Apr 12 2017

I Love Bright Spring Flowers!!!

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

These bright Spring flowers on this card scream Spring!!! I just love it! It’s my favorite season for sure! Flowers are always my favorite to stamp on cards!!! This card is just so amazing!

I started with a Daffodil Delight card base. Then I took a piece of Whisper White (4″ x 4″) and stamped the flowers from the Basket Bunch Stamp Set in Basic Gray Ink. I like using gray for the more subtle look! Using the Watercolor Pencils and Blender Pens, I colored in the flowers! After blending the color, I went back in with the pencil and added some accents! I have really been loving the Watercolor Pencils! You can check out so more fun samples here, here, and here!

Now that I have the flowers colored, I layered this onto a piece of Melon Mambo measuring 4-1/8″ x 4-1/8″ and added it to the top of the card base! For the greeting, I stamped it in Basic Gray from the Basket Bunch Stamp Set. Then I punched it out with the Classic Label Punch! I added the greeting with some Stampin’ Dimensionals. Since the greeting is so skinny, I used some of the dimensional border and trimmed it to fit! To finish off the card, I wrapped some Old Olive Baker’s Twine around the card and tied it into a bow. TIP: Tie it into a double knot first so it is nice and tight around the card before tying the bow!

Do you love bright Spring Flower too or do they make your allergies flare up?? Let me know in the comments below!!!

Don’t forget that tomorrow is the last day to get in the Ink Pad Giveaway!!! Click here to learn more and click here to start shopping with the Hostess Code: FCCVREYF. I can’t wait to draw the winners name on Friday!!! I’m so excited!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 11 2017

Technique Tuesday: The Baby Wipe Technique with Butterflies!!!

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you – the Baby Wipe Technique!!! I have done this many times before but each time it looks so amazing! Just playing with different stamp sets makes it so much fun! I just love it!!!

Butterflies are just so uplifting and beautiful! While I would love to make them in reds, yellows, and oranges, I thought I would branch out and use different colors! Now let’s get started on this super cool, easy technique – the Baby Wipe Technique!

I took a wet baby wipe and folded it a few times. Be sure the size is still bigger than the image you are going to stamp on it. Then I took a few ink refills and randomly dripped dots of ink on the baby wipe creating a big inky blob. The colors I used were Pacific Point, Cucumber Crush, and Soft Sky. This is now what I used as my ink pad for my butterflies!

Using the Watercolor Wings Stamp Set, I stamped the image into my “baby wipe ink pad” and then onto Whisper White scraps. Sometimes it takes a few stamps to get the colors to mingle together and then you get fabulous ones! You don’t have to worry about cleaning the stamp before going back to the “ink pad” because it’s not like you are going to ruin it. In fact, it will only make it more fun!! After stamping the butterflies, I die cut them with the coordinating Butterflies Thinlits! I did not stamp the center part of the butterfly until I die cut it out. I have found that I usually stamp too high or low and it get cut off so doing it afterwards is best!

Now to assemble the card, I started with a Pacific Point card base. Then I took a piece of Soft Sky (4″ x 5-1/4″) and stamped the three dots from the Watercolor Wings Stamp Set all over the background using my “baby wipe ink pad.” I adhered that to the card front and placed my butterflies on the card (no adhesive yet) and stamped the antennas. Then I added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the butterflies and placed them right next to their stamped antennas! For the greeting, I took a piece of scrap Whisper White 3/4″ wide and stamped the greeting from the Watercolor Wings Stamp Set in Basic Black Ink. I added those three little dots as well for an extra pop. Next, I cut the banner tips on the end and cut it as long as it needed to be for the greeting and dots. This can vary card to card. I layered it onto Pacific Point 1″ wide and long enough to layer. The greeting is on the lower left hand side of the card!

If you would like to see this all in action, check out my Video Tutorial below or click here! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked it and be sure to subscribe if you are new. I post a new video every Tuesday and Thursday!

Only 2 more days to get entered into the Ink Pad Giveaway! I will be drawing a name for a Color Family of Ink Pads (10 total) on Friday!!! Click here for all the details!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 10 2017

The Sun is Setting on These Items….

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The Sun is setting on some of the Stampin’ Up! items we all love. While it is sad to see some of our favorites retire, it just means that there are TONS of fabulous new ones coming! These items are all while supplies last so don’t wait long!

You can view the Retired List in two way – PDF and Excel Spreadsheet!

2017 Retiring List – PDF

2017 Retiring List – Excel

Again, the items are while supplies last so if you see something on this list but aren’t able to order it, it is because it is gone! 🙁 Click here to start shopping!

Let me know in the comments below which items you are sad to see go. I was close to tears when I saw the Decorative Label Punch. 🙁 That’s my favorite and if you have followed me on here for even a week, you know how much I use and love that punch!

Don’t forget that if your order is $50 or more and you use the Hostess Code: FCCVREYF, your name will be entered into a drawing for an entire Color Family of Ink Pads (10)!!! Woot Woot! This offer ends on Thursday at midnight with the winner’s name being drawn on Friday! Click here for all of the details!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 10 2017

March 2017 Paper Pumpkin – Bunny Buddies!!!

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

You all know I LOVE Paper Pumpkin because of the fun surprise each month. The March 2017 Kit – Bunny Buddies is soooo amazing! Even more than I originally thought…..look at everything I made!!! Don’t forget today is the last day to sign up for the April Kit! There is a free gift in there to celebrate Paper Pumpkin’s 4th Birthday! I can’t wait to see what it is!!! Click here to sign up TODAY to get the April kit!

The kit came with all these amazing goodies to make 9 treat bags and 9 mini cards with envelopes. Bunnies are the theme which is perfect for Easter and Spring. The stamp set had lots of fun greetings so you could mix it up. Check out the reveal of the kit here! I made the 9 little bags for my nieces and nephews with candy inside! I didn’t add the little clothespin and greeting because I figured they wouldn’t care or even notice.

Look how adorable these are!!! TIP: Press lightly with the stamp in the ink pad and onto the canvas bag or you will end up with a little extra gray than you anticipated! 🙂

Then because I bought the biggest bag of candy possible and couldn’t resist wanting to eat it all, I thought I would make more treat bags using others I had on hand!

Next, I used the small Gusseted Cellophane Bags, added some candy and stamped the bunny face! I used up the clothespins with some of the Baker’s Twine tied around it and when I ran out of those I used some Playful Palette Washi Tape. These were so simple and quick to create! I love them!

When I ran out of the gusseted bags, I used a few of the Glassine Gift Bags I had. I just stamped right onto the bag and used some leftover bunny ear stickers!

Okay, I almost forgot the 9 cards from this kit as well! Now you know why I am blown away with everything I got out of this kit!! Aren’t these little cards adorable! I created the folded over bunny ear by stamping it on the sticker and cutting it out! Just like this…

The March Kit is my favorite one of the year so far; love it!!! I can’t believe how much I was able to create with the products in this kit and the stamp set! I love how Paper Pumpkin comes with enough to complete the kit as well as extras to use on other projects! Don’t forget today is the last day to sign up for the April Kit! It is going to a fabulous one since Sara Douglas, Stampin’ Up CEO created it AND there is a free gift in there to celebrate Paper Pumpkin’s 4th Birthday! WOOT WOOT! Click here to sign up TODAY to get the April kit!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Don’t forget that Thursday is the last day to get in the Ink Pad Giveaway!!! Click here to learn more and click here to start shopping with the Hostess Code: FCCVREYF. I can’t wait to draw the winners name on Friday!!! I’m so excited!!

Apr 7 2017

Just Cut Off a Little Bit!!!

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

This card may not seem any different than other cards but it is. I just cut off a little bit of the card front and let the focal point hang over. You can see a bit of the inside of the card which is super cool!

I got this card idea from fellow stamper, Terri Gaines! After seeing this idea I feel in love and did a few exactly like her’s and then changed it up a bit like this one! I used a different piece of the Succulent Garden Designer Series Paper and added Calypso Coral Enamel Shapes!

I started with a piece of Mint Macaron measuring 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″. Then I folded it like a regular card base and cut off 1″ from the front of the card. See…just cut off a little bit! This is the peek-a-boo part that we now get to see the inside of the card! Next, I added a piece of the Succulent Garden Designer Series Paper measuring 3″ x 5-1/4″ to the front panel. I didn’t do it in this sample photo but I did add a piece of Whisper White to the side of the card (4″ x 1-14″). This really makes the card POP more and your greeting on the inside is easier to read!

Now for the focal point! I cut a piece of Mint Macaron (3-1/4″ x 2-1/2″) and Whisper White (2-1/4″ x 2-1/2″). Using the Oh So Succulent Stamp Set, I stamped the large flower in Mint Macaron Ink. I stamped the outline in full strength and the solid flower stamp after stamping off once. Be sure you are stamping at the top of the Whisper White so there is room for the greeting down below! Next, I placed this onto Mint Macaron towards the top! Using the Whisper White Baker’s Twine I wrapped it around and tied it into a bow!

To finish it off, I added a few Calypso Coral Enamel Shapes. Terri used the White Perfect Accents! There are so many different options on colors to use depending on the piece of designer paper you choose! I added the focal point to the card by placing 3 Stampin’ Dimensionals along the left hand side and placing it on the card. You want to make sure the dimensionals don’t fall off the front part of the card and seal it shut!

