Introducing Our April Release & Design Team Blog Hop!!

**Our AEI♥U Challenge ends this Sunday.  Click here to play along to win a May Guest Designer Spot**

 Hello everyone!   Welcome to our Designer Blog Hop.  I am so excited to finally showcase the products from our April Release.  All products are loaded up in the store and are available for purchase RIGHT NOW!!

Be sure to check all the way at the bottom of this post for information on how to win a $25 gift certificate to the store.  I have a lot to announce today so I apologize in advance for the long long post.

This is a very exciting day for us at Avery Elle for many many reasons.

#1 - I am thrilled to introduce our newest design team member - Nina Yang .  I have long been a fan of Nina's work and was impressed by her when she was a guest designer for us.  I am so excited that she is now a part of the team!

"Hello, my name is Nina Yang. I have been interested in stationary and gift packaging since a kid. Stamping and card making came after I started working from home in 2011. Fun & cute, bright & bold are my favorite styles. Cards and party/home decor items are my favorites to make. I share my projects at my blog http://waffleflower.com, hoping to offer something new or inspiring every time.  I’ve been looking to add a more clean & graphic style to my DT portfolio and has found the stamps by Avery Elle very easy to work with. I was overjoyed when Jamie asked me to join the team. I hope that this partnership will add variety to my blog and bring more inspiration your way. "

#2 - I didn't even know that this would be on my list today, but our very own Design Team Member Heather Campbell has been selected to be a Paper Crafts Magazine Go-To-Gal.  What a fantastic accomplishment and opportunity!  I literally couldn't be happier for Heather!  Not only is she so talented, but she is so nice too.  Gotta love that!  Congratulations!!!!

#3 & #4 - We have a new product designer in the house - drumroll please......JJ Bolton!.  As many of you know, JJ is known to some as the die cutting queen.  She has an incredible ability to work with a die and create magic.  Who would be better to be a designer of.... DIES!!!  Eek!  I have to say that I am so happy that we now offer our own line of Custom Steel Dies that work with your favorite tabletop die cutting machine.  We are releasing two die sets this month and over time will be releasing some to match past sets as well.  Please let us know which past sets you would like dies for and we will do our best to introduce the ones that you would like most.

#5 We are introducing another product line this month - Sequins.  Sequins are popping up on all sorts of projects and are definitely an emerging trend.  We now offer mixed blends of satin finish sequins that also coordinate with the colors of our Card Stock.  Our sequins have a much softer appearance than traditional metallic sequins.  Each bag of sequins contains two sizes, 5mm & 6mm.  Each bag except for the color Gold also contains a blend of shades to coordinate with almost any project.

Here is a summary of our entire April release.

Bonjour 4"x 6" Clear Photopolymer Stamp Set & Free Matching Cut Files - Retail Price $15

Our 4" x 6" Bonjour clear photopolymer stamp set is deliciously cute.  Create macarons in various colors and sizes.  Add the background building strip, flourishes and sentiments to customize your creation.  This is the perfect set for a get well, birthday, hello or thank you card.  Consider using the coordinating steel dies to cut out the shapes to create professional results.  Measurements: Large macaron:1 1/2" x 1"; Small macaron: 15/16" x 5/8"; Have a sweet birthday sentiment" 2 1/8" x 3/4"; Bonjour sentiment: 1 1/8" x 3/8"; Border strip: 5 5/8" x 7/16"

Bonjour Elle-ments Custom Steel Dies - Retail Price $6.50

Our Bonjour Elle-ments Custom Steel Dies are exclusive to Avery Elle.  These premium steel dies coordinate with our Bonjour clear photopolymer stamp set and are proudly made in the USA. 

 Rounded Diamonds 4" x 6" Clear Photopolymer Stamp Set & Free Matching Cut Files - Retail Price $15

We think our 4" x 6"  Rounded Diamonds clear photopolymer stamps have so many uses.  Make flowers, feathers, leaves, retro patterns and more.  Consider using the coordinating steel dies to cut out the shapes to create professional results.  Designed by JJ Bolton and Jamie Gracz.  Measurements: Largest solid rounded diamond: 1  3/8" x 1 3/8"; Smallest solid rounded diamond: 1/2" x 1/2"; Chevron leaf image: 1 3/4" x 1 3/4"

Rounded Diamonds Elle-ments Custom Steel Dies - Retail Price $12

Our Rounded Diamonds Elle-ments Custom Steel Die are exclusive to Avery Elle and are designed by JJ Bolton.  These premium steel dies coordinate with our Rounded Diamonds clear photopolymer stamp set and are proudly made in the USA. Largest Die measures approx: 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" ; Smallest Die measures approx: 3/4" x 3/4"

Funky Monkey 4" x 3" Clear Photopolymer Stamp Set & Free Matching Cut Files - Retail Price $8

Our 4" x 3" Funky Monkey clear photopolymer stamp set may be small in size, but is SO cute.  Combine the monkey and accessories included in this set to create a fun and "hip" greeting.  The monkey image measures: 1 1/4" x 2"; Thanks a Bunch sentiment measures: 1 3/4" x 3/16"

Link It Up 4" x 6" Clear Photopolymer Stamp Set - Retail Price $15

Our 4" x 6" Link It Up clear photopolymer stamp set is perfect for building custom backgrounds for your layouts or cards.  The classic link images included in this set are a great staple for any stamper's collection.  Measurements: Left border strip: 7/8" x 5 5/8"; Center border strip: 3/4" x 5 5/8" ; Right border strip: 1 1/8" x 5 5/8"

5mm & 6mm Stain Finish Sequin Packs (approx. 300 per pack)- Retail Price $3

The Berry Blend, The Citrus Blend, The Carribean Blend

 Gold, The Lucky Blend, The Kraft Blend

The Sugar Blend, The Winter Blend, The Lemonade Blend

I created the following card using our Lemon Grass, Pixie and Ultra Smooth Pure White card stock, a sentiment from our Sentimental Swirls stamp set, a Link It Up background strip, the Rounded Diamonds stamp set  & the coordinating Rounded Diamond dies.  I had a lot of fun coming up with this modern flower design.  I just ADORE the background building strips in Link It Up.  I think that the fine lines of the greek key strip compliment the flower beautifully.

 I am happy to continue the Hipster series of stamp sets with this little fellow from Funky Monkey.  You will see in later posts how this monkey can be sweet or a bit of a punk. ;)  I chose to show the punk side of him here. 

 So let's get to the hop shall we?

We have a very special Guest Designer on our hop this month.  Laurie Willison won our April Guest Designer Challenge and I am thrilled that she is joining us. I know that she is going to be such an inspiration.

Avery Elle / Jamie
Chunyuan Wu
Nina Yang
Heather Campbell
JJ Bolton
Laurie Willison
Kasia Curry

To celebrate our April Release Blog Hop, Avery Elle is giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to one winner.

You have until midnight Sunday, March 31st to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle Blog on Monday, April 1st (no foolin') .  All products are now available for purchase in the Avery Elle store.

To increase your chances of winning:

1. Comment on any of the design team's posts & here on the Avery Elle Blog
2. Tweet the contest (we are @averyellestamps )
3. Share us with your friends on Facebook (we are www.facebook.com/AveryElle ) and make sure they tell us you sent them.
4. Pin one of the April Release projects from here or the design team’s blogs to Pinterest
5. Like us on Facebook (comment on the Avery Elle blog if you already like us)
6. Become a blog follower (comment on the Avery Elle blog if you already follow us)
7. Join our Flickr group (comment on the Avery Elle blog if you already belong)

I hope you enjoy all of the inspiration.  If you are still reading this, I am amazed!!!!  I would love to hear what you think about our release.

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek. Have a great day!