May 2010 Release Day 1: Kisses & Cuddles

Welcome to Day 1 of the Wplus9 Design Studio May 2010 release! I will be releasing two new sets this month and they are "precious".

I have always associated the month of May with new life, maybe because it is my birth month. ;o) So this month I am bringing you the ultimate baby set and a coordinating background set! Get ready to feel fertile, because these images are adorable. Today, it's all about Kisses & Cuddles.

• Kisses & Cuddles contains 26 stamps; 12 sentiments, 13 images, and 1 circular label stamp.
• It will be available for purchase Saturday, May 1st.
• Coordinates with Design Basics: Backgrounds I

For my fist card I used the bunny image and paired it with the "Kisses, Cuddles, Giggles and Hugs..." sentiment. When I was a little girl, I used to help my mother make these gorgeous Victorian bunnies out of burlap. I remember picking out the materials for the ornate dresses she would sew and pinning down the patterns. For little girls and boys we would pick out soft patterned flannel and cotton materials instead of burlap. It is one of my favorite childhood memories.

Since I am still a bit Copic challenged, I decided to paper-piece the image. It reminds me more of the one I had as a little girl this way anyway. (OK, so I didn't give it up until I was 15...seriously, it was quite sad). I stamped the bunny in brown onto some old Stampin' Up! patterned paper and fussy cut it out. Then for the insides of her hands and feet I used Papertrey Ink's Aqua Mist cardstock.

For the background panel I pulled out my much neglected Big Shot and used one of Stampin' Up! texture plates. I inked the edges of the focal panel a bit, matted it on Aqua Mist, and added a huge bow. I think this is one of the most elegant baby cards I've ever seen. And then the sentiment adds the perfect touch of "baby-ness".

In this next card, you get a glimpse of one of the background patterns from tomorrow's set. Keeping with the Victorian feel, I studied pictures of old Pram's, looking at the shape, the handles, and the wheels to make sure I captured the correct styling.

I couldn't be happier with the results. I decided not to take the "easy" way out here and colored the pram using Copics. Go easy on me...I'm learning. ;o) But none-the-less, when the images are this cute, it's hard to mess it up! Oh, and if I can just say, I think I've found a new favorite color combo. Here I've used Papertrey Ink's Stampers Select, and Spring Rain paired with Stampin' Up!'s Regal Rose. Love it. And that yummy flower:

I have to thank Rosemarie for her fabulous tutorial! Mine is no where near as gorgeous as hers, you really have to see it. And her tutorial is very easy to follow.

So what do you think so far? Hopefully you feel a little inspired. I will be showing you the second set tomorrow, and revealing both sets in their entirety on Friday before they are available at midnight.

Want to win a set? Leave me a comment by 11:59 pm EST Wednesday April 28th and I will select 1 random winner to receive Kisses & Cuddles. Winners will be posted here, and will have 1 week to claim their prize.