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

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