Gifts of Giving | Rustic Gift Bag with Vanessa

Hello everybody! Vanessa here today with a little project for you. Our November theme is gift giving, so I made a Christmas gift bag. I love the rustic feel of burlap and thought it would look nice together with a chalkboard look. I played around and here comes the result:

I first trimmed a piece of black card stock to fit my burlap bag. Then I stamped and heat-embossed the joy from The Big, the Bold and the Merry using white embossing powder. To create the chalkboard look, I added a shadow to the word with a white pencil, drew a frame with the pencil and smeared some white pigment ink over the panel. The panel was adhered to the burlap bag using strong tape. Now I stamped the pinecones, berries and branches from Winter Woodland repeatedly onto card stock and cut them all out. Then I arranged them to create the wreath and adhered all elements, popping up some with foam tape. 

I hope you like my rustic gift bag! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Vanessa

w&w supplies:

The Big, the Bold and the Merry

Winter Woodland

InLinkz.com

Currently...

We (Julie + Shay) are recovering from our October Release and getting into the holiday groove.  How about you?

>>>JANUARY 2015: A MONTH OF FIRSTS<<<

We are also looking ahead to attending (but not exhibiting...we will probably be walking around looking like tourists) our first CHA (we would love to meet you!)  and our big first birthday in January!!  We want it to be a month-long party!

What would you like to see from us?

>>>PLAYDATE NO. 4 IS ON<<<

Please don't forget to play along with our Playdate No. 4 for a chance to participate in our January Release!  CLICK HERE for details.

>>>OCTOBER RELEASE STOCK UPDATE<<<

Both Winter Woodland and The Big, the Bold and the Merry Cutaways are sold out presently and we anticipate having them back in stock the week of November 24, 2014.  Winter Woodland is available right now at several online stores:

Butterfly Reflections Ink
i {heart} papers
Simon Says Stamp
Starlit Studio
And arriving soon at Make the Day Special Stamp Store

>>>GIFTS OF GIVING<<<

This month on the w&w blog we will be focusing upon Gifts of Giving and the next couple of weeks will be full of inspiring projects by the Talent!  Gifts of Giving is about giving thanks, showing gratitude, giving of gifts and crafting out of love.

Did you see our November Leading Lady, Nadine Perez's gorgeous projects last Saturday?  If not CLICK HERE now!  She will be joining us for the rest of November's Saturdays.

We would love for you to jump in and also share your Gifts of Giving.  For a chance to win a 4x6 stamp set link your projects on our join in to win! page.

We would love to hear from you so comment away!

Sending hugs and kisses to you!
Walter, Julie, Winnie & Walter

November Leading Lady Nadine Perez | Take One

Today we have the great pleasure of introducing our November Leading Lady, Nadine Perez.   We were really taken with her use of cheerful, vibrant color and clean design.  Over the next few Saturdays in November Nadine will be leading us on a journey of her own design and imagining.  Make sure to visit her blog, Wahine Inks, to see more from her and for a chance to win a giveaway!  

Give Nadine a big round of applause to welcome her as she steps onto the stage for her first performance as our November Leading Lady!   


Aloha to all the Winnie and Walter fans out there! I couldn't believe my email when Shay and Julie contacted me about becoming a Leading Lady. I was giddy with excitement and ran around screaming like a mad woman, lol! I can't tell you how very honored I am that they chose me.

I wanted to introduce myself before I continue with the projects.  My name is Nadine Perez and Im also known around the web as wahinelei (wahine is a Hawaiian word for female/girl and lei is short for my middle name Leilani). My blog is Wahine Inks and it's oftentimes neglected because Im usually out and about hiking or working up a sweat at the gym.  I live in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, and am a single mommy of two. I became a widow 7 years ago and discovered stamping about 4 years ago.  I am so glad to be a part of the paper-crafting community! It has helped to get me through difficult, lonely times. You couldn't find a nicer bunch of ladies (and gentlemen) anywhere.

