February/March 2013 Release Day 2

Welcome back to day 2 of Release Week! If you missed day 1, you can catch up here. Today we are going to continue to take a closer look at the products that we are releasing this month. All previewed items will be available for purchase on February 5th at www.wplus9.com as well as at many of your favorite retailers.

Our first set of the day coordinates beautifully with the sets we introduced yesterday. Many of the same lace patterns can be found in these images, making them a go-to for that soft ethereal look. But, they can easily be transformed and become vibrant modern designs. That's where I'm taking it today. It is a party after all, right?

We took those lace borders and created several circular layers with them. You can use each layer by itself, as tags, to create background patterns or nest many of them inside of each other. Add the companion dies and the possibilities are endless!

Lacey Layers

• is a 6x8 clear photopolymer stamp set
• 12 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 4 outer rings, 4 inner rings and 4 center images
• will be available for purchase February 5th for $21

Lacey Layers Companion Die

• coordinates with the Lacey Layers stamp set
• contains 4 sets of nested dies (10 individual dies total)
• arrive on a magnetic sheet for convenient storage
• will be available for purchase February 5th for $24

I had a blast creating this little party ensemble! These are much brighter colors than I normally work with. But I always love trying new things and am so happy that I did.

To create the cluster of colorful medallions I stamped 2 of the outer rings and then die cut them. Since the centers of the outer dies in each set are open, it makes stamping and then cutting super easy. I then die cut 3 of the centers and stamped them. These centers can be used as buttons if you'd like. I opted to design these dies as solid circles vs. die cutting the button holes. This way they can be used for simple circles, or you can use a standard hole punch to punch out the "button holes" if you'd like to thread them.

I added the sentiment going vertically up the left side using a mix of fonts from the Spring Post stamp set. I wanted to add a little order to all of that chaos and I thought a bold stripe pattern would be perfect. I stamped the stripe from Country Charm in our white ink onto Lake House card stock. All of this was matted on another new color we're adding to the store, Sweet Gelato.

How cute would these little bags be as favors? Just add a little candy to each bag or a small toy along with the confetti for a fun and festive treat. Or even use them as place cards. Switch out the sentiment for the person's name! So easy.

Both the little banner and the treat bag took me 5 minutes to make. Granted I had a ton of stuff on my desk...I literally look around, started picking up this and that, and then stitched it together! For the bag, I started hole punching some confetti for the photos...and it hit me. I grabbed a glassine bag, cut the top down, scooped up a hand full of the confetti, taped the bag with washi tape, and added a banner and button. Done. The sentiments on both banners are from Written On Ribbon, which I'll introduce tomorrow. I love how festive they all look together.

For my next card, I wanted to create some patterns. I used the two smallest stamps in the set to create a beautiful background pattern.

I ended up covering up most of the pattern, but love how the scale was perfect and created a border around the second to largest rectangle from Clear Cut Stackers: Rounded Rectangles! I stamped my sentiment, from Embroidered Bouquet and added a little cluster of faux buttons.

Although this one has a lot of the same colors as the last project, I think the navy blue gives it a southwestern feel? Don't you think?

Now it's time to take a closer look at the next stamp set we are introducing.

Embroidered Bouquet

• is a 4x6 clear photopolymer stamp set
• 17 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 4 sentiments, 1 large floral bouquet and 12 individual floral building images
• will be available for purchase February 5th for $14

This set is the epitome of spring. It's filled with faux stitched florals and beautiful fonts that also look amazing when heat embossed. There is a large pre-assembled floral bouquet. But the stamper in me fell in love with all of the separate pieces that allow you to build your own floral sprays and patterns!

To build my frame, I used one of the larger flowers and one of the smaller ones flanked on each side. I added my greenery, which comes in two separate pieces and contain mirrored images, to each side. I then mirrored this pattern beneath my sentiment, from Quite Like You.

I kept this one very simple and just die cut the bottom edge using the Scalloped Border Die and backed it with a strip of card stock in Green Acres. A little twine and some random buttons add the finishing touches.

My final sample today uses both sets to create a soft and very feminine birthday card.

There's quite a bit going on in this card. I used multiple sets and products from the entire release.

I started by stamping onto some patterned paper, using the largest image from Lacey Layers and stamping the inner elements as well. Assembled, it is such a gorgeously detailed image. I used the Scalloped Border Die on the left side and heat embossed another lace trim from Chantilly Trim.

For the focal point, I stamped the large assembled bouquet from Embroidered Bouquet onto the 1.75" circle from Circle Stackers 1 and matted it with a doily die cut from the same set. What about that font? Love that font. The sentiment is also from Embroidered Bouquet. To create the little flowers, I used one of the flower dies from Very Vintage Florals, which looks perfect with the die cut leaves from Folk Art Florals die!

After making the little buds, I wanted to see if I could make a jumbo one...and guess what, the frilly square die in Lacey Layers makes an excellent flower. Here I cut two and layered them on the bias. I added the large flower from Very Vintage Florals to the middle and topped with a button. I added it to a little inspiration tag to hang from my board so that I won't forget this color color combo.

And with that, I conclude day 2 of the release. At least from me that is. The Design Team has plenty to share with you and they are amazing! Please stop by and check out what they are eager to share with you.

• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Elise Durenberger
• Jean Martin
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin
• Lea Lawson
• Sarah Martina Parker
• Savitri Wilder
• Christina MacLaren - Guest Designer

I hope I didn't overload you! I wasn't kidding when I said I was so inspired by this release. Would you like a chance to win today's featured products: Lacey Layers, Lacey Layers Companion Die, and Embroidered Bouquet? Just leave me a comment by 9:00 AM EST February 3rd letting me know what's most inspired you so far this release. I will select one random winner from all comments. Winners will be posted here.

Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back tomorrow!