Introducing Year of Flowers: Gladiolus

I am excited to have the opportunity to introduce you to the next addition in the Year of Flowers series, Gladiolus.  This particular flower has been requested by many of our customers and I am so pleased to be able to finally provide it to all of you.  

These gladiolus blooms were an absolute joy to illustrate.  Upon studying several different varieties, I loved how they featured tight clusters of blooms and knew that this would be one of the best yet.  Besides the single large set of blooms, this set also features sentiments that are interchangeable between all the sets as well as a "month" stamp that can be combined with the others to create a calendar.

The details.

• Year of Flowers: Gladiolus will be available for purchase on August 15th.
  
• It will retail for $15.
  
• Year of Flowers: Gladiolus contains a total of 5 stamps (1 large flower image and 4 sentiments)
  
• The sentiments are interchangeable with the other stamps in the Year of Flowers series: Violets, Daffodils, Sweet Peas, Lily of the Valley, Roses & Larkspurs.

Today I also want to introduce you to our new impression plate for August, Guide Lines Grid.  This double-ides impression plate allows you to create the perfect guide for using the images in the original Guide Lines stamp set.  One side of the plate features the grid in a horizontal orientation and the reverse side showcases a diagonal orientation.  Images from other sets will also coordinate with this grid as long as they are smaller than 3/4". Not to mention that the grid also looks amazing alone without any stamp embellishing.

The details.

• The Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate will be available for purchase on August 15th.
  
• It will retail for $16.
  
• The Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate is a double-sided plate measuring 4.5" x 5.75".
  
• The grid pattern that this creates will coordinate perfectly with the original Guide Lines stamp set.

Now let's get onto some fun projects, shall we?

My first card is a simple single layer card that lets the coloring take center stage.

I started by stamping the large gladiolus image with Black Noir Palette ink onto Stamper's Select White cardstock.

I then colored the image with Berry Sorbet & Ripe Avocado Copic Trios.  I didn't blend the darkest center portion of the flowers too much because I wanted to use it as a guide for glitter application in the next step.

I used a 2-way glue pen to apply adhesive to the center of each flower and sprinkled them with Prisma Glitter.  

Since I left the centers so vibrant in the previous step you can still see their detail & definition clearly.

The sentiment "I'm here for you, always" was stamped slightly overlapping the flower with black ink as well.  I love how simple this is yet still can play a role as an attention getter.

This next project showcases how you don't have to use the entire gladiolus image to create a beautiful focal point.

I started by cutting a piece of Stamper's Select White cardstock with the new Mat Stack 4 die.  I then stamped a portion of the gladiolus image on it using Black Noir ink.  I colored the image with Pure Poppy & Ripe Avocado Trios.  In real life, red gladiolus are some of my favorites and I love them just as much as a paper version.

I also used the new Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate on this project.  You can see here how the impressed grid allows you t line up the images from Guide Lines perfectly every time.

I love how the impression plate makes the finished background almost look like dimensional tile when completed.

I layered loops of Pure Poppy Satin ribbon underneath the focal point to create some drama.

I just adore how vibrant the red is when popped against crisp white and Kraft.  The word "gladiolus" from the set was added beside the floral image as a finishing touch.

I am quite certain that this card would look stunning recreated in several different colors, especially Raspberry Fizz!

This card is a more modern take on gladiolus.

I stamped the floral image on Kraft cardstock with Fresh Snow ink and sprinkled it with Filigree White embossing powder and heat to set.

 

I love how well this image pairs with heat embossing.  The technique really captures every detail of the flowers so well.

The sentiment was also heat embossed and underlined with a few lines of random stitching on my sewing machine.  I used glue dots to apply a few haphazard Simply Chartreuse buttons on the right hand side.

This project would make a wonderful gift if you were to package 5 or 6 of them together in a variety of colors!

I have one last project for you using this set.

I used our Linen Vellum for my focal point, stamping the gladiolus onto it using Aqua Mist ink.  

The Hawaiian Shores background was impressed with the Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate without the use of the Guide Lines stamp set.  I really like the simplicity of this.  I trimmed a thin strip of Stamper's Select White cardstock and adhered it on either side of the sentiment with a 2-way glue pen.  I then stitched over the border using my sewing machine.

The sentiment was stamped with Hawaiian Shores ink.

  

These elements were just a joy to work with!  I hope you leave this post feeling as inspired as ever!  What do you think of the new gladiolus?  Do you already own any of the other Year of Flowers sets?  And how about that Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate?  Do you already have the original Guide Lines set in your stash?  You could have a chance at winning an amazing prize package just for letting us know your thoughts!

• Year of Flowers: Gladiolus stamp set
  
• Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate
  
• Guide Lines stamp set

This prize package has a value of over $45, so you definitely will not want to miss out!  This contest will close at 7am EST, Saturday, August 14th.  Only one comment per person please.  One randomly selected winner will be announced by noon EST the same day on our August Release Winners page.  Thank you for stopping by and good luck!

 

Be sure to stop by and visit Debbie Olson today to see what she has created with Year of Flowers: Gladiolus.

 

PINK HERE FOR YOU CARD

• STAMPS: Year of Flowers: Gladiolus (available August 15th)
  
• INK: Black Noir Palette
  
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Kraft
  
• OTHER: Berry Sorbet & Ripe Avocado Copic Trios & T1, 2-way glue pen, prisma glitter
  
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

RED GLADIOLUS CARD

• STAMPS: Year of Flowers: Gladiolus (available August 15th), Guide Lines
  
• INK: Black Noir Palette, Fresh Snow
  
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Kraft
  
• OTHER: Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate, Pure Poppy Satin Ribbon, Mat Stack 4 die, Pure Poppy & Ripe Avocado Copic Trios & T1
  
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

GREEN HERE FOR YOU CARD

• STAMPS: Year of Flowers: Gladiolus (available August 15th)
  
• INK: Fresh Snow
  
• PAPER: Kraft, Simply Chartreuse
  
• OTHER: Filigree White Embossing Powder, Simply Chartreuse Buttons, sewing machine
  
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 6.25"

TOO KIND CARD

• STAMPS: Year of Flowers: Gladiolus (available August 15th)
  
• INK: Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores
  
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Hawaiian Shores, Linen Vellum
  
• OTHER: Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate
  
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"