Friday, January 28, 2011

February 2011 Release Day 1: Flora & Fauna I

Welcome to Day 1 of the Wplus9 February 2011 Release! For those of you joining us for the first time, we will spend the next couple of days giving you some peeks at projects using the stamps from this month's release. All sets will be available for purchase at www.wplus9.com on February 1st.

Wow, do we have a fantastic release scheduled this month! This month marks Wplus9 Design Studio's 1 year anniversary. One year ago this month, I embarked on this fantastic venture...and I've loved every minute of it! Thank you all so much for making this one of the most fulfilling years ever for me. Seriously. From the bottom of my heart.

Joining us this month to help us celebrate, we have the crazy talented Sarah Martina Parker. She will be here all month long to help us do it up right!

As if that were not exciting enough, I have also invited Mrs. Jinny Newlin to remain on the Wplus9 Design Team permanently! Or at least until she can't stand it anymore. ;o) Don't worry, I will still be selecting Guest Designers periodically for month intervals. Ok, now I believe we can get on with this celebration. Ready?

Up first, we are previewing one of my new personal favorites. Oh my, you will surely fall in love with this set. This not-so-little ditty is the first in a series that I am working on. I have drawn my inspiration for the series from the states' symbols. State birds, flowers, and butterflies to be exact. Flora & Fauna I was inspired by Virginia and North Carolina. This one is so gorgeous, we've decided we need two days to properly introduce it.

Flora & Fauna I
  • is a 6x8 clear photopolymer stamp set
  • contains 7 stamps; 4 large focal images and 3 accent images
  • will be available for purchase February 1st for just $19

Today, I want to focus on the gorgeous Cardinal and single Dogwood Bloom included in the set.

I am in love with the way this turned out. The illustrations in this set really are some of my best ever. To begin, I used a circle cutter (Martha Stewart Crafts) to cut a 2 1/4 inch circle and stamped the cardinal using black ink.

What I really like about this image is that the shading is built in. Because of this, I only had to use one shade of red for the entire bird. Score!

I matted my focal point on a yellow scalloped circle, and matted that on a white doily that I distressed by crumpling it up and then inking it with some distress ink (Ranger).

To create the background patterned paper, I used the single Dogwood bloom also included in the set. I had no idea when I added this one single image how much I would come to love it. That paper is so stunning and sophisticated. And that's just stamped in black on white cardstock. Just IMAGINE the possibilities there!

I just assembled everything and added my sentiment (more on that Sunday!).

This next one literally made me squeal when I finished it. I've used the large Dogwood blooms and one of the smaller butterflies for this one.


Again, we are talking pure and simple stamping. A little Versamark and some white embossing powder and a big beautiful stamp. For me, it all starts with the stamp when I craft, and this set does not disappoint. I paired it with a sentiment from Ever After. I think it's a gorgeous wedding card that could easily be recreated in the bride's colors.

So are you ready to see more? The girls have some gorgeous creations to share with you.


Elise Durenberger
Hannah Craner
Jinny Newlin
Kerrianne Gwin
Maile Belles
Savitri Wilder
Sarah Martina Parker

That's it from me for today, I can wait to share more with you tomorrow. What do you think of the overall concept of this Series so far? Something that you could see wanting to see more of? Leave me a comment by 11:59 pm Saturday, January 29th letting me know which birds/flowers/butterflies you'd like to see grouped together? I'll pick one random winner from the comments to receive Flora & Fauna I. Winners will be posted here, be sure to check to see if you've won. Thanks for joining us and hope to see you tomorrow!

44 comments:

  1. I'm so excited to be joining you all this month! And how lucky am I to join in for such a *gorgeous* release?! :) Thank you, dear!

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  2. These are great... Can't think off what pair I would like too see... Great cards.

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  3. Wow - there are some beautiful projects on this hop! These stamps are so fun - I love the shading! I am a new follower :) Have been a fan of Sarah Martina's for quite a white and love to see her take on these. As for future sets.... I don't really know the state flowers/birds of many states and I hate to say it, but my state bird is not all that interesting to me - seagull (yes I am from Utah) although the Sego Lily is quite beautiful. So I will leave future sets up to you LOL

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  4. Well, you've done it again! Added yet another favorite to the top of my list! What a great release this will be!

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  5. Once again you're come up with a brilliant plan, Dawn! Am swooning over the dogwood and butterfly one . . . amazing!! Can't wait to see what else you have in store for us. My ideas suck compared to yours, so I'm waiting with baited breath to see your next genius idea!! LOL

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  6. this set looks beautiful. the black and white is stunning. Hmm Love to see a bluejay with forsythia. thanks!

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  7. I don't know much about birds, so I can't really say which I would like to see. The set looks lovely so far!

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  8. A Parrot and a Hibiscus (Jimmy Buffet Baby) {wink} Can you tell I am ready for summer! Love this release! It is so stunning and beautiful! You are right the illustrations are amazing!

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  9. Yea Cardinals (we see a lot of those here in IN)! I think a hummingbird would be so very lovely with a lily! I am really enjoying the butterflies though, and I can see why you squealed with that second card, it is stunning! Great organic set, can't wait to see the rest.

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  10. Ohh...these samples made me squeal too!! They are absolutely gorgeous and breath taking :) Loved each one of them.

    I am keeping my fingers crossed and I hope I win!!

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  11. Beautiful samples, Dawn! I just love the way you combine colors, and your embossing is scrumptious! This set is going to get lots and lots of use in my creative space! What am I talking about... They all do!

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  12. I would love to see Idaho's state bird the Mountain bluebird with it's state flower Syringa or Nevada's state flower sagebrush, I also really would like to see Iowa's State bird the Eastern Goldfinch with the it's state flower the Wild Prairie Rose would be really pretty I think, and of course it would be awesome to see Florida's State bird a Mockingbird with Orange Blossoms too. It's not a state bird but I love humming birds. I am really excited about this set and can't wait to see more. The black and white card is beautiful!

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  13. looks like a beautiful set! can't wait to see all the images! :)

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  14. I'm squealing, RIGHT NOW! These are ROCKIN' my morning, my dear! Exquisite work! Golly, gosh you ARE fabulous! Thanks for providing SUCH glorious fun with your fine, fine stamps! THIS is s FANTASTIC release!

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  15. Beautiful cards! I especially love your black card! My husband and son love eagles so I would love an eagle stamp.

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  16. truly beautiful!! love both of your cards, but the second one is my fave.

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  17. Congratulations to Jinny and Sarah, secretly jealous over here! And wow to your images! I used to live in North Carolina and you've represented it absolutely beautiful! Next, it would be awesome to see the blue bird and monarch together, with a violet. (If I remember correctly, those are everything from Wisconsin where I live now! Don't quote me though!) Fantastic samples Dawn, and congratulations on your one year!

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  18. Oh gorgeous cards! I can't wait to order that set!!

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  19. Gorgeous stamps! I really love the bird and the fact that it is shaded so that you don't have to do much shading with copics. I am still very new to coloring with them, so this would help me a lot. I can't wait to see what else you have this month.

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  20. Gorgeous set and beautiful cards. I have several weddings coming up this spring so I can use some ideas for wedding cards. tfs.

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  21. I love the Dogwood flower with butterflies but you already showed me how beautiful they look together! Thanks for the chance to win and for helping me find your wonderful stamps! cjdempsey9 at msn dot com

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  22. These are really beautiful and so detailed. I think Hummingbirds with Bougainvillia. I live in the desert of Phoenix, and I don't believe I have ever seen those images together! You can't sit 20 minutes here without seeing the little stinkers! Thanks for the chance to win a gorgeous stamp set!

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  23. Im just so excited.. this set looks like it will be a necessary addition to my big stamp collection!! lol
    Love that it has so many uses!

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  24. What gorgeous cards! I especially love that striking white embossing on black. So classy ;)
    I love classic country cottage blooms - like stocks, hollyhocks and peonies. Mmmm, I can almost smell their sweetness! Super for colouring but it's hard to find stamps of them - maybe that's food for thought for a future release?!! He,he! Thanks for the giveaway chance

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  25. Congrats to Jinny and Sarah! I'm looking forward to seeing more of their creations. I'm loving the Flora and Fauna concept. Since you already have Indiana's state bird covered with the cardinal, I'd love to see Maine's chickadee, pine cone, and honeybee since that is my hubby's home state. Lovely cards once again, Dawn!

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  26. I think the built-in shading is such a great idea! I like the idea of the stamps being used alone for the most part. I guess I'm more of a "clean and simple" gal!

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  27. Wonderful! The buterfly is seriously rockin my world and Mr Cardinal will be fabulous not only this spring but for Christmas as well! Gorgeous cards and stamp Dawn! I'm in Cali so poppies and quail reign here. :)

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  28. Oh, neat series! I love the dogwood blossom, but I may be a little biased being from NC. lol Love the white blossoms on the black card!

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  29. Beautiful cardinal card. I can't wait to see the whole set. J

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  30. Another great release of this Flora & Fauna I !!!! I love the fact that this stamps design are not usually been seen so far, very clever and unique. I can't wait to see the whole set of THESE!!! I've been waiting this moment to come, new release of the month!!!

    Angeline

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  31. Gracious, I love what you've created here (your second card almost had me plop off my seat - gorgeous!!) Looking forward to seeing more - and huge congrats to both Sarah and Jinny!!

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  32. I would love to see the Eastern Bluebird- even though it is not our state bird here in Georgia, we have a lot of them at times. The Cherokee Rose is our state flower, and that would be beautiful too. Love your cards, and the combo of flora and fauna- I can envision a lot of pretty cards from this set and the sets to come!

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  33. So pretty!! Love where you are getting your inspiration from for the set, so unique!

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  34. Wow! That dogwood bloom and small butterfly are beautiful together on that card in that color combo! I would love to see more of that combination. I am so glad you're back with new stamps! The winter has been so long waiting for WPlus9 stamps!

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  35. Every thing I have seen of this set is out of the world gorgeous!

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  36. the set is more than awesome!! thanks for the chance!! Diana

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  37. Both cards are beautiful but that black and white one...WOW, stunning!

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  38. I love your idea for a jumping point for your stamps! It opens up doors for so many possibilities!

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  39. Wow, I love all the featured images and the background stamping you've done! These images look so wonderful and easy to work with. I can't wait to see more!!

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  40. Gorgeous!!! Loving this new set/series! Would love to see a callalilly and some dragonflies!

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  41. I am so excited about your new series. I LOVE anything with a nature theme and birds are my passion! Especially wonderful is that your images are realistic and so exquisitely done. Your samples are awesome! So beautiful in color but also so exciting to see how effective they are in striking black & white.

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  42. Oh how ! love dogwoods! So simple and beautiful! This is a great image and the bird complements it perfectly. THanks for an opportunity to win this great set!

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  43. Oh my goodness! Am I too late? I just stumbled upon your blog and boy oh boy I believe I've jest been swept off my feet. Holy cow, what marvelous stamp images (and cards)!

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  44. Love your 2nd card!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Josiane

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