on in 1985-86... the Challenger tragedy, Chernobyl, the Cold War ...yet it seems like such a simpler time.

Ok, I hope you have that song in your head now too. :)

M

It's a wrap

Well, it seems I have taken a bit of a blogging hiatus during August. I guess something had to give, because life has been super busy of late. Nonetheless, I've been doing some crafting and look forward to sharing new things this week.

First up is a sewing project. Head over to Fiskars for my tutorial on making these reusable cup wraps.

I'll be back soon with September JB Mercantile kit projects. It is a fantastic kit full of brand spankin' new product (lots of things from my CHA wish list!). There's a first look at the kit here.

M

Extra! Extra!

Just popping by to share something new from Jenni Bowlin Mercantile.

Check out the debut issue of the JBS Mercantile Gazette HERE.

Mercantile kit subscribers and kit purchasers will now receive this newsletter every month. It's full of great ideas and inspiration to go along with the kits.  

In addition, it's back to school month on the JBS blog and there are lots of fun school-related ideas coming your way from the DT.

Enjoy!

M

The little stuff

Where has this summer gone? I want to hit the pause button. 

Time seems to be going by so fast these days. While I love to document travels and events, I think I need to scrapbook more about everyday life. So, I was inspired to create this new layout with the Jenni Bowlin Mercantile August kit and Artisan add-on. In retrospect, I may have simply documented that I am getting old and admitted that I watch VH1. :) 

Cardstock: Bazzill, Coredinations; Patterned paper: Basic Grey, Fancy Pants; Wood veneer alpha: Studio Calico; Chipboard: Fancy Pants; Stamps: Jenni Bowlin, Technique Tuesday; Ink: StazOn; Other: Maya Road mist, patterned vellum paper; machine stitching, vintage typewriter

I sincerely love the colors and patterns in this kit and the add-on. The Fancy Pants patterned papers, chipboard pieces and journal embellishments are so fun and vibrant.

I paired the papers and embellishments with the JB label stamp set to create this collage.

Make sure you stop by the Jenni Bowlin Mercantile design team gallery and check out the new projects that were just posted.

M

In the blink of an eye

Sometimes I feel like my creative powers are running on extra slow speed. And then all of a sudden I push things around on the page and in the blink of an eye I'm super happy with what I created.

Does that ever happen to you? It happened to me with this card.

Card base: Hero; Patterned paper: The Girls' Paperie, Crate Paper; Cardstock: Bazzill, American Crafts; Punches: Fiskars, Martha Stewart; Stamps: Technique Tuesday, Studio Calico; Ink: Jenni Bowlin, StazOn; Button: Jenni Bowlin; Jewels: Martha Stewart; Other: Baker's twine, office supply tags; Die cut: Making Memories Slice Basics 2 design card

I used the Slice Basic 2 design card to cut the big butterfly and then put my punches and stamps to work. This was super easy and could be recreated with so many different patterned paper combinations, sentiments, and stamps.

Thanks for stopping by today!

M

Mountain adventure + Jenni Bowlin Mercantile

I am tardy to the August Jenni Bowlin party, but I have a good excuse! I have been away on a Colorado mountain adventure...

...but I'm back and ready to get down to some serious crafting. 

While I was away the August Papercrafting Kit sold out, but there's still time to pick up one of the fantastic add-ons or the project kit. This layout uses a few of my favorite things from the Artisan Add-On:  the JBS coral journaling stars tickets and the Studio Calico Wood Veneer Alphabets. 

Cardstock: Coredinations, American Crafts; Patterned Paper: BasicGrey, Fancy Pants; Chipboard Stars, tickets, and number stickers: Jenni Bowlin; Jewels: Prima; Silver mist: Maya Road; Corner rounder: Fiskars; Staples: Tim Holtz; Die cut alpha: Making Memories Slice Handwritten; Wood veneer alpha: Studio Calico; Ink: JB Malted Milk; Pen: American Crafts

The tickets are perfect journaling spots and such a bright vibrant color. Love them!

I also used the JB Malted Milk ink pad with an ink blending tool in several places on this layout. I used it to ink the edges of my photos, stencil on the patterned paper in the zig zag pattern, and darken the Studio Calico wood veneer letters. Malted Milk + August JB kits = perfect!

More projects to share in a few days!

M