Jeanne Jachna's Blog Posts

08.25.20

Celebrating You By Jeanne Jachna!

Hello my crafty friends and thanks so much for stopping by! Did you know that birthday cards are the most popular cards to send? That’s no surprise because birthdays are always a good excuse for celebrating and I mean…. Who doesn’t love cake? LOL!

Today I’m sharing NINE cards made with the Simple Stories Birthday Blast Collection! I guess I got a little carried away! I couldn’t resist the bright colorful papers and all the adorable images perfect for the little explorers in your life!

This collection is loaded with robots, space ships, aliens and did I mention cake? YES!!! There’s yummy sweet treats too, along with all the traditional party goods you might expect like balloons, confetti, party hats and streamers!

All of my A2 size cards were made using the 6x8 paper pad. If you cut the sheets in half they are perfect for covering two card bases, and the smaller print makes it easy to see all the printed images on the smaller size canvas.

You’ll find loads of embellishments including chipboard, washi, bits and pieces, decorative brads and enamel dots. I used EACH of those items on ALL of my cards. Can you spot all the bling?

And if that isn’t enough to make your heart happy how about silver metallic foil accents on the die cut bits and pieces, stickers and chipboard?

I always arrange the elements on a clear piece of plastic the size of my card base. This helps me figure out the placement before I commit and adhere them in place. To select the background papers I pick up the sheets and lay them over the different colored papers. Because the plastic is clear I can see how the elements will look on any particular pattern.

I’m a big fan of the thick chipboard pieces. They add lots of dimension and give an expensive look to a design. To make the die cut bits and pieces stand up, I make my own adhesive foam tape. I adhere double sided adhesive tape sheets to inexpensive thin craft foam. The large sheets make it easy to cut a piece to any size or shape embellishments without having to peel a bunch of squares. It saves some money too so I can buy more pattern paper!!!

This collection really captures the fun and excitement of a birthday party. You can’t help but smile when you see the rainbow colors and adorable images that will have you feeling like a kid again!

You’ll love the Birthday Blast collection for celebrating the little (or maybe a little older) rocket man in your life!

Supplies

08.07.20

Be Your Best Selfie! By Jeanne Jachna!

Hello friends! I hope you’re having a great day! Today I’m happy to share EIGHT cards made with the Simple Stories Kate & Ash Collection! This collection celebrates the young women in your life and inspires them to be unique and individual.

The papers in this collection are 12” square. As a card maker I like to start by cutting them into 6” square to make them more manageable. I can layout all the sheets and easily see all the prints. The prints are not overly large making these ideal for cards or page layouts. You can get a good idea of the print size on my A2 cards. I like to arrange the pieces on clear plastic sheets the size of my card base before I commit to adhering them in place. It’s easy to pick up the entire arrangement and lay it over the pretty papers to help me decide what print will look best.

The paper pack includes printed cut apart journaling cards as well as a full size sticker sheet with borders, tabs, words and lots of great images. I apply baby powder to the sticker backs so I can move them around on my designs before I adhere them in place.

I love all the extra embellishments Simple Stories adds to their collections like washi, coordinating color enamel dots and decorative brads. Each of my cards has ALL THREE. Can you spot them?

The chipboard and bits and pieces die cut pieces in the collection are the frosting on the cake! They’re sugar and spice and everything nice. I’m having a flash back to my own teen years – playing Blondie on my record player, applying make-up in the mirror, always a camera at hand and hanging with my best bud – my Golden Retriever named Bear.

The papers are fun and trendy with flirty eyelashes, leopard print, speech bubbles and florals. I love the shades of pink aqua and yellow with a bold pop of black for contrast and a little drama.

As always, all of the elements are perfectly color coordinated. You can always expect the best from Simple Stories with tons of different embellishments so your projects can be as unique as the people you personalize your creations for.

As your young lady is exploring what makes her beautiful and unique, and her ability to see the world in her own special way, these cards let her know you support and encourage her in all she does!

Supplies

07.21.20

Explore Your World By Jeanne Jachna!

If a sunny day has you longing for a walk in the woods, the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Great Escape Collection is for you!

The collection is loaded with vintage images of flora and fungi straight out of your favorite field guide! I love the realistic images that are a feast for the eyes.

The prints include plaids, stripes, topographical prints, geographical maps and watercolor wash botanical prints.

The colors are a sumptuous mix of mint, greens, rusty earth tones, and a pop of aqua.

This collection has all the goodies you expect from Simple Stories like Chipboard, bits and pieces die cut images, stickers, washi and decorative brads. Everything is perfectly color coordinated so you know it’s all going to match perfectly.

My cards were made with the 6x8” paper pad that is ideal for card makers. I layered the papers over solid cardstock prints from the basics pack. It’s perfect for adding layers and breaking up prints.

I love the inspiration sentiments that encourage me to make the most of every day, to enjoy the simple things, and discover the wonder and beauty of nature!

Whenever I go for a hike I can’t resist stopping at every treasure I find – an animal track, a mushroom or lichen, or pretty flower or butterfly, or just the sound of a woodpecker knocking on a tree.