B is for 'Baby'

~ Plan to see several baby boy layouts in the near future! I've finally gotten most of my nephew's first days scrapped, and I hope to share some of the layouts with you. This one is fairly simple and features my handsome brothers and me holding the most precious little guy...who is now over 19 months old!!!

The background paper is from Creative Memories; other cardstock & patterned papers are from various sources. The layout also features a stamped and colored giraffe (Studio G), a journaling box rub-on, some baby stickers from a Scrap Pad, and a little bit of ink distressing. Here's a closer look at the 2nd page:

~ Babies: sure help keep life in perspective!!

Jessica in Kansas

p.s. If you pay attention, you can tell when I'm spending my weeks out of town for work. Without much else to do in a hotel room, I get to catch up on blogging during the evenings!

All "geared" up & manly...

~ How cool is this for a masculine card?? I have the hardest time creating cards for the special guys in my life because they don't tend to appreciate fun bright colors, Primas, Stickles, and decorative borders!!!

I was thrilled when I discovered these cutting files designed by Jan Bryson of Sam & Hailey Designs. The gear-themed Roundie card quickly cut like a dream! I used metallic cardstocks and black Staz-On for the distressed look. The stamped sentiment is from Stampin' Up! A copper brad and a silver bookplate attached with cord helped to complete the project. The smaller gears in different varieties were perfect for embellishing the envelope!

Hope you had a great Monday!!

Jessica in Kansas

purple + orange...

~ Purple + orange = outside of my comfort zone...but I did it anyway!


Below are a few projects I put together when I was in a very strange mood. I'm not sure why, but I felt inspired to use this color combination...and just ran with it. I also challenged myself to use some tabs on these projects...some of those supplies I had to have, but hadn't yet put to use!! The stamps used are Stampin' Up!, purple felt flowers are by Paper Studio, orange punched flowers are actually a Martha Stewart wedding supply, tabs by ColorBok, corner punch by Fiskars, Stickles in various colors, & miscellaneous brads, cardstock, & patterned paper. The card bases & envelopes are from Target.

Enjoying spring,

Jessica in Kansas

Get Well (glitter makes it all better)

~ I had the pleasure of creating this card using a cutting file designed by Carrie Schwartz of Carrie's Creations. The layered pieces add some dimension to the card, and I prettied them up with some inking techniques and Stickles. I was struck by the detail of this project compared to how quick and easy it was to create!!

~Glitter is a miracle drug...for me anyways!

Jessica in Kansas

Baby Boy & Gator

~ Babies, Boys, & Gators...oh my!! It seems that babies are being born left and right around me...and they are all little guys! It's been quite some time since I've used any pink on baby creations!

I had purchased the perfect gift bag for a baby shower gift, but needed a coordinating card to accompany it. Thanks to the creative talent of one of my favorite cutting file designers, Jan Bryson, this one came together quite quickly! For this card, I used pieces of the following cutting files: Baby Animal Silhouettes (gator) & Super Quick Card - Baby Boy (title).

While creating the card, I used various patterned papers & solid cardstock, ink pads for edging/distressing, a ticket corner punch, and some mini buttons 'sewn' with Scrapper's Floss. It was enjoyed by the mom-to-be, which places it into my "success" category!

~ Jessica in Kansas