Countdown to the first. . .

We are starting a new month with new kits (and a new addition!) and a new change for our members so here we go. . .

The Papercrafting Kit is full our newest JBS release along with a few vintage goodies that I have been saving just for this kit including a vintage brass silhouette charm that Jill used as a mask here. . .

This kit also includes a new exclusive item - a recycled mini book with Kraft cover and various JBS pattern papers (I have turned mine into a Cash book to take with me on my flea market jaunts - I will post it tomorrow). . .

The Project Kit this month is my first project with one of my new Hodge Podge Books. It is a general themed album but I have used mine as a Faith book to fill with some of my favorite passages. I found some very cool pads a couple of months ago that were some type of receipt books but the pages were printed tissue. How cool is that? I'm sharing some in the kits - used mine to make the flower on the cover. More photos on the site tonight!

And beginning this month, we are adding an additional Add-On kit each month. Both will still contain the vintage items you love but with two different themes. So this month we have "His". . .

and "Her's" . . .

And because membership should have it’s benefits. . . starting now, JBS Mercantile will offer member’s first rights to purchase Add-On Kits as well as other special additions offered on the 1st of each month. For the first full day of the month, only members will be allowed to purchase the Member-Exclusive Add-Ons. On the second of each month, remaining inventory will be open to all buyers. As is currently the policy, member’s will also have the option to add these items to their monthly kit shipment at little or no additional shipping charge.

We have alot going on this month so stay tuned!!

Still Sick. . .

I woke up Monday morning with something bad and am still not myself yet. . .hopefully tomorrow.

I did manage to get my first youtube video filmed yesterday, Jared posted it today.

Hence the raspy voice and my temporary memory loss on my new favorite ink color (that beautiful green is Stick Candy)!

Hope to be back to the blogging world officially tomorrow!

Clever Storage Idea. . .

I tend to buy every old eye glass case I can find, whether or not they contain the glasses or not! I love them - they are like little treasure chests to me (and even better when they are engraved with the advertising from the doctor on them). This particular one was lined with beautiful blue velvet - a bonus!

You can use them to hide tiny treasures, such as these carved Mother of Pearl buttons.

In order for me to be able to function in my studio, everything must have it's place!

How about you - chaos or order?

Yummmm . . .

Stick Candy + Spice Tin

My new favorite color combo - I love it!

I really believe that Stick Candy is a neutral by the way - I haven't found anything it doesn't go perfectly with. Although it is a pale green, it's really just a beautiful vintage neutral. Shown here with my new Acrylic stamps.

This is a peek at one of my projects for Donna Downey's Inspired Event in May (Mini Workshop) - I will post all of the info. once it is up for registration!

Just kiddin. . .

It's about 62 degrees right now. I can hear the kids outside my window playing basketball.

Life is good!

A Valentine, a day late. . .

With so many cuties to choose from, which one would you pick? I'm a bit fond of the one in the rhinestone frame - who doesn't love a man with a little blush in his cheeks and a little curl in his hair?

Meghann from New Orleans - you are my blog hop winner! Shoot us a note through the contact link at the site so you can start spending your cash!

A HUGE mid-month release tomorrow!!!

I was a bad blogger last week - gonna try and make it up for it this week!

I have a confession to make first - about a new love affair.

Last fall I came across two small graniteware "pails" at an antique show here in town. I had never seen one before. After talking to the dealers they explained that they were French lunch pails from the 1940's. The metal handle folds down and the clips come down to release the top. Just inside sits an aluminum tray. I have since learned that this was used (in conjunction with the rubber seal in the lid) to hold soup, that way they could still hold a sandwich or something else below it. I can't explain why exactly, but I LOVE them! I made an offer for both of them right then and there. I love to use mine to tote mobile projects (particularly for jewelry projects).

I put the small things in the top tray - beads, buttons, etc.

and then tote the pliers and other tools below.

So since last fall I have been on a mission to find some to sell. So. . . tomorrow I've got 5 going up at Mercantile. They range in price and condition (some have their trays and some don't).

I also have a bunch of these sweet Bible lesson booklets. They have the most wonderful graphics on the covers. I also have another 6-8 unique and new vintage items going up.

And. . . I have a few of the kits for this Vintage Photo Garland Class (taught at Creative Connection in Sept.) that I found when we did inventory. Color copies and full instructions come with it.

We only have a handful of this month's kits left (less than a handful of the Add-On and Project Kit) . . . just sayin (ha). If you haven't seen the gallery this month you need to take a look - amazing!!

Everything goes up tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. central time!

(Oh- I need to announce my giveaway winner for the blog hop - will do tomorrow)!

I spy with my little eye. . .

a white puppy dog who always thinks she's the star of the show.

(I also spy some new spring moss in my scale - a little distraction from the snow we continue to get. Excuse me Ms. Mother Nature, I remember laying out on the roof of my college dorm in February? What's up)??

A Twitter Confession (and a Blog Hop)!

So I now officially have a personal twitter account (@jennibowlin), or I should say my hubby has instituted one for me! He sneaks up on me and takes the photos and says things like " Busting out the new twitter account. . ." that I would never say. But as he says, he's motivated to "get things done" this week, one way or the other!

Now onto the blog hop. . .

Here's the info:

Welcome to Jenni Bowlin Studio's CHA Winter 2011 Blog Hop brought to you by our newest release, "Be Our Guest!" This is our largest release ever filled with all sorts of pretties from the patterned paper, stickers, rub-ons, bingo cards, and unique embellishments you've come to know and love to a new foray into acrylic stamps and project foundations. You can see the entire release HERE . To celebrate, we're offering you lots and lots of opportunities to win $15 gift cards to JBS Mercantile.

You can enter to win at the following locations:

Twitter : We will be giving away TWO $15 gift cards to 1 NEW follower on Twitter. These will be sent to the winner and to a friend of the winner's choosing, so if you're already a follower of @jbsmercantile then get some of your friends to follow us too! We will also be randomly choosing a winner from those who retweet the "CHA Winter 2011 Giveaway" post.

Facebook : Look for the post that mentions, "Be Our Guest Giveaway" and leave a comment to be entered into the first drawing. We will also be randomly choosing a second winner from our NEW Facebook followers, so tell all your friends!

JBS Mercantile Message Board : In the "Town Square," leave a comment on the thread entitled, "Be Our Guest Giveaway." And P.S. - we are working on making this a bit more user friendly and pretty!

The JBS Inspiration Blog : Leave a comment on the "CHA Winter 2011 Blog Hop" post telling us which of our new products is your favorite.

Many of our Design Team Members are also hosting giveaways on thier blogs, so check the links to the left for more chances to win!

Leave a comment here for a chance to win as well!

Happy Monday!

Registration is open!!!

Registration opened yesterday for my Big Picture Class, Re-Purpose, Re-Think, Re-Invent (Confession: I have to look up the title every time I go to type it. Who named this class anyway, jeez)!

All of the details can be found at the link above.

But to answer the questions about whether it is the same class I taught before, the answer is yes, but with some new additions. Here they are:

• A video and/or photo overview with text (added as a bonus handout) on our Roundtop, TX adventure (we will be there at the end of March)
• At least 6 new projects (could be layouts, altered art, etc.) posted in the curriculum during the 12 weeks
• Ability to purchase at least 2 kits to coincide with above projects

Alumni have the option to take the class again at half off (you should have received an email notification of this).

I am really looking forward to doing this again - it incorporates everything I love in one arena.

Have a great weekend! I will be sharing more on our CHA adventure and announcing my current 2011 travel dates next week!