Aug 15 2016

Ridiculously Happy!!!

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

This is so me right now!!! My Birthday Month is in full swing. I just got home from a fabulous family vacation at the lake. Demonstrators can pre-order Holiday Mini Catalog items!!! PS: If you can’t wait till next month, you can join Stampin’ Up and pre-order Holiday Mini items in your Starter Kit. Click here to get more information or reach out to me any time! 🙂 August makes me ridiculously happy!!!!

For this card, I started with a Crushed Curry card base. Then I cut a piece of Elegant Eggplant measuring 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″, a piece of Irresistibly Yours Designer Series Paper measuring 4″ x 4″ and Whisper White measuring 4″ x 1-1/4″. I stamped the greeting from the Love & Affection Stamp Set onto the Whisper White piece. Then I added some flowers to either side which are from the Falling Flowers Stamp Set. This stamp set has the same flower images as the Designer Series Paper. I added the Whisper White to the top section of the Elegant Eggplant. Then I took the Irresistibly Yours Designer Paper and colored in the flowers with my markers – Elegant Eggplant, Crushed Curry, and Emerald Envy. I thought it needed more color so I lightly rolled over the entire piece with the Sponge Brayer and Emerald Envy Ink. Afterwards, I thought I shouldn’t have done that over the Crushed Curry because it turned it sort of dirty. I let all of my class attendees know this and many used an orange or pink rather than the yellow and they turned out amazing!!!! I love how you can add color in so many different ways to this paper. Don’t forget to wipe off excess ink with a paper towel. Now that you are done coloring, you can adhere this piece to the lower portion of the eggplant cardstock (overlapping the white). I added a piece of Emerald Envy Ruched Ribbon around the split in paper and then added it to the card front! I love it!

Let me know in the comments below what your favorite way to color the Irresistibly Yours Designer Series Paper – stamping, Sponge Dauber, Sponge Brayer, Marker, or Spritzer? My favorite is the Sponge Brayer. Click here or here for more samples.

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 13 2016

BOGO SALE!!!!

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Have you heard about Paper Pumpkin but haven’t tried it out yet??? Now is the time!!! New Subscribers can subscribe for Paper Pumpkin now and you will pay for September and get October for FREE!!!! Have no fear, this offer doesn’t end till October 10th so that means if you can sign up after September 10th and pay for October and get November for FREE!!! Just in the time for the Holidays!

Okay, so I know I mentioned the Holidays which just reminds us that we have no time for crafting BUT Paper Pumpkin is amazing because everything is in the box except scissors. You get a clear block in your first kit to use for future kits. Then each kit contains the supplies for the project, stamps, ink, and instructions. How simple is that? You can take this kit with you to work on while in the school line, sports practice or games, an oil change or girl’s night out. It is also perfect for gift giving for that someone that you aren’t sure what to buy because everyone needs cards! 🙂

Click here to sign up now! Be sure to enter the Promo Code: BOGO If you would like to check out past Paper Pumpkin kit, you can check those out here. Also, you will get a fabulous hand-stamped card from me every month as a Thank You for your order! Just a little bonus! 🙂

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 12 2016

Sail Away On A Sailboat!!!

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The Swirly Bird Stamp Set is so versatile and fun with all of the crazy images! I created these little sailboats with that stamp set to make the perfect Man Card! This could be for birthdays, Father’s Day, or just any occasion. You could always change up the colors for a more feminine look. I mean technically these colors would be perfect for either gender as well but you know how I love my pinks!!! 🙂

This card is fairly simple but can get a little confusing with colors. You will need 4 Whisper White squares measuring 1-3/4″ x 1-3/4″. One each of the squares, you will stamp the boat bottom from the Swirly Bird Stamp Set in Crumb Cake Ink. You will want to stamp fairly close to the bottom of the square for a good fit. There is also a little bitty flag for the top of the sail that you can add on as well. If you use the little flag, stamp REAL close to the bottom so you have plenty of room. Now for the sails, there is the large sail on the right side in solid and stripes and then there is the small sail on the left side. Here is where it can get confusing with colors. I did 1 solid and 1 strip of Emerald Envy and Dapper Denim. I did the opposite color for the small sail on the left. Once you have all of your boats complete, you will need 4 squares measuring 2″ x 2″. I did 2 in Dapper Denim and 2 in Emerald Envy. Adhere those together and then place on a Crumb Cake card base. You can do all 4 towards the bottom with the greeting up top, all 4 at the top with the greeting at the bottom or split like I did. It is all up to you!

Once you have your sailboats in place, wrap some Linen Thread around your card a few times and tie a knot. For the greeting, I used the Thoughtful Banners Stamp Set and coordinating Duet Banner Punch (Bundle & Save 10%). I stamped the banner in Dapper Denim and the greeting in Emerald Envy and punched it out. I added it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I have had so much fun with the Swirly Bird Stamp Set and coordinating Swirly Scribbles Thinlits (Bundle & Save 10%), you can check out more samples here, here and here! AND when I was teaching this class, I found ANOTHER fabulous image from the framelits…..a Pumpkin! I can’t wait to use it in the Fall for that!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 11 2016

Cupcake Creations!!!

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love cupcakes sooooo much! They are my favorite dessert by far! I love plain ones, ones without icing, and ones that had icing and cookie crumbles and goody on top! I love them all!! When I saw the Sweet Cupcake Stamp Set, I was in love. The details of the liner and the icing make it so real. The coordinating Cupcake Cutouts Framleits (Bundle & Save 10%) cut out the images so perfectly! I love it all!!!!

I started with a Whisper White card base and added a piece of Pop of Pink Designer Series Paper to the front! The simple black and white polka dots gives texture but doesn’t take away the focus of the colorful cupcakes!!! Then I tied some of the Melon Mambo Stitched Ribbon around the top and into a bow! Now it is time for cupcake creations! I suggest pulling out all of those white scraps you have and just start playing with different color combinations. The Sweet Cupcake Stamp Set is actually a 3-step stamping set where the icing and liner are 3 different images all layered on top of each other!

You can use 3 different ink colors or just 1 or 2. I found that 1 or 2 ink pads were my favorite. If you use 1 ink pad, you will ink up image 1, stamp off twice and then onto your white cardstock. Take image 2, stamp off once, and then onto the first image. Take image 3 (the smallest one), ink it up and stamp if onto the others full strength. This goes for both the liner and the icing. Here are a few I played with.

I preferred a more tan/brown liner but you could always go with a color as well!

Once you have your cupcakes complete, you can die cut them with the Cupcake Cutout Framelits. I added the cupcakes to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals….of course! 🙂 I used the framelits for the banner as well. The banner framelit cuts out the banner and creates little score lines for it to pop out like the sample above. I stamped the greeting from the Sweet Cupcake Stamp Set in Bermuda Bay Ink and added it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. To finish it off, I added a little Enamel Shape!

If you would like to see this all in action, check out the 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 every Tuesday and Thursday!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 10 2016

Pop Up Corner Card!!!

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

This is a super beautiful card because of that amazing Affectionately Yours Designer Series Paper! I mean just look at that little shiny flower reflection in the right corner. Ahhh, it’s so beautiful! I am loving the new copper foil!!! You might be thinking this card looks fairly plain and simple but just wait till you open it up!!!!

That is the inside!!! This card pops up and stands which shows off all of that gorgeous paper. I always think that cards like these are perfect for someone’s desk, bedside table or hospital room during their stay or recovery, or even to send to someone with a photo on the right side to display in their home. This is for sure a card you will want to display for a long time and not just read it and set it aside! So let’s get started!

You will start with an 8-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Watermelon Wonder cardstock and score it in half on both sides (4-1/4″). This will then create 4 equal squares on your card. Then turn your square diagonal in your Stampin’ Trimmer and score one of the squares from the outside corner to the center corner. You can always use a ruler and Bone Folder if you wish! Now you will fold on all score lines. With the diagonal fold in the upper left corner, you will cut the right side square apart on the score line. For the folding magic, you will fold the diagonal line in half making a triangle in that square, then fold the back square up, the front square up and that last square will fold around. Here is a little diagram to help!

Now it is time to decorate!!! I used the Affectionately Yours Designer Series Paper for the front and one of the inside panels. Those pieces measure 4″ x 4″. For the greeting on the front, I used a scrap strip of Whisper White and stamped the greeting from Love & Affection Stamp Set in Cucumber Crush. I added the banner tips by cutting up the center of the end of the paper and then diagonal from the corner to that center cut line! I went with a basic front since the Designer Series Paper (DSP) does all of the work and the inside is so fabulous as well. I attached the DSP to the right side. For the left side, I cut a piece of Whisper White (4″ x 4″) and added some of the Affectionately Yours Designer Washi Tape to the top and bottom and stamped in the middle with the Love & Affection Stamp Set!

Once you get the folds down, it is a really simple but WOW card!! You can create this card with lots of different looks for any occasion! I love it!!! Here is one more photo!

I want to give a big shout out to my amazing upline, Meg Loven for this amazing idea! She is a wonderful stamper and shared this idea. I couldn’t wait to create it with my favorite Designer Series Paper! She also did a Video Tutorial on this as well so you can check that out here! Thanks, Meg!!!

If you love the Affectionately Yours Suite as much as me, check out these other samples here, and here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 9 2016

Technique Tuesday – Waterfall Card!!!

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you today and this one is super fun!!! It is a great way to show off Designer Series Paper or have a greeting slowly reveal itself. Check this out!!!

Look at all of these color and amazing look!!! The magic happens when you pull the ribbon tab at the bottom – each square moves up and flips over to reveal the one below it. Then a message pops out as well – “Just as sweet as can be”! This style of card is called a Waterfall Card!!! Let’s get started!

You will need the following pieces:

Three 2″ x 2″ Squares – I used Watermelon Wonder Peekaboo Peach, and Daffodil Delight.
Three 1-3/4″ x 1-3/4″ Designer Series Paper (or Whisper White to stamp on) – I used the Fruit Stand Paper.
1-3/4″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Crumb Cake, scored at 1-3/4″, 2-3/4″ and 3-3/4″ for the waterfall base
1″ x 4-1/4″ piece of Dapper Denim to go across the card and hold your waterfall in place
8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ Dapper Denim card base
4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Designer Series Paper for background. I used the Fruit Stand Paper.

Okay now we are ready to get started assembling. If you prefer to stamp and image or greeting on each of the squares, you will want to do that first. If you are using Designer Series Paper like I did above, let’s get started! Adhere each of the 1-3/4″ Squares to the 2″ Solid Cardstock Squares. Now you will take the strip of Crumb Cake and fold on each of the score lines. You will see there are 3 rectangles created with the score lines. You will add adhesive to each of the rectangles. Then starting at the end (last rectangle), place one of the squares centered side to side and covering the entire rectangle. Continue to do this with the other 2 squares as well. Your waterfall will have each of the squares on the front with a long piece going down the back. Underneath the squares will be where you will want to stamp a greeting if you wish! I stamped a greeting from the Sweet Stack Stamp Set. You will also want to add your ribbon for the pull tab. You can punch a hole with the 1/8″ Handheld Punch or you can always staple a piece of ribbon folded in half! I used the Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbon. Now your waterfall is complete. Fold your card base in half and adhere the Fruit Stand Designer Series Paper to the front (4″ x 5-1/4″). Now to assemble your waterfall to your card. You will adhere the end (end with the Fruit Stand Square on it to the center of the Dapper Denim (1″ x 4-1/4″) and allow the other end of the Crumb Cake (end with the ribbon) to go behind the Dapper Denim. Now you will add adhesive to the either end of the Dapper Denim cardstock and adhere to your card. Make sure to use a strong adhesive like Fast Fuse or Tear & Tape since people will be tugging at the waterfall and you don’t want it to pop off. Also, make sure you only add the adhesive to the outer edges and not in the middle or your waterfall won’t……fall! I added some Daffodil Delight Enamel Shapes to either side for a little texture!

Don’t worry if you are completely lost on how I created this card because I did a Video Tutorial so you can see the magic and how it all comes together. You can check that out here or click below! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked and be sure to subscribe if you are new!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 8 2016

Monday Madness!!!

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Monday Stampers!!! I’m back to work today after an amazing week at the lake with my family. It was an amazing week or relaxing, soaking up the sun (or trying to hide from it), and making memories. It was wonderful! I’m excited to back “in the office” this week because while the break was nice, I miss my creative outlet and stamping with all of my amazing stampers! Also, my Holiday Mini Catalog pre-order will be arriving tomorrow and I’m super giddy about that. Stay tuned…..I’ll be doing a Facebook Live video as well as a Unboxing Video on my YouTube. Click here to follow me on Facebook and here to follow me on YouTube.

SNEAK PEAK into the August Paper Pumpkin Kit. This is the stamp set that will come in the kit and it will be cards!!! I love the surprise of not knowing what is in the kit but after seeing this, I’m even more excited! Get signed up before August 10th to get this kit. Click here to get started! Also, don’t forget that you can use your July Bonus Bucks to purchase a Paper Pumpkin Subscription or any other Stampin’ Up items. Be sure to use your Bonus Bucks before they expire at the end of the month!

I thought I would also show off a little bit from a demonstrator event that I recently attended. You might have seen a few of these photos on my Instagram or Facebook! Vacation Stamp School is an event that is put on by fellow demonstrators for all of us to share, learn, and celebrate Stampin’ Up! I look forward to this event every year. The samples, techniques and idea are always amazing and inspiring! I can’t wait to try them out and share them with all of you! The photos above are from the event and showcase some of my Stampin’ Sisters – my upline Meg Loven, who I can’t thank enough for asking me to be a demonstrator over 12 years ago. She honestly changed my life for the better and I can so grateful for that!! 🙂 Mary Ellen Stites and Julie Davison are also amazing stampers who I look up to all the time. These 3 ladies did a lot to coordinate this amazing event. Love them!!! Also, those beautiful giant flowers were created by Mary Ellen and her amazing team! If you would like to join my stamp team – Fabulous Friends, have lots of fun at events, and have your life changed for the better, click here to join now or reach out to me here for more information and to answer any questions you might have!

I think that is enough randomness for this Monday! 🙂 We will be back to our regularly schedule program tomorrow with Technique Tuesday! Have an amazing day!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 5 2016

Amazing Decorative Border!!!

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set and coordinating Flourish Thinlits (Bundle & Save 10%) is super fun. You all know how much I have loved the Rose Wonder Bundle and this one is just as amazing. It has greetings, images and fun extras that are perfect for so many different types of cards!!! Check out some of the other samples using the Flourish Set here and here. Check out samples using the Rose Wonder Bundle here, here, and here!

For this card, I started with an Elegant Eggplant card base and I layered on a piece of Crushed Curry measuring 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″. Then I took a piece of Whisper White (4″ x 5-1/4″) and started to decorate it. I loved the border from the Flourish Thinlits and just had to play with it. I die cut it in Elegant Eggplant and it popped out of the thinlit super simple with the Big Shot Die Brush. I love that tool so much! I added the borders to the Whisper White cardstock with the Fine Tip Glue Pen. I didn’t outline the entire piece but just the ends and a few of the intersections in the middle. Then I stamped the greetings in Crushed Curry in the upper left corner and lower right corner from the Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set. I love how this set as coordinating greeting to be used on the outside and inside of the card or use them both on the front like on this card! Then I die cut a few of the flowers in Elegant Eggplant and Crushed Curry and added those to the card. To finish it off, I placed Enamel Shapes in the middle of the flowers. I really love how this turned out and yellow and purple isn’t always a color combination I use a lot!

Have you played with the Flourish Bundle yet? Flowers, flourish, and borders….what more do you want? 🙂 I’ll be posting a few more samples I have created soon so stay tuned and be sure to subscribe so you will get a notification each time I post!!! Subscribe by adding your email address in the upper right corner of the page!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 4 2016

Sponge Brayer Over Everything!!!

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Once you start playing with your Sponge Brayer, you won’t be able to put it down!!! You can see more ways I used a Sponge Brayer here and here!!! It’s just so much fun and super easy! The Sponge Brayer comes with 2 handles and 4 sponges. You can rinse out the sponges when you are done and allow them to dry and use another color. How fabulous is that?

In these samples, I simply used the Sponge Brayer to add color to the cardstock that was ran through the Big Shot in an Embossing Folder. Simple, fun and such different looks with every folder you use!!

For this card, I took a piece of Whisper White (4″ x 5-1/4″) and ran it through the Big Shot in the Lovely Lace Embossing Folder. Then I took a Sponge Brayer and Flirty Flamingo Ink and rolled over the cardstock over and over until the I got the color I liked it. You don’t want to press super hard, but just a light roll back and forth! I added this to a Pool Party card base and tied some Pool Party Satin Stitched Ribbon around it. For the greeting, I used the Rose Wonder Stamp Set and die cut it with the coordinating Rose Garden Framelit. I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals!

For this card, I took a piece of Whisper White (4″ x 5-1/4″) and ran it through the Big Shot in the Elegant Dots Embossing Folder. Then I took a Sponge Brayer and Night of Navy Ink and rolled over the cardstock. Be sure to roll in both directions – side to side & up and down! I added this to a Melon Mambo card base and tied some Melon Mambo Stitched Ribbon around it. The ribbon is criss-crossed on the inside of the card. For the greeting, I used the Rose Wonder Stamp Set again and die cut it with the coordinating Rose Garden Framelit. I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals because I find that they work best on a bumpy surface like this one!!!

For this card, I actually ran the Sponge Brayer over the de-bossed side…..the side where the stars pop down and not up! I love this rustic/cowboy look that came out of it. I layered it onto Cherry Cobbler (4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″) and then onto a Crumb Cake card base. For the greeting, I used the Tin of Cards Stamp Set and Decorative Label Punch to cut it out. I added a few pieces of the New Burlap Ribbon on the back of the greeting! I love how this card turned out!!!

To see this in action, check out the 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!!! Let me know in the comments below which card is your favorite!!! I love the stars but I also love the Elegant Dots because of the color combination.

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 3 2016

What A Gem – July Paper Pumpkin Kit!!!

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Look at all of these beautiful creations – 2 treat boxes with tags and tassels, 12 mini gift tags, and 7 regular sized cards!!!! When the July Paper Pumpkin Kit arrived, I opened it up (check that out here) and loved the colors, loved the bling, loved the stamp set…..but it was treat boxes. I don’t really care for treat boxes because I just don’t use them before they get tossed around and smashed or forgotten. So I made 2 of the boxes (1 of each style) and then let the creativity flow…….

Here are the boxes which are a super fun diamond shape and the tassels were actually VERY easy to make. That was another hesitation when I opened the box because I have attempted tassels before. I used the word attempted because it never worked. These were super easy, quick and turned out amazing!!!

These were super simple and fun to make. I got the inspiration from a Demonstrator gathering event I attended and they did a similar gift tag on the Thank You gifts! Thank you to Meg Loven for the idea!!! I will be giving gifts at my Birthday Celebration Stamp Class later this month and these will be perfect!!!! I used a 2-1/2″ x 5″ piece of cardstock for the card base. I punched out circles from the treat boxes and used the gift tags for the greetings and punched them out as well!!!

Then I made some full sized greeting cards with the stamps, tags, and twine. I added a little Rhinestone over the hole on the tag and it looks fabulous!!!

Here I used the background stamp to create texture on the card and then I took the gift tags and cut them in half and added gems and greetings! Punching out the boxes and cutting the tags in half gives you so much more product to work with and create just about anything!!! Of course, the little Enamel Shapes add the perfect bling and cover up those holes.

These are my favorite of all. Those copper polka dot banners are fabulous and the little bows are just precious! It scream baby girl to me!!! I love it!!! The best part is the triangles were already set, I just cut on the score lines of the boxes. The “little miss perfect” is from the Greatest Greetings Stamp Set.

For this card, I used the background stamp for the top and bottom and then cut stripes of the box for a little bling! I stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock for the greeting and gems! Love it!!!

I hope these projects have inspired you to get creative with your Paper Pumpkin Kits even if you don’t care for the initial project! 🙂 You can always see TONS of samples on Pinterest as well. Search July 2016 Paper Pumpkin, What a Gem, or Paper Pumpkin Alternatives. Lots of great ideas. Don’t forget that you can purchase refill kits of past kits! If you would like to get the August Paper Pumpkin Kit, be sure to sign up by August 10th. Click here to get started!

If you would like to see past kits, check out the samples here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura