Wplus9 June/July 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 be taking a look at 2 more stamp sets and 3 new dies. All previewed items will be available for purchase on June 5th at www.wplus9.com as well as at many of your favorite retailers.

Let's get to it, shall we?

This first set focuses on cupcakes and sweet treats. I know, I know, I can hear the collective "not another cupcake set". But trust me, this is THE ultimate cupcake set.

Sweets & Treats

• is a 6x8" clear photopolymer stamp set
• 36 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 30 cupcake and treat building images and 6 sentiments
• will be available for purchase June 5th for $21

Sweets & Treats Fillers

• is a 4x6" clear photopolymer stamp set
• 22 high quality photo-polymer stamps
• use alone, to "color" the images from Sweets & Treats, or with the Sweets & Treats Companion Die
• will be available for purchase June 5th for $14

Sweets & Treats Companion Die

• contains 13 individual dies wired together that can be easily separated
• coordinates with the Sweets & Treats and Sweets & Treats Fillers stamp sets
• Approx. Measurements: (A) - 7/8 x 3/4", (B) - 7/8 x 5/8", (C) - 1 x 7/16", (D) - 1 1/8 x 5/8", (E) - 15/16 x 3/4", (F) - 1 x 1", (G) - 15/16 x 15/16", (H) - 15/16 x 1", (I) - 1 x 3/8", (J) - 11/16 x 3/8", (K) - 15/16 x 1 5/16", (L) - 7/8 x 1 3/8", (M) - 5/16 x 1"
• will be available for purchase June 5th for $12

I took forever to create our version of a cupcake set because I wanted everything. I mean I wanted to be able to create any cupcake I wanted. I wanted muffins, ice-cream, shaved ice, flat icing, fluffy icing...well, you get the picture. This one has it all. I wanted line art I could color, but when I wanted something quick, I wanted solid images. But you can only fit so much onto a 6x8" sheet. Thanks to the Sweet & Treats Fillers set, I've got that covered too.

This little duo focuses on the shaved ice image. Here I used the line images and then "colored" it in using Sweets & Treats Fillers.

This is just one of the possible combinations for building this little treat. Let's take a look at a few others.

I thought this would make a cute little invite to a 4th of July barbecue or pool party. And it's simple and quick enough that you could put together quite a few in no time at all.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Sweets & Treats (available 6/5/13), Sweets & Treats Fillers (available 6/5/13), Fresh Baked | Dies: Sweets & Treats Companion Die (available 6/5/13), Timeless Tags 2 Die | Cardstock: White

Next, let's take a look at some of the pre-built line art images that you can color.

Don't they look delicious all lined up in a row. I just stamped them in black and then went to town with some Copic markers. And look at the little cupcake stand! I used one of the two included in this set to put one little cupcake on display. "Happy, Happy, Happy", that's my little homage to Duck Dynasty. It's a perfect little sentiment for just about any occasion, don't you think?

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Sweets & Treats (available 6/5/13) | Cardstock: White

These little treats get even sweeter when you pair them with yesterday's previewed set Milk & Cookies.

I decided to create a rainbow birthday card. I stamped the images from Sweets & Treats and used Sweets & Treats Fillers to add my color. I also use the Sweets & Treats Die to build a custom little cupcake. One of the nice things about these sets is all of the mix and matching possibilities. Just imagine all of the little dessert buffets you could design!

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Sweets & Treats (available 6/5/13), Sweets & Treats Fillers (available 6/5/13), Milk & Cookies (available 6/5/13), Strictly Sentiments 1 | Dies: Sweets & Treats Companion Die (available 6/5/13), Milk & Cookies Companion Die (available 6/5/13) | Cardstock: White

Keeping in the spirit of cupcakes and celebrations, I'd love to introduce a pair of dies that will get plenty of use around here. And, to keep the price point down, these dies will only be available exclusively at www.wplus9.com

Cupcake Wrapper

• contains 1 die
• cuts a wrapper that fits a standard size cupcake
• will be available exclusively at Wplus9.com for purchase June 5th for $14

Cupcake Wrapper Accessories

• contains 4 dies wired together that can be easily separated
• cuts two bands that can be adhered to our Cupcake Wrapper Die, and one bow that can be used with or without the tails
• fits a standard size cupcake
• will be available exclusively at Wplus9.com for purchase June 5th for $14

This was one of those items that I "needed" as I was planning my husband's 40th birthday party. But I wanted to be able to dress up my cupcake wrappers if I wanted to as well. So I designed a little border wrap in two styles, and a bow.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Fish More | Dies: Cupcake Wrapper (available 6/5/13), Cupcake Wrapper Accessories (available 6/5/13), Banner Trio | Cardstock: White, Kraft, Cupid's Bow

Aren't they cute? Here, I've paired the blue one with just the border and instead of a bow, I adhered a twine knot. Perfect for a masculine card.

I stamped the traditional cupcake image on the lower 3/4's of the card, filled it in with Sweets & Treats Fillers and added my sentiment at the top, also from Sweets & Treats.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Sweets & Treats (available 6/5/13), Sweets & Treats Fillers (available 6/5/13) | Ink: Lake House Pigment Ink (available 6/5/13) | Cardstock: Oatmeal

My last project today showcases how that little bow can be used for more than just the cupcake wrapper. I decided to create a baby card and matching tag for a gift.

Another really simple style, but the bold colors and clean lines really stand out.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Sweets & Treats (available 6/5/13), Sweets & Treats Fillers (available 6/5/13), Kisses & Cuddles | Dies: Sweets & Treats Companion Die (available 6/5/13), Cupcake Wrapper Accessories Die (available 6/5/13), Lacey Layers Companion Die, Timeless Tags 2 Die | Cardstock: White, Sweet Gelato

That's it for me today, but please visit the Design Team to see what they have to share with you:

• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Elise Durenberger
• Jean Martin
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin - will be joining us later this month
• Lea Lawson - will be joining us later this month
• Sarah Martina Parker - will be joining us later this month
• Savitri Wilder

And that wraps up Day 2. Thank you all so much for the overwhelming response to Day 1, I really hope that you've enjoyed today's previews just as much. I truly appreciate all of your incredibly kind comments! Are you ready for a chance to win today's featured products: Sweets & Treats, Sweets & Treats Fillers, Sweets & Treats Companion Die, Cupcake Wrapper Die and the Cupcake Wrapper Accessories Die? Just leave me a comment by 9:00 AM EST June 3rd to enter. I will select one random winner from all comments. Winners will be posted here.

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

Wplus9 June/July 2013 Release Week Day 1

Release Week is here! 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 June 5th at www.wplus9.com as well as at many of your favorite retailers.

As usual, we have lots of new product to share with you. Please, allow me to introduce our June/July 2013 Release.

I am so excited to share this stamp set with you. Fresh Cut Florals is a fun mix of classic flowers with a modern twist. The really wonderful thing about this set is all of the 2 and 3-step stamping possibilities. You can get as detailed or abstract with them as you'd like.

Fresh Cut Florals

• is a 4x6" clear photopolymer stamp set
• 35 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 30 flower building images and 5 sentiments
• will be available for purchase June 5th for $14

Fresh Cut Florals Companion Die

• contains 10 individual dies wired together that can be easily separated
• coordinates with the Fresh Cut Florals stamp set
• Approx. Measurements: (A) - 3/4 x 5/8", (B) - 3/4", (C) - 7/8", (D) - 1/18 x 1", (E) - 3/4 x 1 1/2", (F) - 1/2 x 1", (G) - 5/8 x 3/4", (H)- 5/8 x 3/4", (I) - 1/2", (J) - 1 x 1 1/8"
• will be available for purchase June 5th for $8

You all know how much I love to pair opposites, or add an unexpected element to a design. That's what I've done for my first card by pairing the soft colors in my bouquet with the stark black striped background.

Can you believe those are stamps?! And they are deceptively easy to do. Here's the breakdown on creating the lilac/hyacinth flower.

Instructions:

1. Stamp the stem first. This will help you line up the flower portion using the negative spaces on the stem where any petals "overlap".
2. Stamp the bottom layer. For the lilac, I've stamped the darker color first. But for most of the flowers you'll want to stamp the lighter color first so that the darker color overlays it in the next step.
3. Stamp the top layer.
4. Each flower has a "center" that you can add if you'd like. Stamp this last.

Easy, right? And talk about an impact. For the center pink flowers - peonies maybe - I used the same color for both layers. For the bottom layer I inked the stamp, stamped it onto scratch paper, and then stamped it onto my die cut without re-inking (known as stamping-off, or second generation stamping). I then added the top layer in the same color but without stamping off.

I added both the diagonal striped background and my sentiment (also from Fresh Cut Florals) in black to finish this one off.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Fresh Cut Florals (available 6/5/13), Country Charm | Dies: Fresh Cut Florals Companion Die (available 6/5/13) | Cardstock: White, Ballet Slippers

I just love this next card. It's perfectly showcases how this set can make even the simplest of designs "pop".

I used two of the circles from the Lacey Layers Companion Die. I centered the smaller circle inside of the larger circle and sent it through my die cutting machine. This created a "wreath" to encircle my sentiment. LOVE that font. Whimsical, yet elegant at the same time.

Then, I just embellished the wreath with a little cluster of die cut and stamped flowers.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Fresh Cut Florals (available 6/5/13) | Dies: Fresh Cut Florals Companion Die (available 6/5/13), Lacey Layers Companion Die | Cardstock: White, Sandstone

I also wanted to share with you the beautiful backgrounds you can create with this set as well.

I decided to create some custom monogrammed A-2 cards and matching seals. I stamped the roses in our Cupid's Bow Pigment Ink. I love the unconventional blue (Lake House Pigment Ink) leaves with black accents. I think it takes it from something that would look vintage to a little more modern design.

To package the monogrammed cards, I used a glassine bag wrapped with a bow from the Cupcake Wrapper Accessories Die, which I'll show you more on tomorrow. Super simple set, and all images came from the Fresh Cut Florals stamp set.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Fresh Cut Florals (available 6/5/13) | Ink: Lake House Pigment Ink (available 6/5/13), Cupid's Bow Pigment Ink (available 6/5/13), White Pigment Ink Dies: Cupcake Wrapper Accessories Die (available 6/5/13), Scalloped Border Die | Cardstock: White, Ballet Slippers

This next set is one of my favorites. Old fashioned milk bottles are everywhere right now. I think they may just be the next Mason jar.

Milk & Cookies

• is a 4x6" clear photopolymer stamp set
• 25 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 17 images and 8 sentiments
• will be available for purchase June 5th for $14

Milk & Cookies Companion Die

• contains 9 individual shapes wired together that can be easy separated if desired
Approx. Measurements; (A) - 5/8 x 3/8", (B) - 1 x 2 1/8", (C) - 2 5/8 x 3/16", (D) - 1 1/8 x 1/2", (E) - 3/4", (F) - 3/4 x 3/8", (G) - 1 1/8 x 5/8", (H) - 1 1/8 x 1", (I) - 5/8 x 1/2"
• will be available for purchase April 5th for $9

I think this set is perfect for masculine cards. Let's face it, men really are just big kids...and we know how much they love milk and cookies!

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Milk & Cookies (available 6/5/13) | Ink: Cupid's Bow (available 6/5/13) | Dies: Milk & Cookies Companion Die (available 6/5/13) | Cardstock: White, Sandstone (available 6/5/13)

I also included some fun sentiments in this set. Like this:

And this:

I just love clean and simple cards.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Milk & Cookies (available 6/5/13) | Ink: White | Cardstock: White, Sandstone (available 6/5/13)

But...there is so much more you can do with this set too. I've included lot's of little images to make this set go even further. How about a cold glass of lemonade?

I tried to create a little lemonade stand. I used our Scalloped Border die to create the awning, and a little Kraft card stock stamped with a woodgrain pattern for the table top. And I just LOVE those little straws!

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Milk & Cookies (available 6/5/13), Fresh Baked, Woodgrain Sihouettes | Dies: Milk & Cookies Companion Die (available 6/5/13), Scalloped Border Die | Cardstock: White, Green Acres, Kraft

Whew! I still have tons more to share from these sets, but I'll stop there for now. Still want to see more? The Design Team is ready to share what they've been up to:

• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Elise Durenberger
• Jean Martin
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin - will be joining us later this month
• Lea Lawson - will be joining us later this month
• Sarah Martina Parker - will be joining us later this month
• Savitri Wilder

So there you have Day 1, I really hope you enjoyed today's previews. Are you ready for a chance to win today's featured products: Fresh Cut Florals, Fresh Cut Florals Companion Die, Milk & Cookies and the Milk & Cookies Companion Die? Just leave me a comment by 9:00 AM EST June 2nd to enter. I will select one random winner from all comments. Winners will be posted here.

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

Monday Mood Board #13

It's time for another Monday Mood Board! This one is quite appropriate for Memorial Day, don't ya think?

PLAY ALONG

If you'd like to play along, use the mood board as a starting point for a card, tag, layout or any project...where ever the inspiration takes you! Use at least one Wplus9 product. Upload your project to your blog or online photo gallery such as Flickr. Then link it up using the InLinkz widget below to share it and keep the inspiration flowing! Remember, you'll have 2 weeks to play along.

PRIZES

We will select (3) random participants to receive a $10 store credit each at www.wplus9.com. Winners will be announced each Monday when the new Mood Board is posted.

Monday Mood Board #12 Winners

We had a lot of really cute entries for MMB #12, and it's time to congratulate our random winners! The winners are:

• #6 (Michelle L.)
• #2 (Tara)
• #22 (Irene)

Contact us at customerservice@wplus9.com with your full name and email and we will set up your store credits!

I can't wait to see how this week's mood board inspires you!

Festive Friday Challenge - Red, Green & Gold

Happy Friday! No, make that Happy Festive Friday! I was more than happy to join in on this fun challenge when Meredith asked me to.

I have been on a CAS kick lately, and when she sent me the graphic, I knew exactly what I was going to do. I was inspired by the stripes on the pillows. And what's better than stripes? Glittered stripes, of course! Here's the run down on super fast, super fun glittered stripes.

Instructions:

1. Here's what you'll need: Die cut tag (Wplus9 Timeless Tags 2); Double sided strong adhesive tape (Tear-ific Tape); glitter (Evening Glow by Sparkle N Sprinkle)
2. Lay down strips of adhesive in desired pattern, trim edges.
3. Remove backing from tape and sprinkle glitter on, burnish in by rubbing with your finger.

Prefer your glitter in smaller doses? Just reverse the design. Here I've stamped the striped background and glittered the monogram instead.

WPLUS9 SUPPLIES
Stamps: Country Charm | Dies: Timeless Tags 2, Lacey Layers, Folk Art Alphabet | Cardstock: White, Cupid's Bow

Using alphabet dies or stamps is a great way to indicate the recipient for those of us that don't care for their own handwriting...like me. Plus, I think it just looks cool. ;o) Luckily, each person in our house starts with a different letter, so this is a perfect idea for us.

Hope you've enjoyed today's post. Want to join in and play along with the Festive Friday Challenge? Visit their blog for all of the details!

Fresh Baked with Jean Martin

Jean Martin is back with the rest of her April/May 2013 Release projects. Today, she is sharing Quilt Prints, Fresh Baked, and Pretty Patches: Umbrella with us.

Another gorgeous color palette! Despite the presence of a few florals here and there, her color choices make this a wonderfully gender neutral birthday card. What a great concept for any cooking aficionado!

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Fresh Baked, Quilt Prints | Dies: Fresh Baked Companion Die, Label Layers 2 | Cardstock: Kraft, Oatmeal

This next card may be my favorite of the bunch. Something about the colors, the patchwork, and heartfelt sentiment just speaks to me.

Wouldn't this make you smile? A perfect card for a friendly "pick-me-up".

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Pretty Patches: Umbrella, Quilt Prints, Heartfelt Mix | Dies: Pretty Patches: Umbrella Companion Die | Cardstock: Kraft, White

I just want to thank Jean for sharing so much incredible inspiration over the last few days. I've loved each and every day!

Don't forget to stop by Jean's blog to see more of her wonderful work. Thanks for stopping by!

Design Team Inspiration with Jean Martin

Welcome back for another day of Design Team Inspiration with Jean Martin. Today, she is taking a closer look at a few more items from our April/May 2013 Collection.

Her first sample is a simple one layer card that is anything but short on style! Love how she's stamped out a wreath using several smaller stamps to encase her sentiment.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Strictly Sentiments 1, Blanket Stitched Blooms | Cardstock: White, Green Acres

Next up is a bright and cheerful card. I just love her color choices on this one, it's got a laid back country feel, yet it is upbeat and fun as well.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Blanket Stitched Blooms, Strictly Sentiments 1, Very Vintage Florals, Damask Delight | Dies: Timeless Tags 2, Label Layers 3 Die, Damask Delight Companion Die, Blanket Stitched Blooms Companion Die | Cardstock: White, Kraft

And finally, she's sharing a little gem with lots of stamping and stripes. Two of my favorite things!

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Bitty Buddy Valentines, Blanket Stitched Blooms | Dies: Blanket Stitched Blooms Companion Die, Clear Cut Stackers: Rounded Rectangles | Cardstock: Kraft, Ballet Slippers

Jean always knocks it out of the park! If she's inspired you today, be sure to stop by her blog and let her know. Thanks for stopping by! We've got another fun, inspiration-filled day tomorrow with Jean...see you then!