Jeanne Jachna's Blog Posts

09.13.17

If you’re a card maker like me, it’s never too early to get started on your holiday cards.   There’s so much going around during the holidays that you’ll be glad they’re made and ready to send.  With not one, but three new holiday collections at Simple Stories you’re sure to find one that speaks to you!

 

Today I’m playing with the Very Merry Collection!  It’s a traditional mix of reds and greens with a fresh look.  You’ll find candy stripes and plaids, and polka dots that look like snowfall!

You’ll also find a sleigh-full of accessories in this collection!  There are chipboard stickers, rolls of washi tape, “Bits and Pieces” die cuts, and stickers that make your paper crafting a breeze.  All the images are printed and die cut ready to work with!

The flowers on my design are chipboard stickers, they add dimension and texture.  Other elements like the December calendar, snowflake, and postcard are from the Bits and Pieces Pack.  The sentiments are both stickers  (Hey Santa – Combo Sticker / Let Your Heart Be Light 4x6” Sticker pack).

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My second card is fun and whimsical!  Who doesn’t love Santa?   When my kids were little they used to call him “Ho Ho”!  This is for all of us young at heart.

I love the vintage Santa reminiscent of images from my childhood – his kind face and rosy cheeks are perfect!

There are so many different elements to choose from in this collection!  I had lots of fun looking through the pieces.  I chose pieces that I associate with Santa like the arrow pointing the way to the North Pole, and the Jolly Bingo Card.

Just about every embellishment on this card is from the Bits and Pieces pack.  The only exception is Ho Ho.. I mean Santa LOL!  – he’s a chipboard sticker.

I know you’re going to love making everything you need for the holidays with this collection.. cards, tags, place cards and so much more! 

The Very Merry Collection is just that!  Everything to make spirits bright!

Supplies
08.16.17

Autumn is my favorite season!  I love the crisp air and the show of color everywhere!  If you love Autumn too you’re going to fall for the new Simple Stories Vintage Blessings Collection. 

Fall is a time for families to gather for Thanksgiving and for us to count our blessings.   Who wouldn’t love a hand made card with a personal note expressing how much they’re loved and thought about? 

The papers in the collection are the fall colors you’d expect like green, yellow, and red with a surprise pop of aqua blue and pink.  The colors work beautifully together and have a homespun folk feel.  I cut a hilly landscape to create the scene on this card mixing gingham, floral and calico.

Sentiment stickers are from the Combo Sticker in the 12 x 12” Collection Pack that’s also sold separately.  The house and banner are from the 6x12” Chipboard Sticker Sheet.   The tree, leaves and sun are from the Bits and Pieces die cut pack.
 

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I’m smitten with the birds in the collection!  They’re a patchwork of the different patterns in the set that looks amazing!  You’ll find them printed on the paper, die cut in the Bits and Pieces pack, and on the Chipboard Sticker sheet. 

I perched the bird on a branch from the Bits and Pieces.   My tip for breaking up patterns is to add some solid color.   As an example, to help define the circle of yellow gingham paper I cut for a sun, I added a slightly larger circle of solid yellow card stock backing. 

I created the background in lighter colors to help the branch and die cut leaves stand out and create more contrast.

There’s even sticker packs available in this collection to add smaller images and sentiments to your projects like the bitty “fall fun” I added on the border.

The Combo Sticker sheet has so many great embellishments including a row of tabs like the “blessed” on my card.  The script font is beautiful and the soft blue matches the papers perfectly!  

The Bits and Pieces die cut pack includes 58 die cut pieces ready to work with so creating scenes and embellishing your projects is a treat.  The colors match the card stock perfectly so everything looks great together! 


 

I just know you’re going to love this collection!  Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

 

Supplies
07.12.17

It’s no exaggeration to say that ours is a camping family.  My daughter was a Girl Scout, and my son a Boy Scout.   We were very involved with the troop and at one point my husband was even Scoutmaster.  It was a privilege to be a part of so many lives and watch these children grow into young adults.

I was so excited when I saw the Simple Stories Cabin Fever Collection!  It’s everything I love about the outdoors.   The papers are a wonderful mix of nature inspired elements like trees, animals and flowers.

The collection has all the survival tools you’ll need to get you through lots of layouts so you can capture all your favorite memories.  I love the clever sentiments you’ll find in the #3047 Cabin Fever 4x6” Stickers and Combo Sticker.

For this scene I hand cut borders of pattern paper to create a landscape.  It’s best to keep the lightest color in the foreground to add some depth to your scene.

I fussy cut some pine trees from a journaling card in the paper pack and tucked them behind the hilly landscape.  A circle paper punch makes an simple sunny sky!

The fun tent and campfire are chipboard stickers, and the bitty flowers are from the combo sheet.

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I’ve been sending a card in a care package to my son at summer camp for as long as I can remember. This was his last year as a Venture Scout – that means he’s 21 years old.

And while he’s no longer part of a troop that doesn’t stop him from going on adventures.  A few weeks ago, he and two friends who are also Eagle Scouts took a road trip to Colorado to do some exploring.

Of course he’ll always be my little boy; always in my heart and on my mind.   I packed them up some snacks for their trip and tucked a card inside his duffel bag so he doesn’t ever forget it!

I cut the sentiment from a journaling card.  The hiking prints are chipboard, and the fun compass is a decorative brad.  Do you spy some plaid washi? 

If you’re a camper too I just know you’re going to love this fresh new collection from Simple Stories!

 

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