Jun 2 2015

Technique Tuesday – Reflection Technique!!!

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! You know what that means? I have a fabulous technique to share with you today! It has a major WOW Factor and it is actually fairly simple to create!!! It makes great man cards too!! 🙂

How cool is that? The reflection of the trees in the “pond”, or whatever water it is, is just stunning!! I love it! You can do this technique with lots of different images and not just trees! Now let’s get started!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Sponge Daubers, Window Sheet, Stamp Set, and Ink

See I told you it was easy since the supply list is so short! I have a feeling you all doubt me on that! 🙂 The piece of Whisper White cardstock that I used for this one measures 4-1/4″ x 3-3/4″. I started by sponging my cardstock first. I saw this technique at Spring Into Stamping and Debbie advised to do that first! I used the Soft Sky Sponge Dauber for the very bottom (pond) with just a few passes back and forth. Then I used the Pool Party Sponge Dauber above that for the pond and at the top for the sky. The leftover (middle) section I filled in with the Wild Wasabi Sponge Dauber. I added the brown at the end; using the tree stamp as a guide for those marks! Once you have your cardstock all colored in, you will stamp the trees from Lovely As A Tree with Chocolate Chip Ink in the Wild Wasabi section of your card. Now ink up your stamp again and stamp it onto a piece of Window Sheet! Be very careful to press evenly and not slide all over. If it does, no worries, just wipe it off with a baby wipe or wet paper towel and do it again! Now you will take your window sheet, flip it over, and press it down to your cardstock either just below your already stamped trees or down further. You can do it either way, it also might depend on where your water starts. Once you lay the window sheet down, just gently press all over so the ink is touching the cardstock and soaking in! Now lift up and voila! That’s it!!! See I told you it was easy! After looking at the sample above, I decided it needed a little dirt at the pond’s edge so I went in with some brown and did a few passes!!! You could also use a darker green!

Here is another sample that I created! My pond was much smaller so I could only fit half of the trees on there. I actually think I like this one better. The card at the top made me always wonder which way was up but with this one I know!

Here is another sample that I created with the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set. I really love this one because the reflection image is sort of fuzzy looking so it really looks like a reflection in the water. I think it came out like that because it is a more solid image and the ink pooled in places on the window sheet. The Lovely As A Tree Stamp is very fine and small so it came out more clear and crisp! For the card above, I stamped the tree first and then did the Window Sheet reflection of the tree. Then I did the leave and the reflection of the leaves. I added the grass and flower stems (for more texture) to the card and then just sponged Pool Party below the grass. So I actually sponged last for this card! I added the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes and punched it out with the Word Window Punch and layered it onto Wild Wasabi Modern Label Punch! I added the greeting to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals!

If you would like to see this technique in action, you can check out my Video Tutorial below! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked it and subscribe to My Channel so you don’t miss out on future videos!

Let me know in the comment below which of these 3 you liked best! If you are planning on trying out this technique, let me know if you will be using a tree or another type of image! I can’t wait to hear all about it!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 2 2015

2015-2016 Annual Catalog is Here!!!!

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

It is officially live!!!! You can order from the 2015-2016 Catalog today!!!! There are so many fabulous new stamp sets, the 2015-2017 In-Colors, accessories, Big Shot Dies and so much more!!!

Click here – 2015-2016 Catalog to view the catalog online!

Send me a message with your address and I can mail you a copy if you would like – Laura (at) LaurasStampPad (dot) COM.

Today only, June 2nd, you can order New Catalog Product and Retiring Items! Remember that most of the retiring items are on sale! Now is a great time to stock up!!! Click here to start ordering and if you enter the Hostess Code: KR4B42UF you will earn Double Laura’s Loyal Stampers Points! Woot Woot!

If your Wish List is as long as mine because there is so much fabulous product in the New Catalog, joining Stampin’ Up might be perfect for you!!! Starting TODAY through the end of June, you can join Stampin’ Up for just $99 and you get to pick out $125 in fabulous product PLUS 2 Stamp Set of your choice. That means you can get lots of items off your wish list for just $99 (free shipping)! If you don’t get everything on your list, you can enjoy the demonstrator benefits including discounted product! Woot Woot! Click here to learn more about joining Stampin’ Up! As always if you have any questions at all, I’m more than happy to chat with you! There are no obligations to do anything once you sign up either!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Jun 1 2015

May Paper Pumpkin Fun!!!

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love love love Paper Pumpkin because it is such a fun surprise in the mail each month that I get to unwrap like a present. It comes with so much goodie in such a small box and it’s the perfect little crafting moment for me where I don’t have to pull out tons of supplies or think up the idea! This May Kit is AMAZING!!!! It comes with cards and gift bags!!! Love it!!! Click here to see the video of my opening the box!

Look at all of these fabulous cards and gift bags!!!! For this Kit, I didn’t do any of the cards like the directions stated. I went all out!!!! Get ready for picture craziness!!!!

Here are all of the gift bags! I did these pretty much like directions but had to modify a few. The blue balloon was created by me tracing it with one of the coral balloons from one of the card bases. The little striped balloon was from a card base and I stamped it on the back to use as a guide for cutting it out! Also, that mini bow in the front bag is so little because I didn’t think there was a lot of ribbon. Who am I kidding? These kits always come with plenty and now I have extra! 🙂

This gift bag is tied up and then I unraveled the ribbon a little! Super cute! Now for the cards…

So both of these cards use the regular card base provided in the kit. For the card on the left, I took some of the tissue paper and used my Fringe Scissors to cut it. Then I layered a smaller piece of the Bermuda Bay strip on top. I stamped the greeting on the circle and attached it with Stampin’ Dimensionals and added a few Bermuda Bay Sequins! For the card on the right, I added the Whisper White cardstock (3-3/4″ x 5″) and stamped the balloons on scrap white and cut them out!!! I used Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine for the strings! Love them!!!

The card on the left uses a piece of Whisper White cardstock (3-3/4″ x 5″) that I stamped the balloon tails in Island Indigo, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, and Calypso Coral. I stamped the 3 balloons on scrap white and cut them out. I added a little Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine for the bow!!! The card on the right uses the back of the card base (the stripes are on the back of this one). For the white border behind the Bermuda Bay strip was cut from border of the circles (see below).

I love love love this card on the left because it uses my favorite tool – Sponge Daubers!!!!! I used the negative of the punched out Coral Balloons as a template!

For the cards on the right, I cut up one of the card bases where it uses a little bit of front stripes and the back – solid Island Indigo! I cut up one of the Bermuda Bay bands and cut banner tips into it. I also added some Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine and Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim!

These are the final 3 cards. I used cardstock for all of the bases – Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay! I did the fun fringe on the middle cards with the tissue paper again! Here is an up close photo of that!

With a little bit of extra cardstock and ribbon/trim, I created 9 cards and 3 gift bags with this kit!!! I love it!!! Many of the ideas were from Stampin’ Up that they showed in the Sneak Peak Video. I loved it so much then that I added a second box to my subscription. These projects were all made with 1 box and I will be taking the other box with my on an upcoming vacation to do with my Mom and Niece! Crafting on the road since all I need is the box and a pair of scissors! LOVE IT!!!

You can sign up and get your June and July Kit at 1/2 Price when you sign up and enter the PROMO CODE: SAVE50. Be sure to sign up before June 10th!!!! Click here to sign up now! Also, as a Paper Pumpkin Subscriber, you can purchase past kits and refill kits so you can order more of this kit of any others. Check out all of them here!

I posted a little video on how to apply the labels to your Stampin’ Up! ink pads last week! If you missed it, you can check it out here!!! See this is why you should Subscribe to My Channel! 🙂 Also, if you noticed the ink pads shown are the NEW In-Colors!!!!! Tomorrow is the big day!!!!

Happy Stampin’
~Laura

May 29 2015

Fabulous Friday!!!

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

Happy Friday everyone!!!! Can you believe that May is almost over and June is coming??? That is just so crazy to me! What is even more crazy is the NEW CATALOG IS COMING and I just can’t wait. Only 3 more full days! Eeeeeeee It’s like Disney (even though I have never been)!!!! Until then we can look at this adorable little thing! This little adorable owl is sure to brighten your Friday!!!

I created him with the Curvy Keepsake Die and used various punches for all of his features – Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, Flower Medallion Punch (beak) and the Oval Framelits for his body! Just precious! He would be perfect for a baby shower or for little treats when you are visiting the baby at the hospital! 🙂 All together now…..Awwwwww!

Of course it just isn’t a Friday without the Weekly Deals!

I just recently moved my Flower Bouquet that I created with the Build A Bouquet Kit to a new spot in my kitchen and it just lovely. It really brightens up the room! You can check out my post on that here! The Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper is sooooo lovely! You will want to add some of that to your cart before it is gone on June 3rd but this sale price ends on Monday! You can see some projects using that here and here!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!! I know I will!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 28 2015

Monogram One Sheet Wonder Card Set!!!

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Okay this is the last set that I have done recently so I promise to take a few months before sharing more of these! 🙂 The One Sheet Wonder Technique is just sooooo much fun and I have needed some gifts lately which these are perfect for! A few weeks ago, I attended Spring Into Stamping (check that out here) and I stayed at my friend’s house that weekend! Of course I wanted to give her a little gift for her hospitality! Since she is getting married soon, I know she will be sending out lots of Thank You Notes so this was perfect!

Look at all of these cards!!! That is correct, I got 14 cards out of one sheet of 12″ x 12″ Real Red Designer Series Paper. My friend’s favorite color is Red so that is why I chose this paper! I used Whisper White for all of the card bases which made these even easier to wipe together! Her and her fiance’s initials are M and R and their last name will be W. I used the Sophisticated Serifs Stamp Set which is in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The little plus sign was from the April Paper Pumpkin Kit! I had just received that in the mail and when I was thinking about these cards, it popped in my head that that image would be perfect! Love it!!! I used the 2″ Circle Punch, 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch and 1-3/4″ Scallop Circle Punch for all of the letter layering! Here are some more close up photos!

Some of the cards used the front side of the paper and some used the back side! I love how all of the cards are very similar but a little different. I layered with a little bit of Real Red cardstock!

You can check out more samples using the One Sheet Wonder Technique here and here! You can also see the Template for cutting the Designer Series Paper here! I have also done lots of videos on this technique which you can see here! I hope you are enjoying this technique as much as I have! Leave me a comment down below on which one your favorite is!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 27 2015

Quick & Simple Cards!!!

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

We all love the detailed, time consuming, layers, and embellishments on a beautiful card but sometimes the simple ones are just as amazing!!! We can also create lots of simple ones real fast to have on hand or as we are walking out the door for that Birthday Party!!! The other bonus is most of these items for these 2 cards are laying around your craft room or space or drawer!

How cute is this? It could be a Birthday or Graduation card!!! Super simple with a Whisper White card base and some scraps of Designer Series Paper. These pieces are from the Brights Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stack and I just cut them into triangles. There is no exact dimensions or anything. I just slide the piece into the Stampin’ Trimmer diagonal and cut, tilted it the other way and cut again. The pieces look like a mess but then I added them to the card and it looks fabulous! For the greeting, I used the A Dozen Thoughts Stamp Set for the Wish Big and the dots came from a NEW stamp set called Friendly Wishes! This stamp set is coming out in the 2015-2016 Catalog on June 2nd!!!

Here is another simple one that was made with triangle scraps. Start with a Whisper White card base, layered Basic Black (4″ x 5-1/4″) and then decorate your Whisper White piece (3-3/4″ x 5″). I took my Snail Adhesive and did 3 lines on the Whisper White – 1 at the top, one about 1/3 of the way down and one in between those!!! Now you don’t need to add adhesive to all of those little pieces of Back to Black Designer Series Paper! I placed the first triangle down a smidge off from the center. I didn’t want a strict center piece so I leaned it a little to the right as my starting point. After that I just filled in on both sides. I layered a piece of Basic Black cardstock (3-3/4″ x 1/2″) over all of the ends at the bottom! I added my greeting from the A Dozen Thoughts Stamp Set and a few Rhinestones and I was all set! Perfect Wedding, Anniversary or Engagement card! Look what you can do with a greeting stamp set and some scraps! Quick and Simple!!!

I got the idea for these cards from a fellow stamper – Mary McCormick, at Spring Into Stamping! Another great card that uses up scraps is this one here but it does take a few more minutes than those above! Love it!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 26 2015

Technique Tuesday – Baby Wipe Technique!!!

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

Happy Tuesday!!! You know what that means….I have a fabulous technique to share with you today! This is an oldy but a goody! It is so much fun and super simple too! The look comes out different each time but it is really fabulous!

Amazing shades of pink and I’m in heaven!!!! Love love love it!!!! Now let’s get started!!!

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Baby Wipe, Re-Inkers, Cardstock

This is a really simple technique. You just take your baby wipe and fold it up. For this I folded it into quarters but if you are using a larger stamp, then you can fold it in half. Be sure it is at least 2 layers thick. If you are using a large stamp, just layer 2 wipes. Place them on a plate, plastic container, or clear block stamp case like I did!!! Then using your Re-Inkers you will squeeze dots all around in Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette! I went with the lightest and darkest pinks for a strong contrast but you could use any colors you use! Now the baby wipe is your ink pad. It is as simple as that! Then I took the flower from the Crazy About You Stamp Set and used my new baby wipe ink pad to stamp flowers all over scrap Whisper White cardstock. Then I punched them out with the coordinating Flower Medallion Punch so that I could use them on my card. For my card, I have a Whisper White base (5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″) with Melon Mambo (5-1/4″ x 4″) on top! With another Whisper White piece measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″, I stamped the leaves from the Crazy About You Stamp Set in Wild Wasabi and added my greeting in Melon Mambo from the Lovely Amazing You Stamp Set! Now it is time to add your flowers! I placed one in the corner with Snail adhesive and trimmed off the excess. For the other 2 flowers, I added those with Stampin’ Dimensionals!!!! You know how I love those things!!! Beautiful!!! I just love it! I really think that purple would be fabulous too – really any color would be amazing!

Here is another one that I created! For this card, I used Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant, and Daffodil Delight Re-Inkers on the Baby Wipe. I just placed drops all over the place. They bleed together and created that beauiful green! This is just a really fun technique! For this card, I used the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set and just stamped all over a piece of Whisper White cardstock (3″ x 5″). I layered that onto a piece of Tempting Turquoise (3-1/4″ x 5-1/4″) and added it to my card base of Daffodil Delight! I added some Daffodil Delight Seam Binding around the card and stamped the greeting at the bottom. This greeting is from the Remembering Your Birthday Stamp Set so the coordinating greeting is stamped on the inside! 🙂 I think this card scream Teens or Tweens. It’s like rockstar, punk rock looking…..or something? Am I alone here? Let me know in the comments below!!!

Also, I created a Video Tutorial for you on this cool technique and a few tips and tricks! Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 25 2015

SNEAK PEAK: Friendly Wishes!!!

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

ONE MORE WEEK till the new catalog is here!!!! The excitement is building and I just can’t wait to share all the new catalog items with you!!!! Eeeee! Here is one sample that I have created. Can you pick out the new items????

1. New In-Color – Delighful Dijon (card base)

2. Stamp Set – Friendly Wishes

3. Designer Series Paper – Bohemian Designer Series Paper (DSP)

I am really loving this new DSP because the colors are just beautiful with shades of purples and teals! Love it! I layered the DSP (4″ x 5-1/4″) onto the Delightful Dijon card base. For the greeting, I stamped it in Blackberry Bliss and added the little designs on the side in Island Indigo! I die cut it out with the Deco Label Framelits! I layered the greeting piece (2nd largest) with the largest Deco Label die cut in Blackberry Bliss! Of course, I had to add some dimension with a few Stampin’ Dimensionals!

I can’t wait to share more samples! Some of the projects I have created are just so stinking cute! Cupcakes, Ice Cream Cones, Trees, Balloons, and so much more! 🙂 Also, LOTS of bright colors and you know how much I love that!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday. Happy Memorial Day to you and may you safely celebrate this Holiday!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 22 2015

Fabulous Friday!!!

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

Happy Friday everyone!!! I’m so ready for the weekend to get started for some relaxing time in between time spent with family and friends! Also, I’m super excited (and a little nervous) that I will be running my first 5K tomorrow morning! Send good vibes and hope I don’t trip or get lost! 🙂 Also, I hope the weather is nice even though I have been doing lots of training runs in the rain so I am prepared for that a little too!

Before we can start our weekend, we have to check out the Weekly Deals!!!

My favorite by far is the Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper! You can see lots of samples using it here, here, and here! I love the Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack as well because you know how I love Black and White!!!

Of course I have to share this fabulous Paper Pumpkin Promotion with you as well!!! Right now you can try out Paper Pumpkin and receive your first 2 months for just half price (Regular $19.95). That means that the June and July Kit are just $10!!!! That is an amazing deal for all of the goodies that come in the beautiful orange box! Click here to get signed up! You will need to enter the PROMO CODE: SAVE50 to get this promotion!! If you would like to see the reveal of the May Kit, you can check that out here!

Also, don’t forget that as a Paper Pumpkin Subscriber, you can order refill kits from past months! The refill kits are just $7.95 and they contain all of the consumable items (no stamps and ink)! Click here to check out the past kits! My favorites are August 2014 – Seriously Amazing, March 2015 Sew You, and this month’s kit! What is not to love with gift bags and cards???

Don’t forget that any online order earns you Laura’s Loyal Stampers Points!!!!

11 More Days Till the NEW CATALOG!!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

May 21 2015

Crazy About Butterflies!!!

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I thought the title for today was perfect since it is a mash up for the Crazy About You Stamp Set and Papillion Potpourri Stamp Set! Also, you know how much I love butterflies!!! This card was inspired by one of the Make and Takes at Spring Into Stamping which I attended a few weeks ago (Check that out here!)! The fabulous Julie Davison is the creator of our Make and Takes and she really wowed us this year! I love how simple and fabulous the front is but then you open it up and…..WOW!

How fabulous is that??? I love when the inside is decorated too! It just pulls it all together to make a beautiful card and has such a WOW factor!!!! Love it!!!!

To get started, I have a card base of Blackberry Bliss measuring 4-1/4″ x 11″. The front was decorated with the Crazy About You leaves and then the Papillion Potpourri butterflies! I punched out the butterflies with the Bitty Butterfly Punch and the circle is the 2-1/2″ Circle Punch! The greeting is from the Crazy About You Stamp Set as well. I love how there are so many different greetings in that stamp set that you can mix and match with!!! Now for the inside, you will need a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 3-3/8″ x 9-1/2″ and score along the 9-1/2″ side at 1″, 2-3/4″, and 4-1/2″. This is what gives you that center pop-up piece! Fold on all of the score lines so you have a mountain at the top and then slide in your 2-1/2″ Circle Punch halfway and punch on that fold line. Using a Mini Glue Dot or Fast Fuse, adhere your Window Sheet (1/2″ x 3-1/4″) to the sides of your circle. Now you can attach this to the inside of your card. Make sure that the fold is on the fold of your card base! I noticed it seems to close better if you don’t have it tight in that fold and instead space the lower portion of the white down a little bit (small smidge) from that center card fold and the top portion up a small smidge from the center card fold. I hope that makes sense! 🙂 Once that is placed inside your card, you can adhere your butterflies. I used the bigger butterfly for the inside and punched it out with the Elegant Butterfly Punch! I just used regular Snail adhesive to adhere the butterflies to the front and back of the Window Sheet! I stamped the leaves from the Crazy About You Stamp Set in the lower corner of my Whisper White. For the Lost Lagoon piece (3-3/8″ x 5″) at the top, I stamped butterflies randomly all over in Lost Lagoon and then adhered it on, covering that top Whisper White lip.

Here is the original card that was created at Spring Into Stamping. It used the Kinda Eclectic Stamp Set! I love the original but didn’t have that stamp set so I had to modify! 🙂 Do you like to modify samples that you see or copy exactly what it looks like? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura