A Parade of Paisley with Jean Martin

We have been featuring each of the Design Team members and their April/May Release projects here on the Wplus9 Design Blog over the last couple of weeks. Bringing us across the finish line is the fabulous Jean Martin. She will be here inspiring us with her timeless creations over the next couple of days, starting with Paisley Patterns.

Jean is a master at creating the most lovely background patterns! I am always impressed with her composition and color choices. While this card is magnificent...for me, that little tag steals the show! I'm just in love with how she's used the Folk Art Alphabet die today.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Strictly Sentiments 1, Embroidered Bouquet Additions, Damask Delight | Dies: Timeless Tags 2, Folk Art Alphabet Die | Cardstock: White, Ballet Slippers, Kraft

If you liked that one...you're gonna love this one! I could probably write a whole dissertation about it, but I'd rather just stare at it.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Strictly Sentiments 1 | Dies: Folk Art Alphabet Die | Cardstock: White, Black, Kraft

I hope you've enjoyed Jean's projects today. If so, be sure to stop by her blog and let her know. Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to come back again tomorrow, as Jean shares more of her work with us!

Outside The Box: Cupcake Liner Jar Toppers

Hello there! Today we have the very talented Amber from Damask Love joining us to share some quick and easy ways to dress up one of our favorite things ever...mason jars! Amber will show us how to take these jars from simple to special by using just a few simple supplies. Take it away Amber...

Hey there, everyone! Amber from Damask Love here with another Outside the Box guest post for WPlus9!

Those of you who know me, know how much I love love love simple & creative packaging ideas. Mason jar are tops on my list of inexpensive packaging ideas and today I've got an incredibly easy idea for dressing up your jars for gift-giving. If you're anything like me you've got plenty of cupcake liners in your pantry and now you can give them a little crafty loving with this project.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Fresh Baked, Quilt Prints, Fresh Picked, Spring Tags | Dies: Label Layers 5

Only five minutes stand between taking your mason jar from simple to special...so you really have no excuse!

Monday Mood Board #12

Are you ready for a new Monday Mood Board? Both my husband and I have birthdays coming up, mine on the 20th and his on the 25th. So this mood board is all about celebrating. With a gender neutral mix of explosive color and fun patterns, there's a lot to pull from on this one!

PLAY ALONG

If you'd like to play along, use the mood board as a starting point for a card, tag, layout or any project...where ever the inspiration takes you! Use at least one Wplus9 product. Upload your project to your blog or online photo gallery such as Flickr. Then link it up using the InLinkz widget below to share it and keep the inspiration flowing! Remember, you'll have 2 weeks to play along.

PRIZES

We will select (3) random participants to receive a $10 store credit each at www.wplus9.com. Winners will be announced each Monday when the new Mood Board is posted.

Last Week's Winners

It's time to congratulate our random winners from last week's mood board! The winners are:

• #1 (Chupa)
• #9 (Erin T.)
• #19 (Jen Carter)

Contact us at customerservice@wplus9.com with your full name and email and we will set up your store credits!

I can't wait to see how this week's mood board inspires you!

Fresh Baked with Sarah Martina Parker

Sarah Martina Parker is sharing her final release projects with us today, and she may have just saved the best for last!

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Fresh Baked, Quilt Prints | Dies: Fresh Baked Companion Die , Timeless Tags 2 | Cardstock: White

Talk about amazing! This is the personification of some lovin' from the oven. If whatever oven-baked delicacy that comes along with this duo, tastes as good as these look...I'll take two of them!

Let's talk about that cute tag. Love how she's cleverly die cut the images and placed them in the mixing bowl! And while we are on the subject of clever...did you notice how she's used Quilt Prints on the card? What a fun and whimsical pattern she's created by stamping clusters of the filler images - sans the outlines.

And while we are on a roll with Quilt Prints, you've got to see how she's paired it with both Paisley Patterns and Pretty Patches: Umbrella.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: paisley-patterns, Quilt Prints, Pretty Patches: Umbrella | Ink: Cranberry Crush | Dies: Timeless Tags 2, Pretty Patches: Umbrella Companion Die | Cardstock: White, Cranberry Crush

I was floored when I saw this pattern she created. She used the little filler florals from Paisley Patterns in her "quilt" pieces to create her quilt pattern. The background is just perfect for the little patchwork umbrella from Pretty Patches: Umbrella.

Thank you so much Sarah for sharing so much inspiration with us over the last few days. I have enjoyed each and every one of them!

If you've enjoyed Sarah's designs as much as I have, you can stop by her blog to see more of her work and leave her some love. Thanks for stopping by!

Blanket Stitched Blooms with Sarah Martina

Sarah Martina Parker is joining us again with more of her fantastic release projects! And today she is treating us to a closer look at Blanket Stitched Blooms.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Blanket Stitched Blooms | Dies: Folk Art Alphabet | Cardstock: White

This would definitely brighten my day! The crisp black against those soft free-form blooms is perfection. This is such a rich and complex looking design, but really uses minimal supplies. The random pattern makes this a quick and easy project, but it will have the recipient thinking that you toiled and slaved over it for hours. Shh...we won't tell.

Next, Sarah's sharing one of my favorite ways to use the stitching in this set, along with it's companion dies.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Blanket Stitched Blooms, Strictly Sentiments 1 | Dies: Blanket Stitched Blooms Companion Die | Cardstock: White, Sweet Gelato

Check out how beautiful her flowers turned out! This is a great way to put a soft spin on this set. By embossing the stitching in white, Sarah was then able to color in her blooms free-hand, giving them a soft water-colored effect. Any medium would be great for this technique - Gelatos, re-inkers, Copics, or water colors.

This next project is one that I'm particularly taken with. I am really loving stationery sets at the moment. There is something so polished and sophisticated about them.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Blanket Stitched Blooms, Cupid's Arrow | Cardstock: White

This is a perfect example of "less is more". The casual and care-free mix of elements compliments the casual tone of the sentiment, and the clean white backdrop keeps it light. Just looking at this set of note cards makes me happy.

I hope you have enjoyed Sarah's projects as much as I have. Remember, you can stop by her blog to see more of her work. And, she will be back with us tomorrow to share the rest of her release projects. I can't wait!

Design Team Inspiration with Sarah Martina

Today we have the fabulous Sarah Martina Parker joining us with her April/May 2013 Release projects. Be prepared for a frenzy of florals that will leaving you wanting more!

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns | Dies: Folk Art Alphabet | Cardstock: White, Lake House

I had all of these descriptive adjectives whirling around in my head when I first laid eyes on this. Then I sat down to write and all that I can get out is WOW! Yeah, WOW! about sums up the gorgeous pattern Sarah has created with Paisley Patterns. It's hard to believe that the entire thing was created with just one stamp set. Using the Folk Art Alphabet die to add her sentiment vertically was a genius decision. The placement allows more of that fantastic stamped pattern to show.

If you loved that one, then you're in for a treat on this one as well!

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Embroidered Bouquet, Embroidered Bouquet Additions | Ink: Cranberry Crush | Dies: Scalloped Border, Timeless Tags 2 | Cardstock: White, Cranberry Crush, Ballet Slippers

Another beautiful display of pattern stamping here. She's demonstrated how versatile these images are by pairing them with another floral set, Embroidered Bouquet. The gold accents are an amazing compliment to Ballet Slippers and Cranberry Crush, don't you think?

Sarah's last card is just as amazing. It's an awesome atypical masculine design in my opinion.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Embroidered Bouquet, Class Act | Dies: Folk Art Alphabet, Clear Cut Stackers: Rounded Rectangles, Timeless Tags 2 | Cardstock: White

I love the rustic & natural elements paired with the crisp contrast in colors. Stamping the foliage in gray is the perfect way to use floral images without being overtly feminine.

I told you that you would love them. If you love Sarah's style, be sure to stop by her blog to see more of her work. We will have more from Sarah tomorrow, so be sure to check back then!

Shape Up: Using Dies As Templates

I have a fun technique to share today. Now this is not earth shattering or rocket science by any means, but a few of you wanted to know how I stamped the floral heart featured in this post.

Using your small stamps to create large shapes is easy when you create a simple template or guide to follow. And most likely you all ready have the perfect tools in your stash...dies.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Blanket Stitched Blooms | Ink: Lake House Pigment | Dies: Clear Cut Stackers: Hearts | Cardstock: Oatmeal

Yep, just trace your shape and stamp. It's that simple. The hardest part is deciding what you want to stamp. Here's the break down for how I created this heart wreath.

Instructions:

1. Trace your desired shape lightly with a pencil
2. If you are creating a mirrored design, stamp one or two "anchor" images to serve as your mirror line. I chose a large flower at the top and bottom of my heart.
3. Start on one side and stamp your base following the outline that you created.
4. Repeat on the other side, using the first side as a guide for placement and angle.
5. Fill in as desired.

Quick Tip: Make sure the ink is completely dry before erasing your pencil lines so you don't smear your work.

Easy, right? Here are just a few other ways to try. Have fun experimenting and using what you have on hand.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns | Dies: Clear Cut Stackers: Hearts | Cardstock: White

Want perfect placement? Try using squares, rectangles or circles to stamp arches, corners - or to get your focal images perfectly centered.

Wplus9 Supplies
Stamps: Paisley Patterns, Spring Post | Dies: Clear Cut Stackers: Rounded Rectangles | Cardstock: White, Ballet Slippers, Green Acres

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you've enjoyed today's post. Remember, Monday Mood Board #11 challenge is open for two weeks so you still have plenty of time to play along!