Wplus9 2013 Holiday Collection Day 3

It's day 3 of Release Wseek and we have our final introductions before the full reveal tomorrow! For those of you that are new to Wplus9, we will spend the next couple of days getting up close and personal with the products that we will be releasing this month. All previewed items will be available for purchase on October 5th at www.wplus9.com as well as at many of your favorite retailers.

If you are just joining us, be sure to start at Day 1 to catch up. We have 2 more stamp sets and die to introduce, ready? Let's go!

I am so excited to introduce Pretty Poinsettias! This multi-step stamp set will allow you to create an incredibly detailed poinsettia, or a more silhouetted poinsettia. It's all up to you and how many layers you choose to add.

Pretty Poinsettias

• is a 6x8 clear photopolymer stamp set
• 22 stamps: 18 images buiding stamps and 4 sentiments
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $21

Pretty Poinsettias Companion Die

• contains 3 individual open centered dies, allowing you to stamp first and then die cut
• Appox. Measurements: large poinsettia - 2 x 2 1/8", small poinsettia - 1 1/2 x 1 9/16", leaf - 1 x 1/2"
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $10

For my first card, I created this huge Christmas bouquet. It was so much fun to create.

I stamped out a couple of large and small poinsettias to get started. There are four main layers that make up the poinsettia. The outline, the base, the shading, and the veins. You could stamp just the base and the center of the flower and call it a day, but I really enjoy building the image and seeing it come to life. Here's how I created the ones featured in this card. You could start with the base, but I like to start with the outline, it's all personal preference.

Once I had my flowers all stamped, I die cut them. Yep, the companion dies for these are open centered! So at least you don't have to worry about lining them up on the die cut.

I filled in my arrangement with some leaves also from the set and some greenery and pine cones from Merry & Bright and Silver Bells.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Pretty Poinsettias (available 10/5/13), Merry & Bright (available 10/5/13), Silver Bells (available 10/5/13) // Ink: Cranberry Crush Pigment Ink, Cupid's Bow Pigment Ink // Dies: Pretty Poinsettias Companion Die (available 10/5/13), Merry & Bright Companion Die (available 10/5/13), Silver Bells Companion Die (available 10/5/13) // Cardstock: White

Next I have an all over stamped pattern. I wanted to create some soft pink poinsettias and I'm pretty pleased with how this one turned out too, in spite of a boo-boo that I made.

When stamping this one, I accidentally dropped the block before I had completely lined up where I was going to stamp. Oops. I finished the flower, walked away for a coffee, and when I came back, I kind of still liked it, even though it was "off". So I just finished it up, not worrying about placement. I like the "loose" feel I ended up with.

There is a full separate leaf to use when you are die cutting the images. Put I've also included a group of 3 partial leaves for the large poinsettia. I've grouped the three leaves together on one stamp for each layer, but you won't be able to stamp them all at once. You'll still need to ink and stamp them separately. Due to space restrictions on the sheet, I had to move them in a little closer to each other so they would fit. But the positioning is identical on each layer, so figuring out what goes where is super easy.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Pretty Poinsettias (available 10/5/13) // Cardstock: Oatmeal, Cranberry Crush

Now let's take a look at another stamp set and die.

Strictly Sentiments 3

• is a 3x4" clear photopolymer stamp set
• 7 stamps
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $6

Stitched Holiday Icons Die

• contains 5 individual dies wired together that can be easy separated if desired
• Approx. Measurements: snowman - 2 1/2 x 1 3/16", tree - 2 3/4 x 1 3/16", star - 3/4", scarf - 1 1/2 x 7/8", stocking - 2 3/8 x 1 1/8"
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $13

Let's take a look at Strictly Sentiments 3 first. It's a fun and modern take on "Peace Love & Joy". It is so much fun for such a simple little set. I created a TON of cards with it, but am only going to share a couple today.

Oh...look at that, another non-traditional color scheme! I love the feel of this one. I stamped the Peace and Joy sentiments in black and added the ampersand in hot pink. Then I stamped the line patterned circles included in this set randomly all over the background. I stamped them 2 and 3 times without re-inking in between. I love the bokeh effect it creates.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Strictly Sentiments 3 (available 10/5/13) // Cardstock: White, Black

How about a clean and simple sample...haven't done one of those yet today. This one uses the Love and Joy sentiments along with the ampersand. The smallest circle in Clear Cut Stackers: Circle is perfect for die cutting this.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Strictly Sentiments 3 (available 10/5/13) / Dies: Clear Cut Stackers: Circles | Cardstock: White, Cupid's Bow

Now I want to show you a little bit of the Stitched Holiday Icon die. These are fantastic! I just love them to bits.

I am head over heels for the stocking die. I used the pine bough from Merry & Bright to create some garland to hang them from. Love. All I needed to do was add a sentiment, and Silver Bells has some of my favorites!

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Silver Bells (available 10/5/13), Merry & Bright (available 10/5/13) / Dies: Stitched Holiday Icons (available 10/5/13) | Cardstock: Oatmeal, Kraft

My final card for today features the tree and snowman dies.

I added the scarf to my snowman and a star to the top of the tree. The Basic Banners die is perfect for anchoring them both.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Heartfelt Holiday (available 10/5/13) / Dies: Stitched Holiday Icons (available 10/5/13), Basic Banners Die | Cardstock: Oatmeal, Kraft

Still itching for more? The girls have more inspiration to share! Head over to their blogs to check out what they have for you:

Hannah Craner
Jean Martin
Jinny Newlin
Kerrianne Bowen
Sarah Martina Parker
Savitri Wilder

And that completes all of the formal introductions! Are you ready for a chance to win today's featured products: Pretty Poinsettias, Pretty Poinsettias Companion Die, Strictly Sentiments 3 and the Stitched Holiday Icons Die? Just leave a comment by 9:00 AM EST October 4th to enter. Is there a particular product your most excited about? I will select one random winner from all comments. Winners will be posted here.

Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back tomorrow with the full reveal and a chance to win the entire release!