Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Waffle Flower November 2021 Release Blog Hop


Welcome to Waffle Flower’s November 2021 Release Day! This release we're looking a little past the holidays with a beautiful collection of stamps, dies, and stencils that are all about special deliveries. All of the goodies are out on the Waffle Flower website today! 


My first card today really speaks to my clean and simple side. I used the new Stems dies, Vase Variety dies, and the Special Delivery stamps for this one. The Stems die set as 9 dies total with 7 flower/leaf stems and 2 vases. This is the kind of set that I love because of its versatility. 




I die cut a mix of the stems in gold foil, vellum, and white glitter cardstock. The vase is from the Vase Variety set and I love the debossed pattern detail. I added a simple "Thanks" sentiment from the mini set Special Delivery. Love the small scale and handwritten style of these sentiments. A few gems and that was it. Love the simplicity of this one!


This next card also uses the Stems dies but this time I colored my stems with Copic markers. I also used the Special Delivery dies and stamps for this one. The Special Delivery dies has tags and labels that coordinate perfectly with the Special Delivery stamps. I love the look of those little tags!




I used the flower bouquet wrapper die with some kraft wrapping paper and added a little tuft of tulle. I layered the background with a couple lacy panels and some gems. 



I hope you get a chance to visit all the stops in the blog hop today! There's lots of fun, inspiration, and chances to win some of these new release goodies! Next on the hop is the amazing Galina (but here's the full list so you don't miss a stop)!

For today’s hop, Waffle Flower is giving away $25 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners. You can leave a comment on this blog and along the hop by 11:59pm EDT on Sunday December 5th, 2021 for your chances to win. Winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the posts in this blog hop and will be announced on the Waffle Flower Blog on 12/8/2021.

There are more giveaways to enter on Instagram including 1 winner to receive the entire release! From now till Thursday December 2nd, 2021, all orders placed at waffleflower.com will receive a mysterious gift (No code required!).Follow us at @waffleflowercrafts so you don’t miss out! 

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ







Saturday, November 27, 2021

Papertrey Ink November Release

Hi everyone! It's been a busy Thanksgiving week here at our house, but I've got a couple cards to share using the new goodies from the Papertrey Ink November release! So many beautiful stamps and dies this month! I'm still finding new ways to use them all!

This first card uses the Adorning Trees stamp and die set. This set has a more modern feel to it with clean tree shapes. This set includes 3 tree frame dies that are perfect for making little shakers like this one. 

I'm really loving non-traditional colors for the holidays, but the more I look at this combo, it doesn't feel unusual! The combination is Royal Velvet purple and silver! For the background, I added stamped snowflakes and die cut snowflakes (from Border Bling Snowflakes and Starflakes). The beautiful sentiment is from the new Inside Greetings Heaven and Nature Sing set. 

This next card uses the new Holiday Cheer Gift Tag set and the Holiday Cheer Overlay set reinvented as gingerbread cookies!  I die cut the ornament, star, and tree dies with Kraft cardstock. Then I blended on ink to give them that baked glow. 


Then I added "frosting" using the Overlay dies to make stencils. (FYI, Picket Fences Paper Glaze Enhancer looks just like vanilla frosting). I added a little coarse glitter for sugar. I also made some jam filled cookies using dies from the Splendid Snowflakes set. Glitter gel makes great jam! 


I made a cover to mimic a decorative cookie box with cellophane window using the Love to Layer: Notched dies . Last but not least, I tied it up with twine and added a little tag with the perfect sentiment from the Just Sentiments: Holiday Tags Mini Stamp Set. This card was so much fun to make!

If you're looking for more inspiration, go check out all the new goodies now on the Papertrey Ink site!

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ


Monday, November 22, 2021

Papertrey Ink November Release Countdown: Joyful Snowman, Holiday Cheer Gift Tags, & Holiday Cheer Overlay

Hi everyone! Almost all of the Papertrey Ink's November release has been introduced (check out the blog)! Are you ready for tomorrow? Everything will be available Tuesday, 11/2 at 6 pm EST.

Until then, I have a few cards to share using the new goodies! This first one uses the Joyful Snowman set. I love these types of builder sets where you can create a custom scene. And this little guy is so cute!

STAMPS: Joyful Snowman, Just Sentiments: Snow
INK: True Black, Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet
PAPER: White, True Black
DIES: Joyful Snowman, On the Border: Splendid Snowflakes Frame Die, Border Bling: Skinny Postage Frames Die

I really love the larger scale of the snowman in this set. Great size for your A2 cards! I went for a classic red, blue, and black color combo. And for fun, I made one of his mittens on the ground. It's fun to add little unexpected details to cards. 

This next card uses the new Holiday Cheer Gift Tag set and the Holiday Cheer Overlay set. These sets are just gorgeous! The Holiday Cheer Gift Tag set includes dies for several iconic holiday shapes (tree, gift, star, ornament, and bow). The coordinating Holiday Cheer Overlay set includes ornate filigree designs that can be layered over the tags. I don't have a tag to share today, but look how beautiful the star tag looks with the matching overlay! 

PAPER: Vintage Cream, Vellum, Gold Foil
DIES: Holiday Cheer Gift Tags, Holiday Cheer Overlay

The star and overlay are so beautiful that I really wanted to focus on it. I reverse die cut the star into an A2 panel and backed it with vellum. Then I added the filigree overlay in rose gold foil. Last but not least, I added gems within the die cut design and on the tips of the stars. I think the star really stands on its own, so the sentiment is on the inside. I used a sentiment from the new Inside Greetings Heaven and Nature Sing set. 



I'll have a few more cards to share tomorrow on Release Day! If you want to see more of the release, stop by the Papertrey Ink blog!

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ



Sunday, October 24, 2021

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 4: Happy Hanukkah & Oh Holy Night

Hi everyone! It's Day 4 of the Papertrey Ink October release and I've got a couple cards to share! This first card uses the new Happy Hanukkah die with some basics you probably already have in your stash. I used my nesting circle dies and cut them in 4 shades of blue: Dark Indigo, Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, and Spring Rain. I love how they look together!

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Dies: Happy Hanukkah
Paper: Dark Indigo, Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain, White, Gold

I added gold for the candle "flames" and added it around the edge and as a shadow for the word die. The gold accents pull everything together and makes the card look finished to me. 

For my second card, I used the trees from the Oh Holy Night set. These tall silhouette trees are just beautiful! I paired it with one of my favorite stamps from the Grand Sentiments set. 

Stamps: Oh Holy Night, Grand Christmas Sentiments, City Scene Christmas Sentiments 
Dies: Oh Holy Night, Grand Christmas Sentiments
Paper: Rustic White

Did you know that the City Scene Christmas Sentiments Mini Stamp Set has a Santa sleigh stamp? This stamp is perfect for making moon scenes like this. The sentiment and trees both come with matching dies which I love!  


While you're here, below are some behind the scenes tips on how this card was put together!

When stamping on die cuts, I use my Misti stamp positioner with Post-It strips. I face the sticky side up to hold my die cut and then hold the Post-It down with magnets. To achieve the multicolor stamped image, I used a small sponge to apply ink to the stamp instead of inking directly with a stamp pad. With the positioner, you can layer as many colors as you want!

To give my moon a glowy look, I use a small sponge to sponge white pigment ink around the masked moon. I also use it for puffy night clouds. The sponge will pull some of the colors of the sky onto the moon area which looks like moon shadows/craters. 

To get perfectly imperfect splatters, I use a splatter tool that is made up of sticks that dip in watered down paint and "flick" to get the splatter. The one I use is from Liquitex. Don't forget to use a splatter box too to catch your mess! As you can see, mine is very well used!

That's all for me this week! So what's your favorite from the release? Check out the Papertrey Ink blog for more fun peeks from the rest of the DT! 

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 3: Go-to Gift Card Holder: Mitten, Mitten Accessories, Grand Christmas Sentiments, & Feathered Friends Mini 16

Hi everyone! It's Day 3 of the Papertrey Ink October release and today I have a couple cards to share! This first card uses the Grand Sentiments set in chalkboard mode. I've always love the chalkboard look! And the oversized stamps from the Grand Sentiments set really look amazing embossed! 

Stamps: Grand Christmas Sentiments
Dies: Love to Layer: Notched, Go-To Gift Card: Mittens, Into the Bloom: Poinsettia
Paper: True Black, Candy Cane Prints

To go with the Grand Sentiments, I also went big with the other elements. The poinsettias are from Into the Blooms: Poinsettia and the holly and candy canes are from the new Go-to Gift Card Holder: Mitten set. Don't let the name of the Go-to Gift Card Holder: Mitten set fool you! That set has a bunch of dies in addition to the mittens that will go with all kinds of other sets. 

My second card also uses the Grand Sentiments and pairs it with the new Feathered Friends Mini 16 birdie. This time I die cut the sentiment which is a look that I love. I wanted to highlight my little bluebird friend, so I thought a circle shaker behind him would make him look like he's in a snowstorm. 

Stamps: Grand Christmas Sentiments, Feathered Friends 16 Mini, Winter Swirls
Dies: Border Bling: Dotted Skinny Frame, Feathered Friends 16 Mini, Border Bling: Snow Flake Die, Grand Christmas Sentiments 
Paper: Rustic White, White

I filled the shaker with sequins, hex glitter, and even added snowflake die cuts from the Border Bling: Snow Flake die from last month. I also added a few of those die cut snowflakes around my card. I used iridescent bubbles to add even more colorful shine. 


I hope you are enjoy the release so far! Check out the Papertrey Ink blog for more fun peeks from the rest of the DT! 

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Friday, October 22, 2021

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 2: Holiday Wagon

Hi everyone! It's Day 2 of the Papertrey Ink October release and we're getting closer to the release day! Today, I'm sharing the new set Holiday Wagon! It's such a cute wagon and I thought I'd fill it with brown paper packages tied up with string! (Are you singing the song in your head now?)

STAMPS: Holiday Wagon, Scene Everywhere: Winter
PAPER: Rustic White, Candy Cane Prints
DIES: Holiday Wagon, Love to Layer: Notched dies, Border Bling: Dotted Skinny

So much great detail in that wagon! The set comes with lots of other wagon fillers like nutcrackers, gifts, etc. What will you fill yours with?


Check out the Papertrey Ink blog where Into the Blooms Dahlias, Vase Collection 5, and To Die For Sentiments: All Is Bright are all being debuted!  Check back tomorrow because there's lots more from the new release!

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 1: Build-A-Santa, Just Sentiments: Santa, Ornate Evergreens, & Feathered Friends 16

Hi everyone! Today starts the Papertrey Ink October release and I'm so excited! I have always loved the fall season with the cooler weather and anticipation of the holiday season. This month at Papertrey Ink is all about that vibe. Today is Day 1 and we're highlighting the Build-A-Santa set, Just Sentiments: Santa, Ornate Evergreens, & Feather Friends 16! 

I've got 2 cards to share today to get us started! The first one features the Ornate Evergreens die set. This set comes with 3 tree dies with different detailed cut patterns. These are so versatile to work with and can easily be "dressed up" with different techniques. I thought the die cuts were lovely as is, so I just cut them with glitter paper and layered them on a panel shaker. 

STAMPS: Just Sentiments: Santa, Winter Swirls
INK: True Black
PAPER: White
DIES: Ornate Evergreens, Love to Layer: Scalloped Circles, Border Bling: Dotted Skinny Frame,
Border Bling: Snow Flake Die

For the shaker panel, I decorated it with some stamping using Winter Swirls from last month and added some die cut snowflakes using the Border Bling: Snow Flake Die. I love all the sparkly and shine of this one! The trees look so amazing cut with glitter paper!


My second card today uses the new Build-A-Santa stamp and die set and the Just Sentiments: Santa set. I am in love with this charming Santa! He is so fun to put together and I thought he would be perfect on a snowy rooftop on a moonlit night!

STAMPS: Build-A-Santa, Just Sentiments: Santa, Rustic Brick Background
INK: True Black, Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow, Enchanted Evening
PAPER: White, True Black, Soft Stone, Rustic White
DIES: Build-A-Santa

I used the Rustic Brick Background stamp set to create a quick chimney. I love all the textures going on in this card including the fun pompom on his cap!


There's lots more goodies in the release, so come back tomorrow for the Day 2 of the release!

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

Friday, October 15, 2021

Waffle Flower October 2021 Release Blog Hop

 

Welcome to Waffle Flower’s October 2021 Release Day! I’m excited to be hopping today with the wonderful folks from Waffle Flower and so many amazing guests! I can't wait to show you all the new goodies that just hit the Waffle Flower website! This month, we've got a fun new line of shaker dies and cards and along with some Waffle Flower favorites! So settle in because I have a ton to share today!


If you've visited my blog before, you may already know that I'm a fan of shaker cards. It's one of types of cards that never get old for me! That's why I've been a busy bee playing with all the new shaker supplies this month. My first card uses the Solar System stamp and die set to create an outer space scene with a sparkly shaker planet! Waffle Flower has two types of shaker covers, slim and puffy, and the Solar System set works with the puffy covers! The puffy covers are great for larger fillers like XL sequins and thicker crystals. 



I backed the planet with a piece of Yupo paper colored with alcohol inks and gold mixative. I used alcohol inks for the smaller planets too. I love the way the alcohol inks blend and streak to create amazing patterns. 


The background is just black cardstock blended white ink, splattered white paint, and a few "stars" penned with a white gel pen. The final touches are the stars and ring made with holographic cardstock. This was soooo much fun to make! 


My second card also uses a puffy shaker cover, but this time it's a heart! Lately, I've been making stamp cards, postage stamp cards that is! I made my version of a Love postage stamp down to the "FOREVER" postage (this stamp is from the Oversized Love stamp set). 


This next card also uses the puffy heart shaker covers, this time in triplicate! The number one reason I love the puffy covers is that the size allows you to get really creative with fillers. this time I dipped into my mini pom pom collection and packed these hearts full!


I used a mix of 5mm and 7mm pom poms for this card. Such a fun way to use pom poms!


My third card uses the last puffy shaker cover, the star covers. This time I added a bit of color by using alcohol inks and gold mixative to the inside of the shaker cover. The ink is translucent so you can still see the gold sequins and fillers inside. The star shaker was a natural match with the new Sunburst Panel die


The next card uses the the slim shaker covers that comes with 3 sizes of circle shaker covers. The two larger shaker covers are the perfect size to create your own shaker snowman. 


Just add a texture background (Wave Texture Background) and a fun candy stripe frame (Nesting Rectangle Frames covered with a bit of Christmas Stripes paper). The scarf and carrot nose are handcut, but the hat is from the Be Him set and the "coal" are enamel dots. 


Last but not least is a double shaker! The focal shaker uses the Solar System set to create a happy little sun! Mr. Sunshine is layered over a background Infinity Shaker (aka a frameless shaker). The sentiment is a new version of the Oversized Word series, this time in a fun print font! The Oversized Hey Hi Hello Print die set includes 3 word dies (hello, hi, and hey) along with shadow dies. These dies work with subsentiments you may already have with the original Oversized Hello set


I used a ton of glitter, sequins, crystals and more with this card, and I loved every minute of it! You may need sunglasses for this one;)


Whew! That was a post and half, wasn't it? I hope that you had fun seeing all the shaker covers and dies in action. 

The blog hop is loaded with lots of fun, inspiration, and chances to win some of these new release goodies! Next on the hop is the fantastic Laura Bassen (but here's the full list so you don't miss a stop)!

JJ Bolton (you are here!)

For today’s hop, Waffle Flower is giving away $25 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners. You can leave a comment on this blog and along the hop by 11:59pm EDT on Monday October 18th, 2021 for your chances to win. Winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the posts in this blog hop and will be announced on the Waffle Flower Blog on Friday 10/20/2021.

There are more giveaways to enter on Instagram including 1 winner to receive the entire release! Follow us at @waffleflowercrafts so you don’t miss out! 

From now till Monday October 18th, 2021, all orders placed at waffleflower.com will receive a sample piece of the A2 Infinity Shaker Cover (No code required!).

Mahalo and aloha!
JJ

P.S. For those of you who are new to Waffle Flower, they have a Last Chance section on their website that lists many goodies for 25% off until they are gone! This would be a great place to start your collection!