Spring Fling Day One: Natural Beauties

Hello my dears, happy Friday to you!

Typically on Fridays we have a showcase of lovely cards by YOU, our wonderful customers, plus a round-up of the Bloom Brigade’s latest card making adventures. But today we have something extra. We’re starting previews of our new Spring Fling release, the first collection of clear stamps since October of last year! Aren’t you ready for some fresh stuff? The build-up to these peeks is palpable, and I am even feeling the tingles. So let’s do this.

First, we have to remember that I am obsessed with all things Spring. The sense of renewal, the verdant life bursting forth from frozen earth. The smell of the air. It’s easy to get swept up in!

Being based in St. Louis (can I get a holler for the Midwest?! WOO!) I’m a frequent visitor to the Missouri Botanical Garden. I think the daffodils and hellebores expect my arrival and give me a bit of a smirk when I’m all up in their grills trying to take detail photos. I know I was down on my knees snapping pix of these Primroses, a species which is commonly called Cowslips (Primula veris). Aren’t they daintily adorable? Like little petticoats.

By the way, a quick aside... to get these close up photos as I was just talking about, one DOES have to get in deep sometimes. Just this week, I was called out on Instagram by own daughter, Lulu, who apparently was taking photos of me taking photos of succulents and cacti in the Linnean House at the Botanical Garden... gave me a chuckle... because her caption is exactly what happened.

I left bits of my hair hanging from that big cactus arm like holiday tinsel... and in an unrelated piece of news, I got most of my hair cut off last night — and I already feel lighter!! Cacti, I will photograph you again, and this time I won’t leave my DNA dangling... OK, back to the pretty flowers.

Narcissus ‘Golden Echo’ was an inspiration for my drawings this spring, which I happily turned into images for stamping. I love how the flower heads of daffodils appear to be nodding, as if they are almost too shy to open. But then once they begin to unfurl, they cannot help but glow for all to enjoy!

These lovely woodland treasures, Trillium, were photographed at the Shaw Nature Reserve during one of my “Serenity Now” outings. Look at that speckled foliage, a perfect triad of billowy leaves to hoist up the three-petalled flower. This one is also known as Wake Robin, which is totally charming and old fashioned and you know I love stuff like that.

OK... enough of the nature, let’s get to the stamps!! Today’s preview features all of the plants we just discussed, plus a few more treasures, let’s give it up for Natural Beauties...

If you’re anything like me, this one is going to give you a thrill. One image is set up as a border, with a row of bulbs and primroses happily planted together. And THEN, there are four more images that work on their own as single plants, OR can be combined into a second spring border! eeee!! Girl, it is so fun to do what I do for a living.

Before I give you over to the Fabulous Bloom Brigade to show you what they’ve made for today, I want to point out that I am getting in to the Coordinating Dies game. We’re going to offer them with a few of our sets this release, and see how it goes!! Here’s what I’m talking about, check out the fun over on the left.

Right now the dies are up for pre-order, and they will start shipping after March 20. We’re so excited to begin offering these dies, as they are a huge time saver in the craft room as many of you already know.

One last announcement... we have two more days left for you to enter in our HUGE GIVEAWAY of all 8 stamp sets from this release, along with a friend of your choice getting the 8 stamp sets, too!! Have you entered yet? You just have to follow me on Instagram (@marcellahawley or @powerpoppy) OR like/follow us on Facebook OR sign up for our email newsletter. Then, go leave a comment on this post or on the Giveaway post on Instagram or Facebook or all of them to increase your chances of winning!

OK, folks, are you ready for a blog hop to see the possibilities with Natural Beauties? Let’s ROLL!

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber

Kathy Jones

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Thank you so much for coming by. We’ll return tomorrow with TWO more stamp previews from our March release. Eeeeeeee!! Enjoy your tour!