Jenni Bowlin Studios 13 comments  

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 We all have companies that we gravitate towards in our scrapbooking.  I see it a lot as the Creative Team Coordinator...there are certain companies that each of us prefer, and match our certain styles.  When a new line comes out, I can generally predict which CTer will ask for that line.  I also see it when I look at layouts in the gallery, ones that YOU post.  I am very much a Pink Paislee, October Afternoon, Crate Paper kind of girl.  So, it totally blew me away when I saw Jenni Bowlin Studios a while ago and I wanted it ALL.  Honestly, it really isn't "me" as I had defined myself.  However, I kept going back to it.  I kept wanting it.   It wasn't available here at A Cherry on Top, so therefore, I couldn't BUY it.  Well, it all changed last winter at CHA, when I begged (on my hands and knees) for Kristin to try it.  She believed in me (and Sus and Laura, who helped me convince her).  I ordered the whole line the day Becky got it online, and when I opened the box, I was both excited and intimidated.  Here was this company that I had begged for...what if I couldn't work it in to my style?  After all, it is not my classic style. What if I failed?  I knew, though, the minute I started, that it was a good fit...I completed all my layouts in a record amount of time, and I LOVED them all.  I am typically a slow scrapper, and I had them all done in an afternoon.  I was hooked.

Her latest release (before CHA) still matches a lot of the old line, so I pulled out the FEW things I had left (and trust me..I saved every LAST scrap) so you will see some old mixed in with the newer products.  Again..all these layouts were completed in one evening, except the mini-album...I only did the cover that first night.  Her products just are the easiest ever to work with...they are classic, timeless and versatile.

My favorite Jenni Bowlin product (today, anyway) is her mini papers.  They are small 4x4 versions of her 12x12 papers.  If you are intimidated by her large prints, you need to look into these papers, as they show the same gorgeous patterns, only scaled down.  You will see them on most of these projects.  They are perfect for punching, matting, and accenting. 

So, it is time to show you what I did!

This first layout is of Delaney.  Last year, when she was in kindergarten, it was like pulling teeth to get her to read.  This year, thanks to an amazing and encouraging first grade teacher, not only is she reading, but she loves it.  If you look in the alphabet border, you will see that the letters N O W are in red stickers, as opposed to the black.  I hand cut the floral accent...which I just LOVE.  The title is you **heart** to read NOW.  All the kudos go to her first grade teacher (who is a scrapbooker, by the way!)

 This layout of Kiley features many of the mini papers.  There is the schoolhouse paper as a mat, the flight paper as a punched border, and the dramatic floral mini.  I hand cut the same floral piece as above, and used it as a journalling accent, and there is a flower that I handcut and used on the border.

 This next layout is actually the picture that was supposed to be our Christmas card, but Evan didn't like it, so I scrapped it instead.  One thing that I love about die cut papers, is that little more is needed to accent a layout.  I don't use a lot of patterned paper as an background, but the die cut is just the right amount of pattern to make this layout work.  We live out in the country, and these trees looked so beautiful after the first snow of the season.  If you look close you will see handcut flowers from the mini papers.  See the versatility?

 Here is a simple layout featuring some of my best friends.

 My fifth layout of this reveal is a fun one.  I tried to pick up on the fun colors of the amusement park ride, and added them in with the die cut mini papers, which are perfect for journaling.  I also used the coupon journaling card, as well as a strip from the coupon paper to simulate the coupons that they needed to get on the ride.  I also added a Prima flower to add extra color.

 As many of you know, I am so NOT a card maker.  I am blown away by the ones that Angela, Diane, Beth and the other CTers make, that I rarely even attempt a card.  Jenni Bowlin inspires me, though!

 Lastly, I did a mini-album.  After each of my children were born, I would take a picture of them on the actual "date" of their birth each month.  For example, Evan was born on the 16th, so on the 16th of every month, I would bake a cake or cupcakes, and take a picture of him.  After a year, I did a layout of how he grew.  I did that with all of them.  Well, they are now older, so I thought I would do an older version of that, with all four kids.  Jenni Bowlin's calendar cards make it easier for me...if I don't do it on exactly the same day, I will just circle the date that the picture is taken.

 here are the inside pages:

Lastly, I made some hooks for my scrapbook room.  I had some old halloween hooks from Michaels that I altered using the mini die cut labels.  Now I can see Jenni Bowlin every day :)

 In conclusion, I just want to encourage you to try things that you might not normally work with.  I found that my simple style works well with the classic Jenni Bowlin designs.  I also want to give a shout out to my dear friend Stephanie Howell that recently made the Jenni Bowlin Design Team.  I am soooo proud of you, girl!!!

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