Aug 28 2013

Something for all Occasions!

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love stamp sets that have images and greetings because you can create a card when you pull out that one stamp set! Embellished Events is one of my favorite sets right now! I love the simple greetings and the fabulous images!!! The wedding bells in the Congratulations card here on the left is perfect for a Wedding, Anniversary, and even Christmas! Of course the photo doesn’t do the amazing card any justice. The circle with the bells and greeting is actually on the inside of the card with the circle cut out of the front of the card creating a peek-a-boo!!! Isn’t that cute? Oh and you see that fabulous bow on the banners! You can create that with your oval punch! Yep, that’s right! Just 4 punched ovals and you have that fabulous bow! Curl 2 of the ovals and adhere with a Stampin’ Dimensional and then cut little V’s out of the other 2 ovals to create the tails! I put an Antique Brad in the center but you could use any type of Brad or Ribbon or even a cardstock loop! Precious!

Of course, flowers can be used for ANY occasion, at least that’s my moto because I LOVE flower stamps! These flowers are perfect for a Thank You, Birthday, or Just Because Card! I love how these flowers are super cute and bold and easy for coloring with your markers. When you color your stamps with you markers, you can have multiple colors like the Thank You card here on the right! If you feel like it took you a long time to color the stamp and it may have dried, don’t worry just huff on it! Don’t blow on it but instead huff (like when you eat something hot and you go ha ha). I hope that makes sense! There are many other images in this stamp set too! Check out this post for more samples! I hope you try out some of these card styles and even this stamp set!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 27 2013

Technique Tuesday – Color Blocking!

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

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

I had so much fun with this technique and every time I did it it came out different so you end up with lots of different looks! All you need is some Ink Pads, Clear Block, and Watercolor Paper! Take your ink pad and press it onto the clear block, if using more than one color, just apply color to one spot starting with the lightest color and slowly going darker as you fill in the block! Then the next part of the technique can be done differently!! !You can spritz the inked clear block with alcohol, water, or even Stamp Cleaner (it was handy and I couldn’t find my alcohol spritzer). You can spritz the Watercolor Paper until it is moist or you can do neither of these! I never really found a huge difference. Although when you spritz the clear block, if you tilt the block, the colors will run and blend a little (could be a good look or could become ehh). Also, be sure to hold the clear block to the paper for a good 30 seconds, allowing time for the ink to soak into the paper. I did this technique on a few scraps of Watercolor Paper and then on some full size pieces. After I was done, I just cut them into pieces for all of these different cards I made above! The colors I used were Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Pool Party and Early Espresso!!! Another tip, when I stamped the FABULOUS stamp on the Watercolor Paper, I had a hard time getting the image to come out clear because of the texture in the paper. But that’s when the markers come in handy!!! I just colored in the lettering in spots that were lighter than I wanted! I hope you try out this fabulous technique! Enjoy!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 26 2013

Loving Paper Snowflakes….Not a fan of real Snow!

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I have been having lots of fun with the Festive Flurry Stamp Set in the Holiday Mini Catalog even though I am not a fan of snow at all. I love the matching Framelits that cut out the intricate image of each snowflake which makes a quick and simple amazing image! When you purchase the stamp set and matching Framelits, you save 15%!!! Love a good deal! Here are some samples I have recently created using this stamp set! This card on the left was created using the Winter Frost Designer Series Paper and Silver Ribbon! Oh the Silver Ribbon….it is even more amazing in person! So shiny and perfect! I’m really loving the Winter Frost Designer Series Paper too! Usually my cards are Night of Navy, Silver, Cherry Cobbler or Old Olive but this year, I’m pretty sure they will be Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, and Smoky Slate! These colors are just so much fun!!! Here is another fabulous card created with the Winter Frost Designer Series Paper and Festive Flurry Stamp Set! Since banners are so in right now, I thought I would add some into one of my Holiday cards too!!! It’s a great way to showcase more patterns on the paper too!!! I love how the little rhinestones add a pop of bling and make it look like sparkly snowflakes. (Are you picturing that light snow with the sun shining on it and making it sparkle? And in my little world, I hope its melting the snow. So not a fan of snow! :))

I also wanted to share a little tip with you!!! On page 29 of the Holiday Mini Catalog 2013, you will see the Winter Frost Designer Series Paper Stack on the top of the page and Winter Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper! You might be thinking what is the difference. Well that’s what I am here for! To answer all those little crafting questions of your! The Specialty Paper Pack is 12 sheets of 12″ x 12″ paper: 2 ea. of 5 double-sided designs; 1 ea. of 2 single-sided, foil-accented designs. The Paper Stack is 48 sheets of 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ paper: 24 ea. of 2 double-sided designs. The Paper Stack is perfect for making cards in multiples! It is amazing because otherwise I would have to buy 5 packages of the Specialty Paper to get my 80+ Holiday Cards! Thank you Stampin’ Up for making things easier!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 23 2013

Friday Fun with Photopolymer

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Stampin’ Up! Photopolymer Stamps are so cool and here is why!

1. They are so amazingly sticky that they never fall off your clear block and you can even mold them differently (like taking the arrow stamp and curving it on your clear block to then stamp a curved arrow.) Cool, huh?

2. They are clear and you can see where you are stamping since there is no label or wood block or anything in your way (that’s not the cool part). You can see the ink go squish or splatch (that’s a word, I promise hehe) when you stamp it down. So cool!!! So the next time you are using Photopolymer Stamps be sure to watch your ink when you stamp it down and make the noise its more fun!

There is no need for more reasons why these stamps are so cool because lets face it, your still on #2 – stamping and watching the ink! I don’t blame you! I love it too! Although I should mention another fabulous thing about these stamps, they are only $13.95!!!! Yep! Each set is only $13.95 and where can you find an alphabet set (with other images) for just $13.95? This adorable card on the left was created with the Designer Type Photopolymer Set and my favorite Feels Good Stamp Set! (Click here for more about my Favorite Stamp Set!) I used Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango Ink and just stamped around and around until it was covered!!! And it is a square card BUT no extra postage here….it still fits in one of our Medium Envelopes!!! Woot Woot!

The Bombs Away Birthday Set just cracks me up! I love the saying in this stamp set! They just make me giggle, maybe because we love getting a sheet cake for Birthdays and other celebrations and it comes from a grocery store! But hey, we love it and the cake is amazing! And then this week Stampin’ Up! came out with a Thank You Stamp Set! You all know I love my Thank You Sets! I do send out a ton of Birthday Cards each month to all of my extended family but I send lots and lots of Thank You Notes too! There is just so much to be thankful for I guess! (Which is why Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday, I guess!!!) Well go check out the entire line of Photopolymer Stamps and leave a comment below on which one is your favorite or how you love to watch the ink squish too! 🙂

Happy Friday and Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 22 2013

You will flip!

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Stampin’ Up! introduced the new Thinlits Dies this month and they are so amazing you will flip! Have you ever created a flip card or swing card? Or would you like to create a fabulous card that flips or swings? If so, these are the Dies for you! (Just so you know I have created a swing card before and it was crazy difficult to line it up correctly and have it turn out right. So I’m super excited about these Dies). Check out this great video that Stampin’ Up! created to show off this great new product!

So be sure to add these amazing Thinlits to your next order and GET CREATIVE!!!!

Happy Stampin’
~Laura

Aug 21 2013

Wedding Wonderland

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

Okay so I LOVE weddings! If I could get married every weekend, I totally would because I love my man and I LOVE weddings! So because of this I have started creating lots of wedding pieces so I can help others have the wedding on their dreams (and I can feel a part of it too)!!!!! 🙂

This fabulous Peacock Invitation is one of my creations which I am currently creating as a Rehearsal Dinner Invite! She requested that I change the purple out for Cherry Cobbler which really makes the card POP! The colors in a peacock are so amazing and right now I love purple so that’s why my sample was created with purple!

Here is another invitation that I recently created for a friend for her wedding back in May! Rustic, Vintage, Lace, and Pearls are HOT HOT HOT right now! I have done lots of different pieces with this theme! This invitation is embossed on the front and on in the inside pocket! Adding texture is so fun because it really adds a lot to the card without adding more product and weight! And we all know how expensive mailing an invitation can be! The Natural Trim Ribbon is perfect because it is very soft and still gives that burlap look!

I have also been doing a lot of different Place Cards, Mason Jars, Programs, Tags for Bells or Bubbles and so much more! It is so much fun! Also you can check out some of the party favors and gift packaging pieces that I have created by clicking here! You can also check out a lot more samples of mine on my Facebook Page – StampinAndScrapbookin with Laura Schmidt-Borchert!

If you would like help for your Wedding, Anniversary Party, Birthday Party or event, send me an email! I would love to assist you by creating a fabulous piece or helping you with the idea and assisting you with your crafty side!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 20 2013

Technique Tuesday – Ombré Style Stamping

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

It is Tuesday and so I’m sharing a fabulous technique with you!!! This week it is the Ombré Look!

I’m not going to lie, when I first heard of the Ombré Technique I had no clue what it was and had to look up the word Ombré. Ombré is a French word meaning to shade. In art it means beautiful color gradation!

So there you have it! And now I’m loving this technique! You all know I’m a huge fan of bright colors and whats even better….lots of Bright Colors! Color is an amazing thing! It sets a mood, shares a feeling, and can even brighten your day. Here are a few samples using a variety of ombré techniques. It’s an easy technique that offers impressive results.

The Birthday Card above is my #1 Man Card right now! You can make that card in shades of blue like I did or shades of green, or neutrals! And as my husband says, no ribbon on a man card but Linen Thread is okay! So all in all the perfect Man Card and it uses scraps of cardstock too!!!!! (For other Man Cards, check out this post!)

This little 3″ x 3″ Mini Card is super cute and perfect for a little Birthday Gift Tag or pick me up card to pass along to a co-worker! Quick and simple to put together and again a great use for scraps! I used the 1″ Circle Punch, Modern Label Punch and Word Window Punch! Oh how I love my punches!

This last card here was created with Watercolor Paper! All you do is pick up some reinker with an Aqua Painter and swish back and forth on your paper starting with the lightest color! How fabulous is that?? Then the image was heat embossed with white embossing powder and cut out with the Labels Collection Framelits! And isn’t this saying just perfect?!?!

I hope you have enjoyed this technique and try it out in your next stamping project!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 19 2013

Holiday Collection of Single Stamps!

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Stampin’ Up introduced a NEW Collection of Single Stamps just in time for the Holidays!!! I love single stamps because you can pick just the image you like and not have to worry about getting an entire set! There is a great array of stamps here for the Holidays. Some people love making tags for all of their gifts while others have tons of tags in their gift wrap box year over year. Some people love a simple card done in Silver and Night of Navy or Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake with an amazing greeting popped up in the middle. With these single stamps, you can create that fabulous card with just one stamp! And others love to have tons of Holiday stamps to choose from for their Holiday creations and one of these just might make that collection complete!

These Stamps are only available till January 31st and then they are gone for good! Check out this flyer – Single Stamps – Holiday for more information regarding the price and suggested Clear Block (these stamps only come in clear)!

Can’t wait to get started on my Holiday cards this year! I always start early because we all know how time flies and all of the sudden that New Years Ball is dropping AND I love sending out lots of cards!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 16 2013

Favorite Stamp Set – Feels Good!

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

Do you have one stamp set that you go to every time you sit down to craft? I DO! The Feels Good Stamp Set is my favorite stamp set right now! The greetings are so fun and unique! And since they are so large, I find there is no real need for lots of extra decoration because the greeting is enough! What do you think?

This card was created with a few of the NEW In-Colors – Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, and Crisp Cantaloupe. All I did to get this look was dab my Aqua Painter in some ink and brush it over the cardstock! Voila! Then I stamped the Feels Good Stamp in Stazon Ink.

This card is just a ray of sunshine AND the perfect use for those scraps of Designer Series Paper that you have left over. Check out this post using Designer Series Paper but their is a 1 inch strip left over!

So this one combines my favorite Stamp Set Feels Good with another favorite set of mine – Swallowtail!!!! I stamped this amazing butterfly over the 2 pieces of Whisper White cardstock and then assembled them with the Primrose Petal Cardstock layered in between. Then I put a strip of Sticky Strip towards the bottom and created a rippled ribbon look with a piece of cardstock (it is the little extra piece left over after cutting a layer of 4″x 5-1/4″). Of course, I had to put a little bling on there too!!!

Are you in love with the Feels Good Stamp Set now?

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 15 2013

Who likes Party Favors??

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

Party favors are given out at all types of ocassions like Birthdays, Weddings, Showers, and all other kinds of get-togethers! Why not make your next party be the talk of the town with an adorable gift box, bags, or packaging? Here are a few fabulous items that I had out at a recent Bridal Fair that I participated in!

The Gift Boxes and Tags on the left were created with the Tag A Bag Gift Boxes and Tag A Bag Accessory Kit! You can get both kits as a bundle and save. Check it out here! And you can earn this kit for FREE plus the bags from now till the end of August! Check out my post about that! I added in the Glimmer Paper for some bling. You all know how I love my bling! 🙂

The little boxes on the right side were created in the Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper! Oh how love that design and Coastal Cabana is my NEW favorite color!!!! You can put treats in the boxes and set them on all of the tables, you can put your party favor in there, or you can put your goodies in a cellophane bag and tie the Ruffled Ribbon around the top and drop it in the adorable box!!!! So many fabulous ways!!!

So have you guessed yet that I am loving the new Ruffled Ribbon and did I mention it is stretchy! Eeee I know how fabulous!!! Anyway….the box on the left is decorated with the fabulous flower on the top, Taffeta Ribbon wrapped around with the greeting punched out on the front. Okay so back to the fabulous flower on the top! I used a Jumbo Sticky Round and then pressed the Ruffled Ribbon onto the sticky from the outside to the inside! I finished it off by putting a Vintage Faceted Designer Button with a Large Rhinestone in the middle!

Mason Jars are so HOT right now! I recently helped a friend create tags for her Mason Jar desserts at a Bridal Shower. They looked very similar to this jar on the right but instead of the wedding bells, we had cute little saying that combined the dessert type with the Bride and Groom (Oreo Dessert said Greg’s Fishing Bait because he is a fisher). How fabulous! You can also put little take home gift in there like a dry cookie recipe, candy, or other cute little items like nail polish, sunscreen, and so much more!!!

If you need help with any party favors or gift packaging for an upcoming event, feel free to reach out to me! I would love to help you!! Just send me an email!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura