Skipping Stones Designs ~ Sketch #152

******Sorry for the delay!  We've had spotty internet and power here in northern Virginia due to the hurricane!******

Hi everyone!  It's Tuesday and that means another Skipping Stones Designs sketch!  Today we're working on Sketch #152 from from fantastic Jen Del Muro! 

Before you look at this card, I have to assure you that you do not need glasses:)  I went for a soft look and that was really hard to capture in the pics (keep looking at the buttons, lol!)  I wanted to give the bird flying off into the distance more of a hazy look, so those stamped images are actually under vellum.  I'm still not sure about this design, but I am happiest when I'm trying something new:)  The images are from Dandelion Dreams, Breathtaking Butterflies, and Timeless Textures.

And just for fun, I did up another card!  I've been on an ink blending kick lately, and the SSD stamps from Dandelion Dreams really lend themselves to this technique.    

I really hope that you stop in and play along with this week's sketch on the Skipping Stones Designs Blog!  One lucky winner will be picked at random to win a free SSD stamp set!  Don't forget to check out what Miriam is up to today (she's playing along at SSD as guest designer for October too)!  This has been a wonderful month playing along with the SSD gang:)  Heather and Katie and all the SSD DT have been so wonderful!  It's been a pleasure!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Creative Mistletoe!

Just popping in today with a holiday card made with non-holiday stamps!  I love new stamps as much as the next person, but it's always nice to use what you have!  For the mistletoe, I used flower stamps from Avery Elle's Blossoms & Blooms.  The rounded petals work great as mistletoe leaves.  The little bow from the Fanfare set is the perfect Christmas-sy touch.  The "berries" are just glitter foam punched with a standard hole punch.  

Before I sign out, I just want to send out "be safe" vibes to all those in the path of hurricane Sandy!  Here in northern Virginia, the schools are closed and even my office is closed for the day!  We're taking advantage of this free day and hoping for the best!  Take care of yourselves folks! 

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Avery Elle Supplies:

Fanfare stamp set

Blossoms & Blooms stamp set

Speckled cardstock

Online Card Class: Holiday Card Workshop Winner!

It's time to announce the winner of the Holiday Card Workshop from Online Card Classes giveaway!

The winner by Random Number Generator is lucky 21, Kelly Griglione!

Kelly, email me so I can get you all set up!  

Even if you weren't picked today, I do hope that you all join in on the Holiday Card Workshop from Online Card Classes! There's lots of ideas and tips to be had plus you get lifetime access!  For me, the lifetime access is a must so you can work at your own pace and come back for refreshers whenever you want!  So nice to have that flexibility!  Here's the link to register...

Holiday Card Workshop

Aloha and mahalo,

jj

Online Card Class: Holiday Card Workshop Giveaway!

Hi everyone!  I'm so excited to share that I'm participating in this year's Holiday Card Workshop from Online Card Classes as a guest artist (sounds so fancy, lol)!  Here's a little more on what the class is all about...

All NEW for 2012 - Holiday Card Workshop from Online Card Classes! Join a team of incredible artists for a holiday cardmaking class, featuring different styles of stamps and a variety of supplies!

We cardmakers love the holidays—perhaps more than any other time of the year! It's the time when we can really stretch our cardmaking muscles with holiday cards. Whether those cards are intricate, inky masterpieces or clean and simple creations, Christmas and holiday cards are some of the most fun to create!

Join instructors Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, and special guest artists (including me!) for 20+ videos and well over 30 card ideas! Online Card Classes' Holiday Card Workshop includes tips, tricks, techniques, shopping discounts, giveaways, videos, instructional PDFs, and more. And, as always, you will have lifetime access to the class content. 

To register, visit Holiday Card Workshop.

Kristina and Jennifer were kind enough to offer a free spot for me to giveaway!  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Saturday the 27th at 11:59 pm, and I'll choose a winner on Sunday!  Just for fun let me know if you've ever taken an online class and what types of classes you'd be most interested it!  

Mahalo and good luck!

Aloha,

jj

Mama Elephant Stamp Highlight ~ Basic Borders

Hiya peeps!  Today is the last day of Mama Elephant release highlights!  Have you found a set you can't live without?  Today's set is Basic Borders which I used last week for this card.  As you can see, this is one of those sets that has something for everyone:)

This time, I used the Basic Borders stamps to make a quick holiday card!  I used my Silhouette to cut out the ornaments, but I'm sure you could find ornament dies or even circle dies to do the trick.  The sentiment is from Polar Pals:)   So easy, right?

I thank you so much for stopping by today and all the day's of the release!  It's really been a pleasure working with the Mama Elephant stamps!  Don't forget to pop on by the rest of the Mama Elephant ladies to see their fabulous projects!  

Mama Elephant Blog

Alice Wertz

Cheiron Brandon

Mariana Grigsby

Pearl Lui

Savannah O'Gwynn

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Mama Elephant Stamp Highlight ~ Trifecta

Hello everyone!  Today we're highlighting one of my favorite sets of the October Mama Elephant release, Trifecta!  You've already seen me use this set neon-style here, so today I went more organic.  

There's so many possibilities when you start off with graphic, simple shape stamps.  Even pine trees and snow-capped mountains!  Finish it off with a sentiment from Good Times and you're all set!  Yes, this card was as easy as it looks:)

Thanks for stopping by!  I would really love it if you visit the rest of the Mama Elephant ladies to see their fabulous Trifecta projects!  

Mama Elephant Blog

Alice Wertz

Cheiron Brandon

Mariana Grigsby

Pearl Lui

Savannah O'Gwynn

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Skipping Stones Designs ~ Sketch #151

Hi everyone!  It's Tuesday and that means another Skipping Stones Designs sketch!  Today we're working on Sketch #151 from from the wonderful Amy Sheffer! 

I hope you're not getting sick of the butterflies, because I can't seem to put down SSD's  Breathtaking Butterflies!  This time in a trio of colors!

I really hope that you stop in and play along with this week's sketch on the Skipping Stones Designs Blog!  One lucky winner will be picked at random to win a free SSD stamp set!  And while you're at it, check out what Miriam is up to today (she's playing along at SSD as guest designer for October too)!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Mama Elephant Stamp Highlight ~ Polar Pals

Happy Monday!  Hope you all had a good Fall weekend:)  Are you all ready to check out another set from the October Mama Elephant release?  Today's set is Polar Pals!  

I am having so much mixing and matching the sets from Mama Elephant!  I took the cutest little penguin from Polar Pals and matched him up with stamps from We Click, Good Times, and even Believe in Magic.  (I swear I'm going to wear out that little star/snow stamp from Believe in Magic)  And this little pink-garbed penguin really does shuffle!

This little dude swivels back and forth:)  Want to know how it's done?  Click on the pic below.  It's basically a "spinner" card that stays in one place.  

Thanks for stopping in!  Now head on over to the rest of the Mama Elephant gang and enjoy their fantastic projects!  

Mama Elephant Blog

Alice Wertz

Cheiron Brandon

Mariana Grigsby

Pearl Lui

Savannah O'Gwynn

 Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

The Cameo Spotlight Challenge #6 ~ Halloween

Happy early Halloween everyone!  Today is the start of the The Cameo Spotlight #6 challenge and our theme today is of course, Halloween!  And did you hear?  We're now accepting scrapbook layouts, party favors, gift boxes, and home decor!  Can't wait to see what  you all make!

This week's sponsor is gel-a-tins!  They offer clear stamps and lots of other fun stuff too!  And I hear they have a pretty rocking DT ;)  Check out The Cameo Spotlight site for more info!

For my card today, I did a pumpkin version of the flip card/swing card.  Flip/swing cards have been around awhile, but it's usually a circle or square panel in the middle.  When you pull my card apart, this little "trick" pumpkin flips to reveal his "treat" side!  I've never made this kind of card before, but with the Silhouette it was super easy to create my own cut file!

Just click here to get the cut file and you can try it out yourself!  BTW, I'm not including the pumpkin faces because those are straight from the Silhouette site:)  {Please review the terms of use for my cut files here}  My cut files usually have instructions in them if they're not self-explanatory.  This file contains score lines that need to be scored with a score board or stylus.  I prefer not to do perforations with the Silhouette for folding lines:)  You get a cleaner look scoring your own lines.  Feel free to email me if you have any trouble with my cut files! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Now click on over to The Cameo Spotlight challenge site to see more Silhouette creations from the TCS DT!  This week we're lucky to have the awesome Jocelyn Olson of Red Balloon Cards as a guest designer!  I'm sure she's got something amazing to share!

Mahalo and aloha,

jj

Mama Elephant Stamp Highlight ~ Good Times

It's Friday and we've got Good Times!  Good Times the stamp set from the October Mama Elephant release, that is!  If you're looking for fresh sentiments for carding and scrapbooking, look no further!  You've already seen me use this set here and here.  How about something completely different?

I thought I'd try something more traditional!  I cut the little tree trunks with my Silhouette, but I bet you can find alternatives:)  I love circle trees!  I even busted out the trusty sewing machine for this one;)  

I also have another super CAS card to share that uses Good Times and We Click!  The clothes pins were fussy cut, glittered up with a Sakura pen, and then colored with copics.  (So keep that in mind!  You don't need colored glitter pens!  Glitter pen + copic = rainbow glitter)  So easy but with lots of punch!  BTW, I have no idea what possessed me to pair clothespins with "Hello There", but I like it:)

Thanks for stopping in!  Enjoy your Friday and rest up this weekend!  We will start again Monday morning highlighting the remaining Mama Elephant sets!  Doesn't that sound like something to look forward to on Monday morning?  Now it's time to give the other DT gals some love!  Enjoy!

Mama Elephant Blog

Alice Wertz

Cheiron Brandon

Mariana Grigsby

Pearl Lui

Savannah O'Gwynn

 Mahalo and Aloha,

jj