American Crafts Studio Blog: Brads, Buttons, & Bling Guest Designer

Our Brads, Buttons, & Bling Guest Designer is the talented Jennifer Ciriano (Blog: Jennifer Ciriano | Instagram: @jennsdoodles | Pinterest: @jennsdoodles | Twitter: @jennsdoodles)!

Short bio: Hi everyone, my name is Jennifer Ciriano and I’m so excited to be here with you today! I’m a proud Brooklynite from Brooklyn, NY. I’m the wife to an amazing husband who encourages this hobby of mine. I’m also the Mama to three pretty awesome teenagers, who at times make me want to pull my hair out, lol. I’m a former medical assistant and now a SAHM. This is great because it gives me more time to play with pretty paper. I love getting our family’s memories recorded in layouts, mini albums & PL spreads. My other hobbies include photography, reading, organizing & most of all making memories with my family.

How did you get started scrapbooking? My love of crafts is due to my mom as I grew up around all kinds of crafty projects. I enjoyed all kinds of crafts through the years but I’ve found that I am most passionate about scrapbooking. Scrapbooking started for me about 15 years ago. It was a combination of things that got me started. One of which was those boring card store baby albums, which I was always trying to jazz them up. Then there was a television program on called “The Carol Duvall Show” which had scrapbooking segments. Then my mom gave me a scrapbook kit and it made me want to find out more. Browsing through the Internet I found some great resources. At this point I was hooked & haven’t looked back!

What is your favorite American Crafts product? Thickers. Back when I first started scrapbooking we had to hand cut our titles out with scissors and exacto knives. Let me just say this wasn’t fun for me!! Thickers became a dream come true. I may have over 150 packs, just don’t tell my husband! If I had to have a runner up product, it would definitely be die cuts. If I had to, I could live on just these two products alone.

HUGS by Jennifer Ciriano

I think this may be my favorite of the three layouts created. Once the grid was sewn down, the embellishing with the buttons and punched out hearts came together quickly and was a lot of fun.

Supplies: Match paper (366819) – Plus One, Skipping Along paper (366761) – Day Dreamer, Sandbox paper (366756) – Daydreamer, Accomplice paper (366822) – Plus One, Twosome paper (366820) – Plus One, # Heatwave paper (366950) - # Summer, Wood Buttons (78089) – Thank You, Wood Buttons (78090) – Happy Birthday, Thickers, Lullaby Sunflower (42959) – Thickers

BIRTHDAY PRINCESS by Jennifer Ciriano

I absolutely love the colors of the #Summer collection and I knew that it would go great with this photo of my daughter, on her 9th birthday. To make cutting the patterned papers out easier, I traced the leftover circles from the circle cut and cut them slightly larger, then attached them to the cut file, using a glue pen.

Supplies: # Road Trip paper (366948) - # Summer, # Popsicles paper (366951) - # Summer, Accomplice paper (366822) – Plus One, # Heatwave paper (366950) - # Summer, # Smile paper (366952)- # Summer, Flair (366966) - # Summer, Fabric Brads (366852) – Plus One, Candy Dots (96531) – Thank You, Brads (366341) – Elements, Adhesive Badges (366795) – Daydreamer, Thickers, Goodness Pink (330116) – Thickers

BIRTHDAY CARD by Jennifer Ciriano

For this card, I watercolored the sky background on some watercolor paper. Then I attached the strings to the buttons before attaching them to the card to make them look as though they are floating up in the sky.

Supplies: Primary buttons (85435) – Elements

KEY TO MY HEART by Jennifer Ciriano

Although this is primarily a black and white layout, using the pops of color gave it some added interest. I love how graphic yet feminine this layout turned out to be.

Supplies: Duo paper (366823) – Plus One, Pair paper (366821) – Plus One, Twosome paper (366820) – Plus One, Hula Hoop paper (366760) – Daydreamer, Fabric Brads (366852) – Plus One, Adhesive Badges (366795) – Daydreamer, Chalk Badges (366633) – DIY Shop

LET LOVE WIN FRAME by Jennifer Ciriano

I really love this quote and have wanted to make a home décor piece for awhile. As soon as I saw these glittered brads I instantly knew what I was going to create!

Supplies: Mini Glitter Chestnut Brads (85675) – Elements, Medium Glitter Mettalics Brads (85349) – Elements

Thank you for sharing your talent with us Jennifer! Visit Jenn here to find our more about her and see her lovely creations - Blog: Jennifer Ciriano | Instagram: @jennsdoodles | Pinterest: @jennsdoodles | Twitter: @jennsdoodles