Feb 2 2016

Technique Tuesday – Watercolor Wildflowers!!!

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday! I am so stinking giddy about sharing this card with you today! I LOVE IT! It’s so soft and beautiful. I know I know, it’s not my usual bright colors but it is flowers! 😉 The technique I’m sharing with you is a little watercoloring with the Aqua Painter. I know many might not like it or have never tried it so I’m going to share some tips and tricks today!!!

This card also screams Spring with the pastels and blooming flowers. Oh how I am counting down the days still Spring – 47 more days!!! Let’s get started on this beauty!!!!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Aqua Painter, Basic Gray Archival Ink (or Stazon), your choice of colors

I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″ and stamped each of the flowers from the Flowering Fields Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set. I used every image in the set except the butterfly and I really should have added him in. That would have been amazing! I stamped all of the flowers with Basic Gray Archival Ink which you can use for watercoloring. I liked the softer look of the gray verses a black. It is okay if the flowers don’t all line up along the bottom because the greeting banner is going to cover that up! Now that your images are stamped, it is time to color. I have found that when using an Aqua Painter, you don’t need to squeeze it at all. The water will gently come out as you color. I also found that just barely touching it to the paper is best for those fine lines. I tend to press hard but then the brush tip bends and it becomes really wide and all over the place. Just a light touch to the paper works best. If you don’t like making a mess on the inside of your ink pads to create a color palette, just press a clear block into the stamp pad and use that as your color palette and then rinse off when you are done. You can always add re-inker to the clear block as well. I used Pear Pizzazz for my stems. The flowers are (left to right) Wisteria Wonder, Hello Honey, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, and Calypso Coral. Another tip that I have is allow it to dry a little and then go back and add accents or more color. Don’t think that you have to get the perfect look with one swipe. Have fun with it!!! For the greeting I stamped it in Basic Gray onto Pear Pizzazz from the Greatest Greetings Stamp Set. This card could really have any type of greeting on it! I added a little piece of Tea Lace Doily to the bottom of the banner and adhered it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals! By adding just a little piece of the doily, I can get 3, sometimes 4 of these out of one doily. I love getting the most out of my supplies!

If you would like to see this in action and how I used the Aqua Painter, check out the Video Tutorial below or click here! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked and subscribe so you are notified when I post the next one!

Let me know in the comments below which you prefer – Aqua Painter, Blender Pens, Marker, or not a fan of coloring!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Feb 1 2016

Wedding Wishes!!!

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

The Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper is so beautiful! The flowers, the simple patterns, the colors all are so perfect for so many occasions!!! Love it!!!

I started with a Rose Red card base. I cut a piece of the Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper measuring 2″ and 5-1/2″. I layered it onto a piece of Garden Green measuring 2-1/4″ x 5-1/2″. I cut a Tea Lace Doily in half and placed it on the right hand side, tucking the end under the strip of Designer Series Paper. The greeting is from the Rose Wonder Stamp Set in Rose Red. PS: You NEED this stamp set. It has the perfect greetings for every occasion and the font is beautiful. Bonus, it has flowers in it as well! Perfect!!! I punched the greeting out with a 1-3/4″ Circle Punch and layered it onto a Blushing Bride 2″ Circle Punch. Then I layered both of those onto a Rose Red 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle! I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals….of course! 🙂 You can see more samples using this Designer Series Paper here!

This card would work well for Valentine’s Day (13 days away), Birthday or Sympathy! Which greeting would you use? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 29 2016

Fabulous Friday!!!

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

Happy Friday everyone! This has been a crazy week and I’m excited for the weekend!

How cute are these girls?!?!?! These are my nieces who got to come with their Mom to the Stamp Party last weekend. They did a great job making their cards and adding a little of their own flare. Love them!!! We had a great group of stampers of all ages. I loved every minute of it!!!

Of course it wouldn’t be a Friday without the Weekly Deals! The Bear Hugs Framelits are from the Occasions Mini Catalog! They are super cute and you could use them for lots of different things. Also, the clothespins are great to hold treat bags closed. Don’t forget Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Don’t forget that you can earn Sale-A-Bration items with the Weekly Deals, Clearance Rack and Occasions Mini Catalog items!!! Woot Woot!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 28 2016

Memories In The Making!!!

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The Memories In The Making Project Life Card Collection is one of the items that you can earn for FREE through Sale-A-Bration!!! I thought the cards were super fabulous because many of them are window sheets with frames and borders and amazing designs. There are a few that are gold on one side and silver on the other. WOOT WOOT! I love how there is something for everyone there. The other pieces have embossed prints on them so you can have fun and add color for an emboss resist technique. Love it!!!

The card above uses one of the embossed patterns and I brushed over it with an Elegant Eggplant Sponge Dauber to give it some color. Since the card is 4″ x 6″, I had to cut it down a bit (4″ x 5-1/4″). I added some Whisper White Cotton Ribbon. For the greeting, I used the Big News Stamp Set. I layered it onto Elegant Eggplant and added it to my card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I thought it needed a little bling so I added some Dazzling Details to all of the little dots in the scroll. 🙂

I didn’t want to waste that little strip that I cut off so I created this card. I took another Memories In The Making Card, stamped the greeting from the Tin Of Cards Stamp Set in Stazon Ink and added it to my card front once it dried. Be very careful when stamping on Window Sheet as it can be slick and want to slide all over. Straight up and down! This is one of those cards that the dotted wreath is gold on the back side. I’m a silver girl though! 🙂 Since you can see adhesive on Window Sheet, I just added it to the left hand side where the patterned paper is. It is held securely with Tear & Tape so I don’t have to worry about it coming off!

I wanted to do another one so I took another Card from the Collection that was embossed stripes. I used my Sponge Daubers to add color in this amazing ombre pattern. I used Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo, and Night of Navy. I loved how it turned out. I wrapped some Silver Metallic Thread around a few (hundred) times on the left hand side and tied a knot. I added it to a Bermuda Bay card base and did the awesome greeting again from the Big News Stamp Set. Perfect Man Card!!!

Then with the little strip that I had to cut off, I created this card. Again I took one of the Window Sheet Cards and stamped in Craft White Ink with the Tin of Cards Stamp Set. I adhered it on with Tear & Tape under the strip of ombre! I love how these turned out!

You can use Project Life Card Collections for greeting cards and memory keeping. They are so much fun and so versatile. You can check out a few of my Project Life Album Pages here!

To see all of the cards from the Memories in the Making Card Collection, check out the Video Tutorial below or click here! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked it.

Have you ever tried the Project Life Card Collection for memory keeping or card making? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 27 2016

A Marriage Made In Heaven!!!

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

Based on the title, you might think this is a post about my marriage but it’s not! 🙂 Hehe <3 Although I do think our marriage was made in heaven and blessed by God! Instead, this post is all about this fabulous Wedding or Anniversary card! You could change up the greeting and make it into a Valentine’s Day card as well!!

I used a Blushing Bride card base and a piece of Whisper White measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″! I took a few different patterns from the Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper Stack in the Occasions Mini Catalog and cut them into stripes measuring 2″, 1-1/2″ and 1″! I then used then Banner Triple Punch to add the beautiful banner tips! Then I staggered them along the piece of Whisper White. I stamped the greeting from the Blessed By God Stamp Set in Rose Red in the lower right corner. I thought it needed a little something towards the top so I wrapped some Gold Metallic Thread around the Whisper White a few times and then tied it into a knot. This adds a little shine and texture! To finish it off, I added a few sequins from the Metallics Sequins Assortment which has circles, hearts and stars. The hearts were perfect for this card! I adhered the sequins with the Fine Tip Glue Pen. You can check out a tutorial on that here!

A card style like this is great to use up scraps of your Designer Series Paper and you could use this template for any card type. Have you tried this style yet?? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 26 2016

Technique Tuesday – Curvy Corner Trio Punch!!!

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

Happy Tuesday!!! You know what that means…..I have a fabulous technique to share with you today! Today it’s all about the Curvy Corner Trio Punch. Some tips and ideas on how to use this punch and the fun you can have with it!

How beautiful and simple is that card? I love how those decorative corners allow more of the Calypso Coral to show through. It really stands out so much more! If you would like to see a sample using the other corner, click here! Let’s get started!

I started with a Calypso Coral card base. I took a piece of Whisper White measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″ and punched all 4 corners with the Curvy Corner Trio Punch and then added it to the card front. Using a piece of the Wildflower Fields Designer Series Paper (1-1/2″ x 5-1/4″) from the Sale-A-Bration Promotion, I placed that down the center. For the greeting, I used a piece of Whisper White (2-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ and stamped the greeting from the Rose Wonder Stamp Set in Basic Black. Oh how I love the greetings in this set! Then I took one of the flowers from the Flowering Fields Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set and stamped it in the background in Calypso Coral. I stamped a few times before going back to the ink to give a lighter look and those various shades. I layered this piece onto Basic Black measuring 2-3/4″ x 1-3/4″. I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals! I love it!

If you would like to see a Video Tutorial on the Curvy Corner Trio Punch, check it out below or click here! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 25 2016

Embossed Ends!!!

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

This card is perfect for so many different occasions! I love all the layers and textures with the ribbon, embossing, Designer Series Paper, and punched greeting. Also, I look thinking out of the box on ways to use your embossing folder. I used the Confetti Embossing Folder from the Occasions Mini Catalog! It is a border folder with an oval in the center but don’t let that hold you back. I slide this piece of cardstock in diagonal on the end of the folder. How fabulous is that?

I started with a Melon Mambo card base. I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. I slide the end of the white paper into the Confetti Embossing Folder at an angle. Slide it in just to the point that hits the flat oval spot. You could do it straight across or diagonal. You could even do the top and bottom. I added some of the It’s My Party Designer Series Paper which I am in love with right now! The colors are so fabulous and it’s a 12″ x 12″ Stack! Woot Woot! Then I wrapped some of the Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine around the card twice and tied it into a bow. With Baker’s Twine, I always double knot it tight before tying the bow. I added this piece to the card front and then started on the greeting. I stamped the greeting from the Party Wishes Stamp Set in Melon Mambo onto a piece of scrap Whisper White. I punched it out with the 1″ Circle Punch. Then I stamped the greeting again in Basic Black onto another scrap piece of white. I cut out the WISH card and added little banners to the ends. I used some of the Stampin’ Dimensional border to the back of “Wish” and placed it on top of the Melon Mambo Wish. Then I punched out some Basic Black with the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch and layered it. I added the greeting to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals! Love it!!!

You can check out other fabulous ways to use this embossing folder in this video!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 22 2016

Fabulous Friday!!!

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

Woot Woot! It is Friday and I’m excited! This week has been amazing! Paper Pumpkin arrived! Two ladies joining my Stampin’ Team! The snow didn’t hold us back and Stamp Club stamped on! AND I’m stamping again tomorrow morning with a fabulous group of ladies! It has been a wonderful week! 🙂

Okay so a few weeks ago, I showed you a fabulous sample with the Confetti Embossing Folder. Today I am showing you a similar but super simple version of that card! I only used Pumpkin Pie Sponge Dauber to color the embossing folder and stamped the greeting in the center using the Party Wishes Stamp Set. No layers, no fuss. Simple and Fabulous!!! Love it!!!

Of course it isn’t a Friday without the Weekly Deals!!! Say WHAT??? The Party Punch Pack is on sale! Woot Woot! Check out some samples using it here and here! I love those punches! When you are ordering online, just be sure to remember that every $50 earns you a Sale-A-Bration item FREE and you will earn Laura’s Loyal Stampers Points!!

Also, I wanted to let you all know that my little Ronald McDonald Tab House is almost full! I will be sending the tabs off as well as greeting cards. If you have any tabs or cards that you would like to donate to this great cause, you can send them to me! The cards can be handmade, bought, and all occasion! As a Thank You for your donation, I will give you a $10 Gift Certificate to use towards a class or a Stampin’ Up order! You can see some of the past goodies boxes I have sent here!

I hope you all have an amazing weekend!!! I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 21 2016

A Nice Cuppa!!!

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Laura's Stamp Pad

While I don’t drink coffee or hot tea, I just knew I had to have the A Nice Cuppa Stamp Set and coordinating Cups & Kettle Framelits (Bundle & Save 15%) from the Occasions Mini Catalog! My parent’s both drink hot tea and coffee daily and the greeting World’s Greatest Mom is always needed! I love my parents! My favorite image is that little heart steam! I love it!! The other thing I super love about this set is the A Nice Cuppa Designer Series Paper Stack because the colors are so fabulous!!!

Let’s get started on this fabulous card! I used a Whisper White card base and adhered a piece of Bermuda Bay measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″ onto the front. I cut a piece of the A Nice Cuppa Designer Series Paper into a 2″ x 5-1/4″ strip and added that to the card front. Using the Deco Labels Framelits, I die cut Whisper White cardstock for the focal point! The little mug was die cut in Bermuda Bay with the Cups and Kettle Framelits. The heart steam was die cut in Melon Mambo. I stamped the heart from the A Nice Cuppa Stamp Set in Bermuda Bay onto the mug and the greeting in Tip Top Taupe over top! Also, I stamped the tea bag in Tip Top Taupe onto Tip Top Taupe cardstock. Then I die cut that out as well. I placed the end of the Linen Thread on the back of the tea bag and placed a Stampin’ Dimensional over the end. The other end of the Linen Thread is placed behind the cup. I adhered the mug to the frame with Stampin’ Dimensionals also. The little steam was adhered with the Fine Tip Glue Pen. I love it!!! This card is perfect for just about anyone – those who love coffee, tea, or any other beverage in a mug. It would be perfect for someone who is sick and needs a little pick-me-up or just a little note to brighten anyone’s day!

If you would like to see all of the image in the Cups & Kettle Framelits and more on this set, check out the Video Tutorial below or by clicking here! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jan 20 2016

Look at that Shine!!!

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

So I showed you a quick and simple version of this card here! Today I’m going to show you the stepped up version!!! Glitter always steps up a card!!! LOVE IT!

I started with a Pool Party card base. I took a piece of Whisper White measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″ and stamped the greeting from the Botanicals For You Sale-A-Bration Promotion in Basic Black. You can earn this stamp set for free with a $50 order. The flowers are from the same set and I stamped them in Bermuda Bay and Pool Party. The leaves were stamped in Pear Pizzazz. I would like to say I randomly stamped but I’m not the best at that. I have a tendency to think it needs one more over there and then maybe there and eventually I have stamped WAY TOO MANY. So my only advice is to stop early and if you think it might need one more, don’t do it! 🙂 I adhered this piece to the card front and added some of the New Pool Party Glitter Ribbon. This ribbon is super fun to add to a card and it ties really well, not chunky like some glitter ribbons. Also, I thought I would add a little foo foo to the inside to make it even cuter!

Check out those little flowers in the lower right and upper left corners! I just love flower stamps because you can do it in any color possible. What color would you use for this card? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura