Oct 21 2013

Quick and Simple Cards!

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

We have all been there! You find out about a party 24 hours before it takes place, you are on Facebook and see it’s your friend’s birthday, or you want to send a quick card to someone just to let them know you are thinking of them! Panic sets in and you wonder if you have a card and if you have time to get a gift. LAURA TO THE RESCUE! Print this blog post for that moment!

All you need are the following items:

Washi Tape, package of Note Cards & Envelopes, Greeting Stamp Set, and some BLING (Rhinestones or Pearls)

The card above does use a punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack but the card looks fabulous with or without those little flowers! Check out this one!

You can make up a bunch of these cards for those moments when you don’t have time or you can whip one up in no time at all. You could even make up a few and bundle them together as a gift! Also, there is Washi Tape for every occasion so you can have a large variety of different types of cards! Check out all the different types here! You can also check out more ways to use your Washi Tape here and here!!

Happy Tapin’

~Laura

Oct 18 2013

Tying the Knot!

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Are you Tying The Knot? I know right now there seems to be a ton of wedding happening every weekend and of course with the Holidays around the corner, many more happy couples will be getting engaged! It makes me sooooo happy! I love love love weddings!

Here is an amazing Save the Date that I just completed for a Bride! I used her wedding colors and created a little tag for the front with the Bride and Groom’s names on it! As you open the card, the Baker’s Twine pulls tight and “Ties the Knot.” How precious is that? Right now I am working on the Wedding Invitations and they are going to be AMAZING! Here is a sneak peak?

TeeHeee I said Sneak Peak! I won’t be posting the invitation until later since the wedding is still a few months away! But here is my work space and what looks like a mess! Each invitation has 2 Die-Cut Lattice pieces on it so here are all of the lattice pieces and the punched out pieces. They make great stars and leaves and I think I have enough to last a lifetime! 🙂

If you are tying the knot soon or having any kind of party for that matter, I would love to help customize your invitations, programs, party favors, place cards and any other items you might need! Just send me an email with your colors/theme and we can come up with the perfect one!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 17 2013

Stampin’ Up! Specials

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love when Stampin’ Up has specials and even more when they name then cute names like Thank You Thursdays! 🙂 This week’s Thank You Thursday is all about punches—namely the Artisan Label, Bitty Butterfly, Hexagon, Mosaic, and Pansy Punches. They are all priced regularly at $15.96 but TODAY ONLY you can get each punch for just $11.96!

There are also Weekly Specials and those are listed below! These items will no longer be on sale at midnight on Monday, October 21st! You can order online by clicking here and when you check out use the following Hostess Code: YPTKGUGE for a chance to win one of my favorite stamp sets – Embellished Events!!!

	Argyle Textured Impressions Item # 127750 Regular Price: $7.95 Discounted Price: $5.96
	Basic Pearl Jewels Item #119247Regular Price: $4.95 Discounted Price: $3.71
	Deco Labels Collection Framelits Dies Item # 130102Regular Price: $24.95 Discounted Price: $18.71
	In Color Dahlia’s Item # 127556Regular Price: $7.95 Discounted Price: $5.96
	Sophisticated Spook Ensemble Digital Download Item #131513Regular Price: $14.95 Discounted Price: $7.48
	Sweet Treat Cups Item #116802Regular Price: $2.95 Discounted Price: $2.21

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 16 2013

Stamps In A Snap

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

October Stamps In A Snap Club is here!!!! This kit comes right to your door! This month you will get the Sponge Daubers (my favorite), Jumbo Sticky Rounds, Strawberry Slush Ruffled Ribbon and Candy Dots – Brights as well as the pre-cut cardstock, other embellishments, and color instructions!! Click here to sign up and get your kit for just $45.00 including all shipping!

Next month will feature a new stamp set and embellishments!!! If you have any of the items listed in the kit, you can substitute them for something of equal value or you can pay the difference if it’s more!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 15 2013

Technique Tuesday – Starburst

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

It is Tuesday and so I’m sharing a fabulous technique with you!!! This week it is this StarBurst Technique!!!!

Okay this card is the most AMAZING card I think I have ever created (in my almost 10 years of stamping). It is SO me – Pink and it says Fabulous!!! I got this technique from a fellow stamper – Ramona Simpson! It is super simple but when going all the way around can take 2 minutes or so. 🙂

Supplies Needed: 2 Ink Pads, Sponge Daubers, and 2 scraps of paper (one for a circle, and one as you edge for inking)

You will see I punched a circle out and put a little dab of Snail on the back to hold it in place on my cardstock (not a lot because you will be pulling this back off). I put a dot in the center of my circle so I could line my other scrap piece of paper (you can use the cardboard piece that comes in the back of a package of Designer Series Paper since it’s thicker and stronger for reusing over and over) up with that dot each time I was going around to make my color burst. To get started you will put your scrap piece down and take your inside color (might not always be the darker one) and sponge dauber starting on the circle and rubbing down the scrap paper (only half way). Then you will take your second color and starting at the end of the first color, rub down to the end of the cardstock. Once you have done both colors, you will move your scrap forward (lining it up with the dot) and repeat. Do this all the way around or just on the top half of your cardstock for a sunrise/set or moon look. When you are finished going around you may have a few white areas towards the edge of your cardstock, just lightly dauber those with the coordinating color to fill in. I can’t wait to do it in a Purple next! I did another sample…..but then my husband informed me it is backwards. The light blue should be in the middle and the dark blue should be on the outside. Either way I think it looks cool! Right??

Please share in the comment what colors you want to try!

Happy Color Burstin’

~Laura

Oct 14 2013

Ornaments that Glimmer!!!!

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I have heard many Oooo’s and Aaaaaa’s over these amazing Holiday Cards and I’m thinking it is because of the Glimmer Paper! I’m telling you a little bit of glimmer makes every card FABULOUS! And I have an extra special trick to share with you! The card above was created by putting a strip of the each of the Season of Style Washi Tape on the Whisper White piece of cardstock! For the Glimmer Ornament, you will take your Mosaic Punch and punch a piece of Glimmer Paper. Then using your 1-3/4″ Circle Punch, you will line up that mosaic image in the middle of your circle punch and Punch! This gives you that fabulous ornament! AND hold that mosaic punched piece for this next card!!!

This fabulous card was created using that Mosaic punched Glimmer piece and 2 other decorated pieces. For the Glimmer Ornament, I wrapped a piece of the green Washi Tape from Seasons of Style around it and it was complete! For the Cherry Cobbler ornament, I embossed the cardstock with my Mosaic Embossing Folder and then punched it out. This gave it that raised edge for a little texture! Then using the crumb cake Washi Tape from Seasons of Style, I wrapped it around, added a thin strip of Glimmer Paper and a few small rhinestones. I found that using my 2-Way Glue Pen worked the best for adhering that small piece of Glimmer Paper. For the last ornament, I took a small piece of Whisper White cardstock and added a strip of each of the Seasons of Style Washi Tape and then punched out the Mosaic image (at a diagonal). Each ornament is using the Silver Ribbon and I attached it on the back of the ornament with a Stampin’ Dimensional and on the back of the cardstock with Snail Adhesive!

I hope you enjoyed these cards and they made you Ooo and Aaaa! Try adding a little Glimmer Paper to your next card and for more ways to use Washi Tape, check out this post and this post!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 11 2013

Pop & Place Tags

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

A Gift Tag can really make a present POP!!! Check out the items above – a simple kraft colored box or bag but with an adorable tag! The NEW Pop & Place tags are a super simple way to create tags for all of your presents during this Holiday season and all year around! You can use these tags for presents under the tree, neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, and even to create cards or scrapbook titles on your page.

The Pop & Place Tag Set comes with 70+ tags in 5 different designs and get this…..all of the tags are created from Stampin’ Up punches or dies. This gives you a chance to try out the shapes even though you may not own that specific Punch or Big Shot Die. If you find that you are loving a certain shape, you will know what to put on your wish list to Santa! 😉

Another NEW item that came out is the Christmas Tagables Photopolymer Stamp Set. There are NINETEEN (19) stamps in this set and it is ONLY $13.95 (plus tax and shipping). HOW AMAZING IS THAT? I love Photopolymer Sets! All of the images in this stamp set fit in the Pop & Place Tags. And I know what you are thinking…..How will I line up the image since Laura always says Stamp First, Then Punch? Photopolymer Stamps are completely clear, no label or wood block to work around so you will be amazing at stamping it in the center! You can order these items alone or as a bundle. Pop & Place Tags, Christmas Tagables Set, OR a Bundle with both, OR the Starter Bundle which includes the tags, stamp set, Clear Block C, and a Soft Suede Stampin’ Spot!

Happy Taggin’

~Laura

Oct 10 2013

More Fun with the Thinlit Dies!

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Here is an adorable card that I created with the “extras” you get when you purchase the Thinlit Dies. I know the main reason to purchase the Thinlit Dies is to get the Frame Template for your Flip Flop Cards (check those out here) but there are tons of other dies in the set that you can use over and over again. This little “XOXO” makes for a super simple and cute card to send out on Valentine’s, leave for someone you love, or drop in the mail to that friend or family member you love and miss. BONUS: since this is actually the reverse (or left over) piece from cutting out the XOXO, I used the actual XOXO on the inside corner. Isn’t that cute?

Here is another great card created with the little Chevron (or arrows) that come with the Circle Card Thinlit Set. I started out with a Whisper White Card and laid the chevron on the edge, ran it through my Big Shot, placed it a little further down and did it again. I ran it through 3 times. If I would have measured or done my spacing differently, it would be more centered but who has time to get out a ruler? 😉 I tend to try things out first because I’m so excited and then later get out a ruler for the “non-sample” card! I love how you can create so many different cards and projects with this one package of Thinlit Dies. Try them out yourself and share in the comments below what you have come up with! I would love to hear all about it!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 9 2013

So Thankful For You!

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love Thanksgiving because it is a day dedicated to being thankful for all the many things we have. I know we should be thankful EVERY day but this day we really celebrate those things! I am loving my Thankful Banner that I created and couldn’t wait to hang it up…..so I didn’t. What do you think?

This banner is hanging in the foyer area between the living room and the kitchen! I look at it all time and smile!

It was created with the Simply Created Build-A-Banner Kit and I used my sponge daubers with the following ink pads: Crushed Curry, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Garden Green, and Chocolate Chip. I tied various scraps of ribbon in between the banner in the same colors. Here is another banner that I created for December! You can purchase the Build-a-Banner Kit and make a banner for Halloween (SPOOKY), Thanksgiving (THANKFUL), and Christmas (JOY) and you still have 1 banner left over or if you have a mistake. 😉 I’ll be honest I messed one up so bad it couldn’t be saved!

Happy Decoratin’

~Laura

Oct 8 2013

Technique Tuesday – Flip Flop Card

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

It is Tuesday and so I’m sharing a fabulous technique with you!!! This week it is the Flip Flop Cards!!!

Okay so Stampin’ Up came out with these amazing Thinlit Dies which makes making Flip Flop cards super easy! But I have some tips for using the Thinlit Dies and a little extra trick to show you! The card above was created in Gumball Green and I used the Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper to decorate it. The circle is a 2-1/2″ Circle Punch from Whisper White and the cute little chameleon is from the Tag It Stamp Set! I just wish you all could Flip Flop the card in person since it is so much fun!

The Thinlits are available in two different styles and check out all the amazing goodies you get with each one! You will notice that the dimensions for the card are 6-1/4″ x 5-1/2″. In the card above, you can see there really isn’t a spot to write your greeting. Although I have used the back for that which works perfect (and then you are using all of the card 🙂 ). But here is a trick for you to have an extra spot to write your greeting! Cut your cardstock to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ (regular card size) and you will put it in the Big Shot with the Thinlit but on the end you will pop it through and leave the “tail” on the top side so it doesn’t get cut when running it through the Big Shot. See photo below and how the cardstock is above the Thinlit on the right side.

Dimensions: Card – 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″, Candle Designer Series Paper Piece – 1-7/8 x 5-1/4″, Inside Polka Dot Designer Series Paper – 2-3/4 x 5-1/4″, Whisper White Greeting Piece – 2-3/8 x 5-1/4″, Outer Flap of Polka Dot Designer Series Paper – 2-3/8 x 5-1/4″. And when you have assembled your card, you get this! The extra little flip for your message! Super cut and still fits in a regular envelope!!! LOVE IT!

I know my instructions can sometimes be confusing so post a comment below if you have any questions.

Happy Stampin’

~Laura