Winnie and Walter's recent release was jam packed with gorgeous holiday goodies so I wanted to go with a holiday theme as my first project. I decided to make framed shaker pictures. Here's my first one:

On this frame I used the creative cuts from the The Big, the Bold, and the Merry as my focal point. The tree and deer are from the stamp set Winter Woodland. I also used their creative screening: Big Bang Sci-fi Star in the background. Once I had everything stamped, cut, and assembled I inserted it into my frame, tied a ribbon around it, and added sequins. Here's a closer look: 

For this post I actually took out the glass out because the reflection from the glass made it hard to take a good picture. Afterwards, I put the glass back and now I have a shaker-type picture frame! 

I decided to go for a more clean and simple look here. I used the creative cuts from The Big, the Bold, and the Merry and also stamped additional words from the set. To make it a shaker picture I added jingle bells into the frame. My daughter loves this one and can't stop shaking it around, lol! 

As you can see it is very easy to create your holiday decorations or holiday gifts. Winnie and Walter's creative cuts and gorgeous stamps sets make it a breeze to do. Your friends and family will be way impressed! 

Would you like a chance to win a $30 gift card to get your very own W&W products? Just head on over to my blog Wahine Inks and comment on my Leading Lady posts throughout the month. I will pick a winner at the end of the month from all the Leading Lady posts so you will have several chances to enter! 

Playdate No. 4

It is that time again for our search for our next guest star!  There is nothing we love better than to see others play around with w&w designs.   From today until November 28 at 11:55 p.m. central we will have our Playdate No. 4 (#wwplaydate4) open for you to play along with Winnie and Walter and everyone else.

Rustic Elegance image found here and here

Silver Elegance Tree photo by Julie Mogford of a Cracker Barrel in store Christmas Tree (2013)

>>>RULES OF PLAY<<<

• Post an original and new project (card, layout, journaling card, tag, gift, art journal page, etc.) inspired by the Playdate No. 4 image on your blog and/or online gallery and link up here using the InLinkz Link-up tool below.  Let your imagination go wild on how the image inspires you.  We would love to read how the Playdate No. 4 colors and/or image(s) inspired you.  {Feel free to combine Playdate with any other current challenges.}  You do not need to use all the colors!
• Use at least one (1) winnie & walter product.  This can include printable/digital items, cut files and/or stamp sets.  Remember we offer freebies in our shop and for those who have liked us on Facebook.  Our freebies can be used to create your project(s) for Playdate.
• You have until November 28, 2014 at 11:55 p.m. (central standard time) to link up.
• Play as many times as you wish.  We love playful people!

Now, why would you join in and play?  One, you love w&w, right?!?  But if that is not enough here's why:

>>>THE GIVEAWAY<<<

We are giving away a guest star spot for our Seventh Release in January (it's our Birthday month!  woot!!).  This means one (1) winner chosen by us will receive the January Release + will participate in the January Release by having their projects featured here on the w&w blog along with The Talent.

The winner will not be chosen at random, but rather because of awesome playing skills.  

Fine print: Please don't enter to win unless you are willing to:

•  make at least one (1) project per stamp set (at least four (4) stamp sets) for the January Release;
•  post your projects online (on your personal blog or an online gallery); and
•  also participate in all the release festivities! 

The winner will be announced December 1st and will have 72 hours to send an email to info {at} winniewalter {dot} com with their name and mailing address.  Please use Playdate No. 4 Winner in the subject line of your email to us.

An InLinkz Link-up

Status Report

Hello lovely ladies and gents!

>>>SHIPPING NEWS<<<

We are on target with our shipping from our October Release.  Yay!  Our stamps will also start to pop up in some online stores.

We hope you will share your pictures of what you bought and your w&w projects on Instagram, Facebook and/or Twitter using #winniewalter.  Don't forget to post your w&w projects on our join in to win! page for a chance at winning a 4x6 stamp set.

Our shipping department (aka Shay) will be out of town from this Thursday, November 6, 2014 - Sunday, November 9, 2014.  All orders placed from Wednesday, November 5, 2014 - Sunday, November 9, 2014 will be packed beginning on Monday, November 10.  Our shipping department will do all in her their power to ship your orders out as soon as possible.

