Sunday, February 6, 2022

I've Moved!

I've moved to a new site! Please visit me at...

www.jjboltondesign.com


This site will stay up with all my old posts, but I hope to also see you at my new place 😃

Much aloha,
jj

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Waffle Flower January 2022 Release Blog Hop


Welcome to Waffle Flower’s January 2022 Release Day! After a long break, we're back with the first release of the year! We've been working on new designs and new products for so many months and we're so excited to start sharing them now! The new release is out on the Waffle Flower website today! 


One of the things that we've been working on is FOIL PLATES! Yay! We have been working on foil plates behind the scenes for quite a while with lots of back and forth on design to make sure we had the best foil plates that could be produced. The result are foil plates that are so much fun and easy to use! 


One of the first foil plate designs is the Oversized Hello! You are already familiar with the Oversized Hello stamp and die, and the foil version looks so cool! I have a lot more to share using this plate, but this first one uses the plate with blended ink and splattering techniques. This card came from an experiment with splattering and spraying after foiling which gives a much different look to foil. Kind of an antiquey, burnished look. 



I also blended some Distress Ink Oxides over the foil and added some fun drops. Over the next few weeks, I hope to share some of my other experiments:)


This next card uses the next in the Flat Landscape Stencil series. This card was so much fun to make and so easy! This card uses the entire stencil, so it's bigger than a normal A2 size. To me it looks like an art print, so I thought I'd keep the sentiment just on the inside;)




For an added detail, I used a white gel pen to add highlights and waves on the water. So easy to do and adds that little extra something. 


Don't forget to check out all the stops in the hope today! There's lots of fun, inspiration, and chances to win some of these new release goodies! Next on the hop is the fantastic Cathy Zielske (here's the full list so you don't miss a stop)!

JJ Bolton (you're here!)

For today’s hop, Waffle Flower is giving away $25 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners. You can leave a comment on this blog and along the hop by 11:59pm EST on Monday January 31, 2022 for your chances to win. Winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the posts in this blog hop and will be announced on the Waffle Flower Blog on 2/2/2022.
There are more giveaways to enter on Instagram including 1 winner to receive the entire release! Follow me at @ribbongirls and Waffle Flower at @waffleflowercrafts so you don’t miss out! 

From now till Thursday January 27th, 2022, all orders placed at waffleflower.com will receive a mysterious gift (No code required!).

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ









Papertrey Ink January 2022 Release Countdown Day 4: Scene Everywhere: Windowsill

Hello! Today's the last day of the countdown for the Papertrey Ink January 2022 release week! There's such a lovely variety in this release and there really is something for everyone! 

My last card of the countdown uses the Scene Everywhere: Windowsill stamps and dies. The scenery around here has mostly been of ice and snow lately, so I'm doing a bit of wishful thinking with this card. The Scene Everywhere: Windowsill set comes with the window and lots of elements to dress it up. 

I went with a simple window scene with a cozy cup of coffee and a sleepy kitty with the sun coming up in the window. Sounds like a perfect morning to me!  

The sun and water come from the Better at the Beach set and the sentiment is from the Just Sentiments: Wish You Were Here set. 

And that's my last card for the release! I hope that you've enjoyed the countdown and I hope our cards have inspired to try something new at your craft table! Join us on January 26th when the release hits the website! 

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Monday, January 24, 2022

Papertrey Ink January 2022 Release Countdown Day 3: Pattern Party & Band-aid Wishes

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the Papertrey Ink January 2022 release week and it's countdown day 3!  Today we're taking a look at Band-aid Wishes and Pattern Party! 

For my first card, I really wanted a cheery "Get Well" card and to me, that means lots of color! I'm sure you've tried this technique before creating a full background with die cuts. You can see that the size of the bandages works perfectly for this technique. 

The cute Band-aid box is such a cute element and works double duty as a place to put the sentiment.

This next card is a clean and simple comfort or condolence card. Sometimes all you really need is a bold focal point and a really heartfelt sentiment. 


This next card continues the CAS trend with a card using the new Pattern Play set. This set has multiple circle stamps in varying sizes and patterns. You can use the circles individually or cut down like I did. 

For the background, I added a sun (Loads of Healing set), sentiment (Just Sentiments: Wish You Were Here), and die cut clouds (Clouds 1 & 2 Dies). I love how the patterns bring a little extra something to the rainbow. 


We've got one more set to show tomorrow and then it's release day on January 26th! Hope you're having a great Monday!

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Papertrey Ink January 2022 Release Countdown Day 2: Frame Decor, Feathered Friends Mini 19, & Inside Greetings: With Sympathy

Hi all! It's Day 2 of of the Papertrey Ink January Release and  today we're highlighting the Feathered Friends Mini 19 set and Frame Decor set! 

From my office, I have a great view of my neighbor's backyard. He's an avid gardner and birdlover. He does all the work and I get the awesome view;) The bird in the Feathered Friends Mini set reminded me of all the bluebirds I've seen this year. I wanted him to really stand out on the card, so I surrounded him with all neutral tones. 


With all the neutral background tones, I added interest with some textured die cuts, ink blending, and a little bling with milky gems and glitter. The sentiment is from the Inside Greetings: With Sympathy set. Sympathy cards are one of the hardest to make, but are some of the most appreciated. I'm glad I have these sentiments for those times. 


This next set is for the home decor lovers out there! The Frame Decor set is full of home decor elements that you can mix and match together to create these scenes. I love the little details in this set!

I like that you can dress this set up with elements to customize it for the season or holiday. 


Check out the Papertrey Ink blog for more about these goodies from the January release! 

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Papertrey Ink January 2022 Release Countdown Day 1: Feathered Friends 19 Dies, Blooming Hearts, & Into the Blooms: Roses

Hi everyone! I have been taking some time away from the craft table for quite a bit, but I'm back and so excited for the new crafty year! Speaking of new, today starts the Papertrey Ink January release roll out! Today is Day 1 and we're highlighting Feathered Friends 19 Dies, Border Bling: Blooming Hearts Dies, and Into the Blooms: Roses Dies.

I've got 2 cards to share today and it's obvious I'm thinking of Spring! It is frigid here where I live (suburb of Washington DC), but at least it's sunny today! My first card uses the Feathered Friends 19 Dies and the Border Bling: Blooming Hearts Die. I know, butterflies are not feathery, but there is an adorable one included in the set. It also includes some branch and berries dies, so lovely! 


I did inlaid die cuts for the butterfly and placed it in the Blooming Hearts frame. I love how the frame has a subtle heart pattern. I backed the panel with some vellum to give a tiny bit of softness. The sentiment is from the Just Sentiments: With Sympathy set. 


Today we're also introducing the next in the Into the Blooms series, Roses! This set is downright gorgeous! I die cut mine with watercolor paper and painted it very loosely. I also added a little bit of coarse glitter along the edges of the petals. 

For the background, I used the previously released Winter Swirls. I die cut the swirls and added some coarse crystal glitter liberally. I think the background brings a little of interest but still let that rose shine.  



Definitely go check out the Papertrey Ink blog for more ideas from the DT, and come back tomorrow for the Day 2 of the release!

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Waffle Flower November 2021 Release Blog Hop


Welcome to Waffle Flower’s November 2021 Release Day! This release we're looking a little past the holidays with a beautiful collection of stamps, dies, and stencils that are all about special deliveries. All of the goodies are out on the Waffle Flower website today! 


My first card today really speaks to my clean and simple side. I used the new Stems dies, Vase Variety dies, and the Special Delivery stamps for this one. The Stems die set as 9 dies total with 7 flower/leaf stems and 2 vases. This is the kind of set that I love because of its versatility. 




I die cut a mix of the stems in gold foil, vellum, and white glitter cardstock. The vase is from the Vase Variety set and I love the debossed pattern detail. I added a simple "Thanks" sentiment from the mini set Special Delivery. Love the small scale and handwritten style of these sentiments. A few gems and that was it. Love the simplicity of this one!


This next card also uses the Stems dies but this time I colored my stems with Copic markers. I also used the Special Delivery dies and stamps for this one. The Special Delivery dies has tags and labels that coordinate perfectly with the Special Delivery stamps. I love the look of those little tags!




I used the flower bouquet wrapper die with some kraft wrapping paper and added a little tuft of tulle. I layered the background with a couple lacy panels and some gems. 



I hope you get a chance to visit all the stops in the blog hop today! There's lots of fun, inspiration, and chances to win some of these new release goodies! Next on the hop is the amazing Galina (but here's the full list so you don't miss a stop)!

For today’s hop, Waffle Flower is giving away $25 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners. You can leave a comment on this blog and along the hop by 11:59pm EDT on Sunday December 5th, 2021 for your chances to win. Winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the posts in this blog hop and will be announced on the Waffle Flower Blog on 12/8/2021.

There are more giveaways to enter on Instagram including 1 winner to receive the entire release! From now till Thursday December 2nd, 2021, all orders placed at waffleflower.com will receive a mysterious gift (No code required!).Follow us at @waffleflowercrafts so you don’t miss out! 

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