Aug 18 2015

Technique Tuesday – Coloring & Embossing!!!

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! You know what that means…..I have a fabulous technique to share with you today!!! Today I am showing you a little watercoloring, a little heat embossing and a lot of FUN!!! A shout out to Mary Ellen who gave me the inspiration and idea for this card!!! Thank you so much! I loved your sample and couldn’t wait to try it out!

See how fun this card is!!!! It is so colorful and bright and makes me smile every time I look at it. So let us dive in and get started!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Watercolor Paper, Aqua Painter, Ink Pads, VersaMark, Alphabet Stamp Set, Embossing Powder, and Heat Tool

You will start off with a piece of Watercolor Paper measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″ and lightly wet the entire piece with the Aqua Painter. It should not be dripping wet but lightly glistening. This will allow the color to soak in and the colors to bleed better! Now you can pick your colors and using your Aqua Painter paint on a swish of color. In the sample above, I used Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, Cucumber Crush and Tempting Turquoise! Once you are done with one color, just run the Aqua Painter clean on a paper towel and move to the next color. Be sure not to squeeze the Aqua Painter because then you will have too much water and your colors will come out super light. Once all of your colors are on, you can go back and add a little more in spots if you wish. Now you need to set it aside to dry completely or you can use your Heat Tool to speed up the process!!!

Once it is dry, you can stamp your letters on with VersaMark Ink. TIP: Be sure that your VersaMark Pad is inked very well because you want to make sure you have plenty on the stamp so it gets into the rough surface of the Watercolor Paper. I used the Layered Letters Alphabet Stamp Set which I am loving right now. The images and font are perfect!!! Once you have your letters stamped, you can pour on the embossing powder of your choice. I used Black Embossing Powder for the sample at the top and Silver for the one above! Now you will heat with your Heat Tool until it is set. TIP: Don’t wave the heat tool around. Point it in one spot until it heats up and starts to melt, then move it along until it is all melted. If you swing it around, it won’t heat evenly or as quickly. Now you are ready to assemble to your card. I layered mine onto Basic Black and then a Cucumber Crush card base! I love how the black really makes it pop!!!!

If you would like to see this in action, check out my Video Tutorial below!! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!!!

What would you spell out on your card?? A Name? #???? Let me know in the comments below!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 17 2015

July Paper Pumpkin!!!

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The July Paper Pumpkin Kit was super fabulous and so IN right now! Is it just me or are succulents and little potted plants like THEE THING right now? I feel like I see them everywhere in stores and my mom just created this little succulent garden that is just precious. So of course when I saw this kit, I thought it had my mom written all over it with the little plants and she drinks tea a lot!!! The little tea bag stamp is adorable…..although I was unsure how to use it since it goes inside the cup. Unless the cup is clear, where do you stamp it??? Let me know how you would use it in the comments below. I did stamp it once alongside the cup on the card above (top row, second from the left).

I love the bright green and orange with that subtle gray!! Super fabulous! Also, the texture is perfect with the notebook fringe and the Stampin’ Dimensionals on the cup and the ribbon and paper clip! Love it! The stamp set includes the cup, the 2 plants shown above, the tea bag, and a few greetings. It is very versatile and could be used again and again for lots of different card styles.

See this is how I used the little tea bag…..how would you use it??? Can’t wait to hear your ideas!!!

Don’t forget that there is still time for you to join Paper Pumpkin and get your September and October Kits at half off (regular $19.95). Click here to sign up and enter the Promo Code: HALFOFF to enjoy this deal!!!

I can’t wait to get the August Kit in the mail any day now!!! I will be doing the unboxing and reveal of that kit on my YouTube Channel!!! Stay Tuned!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 14 2015

Fabulous Friday!!!

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday!!! Woot Woot for the weekend!!! I plan on playing with all of my Holiday Mini Catalog goodies that arrived this week. I love getting to pre-order them as a demonstrator!!! Remember that if you just can’t wait till September 1 to get your hands on those Holiday Mini items, you can join Stampin’ Up and add those items to your Starter Kit!!! Pick out $125 in any product you wish and pay just $99 plus tax, free shipping!!! There are no obligations as a demonstrator to do anything after that just enjoy the goodies and have lots of fun!!!! Click here to learn more!

Be sure to stay tuned to my YouTube Channel and Facebook as well so you can see sneak peaks, reveals and more!!!

What is a Friday without the Weekly Deals?!?!?!?! I love the Tag Topper Scalloped Punch and have used it for tags, bookmarks, and even on my cards!!! You can check out some of my samples here and here! Also, check out that Washi Tape and think about the upcoming months!!! Yep, that 2014-2016 Designer Washi Tape is perfect for Fall cards!! Stock up now while it is on sale!

Here is a picture from the Bridal Fair that I attended last weekend!!! I had lots of fun chatting with Brides about their upcoming weddings! Oh how I love weddings! 🙂 You can check out some of my Wedding Stationary work here and let me know if you are getting married or planning a wedding!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you back on Monday!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 13 2015

Wonderful Watercolor Wings!!!

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I am having so much fun making all kinds of butterflies! The Watercolor Wings Stamp Set is so amazing. It is a 3-Step Stamping Set so you can create amazing colors and a true masterpiece!!! I LOVE IT!!! All of these samples I’m showing today use all Whisper White cardstock – base, front piece and scraps for the butterfly. I embossed the front of the card base above with the Zig Zag Texture Embossing Folder. I stamped the butterfly in Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, and Tangelo Twist! I stamped the greeting from the Watercolor Wings Stamp Set in Tangelo Twist and I brushed the edges with Crushed Curry and a Sponge Dauber!!! I added the butterfly and the greeting piece to the base with Stampin’ Dimensionals!!! For the antenna, I stamped that in Basic Black onto the greeting piece and then placed the butterfly over it! Also, no fussy cutting necessary as there is a great Framelit Set to match – Bold Butterfly (Bundle & Save)!!!

I love these shades of purple!!! I used Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum, and Elegant Eggplant for this butterfly!! For the dots behind the butterfly, I used the image from the Watercolor Wings Stamp Set and stamped halfway from the left and halfway from the right. This way the meeting of the two images is hidden behind the butterfly. I used the Lovely Lace Embossing Folder for the card front and the greeting is from the Thoughts & Prayers Stamp Set. Butterflies are the perfect image for any occasion – sympathy, baby, wedding, anniversary, thinking of you, birthday and everything in between!

There is something about that Brick Embossed background that makes me LOVE this card. That and how the greeting fits so perfectly in that brick. Ahhh I just love it!!! The colors used on this butterfly are Pool Party, Lost Lagoon, and Island Indigo! The greeting is from the Watercolor Wings Stamp Set as well!

Here are three more cards in a similar pattern as the ones above. The far left one uses Mint Macaron, Cucumber Crush, and Basic Gray and the far right one uses Soft Sky, Marina Mist and Night of Navy. The middle one is the same as the first card up top. I used the Happy Together greeting from A Dozen Thoughts Stamps Set. Can you tell I had tons of fun making all kinds of cards with this set???

Here is a color chart of the colors I found to be super fabulous!!!!

Here are the color combinations I did not like!!!!

And of course I had to do a Video Tutorial on this stamp set and show you all the fun and excitement I am having so check that out here!!! Let me know your favorite color combination in the comments below!!!

Don’t forget to subscribe to My Channel so you don’t miss any videos!!! They are lots of fun!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 12 2015

Rainbows, Butterflies, & Sequins….Oh My!!

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

You all know how I love bright colors and butterflies!!! This card is all of that and a little bling!!! I got the inspiration for this card from the Home Decor Frame I created a long time ago! For this card, I started with a Daffodil Delight card base and then took a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. I used the butterflies from the Perpetual Birthday Calendar Stamp Set which are amazing for a background since they are in various sizes. Starting in the top corner and working your way down, I used the following colors: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Cucumber Crush, Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay, and Elegant Eggplant. I inked up the butterflies and stamped them down and then stamped 1-2 more times without going back to the ink. That is how I got those various shades of color and I like how it adds depth to the card. I love it. So fun and colorful!! The greeting is from the Endless Birthday Wishes Stamp Set and stamped in Cucumber Crush! I finished the card off with a little bling of Gold Sequins! TIP: I was always using Multi-Purpose Glue (green lid glue) for adding sequins but then too much would come out and it would squish out the middle of the sequin and sometimes (okay lots of times) make a mess. I started using the 2-Way Glue Pen and it works amazingly!!! Love it!!!

Do you love bright colorful things like me?? Let me know in the comments below!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 11 2015

Technique Tuesday – Simple Yet Fabulous!!!

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!! I have two great little techniques to share with you today that are simple and yet super cool!!! You may have seen them before but if not you will be blown away!!!

I love so many things about this card – the colors (Navy and Coral), that bow, the greeting, and the double embossing!!!!

Supplies Needed: Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Decorative Label Punch, greeting stamp set of your choice and ribbon of your choice

I started with a piece of Whisper White measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″ and I ran it through the Big Shot in the Polka Dot Embossing Folder. I then shifted it over a bit and ran it through again to get those second dots. You can also flip it over and off set it to get a cool look. Who knew you could double emboss and get such a cool look? LOVE IT! Then I wrapped the Calypso Coral Seam Binding around it and decided I wanted a bow rather than a knot. At first I didn’t like that it came out sideways but now I love it. Every bow doesn’t come out perfect but they all look amazing!!! Then for the greeting, I stamped the birthday greeting from the Tin of Cards Stamp Set (love that font) in Night of Navy on a scrap of Whisper White. I punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch and then I punched another one in Night of Navy to layer it. Of course both punched pieces are exactly the same size so I cut the navy one in half long ways. Then I add adhesive to the stamped greeting on the top and bottom and attach one of the navy pieces to the top and one to the bottom. You can have a little bit showing or a lot; it’s all up to you! This works with lots of different punches for that perfect layering effect and pop of color!!! (For a long time, I punched 2 to get the same look but it was so bulky on the backside, then I saw this and use it all the time!!!) Of course I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals!!!!

I know I am not the best with typing out instructions so I did a Video Tutorial for you!!! I show a few different ways to layer these and another fabulous tip with punches!!! Check it out below or click here!!!

Over the weekend I passed 1,000 Subscribers on my Laura’s Stamp Pad Channel! That is super exciting!!! Thank you to all of the subscribers and if you aren’t one of them, what are you waiting for???

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 10 2015

Polka Dot Perfection!!!

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love how this card uses a lot of my favorites – polka dots, ombre, pink, and flowers!!!! Woot Woot! I started with a card base of Watermelon Wonder and then cut a piece of Whisper White measuring 5″ x 3-3/4″. I stamped the dots from the Perpetual Birthday Calendar Stamp Set in Watermelon Wonder and Calypso Coral. I stamped 2-3 times before going back to the ink each time, this is how I got those various shades! I love it!!! Also, when it comes to the random background stamping be sure to fall off of your paper so it looks more like a background and not just in the middle of the paper. I stamped the flower and greeting in Memento Black Ink from the You’ve Got This Stamp Set!!! Love it!!! This would be a fabulous card to make multiples of and you could do it in so many colors!!!

What color would you like to use for your polka dots??? Let me know in the comments below!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 7 2015

Fabulous Friday!!!

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday everyone!!! I don’t even know what day it is anymore! We left for our family vacation on Saturday, August 1 and now I’m home but can’t believe it is already August 7th and my days are all messed up! It is crazy how vacation can do that to you!!! We had a wonderful time together with beautiful views and I didn’t get sunburned! I call that a win!!!

It is so beautiful and peaceful in the mornings on the lake!!! LOVE IT!!! In the afternoons when it was really hot and sunny out, I spent a little bit of time in the cabin working on some wedding invites for a Bride!!! I am glad to be back home now and get on a regular schedule again and see all my stampers again! I really miss them when I go a week to a week and a half without seeing any of them! 🙂 You know you are doing something right when a week away makes you miss it all! I did place my Holiday Mini Catalog Pre-Order and can’t wait till it arrives! I will be playing with the goodies, making videos, and prepping for upcoming classes so stay tuned!!! Be sure you are subscribed to my YouTube Channel so you can see sneak peaks!!!

Of course, it just isn’t Friday without the Weekly Deals!!! Oh how I love ribbon and it is my #1 embellishment so I will be stocking up this week! Also, Stampin’ Up added more items to the Clearance Rack this week so be sure to check that out here! I spotted some great items for Holiday Cards at a fabulous price!!!

I hope you all have a great weekend!!! My weekend is all about weddings – family friend’s wedding on Saturday and a big Bridal Fair on Sunday!!! I LOVE WEDDINGS!!!! Bring on love, laughter, and good times!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 6 2015

Woodgrain Wonder!!!

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Are you wondering how I created this awesome woodgrain look??? I used the New Color Me Irresistible Specialty Designer Series Paper!!! This piece is the Tip Top Taupe woodgrain embossed piece. I used my Chocolate Chip Sponge Dauber to color the cardstock. This is how I got the two shades of brown. I love it!!! I just cut these stripes and added it to a piece of Mossy Meadow measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. I added this to a card base of Tip Top Taupe!! For the greeting, I used the Tin of Cards Stamp Set which is fabulous! I love a good scroll-y font!!! It is stamped in Mossy Meadow and then punched out with the Decorative Label Punch! I punched a piece of Chocolate Chip as well to layer it. I cut the chocolate chip one in half. Then add adhesive to the back of the white greeting piece and add one of the chocolate chip pieces to the top and the other to the bottom. Then you can adhere it to your card with Stampin’ Dimensionals!!! It is as simple as that!! The woodgrain makes a wonderful man card, fence, furniture and so many other great looks on a card or box!!!!

If you would like to see all of the paper in the Color Me Irresistible Designer Series Paper Pack and adding color to the paper, check out the video below! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!!! You can also see some more cards created with this paper here!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 5 2015

Washi Tape All Over!!!

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

There are so many fun ways you can use Washi Tape on your project – cards, scrapbook page, home decor piece, or decoration!!! I love this card because of all of the bright colors and the fact that it took me about 2 minutes (if that) to create…..even more if I didn’t color in the cake! 🙂 I used a piece of Whisper White measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″ and I placed the Cherry on Top Designer Washi Tape on it diagonally. There is no measurements or correct way to do it, just start placing it down!! The first piece I laid down was the dots, then the green dots, then the blue, and finally the stripes! To be completely honest, I stamped afterwards which worked out fine. I just pulled out a stamp set and looked to see what would work. I used the Endless Birthday Wishes Stamp Set for the cake and the greeting. I stamped the greeting in Bermuda Bay and the cake in Stazon Black! I layered this piece on a Bermuda Bay card base and was all set! See….2 minutes or less!!!

What is your favorite way to use Washi Tape??? Here is another sample!

Happy Washi Tappin’

~Laura