>>>STOCK UPDATE<<<

We have limited quantities of both The Big, the Bold and the Merry Cutaways (exclusively at the w&w shop) and Winter Woodland.  We will be ordering more but if you want it soon, we recommend purchasing it now.  

>>>HEADS UP<<<

If you have ever wanted to guest with w&w, check out the w&w blog tomorrow for an opportunity to play + win a guest star spot.  The chosen winner receives the full January release and is featured on the w&w blog during our release week alongside The Talent who are quite spectacular.

We think this is a pretty sweet prize for playing along!

Sending you all hugs,
Walter, Julie, Winnie & Shay

October Giveaway Winners

It is high time to announce the winners of October's monthly giveaways and to tell everyone how much we treasure each of your comments, adding our blinkie to your blog and for creating such magnificent art with our products.  It humbles us mightily.  We may need food, water, sleep and shelter to live, but it is you that is one of the things that makes the living rewarding! :-)

>>>OCTOBER GIVEAWAY WINNERS<<<

Now, our random October giveaway winners.  Woohoo!

September's blog blinkie winner culled from those who linked up on the blog blinkie page:

October's join in to win! comment winner culled from the w&w blog comments:

October's join in to win! project winner culled from the project links on the join in to win! page:

Congratulations!

Winners please contact info {at} winniewalter {dot} com by Friday, November 7 at 12:00 p.m. with which winner you are in the subject (for example September blog blinkie giveaway winner, September join in to win! comment giveaway winner, or September join in to win! project giveaway winner).  If we don't hear from a winner by Friday, November 7 at 12:00 p.m. we will pick another winner in that category (and we really, really hate to do that!!).

Giveaway winners:  we will provide you with a coupon code to use to purchase a free 4x6 stamp set of your choice.  If the stamp set is not currently in stock, don't worry the coupon code will not expire immediately.  Coupon codes can be used with purchase of other products.  Winner will be responsible to pay for shipping & handling.

Thank you to everyone who commented, added our blinkie to your blog and/or linked your fabulous projects.  Every single comment, linked project and blog blinkie placed on your blog is a gift to us.  

Remember these monthly giveaways are well, monthly...we are just saying. :-) 

Have an awesome day,
Julie, Walter, Shay & Winnie

October Release Winners Revealed!

Hello everyone!  We are so excited to share the names of the Giveaway Winners with you!

Winner of Eat Drink Gingerbread Man + Mini Scenery: The Peppermint Zone + Creative Screenings 

Winner of Mini Scenery: Into the Woods + Scenery: Big Bang Flurries (will be sent once available) + Winter Woodland

Winner of Happy Christmas + The Big, the Bold and the Merry + Cutaways

Winner of Stampets: Penguin + Stampets: The Gift + Stampets: Turkey

Winner of The Big Giveaway (Scenery: Big Bang Flurries will be sent once available)

Congratulations to all of the winners!  We are looking forward to seeing your creations!!!

A big thank you to all of you who commented.  We really enjoy reading your comments and compliments! You are so kind and we are happy to have you in the w&w family. We appreciate your support more than we can say.

We {heart} you!

Winnie, Walter, Shay and Julie

All winners please email info{at} winniewalter {dot} com within 72 hours to claim your prizes.

Our October Release is Now Playing!

Happy November!  The stamps, digital elements, creative screenings and cutaways are now being sold in our shop.  And it is time for thanks and also for a little peek into what is coming up.

>>>THE TALENT<<<

We would be a sky without stars if not for our incredible creative team, The Talent.  They have humbled us once again with their wonderfulness and we feel so very fortunate to have an amazing group creating dynamite projects with our designs.  We will be featuring each of The Talent and their projects on their own in the coming weeks.  THANK YOU!

If you haven't had a chance check out each of The Talent.  Their blogs are amazing and you will want need to follow them!

CLICK HERE for Gayatri Murali's blog
CLICK HERE for Heather Pulvirenti's blog
CLICK HERE for Joni Adaya's blog
CLICK HERE for Kelly Griglione's blog
CLICK HERE for Laura Sterckx's blog
CLICK HERE for Lea Lawson's blog
CLICK HERE for Mayuri's blog
CLICK HERE for Vanessa Menhorn's blog

>>>GUEST STARS<<<

A big round of applause to our Guest Stars, Cresta Woodruff, Jennifer Ingle, Kate Capper and Shirley Bampton!  We loved working with these outstandingly talented and gracious ladies!  They were such a pleasure to work with and we were delighted by their creativity and generosity of sharing their talent with us!

CLICK HERE for Cresta Woodruff's blog.
CLICK HERE for Jennifer Ingle's blog.
CLICK HERE for Kate Capper's blog.
CLICK HERE for Shirley Bampton's blog

Thank you so much for making our October Release such a smashing success!  Check back later today to see who won our October Release giveaways.

>>>COMING SOON<<<

• Our next Playdate will be announced next week.  Play along for a chance to be out guest star for our January Release.  Cresta was our last Playdate winner...you could have the same opportunity to play along with the Talent for our first birthday month (it is going to be a whole lot of fun).
• We have really exciting Leading Ladies this month and next!
• More posts full of inspiration with a special focus this month!
• A fun sponsorship in December.

The Show is About to Begin...

Don't forget to enter all of our giveaways that are open until tonight, October 31 until 11:59 p.m. CST:

To enter our October Release's The Big Giveaway CLICK HERE.

To enter to win Eat Drink Gingerbread Man + Mini Scenery: The Peppermint Zone + Creative Screenings CLICK HERE

To enter to win Mini Scenery: Into the Woods + Scenery: Big Bang Flurries + Winter Woodland CLICK HERE

To enter to win Happy Christmas + The Big, the Bold and the Merry + Cutaways CLICK HERE 

To enter to win Stampets: Penguin + Stampets: The Gift + Stampets: Turkey CLICK HERE!
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Reveal is just around the corner and we thought we would let you see what is in store for you. Winnie & Walter is a tiny pup of a company with a big heart.  We are still growing into our paws.  Your continued support is so appreciated.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Should anything sell out be assured we will do all we can to get it back in stock as quickly as possible.

>>>THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN<<<

We've got a lot of new products coming out tonight, October 31 at 8:00 p.m. CST...a lot!

Please note that due to a mix-up Scenery: Big Bang Flurries will not be release tonight.  We will keep you posted!

The October Release will be available for purchase over in our online store shortly (check there around 8:00 p.m central standard time).  Through November 14 the coordinating digital elements (which includes cut files) are free with purchase!

If you are buying October Release stamp sets from October 31 - November 14 please do ***NOT*** add the coordinating digital elements (cut files) to your cart as they will automatically be emailed to you without you needing to take any action.

Here it is in full:

Stamps + Digital Elements (free with purchase until November 14, 2014--please do NOT add them to your cart as they will automatically be emailed to you)

Creative Screenings (available exclusively in the w&w shop in 2014): 

Duo: Bubble Talk Creative Screenings

Duo: The Big, the Bold and Extras Creative Screenings

Duo: Flash Creative Screenings

Scenery: Big Bang Classic Star Creative Screenings

Scenery: Big Bang Circle Creative Screenings

Scenery: Big Bang Sci-fi Star Creative Screenings

Scenery: Classic Diagonal Creative Screenings

Scenery: Flash Creative Screenings

Scenery: Grand Diagonal Creative Screenings

Scenery: Persuasion Script Creative Screenings

Scenery: Rectangled Creative Screenings

Scenery: Triangled Creative Screenings

Scenery: V for cheVron Creative Screenings

The Big, the Bold and Blessings Creative Screenings

The Big, the Bold and Fun Creative Screenings

The Big, the Bold and Seasons Creative Screenings

The Big, the Bold and the Happy Creative Screenings

The Big, the Bold and the Merry Creative Screenings

The Big, the Bold and You Creative Screenings

Cutaways (available exclusively in the w&w shop in 2014):

The Big, the Bold and Blessings Cutaways

The Big, the Bold and Seasons Cutaways

The Big, the Bold and the Happy Cutaways

The Big, the Bold and the Merry Cutaways