{capture the moment}

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The big day is finally here!  Tonight at midnight EST the new holiday stamp sets from Papertrey Ink will be revealed in their entirety and available for purchase.  Don't forget that we are also hosting a Pre-Release Party beginning at 10pm EST.  If you haven't already, you will want to go HERE and register so that you will be able to participate tonight! 

For this final day of the countdown, I decided to do one project for each of the four sets as a final teaser.

This project uses the treats set that you saw used on the Hot Chocolate Tin earlier this week.  You will see that the set includes a few new versions of the Avery Label stamps you have all come to love.  In case you missed it in the past, the stamps fit perfectly on a standard Avery address label, which then in turn wraps around a Hershey's Nugget with ease! 

What's unique about this version is that it too features an open frame that a variety of icons can be inserted into!  You'll be able to customize them to your hearts content!  (FYI, this uses our Clear Top Hinged Tin and holds a perfect dozen nuggets)

SUPPLIES:

INK- Taken with Teal & Old Olive Dye ink from SU!

PAPER- Stamper's Select White from Papertrey, Old Olive from SU!

STAMPS- Papertrey

OTHER- Avery address labels, ribbon from The Ribbon Jar, jump ring MAking Memories

This project uses a non-traditional color scheme.  It is a little bit difficult to tell in this photo, but the pink cardstock has shimmer to it and I used pink Twinkling H2O's on the berries for the tree.  One tip to point out on the tree.  I stamped it in Old Olive dye ink and then just went back in with a moist paintbrush.  Because the ink is not waterproof, it creates it's own watercolor effect without having to add any additional ink.  Super easy when mass producing cards!  So guess which set this tree is included in?  You guessed it, the Santa set!  All of the little accessories that go with Santa are also scaled to coordinate with the tree!

SUPPLIES:

INK- Old Olive dye ink from SU!, Pixie Dust Versamagic

PAPER- Mountain Rose Metallic Cardstock and Spring Willow Light Prismatics Cardstock from Prism

STAMPS- Papertrey

OTHER- Satin polka dot ribbon from American Crafts, Apple Blossom Pure Color Twinkling H20's, Pearl Pin from Boxer

Here is another tin project.  It utilizes the 8oz. Square Clear Top Tin.  This is a little gift box full of 2x2 holiday mini gift cards. 

I cut the scalloped layer and white squares using the Square Nestabilities Dies.  The Giga Scalloped Square punch will work as well.  All of the stamps are from our yet-to-be-released ornament set, except the dotted border.  It is part of or Borders & Corners Square set.

SUPPLIES:

INK- Always Artichoke & Cranberry Crisp dye inks from SU!, Black Noit Palette ink

PAPER-Always Artichoke & Cranberry Crisp from SU!. Stamper's Select White from Papertrey

STAMPS- Papertrey

OTHER- Page Pebbles from Making Memories, Ribbon from Hobby Lobby

And last but not least, here is a card that uses an image from our interior sentiment set.  I just decided to put it on the cover as my focal point for this particular project.  The patterned paper is Northern Exposure from Reminisce and it was the perfect compliment to my project!

SUPPLIES:

INK- Sea Breeze Versamagic

PAPER- Northern Exposure from Reminisce, Perfect Baby Blue Prismatics Cardstock from Prism

STAMPS- Papertrey

OTHER-Ribbon from May Arts, Brads from American Crafts

Well, I hope you have enjoyed the countdown this week.  I know I have!  I look forward to seeing many of you tonight!

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Can you feel the excitement building?  Every time I pop over here to add a new post, I can just FEEL how anxious you all are through the manner in which you write your comments.  What a blessing to be able to bring a little sunshine to someone's day just by sharing what I love here on the blog!

So only two more days to go until the BIG reveal at Papertrey.  Out of the four sets that we will be debuting Friday night, I have yet to share any images of the fourth and final set.  I have to say that this set is really a labor of love!  It is my very first linear image set that I have drawn by hand.  We had been receiving several emails from people requesting that we do a Santa, but every time I even tried to THINK about approaching that subject, I just became overwhelmed at the task.  Then one day the idea for this Santa just popped into my head.  I have no idea where it came from, but I was so happy to receive the "random act of inspiration"!

So I drew him up that very night.  It took some time for him to evolve into something just right, but in the end I am SO happy with the results.  If you'll notice, he doesn't have any hands!  I promise, that it isn't an error in the image!  I wanted him to be able to hold different objects, without having to do any time consuming masking (especially if you needed to mass produce 50+ cards!)  So I gave his sleeves a little extra length and omitted his fingertips.

Now, to choose what he shall hold! You will notice that there are six different options!  Fun, isn't it!

For today's project I selected the wreath (it's one of my favorite little pieces from this set!)  I just inked it up and stamped it directly into the space between his sleeves.  Super easy!

Now onto the subject of coloring.  Anyone that has followed my work would most likely notice that I am not a big "colorer".  (Is that a word?  Well if it isn't, then I am now making it an official term.  How do I get in contact with Webster's?!?!?)  Solid image stamps appeal to me and the idea of coloring kind of, well, scares me!  Don't know why, it just does!  Coloring just usually doesn't mesh with the clean approach I usually take with my projects.  (You would really chuckle if you happen to have the current October issue of Paper Crafts.  They assigned me with the task of doing a special feature in their Face Your Fears column on watercoloring...bwahhahah!)  So, I figured after I designed this stamp set, I would have to get over it and play a little bit. 

While playing I made the COOLEST discovery!  If you color with normal water-based dye markers (I used the Stampin' Up! brand) on Kraft cardstock, your stroke marks virtually disappear!  I know, it may be hard to believe, but I swear it works!  Here is a close-up view of my results.  Now granted, it makes your colors a tad darker than they are originally intended, but just go with the flow and coordinate your cardstock based on ink results rather than their "real-life" hues.  The white areas were colored in with a White Sharpie Poster Paint Pen (love these things, the paint rolls evenly when coloring in large areas, more so than the Signo white gel pen ink).  The poster paint pens can generally be picked up at any Wal-Mart.

Here is a look at my final project. All the images used on the cover of this card are included in our new Santa set.

And you can't forget the inside, can we?  Do these fonts look familiar?  This interior sentiment is from the set I introduced to you yesterday.  It was a perfect compliment to the Santa set, I think.  I stamped the sentiment in white and added the berry accents in black, going back in and coloring the images appropriately.  The color looks so vibrant!

And last but not least, the back!  If you look through our stamp sets, just about every single one of them includes a "handmade by" stamp that coordinates.  This set is no exception.  This "handmade with love by" stamp has a miniature version of the berries to accent it.

So tell me what you think of the Papertrey version of linear images?  Is this style something you would like to see more of?  Or is it not really your style?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

You will want to be sure to stop by tomorrow.  I will be answering questions posted here the last few days along with more fun projects.  I'll see you then!