Avery Elle: Thankful

Good morning folks!  Just a quickie post today with a card using the new Avery Elle set Thankful!  This mini set is all about the oversized acorn!  

I decided to go with a more natural, organic look for this card and here's what I ended up with.  I used the large wreath stamp from the new Winter Wreath set as a background.  The wreath stamp is actually not that wide, I just used a mask to stamp a wider image.  For a little bit of definition, I lightly colored over the leaves and the acorn cap with a Copic.  Lastly, I used a banner stamp from the new set Build A Banner.  This is a good way to use a banner stamp when your sentiment is slightly larger than the banner:)

I'm so happy to be working with this set because this is definitely how I've been feeling lately!  Even with the day-to-day craziness in my life, I'm feeling very thankful for family, friends, my home, and even my job;)  Hope you all are feeling it too!

Thank you so, so much for stopping by!  Heather also has a project today, so be sure to go visit her blog!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Mama Elephant News!

Just stopping in with a little news:)

And stay tuned to the Mama Elephant blog!  There's more than new DT members being debuted;)

Mahalo and Aloha,
jj

Avery Elle October/November Blog Hop

Click here to go to my STAMPtember post!

Good morning!!!  It's Avery Elle Blog Hop day and I'm sharing some new stamps and dies I designed for the October/November release:)  My new designs are add-ons to the Fill in the Blank stamps and dies from the last release.  The new Holiday Fill in the Blank stamps and Holiday Fill in the Blanks dies let you make all kinds of quick and fun holiday cards:)  Here's a look at the full sets (they are already up on the Avery Elle site by the way;). 

Every year I try to send handmade Christmas cards, but it's difficult striking a balance between keeping it handmade and not taking 3 months to finish your holiday cards;)  So each year I try to come up with something quick and easy to replicate but still a bit different than what you'd see at the local Hallmark.  This time I went modern and CAS with a gray (Fog) card stock base.  I glammed it up a bit with a strip of silver along the left side.  The rest is just a matter of die cut and filling in the blanks:)  Maybe this year, I'll actually be able to get my cards done on time!   

Thank you for stopping by today!  I do hope you stop by all the other Avery Elle blog hoppers!  This release is just so awesome!  Here's the blog line up if you've just started...

Jamie Gracz (Avery Elle blog)

 Chunyuan Wu
Kim Singdahlsen (our lovely guest designer!)
Nina Yang
Heather Campbell

JJ Bolton (you are here:)

Donna Mikasa

Kasia Curry
Maska Vanacker

To celebrate the October/November 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 29th to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle Blog on Monday, September 30th.  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 Feedly or Blog Lovin' (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

Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember with Avery Elle

I'm so excited to be participating in the Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember celebrations!  Have you been checking out all the wonderful STAMPtember projects this month?  Here's a  little about SSS and their fabulous STAMPtember event:)

"Simon Says Stamp was founded in 2002 with an interest in exclusively selling rubber stamps. It didn’t take long until we realized we couldn’t stop there. During the past 11 years we celebrate rubber stamping in its full glory by giving access to people around the world to a one stopshop. Rubber stamps still remain the heart of our business and we are celebrating by hosting a STAMPtember® event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the greatness of rubber stamping. Part of the enticement of rubber stamping is that stamps can be used in creating orcomplementing ANYTHING! From stamping dates on bank documents and postage parcels in the early 18th century, rubber stamping has dramatically expanded to include card making, scrapbooking, mixed media, life documenting, art journaling, and many forms of altering and expressing art."

Here's a sneak of one of my projects, but click on over to the SSS blog to see it all!  Simon Says Stamp is offering a special discount code for Avery Elle products good for 20% off from 9/26 - 9/30!  Just use the code "averyelle"!   Big thanks to the Heidi, Stephanie, and all the SSS crew for letting me play along!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Avery Elle Stamp Highlight: Suzani

Hi guys!  Today is my first post from the new house, woohoo!  I'm just figuring out where to take pics and my internet is still not working correctly, so bear with me:)  Today I'm using the new Avery Elle set called Suzani!  This is what I would call a builder set because it allows you can mix and match all the pieces for a truly unique design (one of my favorite things to do).

The first step was free-stamping the pattern in bright colors.  The stamp designs are very forgiving, so I didn't have to do a bunch of measuring or using a stamp positioner:)  To soften up the look, I covered the front with vellum.  On top of the vellum, I stamped the sentiment with the "O" of "YOU" being the center of the Suzani pattern.  

Thank you so, so much for stopping by!  Heather also has a project today, so be sure to go visit her blog!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Avery Elle Stamp Highlight: Home Sweet Home

Hi everyone!  Just a quickie post today using stamps from Avery Elle's Home Sweet Home!  Considering tomorrow is moving day for us, this seems like the appropriate set;)

I used the camper stamp again, but this time, it's a little silver Airstream wannabe!  To get the brushed silver look, I colored a piece of gray cardstock with a silver Sharpie.  Then I stamped over it.  It's hard to capture with the camera, but the strokes of the pen really give it that brushed silver look.  The little festive banner was stamped using a 3 triangle stamp from the Texture Tiles set.  

Thank you so, so much for stopping by!  Heather also has a project today, so be sure to go visit her!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj

Avery Elle Stamp Highlight: Aim High

Hi guys!  Checking in today with a card using the new Avery Elle Aim High stamps and dies!  Here's a quick look at the set and the matching dies.  Fun, right?  

 

September has always been a crazy time for us with school and sports, but this year it's off the charts!  The boys just started 2 new schools and we are moving in one week (that's NOT a typo).  So to counterbalance my frenetic life, I thought a calm and reassuring card was in order:)  The little arrow in a circle die reminded me of a charm, so I die cut it in gold and "hung" it from a piece of twine.  To frame the sentiment, I used the flowers and leaves from Petals and Stems in soft colors along the bottom.   That's it!

Thank you so, so much for checking in!  Heather also has a project today, so be sure to go visit her!

Mahalo and Aloha,

jj