Feb 22 2019

Donut Love!!!

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Friday everyone!!! I thought I would share my Valentine’s Day that I created for Brad and Claire!!! Brad LOVES donuts. In fact, he recently camped out on Kohl’s website waiting for a donut blankie to go on sale. He was so excited when it finally happened and now we have a fun donut blanket in our living room! I used all of this as my inspiration!

So Brad’s card didn’t turn out as well as I had envisioned but it also turned out just perfect. He loves chocolate icing on donuts but I didn’t want to just make a chocolate donut. I cut a donut using the Layering Circles Framelits and then added Fine Tip Glue all over the top. About half way through the drying, I tested it with my thumb (see bottom left). The funny thing is that I would totally stick my thumb into his donut to steal a taste or on accident while picking it up to bring it to him. He also knows I don’t have patients so of course I tested it too early. To get the brown color, I used the Bronze Stampin’ Blends Marker!

I love sprinkles so I had to make the second donut with sprinkles to represent me! 🙂 I used the stamps from the May 2017 Paper Pumpkin Kit which were perfect!!! The greetings and sprinkles came from that set! I love having all the past Paper Pumpkin Stamp Sets on hand for greetings and images! On the inside of the card, I put …Husband, Friend, and Daddy! He really is the best!!!

We Love You A Hole Bunch, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Here is Claire’s card and it turned out just precious! Of course her donuts are smaller so I used punches! I created a little plate in the corner with the rounded part done half way freehand and half way with the larger donut guide. To make it look a little more like a plate, I took a Sponge Dauber to the edge of it for shading. For the greeting, it stated “I” but I wanted it to be from both Brad and I so I created the “We” with the Make A Difference Stamp Set.

I think she loved it!!! 🙂 Also, I took it back away before she could rip it to shreds so into the keepsake box it goes!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Don’t forget that Sale-A-Bration is still going on and there is also the Sale-A-Bration 2nd Release Items! Click here to start shopping!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Feb 21 2019

Laura’s Quick Tips: Using Dental Floss for Card Making!!!

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Today, I have another one of Laura’s Quick Tips! This one is used in my craft room/stamp class about once a week. It has been a lifesaver….okay maybe not that dramatic. Using Dental Floss for card making might sound crazy but it totally works!!!!

All you need is some dental floss to fix your crooked placement of cardstock. Pull out a piece that is plenty big so it will go the length of your cardstock and have enough on both ends to hold on to. Place the floss under between the cardstock layers and just shimmy it down. Sometimes I pull a lot on the left and then a lot on the right but sometimes I just work it back and forth evenly. It will slowly break the seal of the adhesive so you can position it. The awesome thing about this trick is that it doesn’t rip the cardstock or curl it like when you pull it off from one corner.

I hope you found this helpful and let me know in the comments if you have tired this before or if you will be trying it soon!

If you would like to see this all in action, check out the video below or click here! Be sure to give the video a thumbs up if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe if you are new. If you would like a notification when I post a new video, be sure to click the bell right next to the subscribe!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Feb 20 2019

Hot Hawaiian Pink!!!

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

You all know how much I love PINK! I’m super loving this hot Hawaiian pink flower too! It had me dreaming of warmer weather, sunny days, and all the flowers blooming!!! Of course, being in Hawaii is a whole other dream! 🙂

I created a very similar card to this one a few months ago. I had some leftover card pieces already cut but wanted to use some of my new stamps! Here is what I came up with using the Humming Along Stamp Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog!!!

I started with a Shaded Spruce card base. Next, I took a piece of Whisper White measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″ and stamped the greeting and flower from the Humming Along Stamp Set! Since I colored using Stampin’ Blends, I stamped in Memento Black Ink! For the flowers, I just played with various colors and shades and had fun with it. As always, I color with the dark marker first and then blend and fill in with the lighter marker.

Which one is your favorite?? Let me know in the comments below!

For a little extra texture on the card, I used the Detailed Trio Punch for the corners. I rounded two of the corners and punched the floral image on the other two! This layer was added to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals for some texture and to allow the color and light to pop through those punched corners! Quick and simple! #SimpleStamping

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Product List

Humming Along Cling Stamp Set

$20.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.00

Detailed Trio Punch

$20.00

Feb 19 2019

Technique Tuesday: Sponging Butterflies!!!

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Technique Tuesday, everyone!!! You all know I am loving butterflies right now! I also know that you all are loving them too because the Butterfly Duet Punch flew off the shelves like magic. Wowza there were so many sold so quickly, Stampin’ Up couldn’t keep up and trust me they were ordering more just as fast as we were buying. So for those of you who have this amazing bundle, check this out. For those of you still waiting, Pin This or save it for later! Sponging butterflies is soooooo much fun and endless color options! A big shout out to Patty Bennett for the fabulous inspiration!

Are these not the most stunning things you have ever seen??? LOVE IT!!!!! It is super easy to do too which is just icing on the cupcake!

I started with a Basic Black card base. Next, I layered a piece of the Botanical Butterfly Sale-A-Bration Designer Paper (3-3/4″ x 5″) onto a piece of colored cardstock (4″ x 5-1/4″). I used Gorgeous Grape and Mango Melody for the samples above! Before adding this layer to the card front, I tied some Black/Silver Striped Ribbon around the bottom. I love the little hint of shimmer in this ribbon but still sticking to a black and white with pops of color theme!

Also, since the card base is black, I had to add a piece of Whisper White to the inside of the card. Using the Well Said Stamp Set, I stamped the coordinating greeting from the front on the bottom of the inside. The 4th little butterfly that is punched out fits perfectly on the inside as well for a fabulous look!!! The greeting on the front was just stamped, trimmed around and layered on to coordinating cardstock to really make it POP! I added the greeting with Stampin’ Dimensionals. For the card above, I used Pumpkin Pie on the greeting!

Okay now for sponging butterflies to make them look stunning! Simply stamp your favorite butterfly style from the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set in Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock. Then using a Sponge Dauber, add some color down the center. For the big butterfly, I was able to just dauber up and down. For the little butterfly, I had to sort of tilt it to the side to only add a little bit of color. If I used the full dauber, it would have covered the whole butterfly. As you can see, I used Gorgeous Grape and Bermuda Bay for one of the butterflies and Pumpkin Pie and Mango Melody for the other. After the centers are complete, take the second color and brush the edges, making sure to blend into the center color a bit. Don’t worry, it will look a bit messy but once you punch them out. AMAZING!

If you are dying to recreate this and don’t have the Butterfly Duet Punch yet, you can always fussy cut the butterflies! Which color combination is your favorite?

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Product List

Butterfly Gala Photopolymer Stamp Set

$21.00

Black/Silver 1/4″ (6.4 Mm) Striped Metallic Ribbon

$7.00

Sponge Daubers

$5.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.00

Mango Melody Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Feb 18 2019

#SimpleStamping

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Monday!!! Simple or Intricate??? Sometimes the difference is due to personality, time, or supplies! While sometimes, I enjoy creating a card that is to the max…..all the layers, bling, details, details, details. Those cards always blow even me away and I think WOW I did that. Then there are those cards that I stamp a little, add some ribbon, and of course some dimensionals and call it done! That’s what we call #SimpleStamping

This card was super quick and simple and yet still has that cute factor and made with love!!! Do you like it as is or would you add to it? Let me know in the comments below!

I started with a Balmy Blue card base. Next, I took a piece of Whisper White measuring 3-3/4″ x 5″ to stamp all over. Using the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set, I picked one of the butterfly styles and stamped it in Balmy Blue Ink. Since the butterflies are connected then lining up the butterflies is a breeze. They stack perfectly! Then I used the greeting for the same set which there are a few to pick from for different occasions! I thought I stamped the greeting in Night of Navy Ink but then in class that seemed much darker than my sample. I must have used Pacific Point Ink. You could always go with any shade of blue or even any other color!

I added some of the Sale-A-Bration Ribbon. You all loved this ribbon so much it flew off the shelves so you can use any of your favorite ribbon from the Annual Catalog! Next, I added this piece to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals for some texture! If you really like texture, you could also add some of the Butterfly Elements from Sale-A-Bration.

Check out the supply list below for these amazing products and don’t forget that you can earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration item and there is a Sale-A-Bration 2nd Release too!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Product List

Pacific Point Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Butterfly Gala Photopolymer Stamp Set

$21.00

Balmy Blue 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock

$8.50

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

$9.75

Feb 15 2019

Sale-A-Bration 2nd Release!!!

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

It’s Friday!!! It’s time to Sale-A-Brate again!!!! Today, Stampin’ Up has a Sale-A-Bration 2nd Release!!! Even more fabulous products that you can earn for FREE!!! There are items at the $50 Level as well as the $100 Level!!!

Stamps, Designer Paper, and Embossing Folders…..OH MY!!! I am loving it all!

At the $50 Level, you can get the All Adorned Stamp Set which has some fabulous images to create corners and more using the Stamparatus! There is also a Country Floral Embossing Folder and you all know how much I LOVE FLOWERS!!!!! (Yes, I slowly got louder and more excited as I said/typed that!) Eeeee I’m so excited!

At the $100 Level, there is a Stamp Set and Designer Paper Bundle called Painted Seasons! It;s fabulous for all year long with a pine cone, flowers, and greenery! One side of the designer paper has a fun seasonal look and the other side of each sheet is a more solid pattern! How amazing is that? LOVE IT!

Click here to see all of these items – Sale-A-Bration 2nd Release! Click here to start shopping and earning!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Feb 14 2019

What Do You Love???

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!! What do you love today?? Is it chocolate? Is it someone in your life? Is it your craft supplies? I’m going to go with the last 2 and I could exchange chocolate for a cupcake! 🙂 Today, I wanted to share what I am loving right now with Stampin’ Up!!!

We are right in the middle of Sale-A-Bration and the Occasions Mini Catalog and it’s been fabulous! There is so much amazing product to play with and color combinations I would have never thought to use! There is also fabulous free stuff with every $50 order and additional $25 in Hostess Goodies when your order/party is over $250. The best deal yet though is when you join Stampin’ Up and get $175 in product for just $99! That is an amazing steal! Free shipping on top of that makes it even better! Gather together with some friends and let’s stamp. Then you can use your Hostess goodies towards signing up to make it an even better deal!

Today, I’m sharing what I would pick out for my Starter Kit totaling $175!!! There is also a 2nd option to the kit to add on the Craft Carry Tote Bag for $129 rather than $99! Being the bag lady that I am, I’m going with that option!!! So that’s $175 in any product and the Craft & Carry Tote for just $129!

Product List

Stamparatus® Bag And Tool Pack

$78.00

Butterfly Gala Photopolymer Stamp Set

$21.00

Bloom By Bloom Photopolymer Bundle

$36.00

Gingham Gala 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$11.00

Dot To Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$8.50

Calypso Coral 3/8″ (1 Cm) Satin Ribbon

$6.00

Lovely Lipstick 1/8″ (3.2 Mm) Grosgrain Ribbon

$6.00

Stampin’ Dimensionals

$4.00

SNAIL Permanent Adhesive Refill

$4.50

If you would like to see this all, check out the video below or click here! Be sure to give the video a thumbs up if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe if you are new. If you would like a notification when I post a new video, be sure to click the bell right next to the subscribe!!! Join my team and let’s have fun stamping together!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Feb 13 2019

Garden of Lilies!!!

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

My Mom is a huge gardener. She loves to do and has a yard full of gardens with flowers, vegetables, herbs, and more! Me…..not so much! My thumbs are pink (only because that’s the ink color I use the most), not green! I do enjoy going to visit and walking around the yard looking at all of the flowers though! To see all of the color variations and what is blooming at different times of year is just amazing to me! Lilies are my favorite flower so if I ever did get a green thumb, I would have a garden of lilies!

I am loving the Lasting Lily Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set. It is so elegant and real looking! I also love a stamp set with images and greetings. Not just outside greetings but this set has inner and outer greetings. BONUS!!!!! I love it!

I started with this card using a Highland Heather card base. Next, I added a piece of the Gingham Gala Designer Series Paper (4″ x 5-1/4″). Then I took a piece of Whisper White (3-3/4″ x 5″) and stamped the lilies from the Lasting Lily Stamp Set. The center Lily was done with Gorgeous Grape Ink and the smaller ones in Highland Heather Ink. All the stems and leaves were stamped in Garden Green Ink. It’s okay if the stems and leaves look all over the place and like a mess because once you put the ribbon and greeting on, it just looks like a fabulous garden!

See what I mean with the crazy stems and leaves. They look all over the place and floating. I didn’t add the leaves to the center stem because I thought it would look too crowded so I just added them around the edges. Once I was finished stamping, I added some Whisper White Classic Weave Ribbon and tied it into a knot. For the greeting, I used the Layering Ovals Framelits with Whisper White and Gorgeous Grape cardstock. The greeting was stamped in Gorgeous Grape as well. I added the greeting with Stampin Dimensionals. For the inside, I used a leftover piece of the designer paper along the left side and stamped a little flower and greeting! I’m all about decorating the inside of my cards lately. It’s weird because I never use to want to do that.

I did this one in Grapefruit Grove and Calypso Coral Ink. I am loving it! Which one is your favorite?? Let me know in the comments below! Check out the supply list for these amazing cards below and remember you can earn the Lasting Lily Stamp Set for FREE with Sale-A-Bration!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Product List

Gingham Gala 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$11.00

Layering Ovals Framelits Dies

$35.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Highland Heather Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Garden Green Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Whisper White 3/8″ Classic Weave Ribbon

$7.00

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Grapefruit Grove Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50

Feb 12 2019

Laura’s Quick Tips: Basic Card Measurements!!!

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! I am sharing another one of Laura’s Quick Tips today!!! It is all about basic card measurements!!! I get asked this question a lot especially at my classes since I have already done all the cutting for everyone. These measurements are stuck in my head as I use them daily. Here and there I modify and go with something different just to mix it up but otherwise 98% of my cards use these measurements!

For a basic card base, all you have to remember is to cut a piece of 8-1/2″ x 11″ in half. It could be in half along the 11″ side, making the cut at 5-1/2″. This will create a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ card base. This style can open up like a calendar or to the side like a book. If you cut along the 8-1/2″ side at 4-1/4″, this creates a 4-1/4″ x 11″ card. This looks more like an easel card and again it can open up or to the side. In the photo above, I have the Grapefruit Grove card on the far left opening on the left side like a book.

When it comes to layers, I like to work with 1/4″ rather than 1/8″ mostly because I like a bit of a bigger gap to allow more color/pattern to show. Also, I am not a fan of 1/8″ as I tend to get confused and it isn’t as easy to read on my Stampin’ Trimmer! For the Gorgeous Grape card in the center, I went in a 1/4″ making the Whisper White piece 4″ x 5-1/4″. The Balmy Blue card on the far right is a 1/2″ in making it 3-3/4″ x 5″. This all depends on how much of the card base you want to show!

For additional layers on your card, I tend to go in increments that divide by 6″. This is done because Stampin’ Up’s designer paper, glimmer paper, foil paper, etc. is either 6″ x 6″ or 12″ x 12″. I don’t like to waste any of these gorgeous stuff so cutting pieces like 2″ x 4″ or 3″ square or 3″ x 4″ gives me a chance to use it all up with no waste. That is perfect to me!!!

I hope you found this helpful! Let me know in the comments if this was helpful! Also, let me know if you like to work with 1/4″ or 1/8″!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Feb 11 2019

Highlighting With Color!!!

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Do you like to color? Could you spend hours a day just snuggling on the couch and coloring? I’m with you on the snuggling but I don’t think I could color for hours. I enjoy it in little bits but those adult coloring books give me heart palpitations. The image is just so overwhelming and I don’t know what to color first. If it does that to you as well or you just don’t have a lot of long hours to give to color, check this out – Highlighting With Color!!!!

See how those butterflies pop but I didn’t color everything on the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper!!! Just a little bit of color goes a long way and it was quick to do!

I started with a Bermuda Bay card base. Next, I layered on a piece of Basic Black measuring 3-1/2″x 4-1/2″. Then I took a piece of the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper (3″ x 4″). Using the Bermuda Bay Watercolor Pencil, I quickly colored back and forth all the way around the big butterflies. Just a simple scratch scratch scratch all the way around! You could always use different colors or all the same color! Once I finished coloring, I layered this piece onto the card front.

For the greeting, I used the Layering Circle Framelits to die cut a smooth white circle and a scalloped black circle. The greeting was stamped in Bermuda Bay Ink from the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set. You can still purchase this stamp set even though the coordinating punch is on backorder! I’ll keep you posted when the punch is available again! For a little bit of texture and shine, I wrapped some Silver Metallic Thread around my fingers to create loops for the back of the greeting. Using Stampin’ Dimensionals, I secured the thread and adhered the greeting to the card front. Depending on where your butterflies are the piece of designer paper that you cut, you can move the greeting around to different spots. I love it!

You can earn the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper for FREE with Sale-A-Bration!!! Bring on all things butterflies! I am loving it all this season! I’m also loving monochromatic cards lately. Not sure why, but I have noticed all of my cards have been single colors. Are you a fan or do you prefer a card with all kinds of colors? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Product List

Butterfly Gala Photopolymer Stamp Set

$21.00

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin’ Pad

$7.50