Introducing Sweet As Can Be & Hanging Out

There are two things I love about summer... ice cream cones & clothes hanging out on the line, drying in the sunshine.  

Melissa Bickford has designed two new sets that celebrate both of these happy summer thoughts.

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First, an adorable little set that pays homage to everyone's favorite cool summer treat...ice cream!  There is nothing better than those first few licks, the creamy texture, the coolness touching your tongue...

This simple collection of images includes interchangeable, stackable scoops in fun patterns along with a fun cone.  There are simple outline images as well so Copic coloring or paper piecing can come into play.  The coordinating dies make it a breeze to arrange and layer all of your super sweet to components!

The details.

• Sweet As Can Be will be available for sale of July 15th.
• It will retail for $15.
• Sweet As Can Be contains a total of 12 stamps (1 outline scoop, 1 solid scoop, 3 patterned scoops, 1 solid cone, 1 outline cone, 1 cherry and 4 sentiments)
• A coordinating die will be available for sale separately for $3.  It will cut out shapes to coordinate with both the cone and scoops.  The cone measures 1-3/8" tall and 3/4" wide.  The scoop measures 1-1/8" wide and 7/8" tall.

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Visualize with me for just a moment...it's a warm summer day, you've just taken a load of laundry from the washer, placed in your old wicker basket and balance it carefully on your hip.  You walk barefoot out into the grass, feeling the sun's warmth on your back.  

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You then begin hanging all of the damp laundry on the line...spacing them just so.  The sunlight filters through all of the fabric, giving them an ethereal glow.  Seeing all of the colors lined up in a row has always served as an inspiration for me.  

Melissa has designed a set that captures these feelings in an amazing little stamp set entitled Hanging Out.  This set includes a clothesline and a variety of clothing & accessories to hang upon it.  With lots of options for babies, toddlers, and even grown-up applications, you will be pulling this set out again and again after you begin thinking about all the possibilities!

The details.

• Hanging Out will be available for sale on July 15th.
• It will retail for $24.
• Hanging Out contains a total of 30 images (1 outlined sundress, 1 outlined pair of overalls, 3 pockets to add on, 1 floral girl onesie, 1 outlined girl onesie, 1 star boy onesie, 1 outlined boy onesie, 1 star t-shirt, 1 floral t-shirt, 1 outline t-shirt, 2 star socks, 2 floral socks, 1 solid bib, 1 outlined bib, 4 floral accents, 1 clothespin, 1 clothesline, 1 grass strip, 4 sentiments)
• A coordinating die will be available for sale separately that will cut out all of the various clothing shapes & pockets. It will retail for $6.  The overall dimensions of the die are 3" x 2-3/4".  The girl onesie measures 1" x 3/4".  The boy onesie measures 1-1/16" x 7/8".  The jumper measures 7/8" x 1".  The overalls measure 3/4" x 1-1/8".  The socks each measure 1/2" x 5/8".  The bib measures 1" x 1/2".  The pocket measures 3/8" x 3/8".

Melissa has also designed a fun patterned paper collection for this month entitled Funky Town.  The bright and bold color scheme is perfect for summertime projects and the basic patterns have millions of mix & match possibilities!  The collection coordinates with Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist.

The details.

• The Funky Town patterned paper pad will be available for purchase on July 15th.
• It will retail for $8.
• The Funky Town Collection includes 36 (8x8) sheets...six sheets each of six patterns.  The collection coordinates with Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist.

Now, let's get onto some fun projects using these two new sets!

As soon as I got my hands on the Sweet As Can Be die, I could hardly wait to cut some felt with it!

I die-cut the scoops from Royal Velvet, Hawaiian Shores and Blueberry Sky felt and layered them on top of one another, adhering them with Scor-tape.  I added a few rhinestones to the top for some added sparkle.  The cone was die-cut from kraft cardstock and the image was stamped with Dark Chocolate.

For the background, I punched 5/8" circles from Royal Velvet cardstock and adhered them to Hawaiian Shores cardstock in the formation of polka-dots.

The sentiment (from Cupcake Collection) was added to a vellum strip which was scored & folded to add dimension.

The texture of the felt is just the thing for these ice cream scoops and you will love the look and feel once you try this technique yourself!

Now for a simple single scoop design.  The cone was die-cut from Library Ledger paper and the scoop from Lavender Moon cardstock.

A fun way to add sprinkles to the scoops is to utilize the sprinkles images from Cupcake Collection.  They are the perfect scale and add a lot of detail to both the dies and images in Sweet As Can Be.  I added the star sprinkles here with Plum Pudding ink and threw in a few rhinestones.  I also trimmed out a small flag from vintage book print and adhered it to a glasshead stick pin.

The decorative plaid strip was stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with Clear Filigree Embossing powder (image from a new set that will be showcased later in the week).  I then rubbed Fresh Snow ink over the top of it to set it off.  The sentiment (from the new decorative strip set as well) was stamped in Smokey Shadow.

