Introducing In Bloom

I love flowers.  Especially modern ones that capture just a touch of whimsy.  This new set that I lovingly illustrated is PERFECT for those of you who feel the same way as I do.

The details.

• In Bloom will be sold for $15.
• Available for purchase on July 15th.
• It includes 4 floral images and three leaf images along with a single sentiment.
• Perfect for *colorers* and *non-colorers* alike!  (I don't know if those are real words or not, but they work for me!)

Let's start with this pretty little number!

One of the things I love about the images in this new flower set is how easy everything is to cut out.  I purposely streamlined the outer perimeter so there were no awkward corners or areas to get into when cutting.  This little layered flower is my new FAVORITE-wanna-use-it-on-every-project embellishment!!!

To create this, stamp the flower three times.  I used Fresh Snow ink on Ocean Tides cardstock.

Next, I cut out one layer component from each of the three flowers.  One flower will be trimmed down to the smallest layer, another flower to the middle layer and the last flower in it's entirety (forming the largest layer).

Using foam tape of the back of the two smallest layers allows me to add dimension when they are reassembled.

For the leaves, I stamped Spring Moss cardstock with Ripe Avocado ink using Background Basics: Text Style.  I then stamped the leaves over the text in the same ink.  After trimming the leaves from the cardstock you can add them to your flower.

(click the image above for a larger view)

My completed card.  *sigh*  I just love it!  The sentiment is from Cupcake Collection.  (I just love the fonts in that set, don't you?)

And here's one other tidbit.  After stitching the lines that form a border at the bottom of the card, I carefully used a ruler and T1 Copic Marker to add a line of shadow underneath.  This little touch really helps to pop the stitching and almost a bit dimensional.

For my next project, I was inspired by what I saw in a recent magazine...I immediately thought of melon berry & lemon tart.... mmmmmmm.

This time I decided to color the flowers.  For a look that is a bit softer, I stamped the floral outlines with Smokey Shadow ink.  I pulled my Lemon Tart Copic Trio for this particular one.  I like to color one petal at a time.  You always start with your lightest color, so the entire petal was colored with Y21.

A flower found in it's natural habitat would have shadowing closest to the center where all of the petals meet.  So I added a few strokes of YR24 at the base of the petal to represent this natural shadowing.

After going BACK over the petal with Y21, I was left with this.  A nicely blended petal. 

I repeated the same technique on the remainder of the petals.  I also did the same thing with the larger flower using the Melon Berry Copic Trio. The completed flowers are really something else.  I just LOVE the dimension these take on when they've been colored with Copics.  You almost feel as though you could reach out and pick it!  I cut both of these blooms out so I could easily play around with them and layer them whichever way I chose.

For the border, I trimmed the punched edge (Fiskars Apron Lace) into a strip and adhered it to the bottom edge of my card.  I then used my sewing machine to add the simple stitching detail.  I love how this turned out and look forward to using the technique often in the future.

(click the image above for a larger view)

The finished card.  This large sentiment is the only one included in this set, but so beautifully done.  It is stamped in Smokey Shadow, just like the floral images.  I added small adhesive pearls to the flower centers for a little extra pizazz.  I can already tell that there will be many of these in my future, perhaps even different colors!

Next up is a project I created without doing any intricate cutting.  I pulled three of our darker hued colors (Scarlet Jewel, Dark Chocolate & Pure Poppy) out from my cardstock stash.  I then stamped the corners of the blocks with a variety of the images using Vintage Cream ink.  I adore how crisply the image turns out when using this ink.  Just fabulous!

 

(click the image above for a larger view)

Here's a peek at all three completed cards.  Just a simple sentiment on a cardstock strip that is trimmed at one end with my favorite pinking shears.  A little stitching with a sewing machine helps to finish them off.

(click the image above for a larger view)

I love it when I come up with something that is super simple and easy to mass-product like this.  It's a great design that I can come back to again and again.  Also perfect for making card sets as gifts!

(click the image above for a larger view)

One last card to tempt you even more.  

I created my own background paper by stamping several of the images in Hibiscus Burst ink onto Melon Berry cardstock.  I LOVE the vibrancy and how crisp it all turned out! 

I used pinking shears at the edge of my card to help break up all of the straight lines that make-up this card.  A little well-placed stitching helps to reinforce this pretty pinked edge!

(click the image above for a larger view)

Just in case you love the look of the patterned paper you can create with these stamps, but are short on patience and/or time, now is the time to try out our In Bloom paper!  At $8 a pad featuring 36 sheets, this really is a bargain. It features a beautiful array of detailed floral patterns that will quickly become a favorite that you turn to again and again.  Almost all of the sheets feature a tone on tone monochromatic look, with exception to the pure poppy and true black pages which are a nice crisp white contrast.

So now that I have introduced you the entire family of In Bloom products, what do you think?  Which one of today's projects spoke to you and your style?  We would love to hear from you!

And just for sharing your thoughts with us today, we are giving away an In Bloom prize package!

• In Bloom stamp set
• In Bloom patterned paper collection

You have until 8am EST Saturday, July 11th to leave your comment.  The winner will be announced shortly thereafter (by noon EST) on our July Prize Page which can be found HERE.  Please remember to play nice, only one comment per person please.  Good luck to everyone and thanks for stopping by today!  Tomorrow we have BIG news that you will not want to miss!

Lauren Meader has both a peek at today's stamp set (In Bloom) and some new templates. 
Dawn McVey has a few projects using her new set (Mod Squad).
Lisa Johnson is also sharing her new set , On My Couch and Additions.

Catherine (our Guest Timeless Templates Designer this month) has a peek at the new Milk Made template.

Kelly also has a sneak peek of Milk Made!

Complete supply lists for all of the above projects can be found HERE.

Comments

[Mary C.]

Oh My! This is just gorgeous. I love the look of the kraft paper with the soft colors. After seeing this, and what Pine does, I need to get that kraft paper out. Another beautiful set...

[erica m.]

That flower is beautiful and you definitely showed its versatility. Is that a new blue I spy on the front of the paper pad?

[Jamie Nania]

You do fabulous work. The new set is great. I can't wait until the 15th!

[Lori McAree]

Such a gorgeous flower Nichole! Love your projects!!!

[lindsey]

very very adorable! i am not so into flower sets usually but i think i might HAVE to have this one;)

[Leslie V.]

I Love It!! I can't wait to get my hands on this set. Keep up the GREAT work.

[Angela Tuller]

This is my favorite of the peeks today. The colored flowers are stunning and I'm excited that the sentiment matches that great font from Star Prints. Yeah PTI!

[Jackie Pedro]

Who was I kidding when I said I didn't need another flower set? Your samples are so beautiful! I can't wait to get this set!! Thank you for the opportunity to win it!!

[Marge]

Oh, this is so lovely!!! The card with the flower you Copic colored really grabbed my attention, but they're all fabulous! Love that this set is so versatile & inexpensive too!!! ;p)

[Takisha Davis]

Okay, I love the sentiment, I love the layering of the flowers and I love the background! Can I just say I love it all!
Great job Nichole.
Kisha

[CrazyCurl]

I love these cards! The Best Wishes card set is simply elegant.

[yuki]

I am speechless! It's such a beautiful set. Can't wait to get my hands on it!!!

[Ann V.]

The paper and stamp set are both beautiful.

[Lisa Forsythe]

I can't wait to get my hands on this set!! I love, love, love what I have seen so far!! and the paper is gorgeous!!! and the sentiment with that font... LOVE it!!

[Barbra L.]

Fantastic! I really love the new papers! The fun starts again! I just love this time of the month!

[Rita]

Stunning! And I love the simplicity and endless applications. And the DP...THANK YOU! Just gorgeous! Thank you so much for designing this set!

[danni]

wow, what a beautiful stamp set & the card sets are so so gorgeous!

[Pavla H]

OMG this is soooo beautiful!

[Judith Gowdy]

I love this set, and I really appreciate your design features - making it easy to colour and to cut out. Your samples show this stamp off to perfection. Great job.

[Kelly Davidson]

I love this set! I think my favorite is the friend card--those colors are beautiful together. And since I'm one of those short-on-patience-type people, I'll definitely need the patterned paper.

[Kerry]

I can't wait to try the flower stamps, they are beautiful! And that new blue color in the paper is stunning, I hope it's going to be the new color this month!

[Anne Lawrie]

Absolutely fabulous! I've been a good girl lately, but I must have this set!

[ChrisTea]

Oh, beautiful bright colors in the paper!

[Sunny]

I love flowers and this set is just stunning!! Love the simplicity as well!! Love them all but the best wishes cards are gorgeous!

[KarenY]

ahhhhhhhh! This stamp set is very versatile. It can be used with the copic pens or cut out. So thoughtful!