Jan 1 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016!!!!

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Happy New Year 2016, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I hope you all had a wonderful time ringing in the New Year last night! I did in the most perfect way – at home, with my husband and some family! We enjoyed a nice dinner and placed cards until it was time. If I don’t keep busy I will fall asleep for sure before midnight! 🙂 Here’s to an amazing 2016!!! Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Set Goals? I also like to set goals for each year because that gives me something to strive for. Sometimes they never happen and I wonder why it was a goal in the first place and some I reach and some I surpass. 2015 was an amazing year and I can’t wait to see what is in store for 2016!

Here are a few ways I can help you with some goals you might have!

Want to keep in touch or reunite with family or friends? Send them a card randomly just saying that you are thinking of them and wishing them well. It can be a hand-stamped card or even a piece of notebook paper! I truly think that there is a lot of power in a greeting card. It always makes me smile and warms my heart.

Want to spend some quality time with a loved one – young or old? Why not sign up for Paper Pumpkin? It is a 30 minute all in one craft kit. All you need is a pair of scissors. This is a dedicated time that you can create the kit together, enjoy your time together, and it’s only 30 minutes (could be more if you really get to chatting 😉 ). Surely you can find 30 minutes each month!

Want to learn a new technique, craft, or hobby? Check out my YouTube Channel or even scroll through my blog and find lots of techniques, tips, ideas, and more! I am a visual person so looking at pictures or watching a video works best for me. If you prefer instructions, you can always read the instructions below the pictures on each post. If you have any questions at all, never hesitate to reach out to me. I am more than happy to answer any questions you might have. I usually respond very quickly as well! 😉

Want to save money on your stamping supplies, have lots of fun, and love what you do? Join my Stampin’ Up Team! Becoming a demonstrator was the best thing to happen to me. I never thought I would be doing it full time but I am and I love every minute of it. As a demonstrator, you can enjoy the discount yourself and stamp whenever you want. You can gather some orders from friends and family or you can make it a full-time job. There are no obligations to do anything! It’s fabulous! Plus you get me as your leader! 🙂 Not to brag too much but I think that’s pretty cool! I’m always here to answer questions, cheer you on, celebrate with you, stamp with you and even travel with you to Stampin’ Up events! 🙂 BONUS: Sign up on January 5th or after and enjoy $155 in product for just $99 (plus tax, free shipping)! WOOT WOOT!

I would love to hear your 2016 Goals or Resolutions so let me know in the comments below!!! 🙂

Of course, it isn’t a Friday without the Weekly Deals so here we go!

Weekly Deals 12.29

Also, don’t forget about the Year End Clearance and that the Holiday Mini Catalog ends on Monday, January 4th!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday!!! TUESDAY is the BIG DAY!!! The Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-A-Bration Promotion begin on Tuesday, the 5th! Also, my classes start up again next week! I can’t wait!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 31 2015

December 2015 Paper Pumpkin Kit!!!

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December Paper Pumpkin 2015, www.LaurasStampPad.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!!!!! Here is to a great 2016!!! I thought I would share the December 2015 Paper Pumpkin Kit with you today since it is called One Great Year!!! Now you might be a little surprised as the photo above because this is the December Paper Pumpkin Kit on my Facebook Page…..

December PP for FB, www.LaurasStampPad.com

While I thought this little desk calendar was adorable (check that out here), I just don’t have a need for a desk calendar and so I thought I would create the kit into cards! I was able to get 15 greeting cards out of this kit with all of the supplies. I used my own cardstock for the card bases and an all occasion stamp set but the rest is all from the kit!!!

2016 Desk Calendar Kit, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Here are all of the goodies – Soft Suede Ink Pad, Months Stamp Set which will be great for memory keeping and more, and lots of banners and decorated paper!!!

All Occasion Cards, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Here are a few of the cards I created. As you can see some of the cards look almost just like the calendar just without the month on there. I used the gold banners as banner and as strips of gold. I even used some of the calendar pieces on the inside of the cards to write on. I used Lost Lagoon, Blackberry Bliss, and Hello Honey for the card bases and since Blackberry Bliss is so dark, I wanted to place a piece inside to write the greeting on. It worked out perfectly!!! I greetings came from the Tin of Cards Stamp Set and Crazy About You Stamp Set.

Craft Kit, www.LaurasStampPad.com

As you can see I used the backs of the calendars for greetings and such. I used the banners and flowers as decorations. I was able to create 15 total cards from this kit AND I still had Stampin’ Dimensionals, ribbon, and some gold banners left over. Plus, I have the ink pad and stamp set to use for other projects too! I love Paper Pumpkin!!!

If you would like to try out Paper Pumpkin, you can do so by clicking here. You can subscribe for 1 month or endless months! Just cancel or skip a month any time you would like! It is just $19.95 plus tax each month! The stamps and ink alone are worth that much! Click here to get signed up before January 10th so you can join in the fun! If you would like to see some of the past kits, click here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 30 2015

Quick and Simple Birthday Cards!!!

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Cherry on top, www.LaurasStampPad.com

It’s the end of the year and I am working on cleaning up my stamp room (check that out here) and preparing for the new year ahead! Here are a few cards that I created with some leftover Designer Series Paper pieces, ribbon scraps and pre-cut cardstock! I know I will need lots of Birthday Cards in 2016 because after all everyone has a birthday!

The cards above all have a Pool Party card base and piece of Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. The ribbon is Whisper White Satin Stitched Ribbon and Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine! For the greeting, I stamped It’s Your Birthday! from the Big News Stamp Set in Bermuda Bay and brushed the edges with a Cucumber Crush Sponge Dauber! Quick and simple and yet fabulous!!!

Bermuda Birthday, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I love Bermuda Bay and since I had these cut card bases, I thought I would create some cards! I layered on a piece of Basic Black. The one card has some Whisper White Satin Stitched Ribbon and uses the same greeting as above from the Big News Stamp Set! I brushed the edges with some Bermuda Bay and a Sponge Dauber! The other card uses the Happy Birthday Everyone Stamp Set and I die cut the greeting with the Deco Label Framelits!

Sometimes it seems the simple cards have the biggest wow factor!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 29 2015

SNEAK PEAK: Birthday Balloons!

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I know it is Technique Tuesday but today my technique is a Sneak Peak! I can’t wait for the Occasions Mini Catalog to begin on January 5th!!! Here is a sneak peak of some of the products from the It’s My Birthday Suite! I love all of these products because I make lots of Birthday cards. What can I say I have a big family and they all have birthdays!!!! 🙂 Also, the color combination in the It’s My Party Designer Series Paper Stack is amazing – Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron, and Crushed Curry. Ahhhh I love it all!!!!

Birthday Balloons, www.LaurasStampPad.com

This card was created with a Mint Macaron card base. I cut a piece of the It’s My Party Designer Series Paper into a 4″ x 3″ square….this way you can get 12 of these pieces from one sheet! Woot Woot! I added some Melon Mambo Satin Stitched Ribbon around the card at the top of the designer paper! Then I stamped the greeting from the Party Wishes Stamp Set in Tip Top Taupe as well as the balloon strings! The little balloons are from the same set and coordinate with the Party Punch Pack (Bundle and Save 15%)! I love it. It has a candle, a cupcake, and a balloon. I stamped my balloons on some scrap Whisper White in Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry and Mint Macaron and then punched them out. A full Stampin’ Dimensional fits on the back which is super fabulous! Some of the balloons were attached with Snail Adhesive and some with Stampin’ Dimensionals! I love how the balloons look more real and really pop on the card! 🙂

I love this suite so much that the first class of 2016 is all about the It’s My Party Suite! I can’t wait to start classes back up. I haven’t had a class in almost 2 weeks and I miss all my stampers!

Let me know what you are most excited about from the Occasions Mini Catalog in the comments below!!! If you are on my mailing list, you should have received yours in the mail. If you would like me to mail you one, send me your address at laura[at]laurasstamppad[dot]com. You can also see my Occasions Mini Catalog Haul here!

Also, I shared on my YouTube Channel one of my favorite storage containers in my stamp room! You can check it out here or by clicking below! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 28 2015

Leftover Winter Wonderland!!!

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Happy Monday everyone!!! Are you still in a Christmas coma with all the presents, food, family, and chaos?? Now that Christmas is over, it is time to get into that craft room and enjoy some time for you!!! I had leftover Designer Series Paper from the Holiday Mini Catalog and so I came up with a few simple cards to create for all occasion!!!

Anniversary Cards, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I used Melon Mambo for the card base – my favorite color! I added the pieces of gold and white Designer Series Paper from the Winter Wonderland Pack. I got out my ribbon scraps and some were long enough to tie a knot and the others were shorter so I just wrapped. I hid the ends under the greetings. For the greeting, I used the Blessed By God and Decorative Label Punch! I thought these would make great wedding or anniversary cards!!!

Birthday Trees, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I thought these trees looked very manly and we all know I struggle with man cards! I used Pool Party and Island Indigo for these (it’s what I had pre-cut already). The Winter Wonderland Designer Series Paper is 4″ x 5-1/4″. I used Whisper White Baker’s Twine, Pear Pizzazz Cotton Ribbon and Whisper White Satin Stitched Ribbon! For the greeting, I used the Happy Birthday Everyone Stamp Set and die cut with the Deco Label Framelits!!!

Golden Aniversary, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Can you tell I’m low on Anniversary Cards? 🙂 Here I used Rich Razzleberry card bases. I used leftover pieces of Whisper White Organza Ribbon and Gold Metallic Thread. I also brushed the edges of the greetings with a Sponge Dauber.

Let me know which style is your favorite in the comments below!!!! Do you like to save your Holiday Paper for next year or use it up like I did?

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 25 2015

Merry Christmas!!!!

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Happy Friday! Merry Christmas! I wish you all a wonderful weekend filled with love and happiness!!!

Me in a Tree, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I also wanted to share this little collage of a few of my favorite things this holiday season! LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE CARDS!!! Handmade or not, I love getting mail and getting everyone’s warm wishes! That isn’t even all of them. The fridge is completely covered with all of the photo ones! My heart is full!!!! And I have mentioned before how I like things neat and clean and organized…..yeah check out my Advent Calendar. The little door flaps were getting in the way and made it look messy…..so I ripped them off. It looks so clean now! 🙂 My husband thought I was crazy and said don’t do that to mine!

Christmas Collage, www.LaurasStampPad.com

And of course it wouldn’t be a Friday without the Weekly Deals!

Weekly Deals 12.22

I’m stocking up on that Silver Glimmer Paper for sure!!! I love me some bling and a good deal!!! Daffodil Delight Ribbon is great for SPRING and the countdown is on till that arrives! If you would like to see samples using the Color Me Irresistible Designer Series Paper, check that out here and here! Love it!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday with more fabulous ideas and videos! Don’t forget to check out my YouTube Channel – Laura’s Stamp Pad for product reveals, techniques, gift packaging and so much more!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 24 2015

Last Christmas Card!!!

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Christmas Tree, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Merry Christmas Eve!!! I think this is probably the final Christmas Card I will post this year! I can’t believe all of the ideas I had this year and I am still sharing them up till the day before! Next week will be ways to use up your holiday-themed paper for all occasion cards! YEAH!

This card uses a Crumb Cake card base and I stamped the greeting from the Peaceful Pines on the bottom in Tip Top Taupe! Then taking a piece of Pool Party cardstock, I rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch and brushed the edges with a Sponge Dauber to add a little color and dimension to the card! I added this piece to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals! I stamped the tree from the Peaceful Pines Stamp Set in Mossy Meadow onto Mossy Meadow cardstock and die cut it with the coordinating Perfect Pines Framelits! Bundle & Save 15%! After cutting out the tree, I used another framelit in the set to create that feathering. This is a super cool look and really gives the tree some life. I stamped the little pot in Tip Top Taupe onto Crumb Cake and used the framelits to cut it out as well! The little star was punched out with the Itty Bitty Accents star and some Gold Glimmer Paper! The tree and star are adhered on with Snail Adhesive but the pot is adhered with a Stampin’ Dimensional! This is a very simple tree card with a little bit of elegance! I love it!!!

You can see this Bundle in action on this Video Tutorial! Don’t forget that the Holiday Mini Catalog ends on January 4th and the Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration Promotion begins on January 5th!!! If you would like to see a Sneak Peak of one of the Kits in the Occasions Mini Catalog, check that out below or by clicking here! Don’t forget to Subscribe so you don’t miss any more revealing videos or techniques!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 23 2015

My Mom’s Christmas Card!!!

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Mom's Christmas Card, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Here it is…finally! This is the Christmas Card that my Mom decided she wanted to do this year. It is almost exactly like the card featured in the Holiday Mini Catalog on page 11. When my Mom picked that as her card, I was blown away. She is usually a simple, rustic, forest/pinecone style look and this was not the card I thought she would pick. In fact, I saw the Wonderland Stamp Set and thought that has her written all over it. Instead, I was in love with that set as you can see here, here and here! So let’s get started on how we created this card!!!

I used a Crumb Cake card base and stamped the snow pieces from the Happy Scenes Stamp Set in Whisper White Craft Ink. I also used the coordinating Hearth & Home Framelits so you can Bundle and Save 15%! For the layers, I started with a piece of striped paper from the Home For Christmas Designer Series Paper. We stamped the tree and birdie scene in Chocolate Chip and then colored in the birdies with a Cherry Cobbler Marker. To add a little sparkle to the snow, I took some Dazzling Details and ran it along the ground! We cut out the window frame in Whisper White and the window box in Bermuda Bay. I added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the window frame to add it to the scene so that it would have some dimension and look more like a window scene! We cut a Tea Lace Doily into 3 pieces so we could get the most out of them. Some of the pieces were longer and some were shorter but they all looked great! We adhered the doily to the window box and then to the window all with Snail Adhesive! I stamped the Noel greeting from the Happy Scenes Stamp Set in Cherry Cobbler onto scrap pieces of Whisper White! Then we punched it out with the Word Window Punch and cut off one end! This is your chance to use those really little scraps that you have been saving! 🙂 Then we punched a hole with the 1/8″ Handheld Circle Punch and added some Gold Cord Trim into a bow. We added the greeting with Stampin’ Dimensionals and that’s it!!!

Stamping with my Mom, www.LaurasStampPad.com

This was the most detailed card I created all season I think! She loved it and we had a wonderful putting it together so that’s all that matters!!! My heart is full! 🙂

The Hearth and Home Framelits will be in the Occasions Mini Catalog as well! Woot Woot! The Occasions Mini begins on January 5th as well as Sale-A-Bration!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 22 2015

Technique Tuesday – Tent Boxes

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Happy Tuesday, everyone! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you today! It is super cute and fun to make for all occasions. I honestly think it is one of my favorite boxes to make!

Tent Box, www.LaurasStampPad.com

There is a little box inside that adorable decoration and you don’t have to ruin it in order to get the goodies inside!!! Let’s get started so you can see the inside!!!!

First you will start with a piece of cardstock color of your choice measuring 4″ x 11″. You can get 2 boxes out of one sheet of cardstock! I used the Simply Score Tool for the next few steps! Along the 11″ side, you will score at 3-1/2″, 5-1/4″, 8-3/4″, and 10-1/2″. You will also want to make a little mark with your stylus, bone folder, or a pencil at 4-3/8″ and 9-5/8″. These will be the marks that you will use to line up your ruler and make a diagonal score line. Turn your cardstock 90 degrees to the 4″ side and score at 2-3/4″.  Now you will need a ruler or straight edge and score from your mark that you created to the 2-3/4″ score line. This triangle that you are creating is for the sides of the box to pop in so it fits in the Designer Series Paper Tent.

