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Hi Everyone,  just a quick peek at my latest layout :-)

I fell in love with these beautiful Framed Sentiment Embellishment that Tracy hand makes immediately and knew straight away how I wanted to use it and what photo to put with it!!

It's no secret that I love Washi Tape (or Wasabi Tape as Tracy affectionally refers to it :-P) and i was super excited when she got these in so of course - they had to go on the layout too!

Full layout details can be seen over at the my2angels blog.

Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer
:-)

Me & You

I LOVE this layout of Erin and I, it's in our favourite colours too.

I started with a piece of embossed white card stock and sponged Distress Inks on to give definition.  I also used the ink and water to colour the tag.  I coloured the chipboard pieces (title, frame, and butterfly) with Liquid Pearls - applied by dabbing my finger onto the chipboard one colour at a time.  I coloured washi tape first with alcohol inks, then liquid pearls and ran it through my big shot with a die to get the cute shape, then just peeled it off and stuck it to my project.

I coloured the leaves with alcohol inks, and the edges of the flowers with liquid pearls and distress inks.

I added Flourish With A Bling pearls to the butterfly and as a movement indicator with the flourish, the pin, daughter charm, and the date was printed on clear dymo tape.

Ingredients:
Embossed Cardstock
Twiddleybitz Chipboard - "Me & You"
Twiddleybitz Chipboard - Ornate Frame
Twiddleybitz Chipboard - Butterfly
Manilla Tag
Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Seedless Preserve
Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Salty Ocean
Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Peacock Feathers

Ranger Alcohol Ink - Wild Plum

Ranger Alcohol Ink - Sail Boat Blue

Ranger Alcohol Ink - Clover

Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Picket Fence.

Ranger Liquid Pearls - Orchid

Ranger Liquid Pearls - Lavender Lace

Ranger Liquid Pearls - Baby Blue

Ranger Liquid Pearls - Peacock

Ranger Liquid Pearls - Mint Green

My2Angels - leaves

My2Angels - Roses

My2Angels - Charming Pin

My2Angels - Charming "Daughter"

Flourish With A Bling - Silver Diamonte

Flourish With A Bling - Chloe Flourish, Baby Blue

Sawyer's Place Washi Tape - Pale Blue

MPress Rolled Flower Die

Tsukineko Stazon Permanent Ink - Black

Miscellaneous Flower Stamp

Miscellaneous Music Stamp

I hope you like the techniques I've used today and try them for yourself!  Thanks for stopping by!

Jen

:-)

Tip 4: Die-ing with Washi (Follow-up)

A quick followup on Tip 4 and a sneak peak of a finished project using this technique!

I coloured some plain washi with alcohol inks, and put through the big shot - looks awesome, and you could use it straight away just like that! BUT

 If you want to then colour with something like liquid pearls - they will dry and have a surrounding 'skin' that will ruin the project unless you cut it away or put it through your bigshot again!

A much better idea is to colour it first as below:

After it dries, put it through the big shot using your die:

And add to your project :-)

For the full reveal - stay tuned for tomorrow night :-D

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen
:-)

Remember This Moment

I had a great time getting messy with this!  I wanted to use more than one photo on the layout as a recent request from Twiddlyebitz DT Bosses called for multi-photo layouts!

I sponged distress ink though the Twiddleybitz Chicken Wire template onto the background and overstamped with a compass stamp from Darkroom Door's Discover, Essentials 9 Collection.
I altered the chicken mesh wire using Claudine Hellmuth Multi-medium gloss.

 The more I added, the more it clumped nicely to represent the seaweed and stuff hanging from the net in the photos.

I force-dried it with my heat-gun and sprayed it it with an array of mists...

I used the Stampendous Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel on my title and the new Sunfish - both Twiddleybitz chipboard pieces.  I added a charming chain, some shells, and some sugar beads.

Near the Sunfish I added an Elise Antique Brown Rhinestone Flourish, Sugar Beads and Charms, and a ticket made from the Kaiser ticket stamps and Tim Holtz die.  I'm happy I managed to journal along the bottom of my page using a Distress Marker, and added a date as well using the Grunge Charming Date bottle top from My2Angels.

Ingredients:
Background:
The Paperloft Sanded Geometric Series Patterned Paper
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp - Discover (DDRS090) from Essentials Nine Collection
Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress ink - Brushed Corduroy
Tsukineko Stazon Ink - Timber Brown
Twiddleybitz Chicken wire stencil
Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Marker - Walnut Stain

Embellishments:
Twiddleybitz - Chicken Wire (WIR002)
Twiddleybitz - Remember This Moment Word (WOR086)
Twiddleybitz - Sunfish (SEA005)
Claudine Hellmuth - MultiMedium Gloss
Assorted Lindy's Stamp Gang Starbusts
Ranger - Emboss It Dabber
Stampendous - Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel
Flourish With A Bling - Rhinestones Elise Antique Brown
My2Angels - Sugar Beads
My2Angels - Charms; Starfish, fish
My2Angels - Charming Chain - Family
My2Angels - Date Bottle Cap
My2Angels - Bakers Twine
Kaiser Ticket Stamp - Explore
Tim Holtz Ticket Die

Tsukineko Stazon Ink - Black

Miscellaneous Doily

Miscellaneous Corner Punch

Thanks for stopping by!!

Jen

:-)

I am Me.

My Latest Layout - My last for FWAB :-(

Another purple layout but quite appropriate since the subject had to be me!! I have used the Jasmine Laser Flourish as a mask (i peeled of as much of the sticky backing as I could or it would tear my page) and inked with distress inks to create my background.

I used a gorgeous new pre-decorated bottlecap from My2Angels for my 'date' - I just added the year with a bit of glossy accents over it to tie it all in (as you know I'm trying to journal and date on my layouts now!)

The border is actually Sawyer's Place Ophelia Script Washi Tape put through my bigshot with a memory box die - Pepita Border #98256.  I am somewhat addicted to putting my washi through my bigshot now!  I recently discovered these dies and am in love!

Ingredients:
White Cardstock
Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress ink - Dusty Concord
Flourish With  A Bling - Jasmine Laser Flourish (used as a mask)
Flourish With A Bling - Purple Pearls
Flourish With  A Bling - Jasmine Laser Flourish - Silver
Flourish With  A Bling - Jasmine Puffy Flourish - Purple
Flourish With  A Bling - Jessie Laser Flourish - Black
Flourish With A Bling - Elise Flouish Silver
My2Angels - Date bottle cap from Floral Charming Dates
My2Angels - Charming Bouquet Purple and Silver
My2Angels - Sparkling Flower Center from Mauve and Silver Charming Chain
ManorHouse Creations Purple Large Flower
Memory Box Die - Pepita Border # 98256
Memory Box Die - Ringed buckle #98186
Tsukineko Stazon Ink - Black
Patterned paper from ? for the Ringed Buckle
Miscellaneous Rub ons
Miscellaneous dark Purple flowers
Miscellaneous White ribbon in a bow

Thanks for stopping by!!
Jen
:-)

Tip 5: Washi Impressions

That's right - I have another one!!  I'll get straight into it as I'm quite excited about this one!

Tip 5: Put your washi through your cuttlebug/bigshot with your embossing folders!

• Put some washi on the backing paper for jac paper or anything non-stick that you don't mind getting embossed!  oh - don't use your craft mat as you can't make it 'flat' again! 

• Put the washi and backing through your cuttlebug/bigshot.  You can use C6 size embossing folders too - not just these skinny ones.

• Peel the washi from the backing and attach to your card or project - gently push or rub to adhere, careful not to press to hard along the raised image.

• Here are a few strips I have done with different embossing folders.  You can still rub some dye ink gently over the raised image for more image definition too!

I've used Matte Aqua Washi Tape from Sawyer's Place for these examples; I'd love to see how you go trying this.  Please share a link to your project in the comments below :-)
Thanks for stopping by!
Jen
:-)

Tip 1: Washi Tape Positioning and your Projects...

I love creating, and like so many people I agonise over the arrangement of my papers, card stock, photos, and embellishments on my layouts, cards, and other projects.  I have a few little tips and tricks up my sleeve for using different elements and techniques in my crafting and thought I might start sharing a few with you!!

Tip 1:  Using Washi Tape
This tip works especially well for lettered or patterned washi tape, although you could use it for any type.
A fantastic way to determine the arrangement of words from the Sawyer's Place Cromwell Tape is to stick it to clear plastic;  you can then move it around on your project.  You can also re-position the words on the plastic in different patterns, and then try it around your project again.  When you are happy you can stick the words onto your project once - avoiding any problems trying to peel it back off again to re-position!
(although Sawyer’s place Washi Tapes are “low-tac” so rarely rip your paper or cardstock anyway!)

I used this tip on the following layout - as you can see from the photos:

Finally satisfied with the placement of my tape I finished my layout - with no tears!!

I hope this tip is useful for you - stay tuned for tonight's technique tutorial on wash tape - something so simple but you may have never thought to do!
Jen
:-)

Bling'dy Bling Blog Hopping with FWAB!!

Hello Everyone and welcome to my leg of the Blog Hop!

I hope you're having a fabulous time on the Flourish With a Bling Blog Hop, I'm really loving the projects so far and am getting lots of inspiration, aren't you? If you've been following the blog hop from the start and you arrived here from Ilene's blog - great! Don't forget to comment on any posts that make a note for you to do so. In case you visited today just by browsing the wonderful internet - I suggest you start at the beginning for an awesome treat, and go from there! 

Here's the blog hop in order: 

FWAB - http://www.flourishwithabling.com.au/blog/
Amanda Reddicliffe: http://areddicliffe.blogspot.com.au/
Angella Peardon: http://4ft9inchcreator.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Catherine Lane: http://a-stroll-down-memory-lane.blogspot.com/ 
Elena Olinevich  http://eleele-handmade.blogspot.com/
Emilia van den Heuvel http://few-favourite-things.blogspot.nl/
Ilene Tell: http://whatabunchofscrap.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Hodge: http://www.jennihodge.blogspot.com.au (You're here!!!)
Kate McCulloch: http://mumofheidi.blogspot.com.au/
Natalie Elphinstone: http://onescrappydoctor.blogspot.com
Sandi Smith: http://sandi-smith.blogspot.ca/
Sonia Thomason http://www.soniathomason.typepad.com/
FWAB - http://www.flourishwithabling.com.au/blog/

I was so excited to have my application accepted when Flourish With A Bling called for a Design Team. I've used their beautiful products since they first became available. I have loved every second of it, especially when I've been able to get a sneak peak and even a try out of the new products before they've been released! The FWAB team have forged onwards and upwards and even added a retail cart to the gorgeous website - yes, you can buy all your favourite bling straight from the FWAB store itself, they even have a section for colour co-ordinated packs!!! I can never go past the Chloe and Grace Pearl Flourishes, here's my latest project featuring the Grace Flourishes in Pewter and Chocolate - and a few (many) adhesive pearls.

I love that even though the bling is pearls and even though it's a 'swirly girly' thing - these flourishes are right at home on a boys page because of the rich colours that are available.

The next stop on the FWAB Blog Hop is the wonderfully creative and talented Kate McCulloch. I can't wait to see what she's created! Don't forget to follow the Blog Hop all the way back to the FWAB blog and leave a comment there for your chance to win the grand prize. 

In the meantime you can also win a little something from me by leaving a comment here on this post, and telling me how many lovely colours the grace pearl flourish is available in! You can find the answer HERE!!! I'll be drawing the winner next Friday the 19th. 

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

Mwah! XXX

Jen

Our Newest Family Addition

My first layout of this gorgeous sweetheart...
Isabella Jayde Canfield.  My Cousin Lee Lee's first child.  We seem to have a connection - I am so blessed to have three beautiful children of my own and be able to be part of Isabella's life. :-)

I used a lot of products that have been in my stash for quite some time.  I have no idea who the manufacturers of the doily, paper, or rub-on are.  Of course I added ink... Stazon Black :-)  All adhesives used were by Stix 2 Anything.  I needed to make sure the items are going to adhere and not come off - I am confident Stix2 will do the job :-)

Flourish With A Bling Adhesive Pearls, Twiddleybitz Chipboard Butterflies:

Prima Flowers and Iridescent Pain, Twiddleybitz Chipboard Passionfruit flower:

Twiddleybitz Chipboard Oriental Border:

Thanks for stopping by
Jen
:-)

Grins, Pranks, Laughs...

I made this layout as part of the boy bling challenge for this month at Flourish With A Bling on the blog.  I've teamed up both the red and the blue laser flourishes...

once again I used my dymo for journalling, and added it to my double bunting this time :-)

• I tore my patterned paper and layered in on the page.
• I inked my chipboard
• attached the patterned papers, stuck the photo down leaving a little room at the bottom to tuck the flourishes under
• added the washi tape and flowers
• attached the blue flourish - then the red
• attached my chipboard
• added the shrinky charms
• added my journalling

Ingredients:
White Cardstock
Kaiser Patterned Paper - Thrillseeker, Explore
Twiddleybitz - Basic Shapes, Hearts (TABHEA)
Twiddleybitz - Banner Sm - 20 flags (BAN003)
Flourish With A Bling - Luke, Denim Blue
Flourish With A Bling - Jessie, Cherrie Red
Ranger/Tim Holtz - Distress Stain Faded Jeans
Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Citrus
My2Angels - Boys to Men Charming Button Collection
Washi Tape - Red
Denim coloured Roses
Dymo Labeller
Stix2Anything - Double-sided Tape

Don't forget to get your entries in for the Bling it up Boys challenge - you have until the end of the month so plenty of time yet!!
Thanks for stopping by
Jen
:-)

Funny Face

Such an easy layout to do and quick and fun like the photo (LOL)!

We went to the beach and Erin just would not smile for the camera - this sarcastic grimace was the best she'd do!!

And the usual close-up...

• I inked the background
• added the photo
• added the title
• grouped the beach huts and banner
• added the flourish
• journalled with my Dymo
• and coloured the print out with Distress stain
• when dry I attached the journaling to my page

Ingredients:

Cardstock - white

Flourish With A Bling - Black Jessie Flourish

Flourish With A Bling - Nicky's Beach Huts

Twiddleybitz - Twiddley Groove Alpha Black

Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Broken China

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stain - peeled paint

Dymo Electronic Labeller
Stix2Anything - Double-sided Tape

Thanks for stopping by!!  

AND don't forget classes at Studio Jen Jen start Nov10th - check them out Here!

Jen

:-)

Prima Class...

Layout of Fiona Tupper and I completed in Janine's class at the NZ retreat.  

Thank you Janine Koczwara, I enjoyed using Prima for a change as I've rarely touched it!  

AND I've fallen in love with your iridescent medium!!  Thanks! :-P

My Little Choir Girl

I did this layout at the Vintage Indulgence retreat in New Zealand recently.  I had a fabulous weekend teaching a make n take and spending time with my online buddies.  I really feel like I've cemented some friendships that were 'meant to be'.  

My journaling is the tag in the top left hand corner as I am determined to not only create beautiful layouts I am happy with, but to journal and not forget why I started scrapbooking in the first place - to preserve our memories and tell a story!!  This photo is of Erin ready to perform in the school choir - she loves it and I am so happy that we share a love of singing and music!

