Thar She Blows with Paper Smooches

Just a fun little thank you card today!  I used one of the new Paper Smooches Stitched Flourishes dies to create a waterspout for my happy whale.  These stitched flourishes are so great for adding that little extra something to a card.  A long time ago, I read a tip about card making that basically said, if your card feels unfinished, try adding texture.  Add another layer, embellishment, embossing (dry or heat), or in my case today, stitching!  (I wish I remembered what blogger said this little tidbit!  It still a really good tip!)

To create the waves, I die cut a stencil using one of the Borders Dies 1 and blended ink over it.  I love this technique because it's so much fun and gives such a soft look.  

Stitched Flourishes dies, Surf and Turf stamps, Borders Dies 1

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj

Paper Smooches March Blog Hop

It's Pep Rally week and we are here today to share a sampling of the NEW Paper Smooches April release with you!  FOUR new stamps and EIGHT new dies will be available to purchase on March 31st at 8:00pm pacific time. Once our release goes live, you will find our new products 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 PT on Sunday, March 29th to leave a comment. 
• Please check the Paper Smooches blog on Monday, March 31st to see if you are one of the FOUR lucky winners.  

Here are the details:

Ashley Marcu

Emily Leiphart

JJ Bolton (that's me)

Jocelyn Olson

Kalyn Kepner

Kay Miller

Laura Bassen

Laurie Schmidlin

Michele Boyer

Pamela Ho 

Teri 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)

Now are you ready for something fun?  This new die set is called Polished and it's unlike anything you've ever seen:)  Do you have a friend who is obsessed with her nails?  Or in my case, do you have a friend who's recently engaged?  I created this fun engagement card with the sentiment from the Qwick Qwips;)

This die set comes with the dies for the hand, fingernails, and the ring!  I opted to use a rhinestone to bling up the ring, but there is a faceted diamond die with the set.  To get the full sparkly effect, here's one more shot at an angle:)

Now it's time for you to hop on over to the next stop on the hop, the fantastic Jocelyn Olson!   

Mahalo,
jj

Stay Golden with Avery Elle

Hi everyone!  Just stopping in with a card with lots of shiny happiness!  I paired the new Number Balloons dies with the "happy" die from the Words Fill in the Blank dies set to create a fun little shaker card.  Don't those numbered balloons look amazing die cut in gold metallic card stock?  I was debating if I should add some strings on those balloons, but you know me.  I'm a CAS girl at heart:)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Pastel Bunnies with Avery Elle

Hi guys!  With the weather finally warming up, I'm looking forward to Spring and not looking back!  So I pulled out a bunch of bright pastel papers and paper pieced this new Avery Elle set, Easter Blessing.   Doesn't this get you in the mood for Spring flowers?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Thanks 2 Ways

Just want to share a few cards I made with the new Paper Smooches dies.  My first 2 cards were made with the same die, the Thanks 2 word die.   Both cards use the stacked stamping technique I've used in the past.

Graceful Beauties stamps, Thanks 2 word die

I seem to be on a butterfly trip:)

Luminous Spring stamps, Crystal Clear stamps, Thanks 2 word die

My last card uses the new dies that coordinate with the Paws for Cause stamps.  If you're wondering what this card is about, think squirrel!  

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj

Tabby Hello with Avery Elle

Hi everyone!  With my card today, I wanted to show you how the new Super set from Avery Elle makes a perfect window scene!  I love how the cityscape stamp looks like stamped in white on black.  I just added some reverse cut stars (used the dies from the Finished Frame set) and a little Copic-colored kitten looking out over the city.  

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Ellie Shaker Card with Avery Elle

Helloooo!  It's been a crazy week here on the East Coast and I'm so glad that it's Friday:)  And I'm so happy to be sharing this card that I made with the new Avery Elle Ellie stamp!  So cute, right?  

When I saw the Ellie stamp I thought how fun it would be to make him spraying "confetti" from his trunk.  I used the arc die from the Custom Panels die set to create the aperture for the shaker, but I still had a problem with the edge of the card.  Most shakers have a frame so you can hide the foam layer that contains the sequins/glitter.  Instead of a frame, I used this new technique with my We R Memory Keepers Fuse tool.  Check out this video for the details...

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Misti-fied

I'm a sucker for all paper crafting tools but especially ones that make things easier and more precise!  (yes, it's the scientist in me:)  So a few months ago when I heard about this new stamp positioner called a MISTI, I was definitely intrigued!  Unfortunately, it was also sold out.  Bummer, right?  Well luckily for me, I have friends who love paper crafting supplies as much as I do!  My sweet, sweet friend Wida managed to snag a MISTI for me and sent it to me as a surprise.  I love that gal!  And what do you know it, I love my MISTI!

After using my MISTI for a couple months, I've worked out a few kinks and put them in a video. 

Hope you pick ed up a couple new tricks!  By the way, I have no affiliation with the the company that produces the MISTI (My Sweet Petunia) and I have not been compensated for this post.  Just spreading the love!  

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Colorful Chicks

I have a fun Easter card for you today:)  The Spring Fling stamp set is one of my favorite PS sets, so you know I was excited when the matching dies came out!  I used the Stitched Frames Dies to create  fun block background.  Who doesn't love that little chick?

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj