Monday, June 28, 2010

Jenni Bowlin Studio = Vintage FUN!

One of my favorite lines in the vintage genre is Jenni Bowlin Studio. It has such a FUN and ENERGETIC feel! The products are extremely versatile and the colors are rich and inspiring! They make your artwork come alive with personality!

There are so many tidbits to choose from, you will want to collect them all! Buttons, Pearl Flowers, Mini Papers, Mini Bingo Cards, Journaling Cards, Calendars, Tickets, Mini Books, Alphabet Stickers, Chipboard Buttons, Butterflies, Crepe Paper Ribbon, Stick Pins and More!!!! There is even Core'dinations Paper with Jenni Bowlin Designs! Some of it was used in the background of this spectacular layout! (Layout example is courtesy of the Jenni Bowlin website, please check it out HERE for endless inspiration!)

Jenni makes scrapbooking, paper crafts, and altered art easy by color coordinating her embellishments and making them so versatile, you will find yourself reaching for them with every project. From the Jenni Bowlin Catalog, here is Jenni's take on her products. She says it best..."My products are indeed, merely building blocks. I designed them with the truly creative spirit in mind - to be interpreted in different ways by different people. Simple enough as not to overwhelm the novice, but with a creative edge that inspires the most seasoned scrapbooker. I believe there is something for everyone in this line."

I believe it too! I want to share my top three personal favorites with you...let me know what you think!

My #1 Favorite - The MINI PAPERS!!! The Mini Papers are actually the reduced patters of their larger sister papers,making them perfect for smaller projects - ATCs, Mini Albums, Card Making, Collages and More! WARNING - They are SERIOUSLY CUTE! You get 24 sheets of 4" by 4" paper in each pack. Four each of six different styles and they are very affordable!


My #2 Favorite - CHIPBOARD BUTTONS! You get 12 buttons total in each package (6 of the 1.5" and 6 of the 1"). With patterns that include playful polka dots, vintage inspired illustrations, classic milk caps (to die for;), your artwork will be anything but boring! I like to use them in the middle of big flowers or thread twine through the button holes and tie it in a bow. As you might guess, my "go to" is the Milk Caps, but I also love the Reader ones. I "heart" vintage kids stuff;)

Ok, one more...My #3 Favorite - MINI BINGO CARDS!! Once again, they are "mini" so that makes them automatically cute! The Mini Bingo cards are ATC sized, too! Each package contains 6 mini bingo cards (one each of six different styles)! They add an element of fun and nostalgia - you will find sooooo many uses for these!



***BLOG CANDY ALERT***Check out all the products we carry from Jenni Bowlin Studios HERE! What is your favorite? Which ones intrique you? Is there anything else you would like to see on this list? Inquiring minds want to know... Leave a comment and I will draw a lucky winner on Friday. That lucky person will win this Jenni Bowlin Assortment! Good Luck everyone!

I hope this "made" you day;) ~TERRA

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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Happy Birthday, Reba!



Meet our Logistics Coordinator, Reba! Reba joined our team this past March and has really been a tremendous asset to our team! She heads up our shipping department making sure that our customers get the speediest service possible. Reba is very dedicated to her duties and is always looking to learn more!



She comes to us from North Carolina, bringing some Southern charm to the office. Reba is a happy wife to husband, Richard and proud Mom to her son Anthony, and daughter, Candace. In her spare time she likes to make beautiful jewelry (like the necklace she is wearing in the picture above)!! She also likes to try new recipes in the kitchen with her husband, and we are lucky to get some samples in the office!!

We are very happy and lucky to have Reba on our team!! Won't you take a moment to wish Reba a very Happy Birthday?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Steph

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Friday, June 25, 2010

Craving Cricut Cartidges?

Wall Decor and More
Prepare yourselves, everyone, I'm about to gush about a few of our products!!! We just received Wall Decor and More from Cricut Cartridge. Just in case you didn't know, Cricut Cartridge is a company that makes personal electronic cutters - all you need is a Cricut Personal Electric Cutter and a Cartridge and you cut tons of designs and alphabets for paper crafting, home decor, scrapbooking, and more!! I highly recommend that you check out the video just to see some examples of the cool things you can make with Wall Decor and More - the name really doesn't lie; there is SO much that you can do with this one! I could definitely see Wall Decor and More being perfect for a little girl's room because of the castles and crowns, or a little boy's room because of the sailboat, but it could also work for a neutral kids' room because of the giraffe and the other animals. There is even a teapot image that could be used for a little get together invitation and a cute telephone (yes, it has a cord attached like the "old days" before cordless and cell phones!) that could be used to make a neat little sign above a home telephone. The toughest question regarding this Cartridge is what to do first!!
I'm also a fan of the Cindy Loo Cartridge - it's neat with the small woodland animals and trees. They have sort of a cutesy feel to them, but I think it'd be perfect for a "just saying hello" kind of card or a camping scrapbook. If you're not so into the cutesy animals, this is still a good Cartridge to get because of the variety of flourishes. It has everything from paisley swirls to leaves and flowers. I think it'd be nice for any scrapbooking/paper project - so many options for finishing touches that will bring a good project up to outstanding status.

Mini Monsters
I know it may seem soon, but it's never too early to start planning for Halloween! Cricut has a new cartridge called Mini Monsters that is terrific for Halloween holidays or monster fanatics : ) It includes layered monsters, ghosts, pumpkins, and other iconic Halloween images like spiders, tombstones, etc. Not to scare anyone, but people have already started buying Halloween- and Christmas-themed products that we have! If you're going to buy any one item for Halloween this year, you should go for Mini Monsters - just look at them and how adorable they are!!

I hate to say it because the summer season is beautiful, but I am wishing for fall-like weather right now. Outside, it is the typical humid Ohio heat - I could really go for some cool weather like we had yesterday!!! Hah...I fit the cliche that people always want what they can't have : ) Enjoy the weather where you are!

-Sarah
sarah@simonsaysstamp.com

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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Brand New from PB and TGF Winner!



Sweet Thing

Try not to fall in love with the brand new line from Penny Black...Sweet Things! Seriously, try not to! These sweet images are perfect for summer stamping and sending warm sunshiny thoughts and wishes to those you love! Check out the new line and let me know what you think!


Mimi & Friend


Easy Rider


Betsy Bluebell Clear Set


....And our lucky ducky winner of the super cute TGF "Savannah" is...LEAH THE ORANGE!


Here's what she had to say:


“Oh my GOODNESS, how utterly cute is this SET?! i haven't seen these! fave TGF stamp to date? i think it would have to be Wild Sprout Stella - i love her style, with the short bob hair! :) off to see what else is new!”


Congrats, Leah! Please email me (Steph@SimonSaysStamp.com) your addy so I can send your prize!



Steph


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Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Sizzix Dies are Back In Stock!!!


Yay! The Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Dies are BACK IN STOCK! We got A LOT of them in today! I was soooo excited I jumped up and down while holding a box cutter AND I'm 6 1/2 months pregnant...needless to say, everyone was a little worried about me!!!! Don't worry...everything is OK and I promise I won't do it again;)

To celebrate, I have a fabulous tutorial for you by Christina Thomas. Check out her blog HERE, it's called Creations with Christina! She made some spectacular flowers using the Tattered Florals dies and Tim Holtz Distress Inks.




Other supplies you might need are...

Inkssentials Craft Sheet
Heat It Craft Tool
Hot Glue Gun
Mini Mister
Reverse Tweezers
Glossy Accents
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Diamond Dust

And we just got these fabulous pearls in from Blue Moon! Check these out for the center of your flowers....

I know, they are AWESOME! And you get sooooo many in a pack - different sizes too!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, please stop by Christina's Blog and let her know how much you enjoyed it!

I hope this "made" your day;)
~TERRA

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Tattered Angels!!!

Dear Readers,
Attention: Simon Says Stamp has new product from Tattered Angels!! For example, the Adventure color kit!! Each color kit comes with three shades of glimmer mist plus a clear coat! While packing an order this morning, I came across a color kit and remarked that it was not only cute, but a great way to get to get to know Glimmer Mists! I've been working to get to know these products a little bit better and have found out some really neat facts!

For example, there are three basic techniques for using Glimmer Mists:
1.) the light/even mist, created by holding the bottle back from your project (depending on how light you want the mist, hold closer or farther away)
2.) the raindrop effect, created by holding Glimmer Mist closer to your project and very slowly squeezing down on the sprayer
3.) the pooling effect, created by holding the Glimmer Mist very close to your project (this one gives the most intense color)
I've got to be honest here - I'm a big fan of the Tattered Angels Clear Stamps. The one shown at the right is called Seaside Coastal Breeze and I'm in love with it because of the flourishes! I like that they're not too showy, but they add a bit of flair to projects. I would recommend using Archival Ink for glimmer mist projects because then your image will not blur or become wishy-washy. Archival Ink is AMAZING for this type of project or any where you want the image to stay crisp and defined.



Timeless Romance Glimmer Screens
As you can see in the video, some Tattered Angels stamps have matching stencils to help users achieve certain shimmer patterns! This is exciting because sometimes I feel like I get stuck in a creative rut (or my ideas are bigger than my abilities) and it's always nice to have something to fall back on that you know will work : ) The Glimmer Screens are great because not only do they help with highlighting the coordinating stamps, but they can also be used on their own with chalks, paints, or other inks! Glimmer Mists are water-based so they are not water-resistant, but this also means that they will not stain clothing...it may take a few washes, but I haven't had any disasters where Glimmer Mist didn't come out of my clothes. Fun fact that I learned: Glimmer Mist washes off of skin best with shampoo!
I like that the Tattered Angels mists are so versatile. I've seen them used on flowers for a fresh, dewy look. They dry instantly on wood. The mists stick to metal and glass. They can be used on plastic for a stained glass effect. You can let them air dry, blot it dry with a paper towel, or use a heat source like the super quiet Heat It Craft Tool from Ranger. Want to know a cool trick that I learned from a watercolor class? Use clear cling wrap (like saran wrap) over wet watercolors - or in this case, a small pool of glimmer mist - and crinkle it up to your satisfaction. Make the wrap loose so that some air can gradually get in and let it dry. When it's dry (it may take a few hours to a few days depending on how damp it is), peel off the wrap and observe the really cool wrinkled look left behind!! Some of the paint or mist color will end up darker in various areas, but I think it looks pretty impressive. To make sure that the crinkled look stays, you wouldn't want to use anything watery afterward. I think the Graceful Journey clear stamp by Tattered Angels would look cool with the crinkle effect - it might end up looking a little like sky, but could also just be some added texture : )

Well now, it's nearing the end of the day for me so I'd best be on my way! Play around and have fun!!
-Sarah
sarah@simonsaysstamp.com

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Monday, June 21, 2010

Keep Summer Sweet with C.C.!


Laying Nora


Happy (official) First day of Summer everyone! Did you know it's the longest day of the year today? It's the longest day of sunshine for us here in Simon Says Stamp's home office! How do you keep the bright sunshine around longer you ask?! Why look no further than the sweet new Summer designs from C.C. A very big and special thanks to Jay Jay for giving these AMAZING examples!!


Bikini


Sweet Kiki La Rue

http://mail.google.com/a/simonsaysstamp.com/?ui=2&ik=d615cb73a8&view=att&th=1295bcaf441b6c83&attid=0.10&disp=inline&zw
Cupcake Kiki La Rue


Nora on a Swing


August


Penelope & Shelly



Okay well I don't know about you but this has really got me inspired and ready for some fun, summer crafting!! Thanks for the continued inspiration, Jay Jay!!!!

Keep those creative juices flowing!

Steph

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Sunday, June 20, 2010

ARRRRR you ready for this one?



I'm really impressed by what I've seen in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge so far and I'm excited to see what else people come up with!

This card (above by Martine!) and the next two below (by Debby and Lols) all use Blue Moon's metal Pirate charms. I love the collage feel that so many of our designers use - not only do they use great-lookin' paper, but they'll throw in a charm or maybe some pearl or gem embellishments. These charms are the perfect addition to these cards for obvious reasons, but they could also be used for various other things. I'm thinking that the ship's wheel and the anchor might be nice for a nautically themed card. The skull would be nice for something involving rock & roll or even Halloween. These charms are metal and would be pretty sweet if used in a charm bracelet or some form of necklace, too.

Card below made by: Fish Breath Glynnis (aka Debby)
Pirates are known for their wild behavior and their pillaging, but also for their sense of exploration and fearlessness - all are qualities that make them so appealing! Many of us are in love with Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but Edwin is pretty cute in his pirate costume. I love the colors that Lols used when making her card (see below). They are light, but remind me of foggy waters. I love how she colored the skull and the sentiment, "Arrr t'is Yer Birthday!" is not only cute but funny : ) One more thing that I like about this card: the background of the clock - it's kind of Captain Hook. If you like it too, check out the Timeworks Mask by Tim Holtz!!!

I really like the stack of coins in the bottom right corner and the torn brown paper is reminiscent of a treasure map or even burlap, which are both pirate-ish. I love the fact that Edwin and his sword stand out from the background - such a cool way to spice up any card! Lovely work Chris!

I love this card made by Domi because of the flowers, foliage, and the paper. She also did a great job coloring Tilda and I like the ribbon in the corner (sooo...basically I like the whole thing!). The paper she used - if I'm not mistaken - is by Magnolia and called Red Chef Plaid.

I love the gem embellishments that Marcea used for this card! It's perfect because pirates love treasure and also because they just look good! It may be hard to see from this angle, but the "AHOY" letters are glittery too. I absolutely LOVE when cards are tied together like this - the bits of sparkle and gems throughout the card are so fun! We have lots of different gem embellishments like this, but I would recommend Prima Center Kisses because they come in different shapes and sizes.

There are SO many good things to say about each of the Design Teamers and their creative work! However, I better get going! PLEASE check out the Simon Says Stamp Challenge - there are so many great examples of how products can be used and different techniques. I'd also love to see what you have to bring to the table!! : D

-Sarah
sarah@simonsaysstamp.com

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