• The background was stamped with the butterfly stamp in black stazon, then the butterflies colours with white resist crayon.
• I then sprayed the page with Banshee Black starbust (and the doily) and edged with black soot distress ink.
• I added the patterned paper (edged too!) and the doily
• I coloured the chippy frame with black stazon and when dry, added the silver rhinestones
• added some strips of washi (not wasabi LOL) tape
• I added the photo, frame and the manorhouse creations rosettes
• attached the charm from My2Angels
• Placed the white Grace flourishes
• slid the tag for my hidden journaling in at the top of the rosettes under the frame...
• and finished by adding just a touch of the irridescent medium to the rosettes

And the customary close-up :-)

Ingredients:
White Cardstock
Alison Ellis Design Patterned Paper
Twiddleybitz - Fantasy Round Overlay (OVO10)
Flourish With a Bling - Silver Rhinestones
Flourish With a Bling - Grace Pearl Flourish, Pearl
Manor House Creations - Rosettes, Pearl (SAF0037pea)
Kaiser Stamp - Botanical (CS795)
My2Angels - handmade embellishment with XOXO charm
My2Angels - premade white bow with silver edges
Doily
Washi Tape - Music
Wax Resist Crayon
Stazon Ink - Black
Tim Holtz - Black Soot Distress Ink
Lindy's Stamp Gang - starburst - Screaming Banshee Black
Windsor & Newton Watercolour Irridescent Medium (Thanks Janine Koczwara for the intro to this awesome medium!!)
Stix2Anything - Double-sided Tape

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen
:-)

Memories

This Layout has been in my head for a while now and thanks to my awesome friend Tracy for finding me the right background patterned paper, it's finished!

Yep - that's my hand-writing  on the banner but if you scrunch up your eyes - it doesn't look so bad!!

AND - this layout fits in beautifully with The Colour Room's Palette #119...

 And a closeup of the gorgeous embossing powder on the chipboard - I LOVE that the details etched into the chippy aren't lost because of the powder, that is truly rare!

Ingredients:
Twiddleybitz - Vintage Overlay (OV001)
Twiddleybitz - Hibiscus Surf Flourish (FLOW008)
Twiddleybitz - Memories (WOR037)
Flourish With A Bling - Jasmine Puffy Flourish - White
Stampendous - Shabby Blue Embossing Enamel
Versamark Embossing Inkpad
Range Distress Ink - Antique Linen
Prima Flowers - Melisse Fairy Belle
Prima Vintage Trinkets - #554255
Sizzix Alterations - Decorative Strip Tattered Banners Die
Stampin Up! - Stamp n Write Marker - Sage Shadow
Bo Bunny Patterned Paper - Welcome Home Portrait (12WP132)
White Cardstock
Glossy Accents to adhere
Stix2Anything - Double-sided Tape

Thanks for stopping by
Jen
:-)

Thank you... my son

I just love this photo of Cameron, makes me all teary and soppy inside!!  The perfect layout for how I feel...

This layout was created for a collaboration between two top Australian Companies - Twiddleybitz, and Manorhouse Creations.  MHC Flowers are great to work with and compliment so many styles - and i hope this layout puts an end to any rumours you've heard that "you can't use flowers on a boy layout - especially for older boys"!

And some close-ups:

• The splats were made by using the distress stain like a bingo dabber - just 'splat' with the dabber when the end is soaked well :-)
• I also "splatted" on my non-stick craft mat and then dragged the scrunched up flowers through the splats to colour them :-)

Here's my video tutorial for "How To Splat"!

And the close-up...

Ingredients:
Twiddleybitz - Small Decorative Frame (FRA015)
Twiddleybitz - Twiddleygroove Alphabet Black (ALPHA001T)
Twiddleybitz - Bag of Love (BAS013) - Hearts
Twiddleybitz - Fine Fern Leaves Assorted (FER002)
Twiddleybitz - Fence set of 4 (BAS014)
Manorhouse Creations - Solitude White (3097solitude)
Manorhouse Creations - Imagine Burgundy (3111imagburg)
Manorhouse Creations - Idealic Cornflour (3098idcorn)
Flourish With A Bling -  Jasmine Black Puffy (16066)
Flourish With A Bling - Chloe Antique Gold (16212)
Cardstock - White
Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Faded Jeans
Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Vintage Photo
Stazon Ink - Jet black
Stampin' Up! - Thank you stamp
Dymo Labeller

Thanks for stopping by - I do hope you'll follow one of the links above to check out these gorgeous products!
Jen
:-)