Nov 10 2014

Fall Wondrous Wreath

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Like many of you, I like to have a wreath on my front door! I love driving up to my place and seeing that beautiful wreath and thinking I live here! I love it! It also helps my fellow stampers find my place! 🙂 The Holiday Mini Catalog has this amazing stamp set called Wondrous Wreath & coordinating Wonderful Wreath Framelits (Bundle) and the samples show this amazing holly wreath! While it is a stunning wreath, there are so many other ways you can use this stamp set just like there are so many different styles of wreaths you can put on your front door!

The card above is perfect for Fall! You can use this card for Fall Birthdays, Thank Yous, Thinking of You, and even Thanksgiving Day cards! I started off with a Soft Suede card base and then I cut out another piece of Soft Suede measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. I used this second piece to stamp my Hardwood image on. You could stamp it right onto your card front but I found this to be easier because if I mess up (it happens) I can just flip over the piece of paper and try again! Thank goodness there are 2 sides to every piece of paper, am I right? The other thing I like about this is that it gives my card some dimension. After stamping the hardwood image, I adhered this piece with some Stampin’ Dimensionals! 🙂 For the Wreath, I used a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and I stamped the super leafy image in Crumb Cake (being sure to note that the tab on the stamp is facing up). Now you will take your partial leafy image and ink it in Soft Suede and with the tab facing up stamp it right on top of the leaves. Finally, with the dots image, you will ink it up in Tangelo Twist and with the tab up, you will stamp it down. Note: With this one, the tab will be facing up, but you will want to center the stamp around the wreath. No worries, if this all sounds crazy to you, I created a Video Tutorial showing you what I mean! 🙂 Once you are done stamping, you will use the coordinating Framelits – Wonderful Wreath Framelits, you will cut out the stamped wreath! No need for any fussy cutting here! Woot Woot! I added a little bow of Linen Thread and attached it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals! For the greeting, I stamped it from the Good Greetings Stamp Set which was a promotional item in October! You can always use a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes or another favorite set you have!

Here is the Video Tutorial for you! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss out on any of the other samples you saw in the video! 🙂

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Nov 7 2014

Fall Decorations & Fabulous Deals!

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday!!! I thought I would share some of my Fall Decorations! I’m not a huge decorator for each season (mostly because I don’t like storing it all the other months of the year)! But this is one decoration that is simple, cute, and easy to store! That’s right up my alley!!!

How cute are these? They would be great on a mantel, kitchen table, hall table, and just about anywhere! Each of these pumpkins was created with 1″ strips of paper. The length of the paper varies for each one (smallest – 4″ and largest – 11″). You could even go 12″ with your Designer Series Paper. I used Cajun Craze and Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper. You can add as many stripes as you wish for a fuller pumpkin or just a few like the one against the wall. For some reason I made that one with just a few strips so I make it a half pumpkin and lay it against the wall or table! Once you have your strips of paper 1″ wide and however long you wish. You will take your 1/8″ Hand Held Hole Punch and punch a hole near the end on both ends. You don’t want to go in too far because then you will have lots of overlapping paper. Once you have holes on both ends of all of your strips, you can either add a brad to each end to hold them all together or you can put string through the holes. If you use a brad (I like the Antique Brads), you are all done and can start separating the stripes and fanning them out to make your pumpkin. If you are using ribbon, you will run all the pieces on one end through the ribbon and tie a knot on the outside. Now take the other end and do the same. With the ribbon, you can pull tight and make your pumpkin squatty or allow more ribbon and it is more tall or round! Now you can separate the strips and fan out your pumpkin. The best part is at the end of the season, just collapse all of the strips up again and you can store it flat! Love it!!!!

Of course, what is a Friday without the Weekly Deals to swoon over!!! 🙂

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Nov 6 2014

I’m Dreaming of a Blue Christmas!

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I am just loving the blues this years…in particular Lost Lagoon!! This card really shows that! 🙂 I started off with a card base of Whisper White and added a piece of All is Calm Designer Series Paper (4″ x 5-1/4″). I am loving the patterns and colors of this paper and have gone through a few packs already! Check out this sample and this sample! Next I stamped 3 different trees from the Festival of Trees Stamp Set in Lost Lagoon and punched them out with the coordinating Tree Punch (Bundle & Save)! I cut a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock (4-1/4″ x 3-1/4″) and Whisper White cardstock (4″ x 3″) out and used my Corner Rounder Punch on all corners. My greeting is from the Good Greetings Stamp Set which was a promotional stamp set last month! You can always use a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes, Endless Wishes or any other favorite set you have. Adhere your Whisper White onto your Lost Lagoon and then tie a piece of Lost Lagoon Satin Stitched Ribbon around it. You can always just tie it into a knot or you can do a bow like I did. That one came out pretty good so I kept it, other times I pull it out and leave it as a knot! 😉 I adhered this piece to my card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals and then added my 3 trees. The solid tree was put on with Snail Adhesive and the other two were put on with Dimensionals! I love my dimensionals something fierce! Now you are all set and just a need to write in the inside and in the mail it goes!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Nov 5 2014

Seasonally Scattered!!!

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The title of this blog post is the name of this amazing stamp set but while typing this out I feel it defines this time of year perfectly! Leaves scatter across the yard, we run around trying to soak up every last warm nice day before winter comes, and my stamp room is a scattered mess! Can you relate?

In the mist of all the craziness, this card is super simple to throw together. You will start off with a Whisper White card base measuring 4-1/4″ x 11″, layer on a piece of Pumpkin Pie measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. Then with another piece of Whisper White measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″, stamp the Thanks Greeting from the Seasonally Scattered Stamp Set in Pumpkin Pie and adhere to your card front. Now using your flower punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack, you will punch out 6 little flowers in Hello Honey. Adhere them together (off-set) with Mini Glue Dots and adhere to your card randomly (or in a triangle pattern which is what my “random” is). Add some Rhinestones to the flowers and you are all set! How simple was that? Not simple enough….you could always leave out the top 2 layers and stamp your greeting on your Whisper White card base and adhered your flowers! Just as fabulous and with fewer layers! 🙂

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Nov 4 2014

Technique Tuesday – Curvy Keepsake Boxes!!!

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! You know what that means…..I have a fabulous technique to share with you today (with a Video Tutorial)! Woot Woot!!!! These little boxes are so adorable and super easy to assemble (I was surprised at how easy)!

Supplies Needed: Big Shot, Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlet Die, Cardstock, Vellum or Designer Series Paper, Embellishments, Sticky Strip or Fast Fuse

You will need a piece of cardstock (vellum or Designer Series Paper) measuring 9″ x 5-1/2″. This is enough to cut out 2 pieces with the Curvy Keepsake Die. Place the Die on your paper, run it through your Big Shot and repeat! Now that you have your piece die-cut pieces, you will fold on the score lines (3 per die-cut). If you are using cardstock and would like to stamp on it, now is the time. It is much easier to stamp now then after it is assembled! 😉 Now I like to run the tabs on each die over my bone folder a bit to break those fibers a little and allow the box to curve. Using Sticky Strip or Fast Fuse, you will apply adhesive to one of the squares on the die (don’t go super close to the edge). Now you will take the die-cut that doesn’t have adhesive and lay it on top, matching up the corners to the edge of the score line. Your squares will not overlap exactly (if they do, your corners will not lay correctly). Here is a photo showing you what I mean!

Now you just need to pull the 2 tabs together and slip the other ends over the tabs are you are all done! You can always add some ribbon, charms, tags, or punched pieces to decorate as you wish!!!! The box on the left in the top photo was done with Whisper White cardstock and I stamped snowflakes from the Endless Wishes Stamp Set all over it using Night of Navy, Lost Lagoon, and Pool Party Ink. The box on the right was done with All is Calm Designer Series Paper and I added some Silver Ribbon and Pool Party Cotton Ribbon to the top. I also added a little tag using the circle tag die from the Curvy Keepsake Die Set and added a little All is Calm Snowflake Embellishment!

This one is super fabulous because you can use it like a lantern. It was created with the Silver Fancy Foil Designer Vellum (it comes in Gold as well, after all Gold is In!) It was created the same way but in the end I added a little tea light inside for a glow! This would be amazing on a Christmas Tree, in a window, on a table place setting, mantle, wedding decoration and so much more!

I saved the best for last. Ohhhhh Ahhhhhh I know I know! It is PRECIOUS! This would be the cutest thing ever for a Baby Shower or Birthday Party or a Spring Party (oh I’m dreaming of spring already)! I created the box with Real Red Cardstock, added 1/2″ Circle Punch black dots (5 on each side). For the body, I used a 1-3/4″ Circle Punch in Black and 1-3/8″ Circle Punch in Smoky Slate. For the head, I used a 1″ Circle Punch in Black! The eyes and antenna were created with the Cupcake Builder Punch and Owl Builder Punch. Yep those are cherries you see upside down as the antenna! I did brush the edges of the Smoky Slate with my Basic Black Sponge Dauber to soften the edges and I dotted the eyes with my Chalk Marker! 🙂 Love it!!!!!

To see the Curvy Keepsake Die in action, check out my Video Tutorial below! Don’t forget to give it a Thumbs Up if you like and be sure to Subscribe so you don’t ever miss out on any of my videos!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Nov 3 2014

October My Paper Pumpkin!!!

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

You know how I am loving My Paper Pumpkin and this month I have even more love to share with you!!! My kit arrived and now only was I excited but…..

….so was my husband! 🙂 I ripped open the box, tossed aside the tissue paper and saw all kinds of goodies!

My first thought was wow look at all of this stuff and my second thought was who has leftover pie at Thanksgiving….definitely not at my family Thanksgiving! 🙂 While the pie boxes are super cute, I just don’t need a lot of gift boxes for Thanksgiving so I let my mind wander a little bit and look what happened!

I am always in need to cards especially Thank You and Happy Birthday so I took a few pieces of Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, and Melon Mambo cardstock and started cutting my boxes into pieces! The only items that I used that did not come in the box are the card bases, Night of Navy Ink, Melon Mambo Ink, and the Happy Birthday Greeting which came from the July My Paper Pumpkin! Of course on top of making these TEN cards, I also created 4 of the boxes! AND I still have lots of leftover items (2 boxes, lots of yarn, lots of feathers, adhesive and greeting stickers). Of course the stamp set and ink pad are left as well! 🙂 I am always blown away with how much stuff is in the My Paper Pumpkin boxes!

And because I have so much to show you, I thought I would do a little Video Tutorial showing off each sample! Check that out here and if you like it, be sure to give it a thumbs up! Don’t forget to subscribe to My Channel so you don’t miss out on my Gift Packaging Series and other fabulous videos!

If you are thinking that My Paper Pumpkin would be fabulous to have each month or that Aunt Sally would love something like this, you can sign up yourself by clicking here and you can purchase a pre-paid subscription for Aunt Sally and give it to her as a gift! Check out the Pre-paid Subscriptions here! You don’t want to miss out on the November Kit, so be sure to sign up before the 10th!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 31 2014

Happy Halloween!

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Halloween!!!! I have some spooky steals to share with you today (aka: Weekly Deals)! 🙂

Today is also the last day for the Six Months of FREE Designer Series Paper!!! If you have ever thought of joining me and Stampin’ Up! so that you can have lots and lots of fun, now is the time!!! You will be able to get fabulous Stampin’ Up product at a discount, the opportunity to attend Stampin’ Up events, and meet lots of fabulous people (my favorite part)! Another fabulous perk, you and 6 other stampers can join My Paper Pumpkin and you will meet your quarterly minimum! It is as easy as that!!! Click here to learn more and if you have any questions at all, reach out me and I would love to chat with you!!!

And a little Punchy Fun….check out these adorable Pumpkin Hershey Bars! I wrapped a piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock (5-1/2″ x 6-1/2″) around the Hershey Bar, cut out 3 triangles for the eyes and nose. For the mouth, I punched Large Oval and cut it in half longways. I then cut out the mini triangles with my Paper Snips! Quick and Simple!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend! I will be stamping with a bunch of amazing women Saturday morning and on Sunday I’ll have a booth at the One Stop Shop Vendor Fair in Edwardsville! Stop by and see me if you are in the area!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 30 2014

Perfect for Under The Tree!!!

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I have a fabulous Gift Packaging idea to share with you today and it will look amazing Under the Tree!!!

The Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper in the Holiday Mini Catalog is perfect for boxes. It is heavier than typical Designer Series Paper so it holds up much better (and you stylus will punch through the paper)! It is beautiful as well. One side is kraft and white patterned and the other side has a color (Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green & Early Espresso)!

See isn’t it beautiful! I used my Gift Box Punch Board to create these boxes! The one pictured above is the largest box which uses a 12″ x 12″ piece of paper and the box is 4″ x 4″ x 4″. I used some Cherry Cobbler Chevron Ribbon to wrap around the box. For the tag, I used a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock and punched the end with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch. On the Whisper White cardstock, I stamped a few snowflakes in Cherry Cobbler Ink as well as the greeting from Endless Wishes Stamp Set. I took my Sponge Dauber and added a little bit of Garden Green to the edges! I attached the tag to the Chevron Ribbon with some Whisper White Baker’s Twine!

For this box, I added some Lost Lagoon Satin Stitched Ribbon and a little tag! For the tag, I used the Scallop Tag Topper Punch and my Work of Art Stamp Set! Love that set! Also, you can’t really tell in the photo but I added some bling with my Dazzling Details along the chevron pattern!

I made a Video Tutorial for you so you can see these boxes made in action! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you like and don’t forget to subscribe to My Channel so you don’t miss any other videos in this series!

Happy Giftin’

~Laura

Oct 29 2014

Watercolor Winter Too!

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

If you missed yesterday’s post, be sure to check that out here! Today I’m going to share the other 2 cards in the kit as well as a few other samples and ideas! Have I said I loved these cards yet? I love these cards! 🙂

Watercoloring this little sled in Cherry Cobbler was super fun! It brought back memories of sledding down the hills on our runner sled as a kid! 🙂 Ahhhh! The card base already had the white dots on the upper half of the card. I adhered the vellum snowflake from the kit with some Snail Adhesive in the center. I didn’t worry about putting a lot of adhesive on it because I wanted it to flare on the ends and it was going to be on the bottom layer. Next you will add the sled and then the Bermuda Bay banner. I stamped the greeting from the Watercolor Winter Too Stamp Set! Then I added the gold strip and the Baker’s Twine that comes in the kit! Finish it off with a few sequins for a little bling!

Many of my stampers who come to my classes say mine is always perfect and how come their’s doesn’t look like mine…..can you find my mistake? The snowflake is cut off on top! See everyone makes mistakes and I would say most don’t even notice! I forgot to add the vellum snowflake until after I put the letters on and there was no way I was adjusting them since it took me a year and half to put them on! This was my favorite card in looks but least favorite in patience. Wowza those letters weren’t easy! The directions say to color them with Bermuda Bay and then while they are still intact on the sheet, add adhesive and lay the twine down. Then you can pop the letters through and they are all set on the twine. I’m going to bet I used too much glue, didn’t wait to let it dry long enough or all of the above but that didn’t work. 🙂 Once it was all over though it created a fabulous card!

Now this card I created with the leftover vellum piece that the snowflake was cut out of. I used my Sponge Dauber to color it with Bermuda Bay Ink and it turned out fabulous! Be gentle around the tips of the snowflake. I adhered that to a Whisper White card base, added some White Satin Ribbon and a greeting from Endless Wishes Stamp Set!!! Love it!

Here are few other cards that I created a little differently. To be honest, I didn’t like that the twine was more vanilla and the cards were white so I didn’t use it and will save it for another project! I love how these all turned out!!!! I hope that you try out the Watercolor Winter Simple Created Kit and please share your ideas and samples with me! I would love to see what you come up with!

Happy Watercolorin’

~Laura

Oct 28 2014

Technique Tuesday – Watercolor Winter Cards!!!

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!!! I have a fabulous technique to share with you today!!!! When I first looked at the Holiday Mini Catalog, I was intrigued by the Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit! The cards were so cute and different! And while watercoloring isn’t my favorite technique I do like to do it every once in awhile! I’m glad I did!!!

These cards are just so detailed and amazing with the watercoloring! I will also note that you DO NOT have to be good at watercoloring to do this! Trust me! 🙂 The kit comes with all of the supplies as well as a paint brush. I did use my Aqua Painter a little because I liked that it already had water in it! For the card above, you will watercolor the trees with Old Olive and then add the Gold Glimmer Paper to the back of it! I used my Multi-Purpose Adhesive to adhere some of these items to the card – trees and Happy gold greeting. The stamped Holidays greeting is from the Watercolor Winter Too Stamp Set. Also, you can hardly tell in the photo but the Whisper White rectangle is actually wood-grain embossed for you already! 🙂 Love it!

You can see the wood-grain embossing on this one more! 🙂 The letters MERRY were watercolored with Old Olive. I found it best to do a light layer of green all over the letters and then slowly add a little more color to the top half. It will bleed a little up and down. Then get a little more ink and touch just the top. I think mine turned out really well on this sample…..no so much on a few others. 🙂 The holly leaves were already die-cut in vellum and I didn’t like how they didn’t show up well white on white so I added some Old Olive with my Sponge Dauber! Again I used the Watercolor Winter Too Stamp Set and added the Gold Glimmer dots and sequins!

Stay tuned and be sure to come back again tomorrow to see more cards from this kit!!!! Also, Stampin’ Up did a fabulous video showing this kit so you can check that out here!!!!

Happy Watercolorin’

~Laura

Laura's Stamp Pad

Laura Borchert ¤ Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator ¤ Laura@LaurasStampPad.com

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fall Wondrous Wreath

Fall Decorations & Fabulous Deals!

I’m Dreaming of a Blue Christmas!

Seasonally Scattered!!!

Technique Tuesday – Curvy Keepsake Boxes!!!

October My Paper Pumpkin!!!

Happy Halloween!

Perfect for Under The Tree!!!

Watercolor Winter Too!

Technique Tuesday – Watercolor Winter Cards!!!