...New Stamps for May

Good evening folks, welcome to May at Waltzingmouse Stamps. Releasing this evening we have two clear photopolymer stamp sets and their co-ordinating cut files. We are also choosing this release to launch our Publication reward scheme! Click the graphic to go to the 'Earn' page at the store and read all about it.

Before I show you the new sets here are the ladies who are joining us for today's blog waltz. We have nearly the entire team taking part in the release blog waltz so you might want to grab a little coffee... and don't forget to comment, there is a prize up for grabs, the ladies have the details.

Renee

Teresa

Tosha

Becca

Clare

Kelly

Lynn

Belinda

Julia

Laurie

Anya 

Jeanne

Jen 

Jean 

Karin

Kim

 

These new sets and plenty more (see here) are all available to ship directly from our USA base, and our free shipping offer is still running.

New Stamps for May 2013

 

USA 1776 

Set size 6x8 inches

Americana front and centre, perfect for patriotic cards for USA based folks or those of us who just love the theme. this large set also features several stamps that make it perfect for other celebrations - the fireworks for instance are calling out to be on your New Year cards! The Lady liberty stamp is 4 inches tall by just under 1.5 inches at the widest point. The star border is 1.75 by 2.5 inches

All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2013 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

USA 1776  Cut Files

Featuring files to match all of the stamps and extra design feature files including the Statue of liberty and a New York style skyline.

Country Labels No. 4

Set size 6x8 inches

An endlessly useful set of pretty country style labels to co-ordinate with the ever popular Spellbinders Labels 4 dies. Gathering patterns such as the ginghams, knitted textures and blanket stitching from sets we already have, these labels will integrate seamlessly with your WMS collection.

Five Label shaped stamps that match the most popular sizes of dies in the set and a circular label that can be used with either circle dies or punches to great effect. Seven everyday sentiments presented in a charming naive style font are included along with 6 country style motifs.

The largest sentiment "thank you for everything you do" measures 1.5 inches  by just over 5/8 inches. The circular label is 2 inches diameter.

All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2013 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

 

Freebie - Country labels No.4 Cut Files

Cutting files to complement the Country Labels 4 Stamp set. The shapes supplied are shown in red on the graphic. Please note that these cut files include shapes to fit the interior of the label shapes only. The co-ordinating label stamps are designed to be used with Spellbinders Labels 4 die templates, and so cut files for those label shapes will not be available.

Supplied as .svg .dxf and .jpeg files.

Hope they tickle!

...Today's Release Schedule

Good afternoon folks! I will be revealing two new sets at 7:00pm this evening my time!

We are delighted to be expanding our USA shipping option with  these new sets and if you have not been aware of this facility here is a quick run down;

We now have selected items available from our USA base.

The way to tell if an item is stocked in USA is to look at the product page - you will see this graphic displayed on items that are available from USA:

On Products available from USA you will be able to click on a drop down menu to select the option for that item to ship from USA - But remember - we can only ship your order from USA if all of the items you have chosen are in stock there. Orders containing even one item that is not held in our USA location will automatically be shipped from our UK base.

If you have filled your basket and all of your items are available from USA - you will then have the option during checkout to chose the "Flat rate shipping within USA option." This will mean that not only will you be getting your items much faster, you will not have to pay international shipping!! woohoo! Our free shipping promotion will still work for USA items and so If your order is over £60GBP you will automatically qualify for free shipping as normal!

Schedule for Today
Please note these are the UK times that are local to me. I have a little note below of equivalent times in other places.

6:00PM - the Store will close to allow final adjustments

7:00PM - the New Stamps for May post will go live on this blog and there will be more fabulous samples from the DT in our May release Blog Waltz. Don't forget also that we run a little random giveaway from the DT blog waltz, another chance to win goodies!

7:15PM - the Store will re-open and the new sets will be available.

7:00pm my time Wednesday 29 May is approximately equal to:

1:00pm USA 29th May Missouri USA
4:00am 30th May Queensland Australia
8:00pm 29th May Germany
2:00am 30th May Malaysia
10:00pm 29th May Russia, Moscow
3:00pm 29th May Brazil, Rio

...Introducing USA 1776 Cut files

Good morning folks. I have a fairly CAS card for you this morning. I wanted to highlight some of the Cut Files which are in the bundle that matches the USA 1776 Stamp set releasing tomorrow.

One of the most interesting is the cut file of the Statue of Liberty. There is a cut file which is designed to be slightly larger than the statue stamp image, this one is for stamping on, but the one I used above in my card is a cut file which is based on the stamp image itself.

This more detailed cut file gives a super silhouette of the Lady Liberty herself and may be used as a stand alone design feature. Also included in the bundle is a New York skyline cut file, inspired by Anya's card here.

I mounted the Liberty cut shape on foam pads and then the sentiment on foam pads on top of that, gives a nice dimension to the card I think. Hope it tickles.

I'm itching to see what else the ladies have cooked up for our sets this month - why don't you join me:

Anya
Becca
Clare
Jean
Karin
Kim
Laurie
Teresa
Tosha

...Introducing USA 1776

Good afternoon, I'm a little late with my post due to an unscheduled bout of tonsilitis in the house (!) but I am delighted to show you at last, something I made with the new stamp set USA 1776. This set along with Country labels 4 will be available on the store from Wednesday!

Just in case you have not seen them already, here are the DT ladies who are previewing with me today!

Anya
Becca
Clare
Jean
Karin
Kim
Laurie
Teresa
Tosha

USA 1776 is a large image based set of 19 stamps. It's perfect for 4th of July celebrations of course but it's quite a versatile set in that as well as celebrating Americana, you will find it ideal for celebratory cards of many types.

For my fist project I wanted to show you what you can do with just TWO of the stamps from the set. These are the kite shaped stamps and yes, you could use them to create kite designs on your cards, but they were specifically designed to make Americana style stars! Love me some stars!

There is a starred kite and a striped kite

I'm going to work a little backwards in this post - there are some how-to images at the end, but right up front I wanted to show you what you can make with these two kite stamps and a Spellbinders Star die template - the largest one in the set.

 Aren't they pretty? While I was experimenting with the stars and stripes I thought I'd try out another idea, I stamped the landing eagle image 5 times in the star shape, quite liked it!


HOW TO

There is more than one way to make up these stars and I have a little round up of the easiest ways to do it here.

1. Cut first, stamp after.

 You can trim out the stars with your die fist and then line up the kite shaped stamp on each point. doing this will create a star with space in between the stamped images.

2. Stamp first, cut after

 I like to stamp the star kite first and then do stripes either side - this way, if my lining up is not accurate and the last point overlaps a little, then it's only stripes on stripes which is not as eye-catching as stripes on top of stars. Making the satr this way gives you a star with no spaces in between the stamped images.

See the contrast below

3. Cut, then stamp alternative.

If you have already trimmed out your stars, and want to be sure that your stamped star is perfectly centred and has no gaps, you can do this - use a ruler to draw a line from a point of the star to the dip in between the opposite two points. Repeat this on another point, where the lines intersect is the perfect centre of your die cut star. I marked it by piercing a little hole, see the second pic. It is so easy to line up your first kite stamp on this pierced hole and get your first impression perfectly centred. Just carry on stamping your star using the first impression as your giude, it could not be simpler.

this method gives you a perfect star with no gaps.

4. Adding dimension -

I used my Scor-Pal to crease my star, working from the points to the opposite side. I flipped the star over and folded the star a little to really define those creases, then I sponged with Corduroy Distress ink to antique it a little. I really like to use stars that have the gaps in between the stripes and stars for this. If I was going to keep my star flat and uncreased I might prefer a star with no gaps, it's all down to what look you want to achieve.

5. Experimenting

 Now that you know how, you can experiment with the design of your stars, this simple masking technique using a post it note gives you yet more options for the design of your stars - this is where clear stamps really come into their own - you can see what you are doing.

Notice how I use the edge of the green post-it note as a guide, I position my stars kite so that the centre row of stars is bisected by the post it note, this ensures perfect placement - the stamps are designed to be symmetrical so that you can use little tricks like this to help you get them in the perfect position. This method above produces this star below.

Sure hope it tickles!!!

...DT links for Day two

Morning folks, and a very blessed Memorial Day to you if you are Stateside this morning! Here is a list of the DT ladies who are sampling one of our new sets - USA 1776 - I will be back later with my samples, my little dude is not well at all with a bad dose of tonsilitis (strep throat) and you know how it goes when the littles are sick, all other plans just fly out the window! hope to be back up to speed mid morning! I am very excited about this particular set as I am a huge Americana fan, so I cannot wait to come back and show you what I have made!

Anya
Becca
Clare
Jean
Karin
Kim
Laurie
Teresa
Tosha

and just for the lady who contacted me in great concern about the rest of the DT, nope, we have not sacked them! lol. We're mixing things up a little - we thought we would have half the DT ladies post at release time and then the other half of the Dt will be supplying a little WMS inspiration with the new sets throughout the rest of the month! I'll fill you in on what days to check out whom later!

...Introducing Country Labels No.4

 Good morning and welcome to the start of our previews for the May 2013 new stamp release. I have a little card made with the new Country Labels 4 set for you today. It's super simple, the label stamp was stamped once in black onto a piece of cream card. I used copics to add a little colour to the little patchwork fabric areas of the design. I stamped the little house and trimmed it out with a craft knife, stamped my sentiment and added a button. I trimmed out a little black frame using a die from my Spellbinders Labels 4 die templates set (S4 - 190), with which this new stamp set co-ordinates. Hey presto, one Amish style card! Loved it!

 Can't wait to see what the girls have done with this set! Here are the DT ladies who are showing samples with me today!

Anya
Becca
Clare
Jean
Karin
Kim
Laurie
Teresa
Tosha

In the close-up you can see the patterns of the patchwork designs in the label - they co-ordnate with sets we have already released such as the Nordic sets, Gingham & Co. and of course the Sewing Box sets that use that lovely blanket stitch edging. Did I mention the set co-ordinates with the lovely, most wonderful Spellbinders Labels 4 dies?...maybe my fave shape ever....

...back in stock at Waltzingmouse Stamps

Hi folks just a quick heads up - we have the following stamp sets back in stock! If you have already ordered these sets on backorder - your items have already shipped! - The image above shows a project I made ages ago with Vintage banners, you can find the project here.

Frame It
Gingham & Co.
Spring Baskets
Rescue Remedies
Vintage banners
Dainty Doilies Large
Vintage Labels 2
Santa Claus is coming to Town
Big Day Addittions

ALL of these sets are now available to order from our USA base!

Click here to see all of the sets that are currently shipping from USA.

...a last peek

One last peek before we begin showing samples tomorrow!

Waltzingmouse Stamps Friendly Feature - Deirdre Horgan

Hello and welcome. We are back with another Friend Feature – a monthly feature where we select a friend of Waltzingmouse Stamps to provide creative inspiration. This month our guest blogger is Deirdre Horgan. Deirdre has two wonderful shaker cards to share along with her creative way of designing them using Waltzingmouse Stamps.

I was a happy camper when Claire and Lynn contacted me a number of weeks ago to be featured on this special feature – I am so thrilled and honoured and still doing a little Irish gig!.

I made two cards to share today – they can each do a little “gig” too!.

The first is a “celebratory” one which I left “sentiment free” as I decided to let the “Shaker” part do all the talking.

I cut my cardstock and used my Scor-Pal to score diagonal lines and then stamped the tiny cupcake from the Frame-It Stamp set in each space. The diagonal scoring made it very easy to keep my stamping even and uniform.

I found some discarded clear packing in my stash to make the see through top layer of the shaker element and ran it through my Big Shot with a circle die. I needed to create a thin frame/layer to hold the acetate above the seed beads/stars and ran some foam adhesive through the Big Shot with two circle dies. I adhered the frame to the acetate filled with the tiny beads and veneer stars and adhered the white circle which I had already stamped – you could colour the cupcake too, but I wanted it clean and simple.

My second card is using the new set – Man of the Hour. I decided to create another shaker card and used masculine coloured, copper sequins and some distressing using tea-dye ink and a blending tool.

I ran my acetate through my Big Shot with a polka dot embossing folder and while it is difficult to photograph it adds an extra dimension to the layering.

I machine stitched the layers together (no need for adhesive) and filled the sequins behind the acetate before I stitched the last side. I adhered to the card front and added the sentiment layers and a round paper clip.

Tip – if the sequins are too bright you can use a layer of vellum instead of the acetate and it gives the card a much more muted look.

Thank you to Waltzingmouse for featuring my cards today and thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Supply List: Celebration Card

Stamps - Frame It Stamp Set

Inks - Black Tuxedo ink – Memento

Dies – Circle dies – Lifestyle Crafts

Accessories - pink and black cardstock – Canson, wooden stars – Studio Calico, seed beads, foam dots – Stick It!, card blank – Docrafts, pearls, Scor-Pal, disused clear packaging, ribbon - Paperchase

Supply List: Dad Card

Stamps - Man of the Hour Stamp Set

Inks – Dark Chocolate – PTI, Tea Dye Distress Ink – Tim Holtz/Ranger

Dies – Wine bottle die and notebook die – PTI, Polka dot embossing folder – Lifestyle Crafts

Accessories – Persnickety 6x6 patterned paper – Lilybee Design, blending tool – Tim Holtz, Big Shot, acetate, copper sequins – Gutermann, Kraft card blank – Docrafts, circle paper clip – Crane’s, foam adhesive – Stick It! and machine stitching.