Jeanne Jachna's Blog Posts

01.14.20

If you’re a DIY sort of gal (like me) then WOW!  Do I have the collection for you!  Simple Stories Hey Crafty Girl is going to steal your heart, because it’s all about your favorite thing.. MAKING!   Just the name is practically calling out to you! 

You’ll love the printed pattern papers with numbered grid marks, paint swatch rainbow colors, ruled lines, florals, plaids, dots and more.

All of my cards start out with a white card stock base topped with a slightly smaller matt cut from the Simple Stories Simple Basics papers.  Each sheet is color coordinated to match the printed papers in the collection.  The Simple Basics papers are solid on one side and have a soft dot print on their reverse.  When patterns get a little busy, it’s easy to break things up with a panel of solid.

I’m smitten with the fun sentiments in the set that you’ll find everywhere.. in the Bits and Pieces, Stickers, and Chipboard.  Sentiments like “Life is short – buy the Paper!”, “Crafty Girls Rock” and “Keep Calm and Make Pretty Things”.  Are you smiling yet?

We all love showing off our crafty space.  A place where we can create, dream, imagine and explore.  And while our little hobby can get expensive. lets face it.. it’s cheaper than therapy!  LOL!    And the best part of all..   I feel so blessed that paper crafting has helped me find friends that enjoy making just like me.

The images are all wonderful too!  You’ll find tubes of paint, tape runners, washi, flowers and lots more!   Most of us are multi taskers, and this collection is too.  You’ll find embellishments for your inner photographer, decorator, journalist and fashion designer too! 

This collection includes traditional Bits and Pieces as well as Journaling Bits and Pieces die cuts.  The journaling set includes tags, tabs and labels perfect for layering.   

Simple Stories has expanded this collection to include a stamp set with coordinating dies, and a stencil too so you can explore even more ways to make with this wonderful collection!

Crafting is always a good idea and I can’t wait to share these pretty cards with my crafty friends!  I know they’ll appreciate these fun images and whimsical sentiments that bring out the crafty girl in all of us!

Supplies
10.22.19

Hello Simple Stories friends!  It’s Jeanne here today and I’m happy to be sharing some Christmas cards made with the Say Cheese Christmas Collection.   This collection captures the childhood delight of Christmas as only the most magical place on earth can do!

The collection is filled with bright colorful papers in traditional red and green with a touch off pink and pastel blue.  The patterns are candy cane stripes, sprinkle dots, poinsettias, snowflakes, and everything nice.

There are two sets of bits and pieces available in this collection.  The iconic bits and pieces that include lots of holiday images like ornaments, presents, flowers and sentiments.  There’s also a Happy Kids Bits and Pieces pack that includes all the cute kids you see on my cards today.  

The two packs of bits and pieces are sized perfectly to work together so you don’t have to worry about mixing and matching die cuts from both packs.

The sticker sheet that comes with the collection kit also has lots of sentiments, images and tabs too.  Again, everything is perfectly color coordinated so you know it will be a perfect match every time.

I had lots of fun mixing and matching the papers from this bright collection.  I always start by cutting the 12” papers into 6” squares.  I layout all the images on a piece of plastic the size of my card face and lay it over different pattern papers.  The clear plastic allows me to pick up the entire arrangement and see it over the papers before I commit and adhere everything in place.

This set includes 6x12” Chipboard Stickers too.  These are my favorite to work with!   I love how the thick study pieces add dimension.  Because they have adhesive backing, they couldn’t be easier to make with.

This collection makes me feel as though I’m seeing the holidays through the eyes of a child.  What a magical world! 

You’ll have lots of fun making fun holiday cards with the different elements in the Say Cheese Christmas Collection, and because the fun is contagious, your recipients will be smiling too!

Supplies
08.21.19

Fall is in the air and as the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to fall my mind turns to camping.  There is a long tradition of camping in my family.  My husband has always been an avid outdoorsman, always ready for a hike or a fishing trip.

When our son was old enough he became a Boy Scout.  Of course that means lots of volunteer time for us and eventually my husband became Scoutmaster.  I loved setting up merit badge clinics on whatever the boys had an interest in.  I’d find local professionals to share their skills and knowledge with the group.

Scouting depends heavily on volunteers and it’s important to let them know how much they are appreciated.  I always sent our special guests and park rangers a thank you from the group on a hand made card made with an outdoors theme.

I’d always send my son a card to let him know how much I missed him when he went off to camp.  Usually my husband would tag along and take lots of photos of the boys and their adventures. 

We’d pour over the photos when they would get back from summer camp or a high adventure trip and eventually those photos would morph into personalized scrapbooks for the boys.

I can’t tell you how honored I’ve been to see books I’ve made proudly on display at Eagle Scout Ceremonies

The Simple Stories Happy Trails collection is perfect for all your outdoor adventures.  The wonderful images and coordinated colors make creating a SN@P!

You’ll love all the camping, fishing, and hiking images.  There are trail signs, animals flora and fauna.  Who knew that Simple Stories could even make the pesky mosquitos adorable?

I know you’ll be delighted looking back at captured memories documented with this collection!    Happy Trails to you and yours – now go get your FALL on!

Supplies

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