Sep 11 2013

It’s a Polka Dot Parade!!

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

Check out all of these fabulous cards! Super cute and super simple since they use a lot of the same basic items. I hate when my card box gets low on cards and then every time you need one you have to sit down and create it. And lets be honest, when that happens you mind goes completely blank on all creative thoughts. I did this class the other night and we all had a great time! Many people loved the flower bouquet and the champagne glasses so they used those images in place of the ones they didn’t like. I was able to get about 10 sets of these 8 cards shown above out of one pack of Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper! How fabulous is that? I used the Embellished Events and Tag It stamp sets. It is super simple to get out some circle punches, 2 stamp sets, your markers, and the cardstock, rather than dig though lots of ink pads and stamp sets. These cards are also perfect for every occasion – Thank You, Sympathy, Get Well, Birthday, Christmas, Baby, Wedding, Valentine’s Day, and more! Try it out and see what you come up with when using one pack of Designer Series Paper and one or two stamp sets!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Sep 10 2013

Technique Tuesday – Inking with Your Sponge Daubers!

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

It is Tuesday and so I’m sharing a fabulous technique with you!!! This week it is Inking with Your Sponge Daubers!!!!

Okay if you don’t have these fabulous sponge daubers in your craft collection, CLICK HERE! You totally need them! I probably use mine…..daily! I love love love these things. I brush the edges of my cardstock to give that softened look. I create this fabulous technique. I used them for Reverse Masking in last week’s post! You can use them with your Build A Banner Templates! And I can go on and on! Trust me these are amazing and you get 12 in a pack!!!! Okay onto this fabulous technique!

All you need are your sponge daubers, a few ink pads, and a stamp! You can either ink up your image with the lightest color and then add the other ink colors with the sponge daubers or you can add all of the ink colors with your sponge daubers. In the Happy Birthday sample above, I used the Happy Birthday greeting from the Delightful Dozen Stamp Set. I used Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Bermuda Bay and Summer Starfruit! Always start with your lightest color and just pounce in the ink and pounce or rub in random places on your stamp! Move to the next color and keep going until you have applied all colors and the stamp is covered. Sometimes you might want to rub your dauber on paper before going back into the ink just in case you might have picked up another dark color. This helps keep your daubers clean too!!! Huff on your stamp (Ha Ha like the stamp is hot) and then press onto your cardstock!!! Here is another sample:

For this fabulous colored leaf, I inked the Magnificent Maple in Crushed Curry and then used my dauber to ink the Pumpkin Pie around going just about a dauber width in and then I took my Chocolate Chip dauber and did just the edges. Doesn’t that leaf just look so amazing and it has that perfect fall look! I have to admit when I first did it I was afraid it wasn’t going to come out and then BOOM onto the paper, lift the stamp and AMAZING! You can try this out with flowers, other greetings and so much more!!! Don’t forget to go order your daubers today!

Have fun and Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Sep 9 2013

Wedding Wonderland!

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

I have been working on so many fabulous Wedding Invitations and Anniversary Invitations lately that I just have to share some more with you!!! Check out my past posts here and here! These could always be changed to be a Birthday Card, Anniversary Card, or Wedding Card too!!!

This fabulous card with LOTS of bling (and I hear Gold is so “in” right now) was created as a 50th Wedding Anniversary Invitation. So perfect with the gold….simple and elegant! I love it (and I’m more of a silver girl but bling is bling and I love bling)!!!

These invitations above are very similar but I changed up the colors a little bit. I love the Elegant Eggplant and Black one best! What do you think? The branches (Thoughts & Prayers Stamp Set) are heat embossed so they are textured and had a little bit of a glossy look!

The insides are my favorite! The little pocket at the bottom is great for your RSVP, Instructions, Accommodations, etc. I then stamped the same branches on the inside along the wording of the invitation and added a few punched flowers!!

I hope you enjoyed these fabulous Wedding Samples! If you would like me to create invitations for your next party or help you with some ideas for you to create the invitations, just email me! I would love to help out!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Sep 6 2013

September Stamps In A Snap!

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

September Stamps In A Snap Club is here!!!! This kit comes right to your door! This month you will get the Beautifully Baroque Stamp Set, Crushed Curry Ink Pad and Coastal Cabana Ink Pad as well as the pre-cut cardstock, embellishments, and color instructions!! Click here and sign up at the bottom of the page to get your kit for just $45.00 including all shipping!

Next month will feature this same stamp set but the kit will include more embellishments and ways to take you cards from great to WOW! 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

Sep 5 2013

15% off on the Butterfly Bundle

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Oh Butterflies…..I love them so much! And now they are even better because they are on sale!!! Purchase the Papillion Potpourri Stamp Set and Bitty Butterfly Punch Bundle and you will receive 15% off!!!! This stamp set also coordinates with the Elegant Butterfly Punch too! Here are a few samples I have created with this fabulous stamp set!!! And here is another post with Butterflies!

I hope you enjoy the butterflies as much as me!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Sep 4 2013

Undefined – Stampin’ Up! Carving Kit

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Stampin’ Up! introduced the all NEW Undefined Carving Kit in July at their annual convention. I thought it was really cool to be able to make your own stamps but it didn’t really appeal to me (I’m not an artist AT ALL). Then I started seeing all of these AMAZING creations that people were making and as I was showing them to my husband he asks me if I have the kit because he wants to make something. So I gave in and bought a kit and it is sooooooo cool! I let him carve the first image because again this kit scares me and he is much more artistic than me. My first image I wanted was a puzzle piece! He drew the puzzle piece on paper and then rubbed it onto the rubber and started carving! He did let me play with the 2 tools and the rubber a little so I could get the feel and see what it is all about. That’s about all I wanted to do though. I would not be good at actually carving something for real I don’t think. But as with anything practice makes perfect!!!! Here is my…our first stamp!!!! Isn’t it super cute?

The next one one my wish list is grass. While browsing all the fabulous images on Stampin’ Up!’s Pinterest Board (click here) I found grass! It was like 6 or 7 sprigs of grass curved in different directions. Since I LOVE my flower stamps, I thought this would be perfect!!!! More to come!!! Order your kit by clicking here and share your creation!!! I would love to see what you come up with!(And a little picture of my husband and his creations, he’s so crafty!)

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Sep 3 2013

Technique Tuesday – Reverse Masking!

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

It is Tuesday and so I’m sharing a fabulous technique with you!!! This week it is Reverse Masking!

Reverse masking is a technique that I recently tried out and fell in love!!! It gives such an amazing look! In the card above I feel like it makes a perfect scene for this Poppy. It give me a feeling of evening sunset. I have done many more of these cards using the Sympathy greeting in the Simply Sketched Stamp Set – so elegant and uplifting!!!

This second card was created using the same technique! I created the template with the Oval Framelits! I cut out an oval for the template and then I used that oval and the next size up to create the Black frame! Also, the fabulous Butterflies came from the Papillon Potpourri Stamp Set! Check out the special on that Stamp Set this month here! You could really create a fabulous window look with this technique too! I want to try it out with a rainbow of colors next! To create your template, use the cardboard backing used in your Designer Series Paper Packaging, cut out your image (oval, rectangle, Circle, etc) and then you are good to go!!!

I hope you enjoy this technique and try it out soon!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Sep 2 2013

September – Best of 25 Stamp Set!

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Can you believe it is September already? I sure can’t! And with September comes cooler temperatures, falling leaves, Apples, Pumpkins, and leaves changing colors! While I’m not a fan of fall (because it seems Winter is near), I do enjoy all those things I mentioned! I love how the images chosen for this month’s Best of 25 showcase all of those Fall things! It is so perfect!!! (And I didn’t come up with those things just to make it match!) To check out last month’s Best of 25, click here!

All of the Best of 25 Stamp Sets are just $14.95 and they will be available until March 31, 2014.
Best of 25 Stamp Sets only come in clear-mount.
As a special incentive to collect the Best of stamps, we’re including a collector’s card and 25-year proof of purchase sticker with every Best of set. Collect six stickers, and send it in to redeem a FREE set of your choice valued up to $14.95! Free sets must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.

Happy Stampin’! And have a fabulous Labor Day!

~Laura

Aug 30 2013

Only 1 More Day

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Today and tomorrow are the last days for you to “Pick A Project Kit” and sign up!!! Click here to sign up or email me if you have any questions you would to have answered! I am more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have!!!

Here is another fabulous promotion that ends on August 31st! Have you wondered what Paper Pumpkin is? Have you thought about it but wasn’t sure if you wanted to join in? Do you want some fabulous Stampin’ Up! product with some crafty ideas? This this is perfect for you!!! You can join now and your first 2 months are just $10.00 (including shipping)!!! After the 2 months, the price will go back to the regular pricing of $19.95! Each kit includes stamps, ink, and a project! Check it out and of course if its not for you, you can cancel at any time! Why not try it out for just $10.00?!?!? Hurry though offers ends tomorrow!

Have a fabulous and safe Holiday Weekend!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 29 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Today is my BIRTHDAY!!!! I love Birthdays! It is so much fun to celebrate a day (or all month long) dedicated all to YOU! So since I am celebrating today I thought I would do a post ABOUT ME! This picture on the left is ME on my Wedding Day! I love love love this picture and that day was so fabulous and even though it was over 2 years ago, it is still amazing! I loved having my photo taken a million times and I loved marrying my best friend! Here are a few other random facts about me!!!

~I love the color PINK, Macaroni and Cheese (anything with cheese), Black Cars, Cupcakes, Curly Hair, and Working Out!

~I am really loud, enjoy laughing a lot, and very smiley!

~I met my husband back in High School when I randomly got a forward email from him. I added him to my messenger asking who he was and we continued chatting!!! We were only 45 minutes away from each other but didn’t meet in person for about 3 years.

~I grew up in a small town on a family farm! I graduated for the University of Illinois! I-L-L…..I-N-I

~I love Pageants, Rodeos, Tractor and Truck Pulls, and Family Traditions!

~I rock out to 80’s music….DAILY! We also watch Friends almost daily too (nothing better on TV)!

Okay, I think that is enough craziness for one day! I hope you enjoyed this post…..now go have a cupcake and celebrate my BIRTHDAY with me!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura