Sep 1 2016

Stitched With Cheer Project Kit!!!

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The moment I saw the Stitched With Cheer Kit in the Holiday Mini Catalog I just knew I had to have it. I always love getting the kits to see what they are all about but this one had me really excited. I’m not the best as sewing as I tend to do it while watching TV and sometimes I miss a hole but it turned out amazing!!! I got this kit in my pre-order and did all of these cards while watching the Olympics last month!!! 🙂 The kit makes 18 cards – 6 each of the 3 designs.

This one is my favorite!!! I love the snowflake and it was pretty easy!!! You will stitch the star with the gold baker’s twine and stamp the greeting from the coordinating Stitched with Cheer Stamp Set in Basic Black Ink. The kit even comes with backs so you can attach them to the inside of the card and no one sees your stitching. I love that and even stamped a little inside greeting on that panel. I added the loops of Gold Metallic Thread (provided in the kit) to the back of the greeting and placed it on the card!!! Just wrap the thread around your fingers and then slide them off, twist in the middle and place on the back of your greeting and secure with Stampin’ Dimensionals like the photo below!

Yes I probably use way to many dimensionals but I love them and I always know where I can find more! 😉

This is my second favorite but the trees don’t look as cute flat so I just hope the people I send this card to pop those trees out for the full beauty!!! 🙂 TIP: Be sure to fold your trees in half before stitching them to the card. I didn’t fold the first set and pulling them forward didn’t work as well. I love the little pearls that add some texture and shine to this stunning card. Again, I used the greeting from the Stitched with Cheer Stamp Set.

Here is what the inside of the card looks like after the stitching is done. I used a little bit of Tear Tape to secure the ends of the thread. The kit comes with inserts to add to the inside of the card so that you can cover up your stitching! I love that they thought of everything for you! I also stamped a little greeting on the insert for a little decoration on the inside!!

Okay so you are all probably thinking I don’t like this one….that’s not completely true. I love the look. I love the stitched star and the holly…..but that greeting….oh my! Luckily they give you 8 banners to stamp in hopes to get 6 right. That was tough. I mean I consider myself a good stamper….until now! Lining it up was step 1 but then I kept getting ink on the banner ends that collected inside the banner so then I stamped lighter and it wasn’t stamped well. Oh I thought I was going to go insane. So I just have to say…..good luck! There is also a complete extra set of banners that you could always use instead too. See the “extras” photo at the bottom.

Here are some variations of the card that I did to cover some boo boos. For the middle card, I accidentally adhered the burlap to the bottom of the card…it was upside down when I did it. (I was watching the Olympics, remember.) 🙂 So for that one, I added one of my messed up stamped greetings and added the holly over the mistake. See you would have never known if I didn’t tell you!

And then we have all the leftovers. There are tons of holly leaves left and an entire sheet of labels. I thought about stamping the labels as gift tags and added some holly. Super cute, right??? These are also the banners that you could substitute for the card above if you have issues matching up the greeting as well! 🙂 I love it!!! Now I have 16 cards done already and they are super cute and fun! I love the coordinating envelopes with liners too! They just make me so happy!

To see all of the goodies in the kit, check out my Reveal of the Stitched With Cheer Kit below or click here! Don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up if you liked it and be sure to subscribe if you are new!

Do you like making your own Holiday cards or using a kit??? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 31 2016

August Paper Pumpkin – Bold Botanicals!!!

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Aren’t these just beautiful??? This is not a color combination I would have come up with on my own but they look amazing together and are perfect for the upcoming fall season with still a little bright orange and blue in there. Thank you Stampin’ Up for not making me cry that summer is almost over. The August Paper Pumpkin Kit came with flower stamps for borders, corners, and just about anything as well as some greetings. The kit had Early Espresso as the ink pad. You can check out my full reveal of the kit here!

There are 3 full size cards and vanilla envelopes. I stamped the corner flower on the back flap and left bottom corner of the front. I LOVE that! I think that decorated envelopes are super fun but I typically don’t do it because then I have to worry about matching up all my cards and envelopes but Paper Pumpkin is all together! 🙂 The large corner flower stamp was stamped on each corner of the patterned paper to create that amazing background. The circle greeting fits perfectly in the middle. How cool is that???

The little wooden accent leaves are just precious as well!

These 3 cards are notecard style. You can still mail these cards but they are just a smidge smaller. I stamped the envelopes the same as the ones above. This card uses another flower stamp from the set that is perfect for framing your greeting….stamp on top and stamp on the bottom! LOVE IT! They are just so coordinating and fit perfectly.

The last 3 items are gift card holders/gift tags!!!

These little tags are the perfect size for a gift tag or a gift card holder. You can have these on hand for a last minute gift idea or a hostess gift for that upcoming BBQ or teacher gift. Simple and fabulous! I super love that “notebook” look on the little card inside!

I can’t wait to use the stamps from this kit over again! I love flowers! 🙂 If you would like to sign up to get your September Paper Pumpkin Kit, click here! Be sure to enter the PROMO CODE: BOGO and you will pay for September and get October for Free.

For more Paper Pumpkin samples, check out all of these!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 30 2016

Tempting Techniques – Christmas Wreath!!!

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! I’m coming off a Birthday high over here!!!! It was a wonderful day but we are back at it today with a fabulous technique!!! I’m going to show you how to create something out of the box with a fabulous stamp set – Jar of Love!!! This set is super versatile and those jars will be appearing in lots of upcoming sets as well. 😉 Stay Tuned!

Okay, I am aware that Christmas is far off (not as far as you think) and we don’t need to start the season any sooner than retail outlets do but……. It is always good to get these cards done early so you can enjoy the holiday season! This card can be created with a set that might not look like a Christmas set too!!! I used the Jar of Love Stamp Set and coordinated Everyday Jar Framelits (Bundle & Save 10%)

I started with a Whisper White card base which I like to use for holiday cards because white is so easy to write in! Then I took a piece of Real Red cardstock measuring 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″ and layered it onto the front. With a piece of Whisper White measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″, I stamped the greeting from the Wondrous Wreath Stamp Set in Real Red at the top! For the wreath, I took the branch stamp from the Jar of Love Stamp Set and added it to a clear block with the long stem wrapped around the block to the top side. I don’t want that long stem on my project so I just wrapped it around so it wouldn’t pick up ink. I love that about photopolymer stamps and how you can bend, omit, and play with different angles!

Then I inked it up in Cucumber Crush ink and stamped it in a circle towards the bottom of the card. Start on the bottom with the wreath going to the left or right and then work your way around. TIP: Punch out a circle in the size you want the center to be as a guide to go around so your circle doesn’t become and oval or get out of hand.

I added some of the Cucumber Crush Mini Striped Ribbon between the greeting and the wreath and added it to the card front! I stamped the bow from the Jar of Love Stamp Set in Real Red and die cut it with the Everyday Jar Framelits. I added it to the wreath with Stampin’ Dimensionals! For little items like this, you can cut the dimensional in half or use the outside border!

If you would like to see this 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

Don’t forget about the Paper Pumpkin BOGO Sale for new subscribers!!! Click here to get started and be sure to enter the Promo Code: BOGO

Aug 29 2016

Birthday Girl Right Here!!!!

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Today is my BIRTHDAY!!!! I love birthdays because everyone has one and that is the day you celebrating YOU and the amazing things you are doing each year!!! It is totally worth celebrating!!!

Today I thought I would share a little bit about me by answering some of the following questions! Enjoy getting to know me and my craziness! 🙂

What is your favorite Stampin’ Up! Color? Melon Mambo or Bermuda Bay
What is your favorite Designer Series Paper? Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper
Punches or Framelits? Punches…..I like that I can grab, punch, and go!!!
When you aren’t working/stamping, what are you doing? Watching the show Friends, working out, or spending time with family
What is something that may surprise your followers? I LOVE the Olympics, Rodeos, and Pageants…..like super love!
Besides cardmaking, are you crafty in other ways? NO! I can do a little bit of sewing but it isn’t pretty. I also am not the best house decorator. I just don’t have an eye for that like I do with stamping.

A few other items I wanted to share….

I earned the Stampin’ Up! trip to Thailand this year and I couldn’t be more proud of myself and thankful for all of you!!! YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!!! Thank you so much!
I am an organizational freak and love to have things in there place and neatly placed. I recently redid my stamp room but still have a few things that don’t have the perfect place just yet. Let me know if you have a fabulous storage idea or organizational idea. I keep seeing all of these DIY with a dresser and making it into a shelf. I also can’t decide whether I want my stamp sets on a shelf or in a drawer…..these are the things I think about all day long! 🙂
I am trying to convince my husband to do stamping videos with me on my channel – Laura’s Stamp Pad. He makes amazing cards like these here, here, and here. Let me know in the comments if you think this is a great idea too!!!
I get really excited about cute or pretty postage stamps and ask for them when I go to my Post Office. I squeal and I think they all think I am nuts at my local Post Office! I’m okay with that! (PS: Love the new pets stamps….except for the snake….anyone want those…..I have been using them for bills only but they scare me.)

To learn more about me, you can always check out some of these posts! I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about it today!

Here are some pictures from my Birthday Celebration Class this past week. I always have the last class of August be all about Birthdays! We made 3 cupcake birthday cards and 2 gift packages. Of course, in keeping with the birthday celebration, there were cupcakes and presents for everyone!!! Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with me! 🙂

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 26 2016

Precious Ombre Pinks!!!

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I loving the Pink and Yellow combination of this card with that little pop of copper bling in the washi tape!!! I love it!!!

I started with a piece of the Irresistibly Yours Designer Series Paper measuring 5″ x 3-3/4″. I used 3 different colors for the background (although it is hard to tell). The colors are Flirty Flamingo, Calypso Coral, and Watermelon Wonder and I added them ot the designer paper with a Sponge Brayer. I went diagonal and just rolled over the paper until I got the shade I loved. Remember pressing hard into the ink or onto your paper won’t make the color become darker. Just lightly roll in the ink and then lightly over the paper. If you want darker, just repeat that same move. Be sure that when you are moving to the next color, you will want to overlap the colors so they blend and don’t look like stripes. After you are done adding your color, wipe off the excess ink with a paper towel to make the embossed image POP! I added some of the Affectionately Yours Designer Washi Tape along the bottom (copper dots). Then, I layered this onto Daffodil Delight (4″ x 5-1/4″) and then onto a Flirty Flamingo card base! I die cut the flower from the May Flowers Framelit Set in Watermelon Wonder and added it to the front of the card with the Fine Tip Glue Pen! For the greeting, I used the Greatest Greetings Stamp Set and punched it out with the Classic Label Punch. I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals! I love it! This card would be perfect for any occasion – baby, birthday, wedding, just because!!!

What color combination would you use for this card? Pinks like mine? Blues? Greens? Purples? Multi-color? Let me know in the comments below!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Don’t forget about the Paper Pumpkin BOGO Sale for new subscribers!!! Click here to get started and be sure to enter the Promo Code: BOGO

Aug 25 2016

Stamping with my Husband….blindfolded!!!

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

So this card may look super easy and it is…..unless you are blindfolded. I was going to do the No Hands Challenge with my husband but he is so much taller than me that he could see over my shoulder. He suggested just blindfolded him and I would coach him through it. I thought it would be super fun to do and it was rather entertaining. He can’t see but I walk him through creating this card! Check out the video below to see how he did!!! 🙂

I started with a Whisper White card base and stamped the greeting from the Love & Affection Stamp Set in Cucumber Crush. Be sure you stamp this in the far right corner so there is plenty of room for your design along the left. Then I took a piece of Whisper White (1-1/2″ x 5-1/2″) and stamped the flowers and leaves from the Love & Affection Stamp Set. I stamped the big flower in Watermelon Wonder and the small flower in Crushed Curry; both with Night of Navy centers. The leaves were stamped in Cucumber Crush. I layered this piece onto Crushed Curry and added it to the left side of the card front! Simple and fabulous! It is like creating your own designer paper!

While that seemed simple, let’s see how it is when you are coaching someone else’s hands to create it! My husband did pretty well until he got inky fingers and why he stamped everything in the middle, I do not know! 🙂 Check out the video 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!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 24 2016

Copper Coils Make Flowers POP!!!

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Simple and fabulous! I really like making cards with this card style of designer paper or stamping along the left side and a greeting in the bottom right corner. It is a great way to use small pieces of designer paper because you can go as wide or slim as you need! You can leave the strip alone or add a little pop of a flower or image. You can add ribbon or rhinestones or enamel shapes. All up to you on how much you would like to dress it up!

I started with a Crumb Cake card base. I cut a 1-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Affectionately Yours Designer Series Paper and layered it onto a piece of Watermelon Wonder (2″ x 5-1/2″). I stamped the greeting from the Love & Affection Stamp Set in the lower right corner in Night of Navy. You want to make sure the greeting is far enough over that it won’t be covered by your strip. You can place it on the card for spacing. I usually don’t adhere it down till the stamping is complete and looks good…..just in case! 🙂 I had a little bit of extra space in the corner so I added a little flower from the same set in Watermelon Wonder. Now you can add your designer paper strip. For the flower, I stamped it in Mint Macaron onto Mint Macaron cardstock. The center of the flower was stamped in Night of Navy. There isn’t a punch so I fussy cut it out. I don’t do this often but sometimes it just needs to happen to make the perfect card! It is a fairly simple flower to cut out. Then I took some Copper Metallic Thread and wrapped it around 4 fingers about 5-10 times and slipped them off my fingers and twisted in the middle to make a figure 8. Set the loops onto the back of the flower and place some Stampin’ Dimensionals around the back to hold the ends and loops onto the flower. Now you add it to your card and you are all set!!!

If you would like to check out more samples using the Love & Affection Suite, check out these here, here, and here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 23 2016

Technique Tuesday – Embossing Foil Paper!!!

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! You all know what that means! I have a fabulous technique to share with you today and it is super simple but has a major WOW factor! Check out this beauty – pink perfection, yummy cupcake, silver bling, and silver texture foil!!!

I just love this card. It makes me so happy and I just want to frame it so I can smile every time I pass by it!!! There is so much pink and bling and texture!!!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Embossing Folder of Choice, Big Shot, Foil Paper of Choice

I took a piece of Silver Foil Paper and placed it into the Elegant Dots Embossing Folder. Be sure that the foil is faced up correctly on how you want your image. If you want it embossed the raised side should be behind the foil, if you want it debossed the raised side should be on the foil side! Run it through the Big Shot and check out the beautiful paper you just created! It is that simple. Isn’t that fabulous???

This card starts with a Melon Mambo card base and I layered on a piece of Whisper White cardstock (4″ x 5-1/4″). Then I took a piece of the Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper (3-3/4″ x 5″) and adhered it to the card front. I just wanted to layer on all the pink I could! 🙂 I placed the embossed Silver Foil to the bottom 1/3 of the card. Taking a piece of Whisper White, I stamped the greeting from the Sweet Cupcakes Stamp Set in Melon Mambo and added the banner tips with the Triple Banner Punch! I added this to the right side of the card flush with the edge on top of the foil. I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the greeting because the foam goes into the bumps of the embossed image and holds very well. With some scrap white paper, I stamped the cupcake liner in Tip Top Taupe. First image was stamped off twice, second image was stamped off once, and the third image is full strength Tip Top Taupe. The icing was stamped in Melon Mambo the same way. Check out this video for more on how to stamp the cupcake! I die cut the cupcake liner and icing with the coordinating Cupcake Cutouts Framelits (Bundle & Save 10%). I added the cupcake to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals again to hold tight on the bumps of the embossed foil. I wanted a little more bling on this card so I added some Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details to the cupcake icing and little dots on the greeting banner!

Tuesday is also video day on my YouTube Channel – Laura’s Stamp Pad. Today I posted a sneak peak of one of the kits in the Holiday Mini Catalog that begins on September 1st! Click here to check that out!

To see more samples using the Sweet Cupcake Bundle, click here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 22 2016

Perfectly Peach!!!

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Flowers make my heart beat a bit faster and I just can’t help but smile! I know I say it all the time but it’s so true. I just love flower cards! The Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set and coordinating Flourish Thinlits (Bundle & Save 10%) are perfect because there are amazing images and the perfect greetings for any occasion!

I started with a Peekaboo Peach card base (4-1/4″ x 11″). I went with this size so I could tie the ribbon around the card and not use as much as I would if I used a 5-1/2″ wide card. I took a piece of Whisper White (4″ x 5-1/4″) and stamped the large flower from the Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set twice in Calypso Coral and once in Peekaboo Peach. Then I used the Flourish Thinlits to die cut coordinating floral images in the same colors. I used the small, medium, and large thinlits to add to the tops of the flowers. The Big Shot Die Brush and the Fine Tip Glue Pen are your best friend for these intricate dies. I also die cut a few of the single leaves and the larger leaf (I cut this into pieces to use) in Wild Wasabi cardstock. I added some of the Peekaboo Peach Ruched Ribbon around the card. I am loving that ribbon for the texture and feel of it!!! I stamped the greeting from the Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set in Wild Wasabi and punched it out with the 1″ Circle Punch. I layered it onto a 1-1/4″ Punched Wild Wasabi piece and attached it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. You will want to add more than one so that it really sticks to the card and the ribbon.

What color combination would you use for this card? Shades of blue? Shades of purple? Shades of Pink? Yellow and Orange? Let me know in the comments below! I love trying out new color combinations! If you would like to see more samples using this bundle, click here, here, and here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Don’t forget about the Paper Pumpkin BOGO Sale for new subscribers!!! Click here to get started and be sure to enter the Promo Code: BOGO

Aug 19 2016

Flowers on Friday!!!

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

This simple and fabulous flower card is just stunning! It is one of those quick cards that you can whip up in no time before that party this weekend!!!

I started with a Crumb Cake card base! I layered a piece of the Affectionately Yours Designer Series Paper (3-3/4″ Square) onto Night of Navy cardstock (4″ Square) and placed it on the bottom portion of the card front. Then I took a piece of Crumb Cake measuring 1″ x 3-3/4″ and stamped the greeting and flower from the Love & Affection Stamp Set in Night of Navy Ink. I layered that onto Night of Navy cardstock measuring 1-1/4″ x 4″ I added this to the top of the card front. All set! I let the fabulous designer series paper do all the work on this amazing card! I love the color combination and simplicity!!!

Do you prefer quick and simple cards like this or detailed, layered, intricate cards?? I would say I’m more on the quick and simple side of the spectrum – sometimes I like to get a little more detailed for those really special cards!!! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Have an amazing weekend! Happy Stampin’

~Laura