Aug 14 2013

Simply Sketched Hostess Stamp Set

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

I got the Simply Sketched Hostess Stamp Set as one of my first Hostess Sets. At first glance it is not a stamp set that I am usually drawn to but for some reason it caught my eye! One thing that I LOVE about it is the fact that the set includes images and greetings! I love when I can pull out one stamp set and great endless cards by mixing and matching the images. The other thing I love about this set is the fact that you can stamp the image in one color, you can color the image with markers and get multiple colors, you can stamp the image and color it in, and so much more. Here are a few samples that I have created with this stamp set!

I love the simple, yet elegant look of this Thank You Card! I used the NEW In-Colors – Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding! You could also change the greeting to be Happy Birthday and it would work well for a Man Card (see more Man Card samples here).

This amazing card was created with a technique called Reverse Masking! Cut out a shape from a piece of cardboard (I use the cardboard that comes in the Designer Series Paper Packs) and then use that as your mask! I cut out this rectangle and then using sponge daubers, I added Pumpkin Pie and Wild Wasabi ink. After I was done I removed the mask and stamped the poppy image with Stazon Ink and colored it in with markers! Isn’t that amazing! You have endless possibilities with color combinations and stamped images!

This little bird is so adorable and you can make him blue, orange, yellow, or brown! I love the blue!!! Again this is a super simple card that is perfect for a Man Card or like this one Sympathy. Not too flashy but elegant and amazing! This card is sure to brighten anyone’s day!

You can earn the Simply Sketched Stamp Set when you have a party of $150.00 or more (or you can earn it when you place an order yourself of $150.00 or more). Simply gather a few friends and pick a date! We will have a great time stamping and you can earn FREE products like this one!!! Email me today to pick a date!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 13 2013

Technique Tuesday – Painter’s Tape!

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

It is Tuesday and so I’m sharing a fabulous technique with you!!! This week it is the Painter’s Tape Technique!

I have had lots of fun with this technique, trying it with different colors and patterns! Here is how to get this look:

Supplies Needed: Cardstock, Ink Pads, and Painter’s Tape (optional: gloves)

Rip off a piece of painter’s tape a little bit longer than the ink pad (the longer side is what I use). The first time I do it, I stick it to the sides of the ink pad and grab a pen to make markings on the tape to show where the ink begins and ends. This way when I go back to the ink pad I line those up so I’m using the same area of the tape. Press the tape into the ink with your fingers or a sponge and then pull it off and press it onto your cardstock. Pull it off your cardstock and repeat. If using multiple colors, start with your lightest color first and work your way to the darkest. If using different colors, you might need multiple pieces of tape.

This picture was taken when I did the Painter’s Tape Technique as my demonstration at an event in April! I had so much fun and my fingers were purple for about 2 days because I didn’t wear gloves and I did the technique over and over! Nothing says crafty fun like inky fingers! 🙂

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 12 2013

You’ve Got Male!

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I love Flower Stamps & Punches, the color Pink, and Ribbon (my husband says a card with ribbon isn’t manly)! Well because I have all of these traits, I find it really hard to come up with a good Man Card when I need one! I have found that the more simple the card is, the more manly it is and I have found a “ribbon” that isn’t manly – Linen Thread!!!! I am in love with Linen Thread and it seems to last forever. I think I finally used up my first package of it…..like over 6 months later! That is amazing! So here are a few samples I have come up with for all of my upcoming man birthdays and events!

You can’t get much more manly that a Beer Mug, right? This card is created with a different punches – Corner Rounder, X-Large Oval, Large Oval, 3/4″ Circle Punch, 1-3/8″ Circle Punch, and Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack. I used Sponge Daubers to add a So Saffron color to the “beer foam.”

This is another perfect card for the men in my family because they are farmers and hunters so the whole wood look goes very well! I used a piece of Chocolate Chip Core’dinations Cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder! I then rubbed the Sanding Block over the top to reveal that lighter cardstock layer that is underneath. Added a little bit of Linen Thread and a punched greeting!

Another fabulous and simple Man Card. I added a little texture for the background with the Stripes Embossing Folder! And then I made the little tie with some of the new Chevron Ribbon in Marina Mist! I know I know….my husband said no ribbon but this is still manly since it is a bow tie!

I hope you enjoyed these Man Cards and now I can go back to my Flowers and Pinks!!!

Happy Stampin’

~LauraEm

Aug 9 2013

August – Best of 25 Years Stamp Set

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

As part of Stampin’ Up’s 25-year anniversary celebration, they are bringing back some of our favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets, a new one comes out each month. So be sure to check back each month to see the new Best of 25 Stamp Set!

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. Love it!!!!

My Favorite Best of 25 Stamp Sets if the one from April which is all Butterflies!!! I have recently taken up an obsession for Butterflies! You can check out the April Set and all of the other month’s sets by clicking here! And start collecting today!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 8 2013

Some Punchy Fun!

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

I love Stampin’ Up’s! punches! They are on a shelf on the left hand side of my stamp desk and I am always reaching for a the perfect punch for almost every single card! Sometimes I like to pop the greeting up on a punched piece of cardstock (with Stampin’ Dimensionals of course) and other times I like to create a fabulous focal point on my card with my punches!

This beautiful bouquet of tulips was created with the Owl Builder Punch! I punched out the owl body and snipped the two little feet off! To add to the color variation and dimension of the tulips, I used a sponge dauber to add a little color to the edges!!! I love using the Owl Punch and about 80% (or more) of the time is isn’t for an actual Owl. How fun is that?

So this card is SUPER CUTE and my current favorite card! Super fun to make and can’t wait to send it to my nephew for his Birthday next month! Eeeee So excited!!!! The lion was created with the Blossom Flower Punch. I layered two of the flowers (off-set) for the face and then used two petals from another Blossom Flower for the feet. I used a 1-3/8″ Circle Punch and the 3/4″ Circle Punch for the face! Guess where the little heart nose came from…..that’s right – the Owl Builder Punch! I’m telling you that one is a must-have!!!

This Hexagon Punch is a new one! It just came out in June with the New Catalog! I really loved how this card turned out. I have done a couple variations of this card by putting more space between the punched hexagons and by rotating the hexagons the other way too! Super fun and endless possibilities with all of the Designer Series Paper options styles!

I hope these cards have given you inspiration to try out your punches in more ways than just the actual punched image! Have fun!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 7 2013

Stamps In A Snap For August!

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Last month was the beginning of Stamps In A Snap Club! You can check out the July Kit by clicking here! This kit is perfect for those with busy schedules, those who love to stamp, those who would like to learn new techniques, and those who love Stampin’ Up! Product! This kit is $45.00 and includes shipping costs. The Kit includes about $30.00 in Stampin’ Up Product and the instructions, supplies, and tips for that month’s project (and the best part, it comes right to your door)!!! All you need to do each month is sign up by emailing me or filling out the form on my Stamps In A Snap page at the top of this site!

In August, you will receive an array of embellishments to go along with your Swallowtail Stamp Set and the New 5 In-Color Markers that came in the July Kit! And all the supplies in the August Kit will make these cards:

Be sure to check this out each month because I have another fabulous kit for September which includes the Beautifully Baroque Stamp Set!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 6 2013

Technique Tuesday – Puzzle Piece Resist!

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

It is Tuesday again and so I’m sharing a fabulous technique with you!!! This week it is the Puzzle Piece Resist Technique!

This amazing technique comes from my fellow stamper – Linda Yearsley! I love when we all get together and swap ideas! Here is how to create this look:

Supplies Used: Versamark, Embossing Powder, Background Stamp (I used En Francais), Cardstock and Big Shot Framelits, Ink, Sponge Daubers

Stamp background image on Whisper White Cardstock with Versamark. Pour clear, white, or black embossing powder over the image and tap off access powder. Heat emboss the powder until it is completely melted. Place your Big Shot Framelits (what ever images you want) on your embossed background and run it through the Big Shot. Carefully remove your die cut shapes and with the sponge daubers add desired ink color to each puzzle piece. Take a paper towel and go over the inked areas to remove any excess ink. This makes your embossing more pronounced. Adhere the largest background puzzle piece to your card base and then continue putting the puzzle piece together and adhering them on the card.

My Samples: Sample 1 – I used the Dress Up Framelits and Ovals Framelits for my puzzle pieces, Black Embossing Powder and Real Red Ink for the dress and outline! Sample 2 – I used the Ovals Framelits, Labels Collection Framelits, and Secret Garden Framelits for my puzzle pieces, Clear Embossing Powder and Pumpkin Pie, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo & Daffodil Delight Inks and a pearl in the center!!! Sample 3 – I used the Labels Collection Framelits for my puzzle pieces, Clear Embossing Powder, and Gumball Green, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Daffodil Delight Inks. For this card, I put Stampin’ Dimensionals on every other label frame to give dimension! These are my #1 favorite product and you will notice I use them A LOT!

I hope you enjoyed this Technique and try it out yourself!!! Until next Tuesday…..

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 5 2013

Ways to use Washi Tape!

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

So I will totally admit that when I first got introduced to Washi Tape, I was like “Washi What?” Everyone else was screaming and all excited and I thought to myself, “did I miss something?” The more I learned about Washi Tape and the more samples I saw, the more I was joining the bandwagon of screamers! Washi tape is amazing and something to scream about! There are so many ways you can use it.

Here are just a few ways to use Washi Tape:

~Background on a Card (Yellow Gingham on the Just For You Card)

~ Banner Flags on Ribbon for a Card or tie the ends onto Sticks and place it in a cake for a special event (Gingham Garden Washi Tape on the Let’s Celebrate Card)

~ Use a piece to create an image like a candle or pencil or anything you can imagine (Epic Day Washi Tape as a candle)!

~Wrap around a Toothpick and tear or cut as a flag on the ends and place in cupcakes or use on a meat and cheese display at your next party!

~Wrap around a clear bowl for your next Potluck Party to decorate it and know which bowl is yours at the end of the night!

~Accents on a Birthday Gift Bag or Box

~Use as tape to hold a photo in your This & That Journal or on a poster board or just about anywhere.

~Any many more ways….

You can get Washi Tape for every occasion with the Gingham Garden (my fav.), Epic Day This & That, Witches Brew, and Season of Style. And if you want to get a Tutorial AND lots of Washi Tape, you can purchase the What To Washi Bundle!!

Would love to hear your ideas on ways to use Washi Tape so please share in the comments below!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 2 2013

Mosaic Madness is AMAZING!

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

You know there is always one product or stamp set or product suite that you are just drawn too and love….well that is the Mosaic Madness items for me! I am in love with the Mosaic Madness Stamp Set, Mosaic Punch, and Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder. You can purchase the Stamp Set and Punch in a bundle at a 15% discount – always love a discount! I have used these items so much since they came out in June with the NEW Idea Book & Catalog! Some of the samples I have created use all 3 items like this Midnight Muse and Whisper White card on the left! I stamped the images onto scrap paper in Midnight Muse Ink and punched them out with the Mosaic Punch. Some of them are adhered directly to the card front (which was embossed with the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder) and some were adhered on with Stampin’ Dimensionals (heart them). In the smaller embossed images, I used one of the punches from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and added a pearl! Can’t wait to try this card out in other colors like Elegant Eggplant or Melon Mambo or multi-colored!!! So many possibilities, so little time! 🙂

And then there is this amazing card!! I love the color combination of Bermuda Bay and the New In-Color Strawberry Slush. They go together so well and are so vibrant. You all know I’m a Brights Girl more than Neutrals or Subtles. After embossing the Whisper White Cardstock with the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, I stamped 2 of the images from the Mosaic Madness Set in Bermuda Bay and Strawberry Slush. I will say it isn’t always easy getting them lined up inside that embossed image but the Clear Stamps and Blocks make it so much easier! The greeting is from the My Paper Pumpkin first kit (for more information on that, click here). And a little trick about the banner flag that on this card…..for a perfect flag every time, cut straight up in the middle of the end and then cut diagonal from the corner to the end of that straight cut on both sides! Viola! Another way to get the banner look is using the New Hexagon Punch but it is a more shallow “V”. For more samples of the Mosaic Madness Suite, check out my Facebook page – StampinAndScrapbookin with Laura Schmidt-Borchert!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Aug 1 2013

NEW Holiday Mini Catalog is Here!

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Although I’m not ready for the Holidays just yet….after all I haven’t even celebrated my Birthday yet (pssst…August 29)! But this Holiday Mini Catalog is amazing and is making me so ready for the Holidays. I think the kits are my favorite product! There is a Halloween Kit, Thanksgiving Kit, and Christmas Kit so it will so easy to decorate and get in the spirit this year!!! Check out this post to see how you can get one of the kits for FREE! Another favorite of mine is the Festive Flurry Stamp Set and matching Framelits! Get the bundle and save 15%!!! Snowflakes are so amazing and you can use those even after the Holidays. Snowflakes can be used for Birthdays, celebrations/events, and even Thank Yous through the winter season!

If you would like a copy of the Holiday Catalog, email me your contact information and I will get one in the mail to you! If you would like to place an order, you can order online 24/7 and use the following Hostess Code: SJQZYTG6 for a chance to win the Hostess Benefits! Everyone loves FREE stuff!!!! Also, be sure to check out my Calendar of Events to see some of the Holiday Mini Catalog items used!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura