May 27 2016

Fast Friday Cards!!!

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday everyone! It’s finally here! It’s a Holiday Weekend! Ain’t nobody got time for detailed stamping today! Let’s whip up a few cards and then enjoy the weekend!!! I created these cards with a little bit of Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper and the Tin of Cards Stamp Set! Super Simple!

I started with some Whisper White card bases measuring 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″. Now for the cutting of the Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper, I did each one in a different size just to play with it. Just Because is 3-1/2″ x 3″ and then I cut the bottom 1/2″ off and flipped it over. Happy Wedding is 4-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ and then I cut the bottom 1″ off and flipped it over. Hello Baby is 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ and I cut the bottom 1/2″ off and flipped it over. They all look fabulous so this just means use what ever scraps you have laying around and have fun with it. I adhered the paper to the middle of the card or a smidge up so I had room for the greeting on the bottom (unlike the one below).

Since I only had room at the bottom for the cute little scroll image from the Tin of Card Stamp Set, I stamped the greeting on a scrap piece of white cardstock, ripped both ends, and placed it on the card! I did all of the stamping in Basic Black which also made these cards easy!

You can whip up all of these cards in a matter of minutes and with a great greeting set like Tin of Cards, you have one for every occasion!!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on simple cards. Have an amazing weekend! I’m running a 5K at our Church Festival, grilling out with friends and spending time with family! I couldn’t ask for a better weekend – just hoping the weather is nice and I don’t trip and fall while running. 🙂 See you back here on Monday!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 26 2016

Butterfly Cut Out!!!

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

I am loving this butterfly cut out look! It’s so elegant and amazing! That bling just makes it so much more fabulous as well! 🙂

I started with a Blackberry Bliss card base measuring 4-1/4″ x 11″! Then I took a piece of Whisper White (4″ x 5-1/4″) and die cut out the butterfly using the Butterflies Thinlits. I did my diagonal because butterflies are always on the move and I knew I wouldn’t get it perfectly centered! TIP: Save the white butterfly that you die cut out for another project that I’ll be posting on Tuesday! Now you will run the piece of cardstock with the die cut butterfly through the Big Shot in the Fluttering Embossing Folder. Now you have your base. You will want to adhere your piece of cardstock to the back of this piece covering the Butterfly hole. I used Hello Honey (2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″) but you can pick any color or let the Blackberry Bliss shine through and then do a Hello Honey butterfly. It is all up to you! Once you have your colored cardstock on the back, you can adhere it to your card base! Then I die cut a Blackberry Bliss butterfly with the Butterflies Thinlit and placed it right in the butterfly spot on the card. I only placed Mini Glue Dots down the center of the butterfly so the wings could pop up! Then I added a string of Rhinestones but I did Pearls on another one and that looked fabulous too! For the greeting, I took a piece of Hello Honey measuring 4″ x 1-3/4″ and stamped the greeting from the Crazy About You Stamp Set in Blackberry Bliss! Then I added it to my card front and tied some Whisper White Satin Stitched Ribbon around the card front between the greetings. When I was creating this card, I thought it was just stunning and then I added the greeting and I wasn’t as impressed. I didn’t really know what it was. At the stamp class where everyone made this card, they all loved it but mixed up the greetings. Some said “You Amaze Me. Happy Graduation.” and others said “Happy Birthday. You Amaze Me.” I loved how it turned out. I think I just don’t like the same greeting twice like I did on my card. Either way, I think it is stunning and you could do orange and yellow or black and orange or just about any color combination you wish! Love it!

If you would like to see this in action, check out my Video Tutorial below or click here! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss Tuesday’s video showing you how to use that White Butterfly piece! 🙂

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 25 2016

I want to ride my Bicycle!!!

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

Every time I get out my bike, I sing the song, “I want to ride my Bicycle” by Queen! Anyone else??? No, just me? Every since I was a kid, summer and riding bikes just go hand in hand! This cute little card just screams summer to me!!!

I started with a Melon Mambo card base and added a piece of the It’ My Party Designer Series Paper measuring 4″ x 3″ (that’s 12 pieces in 1 sheet). Then I took a piece of Mint Macaron cardstock measuring 5-1/2″ x 1-3/4″ and punched the banner tips with the Banner Triple Punch. I ran it through the Big Shot in the Zig Zag Embossing Folder! I added the banner to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals, of course! 🙂 For the focal point, I stamped the bicycle from the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set in Melon Mambo onto Whisper White scrap paper. Then I punched it out with the Extra-Large Oval Punch before stamping the flowers. I wanted to see where the bottom was and how much room I had before stamping the flowers. I stamped the stems in Mint Macaron and the flowers in Crushed Curry! I added the oval to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals as well! The greeting was stamped in Tip Top Taupe and it is also from the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set! Perfect card to send to a friend just because! I love it! I finished off the card with a few It’s My Party Enamel Dots!

Do you like to create simple cards with greetings like this or do you mostly stamp occasion cards like Birthday, Wedding, Sympathy, etc.? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 24 2016

Technique Tuesday – One Sheet Wonder Flower Bouquet!!!

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

Happy Tuesday!!! You know what that means…..I have a fabulous technique to share with you today! This isn’t a new one but it is with a new look! I know how much you all love my One Sheet Wonder Techniques so I am sharing another fabulous one!

Look at these beauties!!! You all know I love flowers and this paper from the Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper Stack is amazing!!! What better way to use this amazing paper than with a One Sheet Wonder Technique so you can use every bit of it and both sides!! I made 14 cards with this ONE piece of 12″ x 12″ paper. Here is the template!

I have modified it a little bit but cutting 2 pieces of 2″ x 5-1/2″ with that leftover gray piece on top. Also, I don’t always cut those little bits off in the second row either. You can do whatever you want to create these amazing cards!

These 6 cards were created with most of the bottom row on the template and those 2 pieces cut from the top gray portion. Quick and simple cards. I looked at the list of colors that are printed on the Designer Series Paper Pack for card bases – Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, and Pool Party. I pulled out some scraps of each of those colors as well to use for layering and the greetings.

Here are the 2 samples using that far right corner. I just ripped it corner to corner and added it to my card base. I stamped the greeting from the Rose Wonder Stamp Set and added some ribbon – Whisper White Cotton Ribbon and Venetian Trim.

You can always leave the square pieces as strips if you don’t like this look. Here I took the little squares and backed them with cardstock for a little extra pop of color. I added some Linen Thread to the one in the middle.

Here I used some of the strips from the 2nd row on the template. You will notice that the Thoughts & Prayers image doesn’t fit in the Decorative Label Punch so I used that greeting when I could stamp it directly onto the card. I love how you can mix and match and create so many amazing cards so quickly!

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! I post every Tuesday and Thursday!

If you would like to see other One Sheet Wonder samples, click here, here and here! This technique is perfect for whipping up lots of cards quickly and beautifully!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 23 2016

There’s Always Time For Tea!!!

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

I have really been thinking a lot about….stopping and taking time to enjoy life. Then I go to my laptop and work on this blog and this card comes up. I thought, that’s perfect!!! It seems these days, we all get caught up in the craziness that is life but sometimes we need to say No when asked to do just one more task or attend an event. We need to say Yes to relaxing with family, playing with the children, or going on a walk to enjoy the beautiful weather and smell the flowers. It is those things that you said Yes too that will make you happier and more relaxed. We can’t do it all and we shouldn’t try to do it all. I have learned that if I can’t attend an event, I simply send a hand-stamped card (and a gift when applicable) wishing them my best. I do care for that person and would love to celebrate with them but again, we can’t do it all….but there’s always time for Tea! Okay back to stamping…just a few thoughts from me! 🙂

For this card, I started with a Whisper White card base and added a piece of the Have a Cuppa Designer Series Paper measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″ to a piece of Watermelon Wonder (4″ x 5-1/4″). Believe it or not that was all layered with Snail adhesive and not Stampin’ Dimensionals! 🙂 Then I stamped the cups from the A Nice Cuppa Stamp Set in Watermelon Wonder onto Whisper White and cut it out…..life real fussy cutting. It wasn’t hard at all since it doesn’t have a ton of detail. Of course I did not cut out the inside of the handles. I added the cups to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals! The little heart and tea bag were stamped in Basic Gray. I fussy cut the heart but the tea bag does have a coordinating Framelit Set – Cups and Kettles (no longer available). I added the heart and tea bag to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals as well. I kept thinking the card needed a little something more but when I held it up to the card it was too much. What do you think? Lace Trim? Pearls? Perfect as is? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Be sure to check out the Retiring Items before they are gone at the end of May!

May 22 2016

Ice Cream Cones!!!

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

You have noticed how I LOVE the Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper as I have been posted a lot of samples using it!! Check those out here, and here! Of course I had to do a cute card with the ice cream cones!! I LOVE a good waffle cone….more than the ice cream actually!!! Mmmmm.

For this card, I started with a Mint Macaron card base, layered on Tip Top Taupe (5-3/8″ x 4-1/8″) and then the Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper (5-1/4″ x 4″). I tied some of the Tip Top Taupe Lace Trim around the card and into a knot. I love how that ribbon puffs out so much. Super fun! For the greeting, I stamped it in Mint Macaron Ink from the Tin of Cards Stamp Set and punched it out with the 2″ Circle Punch. I layered this onto a 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch of Blushing Bride. I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals because I love them and because it helps adhered better on top of the ribbon. I love it!!

Be sure to grab the Retiring items before they are gone on June 1!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 20 2016

Paper Pumpkin Flower Stamps!!!

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I don’t play with my Paper Pumpkin Stamp Sets much after I do the kit….it’s kind of sad isn’t it???? These sets are super fun and I love using them for the kit but then they go in a box and I forget about them! 🙁 I saw a sample similar to this one and just HAD to pull that stamp set back out of the box! I love it!!!! You can do this in soooo many different color combinations!

I started with a Whisper White card base and stamped the flower from the March Paper Pumpkin Kit in Tangerine Tango and the leaves in Cucumber Crush! I went across the card front diagonal and it totally looked like a twisted ribbon where it went wide every inch or so. The more I tried to fix it, the more it just looked the same only wider so I stopped. For the greeting, I used the same set and stamped it in Tangerine Tango. I punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch and the sponged the edges with Cucumber Crush and a Sponge Dauber! I wanted a little pop of color to off set the greeting. I added a little loop of Cucumber Crush Lace Trim behind the greeting and adhered it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals! Love it!

This card is quick and simple and fairly cheap to create since there aren’t any layers, not a lot of adhesive and scraps of ribbon and cardstock can be used for the greeting! You can change the colors to make the recipient’s favorite color!!! I can’t wait to try purple!

What color would you use to create this card? Let me know in the comments below! If you want to see more samples of Paper Pumpkin, click here! If you would like to get your own Paper Pumpkin Kit, click here to get signed up for the June Kit!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Be sure to check out the Retiring Items before they are gone at the end of May!

May 19 2016

Stars and Dots One Sheet Wonder!!!

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

I know you all love my One Sheet Wonders as much as I do! It is a great way to make A LOT of cards quickly and with your favorite Designer Series Paper. This sheet that I used above from the It’s My Party Designer Series Paper Stack is AMAZING. I started screaming the moment I saw it and knew I needed to save it for a special project. The One Sheet Wonder Technique is perfect because there is very little leftover and I can use both sides! I got all 14 of these cards out of one sheet of 12″ x 12″ Paper.

These 6 cards were all created with the 5-1/2 pieces! Some of them I added a layer of cardstock in Whisper White, Melon Mambo or Crushed Curry. The greetings are from the Tin of Cards Stamp Set! I went with basic greetings for this! I added some Whisper White Baker’s Twine, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine and Whisper White Cotton Ribbon to a few of them!

For the greetings, I used the Oval Punch and the Scallop Oval Punch (both retiring). I love using the Decorative Label Punch as well which isn’t retiring. Thank goodness!

I love the little squares and think they look super fun! You could always leave them in a strip and use it like the samples above! The Hello greeting on the far left is from the Watercolor Wishes Stamp Set!

These 2 cards use the largest piece (4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″) and I ripped it diagonally! Love the bright colors.Here is the template that I use. I always like to modify it up and have fun with it. On these cards, I didn’t cut off each of those little slivers on the second row. Also, I cut the top gray portion into 2 pieces measuring 5-1/2″ x 2″. That is how I got the full 14 cards!

I love how you can create quick and simple cards with just a few colors of cardstock, 1 sheet of Designer Paper, your favorite greeting set and some embellishments!

If you would like to see this in action, check out my 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!

Let me know which Designer Series Paper you can’t wait to try this technique out with in the comments below! Stay tuned as I have another set of cards coming soon using paper from the Birthday Bouquet Pack!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Be sure to check out the Retiring Items before they are gone at the end of May!

May 18 2016

Hearts and Flowers???

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I’m not really a hearts and flowers type of girl…..BUT I am a show the love, give a hug type of girl. I think hand shakes are awkward but I will give a hug to anyone I meet. That’s just me. 🙂 I cry at weddings because the amount of love in the room is amazing. I cry at graduations because they have accomplished so much and are moving on to the next step in their life. That’s me!!

Now let’s chat about this amazing this card and not crazy me! I love those interlocking hearts and think they are just fabulous! So simple and yet so sweet! I started with a Bermuda Bay card base and added just a little scrap piece of Have a Cuppa Designer Series Paper (1″ x 5-1/2″). I layered the DSP with a little Melon Mambo scrap peaking out on the right hand side. For the greeting, I die cut one of the Lots of Labels images and cut off the right side bumps to be a flat edge. You can see another sample and how I did that here! I stamped the greeting in Melon Mambo Ink from the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set! Then I die cut the hearts from the Cups and Kettle Framelit Set (sold out). I interlocked them and adhered them on with the Fine Tip Glue Pen. I added the greeting to the lower right hand side of my card and then I thought it needed a little bling! I added some Candy Dots and Rhinestones for a little POP!

Are you Hearts and Flowers? Chocolate? Just a good card? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t leave me hanging, I know there are others out there like me! 🙂

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Be sure to check out the Retiring Items before they are gone at the end of May!

May 17 2016

Technique Tuesday – Collage Stamping!!!

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you today! We are stamping all kinds of images and lots of different colors and adding texture. It is (was) not really my style but I think I’m starting to love it and I have figured it out!!!

Isn’t this beautiful??? My favorite is that amazing background!!! Let’s get started on this amazing card!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Timeless Textures Stamp Set, Lots of Labels Framelits, lots of ink pads

I started with a Pool Party card base and stamped the floral image from Timeless Textures all over in Whisper White Craft Ink. You want to do this first so you can set it aside to dry. I didn’t go in any specific pattern, just stamped all over. Then I die cut one of the labels from the Lots of Labels Framelits and cut off the top bubble piece. This created a beautiful banner or tag. It is a super fun way to use the larger framelits on a card as well! Love it! I started with the greeting which is from One Big Meaning Stamp Set. I used my markers to color in the words – Bermuda Bay and Delightful Dijon. I stamped that down and then stamped the floral image right on top of it in Pool Party (stamped off once for a lighter look). Next, I took the tea cup stain image and inked it up in Crumb Cake Ink but then stamped off twice before stamping on my label. Collage stamping is all about the balance of colors and images. If everything was loud and bright it would look like a mess so you need those layers of colors and images. The final image I used is the little dots, again from the Timeless Textures Stamp Set and Tangerine Tango Ink. I stamped a few all around in the full strength. You could always stamp off a bit or even stamp a few times on your project for even more color variation.

Now your greeting piece is all done and it is time to add texture. I added a little piece of the White Tea Lace Doily to the top of the label and I added strips of Pool Party Cotton Ribbon to the back. I added it to my card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Of course, I thought a little bling would be perfect so I placed a few pearls randomly around the greeting as well! I love it!

Do you like collage stamping? Do you think it looks messy or crowded? It’s okay I do too a bit but it’s super fun too!!! Have you tried it out? I challenge you to play around with a few images and try it out. If you would like to see this all in action, you can check out my 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 your new!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Be sure to check out the Retiring Items before they are gone at the end of May!