magenta + teal

~ Interesting color combo, huh?!?! Somehow I was inspired to give it a try, and it grabbed me!!! I made a few different cards and a recipe layout while I was at it! The magenta decorative border was fun to pair with some stamped images, Primas, silk flowers, buttons, my new favorite Scrapper's Floss by Karen Foster, and of course...some Stickles!


= FUN
Jessica in Kansas

home SWEET home

~ Here's a layout I created using lots of moving-in photos taken after buying our first house a few years ago. I wanted to apply lots of photos to these pages, so I followed a sketch that encouraged the tiling effect. It worked out pretty well. I also used a package of coordinating cardstock stickers, and a large key die cut. For as quickly as it went together, I was quite impressed with how this spread turned out!

There truly is NO place like home!!
Jessica in Kansas

fAMILY fOTOS - a muted layout

~ I have realized that I spend time blogging my papercrafts of all kinds, but never the layouts I create in an effort to capture and preserve memories. Therefore, I plan to begin throwing some of my album pages in the mix! I usually scrap 12X12, two-page spreads. I like the options that the size allows me, and the availability of fitting several pictures into one spread. I also tend to scrapbook one event or theme on each spread, as I prefer to have my pages coordinate. The exception to my 12X12 preference is my vacation albums, which I scrap in 8X8" size.


This is a 12X12 layout which features some family portraits. I love the soft browns and pinks, and they way they compliment the muted tones of the photos.
~ Enjoy,
Jessica in Kansas

Valentine's Day ~ a little behind!

~ So, I totally realize that Valentine's Day is long over, but I want to share a few of my holiday projects.

This matching Card Box Purse & Criss Cross Card/Tag were both created using files by Jan Bryson of Sam & Hailey Designs. I made them for a friend who had a February 14th wedding! The card box held the gift card perfectly, along with the card. The colors and papers I chose were inspired by the striped ribbon, which I fell in love with! These were lots of fun to create.

This fun folded I {heart} You Card was enjoyed by my hubby when I gave it to him! Carrie Schwartz of Carrie's Creations is the designer of the cutting file I put to use. After cutting and assembling this simple (but fabulous) card, I embellished with a little doodling & lots of Stickles (truly a staple in my scrap room)! Super cute, huh??

A little love is still in the air!!
Jessica in Kansas

Winter, Winter, PLEASE GO AWAY!!

~ This Kansas winter has been worse than I ever remember, and I'm soooo ready for it to pass (she says as it's snowing and sleeting the first of 6" expected before the end of tomorrow)!!! I've stayed extremely busy this cold season, as you may have guessed by my absence! I have, however, attended a few crops and spent some time in my scrap room being productive. The projects below are winter-inspired, and this snowy evening seems like the perfect time to share them!
These winter-themed Post-It Notes Cover were super simple to cut and create from a file designed by Shirley Clark. I used my KNK to cut the outer wrap and band, then just embellished with ink, 3-D snowflakes, and some bling-y Stickles, of course!!!

This recipe page was inspired by my new Cuttlebug folder & this shimmery white & bronze cardstock from Cutcardstock.com. The little hats were cut from patterned paper and embellished with Stickles. A small snowflake stamp filled in the open areas, and these were done!! I love simple & cute!

That's my winter inspiration for ya!!
Jessica in Kansas

Family recipe

~ My mom has always made the BEST homemade chicken noodle soup...complete with homemade noodles. I asked her, a while back, to record the recipe for me the next time she made it...and she did!! I have enjoyed having it so much that I decided to put it into a special recipe page. I made extras for my mom and my brothers!! I know that the family recipe will be treasured long after my mom leaves the earth!

It's a good day for soup,
~Jessica in Kansas

I'm back...once again ~

~ After another long hiatus, I am ready to blog again!! My New Year's resolution: better care for myself by finding a wonderful balance between work, play, and relaxation!!! Hopefully, that entails papercrafting and blogging a lot more regularly in 2010!!

That being said, I do have a little blogging to catch up on. Before I start posting my winter projects, I have a few more fall projects to share with you.

First, this fabulous Designer Purse was made using my Klic-N-Kut and an awesome file designed by Shirley Clark of Paperthreads. It can be used to put a small gift or gift card in. I gave one that was filled with candy to a co-worker this fall! I used velcro as the closure, and the handle pivots. The bottom trim that looks like leather is simply kraft colored cardstock which has been crinkled and inked before drawing the stitch lines.


I also spent some time making a few tear bears this fall. They are each holding a sign or something fall-related. I'm finding my tear critters get cuter each time I create them, and I was really pleased with how these came out. There are 8 of them in all!


I know fall is long gone, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to share these projects!! Winter stuff is coming up next!!

Happy 2010!!!
~ Jessica in cold, snowy Kansas

Turkey Day is on Its Way!!!

~ I just LOVE this time of year!! Spending time reminiscing, eating, relaxing, laughing, and playing games with family is something I love more than a lot of things! I'm getting really excited as next Thursday approaches...and then, as we all know, the rest of the year flies by!

In my excitement about the holiday season, I've completed a few festive papercraft projects. They are both from cutting files designed by Shirley Clark. The first is a Turkey Treat Box. How cute is this?? I filled one with Hershey's Nuggets and gave it to the receptionist at work today! She was extremely appreciative!
The second is a turkey holding a sign. I plan to use him on a layout with holiday pictures and hand write our family's last name on the wooden sign!
I hope you've been inspired to be excited about the upcoming holiday!!! Have a super weekend!

Gobble, gobble!
Jessica in Kansas

Hanging On To Warm Weather & Fun Colors!!

~ So, I just heard on the news that we may get some of that white stuff early next week. I'm shivering just thinking about it!! I always look forward to the first snow, which is usually beautiful in Kansas, but then I'm ready to bid winter farewell!!!

Just thinking about the arrival of winter has inspired me to think warm!! Therefore, this post includes bikinis and fun summer color combinations! I'll soon be posting some Thanksgiving & fall projects, but in the meantime...This tear bear is ready to soak up some rays at the pool or beach! Isn't she cute??!!! She was inspired by one of my favorite patterns from myscrapchick.com. I tore and assembled this Teeny Bikini Bear from thick mulberry paper, added a few details with chalk, pens, and punched shapes for the eyes & nose. The bikini was cut using my Klic-N-Kut from the myscrapchick.com pattern. I embellished it with a swirly background stamp, a Prima flower combined with a pink jewel, and some fun Stickles...a staple in my scrap room! She's one of my favorite tear critter creations yet!!
~ Check out these fabulous gift ideas! My friend, Shirley Clark, developed this Post-It Cover pattern and sent me the cutting file. Talk about incredibly easy, fabulously fun, and very versatile...
These went together quite quickly, and I love the possibilities. The band can be left plain or embellished in numerous ways. I was obviously in a flowery mood the day I made these!! I think I'll create and give these to the ladies at work this holiday season!!

~~~ One of my favorite blogs to visit is Lisa's Stampin! Weblog, and she's offering some awesome blog candy this week. Follow the above link to her site and tell her "hello"...even if you don't win, you'll benefit greatly from the ideas on her blog!!

~ Warm, wintery hugs from Kansas,
Jessica

A few cards...

Happy November!!! I have some catching up to do with my blog, so here it goes!! Below is a menagerie of greeting cards I have made and given to special people in my life over the past few months.
This card was made for my precious nephew on his 1st birthday! I used a Stampin' Up! stamp set, different patterned papers, paper tearing & various inks, some twisted fiber, and lots of bright colors. He did not know any better, but I thought it was super cute and boyish...especially with a googly-eyed elephant!
This one was made for some great friends of ours who got married. I got to use my new scalloped oval punch from SU!, some fun clear stamps, and the silver cardstock, which I just LOVE! The color combination is a little different, but I am trying to steer clear of my habits when it comes to choosing colors for my projects!
Here's another challenging color combination. A good friend and co-worker of mine turned 50 last month, and this image & sentiment called her name!!! This card was pretty simple, with layers, mats in black, and a colored image. I had to tie in some black since she's officially over the 2nd hill now!!
This last card was fun to make. It was for Joe on our 3rd wedding anniversary. I used different stamp-type stamps on 1-inch squares, and cut the "3" from a template. The different blues were intentional since that's his favorite color. He was as impressed as a guy gets about these things!!

~ Happy fall,
Jessica in Kansas