Now for a triple scoop, stamped directly onto the paper.

The cone was stamped with Haystack Palette ink, while the scoops were added with Hibiscus Burst ink.  The cherry was added with Pure Poppy ink.

To accent the empty area beside the cone, I added a ticket I created with the Just a Ticket products, stamping the accents in Pure Poppy.  I also added stripes down the center of this Hibiscus Burst stitched ribbon to help tie in the color scheme.

I trimmed small strips of Bitty Stars paper (in Pure Poppy) with scalloped scissors and adhered them to the top and bottom of my focal point.  Big & Bold Wishes was stamped in Pure Poppy vertically to help add visual balance.

Now for a fun little dimensional tag that would be the perfect finishing touch for birthday gifts!

I stacked several layers of vintage book print (from an old book) and die-cut them with the Sweet As Can Be die all at once.  I then stitched down the center of the stack with my sewing machine.

After the stitching was completed, I just fanned all of the layers to create a 3D scoop.  Such a fun look!

The cone was die-cut from Fine Linen cardstock and stamped with Background Basics: Retro stripes in Dark Chocolate.  The Tag Sale #2 die was cut from Vintage Cream cardstock and stamped with Background Basics: Newsprint using Haystack Palette ink.  Melon Berry stitched ribbon and button were added to the top of the tag to finish it off.

One last fun little trick you can try with the ice cream scoops is to flip them over upside-down and mix and match them with the stems from Flower Fusion to create your own rounded, whimsical tulips.

I stamped the scoops in Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist & Summer Sunrise.  The stems were added with Simply Chartreuse ink.

The sentiment (from Signature Greetings) was added with True Black ink.  I then drew a border with a black pen and ruler.

Moving on to the new Hanging Out stamp set and die.

The clothing for this project was die-cut from Lemon Tart, Sweet Blush, Spring Rain , & Ripe Avocado cardstock.  I then added patterns using a variety of background sets.  The clothing was adhered to look like it is "hanging" on the Baker's Twine clothesline.

To go along with the sentiment, I createed a sun using the Limitless Layers 1.75" Circle dies.

All of this was mounted onto a focal point created with vintage book print.

Next, I thought I would show you how the images in Hanging Out can work wonderfully for a wedding card, congratulating the happy couple.

I curved the sentiment from Big & Bold Wishes so that it could take on the appearance of the clothesline.  The overalls were die-cut from Kraft and the dress & socks from Vintage Cream.  The heart from Sweet Blush cardstock.  All of the coordinating images were added in Smokey Shadow.

As a little detail, I added the couples first name monograms to the front of their respective outfits represented here using Simple Alphabet.

I trimmed the top off of the Mat Stack 5 shape to accommodate my design plans and adhered the entire focal point to a piece of leaf paper from the Pacific Vineyard paper pad.

This is a very subtle, simple baby card that could definitely be mass-reproduced easily.

I stamped the "scalloped line"  from Faux Ribbon and then filled in the blanks a variety of clothing from Hanging Out.  You could recreate this with nearly any color scheme depending on the gender of the baby and the style preferred by the new parents.

This is a little something I whipped up using the new Funky Town paper pad!  The colors are so vibrant, so bold that you hardly need to add anything to them to give your project a complete, balanced look.

I dug out the previously released set Baby Button Bits and stamped this sentiment.  I then added the smallest onesie from Hanging Out to replace the "o".  All of these were stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with White Filigree Embossing Powder.

The cardstock strip and accent image are both from a little something that will be debuted a little later this week., but they were just the perfect thing to add a sentiment to my project.

My last little project today showcases how you can use Hanging Out for an adorable Christmas card.

The clothesline was stamped in Fresh Snow onto Simply Chartreuse cardstock.  All of the clothing was die-cut from white cardstock, stamped with Black Noir Palette and colored with festive Copics.  The stocking image is from Tiny Treats: Christmas...they were cut out by hand.

The sentiment is from Signature Christmas...it was added on top of a VersaMark accent created with the circular cancellation accent from Holly Jolly and the cancellation stripes from Postmarks.

Please note that the t-shirt image is not striped int he stamp set, I drew them in with a pen & ruler and then colored them appropriately.

I hope you enjoyed all of the projects I shared with you today.  These two sets offer such amazing creative opportunities, I just know that they would be delightful additions to your collection!  What are your thoughts about both of today's sets?  Do you have any project ideas in mind already?  We would love to hear what you think!  You could have a chance at winning this amazing prize package just for sharing your comments with us!

• Sweet As Can Be stamp set
• Sweet As Can Be die
• Cupcake Collection stamp set
• Cupcake Collection die collection
• Hanging Out stamp set
• Hanging Out die
• Alpha Blocks stamp set
• Alpha Blocks die
• Funky Town paper pad

You have until 7am, Monday, July 11th to leave a comment and be eligible to win.  Only one comment per person please.  One randomly selected winner will be announced on our July 2011 Release Winners page no later than noon the same day.  Thanks for stopping by today and best of luck with the contest!

Betsy Veldman has more to share with you using Sweet As Can Be & Hanging Out.

Melissa Bickford is showcasing her new sets as well.

Lisa Johnson has a few projects using her new set, Peaceful Garden.

Maile Belles is sharing inspiration using Background Basics: Vines.

Heather Nichols is showcasing her new set, Tag-its #6.

WISH BIG TRIPLE SCOOP CARD

• STAMPS: Sweet As Can Be (available July 15th) Just the Ticket, Big & Bold Wishes
• INK: Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst, Haystack Palette
• PAPER: Vintage Cream, Raspberry Fizz, Kraft, Bitty Star paper pad (Pure Poppy)
• OTHER: Just the Ticket die, Hibiscus Burst Stitched Ribbon, Pure Poppy button, scalloped scissors (Fiskars), R29 Copic Marker
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

JOY & HAPPINESS CARD

• STAMPS: Half & Half (available July 15th) Cupcake Collection
• INK: Fresh Snow, Smokey Shadow, Plum Pudding, VersaMark
• PAPER: Lavender Moon, Aqua Mist, Library Ledger paper pad, Vintage book print from old book
• OTHER: Sweet As Can Be die, rhinestones (KaiserCraft), glasshead pin (Dritz), Clear Filigree embossing Powder
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

DIMENSIONAL ICE CREAM TAG

• STAMPS: Half & Half (available July 15th) Background Basics: Newsprint, Background Basics: Retro
• INK: Dark Chocolate, True Black, Haystack Palette, Tea Dye Duo
• PAPER: Fine Linen, Vintage Cream, In Bloom paper pad (Melon Berry), Vintage book print from old book
• OTHER: Tag Sale #2 die, Sweet As Can Be die, Melon Berry Stitched Ribbon, Melon Berry button, sewing machine
• FINISHED SIZE: 3-3/4" x 2-1/4"

MAKE LIFE SWEETER CARD

• STAMPS: Sweet As Can Be (available July 15th) Cupcake Collection
• INK: Dark Chocolate, Black Noir
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Hawaiian Shores, Royal Velvet, vellum cardstock
• OTHER: Sweet As Can Be die, 5/8" circle punch (EK Success), rhinestones (KaiserCraft), Royal Velvet, Hawaiian Shores, Blueberry Sky felt
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

BEST ONE YET FLOWER CARD

• STAMPS: Sweet As Can Be, Flower Fusion #6 (available July 15th) Signature Greetings
• INK: Simply Chartreuse, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, True Black
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Simply Chartreuse
• OTHER: Sweet As Can Be die, black pen (American Crafts)
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

SUNSHINE CARD

• STAMPS: Hanging Out, Half & Half (available July 15th) Polka Dot Basics, Background Basics: Petal Power
• INK: True Black, Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, Enchanted Evening, Ripe Avocado
• PAPER: Kraft, Lemon Tart, Sweet Blush, Spring Rain, Spring Moss, In Bloom paper pad (Summer Sunrise), Vintage book print from old book
• OTHER: Hanging Out die, Limitless Layers 1.75" Circle dies, Pure Poppy Bakers Twine
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

BABY CLOTHESLINE CARD

• STAMPS: Hanging Out (available July 15th) Faux Ribbon, Inside & Out: Baby
• INK: Spring Moss, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Simple Chartreuse, Smokey Shadow, True Black
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Pretty Pastels paper pad
• OTHER: pinking shears, sewing machine
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-3/4" x 3-3/4"

MR & MRS CARD

• STAMPS: Hanging Out (available July 15th) Big & Bold Wishes, Simple Alphabet
• INK: Smokey Shadow, Vintage Cream
• PAPER: Kraft, Sweet Blush, Postmarks paper pad, Pacific Vineyard paper pad
• OTHER: Hanging Out die, Mat Stack 5 die, Love Lives Here die (heart, Sweet Blush buttons, adhesive pearls (Paper Studio), sewing machine
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

WELCOME LITTLE ONE CARD

• STAMPS: Hanging Out, Half & Half (available July 15th) Baby Button Bits
• INK: VersaMark
• PAPER: Raspberry Fizz, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Funky Town paper pad
• OTHER: Half & Half die, rhinestone (KaiserCraft), Filigree White Embossing Powder
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

MERRY CHRISTMAS CARD

• STAMPS: Hanging Out (available July 15th) Tiny Treats: Christmas, Holly Jolly, Postmarks
• INK: VersaMark, Fresh Snow, True Black
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Simply Chartreuse
• OTHER: Hanging Out die, R29 & YG95 Copics, rhinestone (KaiserCraft)
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"