Jun 30 2015

Technique Tuesday – Explosion Card Insert

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday All!!!! Tuesdays means one thing and that is a fabulous technique!!!! Today, I’m sharing with your this fabulous Pop Up Explosion Card Insert. It is super fun and has a 10 on the WOW scale. Also, it can be inserted into any card you create!!!

Did you think I was going to give it all away with the first picture??? Ha, you have to wait a smidge longer! 🙂 How cute and simple is this card already though!!! Love Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set and Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper!!!!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: a piece of printer paper, Bone Folder, and stamps to decorate

This is rather simple once you get the folds down! (That is a big part of it. hehe) You will need a piece of 8-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ Printer Paper. If you use Whisper White cardstock it is too bulky and thick. I started out folding the piece of printer paper in half so that I would know where the middle was. Be sure when you fold it that you are use a bone folder for a nice strong crease and it will fold and unfold much better this way. Now that you know where your center is, you can start stamping all over……like this!!!!

See how fabulous that is!!!! You totally have to watch the video below to see it in action! It is amazing!!! You can see my center line right above the greeting “there’s something really worth celebrating today…” I wanted that line so I knew to stamp that greeting either right above or right below for the center. That is the only fold that I did in the beginning because it is much harder to stamp on folded paper than flat. So I stamped the greetings from the Remembering Your Birthday Stamp Set and the candles, confetti, and cupcake from the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set!!! Once you have decorated, it is time to do the rest of the folds. Fold it in half diagonal corner to corner both ways so that it creates an “X” on your paper. So now you should have a line across the middle and an X. So now, fold it in half diagonal on the line you created to make a triangle. Fold it again on the other diagonal line, making it into a smaller triangle. Now with your triangle, you will fold in both ends that have the open sides (not folding the tip that is all folds but the other 2 that have openings so you can see your stamped images). I hope that makes sense…..that is why I created a Video Tutorial. 🙂 Fold the 2 sides into the middle, be sure to use your Bone Folder for those nice strong creases. Now unfold it all and it’s time to make it into the explosion piece. You are done making new folds. Fold it in half on your line, pop in the large triangle sides. Then you will pop in the 4 little triangles as well. Now you are all done and it is time to insert it into any card!!! I used Fast Fuse for a strong hold but I’m pretty sure that Snail would work as well! Add adhesive all along the edges, peak in to see if you added it to the top or bottom so you are inserting it into your card correctly. Then lay it in your card, adhesive side up, be sure to line it up with the edge of the card and centered. The point of the insert should be in the crease of the card. Once it is all lined up, close the card, pressing on that adhesive. Now flip it over, add adhesive to the other side and again, close the card to seal it. You are all done and can decorate the front of your card as well!

For the front, I used the Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper Stack and then added another cupcake from the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set! Now for what you have been waiting for……the Video Tutorial. I hope it helps you create this amazing insert because it is really fairly easy (just hard to write out). Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to share your creations. I would love to see them!!!

Don’t forget to give the video a thumbs up if you liked it!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 29 2015

Memory Keeping with Project Life!!!

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Have you heard about Project Life??? It is a wonderful line of memory keeping products that make it fun and simple. For anyone who has never scrapbooked before, this is totally for you because it is simple and yet exactly what you want – organized photos with information to remember through the years!!! To get started all you need are your photos, an album, pages, a Card Collection Kit, and Journaling Pens. It is that simple! I’m serious!!! Of course you can always add more embellishments and do more to the pages but I think they look great when they are simple! My style of memory keeping is lots of photos and some journaling with very little foo foo. Everyone has their style!

Here is a page that I did for my Family Album! This album has about 2-4 pages each year from the Family Reunion. I love how I didn’t have to cut the pictures at all; I just slid them right in! Also, I loved the 4 pockets for me to journal on. It was perfect. Another bonus I love about Project Life is that many of the cards have a grid or lines on them which make it perfect to write without trailing down or going big to little when you write. Come on, I’m not the only one out there who does that?? 🙂 I used a little washi tape and a few stickers from the Accessory Pack. That little green heart on the far right is covering up a mistake…..come on we all make them and just know how to fix it!!!!

Here is another page that I did which was quick and simple. I popped the photos in, a decorative Card Collection and a journaled card collection with a little washi tape!!! Love it!!

I have done “traditional” scrapbooking in all size. I have done digital scrapbooking and now I have done Project Life. Each one has its pros and cons and it is all based on personal preference! I have done a few classes on Project Life and I have really enjoyed seeing all of the creations!!! Stay tuned as I will be showing you some OTHER things that you can create with the Project Life Card Collection!!

Also, if you would like to see what the Moments Like These Card Collection and Accessory Pack looks like, check out this Video!

Have you tried Project Life? What do you think? Leave me a comment down below!

Happy Memory Keepin’

~Laura

Jun 26 2015

Fabulous Friday!!!

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday everyone!!!! It has been a great week as I have been “playing” with lots of new stuff and prepping for upcoming classes as well as working on lots of weddings which make me so happy! I love weddings!!! Speaking of love……check out what I got in the mail this week from a blog follower – Julia D.! She sent cards for the Ronald McDonald House!!!! Thank you so much!!!

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

Oh how I love my some Glimmer Paper and Embossing Folders!!! Time to stock up for sure!!!

Also, I have been posting lots of videos lately on My Channel – Laura’s Stamp Pad!!! The latest ones have been the Unboxing and Reveal of the Tin of Cards Project Kit in the new catalog and Unboxing and Reveal of the Sweet Stack Project Kit! It has been requested that I do a video on the assembly of the Sweet Stack Kit so I will be working on that as well! If you have a video request, leave me a comment down below and I will do my best!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!! I’m off to the Muny in St. Louis tomorrow to see Hairspray! YEAH!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 25 2015

Cupcakes = Happiness!!!

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The greeting on this card is amazing and so true! I love love love cupcakes and they bring me lots of happiness! 🙂 This was one of the first cards that I created with the Sprinkles of Life Ronald McDonald House Stamp Set!!!

I used the NEW In-Colors – Watermelon Wonder and Tip Top Taupe for this card!!! I started with a card base of Watermelon Wonder and then cut a piece of Whisper White measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″! I placed the ribbon on the piece of white as a guide and stamped my cupcake liners from the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set in Tip Top Taupe. I also stamped the greeting at the top!! Now here is a tip for adhering the Watermelon Wonder Dotted Lace Trim – add a little bit of the 2-Way Glue along the front of the cardstock. Just a little swish back and forth all along the front will do. Place the ribbon over top of that glue and press down. Now wrap the end to the back and you can use your regular Snail Adhesive! I found this to work well to hold it on as well as not bleed through the to the front and make a sticky mess! Now you can adhere this to your card base. For the icing on the cupcakes, I stamped the icing and sprinkles in Watermelon Wonder onto Watermelon Wonder cardstock. Adding those sprinkles helps add a little to the icing as well as makes a perfect guide for your glitter application!!! Punch out the icing with the coordinating Tree Builder Punch and adhere to your cupcakes with none other than Stampin’ Dimensionals (of course)!!! Once you have it all assembled, add a little Dazzling Details to those sprinkles on the cupcake. You always want to do the glitter last so you can set it aside to dry.

What is better than cupcakes, pink, and glitter? Nothing is the word you are looking for! 🙂 Do you love cupcakes as much as me? Leave me a comment down below with your favorite dessert!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 24 2015

Lil Birdie in a Tree!!!

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

While this card is super cute and handy to punch out the image……the punched pieces are so small and kind of hard to work with! That made me nervous! I just won’t be making multiples of this cute one! 🙂

I started with a Whisper White card base. Then I took a piece of Soft Sky measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″ and ran it through the Big Shot with the Stripes Embossing Folder and punched a 2-1/2″ Circle on the right hand side! I added this to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals! I stamped the tree from the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set in Chocolate Chip onto Crumb Cake cardstock and punched it out with the coordinating Tree Builder Punch! I stamped the little birdie in Pool Party ink onto Pool Party cardstock and punched him out as well with the Tree Builder Punch! For the nest, I stamped the tree leaves from the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set in Cucumber Crush onto Cucumber Crush cardstock! I cut out just enough leaves to be a nest!! I added all of these pieces to the card; using Stampin’ Dimensionals for the nest and birdie! I used the border pieces since they are long and skinny! Did you know that you can use every bit of the Stampin’ Dimensionals that are on that sheet? Just cut the edges down to the size you need! For the greeting, I stamped it in Delightful Dijon onto Delightful Dijon cardstock and then cut it into pieces! I also added these to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals (skinny border pieces)! Love it!

If you would like to see more samples using the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set, click here, here and here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 23 2015

Technique Tuesday – Shaving Cream Creations!

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday everyone!!! Today I have a wonderful technique to share with you! It is fun, messy and smells good (if you get the scented kind)!!!! 🙂 Now go get your can of shaving cream and let’s get started!!!! (Note: Shave gel does not work!)

ROCK ON!!!! I’m sorry but when I see this card, that is what comes to mind!!! 🙂 This card was the first piece that I did when I placed it on the shaving cream! The images change the more it gets mixed together and moved around. Also, I got more brave on moving the paper around and pressed differently the more I did!!! So let’s get started on how to create this amazing look!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Re-inkers, Shaving Cream, Cardstock, Container or Paper Plate, Tooth Pick, Butter Knife

To get started, you will need a plastic container or paper plate to spray the shaving cream on. Spray out the shaving cream, back and forth to cover your plate. It doesn’t need to be super thick or even all across. Now pick your re-inker colors and drip all over the shaving cream randomly. I used Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, and Elegant Eggplant! You can use 2 colors or lots and lots of colors! I wanted to add in the yellow so that it would mix with the blue and create green for me! 🙂 You can leave it like this or you can use a tooth pick to swirl or drag the colors around! Now it’s time to place the cardstock in it!!! You will do exactly that – take a piece of cardstock and place it into the shaving cream pressing all over and then pulling it out. Place it on a napkin and take your butter knife and wipe all of the access shaving cream off. Now you can use another paper towel to wipe off any left over shaving cream. ALL DONE! It’s that simple. Each one is going to look different!

This was the second piece that I placed into the shaving cream. You can see that the colors are starting to mix a bit more!

As for the one above and the next 2 samples, I’m not sure what the order was but the more times you use the shaving cream, the more it is mixed up. I also started smearing it around more and more just to see how it would come out!!

This was a long strip of cardstock that I then cut into the 3 pieces. I actually drug this piece through the shaving cream more than pressing it into the cream! Each way will achieve a different look!

As you can see each one comes out completely different!!! I decorated each card with some basic supplies. I used Whisper White Cotton Ribbon, Whisper White Baker’s Twine and the New Whisper White Satin Stitched Ribbon!!! For the greeting, I used the Happy Birthday from Age Awareness! I punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch!

This is a photo of the shaving cream after I did all of these cards in it. I really mixed the colors up to see what would come out!!! I did say it would be messy in the beginning! 🙂

Here are the samples that I created in the Video!!! 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!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 22 2015

Pink & Gold Perfection!!!

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

You all know how I love the color pink!!! When I started working with this Bride and found out the colors were gold and pink, I fell in love!!! Then the Bride says she loves bling and my heart melted! I love love love these invitations even though I am (was) more of a silver girl! Simple, elegant and absolutely amazing!!!!

The invitations were done with a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Blushing Bride cardstock. I did all of the printing on Vanilla cardstock and then added a 2″ x 4″ piece of Gold Glimmer Paper on the left side! For the ribbon, I used some Blushing Bride Ink Refill to dye the Whisper White Satin Ribbon. I love how you can create any color you want with this ribbon! I tied the ribbon in a loose knot and wrapped the ends to the back side to secure it! Then I added this to the Blushing Bride card front! Love it.

For the RSVP Card and Reception Card, I printed them in Vanilla cardstock. We wanted to tie in the Blushing Bride theme so I stamped the little flower scrolly image from the Flowering Flourishes Stamp Set! I love it! I ended up creating little cards asking everyone to share their photos from the wedding with a hashtag and I stamped that same image! It was so much fun that all of these pieces coordinated so well! Just a stunning wedding suite for sure! Oh how I love weddings and helping Brides make their wedding the most special day ever!

If you would like to check out more samples that I have created, you can see them at Weddings.LaurasStampPad.com!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 19 2015

Fabulous Friday!!!

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday everyone!!! We have made it though the week! Now we just need to get on Noah’s Ark before all of this rain floods us out! Luckily my stamp stuff is on the second floor! 🙂 I do hope everyone is doing well with all of this rain and prayers for those in flooding areas!!!

It isn’t a Friday without the Weekly Deals!!!

Loving all of that ribbon that is on sale! Ribbon is by far my favorite embellishment! I tend to add it to almost every card!!! What is your favorite embellishment?? Leave me a comment below and I will pick a random winner for a prize! 🙂

There are lots of Project Kits in the New Catalog!!! If you would like to see the Sweet Stack Project Kit in complete detail, check out this unboxing and reveal video that I created for you!!! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it. Also, let me know what other products you would like to see un-boxed and revealed!

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Father’s Day to all the men out there!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 18 2015

Zig Zags & Swirls!!!

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

Okay I promise after this one I will take a break on using the Friendly Wishes Stamp Set! 🙂

This fabulous card uses a Cucumber Crush card base and a strip of Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper along the left hand side. It is 2″ x 4-1/4″! There are so many fabulous patterns that you could use for this card which makes making multiples a breeze! For the greeting, I stamped the center greeting from Friendly Wishes in Watermelon Wonder and then die cut it out with the Deco Label Framelits! Then I added the little swirls on the sides. NOTE: Do Not Rock with this stamp because you will end up with a line. (See sample below.) The swirls were stamped in Bermuda Bay! Then I brushed the edges with Crushed Curry and a Sponge Dauber! I added the greeting piece to my card with Stampin’ Dimensionals!

Here is another sample using a different piece from the Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Stack! You can see the swirl on the right hand side has a little line from rocking on it! See we all make mistakes and that’s okay! “Made with Love, Not Perfection!” One of my stamper girls told me that and I love it and use it all the time! Love it!!!

You can check out more samples using the Friendly Wishes Stamp Set here, here and here! Also, be sure to check out my YouTube Channel! I posted a video about how to re-ink your ink pads!!! Enjoy!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 17 2015

Purple Perfection!!!

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

I just can’t get enough of those little purple flowers! They are just so adorable and make a wonderful background to this card! Pink ones would be cute….oh or orange ones! You could really do this card in any color! I used Rich Razzleberry for the card base. Then I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″ and stamped the little flower from the Friendly Wishes Stamp Set all over. I did color the flowers and leaves with my markers. Since the image is so small it was pretty quick! You could even stamp twice with each inking and get lots of shades of purple and green! For the greeting, I stamped it in Rich Razzleberry onto a scrap piece of white and punched it out with the 2-1/2″ Circle Punch and layered it onto a Cucumber Crush Deco Label piece. I added it to my card with Stampin’ Dimensionals! Love it!!!

What color would you use for this card? Leave me a comment down below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura