Avery Elle Blog Hop: A Hiccup and an Apology!

Today I was supposed to be blog hopping, but today I encountered the blogger's nightmare.  My beloved Mac is in the computer hospital.  He hadn't been his usual self lately, but I was in denial;)  I was hoping beyond hope to get my post up, but no such luck!  {I'm posting this from my work computer, shhhh!!!!}

I was supposed to share my project for the new Avery Elle release Good Fortune!!!  This is such a fun and interactive set.  I'm a child of the 70's, so you know I love that Magic 8 ball!  

Definitely stop by the other gals and see their amazing projects!  And this month, we are joined by the fabulous Veronica Zalis and the wonderful Nina Yang!  

Jamie Gracz (Avery Elle blog)

 Chunyuan Wu

Veronica Zalis

Heather Campbell

Nina Yang 

Kasia Curry

I hope you come back and see my blog hop project when I post it, and who knows?  I may just be having a fun giveaway that day to make it up to you all:)

To celebrate the February Release Blog Hop, Avery Elle is giving away and $25 Gift Certificate to one winner on the Avery Elle blog and another $25 Gift Certificate to a winner on Facebook (just share them with your friends and make sure they say you sent them).  

You have until Sunday, February 3rd to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle blog on Monday, February 4th.  All products will be available for purchase tonight, January 31st, at midnight EST.  

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Paper Smooches ~ Dies to Die for!

Paper Smooches is showing off their CHA release during the entire month of January.  37 designers are participating along with the PS DT, so there will be a ton of projects to inspire you this month.  Paper Smooches is known for their fun and whimsical hand-drawn stamps.  They decided that it was time to broaden their product line to include DIES and wood mount stamps!  

I have a project to share using NEW PS product that releases on February 1, 2013 at www.papersmoochesstamps.com along with many retail stores around the globe.  You will find a new blog link (or two) to follow every day in January at the PS Blog. 

I was lucky enough to get to play with some of the fabulous new DIES!!!!  Technically, these dies are Bold Bloom Dies and match the stamp set, but they are SO versatile.  You get a set of 3 dies and they could be used in so many ways.  Clouds, flowers, puffs of smoke, bushes...and I guess for me, a tree:)  This tree was inspired by all of those waiting for a loved one.  I live in a military area (not far from a marine base) and we personally know so many families with loved ones still serving or just returning from overseas.  I thought this would be a sweet way to say "we remember".  I used the die to reverse cut a tree top and I lined it with vellum (blended with green ink).  So easy and the die works perfectly with the tree trunk from Autumn Groves!  

Paper Smooches Autumn Groves
Paper Smooches Simply Said

My second card is just a sweet flower card:)  Who doesn't love the simple blooms from Paper Smooches?  Well now, you got 'em in die form:)  I used all 3 dies to create a stepped flower.  Just a little stamping and it was done!  I just adore those leaf stamps:)   

Paper Smooches Reflections
Paper Smooches Bold Blooms
Paper Smooches Chit Chat

That's it for me today!  Thanks so much for popping in!  And don't forget to leave a comment because Paper Smooches is giving away $500 worth of product!  Hidden on FIVE of the participating blogs is a prize package worth $100. each. The prize includes a variety of stamp sets, wood mounts and dies. Comment on as many blogs as you can to increase your chances to be one of the five winners.

Mahalo and Aloha!

JJ

Online Card Classes: Clean & Simple Card Making 2 Starts Today!

Psssst!  Did you know that the newest Online Card Classes course, Clean & Simple Card Making 2 starts today!  It's not too late to get started!  You can learn more about it and register HERE!  To kick off the fun, I'm sharing a couple of clean & simple cards using die cuts!  {BTW, if you sign up for the class you'll get to see the exclusive cards.  These are just for bonus cards for fun!} 

You know I love my die cuts:)  I use them frequently on my CAS cards because they really pack a lot of punch without adding a lot of visual clutter.  Each of my first 2 bonus cards uses a pair of dies to create a "frame" using the negative space.  The card on the left uses nesting dies that are part of a set, but the second card uses to dies that are from 2 different companies.  Super easy to do!  {Another tip about this cards: I blended ink onto the backing cardstock for a perfect color match to my stamping.   Great for small areas and for unusual colors.}  

Clear Stamps: Paper Smooches Reflections, Lawn Fawn Hello Friend
Cardstock: Avery Elle Speckled

Before I go, I have one more bonus card!  The die cuts are used to accentuate the stamping without being too busy (great for CAS cards).   The stamp and die are from two different companies, but work so well together (love when that happens:).  

Clear Stamps: Hero Arts Many Birthday Messages, Hero Arts Spread Joy
Cardstock: Avery Elle Ultra Smooth Pure White

I hope these little bonus projects whet your appetite for clean & simple card-making!  I'd love to see you over the class!  As always, thanks for stopping by!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Online Card Classes: Clean & Simple Card Making 2 Winner!

The winner of my Clean & Simple Card Making 2 giveaway is #40, Tracey McNeely!  She won with this comment:

Tracey McNeelyJanuary 19, 2013 at 9:25 PM

JJ I am so excited for you that you are taking part in this card class. I would love to check this one out and learn something from you. Thanks for the chance!

Tracey, I'll be in touch!  Thanks to everyone for playing along!  I do hope you'll join us for the class!  For more information on the class, check HERE.

Mahalo and aloha,

jj

Mama Elephant Highlight: Type It

Happy Monday everyone!  It's the final day of highlights and I thank you for stopping by each day of the highlights!  The last of the new release is called Type It.  I absolutely love the typewriter stamp in this set!  Since I already did one card with this set here,  I thought I'd do something a little different with it this time.  For the first card, I stamped a typewriter background and put the sentiment on a vellum overlay.  {The sentiment is printed on the vellum}

For this second card, I used my Silhouette to cut out a typewriter.  I used the large page stamp, fussy cut the image, and stamped it.  The hidden surprise is that the page "card" slips out of the typewriter to reveal... 

A hidden note!  So much fun!  

That's it for me today!  Stop by the other ME gals for their Type It projects!

Mama Elephant/Kryssi 

Alice Wertz 

Cheiron Brandon 

Mariana Grigsby 

Pearl Lui 

Savannah O'Gwynn 

Thank you so, so much for stopping by!  I hope you've had fun seeing the new Mama Elephant stamps in action!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Online Card Classes: Clean & Simple Card Making 2

Happy weekend everyone!  I'm so happy to share that I'll be participating in the newest Online Card Classes course, Clean & Simple Card Making 2!  I've taken a few of the classes they've offered and they are so informative and fun!  Tons of tips, videos, and inspiration.  And did you know the class also offers student discounts for select vendors offering items on the class supply list?  You know you've been wanting to try it!  What are you waiting for?

Here's a little more on what the class is all about...

Online Card Classes is back with an all-new take on one of our most popular classes: Clean & Simple Card Making 2! Join Kristina Werner, Julie Ebersole, Jennifer McGuire and friends (including me!) to discover the “secret” to minimalistic and fabulous cards. Learn new techniques and be inspired by 26+ videos and 34+ clever and creative card designs. Gather inspiration from your fellow students and Online Card Classes teachers in the forums and galleries. Then print out class PDFs to take Clean & Simple Card Making 2 with you wherever you go. Plus, with lifetime access, random giveaways and shopping discounts galore, you’ll be able to outfit your card making stash in clean and simple style.

For more information on the class, check HERE.

Jennifer and Kristina 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 Sunday the 20th at 11:59 pm EST, and I'll choose a winner on Monday!  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 Highlight: Smitten

Hey there!  It's day 3 of highlights and today we're working with Smitten!  If you're looking for adorable, modern love and Valentine sentiments, then look no further!   {It's hard to find a sweet but not too cheesy love sentiment, isn't it?  No problems with that here:)}  I chose to go with a more masculine card, but this could easily be girlified;)

I love all the sentiments in this set, but I went straight for that circle graphic with the heart hands!!!  Between that stamp and that awesome feather stamp, I'm in heaven!  So today, it's just a little CAS card with die cut letters.  

Again, thanks so much for stopping by today!  And definitely go see what the other ME ladies have done with Smitten!

Mama Elephant/Kryssi 

Alice Wertz 

Cheiron Brandon 

Mariana Grigsby 

Pearl Lui 

Savannah O'Gwynn 

Come back tomorrow for the final day of January release stamp highlights!  Have a bodacious day!  {Okay, I stole that from a hippie professor in college, but it's such a happy little saying!}

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Diagnosis Design by Wida

Last year I was lucky enough to get to know a certain Ms. Wida Miller:)  She's the spunky, honest, smart, talented, and all around wonderful gal over at the blog Beachorado.  Recently she's started up a feature where she uses her diagnostic skills (she's in the medical field) on a fellow cardmaker!  The feature is called Diagnosis Design and it's become one of my favorite things on her blog!  

Now I don't really know how I got on her list (aside from the fact that she knows I won't say no to her;), but today she's giving me the DD treatment.  So if you're interested in seeing some goofy pics and hearing me wax about craft supplies, head on over!  I make no promises on how interesting my parts are, but definitely check out Wida's assessment! 

Thanks Wida!  You're the best!

Mahalo!

jj

Mama Elephant Highlight: Starry Night

Hey everyone!  Today we're moving on to the Cosmic Stars companion set, Starry Night!  I have not one, but three cards to share today!  Something about these starry stamps seemed to motivate me:)  Sometimes I have a clear idea of the final product before I'm done.  Sometimes I just start stamping and hope for the best.  This is definitely a case of the latter.  I really wanted to do a falling star card with the 4 constellation builder stamps. First I did a full card version.  Then I did a more CAS version that is inspired by this card I did for the October release and this card by the wonderful Debby Hughes.  Lots of inky fun!

The third card came about because I wanted to play with those adorable Cosmic Stars stamps again!  Actually, I combined 3 Mama Elephant sets with this card: Starry Nights (sentiment and stars), Cosmic Stars (Virgo), and Believe in Magic (snow globe base).  Love those sweet stamps:)  

That's it for me today!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  And please hop on over and  check out what the other gals have done with Starry Nights!

Mama Elephant/Kryssi 

Alice Wertz 

Cheiron Brandon 

Mariana Grigsby 

Pearl Lui 

Savannah O'Gwynn 

Come back tomorrow for another January release stamp highlights!  Enjoy your day!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Mama Elephant Highlight: Cosmic Stars

Hi guys!  Now that you've seen the new sets, are you ready to see highlights?  First up is Cosmic Stars!  Oh my goodness, this set is cute overload!  Technically the stamps in this set are astrological signs, but the images are so versatile.  Did I say how cute they were?  :)

When I thought about what I wanted to make with these stamps, it was so hard to choose a stamp.  So I didn't!  Taking inspiration from my friend June K (Hi June!!), I decided to use ALL the stamps and make a mini calendar:)  

Which image is your favorite?

As you can see, the images are so easy to color.  I have very basic Copic skills, so if I can do it, you certainly can!  If you'd like to try this calendar yourself, click here to pick up the PDF template:)  I'm showing the calendar with a small wooden easel (top pic) and with a simple tent card made with cardstock (pic above), but I ended up with something totally different.  I had an old left over business card magnet from some company and I used it to create a refrigerator magnet.  Cute and useful!  (I love cute & useful:)

Thanks so much for stopping in!  Now go checkout what the other ME gals have done today!

Mama Elephant/Kryssi 

Alice Wertz 

Cheiron Brandon 

Mariana Grigsby 

Pearl Lui 

Savannah O'Gwynn 

Come back tomorrow for more January release stamp highlights!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj