Introducing Mat Stack 2 Collection & Year of Flowers: Poinsettias

Welcome back for Day 3 of the countdown!  I have even more to introduce to you today, so sit back and relax as we dive in!

The first set I am sharing with you today is the Mat Stack 2 Collection.  We began this series to bring a product line to life that was requested by our customers.  This is an entire set designed to coordinate with our Mat Stack 2 die, containing frames, decorative tab elements and perfectly scaled sentiments.  This set has more of an elegant feel to coincide with the shape.  The wonderful think is that it can be dressed up or dressed down to suit your needs!

The details.

• Mat Stack 2 Collection will be available for sale on December 15th.
• It will retail for $24.
• Mat Stack 2 Collection includes a total of 19 stamps (6 full-size frames, 3 frame accents and 10 sentiments)
• All of the full-size frames in the Mat Stack 2 Collection are designed to coordinate with the Mat Stack 2 die.

The next set I get to introduce is Year of Flowers: Poinsettias, the next set in the Year of Flowers series.  Poinsettias offer such a festive touch to the month of December and I thought it was fitting that they be included in this portion of the series.  The detail and size of the blooms is perfect for taking center stage!

The details.

• Year of Flower: Poinsettias will be available for purchase on December 15th.
• It will retail for $15.
• Year of Flowers: Poinsettias contains a total of 7 stamps (2 flowers and 5 sentiments).
• The sentiments are interchangeable with all previously released Year of Flowers sets.

I have one more little surprise for you today and that is the introduction of the Heart Prints die collection!  This set of three dies will coordinate with the images found in our previously released Heart Prints stamp set.  Think warm & cozy felt hearts!

The details.

• The Heart Prints Die Collection will be available for purchase on December 15th.
• The set of three dies will retail for $6.
• The Heart Prints Die Collection contains three heart sizes that coordinate with the original Heart Prints stamp set.  The dies measure 1.75" (Large), 1" (Medium) and 1/2" (Small).

Now onto some fun projects using today's new introductions!

I thought I would start off with something that's all about winter whites & lots of sparkle!

I stamped Background Basics: Sheet Music on Vintage Cream cardstock using Haystack (Palette) ink.  I then stamped the small and large poinsettia images on top of the sheet music using Dark Chocolate ink.

I trimmed the flowers out with sharp scissors and then swiped some 2-way glue around the edges, allowing it to smudge.  I then sprinkled on Prisma Glitter.

I curved the ends of the petals up just a bit with my fingertips for dimension.  I also added three adhesive pearls to the center of the top bloom.

I used 1/8" Scor-tape to create a glitter frame around the edge of the card.  Adhesive pearls are in each of the four corners of the cover as well.

I love, LOVE the combination of Vintage Cream & Fine Linen and I love how soft and pretty this project turned out!

Now for a little project that uses the poinsettias as a background rather than a focal point.

I stamped both the small and large poinsettias onto Berry Sorbet cardstock using Vintage Cream ink.  I also swiped the ink pad around the edges of the cardstock to help soften everything.

I diecut the Mat Stack 2 shape from white cardstock and then stamped it with this beautiful frame from the Mat Stack 2 Collection.

Berry Sorbet buttons flank either side of the focal point, tied with Rustic Jute Twine.

I used another piece of my torn muslin strips as pleating across the card cover, stitching it in place with my sewing machine.

I love the softness of this little card, perfect for Christmas gift thank you's and more!

For my next project, I decided to break out the Copics!

First, I stamped the poinsettias in Black Noir ink on my white card front.

I colored the blooms in with Scarlet Jewel Copic Trio.  I love how realistic they look once you add color!

I wanted to add some leaves, so I stamped just the points of some of the flower petals around the edges and colored them with the Ripe Avocado Copic Trio.

I wrapped some simple Rustic Jewel Button Twine around the card a few times as an accent.

This sentiment was stamped onto the Mat Stack 2 shape using black ink.  The frame was added from the Mat Stack 2 Collection using Fresh Snow ink.  Followed by Text Style II with Versamark.  

A few little rhinestones finished off the beautiful frame.

For this last card, I decided to mix Mat Stack 2 Collection with Heart Prints in celebration of the new dies!

I stamped this frame from Mat Stack 2 Collection onto Ocean Tides cardstock with Fresh Snow ink.

I diecut the largest heart die from kraft cardstock, followed by the medium heart from Simply Chartreuse felt.

I stamped the heart with one of the images from Heart Prints using Fresh Snow ink, then layered the heart on top of it.  A single line of stitching on my sewing machine held everything together. A little white button serves as a finishing detail.

I used the "xoxo" sentiment from HEart Prints to layer over the edge of the frame and help create a little balance to the project.

I love the simplicity of this and can think of a million and one embellishments that I could add to the centers of this frame in a similar style to this card!  What about you?

I hope you enjoyed all of today's creative offerings!  I certainly loved having the opportunity to experiment with these fantastic products and I was thrilled to be able to share the results with you.  What are your first impressions of these sets?  Do you already own the Mat Stack 2 die?  Do you think this set will help you to use it more often?  Is there any project or particular image from these sets that appeals to you?  We would love to hear from you!  You can have a chance at winning this amazing prize package just for sharing your thoughts with us!

• Mat Stack 2 Collection stamp set
• Mat Stack 2 die
• Year of Flowers: Poinsettias stamp set
• Heart Prints stamp set
• Heart Prints die collection

You have until 7am EST, Monday December 13th to leave your comment and be eligible to win.  Only one comment per person please.  One randomly selected winner will announced on our December 2010 Release Winners page by noon EST.  Thank you for stopping by today and good luck!

Lisa Johnson is featuring additional projects using the Mat Stack 2 Collection.

Erin Lincoln has some cards using Year of Flowers: Poinsettias today.

Melissa Bickford has even more to share using Make a Wish & Additions.

Heather Nichols is showcasing additional inspiration with both of her new sets today.

Dawn McVey is focusing on her new sets, Love Birds and Background Basics: Sheet Music, as well as the latest Color Couture products.

GLITTERED WINTER BIRTHDAY CARD

• STAMPS: Year of Flowers: Poinsettias, Make a Wish, Background Basics: Sheet Music (available December 15th)
• INK: Dark Chocolate, Haystack Palette, Tea Dye Duo
• PAPER: Vintage Cream, Fine Linen
• OTHER: 2-way Glue Pen, Prisma Glitter, Adhesive Pearls (KaiserCraft), 1/8" Scor-tape, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate, sewing machine
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

THANKS SO MUCH CARD

• STAMPS: Mat Stack 2 Collection, Year of Flowers: Poinsettias (available December 15th), Mega Mixed Messages
• INK: True Black, Vintage Cream, Berry Sorbet
• PAPER: Vintage Cream, Berry Sorbet, Kraft
• OTHER: Mat Stack 2 die, Berry Sorbet Buttons, Rustic Jute Button Twine, torn muslin fabric strip, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

FOR YOU CARD

• STAMPS: Mat Stack 2 Collection, Year of Flowers: Poinsettias (available December 15th), Background Basics: Text Style II
• INK: Black Noir, Fresh Snow, VersaMark
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Scarlet Jewel, Kraft
• OTHER: Mat Stack 2 die, Scarlet Jewel, Ripe Avocado & T1 Copics, Rustic Jute Button Twine, rhinestones (KaiserCraft)
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

LAYERED HEARTS CARD

• STAMPS: Mat Stack 2 Collection (available December 15th), Heart Prints
• INK: True Black, Fresh Snow
• PAPER: Kraft, Ocean Tides
• OTHER: Heart Prints die collection, Simply Chartreuse felt, sewing machine, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Cream Vintage Button, thread
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"