August 2014 Release Week - Bokeh Made Easy

Welcome to Release Week at Wplus9 Design! We have lots of new products hitting the market soon and we are so excited to start sharing them with you.

I hope you don't mind, but we are doing things a bit different than usual. We are removing the hype and bringing the craft!

You'll find a full list of all of the products that will be available beginning August 5, 2014 at wplus9.com, as well as at many of your favorite retailers at the end of this post. What?! Yep, we are getting right down to business.

So let's kick things off with a look at Strictly Sentiments 5.

I have been kind of obsessed with techniques lately, specifically backgrounds. Strictly Sentiments 5 is perfect for using with fun backgrounds. The sentiments are perfectly scaled and the fun font is modern, just a little quirky, yet still sophisticated.

So today I'm sharing a video featuring both, Strictly Sentiments 5 and an easy bokeh-like effect. I LOVE this technique and hope you enjoy as well!

Watch above or in HD at YouTube

Here's some still shots of the featured cards.

The sentiments in this set are gender neutral, so just switching up the background colors makes it quick to create a stash of cards for boys and girls of all ages.

I really loved the blues and yellows in this one. It ended up looking a little more celestial than bokeh to me, but I still love it either way.

There is lot of new stuff coming your way. Check it out:

August 2014 Release - available 08/05/14

Photopolymer Clear Stamps

Flora & Fauna 2
6x8" Clear Stamp Set
$21 USD

Fresh Cut Containers
4x6" Clear Stamp Set
$14 USD

Hand Lettered Thanks
4x6" Clear Stamp Set
$14 USD

Lucky Stars
4x6" Clear Stamp Set
$14 USD

Papel Picado
4x6" Clear Stamp Set
$14 USD

Punny Produce: Pears
3x4" Clear Stamp Set
$6 USD

Strictly Sentiments 5
4x6" Clear Stamp Set
$14 USD

Steel Rule Dies

Flora & Fauna 2 Companion Die
$13 USD

Fresh Cut Containers Companion Die
$18 USD

Hand Lettered Thanks Die
$7 USD

Clear Cut Stackers: Pear Die
$7 USD

Papel Picado Companion Die
$10 USD

Giveaway Alert

Strictly Sentiments 5 is such a versatile set that I am sure will become a "go-to" for me. Would you like to win it before you can buy it? Just leave a comment below by 10:00 a.m. EST on 08/02/14 to enter. I will select one random winner from all comments. Winner will be posted on our Releaser Winners page by noon.

Good Luck! And thanks for stopping by. Be sure to come back tomorrow for more previews of our August 2014 Release!

To see more Strictly Sentiments 5, be sure to stop by Kara's blog today as well!

Featured Supplies

Wplus9 White Premium Cardstock Wplus9 PURE COLOR White Pigment Ink *Hero Arts Memories Rubber Stamp DYE Ink Pad BLACK AF101 Wplus9 Clear Cut Stackers: Circles Wplus9 Basic Banners Die *Tsukineko Ink Pad 10 SPONGE DAUBERS Rubber Stamp *Tim Holtz DISTRESS WATERCOLOR CARDSTOCK Ranger Ink TDA39549 *Therm O Web 3D MOUNTING SQUARES White Foam 3777 *Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two Applicators 62191 *Pretty Pink Posh 6MM SPARKLING CLEAR Cupped Sequins *Pretty Pink Posh PINK BLUSH Flat 6mm Sequins *Heidi Swapp CONFETTI 6 x 6 Stencil HS00838 *ZIG Wink of Stella GLITTER CLEAR Brush Tip Marker 025320 Grumbacher Alizarin Crimson Watercolor Winsor & Newton Quinacridone Gold Watercolor Grumbacher Phthalo Blue Watercolor Princeton Neptune 1/2" Oval Wash

InLinkz.com

Online Card Classes *Stretch Your Stamps 2* Winner

Hello ladies (and gents)! We have a winner for the Online Card Classes - Stretch Your Stamps 2 class!

Congratulations Lydia!

Please send an email as soon as possible to customerservice@wplus9.com, Subject: Stretch Your Stamps 2 Winner, so that we can get you in contact with Online Card Classes to claim your prize.

We wouldn't want you to be late for class!

VIDEO: Textured Die Cuts

Hi guys!

Today's video features a little experimenting with Martha Stewart's White Texture Effect and die cutting. I bought this stuff a while ago and wasn't quite sure what to do with it...until now.

While on vacation recently we spent an entire day finding sand dollars and starfish in the ocean...along with sea cucumbers, urchin, and some slimy slug things that I would just like to forget about altogether. LOL But, it did get me thinking that the texture of this paste was perfect for recreating sand and for creating the texture of starfish and sand dollars.

So when I got home, I did a little experimenting...and it worked!

It doesn't dry chalky or too hard, there wasn't any flaking or cracking, so it was a great candidate for die cutting. I spread a thin layer over card stock, allowed it to dry and then die cut it. Watch the video below to see this card from start to finish as well as some tips along the way.

Watch above or in HD at YouTube

I hope you enjoyed today's video! I'll be back soon with a shaker card video featuring this same paste and more stencils.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon!

All Featured Supplies

Wplus9 White Premium Cardstock Wplus9 Natural Wafer Board Wplus9 Dockside 6x8 Clear Stamps Wplus9 Nautical Notions Die Wplus9 Timeless Tags 2 Die Wplus9 Guiding Light Die Wplus9 Clear Cut Stackers: Circles Wplus9 Basic Banners Die Wplus9 PURE COLOR Sweet Nectar Dye Ink Refill Wplus9 Sweet Nectar PURE COLOR Dye Ink *Tsukineko Ink Pad 10 SPONGE DAUBERS Rubber Stamp *Therm O Web 3D MOUNTING SQUARES White Foam 3777 *Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two Applicators 62191 *Tombow MONO Adhesive PERMANENT Tape Dispenser *Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD *WOW Embossing Powder OPAQUE BRIGHT WHITE SUPER FINE WL01SF *WOW Embossing Powder GOLD RICH ULTRA HIGH Metallic Regular WC04 Bright *Heidi Swapp CHEVRON 6 x 6 Stencil HS00837 *Liquitex MODELING PASTE Gel Acrylic Medium Martha Stewart White Texture Effect *Sizzix BIG SHOT MACHINE Powder Blue & Teal 657900

InLinkz.com

Online Card Classes Giveaway *Stretch Your Stamps 2*

Look at your stamps in a whole new way! Back by popular demand, join Online Card Classes for another great installment of Stretch Your Stamps!

About the class

Join instructors Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, Debby Hughes, and friends (including me!), to discover just how far you can stretch your stamps—whether you’re an expert stamper or just getting started. In Stretch Your Stamps 2, you’ll learn how particular styles of stamps can be used in a variety of creative ways to expand your card-making skills. Over the course of this two-week session, you’ll be introduced to techniques and concepts through expert instructor videos, and then build on your new knowledge with the help of inspiring guest artist examples. Stretch Your Stamps 2 includes over 30 videos and 40 card ideas, along with instructional PDFs, a forum, galleries, shopping discounts, prizes and more.

More Information

Curious to see first hand a little bit more about this class? Watch the video below as Jennifer reviews the categories and the featured stamp sets used in class. She also encourages you to shop your stash by showing some great alternative sets that you may already own.

SYS2 stamps from Online Card Classes on Vimeo.

For more information Stretch Your Stamps 2 from Online Card Classes, click HERE. Class starts August 4, 2014, but you will have lifetime access to the content.

Class Registration Giveaway

***Giveaway is now closed***

I am so honored to be included in this class alongside such talented crafters! And the wonderful ladies at Online Card Classes are allowing me to give away one class registration to one of you!

Interested?

Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. EST on 7/30/14 to enter. The winner will be selected randomly from all comments and announced here on the blog on 7/31/14.

***Giveaway is now closed***

Good Luck!