Today marks the official start of the stamp portion of our countdown! Truly my favorite part of every month!
Niki Estes gets to debut her VERY first stamp set with us and I couldn't be more thrilled for her! Niki has carefully thought about each detail of this set and how the different elements work together. We have had many, many requests for another butterfly set ever since Butterfly Kisses was released a few years ago. She has embodied what I think everyone is looking for in a back to basics, go-to butterfly set. Combine the classic images with the coordinating die she designed, and you have a match made in heaven!
The details.
- Butterfly Dreams will be available for sale on February 15th.
- It will retail for $24.
- Butterfly Dreams contains a total of stamps (16 butterflies, 3 companion images, 2 background blocks and 5 sentiments)
- There is also a butterfly die available for purchase separately for $5. It coordinates with 6 of the butterfly images.
I'm also introducing a second set to you today that I designed, a background set of sorts called Dot Spot. It's a collection of large dot medallions that can be used alone as a focal point or combined to build an entire background. The different scales of medallions can also be layered upon one another for even more fun looks.
The details.
- Dot Spot will be available for sale on February 15th.
- It will retail for $15.
- Dot Spot contains a total of 7 stamps (5 dot medallions and 2 small solid dots).
- The largest dot medallion measuring 3.25-inches in diameter.
Now that I have all the basics covered, why don't we move on into some projects?
As I described earlier in this post, we are selling a die that coordinates with several of the butterfly images in this set, making it super easy to cut them out (which is VERY addictive by the way!) I stamped this beautiful monarchs with Noir ink.
I then added a bit of color to them using my Copics. I started at the outer edges of the wings with a darker color and then worked my way inward. I love how realistic they look!
I added some Prisma Glitter to the butterflies and mounted them to a kraft card base. I wanted to help define the perimeter of the card a bit so I drew a black outline with a pen. It still needed a bit more "umph" so I added a second line with a pen that had a finer tip (I used American Crafts Precision Pens, .01 & .05 mm). I just LOVE the way it turned out and plan to do it often.
I used one of my favorite verses from Heart Prints Sentiments to go along with these sparkly butterflies, a nod to the "wings" portion of the last line. I stamped the sentiment onto white cardstock and then cut it into strips.
I stamped one small red heart at the end of the sentiment for emphasis (from Background Basics: Hearts).
One of my favorite cards of all time! And so fun to make too!
This gradient card was fun too. A little something unique to help things from getting boring.
I stamped this outline butterfly from the set with Fresh Snow ink four times across the cover, overlapping them slightly.
I then went back in with some Copics and colored JUST the interior portion of each butterfly.
I then went back in with darker shades and colored the layered areas as well as adding a bit of depth along the bodies.
As a finishing touch, I outlined the line of butterflies with a T1 Copic. It still needed a little something, so I stamped the separate antennae image that Niki so thoughtfully included in the set.
The sentiment I added is from Butterfly Dreams as well and was stamped with Fresh Snow ink. I accented the perimeter of the card with a little line created with a white gel pen & ruler. Super easy and fun to do! Can you imagine this in other colors too?
This pretty little card uses the new Spring Fling In Shape templates from Kim Hughes to create the layered flower. Gorgeous isn't it? The large dot medallion form Dot Spot added the perfect detail stamped in Plum Pudding on Lavender Moon cardstock. It may be hard to see, but I also used the Tin Types Impression Plate on the white background of the card.
I added a bit of Prisma glitter to the Plum Pudding button as well as a few selected dots around the center of the flower.
The butterfly was stamped in Spring Rain onto a butterfly diecut from white cardstock. Don't you LOVE the pattern on this butterfly that Niki designed? It is one of my favorites from the set! I love how there are butterflies you can color when you're in the mood, or you can keep things simple and stamp with the several solid versions available too.
This card is pink, vintage & girly. My favorite combination lately.
The solid polka dotted butterfly was inked with two shades of pink to create depth. I first inked it with HIbiscus Burst and then followed up with a a few dabs of Raspberry Fizz around the edges of the wings. I love the look it created. Notice that I used a pice of cardstock cut out with the new Fillable Frames #1 die. I love the shape of it!
I then took one of the smaller butterflies from the set and layered it directly on top of the polka dotted butterfly using Raspberry FIzz ink. It is a easy little thing to do, but adds so much!
I then stamped Background Basics: Text Style II with our Chamomile Tea Dye Duo ink directly over the butterfly. I also sponged the edges with the same color.
I added a strip of Raspberry Fizz cardstock cut with our new Small Scallop Border die. A small Hibiscus Burst flower button is stitched in place and accented with a few Spring Moss leaves. Such a pretty little detail.
The Turning a New Leaf images were stamped with Hibiscus Burst in each corner, followed by a few dotted medallions from Dot Spot in Raspberry Fizz. The centers of the medallions were accented by dots of Spring Moss, helping to set off and balance the leaves tucked in under the flower. Love this project!
This card goes in a bit of a different direction, using strictly Dot Spot. A bit more masculine and earthy compared to my other cards today...but that just goes to show how versatile these images can be.
All of the medallions in Dot Spot are incredibly versatile in size and purpose. Here I stamped three different sizes onto Terracotta Tile cardstock using Fresh Snow ink.
The various sizes allow you lots of layering possibilities. Here I have used Dark Chocolate ink to go back in and add some variety and contrast
There are dozens upon dozens of color combinations you could recreate this card it. I personally love how the pattern extends over onto the back, a sometimes neglected area of our cards.
This card is back for an encore presentation after it was originally showcased earlier this week. But since it used both of today's sets, I thought it wouldn't hurt to mention it again. The dot medallions were stamped in shades of Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Fizz and Hibiscus Burst. The sentiment, from Big & Bold Wishes, is the PERFECT finishing touch for the corner.
I used the butterfly die with our new True Black Felt to create this accent. By stitching it in place on the sewing machine, I was able to make it appear as though it was in flight. A few various sizes of black rhinestones set it all off.
I hope you have enjoyed all of the projects I whipped up for you today! I am certainly LOVING the sets I featured today, and I know you will too once you get them in your own hands! Now how about a contest?
Today's contest is a BIG challenge! The winner will be proving that you are truly Papertrey's #1 Fan.
That's right, we are on the look out for Papertrey's #1 Fan. To prove your loyalty, your challenge is to provide an accurate count of how many times the word "happy" is included in our current stamp collection within a stamp AND available in our store at this moment.
Leave a comment telling us your final "happy" total along with why you should be chosen as the ultimate Papertrey fan! We'd also LOVE to hear about what you think of today's stamp sets & projects!
Not only will you get the title of Papertrey's #1 Fan, you will also get a special badge that you can use in your signature on our forum, in the sidebar of your or wherever else you choose! You also get a FABULOUS line-up of products that will work cohesively together so you can make some unbelievable projects!
- Butterfly Dreams stamp set
- Butterfly die
- Dot Spot stamp set
- Butterfly Kisses stamp set
- Turning a New Leaf stamp set
- Heart Prints Sentiments stamp set
So...do you think you have what it takes to be Papertrey's #1 fan?
1. This contest ends at 7amEST, Thursday, February 11th.
2. One winner will be randomly selected from the CORRECT answers submitted in the comments section.
3. Only one entry per person please. The winner will be announced by noon the same day on our February Release Winners page.
ETA: We are waiting for our *official* Happy Tally Team at headquarters to confirm the correct answer before announcing the winner. We will post the winner tomorrow morning. Thanks for your patience!
Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to stay tuned, because tomorrow I have EVEN MORE stamp introductions to make! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Want to see more projects using Butterfly Dreams? Visit Betsy Veldman today to see what she has created.
You can visit Niki Estes' blog to see her take on her brand new set.
Alli Miles is kicking off the countdown with peeks at her new set, Take Three: Spring.
Melissa Bickford is offering up some information using her latest creation, Asian Fusion.
Dawn McVey has some new projects over on her blog using both Color Couture and her new set, Studio Style.
Heather Nichols has some additional peeks at the new sets she's releasing this month.
Kim Hughes is showcasing her new collection of In Shape templates; Spring Fling!
A few members of the Click Simple Team are showcasing sneak peeks of the projects they have contributed to the accompanying idea download for Spring Fling.
- Melissa Phillips
- Laurie Schmidlin
- Jennifer Holmes
- and Julie Masse, our guest designer this month!
For a complete supply list and measurements for all of today's projects, CLICK HERE.
