Studio Calico Penny Arcade Reveal!

It's the 27th of the month and that means reveal day at Studio Calico!!!   The new release is available to subscribers right now, and will be available to everyone at midnight tonight.  I'm so excited to show you my cards from the main card kit Penny Arcade and the Pinball add-on:)  Let's get to the cards, shall we?

I'm happy to report that the main card kit comes with a die!  I always get so excited when a die is included:) I used the banner die to create a graphic pattern and backed it with the pattern papers.  Actually, paper.  I used that first page of the pack that has a swatch of all the papers in the pack (what is that page even called?)  I feel like that is a bonus page and I love using it!

For my next card, I used the gnome stamp in the main card kit to create a snowglobe:) 

I colored the little guy with my Copic markers to match the fantastic papers!  Love the natural woodsy feel!

I couldn't resist making just one more card from the main kit.  I used that absolutely fantastic paper (can't get enough of Kal Barteski) to create a fun background.  I painted select words with my Mr. Huey's and I added a little gold wrap threaded with wood stars (so much goodness in that sentence;).  

How about some cards from the add-on, Pinball?  This set has some stunning stamps!  The design is another SC exclusive collaboration with One Canoe Two Letterpress!  But before I get to those stamps, let's talk silver labels and patterned paper!  For my first card, I cut some funky shapes from the patterned paper.  I layered them over and under a sheet of vellum and added a sentiment on a silver-edged label. 

Isn't that paper too much fun?  I love how the vellum gives the paper a different look:)

Last but certainly not least, my card using the sublime One Canoe Two stamps!  For this card, I played with layers again.  I stamped directly onto the card base.  Then I stamped onto patterned paper and fussy cut the petals.  I also created a diagonal panel for the sentiment that picks up a bit of the flower.  I love how the layers add interest but in a subtle way.

I was so busy fawning over the flowers, I didn't even mention the sentiments!  Oh my word.  They are so lovely.  Seriously, right?

That's it for me for today!  I hope you check out the entire release over at Studio Calico!  And stop in to the gallery to see all the goodies the Creative Team have put together!

Mahalo and aloha,

jj

P.S.  There's still time to get in on my SC giveaway here!  JJ

Studio Calico Penny Arcade Sneak Peeks & a Giveaway

Just sharing a couple sneak peeks of my Studio Calico Penny Arcade card kit projects!  It's been so much fun to play with the kits!  You are going to LOVE the kits, add-ons, and amazing stamps and dies this month!  Here are some peeks from the main card kit...

And another using the main card kit die:)...

And how about one from the card kit add-on Pinball...

Last one from Pinball...

See you later today for the full reveal!  If you aren't already a subscriber, go subscribe now so you can get in on the presale at noon today (only subscribers can order at noon)!  There are some add-ons and dies this month, so you'll really want to get in early!   Before I finish, I did promise a giveaway!  I have the new House stamp set and the coordinating House Guests stamp set!   These sets are super cute and so much fun to play with!

There are 3 ways you can enter the giveaway:

• Leave a comment on this post

• Be/become a follower of this blog (leave a separate comment below to let me know you are a Feedly, Bloglovin, or Google follower)

• Be/become a Twitter follower - jj_bolton (leave a separate comment below if you become or are a follower)

I'll choose a random winner on Sunday night at midnight EST and announce on the blog on Monday, June 30th. 

Enjoy this wonderful weekend!

Mahalo and aloha,

jj

Paper Smooches July Release Blog Hop

It's Pep Rally week and we are here today to share a sampling of the NEW Paper Smooches May/June release with you!  FIVE new stamps and EIGHT new dies will be available to purchase at midnight on June 30th (eastern time) (12:01 am on July 1) You will find our new releases HERE!

To add extra fun to our blog hop...we are offering up a prize!  The prize - a $25. gift code to choose what you like at the PS online store.

Here are the details:

• FOUR winners will be chosen at RANDOM from any of the design team blogs and the PS Blog to win the $25. prize.
• Just leave a comment on any of the design team blogs listed below or the PS blog for your chance to win!  (you do not need to comment on all blogs to qualify but it increases your changes) 
• Deadline: You have until midnight MT on Sunday, June 29th to leave a comment. 
• Please check the Paper Smooches blog on Monday, June 30th to see if you are one of the FOUR lucky winners.  

Ashley Marcu

Betsy Veldman

Emily Leiphart

Erin Lincoln

JJ Bolton (you are here)

Jocelyn Olson

Kalyn Kepner

Kim Kesti

Laura Bassen

Laurie Schmidlin

Michele Boyer

Mou Saha 

Pamela Ho 

Summer Fullerton

Teri Anderson

Wendy Sue Anderson

To increase your chances of winning:

• Tell us that you Facebooked about our blog hop
• Tell us that you Tweeted about our hop
• Tell us that you posted on your blog about our blog hop

(which means that you have up to three extra chances to win on each blog)

For my card today, I featuring the new dies called Background Builders.   You are seriously going to flip over these dies.  This set is filled with all kinds of landscape shapes like hills, roads, paths, trees, clouds, etc.  So.many.possibilities!  As you can see,  I paired the dies with one of the teeny house stamps in the Bitty Bungalows set to create a little scene:)  When I'm using standalone dies, I like to match the stamped images.  So you'll notice that I used the no line Copic technique to color my bungalow.  That way you don't get distracted by the hard black lines.   

Here's a close up on how I assembled the layers.  I even reverse cut some clouds to add one more layer!  If you're wondering, I colored all my die cut pieces with blended Distress Ink.  The color is softer and more uneven (in a good way) than just using straight colored paper.  So much fun to put together!  

Thanks so much for stopping in!  Now keep on hopping!   My good friend, Jocelyn, is up next!  I'm sure she's going to knock your socks off!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Thank You Ribbon with Avery Elle

Hi guys!  I'm stopping in with some quickie cards I made with the new Avery Elle set, Many Thanks.  I make a ton of thank you cards, so this set is perfect for me!  For my first card, I used the stamps with the new Signature dies and Dotted dies to make a fun badge and ribbon:)  Have you seen these new dies?  So cute!

I also made another mini card that is totally one layer.  The Many Thanks set has these cute textured circle stamps and they are fun for adding an accent without adding bulk to your card. Don't they look so cute with that sentiment?

Until next time!  Thanks so much for stopping in!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Scrapbook Adhesives & Avery Elle Week

It's Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and Avery Elle week!  This week the Avery Elle design team is playing with some of the most popular products from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L such as their 3D Foam, E-Z Runners, Adhesive Sheets, etc.  After visiting here, be sure to check out the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog for even more inspiration using both companies products!  Don't forget to comment on the blogs throughout to week to be entered to win a fabulous prize!  Now for my card:)

I surprised myself by not making a shaker, lol!  I haven't used them in a bit, so I took out my Modern Leaves dies  for this one!  Instead of creating leaves, I used the dies to create a glittery butterfly.  I could have used the dies to cut glitter paper, but I wanted to apply the glitter directly to vellum.  Scrapbook Adhesives Adhesive Sheets are the perfect thing for this technique!  They are double sided adhesive sheets (they come in different sizes) and the best thing is that they don't gum up your dies:) 

I die cut 4 leaves and applied them to the vellum sheet.  (I hand cut the antennae)  Once the adhesive die cut was exposed, I sprinkled on some glitter.  I really wanted solid coverage so I went with some fine glitter.  I burnished the glitter a bit with my fingertip, but it was adhered pretty well even without it.  I stamped the sentiment (from Brushed) and I layered the vellum over some ombre paper.  I love the soft look of it all:)

Until next time!  Hope you're having a great week!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Glittery Balloon Shaker with Avery Elle

Hi guys!  I have an Avery Elle card to share with you today using some of the new dies and stamps:)   This is one of those cards that stayed with me all week.  I mean it literally stayed with me all week.  I am still finding sequins, glitter, and confetti all over the house!  I'm sure it drives my husband and sons crazy, but I secretly love it!  

For this card, I used the largest die of the Balloons die set to create the shaker frame.  My nieces 6th birthday is coming up and she's all about the pink and shiny!  Frankly, I'm all about the pink and shiny too, so this was a fun card to make.  I filled up my shaker with different sized sequins (flat and cupped/matte and iridescent), hex glitter, and confetti.  I know some folks wipe their acetate and paper with a swiffer sheet, dryer sheet, or embossing buddy, but personally, I like to keep some of the static cling.  I like the way the fillers stick around the shaker instead of just falling to the bottom.  Nothing more sad than an empty looking shaker!

For the sentiment, I used a die cut word using the new Simply Said: Happy die and matching stamps.  The balloon string and the asterisk stamps are from the Balloons stamp set.  With the stamps and the dies, you can seriously make birthday cards for days!

Until next time!  Hope you're having a great week!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Avery Elle June/July Blog Hop

Hi guys!!!  It's time for the Avery Elle June/July Release Blog Hop!  The previews have been rolling out on Avery Elle blog all week and are available in the store right now!  For the hop, I'm featuring the fun set, Sending You!  This set has a bunch of fun sentiments in a cute, flowy font that you will love!  I have a couple cards using this set to share today:)

This first card is pretty straight forward with a stamped background.  Using small stamps to create make your own background is a great way to stretch your stamps.  Before you go, I have one more card...

For this card, I used Sending You with 2 die sets that also came out this month, Dotted and Balloons!  These 2 die sets are so versatile.  The Dotted set includes the large rectangle panel I used as well as lots of smaller banner flags (dotted and undotted).   The Balloons die set coordinates with the Balloons stamp set , but they work just as well alone as I did.  The large balloon die is the perfect place for a sentiment!   

I hope that you go check out the new release and check out all the lovely project my teamies have in store for you today!  Here's the full list of hoppers... 

Avery Elle / Jamie
Chunyuan Wu
Caryn Davies
Heather Campbell
JJ Bolton (you are here)
Yainea
Kasia Curry
Maska Vanacker

To celebrate our Summer 2014 Release Blog Hop, Avery Elle is giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to one random winner.  To enter to win just comment on this post.  There is no purchase necessary and you must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  This giveaway is void where prohibited.  You can also do options 2, 3, 4, 5 or all 6 of the following to increase your chances of winning. You have until midnight Sunday, June 8th to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle Blog on Monday, June 9th .  All products are available for purchase in the Avery Elle store right now.

To enter to win you can do 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or all 6 of the following to increase your chances:

1. Comment on any of the design team's posts and/or here on the Avery Elle Blog
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet the contest (we are @averyellestamps )
3. Follow us on Facebook (we are www.facebook.com/AveryElle ) and share us with your friends - make sure they tell us you sent them.
4. Follow us on Pinterest
5. Become a blog follower through email (comment on the Avery Elle blog if you already follow us)
6. Join our Flickr group (comment on the Avery Elle blog if you already belong)

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj