Apr 14 2015

Technique Tuesday – Fork Bow!!!

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

Happy Tuesday!!! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you!!! Today the technique is cute, small, and uses a fork!!!

How adorable is that mini bow???? The technique to make it may seem a little confusing in the beginning but it is real simple and comes out perfect each time! Love it!

Supplies: Fork and Cotton Ribbon

You will need a piece of Daffodil Delight Cotton Ribbon anywhere from 6″-10″ (depending on how long you want your tails) and a fork with four tines. If you are right handed, you will place the fork in your left hand with your thumb up by the tines. Place the ribbon across front of fork with 1/3” of ribbon to left of the fork (this is the left side tail). Now wrap the right end of the ribbon around behind the fork, around left edge, over the top of the first end. It will look like a loop with the ends crossed over each other. Thread the that you just wrapped around the fork down through the space between the center fork tines below where the first ribbon crosses. Next you will pull that ribbon end up behind the fork and through the space between center fork tines. Then you will knot the two ribbon ends firmly. Slide ribbon from fork and trim the tails. If you need to tighten your bow, you will pull the tails, not the loops like in a typical bow!

I know this can be confusing at first which is why I did a Video Tutorial for you!!!! Woot Woot! You will see on the video that you can do this with all types of ribbon! For another sample using this technique, check out this post! I used my scissors for the larger style bow!

For the sample shown above, I used a Strawberry Slush card base and layered Blushing Bride on top! The Designer Series Paper is from the All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack. This card uses one of the sheets (both front and back) for the pink flowers and the yellow dots! I added a strip of Whisper White Scallop Punched cardstock behind the yellow dots! For the bow, I added a strip of Daffodil Delight Cotton Ribbon across the card and then adhered the bow with a Mini Glue Dot in the center! For the greeting, I stamped in Strawberry Slush using the A Dozen Thoughts Stamp Set. I added 2 little candy dots on either side to finish it off! I love it! It is pink, flowers, and just adorable. I think you could use this card for lots of different occasions – Baby Girl, Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, Thinking of You, etc. Which would you use this card for? Leave me a comment down below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 13 2015

Build A Bouquet!!!!

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

Is this not the most gorgeous bouquet of flower you don’t have to water or worry about keeping alive??? While making this I didn’t know if it was really going to be worth it but now a month later, it was totally worth it! It has been sitting on our dining room table for over a month now and it sure brightens up the room. It helped me get through those gloomy winter days and even some of the gloomy spring days! I love it and the best part is it will never die!!!

You can make yours beautiful bouquet too!!! All you need is the Build-A-Bouquet Kit from the Occasions Mini Catalog, a hot glue gun and some pliers (totally recommend these). So now a little honesty from me….you all know I like to keep it real! This kit is not easy and takes lots of time but don’t let that scare you! I would highly recommend doing it with a friend or husband in my case because it will go much faster. I am not a hot glue gun pro at all and it seemed like all I did for hours on end was pick up the gun, dab it, set it down, attach flower, and then repeat 5 million times. Finally towards the end I enlisted my fabulous husband who was oh so excited (not) to help! He ran the glue gun while I attached and worked the flowers. This went soooo much better and I wish I would have done it sooner!

You will also noticed in the catalog that there is a coordinating stamp set – Build A Bouquet Stamp Set! I’m not going to lie I got out the kit and read the instruction and was like Ops I didn’t get that stamp set…..so I improvised!!! For the big line image, I used my Hardwood Stamp Set and for the veins in the leaves I used my stem from the Lotus Blossom Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set. I also used the dots image from Gorgeous Grunge for the blue flowers. The other ones, I just omitted and think it turned out fabulous still!

Use the pliers for the wire bending, it is sooooo much easier! I was too lazy to go down to the basement and search for some so I just used my fingers. 1. It Hurts! 2. It doesn’t turn out the same! I took a few of the flowers to my parents house to work on while I was visiting since I really wanted to get this bouquet done by the next evening. I asked my mom if she knew where some pliers were and she immediately handed me some. I finished the flowers and was like “Oh wow, why did I not go get some a long time ago.” Ehh Lesson learned!

I didn’t care for how some of my flowers came out and I didn’t think it look all that great….maybe it was because I was tired and we always judge our own stuff so much more. After I put it all together I was in awe at how amazing it looked. I loved it and now a month later I still love it! I’m so glad I stuck with it and completed the kit! It was totally worth the the time and $25 I spent on it.

Have you purchased this kit? Have you completed it? What are your tips and tricks? How have you displayed your flowers? Leave me a comment down below!

Also, did you know that there is a Big Shot Die that makes all of these flowers? It is the Bouquet Bigz L Die! You can create as many flowers as you wish and in any color imaginable!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 10 2015

Fun at the Ronald McDonald House!!!

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

I love the Ronald McDonald House and ever since last year when I went to make breakfast for those living there, I have really wanted to go back! I decided to sign up to make dinner and it all happened on last week!!! It was so much fun!!!

This is my husband and I taking a selfie with Ronald McDonald.

We made Tacos (it was Tuesday after all) and had it all laid out for them to eat. Then we cleaned up and put everything in the refrigerator with a label on it. They say that many of those staying there come back late in the evening and reheat the food then!

Here I am with the welcome sign that they posted by the front door! Love it!!!

I got to pour my tabs into this big tab house!!!! It was lots of fun! You may have seen in past posts that we collect tabs at home to send to the Ronald McDonald House! Even though the tabs I added didn’t seem to fill this house very much, I know every tab helps!

Here are all of the goodies that were collected and donated. THANK YOU all for bringing cards, crafts, and goodies for me to take with us! I know they greatly appreciate it!!!! If you would like to donate cards (hand-stamped or bought) you can send them to me for the next trip! Also, if you collect tabs, you can send those to me. You will earn a $10 Gift Certificate from me for your donation.

Of course, what is a Friday without the Weekly Deals!!! Also, don’t forget today is the last day for FREE SHIPPING!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 9 2015

This & That!!!

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love using the This & That Albums for all of the items I collect throughout the year. Every ticket stub, game score card, receipt and other little fun items cane be found in these little Albums! Of course I have to add in a few pictures here and there as well! This album is fun and all over the place because I just pick a page and put it in there. It doesn’t go in chronological order or have any theme, it’s a little bit of This & That (hehe see how I did that)!!!! My 2013 Album is the one of the bottom right with all the ribbons on the binding. I love that and it’s a great way to use up those little pieces of ribbon you have left over!!! The 2014 Album is on the bottom right. As you can see I have ticket, score cards from playing games with friends and family and a few of my favorites in pictures and in writing!!!

Here is another page with our Garth Brooks tickets and a little writing about the night. Yes, that is a Home Depot receipt from our Christmas Tree! 🙂 I know I’m silly to keep it but I love it!!!

This page is fabulous to me!!! Throughout the year, each month Brad and I wrote on little punched pieces of cardstock what made us happy that month and we kept them in a jar. On New Year’s Eve, we read through the items and really enjoyed seeing all of the amazing things in our lives. I then put all of those in my This & That Album! There is a lot of talk about nice weather and yummy foods and time spent with each other in there!!! Just a wonderful page that makes me smile!

My nieces and nephews always can make me smile so this page is all about them and how much I love them!

I love having my picture taken but it doesn’t happy often because I’m usually behind the camera! Here are some pictures of me throughout the year! I love seeing how I changed and how I cut my hair to donate it and how amazing life is!!!!

Have you ever used one of the This & That Albums? Do you have tickets and items that you would like to put in a book to remember the moment? You can check out all of the goodies here! It is super simple and lots of fun! Let me know in the comment below how you use your This & That Album or how you plan to use it!

Happy Memory Keepin’

~Laura

Apr 8 2015

Confetti Fun!!!

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love this card….do you know why? Looking at everything but the greeting it says Illini!!! I will always bleed Orange and Blue as I graduated from the University of Illinois!!! Love it!!! I used Tangelo Twist for my card base, Night of Navy layered (4″ x 5-1/4″) and then some Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper (3-3/4″ x 5″). I love the gold flecks in the paper because it just adds the perfect flare. I added more flare but cutting out some Gold Foil with the Labels Collection Dies and Big Shot. Then I stamped the greeting in Bermuda Bay with the stamp from the Balloon Bash Stamp Set. You can check out other samples here and here! I added the greeting with Stampin’ Dimensionals for a little pop and dimension! Love it!!! This is a great gender neutral card as well! You know how I struggle with man cards!!! 🙂 What is your favorite color combination for man cards? Leave me a comment down below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 7 2015

Technique Tuesday – Window Sheet Wonder!!

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

Happy Tuesday!!! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you today!!! Please note that Blendabilities are no longer available with Stampin’ Up! because there was a product issue BUT I know many of you have them so I want to share these cool ideas with you!!!

How fabulous is this card? AND it is a man card!!! Love it!!!!!

For this card, I used a Whisper White card base of 4-1/4″ x 11″ and then I cut a piece of Window Sheet measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. I took the Window Sheet and placed it over some of the diagonal design from the Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper. You could use any type of Designer Series Paper that is stripes, or polka dots or any other design! I used this as my template to dry the lines with the Night of Navy and Old Olive Blendabilities (alcohol markers)!!!! They aren’t straight and they aren’t perfect and some are thick and some are thin but it is okay! Made with love and not perfection! 🙂 I love it all messy though which is super different because I normally like clean, simple, and straight. I used Sticky Strip to adhere the Window Sheet along the top of the card and then covered it up with the Pear Pizzazz Cotton Ribbon. LOVE IT!!! The greeting is from the Remembering Your Birthday Stamp Set!!!

Here is another card that I created by coloring on a Window Sheet. For this one, I embossed the Window Sheet with the Polka Dot Embossing Folder! Then I colored some of the dots with the Coastal Cabana Blendabilities. I will say this only really works with certain images. I tried it with the flowers in the Lovely Lace Embossing Folder and it failed. The markers make streaks and swirls so the images need to be small and not detailed. I used the Crazy About You Stamp Set and coordinating Hello You Framelits (Bundle & Save) for the greeting. I added some Silver Glimmer Paper for a little bling on the bottom! Love it!!!

If you want to see this in action as well as other things you can color, check out my Video Tutorial here!

To see the cards with the Epoxy Stickers, click here! I hope you enjoyed these ways to use your Blendabilities and I hope Stampin’ Up comes out with a new alcohol marker because they are lots of fun!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 6 2015

March Paper Pumpkin Fun!!!

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

The March Paper Pumpkin was super fabulous because I love black and white with a pop of color! I also super love the sewn You letters. How fabulous is that?!?!?! I will admit that this kit took longer than 30 minutes due to the sewing part. If you are really good at that part, you might be done in 30 minutes. I was also super distracted as well! 🙂

Don’t you all craft while sitting on the couch with your laptop on your lap and watching Dancing With The Stars??? I love that show! Let me know if you love it too and who your favorite it in the comments!!! I got all of the sewing down while watching DWTS on Monday night and I assembled them on Tuesday morning! DONE!!!

I did lots of different styles because I wanted to have some variety! Here are my Thank You cards with a few epoxy stickers on them! I also wanted to mix it up and make some of the cards sideways! I can’t always do all of the cards exactly like the instructions. I have to add my own flare!

These cards are perfect to have on hand for those Just Because or Thinking of You Cards!! I love the little epoxy heart on the bottom corner! <3

As always I need lots of Birthday cards so I went with a few of those and the arrows are perfect for them!

Of course if you want to see the excitement of me opening this box when it arrived, you can check out this video! If you are loving this kit and don’t want to miss out on any more Paper Pumpkin kits, be sure to sign up by clicking here before April 10th! It is $19.95 (plus tax, free shipping) each month and it is a surprise! I love that part! The kit comes with everything you need except scissors including stamps, inks, instructions and all of the supplies! Join me next month, you won’t regret it!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 3 2015

Fabulous Friday & FREE Shipping!!!!!!

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I am sooooo excited because Easter is my favorite Holiday and it is finally here! I am really looking forward to time spent with family and EASTER CANDY!!!! Easter candy is my favorite and I love it all – jelly beans, peeps, malted eggs, and peanut butter eggs! I am pumped about the weekend! But first……the Weekly Deals!

These deals this week are HOT! Some of the higher priced items are on the list and that always gets me excited! The Magnetic Platform is amazing when you are using Framelits because the framelits stay in place when you set it down since the magnet is so strong! I love mine!

Don’t forget that any order placed online by clicking here will earn your Laura’s Loyal Stampers Points! Woot Woot! Get FREE shipping on everything (excluding expedited orders) April 6th-10th! Get those orders ready!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Easter!

~Laura

Apr 2 2015

Lovely, Amazing and Simple!!!

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

I love love love this card and the other sample posted below! They are simple cards and just stunning! You all know I love flowers and pinks and purples!!!! The Lovely Amazing You Stamp Set has THE best greetings ever!!!! This card was super simple to create. I started with a Whisper White card base (4-1/4″ x 11″) and added some Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog (4″ x 5-1/4″). For the greeting, I used the 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch to punch out some Crushed Curry. Then after stamping my greeting from the Lovely Amazing You Stamp Set in Blackberry Bliss, I punched it out with my 2″ Circle Punch! I adhered the circle to the scallop and then attached it to my card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. For the final touch, I got out my Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers and colored the little circle with my Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities (these are no longer available). You can also color them with a Sharpie Marker!!! Here is another sample!

I added a little Bermuda Bay to this card with my greeting! I love that color so much right now as well! Simple and fabulous cards that you can create in no time at all!!! Which one is your favorite? Leave me a comment below!

Want to see this in action? Check out my video here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Apr 1 2015

Love is Kindness!!!

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

I have been having sooooo much fun with the Love is Kindness Stamp Set! At first I thought the tulips were pretty but I didn’t think I needed the stamp, then I started to see more and more samples and I just had to have it. Come on you know that happens to you too, right? So I got the Love is Kindness Stamp Set which is a single stamp and so fabulous! I have played with it A LOT! I used my Blendabilities to color it. You can no longer purchase Blendabilities through Stampin’ Up due to a product issue they were having and they want to give the best product ever. I do know that many of you do have Blendabilities and these samples are fabulous so I just had to share with you!!! You could use your markers to color these fabulous tulips as well!

I colored my tulips in a few different ways to get a different look. Some of them I colored with the darkest marker on the outside edge of the tulip and some of them I colored with the darkest color in the middle. Then for the third option, I colored bottom up with the darkest on the bottom. Each one comes out different but each look amazing!!!! The card above uses the Calypso Coral and Old Olive Blendabilities as well as the Skin Tone Set.

See how much fun I have had!!!! I used the Rich Razzleberry, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight and Cherry Cobbler for all of the tulips above. You can see the far left was done with the dark in the middle and lighter on the outside. The purple and pink tulips were done with the darkest on the bottom. You can really see this in action in my Video Tutorial! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you liked it!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura