Saturday, September 27, 2014

Studio Calico The Underground Reveal!

It's the 27th of the month and that means reveal day at Studio Calico!!!   The new release is available to subscribers for presale right now and will be available to everyone at midnight!  I'm so excited to show you my cards from the main card kit The Underground and two of the stamp add-ons (love me some stamps:)!  I had so much fun working with the new Tea Time add-on set and the Forest add-on set.  But let's talk about the main kit first!  Did you know this month, you get 2 dies with The Underground Card Kit?  I'm in heaven:)  Her's a look at what I did with the dies...


I am in love with this little outline feather die!  So many possibilities!  This time, I cut one pure gold (and left all the pieces intact) and one in white.  With the white feather, I inlaid various colors into the open spaces.  This is one of my favorite things to do with open dies like this!  I love the silver of the misted background and patterned paper with the gold of the feathers.  


For my second card, I used the feather die again to create a peekaboo card:)  I split a front panel down the right side of the card.  I filled the strip with die cut feathers in card stock, vellum, and some of the yummy copper glitter card stock from the kit.  The feathers are attached to the back of the panel, so they look like they are floating above the card base.  To attach the feathers, I put strips of scortape on either side of the split.  Much easier than gluing up each feather;)


Here's a closer look at the feathers!


Now on to the add-ons!   Forest add-on set and the Tea Time add-on set are soooo cute!!!   I used the Tea Time set to make this cute little card with a slightly vintage feel.  I stamped a flower frame around a paper-pieced teacup (don't you love all the new Studio Calico green inks).  I tucked a paper-pieced teabag behind the teacup to give that 3D look.  


The teacup was stamped onto some adorable paper from the main card kit.  I added a bit of blended ink to make it look a bit more vintage:)  


My last card is one of my favorites from the bunch:)  It uses the new Forest add-on set.  This set is so.much.fun!  I'm in love with that bear!  As you can see, I used him as a polar bear this time:)  I heat embossed him in white on kraft paper.  I used a bit of white pencil around his snout, used a black enamel dot for a nose, and a drew in his eyes.  Behind him, I stamped the forest.  I used first and second generation stamping to get that variation in color.  


I blended ink with a mask to create a wintery sky.  You can pick up the template for the cloud mask here on my site.


And that's it 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 wonderful creations the Creative Team have put together!  

Mahalo and aloha,
jj




Thursday, September 25, 2014

Gift Card Hangers with Avery Elle

Hi everyone!  Thursday means that I have an Avery Elle post to share:)  Today I'm showing off the new Seasonal Sentiments stamp set.  This set has a number of fall/winter sentiments, but my mind is already on Christmas;)  Here's what I made with the adorable "Merry Christmas" stamp...


For my coworkers at Christmas, I like to give a gift card with a little physical gift of food or drink.  So this year, I'm going to make a bunch of these gift card holders and hang them from some fun cider or ginger ale!  They were so easy to make with the Cheers hanger dieI scored and folded the hanger to create a pocket (I used thin strips of scor-tape to make the pocket).  It couldn't have been easier!   I love it when a plan comes together:)

Until next time!  Thanks so much for stopping in!

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Vellum Ghost with Avery Elle

Hi everyone!  Thursday means that I have an Avery Elle card to share!  I had a devil of a time trying to photograph this card, so I apologize for the wonky pics:)  

Fall is in the air here, and I can't stop thinking forward to Halloween and Thanksgiving!  Here's a fun little Halloween card to tuck into your ghosting goodie bags (if you're not familiar with this tradition, check out this link). 


I cut out a window using one of the We R Family dies and blended a ghostly sky behind it.  (BTW, check out the link below for the free cloud mask template).  


On top I added a little fussy cut ghost that was heat embossed in white on vellum.  I also added a yellow vellum moon inside the window.  I love how you can see the clouds through the vellum moon!  

As promised a couple weeks ago, here is look at the free template I created so you can make your own cloud masks.  (Go to my cut files page for the Silhouette, SVG, or PDF version)  For this card, I used the bottom of the mask to create flat, foggy clouds...

Until next time!  Thanks so much for stopping in!

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj

Friday, September 12, 2014

Friday with Paper Smooches

How about some Paper Smooches goodies to start off the weekend?  Let's start of with this card using the new Curly Clouds dies...


When I first saw these dies, I knew I wanted to make some "silver lining" cards.  First I used a Power Rays die cut as a mask to create the sunday background.  Then I reverse die cut the clouds into that panel.  Instead of inlaying the entire cloud, I just inlaid the silver outline of the cloud.  I added vellum to the back of each cloud and made little shakers for each of them.  I love the look of the large silver hexagon glitter behind the vellum.   Almost like the clouds are holding the raindrops!


This second card I have to show you today is a Christmas card.  I love all kinds of Christmas stamps and cards.  Traditional, modern, funny, fancy.  I enjoy and make all kinds, but I have to say that the new A Blessed Christmas stamp set has quickly become my go to set this year!  Sometimes, understated is the best:)  I stamped the holy family image and did very minimal coloring with Copics.  Then I masked it off and blended a silhouette of the Cityscape 1 behind.  Such an easy technique, but I love how it gives the city a soft glow.


That's it for me for now!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks so much for visiting:)

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Christmas Frame with Avery Elle

Hi everyone!  Thursday means that I've got an Avery Elle project:)  Today I'm highlighting the new Seasons Greetings die!  Isn't that font fantastic? 


For this card, I really wanted to focus on that gorgeous die cut word.  (BTW, I just realized I forgot to add the apostrophe in "Season's", oops!  I'll have to go back in and add it;)  The word just happens to fit perfectly in the frame that you can create with 2 dies from my new set, We R Family.  There is an outer die that cuts a Project Life-sized 3X4 rounded card and there is a separate die that cuts a smaller rounded rectangle.  It's hard to see, but the smaller die also has an embossed stitch around the outside of the cut (yeah, it's a totally different concept that I'll have to show you on another day:).  


To finish off, I added some die cut leaves with some enamel berries.  This design would be great to mass produce if you've got a lot of cards to send out!

Until next time!  Thanks so much for stopping in!

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Avery Elle Fall Release Blog Hop


Hello, hello, hello!  It's release day over at Avery Elle and the whole DT gang is hopping!  It's even more special because we have a couple new DT gals (the fabulous Katie Gehring and Karolyn Loncon) with us this time around!  What a joy to have them on the team!  

Yesterday you had a little taste of my new set Alice and Friends (along with my other new set We Are Family).  Today I want to share how you can make fun cupcake toppers with the same set and the coordinating dies!  Each of these cupcake toppers has a "playing card" base made from a  piece of card stock cut to 2" wide X 2-1/2" tall.  I rounded the corners and stamped each one with one of the 4 card suits.  Some of the cards have a stamped, colored, and die cut image like this Alice here...


And others have an "eat me" tag just like the book;)  {The Alice and Friends set has a "drink me" and an "eat me" sentiment that work with this banner}  So easy to add to favors, gifts, and tags for a fun Alice in Wonderland tea party!  


Here's one with the White Rabbit...


And of course, the Cheshire cat...


Now that I've really made you hungry for cupcakes, it's time to tell about the giveaway and send you on to the next stop of the hop!  To celebrate our Fall 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, September 7th to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle Blog on Monday, September 8th .  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)
The next stop on the hop is the awesome Yainea, but here's the full hop list just in case...

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Avery Elle : Alice & Friends and We Are Family Sneak Peeks

Hi everyone!  Today I'm excited to show you an early preview of my new sets coming out this Thursday, September 4th in the Avery Elle store!  The first set I want to share is the new Alice & Friends stamp set and 2 sets of coordinating dies.  Just like the Red & Goldie set released earlier this year, this set is a collaboration between my son and me and features hand drawn figures.  There are two sets of dies, one for the images in the stamp set and a companion tag set so you can make all kinds of fun party tags with the "EAT ME" and "DRINK ME" stamps.



I'll be showing more Alice & Friends projects later this week, but here's a little gift enclosure card I made with this set:)  It's a 3X4 size, and it will be a fun little keepsake to keep in an album after the party.  I used the Count on It  number dies to make it look a little like a playing card.  The patterned paper is from one of the new Avery Elle paper packs.  


This release, I also designed the We Are Family stamp sets and dies.  These stamps can be used for cards or scrapbooking.  I only recently took up scrapbooking and I couldn't find just the right stamps for my family pics.  Just like before, I figured if *I* was looking for these stamps, *someone else* must be too:)  There were too many stamps to fit into one set, so there's a big 4X6 set and a small 4X3 add-on set.  I can't wait to see what you all do with these stamps!




I also have a coordinating die that cuts a 3X4 rounded corner panel.  It also comes with a  die that allows you to cut an embossed stitch frame (stay tuned later this week for more info on how that works:).  


Before I go, I wanted to share a layout I made with the We Are Family stamps and the previously released Modern Leaves dies.  It's kind of a free-form family tree with leaves and stitching, and here's how it turned out (don't laugh because I'm new at all this scrapbooking stuff!)...



BTW, the papers are an assortment of patterned papers from the new Avery Elle 6X6 packs.  I love that they match the AE inks!  All the pages are double-sided, so that little pad goes a long way!    

Thanks so much for stopping in!  Don't forget the new release will be available on Thursday, September 4th in the Avery Elle store.  Be sure to come back on tomorrow (Thursday) to hop with the entire DT gang featuring the entire Fall release:)   There are so many fun goodies this release and we've new DT members, Katie and Karolyn too!  
    Mahalo and Aloha,
    jj