Introducing Building Blocks

Today, we're going graphic with stylish design elements and sentiments that pair together beautifully to give you a fresh take on creating cards for your loved ones!  You're sure to love all the inspiration we have in store for you!

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This new basic takes sentiments to a whole new level.  Stack the block images and add then add the sentiment sections in the appropriate order. This is a wonderful way to bring added attention to your sentiments on a single layer card.  New design options also open up with the addition of the coordinating dies and all of the layering possibilities!

The Details: 

• Building Blocks will be available for purchase on February 15th.
• It will retail for $24.
• Building Blocks contains a total of 55 images.  The largest blocks measure 2-1/2" x 3/8".  The smallest blocks measure 7/8" x 3/8".  "I love you" measures 1-1/4" x 1/4".  "For all that you are" measures 2" x 1/4".  "Sparkle" measures 1" x 1/4".  "Que sera sera" measures 1-1/2" x 1/4".  "Whatever will be will be." measures 2-3/8" x 1/4".
• A coordinating die collection will be available for sale separately, retailing for $6.  This collection includes a set of 2 dies (4 wired shapes + 4 wired shapes).  2-1/2" x 1-7/8" overall, 3/8" x 2-1/2" individually (A), 1-3/4" x 1-7/8" overall, 3/8" x 1-3/4" individually (B)

This collection of patterned blocks is designed to coordinate with our Day By Day Calendar die.  You can use the various blocks to add patterns to each day of the week.  Even without the use of the die, these rounded blocks can make some fun graphic elements and unique backgrounds!  

And the die?  We can't say enough good things about it!  Just slightly smaller than 4×6, it's the perfect size to incorporate into your Monthly Moments pocket pages!  The dates can be easily popped out and moved around to suit the month you are creating it for.  You can make your calender projects as simple or as detailed as you like! 

While I only got a chance to create one example using the die today, I will have another layout to share tomorrow that incorporates the coordinating stamps. 

The Details: 

• Day by Day Blocks stamp set will be available for purchase on February 15th.
• It will retail for $5.
• The set contains a total of twelve 5/8" square pattern blocks.
• the Day by Day Calender die that coordinates with the stamp set will be available for purchase separately  for $15.  It measures 3-7/8" x 5-7/8", fitting perfectly into the Monthly Moments pocket pages.  

Now that I've made all of the formal introductions, let's get onto the projects!

One of the great things about Building Blocks, and one of the reasons I designed the set, is so that you had a way to give sentiments as extra *pop* on a single layer card.  Sometimes the sentiment can kind of get lsot, especially if combining it with a detailed image.  But these blocks provide an instant "mat" for your sentiments giving them more definition without having to do a whole lot of work!

I stamped Doodlie-do onto white cardstock using Charcoal Palette ink.

I then stamped the various Building Blocks using Simply Chartreuse, Orange Zest and Raspberry Fizz.  The sentiments were heat embossed using Black Filigree Embossing Powder.

This was adhered to a Soft Stone card base and tied with Raspberry Fizz baker's twine.  This card came together so quickly, in less than 30 minutes actually.  So just imagine how much time the Building Blocks could poentially save you whe you are creating!

Now I want to show you a very similar design, except this time I used the Building Blocks images with the coordinating dies.  

I stamped Year of Flowers: Morning Glories onto Classic Kraft cardstock and heat embossed it with White Filigree Embossing Powder.  I carefully outlined the flowers with a T1 Copic marker.  

I die cut the Building Blocks from white cardstock and stampeed them with their background patterns, then added the sentiments.  I love the whole concept of these Building Blocks dies because it takes the guesswork out of where to put your sentiment.  The strips are so small, you can ad them anywhere and still let your images be the star of the show, unlike larger frames or mats. The other thing I love about these is that it is easy to make a new block if you make a mistake stamping the sentiment; just discard the block without a second thought.  When you stamp it directly onto the card and make an error, you have to get rid of the whole card or cover it up.  These Building Blocks just make it easier in my book!

Adding all of this to a white card base helps the embossing from the morning glories pop from the page!

I have one last card for you today.  I designed all three of the new Cover Plate: Stripes dies to coordinate with the sentiments found in Building Blocks.  The stripes are the same height as the Building Blocks dies.  Here is a card I made with the Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal die.

I die-cut several different colors of stripes and heat embossed them with the various pieces of this sentiment from Building Blocks, using White Filigree Embossing Powder.  Then I popped all of the stripes back into the white frame on my white card base.

The *Love* strip was popped up with foam tape to give it a bit more dimension.  I'm thinking of all kinds of color combos that would work great with this layout!

I have another Monthly Moments layout to share with you today.  A few more additions to my 6×8 "Our Story" album.  David and I recently got to attend a Great Gatsby themed event and I had some pictures and memorabilia that I wanted to put together on a page.

The first page featues two 3×4 pockets above a single 4×6 pocket.

In the 4×6 pocket I added the new Day by Day Calender die-cut.  I cut the calender from Classic Kraft cardstock twice.  I reserved just the frame from the first cut and dsicarded the numbers.  Then with the second cut I left everything right in the die.  The nice thing about this die is that you can go as simple or as elaborate as you want.  The numbers need to poked out most of the time, so it gives you the ability to leave them intact and not worry about adhering them again later.  I choose to keep it simple and leave most of my calender in the Classic Kraft color.

To help make it super easy to move the days around, I used my tape runner to add a bit of adhesive to the back of each number block, leaving them right in the die while I did it.  This leaves the numbers in order and makes less work all the way around.

The frame I had die-cut with the first run is adhered to a plain Classic Kraft backer.  I looked up when the first day was in November and just started working my way through the numbers squares, popping the blocks into place within the frame.  I decided to time myself and it took exactly 4-1/2 minutes to get all of my days into place!  It was kind of fun too!

I used this pretty script "November" and "2013" from the Calender Basics stamp set to add the month at the top and heat emboss it in gold.  For future reference, the monthly title included in Dawn's new Birthday Classics line will work well with this too.  Not to mention Heather's Monthly Moments die-cut titles as well!

I wanted to add emphasis to the day that the layout was for, so I heat embossed that one number block with Gold Filigree Embossing Powder.  I also used the Background Basics: Diagonals die with Melon Berry striped paper to create these fun arrows pointing to the day.  Can you just IMAGINE the possibilities with the calender die?  There are hundreds and hundreds of ways you could customize this for your layouts!

I designed two 3×4 cards to go above the calender block.  For this one I started out with Gold Shimmer cardstock.  I stamped it with Background Basics: Rainbows and heat embossed it with Gold Filigree Embossing Powder.  I die-cut Building Blocks from Vintage Cream cardstock and added the sentiments in True Black.  The tiny stars were stamped and heat embossed in gold too.  The gold embossing on the gold shimmer cardstock is breath-taking in person!  I wish you were here to see it!

This Vintage Cream card is fairly simple with just our photo at the top.  I die-cut the "you" from the Wonderful Words die collection three times and adhered them together.  Then I pressed the whole thing into a VersaMark pad and heat embossed it.  The other letters were cut using the Block Alphabet dies, done in two layers to help add just a bit of dimension.  I really like the subtle look of the letters cut from the same color cardstock as the card base.

I saved the program cover from the event and used it as a divider of sorts.  It is attached to Classic Kraft cardstock.  I added a few gold stars cut from Gold Shimmer cardstock using the new Sketched Stars dies.

The edge detail is one of my favorites!  It is a strip of Gold Shimmer cardstock heat embossed with one of the patterns from Background Basics: Twinkle.  I think it looks very *art deco* to go with the event theme.

On the back side of the program cover divider I added my journaling and a little scrap leftover from die-cutting the arrows from the calender.  Th opposing page is clear and preserves one of the feathers I wore in my hair on the night of the event.  I started by cutting a sheet of Clear Cardstock down to size and adding my page elements to it from there.

I printed this quote from The Great Gatsby onto Gold Shimmer cardstock to use as an accent.  A few scattered gold sequins help to being out the feeling of elegance I was going for.

I love this clear page and how you can ssee elements from the page underneath it.

The next page features a photo strip we had made at the photo boot at the event as well as a few other things.  This worked out well for this particular pocket page that has the tall narrow pocket on one side.

I added a gold embossed label (Limitless Layers: Labels) to this photo I took of my costume accessories for that night.  The sentiment is from Monthly Moments: February.  I also die-cut several star buttons (Star Gazer die collection) from Gold Shimmer cardstock and stitched them in place directly to the photo.

This block of Melon Berry striped paper is heat embossed with Circle Scribbles and Monthly Moments: Days of the Week.  I die-cut the Headline Numbers from Gold Shimmer cardstock and added them to the center of the circle.  I know this layout is very specific to one theme, but I hope you were able to draw lots of inspiration from it and use bits & pieces in your own layouts!

Now that you have seen a few of my creations, here are some of the amazing things that the team has created!

CLICK HERE to see more from Ashley Cannon Newell and to get the first color selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Betsy Veldman and to get the second color selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Cristina Kowalczyk and to get the third color selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Danielle Flanders and to get the neutral selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Dawn McVeyand to get the sketch selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Erin Lincoln and to get the occasion selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Heather Nichols and to get the technique selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Laura Bassen and to get the embellishment selection for your project.

CLICK HERE to see more from Melissa Phillips and to get the fiber selection for your project.

I hope you have enjoyed all these amazing creations that both the team and I have shared with you today!  Is the designer in you just itching to play with this new stamp set and dies?  Are you already buzzing with ideas on how you could use this set yourself?  We would love to hear your initial thoughts on everything we introduced!  Please leave a comment on this post to tell us what you think of the new products and you will be eligible to win big!

CLICK HERE to see more from Lizzie Jones.

CLICK HERE to see more from Melissa Bickford.

1. Create a new project based on the nine design *building blocks* youn collect from each of the design team members.

2. Your project must use at least one Papertrey product.

3. Upload a photo of your project to your blog, online gallery or any other photo-hosting site (such as photobucket or flickr).

4. Add the direct link to your project on our InLinkz list below.

5. You may create as many projects as you like for the challenge, but each project should have a separate link.

6.  And/or you can leave a comment here to be eligible to win.  What do you think of all the blocks today?  Is there a certain project or perhaps a new product that has you especially inspired?  We would love to hear your initial thoughts on everything we introduced!    (Just click the small "comments" link in blue beside the date in the footer of this post.  If you are reading this as an email subscription, be sure to click through to the actual blog to leave an eligible comment)

7. You have until 7am EST, Thursday, February 14th to add your project link or comment and qualify for the contest.

8. SEVEN randomly selected winners will be announced on our February Release Winners page no later than noon EST, February 14th.

SEVEN randomly selected winners will each receive a $70 Papertrey gift certificate to spend however they choose! Thank you for joining us today and best of luck with the contest!

WEARING THE SMILE YOU GAVE ME CARD

• STAMPS: Building Blocks (available February 15th) Doodlie-do
• INK: VersaMark, Charcoal Palette, Simply Chartreuse, Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Soft Stone
• OTHER: Raspberry Fizz Baker's Twine, Black Filigree Embossing Powder
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

FAR BETTER THINGS AHEAD CARD

• STAMPS: Building Blocks (available February 15th) Year of Flowers: Morning Glories
• INK: VersaMark, Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Winter Wisteria, Royal Velvet
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Classic Kraft
• OTHER: Building Blocks dies, White Filigree Embossing Powder, T1 Copic Marker
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

I LOVE YOU CARD

• STAMPS: Building Blocks (available February 15th) 
• INK: VersaMark, Orange Zest
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal
• OTHER: Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal, White Filigree Embossing Powder
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

GREAT GATSBY LAYOUTS

• STAMPS: Building Blocks, Monthly Moments: Slide Frame, Monthly Moments: February, Limitless Layers: Labels, Circle Scribbles, Monthly Moments: Days of the Week (available February 15th) Background Basics: Rainbows, Calender Basics, Background Basics: Twinkle
• INK: VersaMark, True Black
• PAPER: Gold Shimmer, Vintage Cream, Classic Kraft, Melon Berry Pattern Pack (stripes), Clear Cardstock
• OTHER: Building Blocks dies, Wonderful Words die (you), Block Alphabet dies, Day by Day Calender die, Sketched Stars dies, Background Basics: Diagonals die, Limitless Layers: 1-3/4" Circle die, Star Gazer dies, Headline Number dies, Gold Filigree Embossing Powder, gold sequins, pinking shears
• FINISHED SIZE: 6" x 8" pages