I just love this card concept and plan on using it again for another card style! If you would like to see another sample using a similar concept, check out this one! Do you like making basic cards or ones where you just cut off a little bit or fancy folds? Let me know in the comments below!

Have an amazing weekend and I’ll see you next Monday!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 6 2017

Today & Everyday, I Celebrate You!!!

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love this card for the bright colors and that amazing greeting, Celebrate You! This greeting is perfect for so many different occasions – Birthday, Graduation, Promotion, or just being fabulous on any given day! I love it!!!

I started with a Whisper White card base and stamped the scroll-y stars image from the Birthday Blast Stamp Set in Bermuda Bay Ink!!! Stamp one going to the left and the other going to the right! Next I took a piece of Crushed Curry (2″ x 6″) and White White (1-1/4″ x 5-1/2″)) and punched the ends with the Banner Triple Punch! It is best to punch before your stamp so you don’t end up punching your stamped image! I added the Crushed Curry piece to the card front and then layered on a Silver Metallic Doily! Next, I layered on a Real Red Circle punched out with the 2″ Circle Punch.

For the greeting, I stamped it in Real Red from the Birthday Blast Stamp Set! I added a few stars in Bermuda Bay as well! This banner was added to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals! I finished off the card with a few Real Red Enamel Shapes! I love it!!! This card is perfect for any occasions but it also uses up some of your smaller scrap pieces of cardstock in different colors! You could also do a more simple version like this one too!

This card was created in Pacific Point and Pumpkin Pie! You can see more of the scroll-y start image. I used a 2-1/2″ Circle from the Layering Circles Framelits and one of the small doilies. After I made so many of the cards up above, I had lots of the small doilies in the pack left over. Just cut one in half and place part of it at the top of the circle and the other half on the lower part of the circle! Two great samples using the same basic style. Which one do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below!

Don’t forget about my Ink Pad Giveaway that I have! It runs through the April 13th and every $50 order using the Hostess Code: FCCVREYF will get your name in the drawing. You can see all of the details on this giveaway here and check out the Video about it below! Click here to start shopping!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 5 2017

It’s an Egg-Stra Special Easter!!!

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Easter is just around the corner and this card is perfect!!! This is my favorite holiday of the year so to me it is an Egg-Stra Special Easter! 🙂 How cute is that greeting!?!?!? I just love it!!!

I don’t typically send a lot of Easter cards but I do send a few and like to make treat bags for my nieces and nephews! The Basket Bunch Bundle is perfect for Easter but I have been making SO MANY OTHERS too. Check out yesterday’s fabulous post! I have even more amazing samples coming soon too!

I started with a Wild Wasabi card base. Then I took a piece of Whisper White measuring 2″ x 5 1/2″ and stamped the grass from the Basket Bunch Stamp Set in Wild Wasabi Ink all along bottom. I stamped the Easter eggs and bunny in Basic Gray Ink so I could watercolor them and for the softer look. There are lots of great images in the stamp set to decorate your card with! The Watercolor Pencils are super fun for coloring all of these beauties! I used the Blender Pens for a nice even look of color! I just love all the bright colors!

Next, I took a piece of Rich Razzleberry (3-1/2″ x 5-1/2″) and ripped the top and bottom for a little texture. Depending on how much you rip off, you could start with a 3-1/4″ wide piece or smaller. I added this piece to the card front and tied some Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine around and into a bow! For the greeting, I stamped it from the Basket Bunch Stamp Set onto Daffodil Delight and punched it out with the Duet Banner Punch! Of course, I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals!

Do you like to make Easter Cards or Easter Treats??? Another more important question…..Do you like Peeps? I feel like you either love them (ME) or hate them (my husband)? Which side are you on?? Let me know in the comments below!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 4 2017

Loving this Bushel Basket of Apples!!!

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! Today I have a fabulous technique to share with you today! It’s a bit out of the box but super cool! This bushel basket of apples was created with the Basket Bunch Bundle from the Occasions Mini Catalog

I got the idea for this card from the amazing, Shelli Gardner who showed it at the Stampin’ Up Event last November!! It sold me on this set….the outside the box ways to use the Basket Bunch Stamp Set. This looks like an Easter Stamp Set but I got so many other styles of cards out of it! These apples, a baby card with the bunny and many others can be created! Now let’s get started on this one!

I started with a scrap piece of Very Vanilla and stamped lots of leaves and the smaller solid outline Easter egg. All of these come from the Basket Bunch Stamp Set and stamped in Basic Gray Ink! I like the softer look of gray over black. Next, I die cut out each of them using the coordinated Basket Builder Framelits (Bundle & Save 10%). A little tip for die cutting lots of little pieces, use a post-it note to hold the die to the cardstock! After I had all of the pieces die cut, I colored them with Real Red and Emerald Envy Ink and an Aqua Painter!

It’s time to assemble!!! I die cut the basket bottom (solid & detailed) in Crumb Cake. I stuck the two basket pieces together with some cut pieces Stampin’ Dimensionals. This gives the basket a bit of a 3D look! Next, I adhered the basket to a piece of Very Vanilla that I die cut with the Stitched Shapes Framelits! I love the rustic look of the stitches! TIP: Be sure to only add adhesive to the basket on the bottom half so that you can tuck in the “apples”! I placed some of the apples on with pieces of Stampin’ Dimensionals. So that I didn’t have to die cut so many of the leaves, I actually stamped a few of the leaves directly onto the vanilla and colored them in! Just be sure to tuck the “apples” in deep enough that they look like apples and not eggs!

After the bushel basket is all complete, I added this to a layer of Chocolate Chip cardstock and then to the center of a Crumb Cake card base! The greeting from the Basket Bunch Stamp Set is stamped in the lower right corner in Chocolate Chip Ink. To finish off the card, I wrapped some Linen Thread around the card and tied it into a bow! I love it!

If you would like to see this all in action, check out the Video Tutorial below or click here! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe if you are new!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 3 2017

I love the Birthday Bright Project Kit!!!!

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Looks at those little black bows! PRECIOUS!!! I just love this Birthday Bright Project Kit! It has soooo much goody in it and the cards and tags are perfect to have on hand all year long!!! The coordinating Birthday Bright Stamp Set works perfectly with this kit but it’s great to have on hand for other projects too!

This kit comes with 4 of each of the items shown above plus this amazing large gift box! You can see all the contents in my unboxing video here! Now I will show each individual piece!!!

This is my favorite of the 3 cards!!! I love that it is a shaker card and that beautiful confetti is amazing!!! This card was super simple, just make sure you stamp before you assemble. It is really hard to stamp on cardstock that is popped up with dimensionals! 🙂 I used the Fine Tip Glue Pen to adhere the silver glimmer birthday greeting! I just love!!!

This card is so colorful and amazing! Believe it or not, I actually read and followed directions on this kit! The picture directions really help as I am more of a visual person! My tip for this one, don’t add adhesive all the way across the banner because you want it to float in the middle and not stick down! 🙂 Also, there are tons of enamel shapes so have fun with them and put them all over!!!

This was my least favorite of the 3 cards. I really struggled with all those little triangles. First you fold them over the string and it feels like there is a million and one of them! Then some of mine kept popping open! I used the Fine Tip Glue Pen and adhered them closed and adhered them to the card front. Then I placed the large clear block over them over night to get a strong hold. That worked perfectly!

These are my favorite tags because those little bows are just so small and precious! They came already made too! Super simple tags to create!!!

I love these little tags too! I love that they look like presents and the Baker’s Twine ties to the top bow! Adorable!

These were the most intricate of the tags! The hardest part for me was opening those honeycombs…..without smashing them! Oh how that was a task! 🙂 I love the details and layers and cute design!!!

I hope you enjoyed all of these projects from the Birthday Bright Project Kit! It is super fun and comes with so much product! I hope you get one and enjoy it as much as I did!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 31 2017

Happy Friday, Gorgeous!!!

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday, Gorgeous!!!! It’s finally here….Friday that is! On the other end, Sale-A-Bration is coming to an end today. So here is one last sample using the amazing Sale-A-Bration Metallic Ribbon!

This is a quick and simple card that I created! I love this simple layout and have used it MANY times with different stamp sets and designer paper. You can check out those here, here, and here!

I started with a piece of Whisper White measuring 4-1/4″ x 11″ for the card base! Then I took a piece of Night of Navy (4″ x 4″) and layered on a piece of the Floral Boutique Designer Series Paper (3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″). I added this piece to the card front towards the top. For the Happy Birthday, Gorgeous, I stamped it from the Beautiful You Stamp Set in Night of Navy Ink. I added some Silver Metallic Sale-A-Bration Ribbon around the card and tied it into a knot! Simple and fabulous!!! This card is perfect to send to all the women in your life!!

Today is the last day for you to enjoy the Sale-A-Bration benefits of a free item for every $50 you spend! ANOTHER bonus, if you use the Hostess Code: FCCVREYF then your name will be entered in the drawing for an entire color family of ink pads (10 total ink pads). You can check out more information on that here! Start shopping now – click here!

Of course, since it’s Friday and that’s a day for celebrating! Here is my fabulous downline, Valerie with her Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper in celebration of her 5 Year Anniversary with Stampin’ Up!!! I’m so happy for her!!! Congratulations, Valerie! I’m so glad Stampin’ Up has brought us together! 🙂 If you would like to join the Fabulous Friends Team, click here for more information. If you sign up today, you get to pick out $125 in product PLUS 2 additional stamp sets, all for just $99.00!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura