Here we are, embarking on Day 8 of our exciting 4th Anniversary festivities! I have even more introductions to make today that I know are just going to knock your socks off!
First, a new take on sentiments. One customer request we hear often is "BIG sentiments please!" I am excited to announce a new year-long, monthly series we will be bringing you called Think Big Favorites. Every month we will be releasing a mini set that contains two or three mega-sized versions of popular sentiments from previously released sets.
The first few, through March, have already been designed, but for the remainder of the year, all of YOU will be determining what sentiments from our existing collection will be super-sized! Beginning a bit later today, we will have an ongoing thread in our customer forum where YOU will be able to vote on what you what like to see in this series!
But to begin with this month, we decided to revisit Mega Mixed Messages. I selected three of my favorite sentiments from the set and super-sized 'em! The new bigger version all measure about 2-1/2" wide! Talk about BIG! These sentiments are even large enough to stand alone and serve as a focal point!
The details.
- Think Big Favorites #1 will be available for sale on February 15th.
- It will retail for $5.
- Think Big Favorites #1 contains a total of 3 sentiments.
- The sentiments are super-sized version of ones originally found in Mega Mixed Messages.
Next, I have another amazing and versatile year-long, monthly series to introduce you to! This one is brought to you by the talented Melissa Bickford!
Flower Fusion will be an incredibly versatile stamp line that allows you to do lots of mixing and matching! Every month we will be releasing a mini set that contains a flower or two, a stem and a few sentiments. All of the flowers & stems are designed in the same scale so that you are able to mix & match tops & bottoms between sets!
And to top it all off, most sets will also have a coordinating die available that will be very inexpensive, making the sets to fun to use AND easy on your wallet!
The details.
- Flower Fusion #1 will be available for sale on February 15th.
- It will retail for $5.
- Flower Fusion #1 contains a total of 7 stamps (2 flowers, 1 stem and 4 sentiments)
- A coordinating die for the flowers in this set will be available for purchase separately for $3. The Flower Fusion #1 die measures approximately 1" in diameter.
I have an additional stamp set to introduce to you today. The highly anticipated Mat Stack 4 Collection! An entire stamp set dedicated to the popular Mat Stack 4 die shape! With four full-size frames and a few additional pieces to increase versatility, this set will definitely be a must-have!
The details.
- Mat Stack 4 Collection will be available for sale on February 15th.
- It will retail for $24.
- Mat Stack 4 Collection contains a total of 18 stamps (4 full-size frames, 3 rectangular accent frames, 2 small accent stamps and 9 sentiments)
- The full-size frames in this set coordinate with our Mat Stack 4 die.
One more thing I wanted to introduce today is the new Parisian Doily die. This die is actually not exclusive to us, it was originally designed by Cheery Lynn Designs, but we loved it so much, we decided to contact them and carry it ourselves and give it a new name. The detail and intricacy of this die is truly amazing. It produces a finished piece that looks just like the paper doilies you purchase in the store. Only now you can make them in any color you like!
If you are anything like me, the first thing I thought about with this die is the chore of poking out ALL those holes from the cardstock after die-cutting (see the fresh cut doily above).
Well, we have the perfect solution for you! This new tool, called a punch-out tool, coordinates with the Parisian Lace Doily die to do the "poking out" for you in one easy step!
This metal plate has a slight outline showing where to place the die-cut cardstock. There are small, raised photopolymer "bumps" that line-up perfectly with all the little openings in the doily. All you do is line your die-cut doily according to the outline and pop all of the little bits out at once! Easy peasy!
If you anticipate using this new die often, this tool will be an amazing addition to consider, saving you a lot of time and effort!
The details.
- The Parisian Lace Doily die will be available for purchase on February 15th.
- It will retail for $20.
- The Parisian Lace Doily die measures 4" in diameter.
- A coordinating "punch-out" tool will be available for sale separately for $8.
Now that I've introduced you to all this paper-crafty goodness, let's get onto some projects!
I thought I would start off with a project that pairs my favorite frame from the Mat Stack 4 Collection and the new Parisian Lace Doily die. A match made in stamper's heaven!
I die-cut Vintage Cream cardstock with the Mat Stack 4 die and stamped this beautiful herringbone frame with Aqua Mist ink. I then added a leaf from Turning a New Leaf using Spring Moss. The sentiment (from Mat Stack 4 Collection) was stamped with Smokey Shadow.
I die-cut the Parisian Lace Doily die with Spring Moss cardstock and lightly inked the edges in Fresh Snow to set it off.
Now, how about a beautiful combo of Blueberry Sky and the new color for this month, Royal Velvet? (More about that new color tomorrow!)
I cut a thin strip of Royal Velvet cardstock and adhered it to the bottom edge of my Blueberry Sky cardstock. I then stitched along the strip with my sewing machine. Little details like this can make a big impact.
I stamped the stem from Flower Fusion #1 right above the edge of the strip. The flower was created by die-cutting three Flower Fusion #1 blooms from Hawaiian Shores cardstock. I crumpled them several times and layered them on top of one another. I die-cut a button from white cardstock using the Buttoned Up #1 die and stamped it with the gingham pattern from Bitty Background Blocks and stitched it in place with floss.
This extra large sentiment, from Think Big Favorites #1, was heat embossed with Filigree White Embossing Powder. I love how much drama these big sentiments can add to a project!
There's no denying it. I'm in love with the pinked-edge swatch die from the Button Card die collection and have been wanting to try my hand at creating a border with it and this is my result!
The focal point features the text frame from the Mat Stack 4 Collection stamped in Fresh Snow. I then added the stem from Flower Fusion in Ripe Avocado.
I die-cut white cardstock with the Flower Fusion #1 die and stamped one of the coordinating flowers in Orange Zest. I used the smallest button from the die-cutting I did for my last project above to fit in the center of the flower. It is stamped with the gingham from Bitty Background Blocks as well, only this time in Summer Sunrise. I stitched it into place with a bit of Rustic Button Twine.
I die-cut four pinked-edge swatches and stamped each of them with a different pattern from Bitty Background Basics. The edges of each swatch were inked with Tea Dye ink and adhered to a strip of white cardstock. I then added some stitching with my sewing machine.
Finally, the background of the kraft card base was stamped with Polka Dot Basics II using Fresh Snow ink.
Let me show you a quick little technique you can do with the stem from Flower Fusion #1.
By stamping the stem repeatedly, all in a row, you can create a stylish vine image. I did the one here in Simply Chartreuse.
I die-cut Royal Velvet felt with the Buttoned Up #2 die. These adorable felt buttons were stitched into place along the vine with a bit of floss.
The Raspberry Fizz border here was stamped with one of the small doily images from Delightful Doilies using VersaMark ink. It was then cut with the Edgers #1 die. A small amount of stitching was also added to the top edge.
This big & bold sentiment from Think Big Favorites #1 filled the "white space" on the cover perfectly. It was stamped in Raspberry Fizz.
I have one last easy-to-make card to share with you today. Perfect for mass-producing. It all started with one of our new coasters. I die-cut the Mat stack 4 shape from it to create a frame.
After I die-cut the Mat Stack 4 shape from the coaster, I ran it through my Big Shot a second time with the Woodgrain Impression plate. These coasters emboss beautifully! I wrapped a bit of Rustic Jute Button Twine around the bottom portion of the coaster.
I stamped the polka dot frame from Mat Stack 4 Collection onto the kraft cardstock I adhered under the coaster frame. I then added another sentiment from Think Big Favorites in Fresh Snow ink, directly on top of the Mat Stack 4 frame. I used more of my favorite doily paper from the Pacific Vineyard paper pad for the background of my card.
I hope you enjoyed everything that I had to share with you today! Now, here's your opportunity to think BIG and have a chance to win an amazing prize package!
There are two ways to be entered into today's contest where one randomly selected winner will be chosen. You can do one or the other for a chance to win, or do both to double your chances!
We want to see YOU take things BIG! Really BIG Your challenge today is to create a project that incorporates something unexpectedly mega-sized! this could be a super-sized tag, a gigantic embellishment, a huge flower, really big buttons or even a BIG focal point that takes center stage.
- Make a project that incorporates something mega-sized! (only one entry per person please)
- Upload a photo of your project to you blog, online gallery or on any other photo-hosting site (such as photobucket or flickr).
- Add the direct link to your project on our Inlinkz list......>HERE<......
- You have until 7am EST, Sunday, February 13th to add your link and qualify for the contest.
- And/or you can leave a comment here letting us know what you think about all the new products announced today!
- You have until 7am EST, Sunday, February 13th to add your comment to this post and qualify for the contest. (Just click the small "comments" link in blue beside the date in the footer of this post)
We have put together an amazing prize package today to offer up to the randomly selected winner! It has nearly a $160 retail value, so be sure to take a chance and enter to win BIG!
- Think Big Favorites #1 stamp set
- Flower Fusion #1 stamp set
- Flower Fusion #1 die
- Parisian Lace Doily die
- Mat Stack 4 Collection stamp set
- Mat Stack 4 die
- Mat Stack 3 Collection stamp set
- Mat Stack 3 die
- Mat Stack 2 Collection stamp set
- Mat Stack 2 die
- Mat Stack 1 Collection stamp set
- Mat Stack 1 die
- This contest will end at 7am EST, Sunday, February 13th.
- Only one comment per person and/or one link per person (for a total of up to two entries per person)
- One randomly selected winner will be announced no later than noon EST that day on our February 2011 Release Winners Page.
Lisa Johnson has some projects today using Mat Stack 4 Collection & Think Big Favorites #1.
Maile Belles is sharing some creations that utilize Flower Fusion #1.
Melissa Bickford has some additional projects using Flower Fusion #1.
Dawn McVey is offering up some more peeks of all her new products for this month.
Heather Nichols has more inspiration to share using her new stamp sets.
SIMPLE THANKS CARD
- STAMPS: Mat Stack 4 Collection (available February 15th), Turning a New Leaf, Background Basics: Tin Types
- INK: Fresh Snow, Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Smokey Shadow
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Spring Moss, Fine Linen
- OTHER: Mat Stack #4 die, Parisian Lace Doily die, adhesive pearls (KaiserCraft)
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"
MAKE A WISH CARD
- STAMPS: Think Big Favorites #1, Flower Fusion #1, Bitty Background Blocks (available February 15th)
- INK: VersaMark, Elegant Eggplant (SU!)
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Blueberry Sky, Royal Velvet, Hawaiian Shores
- OTHER: Flower Fusion #1 die, Buttoned Up # 1 die, floss (DMC), White Filigree Embossing Powder, sewing machine
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"
THANKS SO MUCH CARD
- STAMPS: Mat Stack 4 Collection, Think Big Favorites #1(available February 15th)
- INK: Fresh Snow, VersaMark, Tea Dye Duo
- PAPER: Kraft, Papertrey Coaster, Pacific Vineyard paper pad
- OTHER: Mat Stack #4 die, Papertrey Coaster, Rustic Jute Button Twine, Woodgrain Impression Plate
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.5" x 5.5"
WONDERFUL DAY CARD
- STAMPS: Mat Stack 4 Collection, Flower Fusion #1, Bitty Background Blocks (available February 15th), Polka Dot Basics II
- INK: Fresh Snow, Ripe Avocado, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Tea Dye Duo, True Black
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Kraft
- OTHER: Flower Fusion #1 die, Button Card die collection, Buttoned Up #1 die, Rustic Jute Button Twine
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"
YOU'RE TOO KIND CARD
- STAMPS: Think Big Favorites #1, Flower Fusion #1, Delightful Doilies (available February 15th)
- INK: Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, VersaMark
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Royal Velvet, Raspberry Fizz
- OTHER: Buttoned Up #2 die, Edgers #1 die, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Royal Velvet Felt, floss (DMC), sewing machine
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"