 

Score Tips, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Now you will fold on all of your score lines. Be sure to fold your triangle opposite of the way you are folding the sides. You can see in the photo below that the triangles pop up/in while the sides are folded the other way. Once it is all scored, you will cut off the little tab on the bottom left side. You will also cut up to the score line on each of the tabs along the bottom. These tabs will fold in to create the bottom!

Scored Box, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Apply Fast Fuse Adhesive along the left side tab to create your box. The best way to get your box to line up correctly is to lay it flat and allow the adhesive to grab ahold of the inside. When you try to line it up in your hand, it can sometimes stick before you are ready and be unforgiving. For the bottom, you will place the side tabs in first, then one of the long tabs. Place some Fast Fuse along the final long tab and seal it shut!

Fast Fuse, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Once it is all together. It should look like this!!!

Tent Bag, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I was able to put like 5 mini candy bars in there or lots of mint. It would be perfect for jewelry, sweets, a giftcard, and much more. Now for the outside decoration, you will need a piece of Designer Series Paper measuring 3-1/2″ x 8″. I didn’t actually score this piece of paper. I just place one end in the middle of the bottom and wrapped it around the box lightly. Then I took it back off and folded stronger on those wrapped folds. This makes for a good fit on each one individually. I used Fast Fuse to adhere the bottom together and then you will slip the box inside the tent!

Snowflake Box, www.LaurasStampPad.com

All of these boxes use the Winter Wonderland Specialty Designer Series Paper. I used Lots of Labels Framelits for all of the greetings! The greetings are from the Berry Merry Stamp Set, Peaceful Pines Stamp Set, and the Flurry of Wishes Stamp Set. The Snowflake Punch punches out the snowflakes and I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to add them to the box with a little Rhinestone in the center. Also, I added a few Home for Christmas Enamel Dots for a little POP!

Golden Box, www.LaurasStampPad.com

This box is my favorite I think! I love the shiny Gold! I used Gold Foil Paper on this one!

Gift Box, www.LaurasStampPad.com

You can always go simple with a To:/From: for all of those special people in your lives!

I got this idea from Sam Donald (Aka Pootles) and she created a Video Tutorial so you can check out her’s here! Since I didn’t do a video on this box, I thought I would share with you a video on the Stampin’ Trimmer! This is such a handy tool that is always used for all of my projects but always behind the scenes. I thought I would bring it out and show you all of the benefits and features of this amazing product! Check that out here! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Dec 21 2015

May Your Days Be Merry!!!

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Days Be Merry, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Happy Monday everyone! This week is Christmas so I’m sure many of you are scrambling to get those cookies made, presents wrapped, groceries bought, and everything else. I just wanted to say May Your Days Be Merry through it all! Stop and take a deep breath and enjoy the site of your tree lights glistening. Enjoy the sounds of laughter from your children or those at a party! Try to enjoy the little things this week!!!

Today I’m sharing with you a quick and simple card that uses up a few scraps that I had laying around! I used a Whisper White card base measuring 4-1/4″ x 11″. When I am using ribbon, I liked this size/style because it uses less ribbon around than a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ style. I had some strips of Silver Foil Paper left over so I added a strip of that. It can be 2″ wide or a 1/2″ wide, whichever you prefer or whichever you have scraps of! Then I took a piece of the Winter Wonderland Designer Series Paper which was also leftover. If you are cutting your Designer Series Paper into 4″ x 5-1/4″ which is the perfect layering size for a card front then you have a strip leftover that is 1-1/2″ x 4″. That is perfect for a card like this! I tried the Real Red Cotton Ribbon around the card right over the overlap of the two stripes of paper! For the greeting, I stamped it in Real Red on some scrap white with the Berry Merry Stamp Set! I punched it out with the 2″ Circle Punch and brushed the edges with a Sponge Dauber for a pop of color! I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals and finished it off with a few Rhinestones! Everything needs a little bling! 🙂

Birthday Card, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I had some leftover pieces for this card but didn’t need any more holiday cards. Switch up the greeting and it makes a fabulous Birthday card! I love that!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura