Behind the Art with Jen

 Another page from this month's "Restore" kit.  I love the cork gradient paper but really wanted to add more texture to it.  I have a little tutorial to share on how I did this background.

 I used Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft's Whipped Spackle and a palette knife to create an area of texture.  I just smoothed it on and left areas thicker in some spots.

 I used one of the We R Memory Keepers Shine Acrylic Shapes to stamp shapes into the spackle. 

 I like the shape and it reminds me of mapping where you have been in the world or life.

 Once dry, I sprayed it with the Imagine Crafts Walnut Ink in Cherry Blossom where it pooled in the lowest parts to create a variation in color.

 The embellishments in this kit are so full of texture and gives this page a touch of shine, sparkle and glam!

 My journaling reveals my revelation that as you get older, the things that mattered so much as a youth, don't matter as much anymore. I still like to look good but all the obsessing over every wrinkle, keeping lipstick on or just worrying about what other's think is not as important as how I live life and the way I make others feel. That doesn't mean I don't take the time to buy clothes that look good on me or style my hair in the morning.  I still care that I look the best I can but I don't worry about things I can't control.  I do what I can to look and feel good.  I think young people sometimes dress to fit in or to get someone's attention. I don't need or want to do that.  I dress in what makes me feel good and comfort is key!

All the little details in this page contribute to the textural feel and what makes me happy!  I love the shapes, rub ons, textures and papers in this kit. I hope you find what you need to make your life meaningful and restore your confidence in yourself!

Behind the Art with Jen Matott

Moving FORWARD or onward. I like the thought of moving forward even when I'm wishing time would slow down.  It doesn't make sense to me to stand still where it's comfortable.  What has always been is comfortable.  Change is hard and scary! 

  I had taking this photograph in the driveway of my parent's house. It is symbolic of a couple things: 1) Autumn leaves signify change to me.  The season's change and the trees change.  You can't prevent the leaves from changing color and falling any more than you can stop time.
2) I'm always coming home to my childhood residence because my parents are still there.  They have been a constant in my life but even so, it is different being an adult and realizing that life must not have been easy for them, as parents.  I know it's not easy for me at times!  I appreciate them so much and am thankful that they encouraged me to grow up and move forward even if that was really hard for them to let go.

 

 These kraft triangles are adorable and I layered some bits of papers behind them.  The gorgeous glimmery spray was perfect to add a touch of sparkle to the papers.

 Arrows were symbolic in this page for moving forward even though I can look behind me and remember where I came from.

 Now that I'm 40 years old and a parent, I think it's especially important to look forward and plan for change.  I love my kids and my family!  It's amazing to notice how big my kids have gotten and how much they have changed.  It makes me sad some days and I want to slow time down so I can keep them little for a little longer.  Ultimately, I know I can't do that.... so I have to remind myself to just keep up... Keep moving

 It also means that I keep moving forward in my goals!  This past year, I started on a fitness and nutrition goals and I want to keep momentum on the progress I've made! 

What do you want to move forward with this year?

The COMMUNICATION Kit. Wanna Chat? Plus Layouts from our New Designers.

The July kit from SFTIO, COMMUNICATION, is a kitchy and stylish mix of fun paper and embellishments to help you explore and express how you connect with the world around you.

In the era of quick and easy ways to touch base, how much time do you make to connect on a deeper level? Is your life enhanced by social networking or hindered by it? Do you walk your talk? Are you a good listener? Are there topics that are off limits?

Paper from October Afternoon, Echo Park, Nikki Sivils and Jillibean Soup provides the perfect symbolism with everything from vintage phones and paper airplanes to notepads, typewriters, cameras and viewfinder reels. Embellishments include a custom chipboard polaroid frame, perfect for using as a stencil, mask or as a page element, kraft paper circle garland, epoxy woodgrain buttons, flags and banners and lots and lots of journaling stickers and cards. You'll also get a great stamp from Lawn Fawn and a long awaited Tim Holtz Distress Marker.

There's no shortage of ways to tell your story - join us and let's talk all about it!

Get your kit HERE; start or extend your six month subscription and you also get this from Seven Gypsies for all those secret love letters and communiques!:

And we're welcoming three new DT members! You'll love their deep and meaningful work.

 

 Here's just a taste of what they created on the topic of COMMUNICATION:

So what do you have to say?

CHA Day One and Countdown to The DREAM kit

Hey everyone! Rachel here live from the Craft and Hobby Association Winter trade Show and Convention in lovely Anaheim. What a fun first day we've had meeting with old friends and new...and planning for what you'll see in our upcoming kits.

Tammy, Melissa, Sofia (our Teen Design Team Coordinator and SFTIO Executive Asssistant) and I had a fantastic time hanging with the lovely ladies and gentlemen at American Crafts, Lily Bee, Jillibean Soup, Maya Road, Crate Paper, October Afternoon, Authentique, Cosmo Cricket, Bella Blvd and many more...and we're only about a third of the way through our list! We can't wait for tomorrow! Here are some pics of the day and the things we loved most so far.

And as promised, we're counting down to the release of our newest kit, DREAM. Three days until we can share DREAM with you in all its delicate, deep and dreamy glory... Here's a closeup of the DREAM kit...can you pick out the products in this sneak peek? Name three items by manufacturer and you'll be entered to win our February countdown giveaway...Tim Holtz' Wings and Crown Metal Embelishments, a recent subscriber bonus. Make sure to submit your guesses here in the comments today and on the posts for the next two days of the countdown and you can walk away with these goodies! This giveaway ends at Midnight Pacific time on the 31st.

What do you see?

And ANOTHER way to win...if you start a new subscription or renew your current one on the DREAM kit release date, February 1st, you'll be entered to win a a huge set of paper and embellishments from four collections courtesy of our friends at Authentique. Make sure to come back each day and go for the win!

Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

Love,

A One Day Countdown to CONNECTION - and a Giveaway!

OK, so one day isn't much of a countdown. But we're still super excited to share our new kit, CONNECTION tonight at Midnight!

This kit is such a great mixture of paper from American Crafts' Amy Tangerine Line, Jillibean Soup's Sweet and Sour and Homemade Six Bean Collection and Crate Farmhouse. 

The idea? How do you stitch together a life you love? Where are the missing patches in your quilt? If you drop a stitch, does your fabric unravel or can you weave it anew?

And like a quilt, this beautiful, homey, comfortable kit has an incredible array of color that fits together just right. Mix and match patterns, tiny spools, vintage look journaling cards and kraft bits, zipper trim, stitched paper...there's so much to love!

And if you start or renew your six month subscription, you'll get these great bonuses (not to scale):

Prima's brand new Tiny Treasures Hearts Package
- one locket (imagine the possibilities) and one flat embellishment in a lovely antique finish

The hard to find and easy to love 'You're Golden' stitched fabric paper from Amy Tangerine.

And how about a chance to win?

Come to our website after midnight Pacific Time tonight and leave a comment on the forum post called 'the kit is live' on our message board. You'll be entered to win a full set of the papers from this kit - 12 double sided patterned papers in all, plus 4 sheets of coordinating American Crafts cardstock. In your comment, make sure to let us know what your favorite thing in the kit is. You have until November 4 and noon Pacific to enter to win.

It's a great way to try out what we do best for free! Make sure you wait until the kit goes live at Midnight.

See you then ~

Love,