Crafting Essentials: Grid Paper!!!

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I thought I would share a few of my crafting essentials! These things come in handy when crafting. While not always necessary, they do make thing easier sometimes!

Grid Paper, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Grid paper is something I use every time I am stamping and take to each of my Stamp Classes! This might be a surprise but it’s a very versatile tool! Here are several practical and creative uses for grid paper that you can use in your card-making and stamping setup:


Practical Uses for Grid Paper in Card Making & Stamping

1. Stamping Alignment & Positioning

  • Use the grid lines to align stamps perfectly—especially helpful with sentiments or geometric patterns.
  • Easily center die cuts or embellishments by working on a gridded background!!

2. Protect Your Work Surface

  • Prevent ink, glue, or marker bleed-through from damaging your table or crafting area.
  • Grid paper catches all the mess during inky techniques like blending or spritzing.
  • Once it gets too messy, just toss it and grab another sheet!

3. Measuring & Layout Planning

  • Use the printed measurements to pre-plan card layouts or matting layers.
  • Quickly check dimensions without grabbing a ruler!

4. Practice Stamping

  • Test new stamps or ink colors on it before using them on your project.
  • Use for stamping off to achieve different color variations or for 2-step stamping!
  • Practice pressure and placement, especially with photopolymer stamps.

5. Masking & Blending

  • Use sheets to mask off areas or to create temporary backgrounds for blending and sponging.
  • Fold or cut the paper to create custom templates or straight-edge guides.

6. Project Notes & Sketching

  • Take notes, draw layout sketches, or jot down supply lists directly on the sheet during a class or creative session. My customers do this all the time – write down something we use in class that they want to order or sometimes a doodle of something we are all chatting about! 🙂
  • Great for remembering card measurements or layering dimensions or colors used in a project.

I hope this gives you some ideas for using Grid Paper if you have it already! If not, maybe Grid Paper will help solve some problems you have while crafting! Get your Grid Paper today!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

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Two-Toned Cardstock!

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Stampin’ Up! launched their Two-Toned Cardstock in all the colors so now we can enjoy this amazing product with all of our projects!

Stampin Up Two-Toned Cardstock, www.LaurasStampPad.com

What is Two-Toned Cardstock?
This 12″ x 12″ cardstock has a lighter shade on one side and a darker shade on the other side. The core of this cardstock is white. It comes in 53 Stampin’ Up! Colors and there are 12 sheets in each paper pack!

White Core Cardstock, www.LaurasStampPad.com

What does white core mean?
This cardstock has a white core with the lighter shade on one side and the darker shade on the other side. This makes it fun to create a lot of texture in your greeting card, scrapbook pages, or other project when you tear it and get that detailed look. You could also brush some ink over those white edges for even more color variation and texture!

Have you tried out the Two-Toned Cardstock yet? Click here to shop all of the colors or click the images below for my favorite colors!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

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Water Painters For The Win!

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Stampin’ Up! Water Painters come in a 3 pack and they are amazing for watercoloring, creating backgrounds AND sealing envelopes rather than licking them!

Water Painters, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Stampin’ Up! Water Painters come as a 3 pack. There is a fine tip brush, a thicker (marker like tip) brush, and a wide, flat brush (as shown in blue above). These brushes are just $13.00 (plus tax and shipping) and you can do so many amazing things with them!

Simply fill the barrel with water and use to watercolor a stamped image. Once you are finished with a color, wipe off the tip on a paper towel and move to the next color. You can also create backgrounds with them. Stripes, polka dots, plaid, a border…..the possibilities are endless. One of my favorite things to use my Water Painter for is sealing envelopes. Especially during this time of year when I’m sealing lots of envelopes, it’s quick and simple and no watery mess. Best of all no nasty taste in my mouth or a paper cut on my tongue. So handy for so many reasons!

Get yours today for the holiday season and all year long!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

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Stampin’ Up! Kit Collection

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What is the Stampin’ Up Kit Collection? I’m glad you asked because it is AMAZING for everyone. I love these kits…and so does Claire! These kits make amazing gifts, rainy day projects, and something to keep your hands busy while hanging out with family or friends!!! There is a kit for every occasion and style! Here are just a few.

Stampin' Up Kit Collection, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Why the Kits Collection?

  1. Kits are pre-designed, pre-cut, and all-inclusive, which means that anyone can have a successful crafting experience with them. No need to have tons of supplies and the directions walk you through it all.
  2. Crafting kits make great gifts for friends and family—think birthdays, Christmas, etc. Perfect price point and great for anyone….of any age!
  3. Busy? No craft space? Kits are a perfect way to enjoy a bit of creativity in a small little box.
  4. With so many kits to choose from, there’s something for everyone!
  5. New kits are released regularly, so there’s always something to look forward to for the next holiday or season.
  6. Kits are portable. You can take them anywhere and start crafting in minutes. Great for vacations, family gatherings, etc.
  7. For card emergencies, having a kit or two on hand means quick access to beautiful, easy-to-make cards.
  8. Need something to re-start dwindling crafting mojo? Kits can be the answer because the color combinations and easy crafting is perfect to inspire you again!!
  9. Kits give anyone an easy way to test-drive card making/paper crafting and the Stampin’ Up! experience!
  10. The boxes are cute and easy to reuse for shipping or gift giving!

Check out the complete Stampin’ Up Kit Collection here!!! Snag some of these amazing kits for teachers, neighbors, office parties, family, and friends! They are also perfect to have on hand when you need a last minute gift….and if you don’t, you can enjoy it in January! 😉

Happy Stampin’

~Laura


Baby Blending Brushes!!!

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Stampin’ Up! released NEW Baby Blending Brushes AND a Blending Brush Storage piece. Eeeee Bring all on the cuteness and organization! I am so game!

Baby Blending Brushes, www.LaurasStampPad.com

The front 3 brushes are the NEW Baby Blending Brushes. I would say they are almost half the size of the bigger ones or so. The smaller ones offer a little more control of color and a smaller surface for doing smaller/tighter spaces.

You will also notice this amazing NEW Blending Brushes Storage. It holds 9 brushes (big and small). It nice and small and light weight so it can sit on a shelf or on your desk. It’s very clean and sleek looking so it is sure to match! I’m pretty excited about it because before this I had them in a cup but I couldn’t see each brush at a glance.

Blending Brush Background, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Here is a little sneak peak at a background that I created with Blending Brushes. Any guesses as to what the final card might look like?!?! Let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for the finished card!

Have you ever used Blending Brushes?!? Try them out by clicking the link below to get some today and don’t forget every order of $50 will earn you a FREE Sale-A-Bration item too!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

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Take Your Pick!

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The Take Your Pick Tool is one of those super handy tools to have on your crafting space all the time. I even have more than 1 because I lose mine in the mess….and for when I have classes! 🙂 Do you have one?

Take Your Pick Tool, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Reason I love it / Tips:
~It’s small and easy to have in a cup next to your craft space.
~There are lots of different ends for lots of different uses!
~My favorite is now the putty end to put jewels on your project. It’s just so easy to press the putty on the side of a jewel to pick up and then set on your project! Just put your finger on the jewel and pull the putty away! So quick and easy and better than a fingernail! You can get putty refills as well!
~The stylus end can be used to make a fabulous edge around your die cut image for a little extra texture and dimension. Simply leave the cardstock in the die and run the stylus around the metal edge! Click here to see that video!


~I used the pointy tip for various things like popping out a die cut, pocking out cardstock that doesn’t come out with the die, holding cardstock while I heat emboss and more!
~Also, did you know there is a Brush Attachment that you can use to pop die cut bits out of your image???
~The pancake flipper end is used to get under a project to pop it up, slide adhesive under in a spot I missed, and sometimes for jewels.
~The only con I have is that it gets buried in the mess on my desk and I can’t find it. LOL Good thing I have more than one!


Do you have a Take Your Pick Tool? Do you love it? How do you use your tips? Do share! I would love to hear more.

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

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Stampin’ Cut & Emboss!!!

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The NEW Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine is now available to everyone! Woot Woot! There are fabulous things that come with each new month! 🙂

Stampin' Cut & Emboss, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I have had mine for about 3 weeks now. Here are a few of my (honest) thoughts so far! I always want to be honest with you!

~IT IS BEAUTIFUL! I love the white sleek look with the silver accents. Hello bling! You had me at shiny! 🙂
~The machine is compact and easy to carry around without having those sides open. It will fit down in a bag or basket very easily. The baskets I take to events didn’t fit my Big Shot so it was angled in there. This will be a dream!
~It is wider than the Big Shot but the plates are the same size. I love this because that means I can have cardstock hang over or push it through a little crooked (opps) and not have it scratch up the sides. BONUS! Some of my plates look rough because of this in the past!


~It is very similar to the Big Shot and probably other die cutting machines. It all comes down to needing a machine and the small differences! One of my Big Shots crossed over the rainbow bridge earlier this year but I still have the 2nd one. It sits right next to my new machine and I still use them both! The New Stampin’ Cut & Emboss just looks prettier! 🙂
~Okay so the more I use it, the more thoughts I have. Yesterday, I was cranking away to die cut some labels and it did that thing where it sort of pops after going through the thick part. Then my hand slipped off which happens randomly and with the Big Shot it would whip around and usually hit the top of my hand/wrist/thumb. With the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss, it doesn’t swing as freely so it popped out and just moved a smidge and stopped. I was like SAVED!!!! I had to share this with you all because that’s amazing to me!

So I hope this review was just what you needed. If you are in the market for a die cutting machine or embossing machine and love bling, I highly recommend it! Click here to get your Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine today!! Also, if you want to see my unboxing and reaction of this, click here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura


Coming Soon!!!

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Today, I’m sharing the reveal of the NEW Stampin’ Up Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine! It is coming soon for all of you on September 1st!!!

Coming Soon Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I unboxed this on video and played with it and explored it on camera so everything is real! The white with silver accents is my favorite! It’s just so pretty! I can’t decide if I think it is heavier than the Big Shot or just that the suction to the table was strong. That is a good thing though because you don’t want the machine moving all over the place.

The sides pop down and fold up for easy storage or traveling! It is really easy to pop them down and they really snap back up! Assembling the handle was super easy to do as well!!!

As for the plates, I love that they are numbers and super clear as to which one is which. The instructions are on the main plate so that makes it super simple to have on hand and know what you need!

This is coming soon for all of you – September 1st!!! There is also a Mini Machine coming soon but the dates have not been announced just yet!

To see the New Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine completely, check out the video below or click here. Be sure to give the video a thumbs up if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe if you are new. If you would like a notification when I post a new video, be sure to click the bell right next to the subscribe!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura


Snowflake Splendor!!!

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I will play with snowflakes all day long in the stamp room but not in real life. I am not a huge fan of winter and bad weather. When I first saw this Snowflake Splendor Suite, I fell in love!!! Which is kind of odd since I just said I didn’t like snow and winter. Ehhh What are you going to do!?!?!

I think it’s those fabulous colors of blues, purples, and greens that I love the most. It’s soft but also POPS. The prints vary which gives a nice array of looks to use this paper for! I think it will make perfect backgrounds but also it’s stunning to just be the focal point! What do you think???

If you would like to see more papers from the August – December Mini Catalog, click here and here!

To see the Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper completely, check out the video below or click here. Be sure to give the video a thumbs up if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe if you are new. If you would like a notification when I post a new video, be sure to click the bell right next to the subscribe!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

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Playful Pets!!!

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I have seen so many projects done with the Playful Pets Suite that I knew I had to get in on the fun. There are many time a friend loses a pet or gets a pet that I think to send a card for but I don’t always have the supplies. Since I don’t think I will use this all the time, I got just the designer paper to start with!

Playful Pets, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I am cat person so of course I am loving the kitty prints the most in this pack. Also, the paw prints and bowls and stuff are really cute. I feel like unless you know the breed of the dog, it could be odd to send a card with a dog on it but not the correct one. Am I wrong? Maybe dog people wouldn’t care. I feel like while there technically are different breeds of cats, to me they are all just cats! 🙂 Let me know your favorite in the comment below – dogs or cats???

Don’t forget that you can check out other designer series paper reveals here and here!

To see the Playful Pets Paper completely, check out the video below or click here. Be sure to give the video a thumbs up if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe if you are new. If you would like a notification when I post a new video, be sure to click the bell right next to the subscribe!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

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