Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Spotlight Challenge with Sarah Martina Parker

We are focusing on adding dimension this week and who better to give us a helping hand than Sarah Martina Parker? She is a queen when it comes to layering and she is reigning supreme with this beauty!

Just look at all of that dimension! She's used several techniques in this card. Texture? Check. She's used both fabric and glitter. Height? Check. She's gone both ways here by using the Modern Numerals Die to create a letterpress effect and by popping elements up on foam tape. Color? Check. She's chosen to let several elements fade into the background by leaving them tone-on-tone, while spotlighting others with color.

I've chosen to highlight her spotlight technique. I love her clever use of the Modern Numerals Die, specifically how she used color to add dimension and then took it a step further by using glitter to spotlight the number "3". Using your dies to letterpress is a great way to really stretch your supplies. And if you haven't seen it yet, here's the sandwich construction I use for the Sizzix Big Shot.

Sandwich Construction (bottom-top):
  1. Multipurpose Platform - Tab 2
  2. Silicone Embossing Mat
  3. Cardstock
  4. Die (face down)
  5. Hard Embossing Plate
  6. Cardstock shim as needed *note that the depth of your impression will depend on the thickness of your cardstock, your machine, and your shim(s) - adjust as needed*

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Whole Lotta' Happy // Dies: Happy Trio Die, Modern Numerals Die // Cardstock: Oatmeal

So what do you think? Want to give it a try, I'd love to see what you come up with. If you don't have a die cutting machine, you can still achieve the spotlight effect by stamping multiple images in one color and spotlighting another by stamping it a different color. Or you could stamp lined images and then choose one to spotlight by coloring it in. There are several options! If you want to play along, add your link below using the Inlinkz button. We'll keep the link open throughout the month.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Birthday Celebration Week 2: Step It Up

Welcome to week 2 of the Wplus9 4th Birthday Celebration!

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Just Geometrics: Triangles , Whole Lotta' Happy // Ink: Sweet Gelato, and Silver Lining Dye Ink (available March 2014) // Dies: Happy Trio Die // Cardstock: White, Sweet Gelato

Are you ready for another challenge and a chance to win a $100 Wplus9 Gift Certificate prize? This week we are focusing on adding dimension. There are so many ways to add dimension to your projects. You can add die cuts, texture with embossing paste or fabrics, dry or heat embossing, multiple layers, the list goes on. You can even add the illusion of dimension with color by adding drop shadows. I've decided to share a little collage style project to help kick things off.

Are you ready to play along?

Step It Up Challenge

Watch above or in HD at YouTube

PLAY ALONG

Create a card, tag or layout with a focus on adding dimension. Use at least one Wplus9 product and upload your project to your blog or online photo gallery such as Flickr. Then link it up using the InLinkz widget below by 12:00 PM EST, Friday, February 14, 2014. Winner will be posted by 5:00 PM EST on Friday, February 14, 2014.

PRIZE

We will select (1) random participant to receive a $100 Gift Certificate to www.wplus9.com. Winner will be announced Friday, February 14, 2014.

Bonus Entries

  • Follow us on Facebook and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.
  • Follow us on Twitter and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.
  • Tweet or post on Facebook about our birthday celebration and this challenge to help spread the word (be sure to use @wplus9) and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Birthday Celebration Week 1 Winner

Congratulations Robin! Please email customerservice@wplus9.com, subject line: "Birthday Celebration Week 1 Winner" to claim your prize.

I am so excited to see all of the participation so far. I am loving seeing all of your creations and learning what everyone's comfort zone is. I am making my way through the entries, and man there are so MANY wonderful projects!

If you didn't win this time, don't worry, you'll have 3 more chances to pick up a $100 Gift Certificate. The next challenge will be posted this Monday and it's a fun one. Now, I know Monday-Friday can be quite busy for many of us...so how about I go ahead and give you a head start? For next week's challenge we want to see you Step It Up. Yep, adding dimension! There are so many ways to do this - embossing, texture, layers, twine, die cuts...the list goes on. Be as creative as you like. So, you'll have this weekend to mull it over, or get it done, but Mr. Linky won't officially open until Monday!

Don't forget, you still have this weekend to join in the current Monday Mood Board.
Click here to play along with Monday Mood Board

And, if you are looking for a fun technique to try, check out the Watercolor Made Easy post. There's a linky to share your creations!
Click here to play along with Watercolor Made Easy.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Watercolor Made Easy

I'm so excited to share more of our new release with you. I am absolutely loving Whole Lotta' Happy, I mean even more than I had anticipated. At first glance it looks like a set for children's cards. But today, I thought I'd show you how it can definitely be used in a more sophisticated design.

I've combined a "watercolor" technique along with our new Dove Grey card stock, lot's of gold, and the Happy Trio die for a card that's anything but juvenile. I am really enjoying incorporating watercolor into my cards more these days. Here's the breakdown for re-creating this easy look.

Instructions:
  1. Gather your supplies: stamp of your choice, Tim Holtz Distress Marker or Pad, Spray Bottle (Mini Mister shown)
  2. Cover stamp with ink
  3. Spritz stamp with water
  4. Stamp image
  5. Try experimenting with different amounts of water to see the different results

Once the balloons were dry, I added a few "splats" of Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Gold. For the sentiment, I embossed the "you make me..." portion directly on the card front in gold. I completed the sentiment by die cutting the word "happy" from card stock and embossing it with gold as well. The Happy Trio Die is such a great compliment to this set. It uses the same large "happy" words, but in a slightly larger scale. This allows you to mix and match them together for even more possibilities.

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Whole Lotta' Happy // Dies: Happy Trio Die // Cardstock: White, Dove Grey

While I had everything out, and since I was already making a mess...I decided to create a slightly different version. I used our new Cashmere card stock. LOVE. I added a few confetti hearts with glittered embossing powder using the Borders & Backgrounds 3 stamp set. This time, I added the sentiment by embossing it in white on vellum. I don't use vellum much. I think I should use it more. ;o)

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Whole Lotta' Happy, Borders & Backgrounds 3 // Cardstock: White, Cashmere

So what do you think? Want to give it a try, I'd love to see what you come up with. If you want to play along, add your link below using the Inlinkz button. We'll keep the link open throughout the month.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Wplus9 February 2014 Release Full Reveal

We have a lot of fun new stuff hitting the store tomorrow, and you can see it here first! All products will be available for purchase at midnight, on February 5th at www.wplus9.com as well as at many of your favorite retailers.

*** Website Reminder ***

Wplus9.com will be down from approximately 11:00 PM EST tonight until 12:00 AM EST while we upload the new products and prepare for the release. The website will be back online and all products will be available for purchase by 12:01 AM EST February 5, 2014.

Whole Lotta' Happy

Details

  • is a 6x8" clear photopolymer stamp set
  • contains 23 individual stamps; 7 images and 16 sentiment builders
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $21

Whole Lotta' Happy Companion Die

Details

  • contains 6 individual dies wired together that can be easily separated if desired
  • coordinates with the Whole Lotta' Happy stamp set
  • Approx. Measurements: (A) - 1/2 x 5/8", (B) - 1 3/16 x 1 1/4", (C) - 1 1/8 x 1 3/16", (D) - 5/8 x 5/8", (E) - 1 3/8 x 1 3/8", (F) - 7/8 x 7/8"
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $8

Happy Trio Die

Details

  • contains 3 individual dies wired together that can be easily separated if desired
  • stand-alone die that compliments the Whole Lotta' Happy stamp set
  • Approx. Measurements: (A) - 3 x 1 3/8", (B) - 3 x 1 3/8", (C) - 3 x 2"
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $12

Borders & Backgrounds 3

Details

  • is a 4x6" clear photopolymer stamp set
  • contains 6 individual stamps; 3 borders/backgrounds and 3 accent images
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $14

Birthday Basics Die

Details

  • contains 8 individual dies wired together that can be easily separated
  • (A) - 1 1/8 x 1", (B) - 1 1/8 x 1 3/8", (C) - 1 1/2 x 1", (D) - 1 1/2 x 1 3/8", (E) - 4 3/8 x 1 1/4"
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $13

Modern Numerals Die

Details

  • contains 14 individual dies wired together that can be easily separated
  • numbers are 1 1/4" tall, pound sign: 3/4" tall, percent sign: 3/4" tall
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $14

Everyday Alpha

Details

  • is a 4x6" clear photopolymer stamp set
  • 55 individual stamps; letters a-z and numbers 0-9
  • letters measure 3/8" tall and numbers measure 1/2" tall
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $14

Conversation Bubbles Die

Details

  • contains 3 individual dies
  • Approx. Measurements: (A) - 1 5/8 x 1", (B) - 2 1/8 x 1/2", (C) - 1 3/8 x 1 5/8"
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $7

Just Geometrics: Triangles

Details

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

Easter Blessings

Details

  • is a 4x6" clear photopolymer stamp set
  • contains 13 individual stamps; 9 images and 4 sentiments
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $14

Spring Wreath Die

Details

  • contains 13 individual dies
  • Approx. Measurements: (A) - 2 7/8", (B) - 3/8", (C) - 5/16", (D) - 1/4"
  • will be available for purchase February 5th for $10

Premium Heavy Weight Cardstock

As we grow, we continue to evaluate what we want to be and what we want to provide. We have decided to narrow our focus to providing a nice range of neutral card stock selections and a broader range of color in inks. With that in mind, we are releasing 4 new neutral card stock colors this month that I'm sure you will love.

Details

  • Dove Grey (15 & 30 sheet packs)
  • Steel Mill (15 & 30 sheet packs)
  • Cashmere (15 & 30 sheet packs)
  • Soft Honeydew (15 & 30 sheet packs)

Don't forget, we will be sharing lots of inspiration featuring these new sets, plus many of our older sets all month long. We're also hosting several challenges and giving away prizes! Check out the Comfort Zone Challenge and enter to win the first of four $100 Wplus9 Gift Certificates!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Birthday Celebration Week 1 - Comfort Zone

Welcome to the Wplus9 4th Birthday Celebration!

Wplus9 Supplies:
Stamps: Whole Lotta' Happy (available 02/05/14) // Ink: Lake House, Nautical Navy, Sweet Gelato, and Silver Lining Dye Ink (available March 2014) // Dies: Happy Trio Die (available 02/05/14) // Cardstock: White, Nautical Navy

We are doing things a little bit differently for this release. We have several new products, like the Whole Lotta' Happy stamp set pictured above, that will be available for purchase beginning February 5, 2014 at www.wplus9.com, as well as at many of our retailers. We'll be revealing all of the new products tomorrow, February 4, 2014, so be sure to stop by and get all of the details.

Since it's our birthday, we're stretching out the festivities all month long. This week we're working in the "comfort zone". Let's focus on our favorites - signature style, favorite Wplus9 stamp set/dies, favorite color combos or go-to layouts.

Let's kick things off! How about a challenge with a $100 Wplus9 Gift Certificate prize?

Comfort Zone Challenge

My comfort zone is clean and graphic. I love high contrast. And I'm even throwing in some of my favorite colors to work with - pink, blue and yellow.

PLAY ALONG

If you'd like to play along, create a card, tag or layout in your comfort zone - use your signature style, favorite Wplus9 stamp set/dies, favorite color combos or go-to layout. Use at least one Wplus9 product and upload your project to your blog or online photo gallery such as Flickr. Then link it up using the InLinkz widget below by 8:00 AM EST, Friday, February 7, 2014. Winner will be posted by 12:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 7, 2014.

PRIZE

We will select (1) random participant to receive a $100 Gift Certificate to www.wplus9.com. Winner will be announced Friday, February 7, 2014.

Bonus Entries

  • Follow us on Facebook and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.
  • Follow us on Twitter and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.
  • Tweet or post on Facebook about our birthday celebration to help spread the word (be sure to use @wplus9) and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Happy Birthday Wplus9

It's February, and Wplus9 turns four years old this month!

We are extremely excited and humbled to be able to celebrate four years of sharing and creating with all of you. In honor of this milestone, we will be celebrating all month long.

Now, this celebration would not be possible with out the support of many of you. So to show our appreciation, we will be giving away (4) $100 Wplus9 Gift Certificates. We'll be hosting a challenge every Monday and giving away (1) $100 gift certificate every Friday to a random participant. There will be other ways to enter as well, including Facebook and Twitter. Full details will be posted with each challenge.

We will also be releasing new product as usual this month. All new product will be available on February 5th, but instead of doing just three days of previews, we will be sharing ideas and inspiration all month long. The fun starts Monday, February 3rd, so mark your calendars, we hope that you will join us!

On a personal note, I want to extend my sincerest appreciation and gratitude to all of you. Whether you've purchased, left a kind comment, sent an encouraging email or shared a personal story with me - I can't express how much it means to me.

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