March 2011 Release Day 1: The Full Monty

Welcome to the March Release here at Wplus9 Design Studio. This is an exciting release for us, in addition to the 2 new stamps sets we are also expanding our line! We are extremely proud to be offering steel rule dies made exclusively to coordinate with your favorite Wplus9 stamps! Our dies will work in most die cutting systems including the Sizzix Big Shot and Cuttlebug. Not only are they affordable and durable, they are made right here in the USA. Are your excited?

Since we have a very condensed release this month and a lot to fit in...why don't we get right to it?

First up, I'd like to introduce a unique set that's all about sibling love.

Brothers & Sisters

Details

• 4x6 clear photopolymer stamp set
• contains 8 stamps; 2 label frames and 6 sentiments
• will be available for purchase March 1st for just $13

And of course, our very first die.

All Occasion Label

Details

• approximately 2.4" x 2.2"
• coordinates with All Occasion Tags and Brothers & Sisters
• will be available for purchase March 1st for just $6.

Okay, now let's see these in action. Honestly I have no idea where the idea for this project began, but once it started brewing, there was no stopping it.

Isn't that the cutest thing ever?! I mean, if you give a gift of buttons...why not make the jar itself functional as well? You'll notice that the lid of the jar doubles as a pin cushion. You can have your needles handy for sewing all of those beautiful buttons onto your projects! This is super easy and I'll step you through it. You'll need:

• a Ball jar
• some batting
• fabric of your choice for covering the lid
• a hot glue gun

Start by taking the lid off of the jar and separating the two pieces. Just pop the inner flat lid out of the outer ring. Cut your batting to the same diameter as the inner lid.

Cover the top of the inner lid with hot glue, and adhere your batting.

Using the inner lid as a guide, cut your cover material large enough to wrap the enter lid both front and back. Flip the lid with the batting attached face down onto the fabric. Apply hot glue all over the back of the lid and fold the fabric over working your way around, pressing it firmly and pulling the fabric taught until it's completely covered.

Trim off any excess fabric. If you don't want the messy bunched material showing, you can cover it like I've done. Just cut another piece of fabric slightly smaller than the diameter of the lid and hot glue it over the unsightly mess. Tip: If you want to permanently attached the inner lid to the outer ring, run a small bead of hot glue along the inner rim of the outer ring. Insert the lid and push down into place until the glue cools.

I just LOVE this! I can see rows of these lined up on a studio shelf in a rainbow of colors. Let's talk about that label. I used our new die All Occasion Label to cut out the shape along with one of the label stamps from Brothers & Sisters. I sewed the same colored buttons that are included in the jar and wrapped it around the jar with seam binding.

You'll notice that our dies have little pins holes in them to make it super easy to remove your die cut after you've run it through your machine. And don't worry, you can still do the reverse embossing technique, I've tested it, and it works just fine.

For the matching card, I used the die again along with the other label stamp included in Brothers & Sisters. Here I've used the "...hearts made us friends" sentiment.

That gorgeous pattern was created using Poinsettia Patterns. I just love the fact that I can use that set all year round.

For my second card I decided to play a little catch up. I tried to sneak by without a Color Cue sample...oh, but many of you called me out. ;o) So here it goes:

I've got to say, for someone who really really dislikes purple...I'm loving this card. The damask images in white are from Damask Frames. I love the bit of damask peeking out from behind the All Occasion Label. For the sentiment, I just inked up the word "Sister" from the "For my Sister" sentiment and added it to the corner.

And finally, our next set that we are releasing is another FABulous set from Ms. Kerrianne Gwin herself. It's another installment of the RetroGirly attitude.

RetroGirly Birthday

Details

• 3x4 clear photopolymer stamp set
• contains 6 stamps; 1 image and 5 sentiments
• will be available March 1st for just $6

I really do love the attitude that Kerrianne's images exude. I always have so much fun when I pull the RetroGirly collection out, and this was no exception.

This image is PERFECT for paper piecing. Here I chose to paper piece that packages with some October Afternoon paper. But next time...I'm going to give her a fab dress!

Kerrianne managed to squeeze in quite a few sentiment for such a small stamp set...I was impressed, so I decided to put together something just focusing on the sentiments.

Well, are you excited yet? Be sure to stop by the rest of the design team to see more

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

Would you like to win our entire March Release? Do you have sibling love or rivalry. Or are you an only child and glad? Leave a comment by 10:00 PM EST February 28th and I will select 1 lucky winner. Winner will be posted here by 10:30 PM EST.