{capture the moment}

Senior Design Team Challenge: Believe Revisited

Hello, everyone!  Are you all busy gearing up for the holidays?  I know I have been making lists and checking them twice with the Christmas carols entertaining me in the background!  There couldn't be a more perfect time to revisit an old holiday friend, our previously released stamp set, Believe.

I remember so clearly when I designed Believe in 2008.  I have always let everyone know that drawing people is not one of my strongest suits, so completing a Santa set was especially gratifying back in the day!  This jolly little fellow was designed with an opening between his arms to add your own accessories or any of the ones included in the stamp set!  I've always had a special place in my heart for the fonts used in the sentiments as well!

I decided to ink up this older set and make a little holiday card with it for a special friend who adores everything Santa!

I started by cutting a window in the cover of my kraft card base with our Mat Stack 3 die.  I then stamped it with one of the flourishes from Embellishments using VersaMark ink.  I also antiqued the edges a bit with Tea Dye Duo.

I used the Double Ended Banners die along with the striped flag image from Banner Builder to accent either side of the window. 

A few Pure Poppy buttons tied with Rustic Jute Button Twine served as the perfect finishing detail.

The santa image was stamped on Vintage Cream cardstock and colored with the Pure Poppy Copic Trio.  I followed up with the colorless blender and a ruler to add a plaid pattern to his coat.  The berry & leaves were colored and cut out, adhered with foam dimensionals for some pop.  Don't you just love this little sentiment?  It is the perfect thing to share my appreciation to my dearest friend during the holidays and so special compared to an ordinary "Merry Christmas" sentiment.

As a special little touch, I stamped the santa image onto Vintage Cream felt and cut out the beard and mustache portions.  I flipped them over so the inked areas don't show and adhered them in place.  I think this makes the card feel more cozy and homemade.

I also challenged the team to create some new projects with this golden oldie as well!  So sit back and enjoy the show!

CLICK HERE to read more from Betsy Veldman.

CLICK HERE to read more from Dawn McVey.

CLICK HERE to read more from Heather Nichols.

CLICK HERE to read more from Lisa Johnson.

CLICK HERE to read more from Michelle Wooderson.

Didn't everyone do a fantastic job with this set?  I just love to see all the different takes and how they combine these sets with newer products!  As Michelle always says, it's so fun to get all mixy-matchy!  Thank you for stopping by today and enjoy the rest of your week!

P.S.  Just in case you are missing this seasonal fabulousness... Chick-fil-a Hand-spun Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake... oh, how I love thee! 

 

CHRISTMAS FRIENDS CARD

• STAMPS: Believe, Embellishments, Banner Builder
• INK: Black Noir, Ripe Avocado, VersaMark, Tea Dye Duo
• PAPER: Kraft, Vintage Cream
• OTHER: Double Ended Banner Die, Mat Stack 3 die, Pure Poppy buttons, Rustic Jute Button Twine, Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush & Ripe Avocado Copic Trios, T1 Copic Marker & Colorless Blender, Vintage Cream Felt, foam dimensionals
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Holiday Gift Ideas

With an impending move into our new home in mid-December, I wanted to be sure to get most of my holiday shopping/preparations done early this year.  As I said in my post yesterday, I got all of my homemade tags done to be used when wrapping all of my gifts.  Now my shopping is complete too.  I did most of it online a few weeks ago and the packages began pouring in last week.  It was so nice to make a list, jump onto the computer and have it all done with just a few clicks.  I found so many great items that I thought I would stop in today to share some of my favorite finds with you!

The gift of luxury...

These Luxury Plush Foot Duvets from Restoration Hardware are a steal!  When they arrived, I was so impressed with the quality for such an inexpensive gift!  They are normally $20 a pair, but until November 30th, they are on sale for a mere $16!  The interior is so soft and luxurious, you will definitely want a pair for yourself.  

I will be pairing these up with some mugs and homemade hot cocoa mix so the recipient can have the gift of a cozy night in.

For the cook...

I loved this Italian Windowsill Herb Garden so much, I ordered one for myself as well!  It includes three little antiqued Guy Wolff pots, a metal carrying basket, snippers, plant markers with an antique finish, seeds, jute bag to hold everything and even the growing medium.  And it's only $27!  It comes in a gorgeous presentation box that is easy to wrap and will be impressive to the recipient!

I actually purchased this metal cookbook stand for my new kitchen, then when it arrived, I loved it so much that I ordered a few additional ones as gifts!  It is a nice heavy metal, complete with attached paperweights to hold your pages open to the recipe you are working with.  It shows beautiful craftsmanship and I am so pleased with it.  I know anyone who loves to cook would just love to receive this!  The price tag is a mere $34, so it will fit in almost any budget!

I love almost anything from Paula Deen.  She has her name on so many things now, from cookware to furniture.  Two of my favorite things from her cooking line are these two gift ideas that I purchased for a few of the people on my list.

These wooden spoons are THE best wooden spoons, ever!  They are very substantial, made from solid acacia wood.  They have copper plated rings for hanging, if the recipient wishes.  They feel so incredibly good in your hand and are a real treat to use in the kitchen!  And you can't beat the price of only $10 for the set of two!  I am packaging these up with one of my absolute FAVORITE reads for this year...

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table is a wonderful book by Molly Wizenberg that is based on a blog that she began a few years ago.  She made the discovery that favorite recipes are not only favorite recipes because they taste good.  They are usually favorite recipes because there is a memory or story associated with it that brings back that moment every time you prepare or indulge in it.  The book is full of her personal favorite recipes and the stories & memories she identifies them with.  Not only are the recipes to die for, but her stories are unbelievably beautiful and well-written.  I would call it a cookbook with heart, something anyone would enjoy receiving and using.

And for something a bit more extravagant, this set of measuring spoons is one of the most beautiful things that I've ever laid eyes on!  The set of four pewter spoons comes with a stand to hang them on, perfect for leaving out on the counter so they are always easy to access.  I haven't gotten a set for myself yet, but they will be coming to live at my house soon too!

Every cook loves a new recipe or two to try.  When giving gifts like those above, I always like to include a few of my favorites.  This year I am including them on the specialty recipe cards I designed to coordinate with our Recipe Box stamp set.  If you have the time, any cook would also love a homemade recipe box to match!  Something like that truly becomes a family heirloom!

For the bookworm...

I just LOVE giving books as gifts.  You can ask any of my dear friends about that because they pretty much get a book for every occasion!  I never give a book that I haven't read myself and I love pairing a books personality with the recipient.  If you haven't read any of the following suggestions, this is your excuse to indulge so you can make well-informed decisions when purchasing gifts this holiday season!

My absolute favorite book that I have read this year is Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah.  Kristin is an incredible author, actually one of the best in my opinion.  This book will transform the lucky recipient; the story consumes you to the point where you cannot put it down, causing you to reflect and think about the characters even when the book is not in hand. It makes you appreciate what you have and hold your family a little tighter.  It is a must read and any avid bookworm would thank you for such an amazing gift!  

I mentioned this little number here on the blog when I read it this summer, but it bears repeating!  The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is a wonderful, wonderful read, especially for those that love historical novels.  It has everything a gal could want from a book; love, suspense, mystery and everything that comes along with it!  Just fabulous, a real, honest-to-goodness page turner!

The above selections are definitely more geared towards female readers, so how about one of my favorites that is fantastic for anyone, no matter their gender?  Grounded: A Down to Earth Journey Around the World by Seth Stevenson is amazing book for people with an adventurous spirit that may not get as many opportunities as they like for world travel.  This true story involves a couple selling all of their belongings and traveling around the world without utilizing any airplanes.  So their journey involves freighters & ships, trains & cars.  It is fascinating how much we miss by getting from point A to point B on an airplane that only allows us to see the sky.  I really enjoyed this book and anyone that loves to travel, or even the idea of it, would enjoy it as well!

Pair any of these books up with a homemade bookmark, cozy blanket...

...or a favorite brand of tea (packaged pretty of course) and you will be so appreciated! 

For the men on your list...

I ordered this Utili-Key for several of the men on my list.  Almost every guy is obsessed with gadgets and this one can't be beat for $12.  This handy tool can be kept on a key ring and includes Phillips, flat-head & eyeglass screwdrivers.  It also includes a bottle-opener and straight & serrated blades.  This handy little tool comes in an impressive gift box that makes it easy to wrap and perfect for giving!

I am including some homemade snack mix with the Utili-Keys for the men on my list.  I love putting things like this in our wax-lined, windowed coffee bags because it makes it look so special and polished.  Not to mention, it is an inexpensive way to store the mix in an nearly air-tight way without having to pay for pricey tins.

Both my father-in-law & grandfather LOVE birds.  They love to sit and watch them flitting around their yard from feeder to feeder and when I talk to them on the phone they love to discuss what species is a frequent visitor in the current season.  I knew when I found these wooden bird ornaments that they would be the perfect gift.  They are hand-carved and painted and are SO detailed and amazing.  Totally worth the $24 price tag.  

I am pairing them up with this fantastic book about attracting birds to the backyard.  It contains 536 ways to create a haven for birds outdoors.  It has 320 pages of wonderful photos, tips & tricks with a price tag of only $15!

And how fun will it be for me to include this little bird house made from red papers, filled with bird seed?

For the kids (and kid-at-heart!)

I love this little stencil kit (especially that it comes with proper storage to keep it all together!)  I have a few young cousins, nieces & nephews that love doing anything creative and this little gifts fits the bill perfectly. The stencils allow you to create custom faces or zoo animals with ease.  It comes with markers, stencils, paper and this cute little tin box to store it all in.  All for $10!

As soon as I saw these temporary tattoo sets, I could hardly contain myself!  They are such a clever idea!  Kids can transform their hands into robots, dinosaurs, zoo animals, monsters and more!  A single tattoo is applied to the side of their hand, allowing them to transform them into portable playmates!  Especially fun when you get siblings or friends to participate with you to put on an entire puppet show!  I loved them so much,  I ordered them for every kid on my list!!!

Do you remember friendship bracelets from a few decades back?  Remember safety-pinning them to your jeans as you worked on them?  I used to love making them and as soon as I saw this little kit, I knew it was the perfectly thing for some pre-teen girls on my list.  It comes with several colors of floss, instructions, safety pins and complete instructions for a few different styles of bracelets.  All in a little storage tin and only $13.

I don't know about you, but I used to love making flip books as a kid.  Holding the stack of index cards in your hand and flipping through them quickly as you watched the object seem to come to life with animation!  This little kit comes with two pre-drawn flip books that can be colored in, two blank flip books so they can draw their own, 6 markers and four clips to hold the books together.  A great activity and loads of fun for only $12.

I am making several of the kids in our family this little knock-knock joke book to be tucked into their packages as well.  My kids just LOVE to tell jokes and I think almost all kids are the same way!  It is a quick and easy little project (especially with the FREE download that I shared with you) that will bring a few giggles into their Christmas Day!

I also have a few little girls that I am making Cupcake Take Alongs for.  This little gift always goes over SO well!  I like to include a small cupcake pan and a whisk with the gift.  If you really want to make an impression, you can include a personalized apron!  This gift makes little girls fell so "grown-up" when they get their own baking supplies!

I hope some of you might find this little helpful as you complete that holiday shopping list!  Do you have any favorite finds for this year?  Any homemade gifts that you've blogged about recently that you care to share?  I would love to see what your plans are!  I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful holiday weekend!

 

November Blog Hop

First of all, I want to welcome everyone to the November 2010 Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  With it being Thanksgiving Day here in the States, it is an extra special day!  I hope everyone is able to enjoy the time with family and friends!

 

Recently the design team and I put together a variety of holiday tags that are perfect to keep on hand for quick wrap options.  Now it's your turn to inspire us and the rest of the Papertrey community! Design a holiday tag or two using all of your favorite goodies and share it with all of us!  We will all have plenty of inspiration to create a large stash and try to get ahead of the hustle and bustle of the season!

First, I have my holiday tags that I have created for this year.  It is always so nice to get several holiday tasks checked off the the list before the end of November.  One thing that's easy and fun to do is create special handmade tags for your packages.  I always pick out my wrapping paper first and this year I decided to go with a red & white theme with some paper I found on sale at Hobby Lobby this week for 50% off! 

I kept the design very simple so that they were easy to mass-produce.

The tag base is created with the Tag Sale #2 die, stamped with a little Background Basics: Text Style II at the bottom along with a sentiment from 2010 Holiday Tags.  

The focal point is created with our Mat Stack 1 Collection stamped in VersaMark and used with the coordinating die. 

 I used the smallest Seeing Stars die for the focal point and stamped it with one of the flourishes from Embellishments using Pure Poppy ink.  A Pure Poppy button tied with Pure Poppy Baker's Twine finishes it off.

I broke the tags down into a few simple tasks and Hannah was able to help me complete 30 of them in a matter of two hours.

I placed all of them in a basket along with my scissors, ribbons, tape and gift boxes, al ready to go whenever I need to wrap!

EDITED TO ADD THE RANDOMLY SELECTED WINNERS:

Jen Cuthbertson created this beautiful large-scaled tag using Tree Trimming Trio along with some wonderful bits of lace and ribbon.  I have always loved jingle bells added to a holiday tag... it somehow makes everything seem more fun and festive!

Joan in Puerto Rico made an entire set of tags using Tiny Treats: Christmas.  I love how she incorporated the to & from on the front and created a visual division with a strip of patterned paper.

Debbie in Louisiana put 2010 Holiday Tags to work and created an entire collection for herself to use on her packages this year.  All of the fun layers, colors and special touches like punches boughs and rhinestones go together to make each tag really special.

Congratulations to all of the winners!  Be sure to email customer Service with your name, shipping information and selected FREE stamp set!  Everyone did such an amazing job with this challenge!

Now it's time for us to see your projects!

I have included a Mister Linky list below for you to add your link to your blog hop project.  You have until 11:00pm EST tonight (November 25th) to add your link to this list.  THREE random participants will be selected to win a FREE Papertrey Ink stamp set of their choice.  They will be announced and highlighted here, on my blog, tomorrow morning.  We look forward to seeing all of your creations!

 

 

CHRISTMAS STAR TAGS

• STAMPS: Mat Stack 1 Collection, Background Basics: Text Style II, 2010 Holiday Tags, Embellishments
• INK: Fresh Snow, True Black, Pure Poppy, VersaMark
• PAPER: Pure Poppy, Kraft, Stamper's Select White
• OTHER: Tag Sale #2 die, Seeing Stars die, Mat Stack 1 die, Pure Poppy buttons, Pure Poppy Twine
• FINISHED SIZE: 3-3/4" x 3-1/4"

November Blog Hop Tomorrow!

Tomorrow we are excited to present the BIG monthly Blog Hop that Papertrey Ink hosts for all of it's talented customers to show off their skills! 

The Blog Hop is now an ALL DAY EVENT!  A Mister Linky list will be posted here on my blog at 10am EST and you can add your link anytime up until 11pm EST.  And don't worry if you aren't going to get a chance to make a project and play along, there will be a contest for non-participants as well over in our forum in the designated thread. I hope that I will see many of your familiar faces over here tomorrow! I look forward to seeing all of your creativity!

All of our customers who enjoy sharing inspiration & artwork with their peers through their personal blogs.

 

 

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The actual Blog Hop will take place tomorrow, November 25th, beginning @ 10am EST. 

 

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You will explore individual blogs through a thread here, on my blog, beginning at 10am EST tomorrow. 

 

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 A day dedicated to seeking inspiration through projects utilizing Papertrey Ink products. 

 

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Recently the design team and I put together a variety of holiday tags that are perfect to keep on hand for quick wrap options.  Now it's your turn to inspire us and the rest of the Papertrey community! Design a holiday tag or two using all of your favorite goodies and share it with all of us!  We will all have plenty of inspiration to create a large stash and try to get ahead of the hustle and bustle of the season!

 
 -Participating bloggers can add their link to the appropriate list here anytime between 10am EST and 11pm EST on November 25th within the Mister Linky list that will be posted.. The title of your post should be "Papertrey November Blog Hop Challenge".

-Customers & participants alike can peruse all of the links and absorb all of the amazing inspiration that will be shared!

-After you have made your way through the list, simply return to our forum and participate in all of the fun!

-You can chit chat with everyone in the Blog Hop forum! Take this time to praise your peers efforts, discuss anything new you might have learned and which projects really offered something unique!

-The three random blogger participant winners will be announced Friday morning on our forum and highlighted here on my blog!

-You can enter our Blog Hop Forum contest. There will be a special thread posted in our forum specifically for this purpose asking a question. Please only post once, as the winner will be picked via the Random Number Generator. The forum contest will end at midnight EST and the winner announced in the morning within the thread.

-Create a project while you are here, using the new inspiration you have gathered from the Blog Hop. You can post your projects in the gallery, even if you do not have a blog! We are looking forward to all the fun tomorrow and we hope to see you there!

 

A goodbye and a hello...

 

It is always difficult to say goodbye to old friends but at the same time it can be exciting to watch new chapters unfold.  I am writing today to say a fond farewell to Kim Hughes.  She has decided to step down from her design team position with us to persue some new adventures.  Kim holds a special place in my heart as an adventurous stamper who is never scared to experiment and try new things with her paper crafting supplies.  I know that wherever her road takes her that she will find much success and fullfillment.  Myself and the entire team wish her all the best and I hope you will be sure to stop by her blog today and give her your best as well.  I know I am not alone in saying that I will be keeping up to date with her latest projects on her blog and continue to always leave inspired.

 

With Kim's departure comes a new arrival to our team.  The uber talented Jessica Witty will now be a memeber of our Design Team and contributing to our monthly releases.  If you don't already enjoy the projects she has published in Paper Crafts magazine as a Paper Crafts Go-To Gal, then you might remember her as one of our Guest Designers back in December of 2009.  Her clean & hip style has always been so inspiring to me and I just know that you will be waiting with baited breath to see what she will do each month with the new releases.  Her first projects with us will be appearing during the December release, so you don't have too long to wait.  Be sure to give her a warm Papertrey welcome to the team!

 

The morning after...

Another amazing release has passed by in a whirlwind!  The team worked so incredibly hard this month and I know from your comments that you noticed how everyone took it to another level.  As tradition holds, I am sharing with you some of my favorite team projects from the new gallery using the new November products... *sigh* it just makes a gal want to get inky!

Betsy Veldman created an amazing holiday bouquet using the new Larger Than Life stamp set and coordinating die.  I love how she used the various sizes of pearls on the greenery.  The red just pops from the project and helps to balance the red found in the ribbon and sentiment.

Dawn McVey created this adorable Warm Happiness Too project.  I love the little heart floating up fro the cup and the way everything is perfectly balanced on the slightly distressed Notebook Page die-cut.  And the color scheme of Pure Poppy & Berry Sorbet?  Fabulous!

Debbie Olson created and amazing hot cocoa holder using Warm Happiness Too as well.  Note how she stacked the new Fillable Frames #10 on top of a Mat Stack 1 die.  And I also love the way she curved the sentiment to match the curvature of the teacup.  

Erin Lincoln created this for the group post yesterday, but just in case you missed this little gem, I thought it was worth repeating!  I love, LOVE, love the way she layered the Text Style II pattern with the Fillable Frames #10 shape & frame.  Also, the way she used the frame vertically is so clever.  What could be a more perfect backdrop to Signature Series: Dress Form?

Heather Nichols used the new Border Builder set paired with Fillable Frames #10, as well as the golden oldie Teacher's Apple to create this amazing layout.  I love how she used a variety of borders from the Banner Borders die end to end to create an eclectic mix.

Kim Hughes used a gorgeous color scheme of Orange  Zest, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist and True Black to create this beautiful representation of Larger Than Life.  I love the pure simplicity of it.  And I am always a sucker for a row of text at the bottom of a project!

Lisa Johnson hit it out of the park with this Take Three: Winter creation.  I am totally inspired by the way she stacked the three squares at the side and then embellished each with a variety of rhinestones.  And the use of the Mat Stack 1 Collection is just awesome!

Maile Belles took my breath away with this Year of Flowers: Mums project.  The simple masking she did to imbed the Fillable Frames #10 within the folds of the mum images is just fantastic.  The way she positioned the buttons is especially stylish and makes you take note of the simple details.

Melissa Phillips created a really unique Larger Than Life project by die-cutting bookprint and then stamping the flowers on top of that.  The soft effect her color scheme has is just stunning!  

Michelle Wooderson put together this notepad using Warm Happiness Too.  I am totally in love with the Fillable Frames #10 cut from cork.  And the pencil added to the front of the mug?  Totally clever.

Niki Estes always amazes me with her bold designs and this project is definitely no exception!  Her use of the Year of Flower: Mums is truly spectacular.  I adore how she kept the background a stark black & white and then added some amazing yellow color pop to the focal point.  Just a fantastic project!

I hope you have enjoyed my favorites here!  Be sure to stop by the individual team members blogs today to thank them for all their hard work this month!  I know I could never thank them enough for all the inspiration they provide me!  As always, all of the new release items can be found on our "What's New" November page!  Happy stamping!

Official November Release Party Contest

I am absolutely smitten with all of this month's new releases and I can tell by the excitement that some of you have shared with me that you are too!  A big thank you to each and every one of you who have joined us tonight during release festivities!  

To celebrate the upcoming holiday season and our amazing November release line-up we are giving away a fabulous prize package tonight!  Practically the entire November release,which has over a $140 value!!!  All you need to do to have your chance to win is post an answer to the following question in the comments section below.

I apologize for the confusion with the double posting.  Somehow Typepad posted it twice.  In lieu of this confusion we have chosen two winners, one from each of the posts.  Congratulations Mandy & Elizabeth!  Please be sure to contact Customer Service with your shipping information so we can get that out to you!  Thank you to everyone for stopping by tonight and happy shopping!

Tonight's the Night!

The night we have all been waiting for is finally here!  Can't you just feel the anticipation in the air!  Now is your chance to be one of the FIRST to get to play with all of the amazing paper crafting goodness that we are offering up this month!!!  I wanted to let you know a few things about tonight so you can know what to expect!

The release party begins at 10pm EST on our forum.
Be sure to stop by our forum and enjoy the camaraderie and chit chat about all of our new products.  It's fast-moving and a super duper way to pass the time until you can begin filling your cart.

You can't have a party without a contest.
Tonight we will feature a contest, HERE ON THE BLOG.  There is a post that will go live @ 10:30pm EST entitled "OFFICIAL Release Party Contest" with a question for you to answer.  Share your answer with us and you will be eligible to win:

Our "I Want It All" package
this includes almost the entire November Release!

The contest will close at 11:30pm EST and the winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator.  I will announce the lucky winner here before midnight!

Stamp Set Reveal @ 11pm EST

At 11pm EST I will reveal all of the stamp sets in their entirety here, on the blog.  This way you can have a little time to look at everything and make informed decisions about your purchases.

November Quick Picks/Collections!

For those of you who want it all with just one click!  You can see the full list of quick picks as well as all of the other new merchandise that will be available tonight, HERE!

November in a Nutshell!

You can always see a linked review list for each release on my Previous Countdown page, HERE.  But I have also added the list below, so it's easy to navigate while you are making your shopping decisions tonight.

DAY 1: Mat Stack 1 Collection & Year of Flowers: Mums

DAY 2: Warm Happiness Too & Fillable Frames #10

DAY 3: Larger Than Life & Take Three: Winter

DAY 4: Banner Builder Collection

DAY 5: Signature Series: Butterfly, Cupcake, Dress Form & Flower

And one last thing...

I just wanted to let you know that we were not prepared for the unprecedented positive reaction and excitement surrounding the large-scaled banner dies (this includes Basic Banners, Boxy Banners and Banner Borders). We are hoping that we have estimated the appropriate amount of stock, however there is a chance that there could be a quick sell out tonight.  We wanted to let you know that we ordered more of these three products a few days ago when we saw your amazing reaction to their announcement and we should have more arrive sometime next week.

Thank you so much for visiting throughout the week and we look forward to seeing you tonight!

 

Introducing the Signature Series & November Color Couture

I don't know about you, but this release seems to have flown by!  It is hard to believe that we are already to the last day!

Today I get the opportunity to introduce you to an amazing new line of stamps designed by Dawn McVey.  Her stylish loopy handwriting is one of her trademarks that have lead her to success with the previously released Signature Christmas and Signature Greetings.  She has taken that look to a whole new level with a series of four mini $5 stamp sets that will leave you with endless possibilities and unique ways to convey your feelings on a card.

Each of the four mini sets feature a solid, bold image embellished with a key word in her trademark handwriting.  Each set also includes four sentiments that can be used in conjunction with the main image or other images from your collection.  And the best part?  Each set/shape has a coordinating die that will bring you even more possibilities.  Here's a run down of the four Signature Series sets being released this month...

• Signature Series: Butterfly see Dawn's countdown post HERE.
• Signature Series: Cupcake see Dawn's countdown post HERE.
• Signature Series: Dress Form see Dawn's countdown post HERE.
• Signature Series: Flower see Dawn's countdown post HERE.

And here's a peek at all the coordinating dies being made available as a separate purchase for only $5 each!  They are versatile in themselves!

The details.

• All four Signature Series mini sets (Butterfly, Cupcake, Dress Form and Flower) will be available for purchase on November 15th.
• The sets will retail for $5 each.
• All four Signature Series mini sets (Butterfly, Cupcake, Dress Form and Flower) contain 5 stamps each.  Each set includes 1 main image and 4 sentiments.
• There will be a coordinating die available for each set, available for purchase separately for $5 each.  The measurements of these dies are as follows: 2-1/4" x 1-1/2" (Butterfly), 1-1/2" x 2" (Cupcake), 1" x 3-1/4" (Dress Form), 2" x 2" (Flower)

Dawn also has a new pre-printed Color Couture embellishment set available for purchase this month.  (If you are unfamilar with the Color Couture product line, you can read all about it HERE).  As always, the color combinations are amazing as well as the overall design and style of the pieces.  This is definitely something you will want to add to your ongoing collection!

The details.

• Color Couture, Volumes 10-12, will be available for purchase on November 15th.
  
• It will retail for $12.
  
• Color Couture, Volumes 10-12, contains 3 Color Swatch Dividers, 9 inspiration pages of projects (contributed by Dawn, Betsy Veldman & Melissa Phillips), and 15 pages of full-color embellishments.
  
• An exclusive binder designed to hold all of your pages together with style and easy reference is available for purchase separately HERE.
• This is an ongoing series.  A new printed collection will be introduced once each quarter, with the other two months of the quarter bringing you inexpensive downloadable materials to add to your binder for even more inspiration!

The colors in these collections are as follows: 

Vol. 10 (Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate)

Vol. 11 (Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, White)

Vol. 12 (Fine Linen, Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, Dark Chocolate)

Now that I have made all of the formal introductions, let's get onto some projects!

The team and I each selected our favorite Signature Series set to work with and showcase a few projects for you.  I selected Signature Series: Flower because I love the unique shape of the coordinating die.

Speaking of the die, I used it here to cut out a "window" in my Dark Chocolate mat.

I decided to incorporate some of the new Color Couture Embellies into my project as well and their color scheme is what providing the jumping point of my project.  Each color group comes with it's own set of borders.  One fun thing I like to do s cut the borders from the sheet using decorative edge scissors like I did here.  The different edges you create can add a whole new element of style to the borders.

Next, I placed the Dark Chocolate mat over my white card front and stamped the flower image with Orange Zest ink.  Don't you just love the way Dawn positioned the "joy" inside the image?

Here's a little tidbit I stumbled upon that I thought might be of interest to you... there are flower images printed within the embellies pages of the new Color Couture that coordinate with the shape of the stamp in Signature Series: Flower.  I selected a couple small ones to cut out and use on my project.

I customized the center of the flowers with a 2-way glue pen and a bit of Prisma glitter.

The sentiment I used was from Signature Series: Butterfly.  I heat embossed it with White Filigree Embossing powder.  There are some truly unique sentiments in ALL of the Signature Series sets, which I love because sometimes you want to spice things up and stop using "Thinking of You".

I love the dimension and detail that is added by adhering the Dark Chocolate mat with dimensionals over the stamped flower.  It is such a cool effect, one that I will never tire of!

It's a fairly simple project, but I think it still packs a punch of style and leave the recipient with a smile.

For my next card, I wanted to show you how you could use the die without the stamp set.

I used the Signature Series: Flower die to cut a felt flower.  Recognize that color?  It's Scarlet Jewel and it is this month's brand new felt color.  It is so rich and luxurious, you'll want to put it on everything!

I used y sewing machine to do a bit of stitching and I used a needle and thread to stitch the center button in place.

the leaf image is from Turning a New Leaf and it is stamped in Hibiscus Burst ink onto a Sweet Blush mat.  I went back in with the small single leaf from the set and added accents with the Scarlet Jewel ink.  Tiny silver seed beads were adhered at the base of each leaf for added detail.  Don't you just love that look?!?!

The sentiment is from Signature Series: Dress Form and it might possibly one of my favorites between all of the options in the sets.  I stamped it in Scarlet Jewel ink.

I added a Scarlet Jewel Grosgrain tab to the side and added two more buttons to help anchor it.  I think this is practically the ultimate feminine birthday card!

As I said earlier, I challenged the entire team to pick their favorite Signature Series set and create their own works of art!  Peruse each of their projects at your leisure and be prepared to leave inspired!

CLICK HERE to read more from Betsy Veldman and see what she created with Signature Series: Flower.

CLICK HERE to read more from Dawn McVey and see what she created with Signature Series: Cupcake.

CLICK HERE to read more from Debbie Olson and see what she created with Signature Series: Flower.

CLICK HERE to read more from Erin Lincoln and see what she created with Signature Series: Dress Form.

CLICK HERE to read more from Heather Nichols and see what she created with Signature Series: Butterfly.

CLICK HERE to read more from Kim Hughes and see what she created with Signature Series: Flower.

CLICK HERE to read more from Lisa Johnson and see what she created with Signature Series: Butterfly.

CLICK HERE to read more from Maile Belles and see what she created with Signature Series: Dress Form.

CLICK HERE to read more from Melissa Phillips and see what she created with Signature Series: Dress Form.

CLICK HERE to read more from Michelle Wooderson and see what she created with Signature Series: Butterfly.

CLICK HERE to read more from Niki Estes and see what she created with Signature Series: Cupcake.

I hope you enjoyed all of today's projects and inspiration!  The team has done an amazing job at showcasing the Signature Series mini sets and I just know you'll love playing with all the options once they arrive on your doorstep!  What are your initial thoughts of everything?  We would love to hear from you!  Just for taking the time to share your thoughts, you could win an amazing prize package!

• Signature Series: Butterfly stamp set
• Signature Series: Butterfly die
• Signature Series: Cupcake stamp set
• Signature Series: Cupcake die
• Signature Series: Dress Form stamp set
• Signature Series: Dress Form die
• Signature Series: Flower stamp set
• Signature Series: Flower die
• Color Couture Binder
• Color Couture: volumes 1-3
• Color Couture: volumes 4-6
• Color Couture: volumes 7-9
• Color Couture: volumes 10-12

Now, how's that for an amazing prize package! You have until 11:30pm EST tonight, Sunday, November 14th to leave your comment and be eligible to win.  Only one comment per person please.  One randomly selected winner will be announced on our November Release Winners page no later than midnight EST.  Thanks for stopping by today and good luck!

Alli Miles is featuring another look at her Take Three: Winter set.

Lisa Johnson has more inspiration using Larger Than Life.

LOVELY DAY CARD

• STAMPS: Signature Series: Flower, Signature Series: Butterfly (available November 15th)
• INK: Orange Zest, Versamark
• PAPER: Dark Chocolate,Stamper's Select White
• OTHER: Signature Series: Flower die, Color Couture Vol. 10-12 (flower accents & border), Filigree White Embossing Powder, pinking shears (Fiskars), 2-way glue pen, Prisma Glitter, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), sewing machine
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

HEART FILLED BIRTHDAY CARD

• STAMPS: Signature Series: Dress Form (available November 15th), Turning a New Leaf, Background Basics: Tin Types
• INK: Hibiscus Burst, Scarlet Jewel, Fresh Snow
• PAPER: Sweet Blush, Kraft
• OTHER: Signature Series: Flower die, Beautiful Blooms # Scarlet Jewel felt, Vintage Cream felt, Scarlet Jewel Grosgrain, Hibiscus Burst buttons, silver seed beads, needle & thread
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

Introducing the Banner Builder Collection

Tonight is truly the biggest and most exciting night of the release!  Myself along with the rest of the team have been beside ourselves waiting to showcase all of today's products and projects!  I am so glad the day has finally arrived!

Today I get to introduce you to our new Banner Builder Collection.  There are several aspects to the collection which I will go into greater detail below.  Essentially, the collection gives you the opportunity to create an amazing array of banners, both miniature for card fronts and scrapbook layouts as well as full size for home decor.  We won't even begin to be able to touch upon all the possibilities in today's post, but I hope you will at least glean a greater understanding of the collection and how incredible it is!

First up is the stamp set that started it all.  It is a collection of different card-scaled banner building options.  Here is a run-down of the different pieces it includes...

• 3 different shapes of pennant flags, each in 6 patterns.  That's 18 pennant flags total!
• 2 banner "strings" to attach the pennant flags to.   One measures 4-7/8" long for horizontal A2 cards and the other measures 3-7/8" for horizontal A2 cards.
• 1 small "x" stitch to connect the flags to the strings if desired
• 4 circular medallions that coordinate with a 1/2" circle punch.  Looks wonderful layered on the pennant flags.
• numbers 0-9 to coordinate with the centers of the medallions.
• 2 ribbon accents to use at the top/side of all the flags, or turn the medallions into award-style ribbons.
• 4 narrow flags.
• 1 flag stick.
• 2 borders to coordinate with the new Double Ended Banner die shapes.
• 2 solid stars to embellish with.

Just to help you out with the math, that's a total of 46 images!  Here are the rest of the details on the set!

The details.

• Banner Builder stamp set will be available for sale on November 15th.
• It will retail for $24.

A coordinating Banner Builder Die Collection will also be available for purchase separately.  The set includes a total of 7 dies.  It includes dies for all three pennant flag shapes as well as perfectly scaled mat layers for them.  It also includes a banner border die that can be used to layer along the top of the pennant flags.  The wonderful thing about this collection is that I designed it so that it was easy to use it with the stamp set or without, giving you SO many options!

The details.

• The Banner Builder Die Collection will be available for purchase on November 15th.
• It will retail for $22. Normally, these dies would retail for $5-$6 each, making the collection nearly a $40 value, but we are permanently offering a collection discount of nearly 50% off!
• It contains a total of 7 dies.  There sizes are as follows: 2" x 1" (A), 2-3/8" x 1-1/4" (B), 3" x 1" (C&E), 3-1/2" x 1-1/4" (D&F), 1" x 1-1/2" (G).
• Each of the pennant flag dies cuts three flags at once, making it quick & easy to get all of the elements of your project prepared!

A second coordinating die, Double Ended Banners, is one of my new favorites.  There haven't been many projects that I have done so far for this release that don't use one of them.  They coordinate perfectly with two borders included in the stamp set, but they look fabulous alone as well!  And you should see them cut from felt!  *swoon*

The details.

• The Double Ended Banner die will be available for sale on November 15th.
• The single die (containing both banners) will retail for $7.
• The Double Ended Banner die features two sizes of banners: 4-1/2" x 1/2" (large), 3-1/2" x 1/2" (small)

Now that I have filled you in on all the card-scaled products, let's get to one of the most exciting aspects, the full-size banner elements,allowing you to make home & party decor in no time flat!

It all starts with the actual banners.  We are offering two different shapes of full-size banners.  

These are the basic, classic pennant flag shape.  It is great for birthdays, child name banners, sports themes and just about anything else you can imagine!

The details.

• The Basic Banners Dies will be available for sale on November 15th.
• The set of two extra-large dies will retail for $18.
• The Basic Banners Dies measure as follows: 3-1/2" x 3-1/4" (A), 4-1/4" x 3-3/4" (B)

This is a more untraditional shape that reminds me of a more vintage style.  It has more "working space" to embellish, which can be a huge advantage.

The details.

• The Boxy Banners Dies will be available for sale on November 15th.
• The set of two extra-large dies will retail for $23.
• The Basic Banners Dies measure as follows: 4-1/2" x 3-1/2" (A), 5-1/4" x 3-3/4" (B)

I designed all of these full-size banner dies to fit within the parameters of a 1/4 sheet of cardstock (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") so that you can get four flags per sheet.  With each set you get the actual pennant flag die as well as a coordinating mat die, making it easy to create perfectly cut layers and attain a substantial, durable base for your embellishments.

Speaking of embellishments, I can't forget to introduce you to the Banner Borders die!  All five of these border patterns coordinate perfectly with the length of the top edge of the full-size banner dies above.  This die paired with the full-size banner dies gives you all the tools you need to make sophisticated, polished banners in no time flat.

The details.

• The Banner Borders Die will be available for sale on November 15th.
• This single die featuring 5 borders will retail for $15
• The single die contains all 5 borders, with each border measuring approximately 3-3/4" wide and 3/4"-1" tall.
• The 3-3/4" width is PERFECT for layering onto vertical A2 card mats, focal point accents, etc..., giving you even more versatility.

I know the cost of the dies may seem a bit overwhelming to some, since most of our dies retail anywhere from $5 to $15.  But this is the way I look at it... I easily spend over $25 on individual home decor items at a retail store, especially at Target (my weakness!) for their holiday items.  With these dies, you can endlessly create your own decor over and over again for parties, holidays and gifts.  With just a small handful of uses, you will more than recoup their value!

One last note in regards to the full-size banners in general... I thought for a long time if these particular products would find a niche in the industry.  And I kept coming back to the same fact time and time again...

Paper crafters are almost always making things for others.  Cards, gifts, etc...a lot of which (unfortunately) isn't as appreciated nearly as much as it should be.  Why not make a change and begin making art, like these banners, that can endure time as something YOU can enjoy in your own home.  You can celebrate your abilities everyday as you walk by your work of heart!

Now, enough of my rambling!  Let's get onto the projects!

One of the beauties of the new Banner Builder stamp set is that you can go simple or more elaborate, depending on your time and taste.  

My first project shows hoy you can create something that looks detailed and intricate with only a few easy steps!

I used the Banner Builder die collection to cut felt mats and Vintage Cream cardstock pennant flags.  I love how the dies afford me the ability to cut three flags out at once...it makes it so much easier!

I adhered the felt flags at a slight curve onto my card front.

I then adhered the stamped die cut Vintage Cream flags.  Notice the variety of patterns.  As I mentioned before, there are six patterns for each pennant shape and I used several of them here, stamped in Spring Moss.

Now for THE most adorable part of the project, itty bitty borders for my flags.  And look how cute they are cut from felt!  Oh my goodness, they are just the cutest EVER!

I adhered the borders at the top of each flag using 1/8" Scor-tape.

I did one big line of stitching to make it look as all the banners were linked.  I then added these circular medallions, complete with coordinating numbers which are all found in the Banner Builder stamp set.  Aren't they fantastic?  I just love 'em!  I also added little black ribbon accents between the banners as well as black rhinestones.

The sentiment was added from Big & Bold Wishes.  I also added some flourishes from Fancy Flourishes using VersaMark ink.

A super fun card to create that's big on style!

I have one more quick project to show you how you can use the rounded pennant flag image from Banner Builder to embellish your Large Scalloped Border die!

I die cut the border from white cardstock and then stamped the various patterned pennant flags in a variety of colors.  The curvature of the rounded pennant paired with the scallop is just a perfect match!

Isn't it such a fun border?  I can image it in lot's of color combinations, can't you?

For the focal point, I die cut Aqua Mist cardstock with Mat Stack 1 then heat embossed this flourish.  It is from the Mat Stack 1 Collection and I designed it to fit perfectly inside the curve radius at the top of the Mat Stack 1 shape.

I used the Double Ended Banner die that I referenced earlier to contain my sentiment from Say It With Style using Summer Sunrise ink.

I added this little stamped ribbon detail along with a clear rhinestone on each side.

I love the bright colors and how celebratory the overall design is!

I also have a beautiful Autumn themed full-size banner that I have created today for your inspriation.

I die-cut all of my pieces with the Boxy BAnners dies.  Remember, as I mentioned earlier I designed all of these full-size banner dies to fit within the parameters of a 1/4 sheet of cardstock (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") so that you can get four flags per sheet. 

I impressed all of the Vintage Cream pieces with the Linen & Canvas Impression Plate then stamped the appropriate patterns.

I wanted a more rustic, vintage look from my stamps, so I impressed the paper first before stamping.  Here is the difference between a flag stamped with Polka Dot Basics II with no impression plate and one with.  It is an easy way to get more versatility from your solid image stamps.

I stitched each of the cream layers to the coordinating Dark Chocolate mats.  It is surprising how fast this whole process goes and how great the results are when you have the dies in hand.

Next, I prepared the borders I selected for the top with the Banner Borders die.  I cut them from strips of Summer Sunrise cardstock.

All that's left to do is embellish!

I created my Lazy Stamper Medallions using the pretty plaid paper from the Autumn Abundance pad.  

They are affized with a 1-3/4" Vintage Cream circle stamped with a Giga Guide Lines medallion in Haystack Palette along with a sentiment in Dark Chocolate.

The center flag showcases the Mat Stack 1 die as well as a frame image from Mat Stack 1 Collection.  A few snippets of ribbon are added to the top as an added detail.  I used Fine Linen Grosgrain and added stripes using a Copic Marker.

I stitched all of the flags onto a long piece of 1/4" silk ribbon and tied Terracotta Tile buttons in between.

(click the above photo for a larger view)

The resulting banner is something that I will definitely keep for years to come as part of our fall decor.

Now that I have showed you just the tip of the iceberg, you now have the opportunity to peruse all of the Design Team blogs to see what they have created with this amazing array of products!

CLICK HERE to read more from Betsy Veldman.

CLICK HERE to read more from Dawn McVey.

CLICK HERE to read more from Debbie Olson.

CLICK HERE to read more from Erin Lincoln.

CLICK HERE to read more from Heather Nichols.

CLICK HERE to read more from Kim Hughes.

CLICK HERE to read more from Lisa Johnson.

CLICK HERE to read more from Maile Belles.

CLICK HERE to read more from Melissa Phillips.

CLICK HERE to read more from Michelle Wooderson.

CLICK HERE to read more from Niki Estes.

Aren't you just in awe of what everyone has created today?  It is always so amazing and inspiring to see what such a talented group of artists does with a single set of products.  They manage to interject their personal style into everything they do!  What do you think of all of today's introductions?  Is there a particular project that piqued your interest?  What types of projects do you think you would create with these new products?  We would love to hear from you!  You could have a chance at winning the whole Banner Builder Collection, just for taking the time to share your thoughts with us!

• Banner Builder stamp set
• Banner Builder die collection
• Double Ended Banner die
• Basic Banners dies
• Boxy Banners dies
• Banner Borders die

You have until 7am EST, Sunday, November 14th to leave a comment and be eligible to win.  Only one comment per person please.  One randomly selected winner will be announced on our November Release Winners page no later than noon EST.  Thanks for stopping by today and good luck!

Alli Miles has some additional peeks at Take Three: Winter.

Lisa Johnson is showcasing even more from Larger Than Life.

Dawn McVey is featuring more projects using her Signature Series & Color Couture.

WISH BIG CARD

• STAMPS: Banner Builder (available November 15th), Fancy Flourishes, Big & Bold Wishes
• INK: Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides, True Black, VersaMark
• PAPER: Vintage Cream, Spring Moss
• OTHER: Ocean Tides felt, Banner Builder die collection, 1/2" circle punch, black rhinestones (KaiserCraft), sewing machine, corner chomper (We R Memory Keepers), foam dimensionals
• FINISHED SIZE: 7-3/4" x 4"

CELEBRATE CARD

• STAMPS: Banner Builder, Mat Stack 1 Collection (available November 15th), Polka Dot Basics II, Say It With Style
• INK: VersaMark, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Simply Chartreuse
• PAPER: Simply Chartreuse, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Stamper's Select White
• OTHER: Large Scalloped border die, Mat Stack 1 die, Double Ended Banners die, Filigree White embossing powder, clear rhinestones (KaiserCraft), corner chomper (We R Memory Keepers)
• FINISHED SIZE: 6-1/2" x 4-1/4"

AUTUMN BANNER

• STAMPS: 2009 Autumn Tags, Embellishments, Polka Dot Basics II, Turning a New Leaf, Friendship Jar Fall Fillers, Giga Guide Lines
• INK: Terracotta Tile, Dark Chocolate, Tea Dye Duo, Haystack Palette
• PAPER: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise, Autumn Abundance paper pad (plaid)
• OTHER: Limitless Layers Circle dies, Boxy Banners dies, Banner Borders die, Fine Linen grosgrain, YR12 Copic marker, 1/4" silk ribbon, Terracotta Tile buttons, Rustic Jute Button Twine
• FINISHED SIZE: each pennant flag measures 3-3/4" wide and 5-1/4" long.