Tag Archives: Occasions Mini Catalog

Mar 31 2015

Technique Tuesday – Center Step Card!!!

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Happy Tuesday!!! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you today and that is this fabulous Center Step Card!!! I got this idea from fellow stamper Julie Davison! I added a little of my own flare to it and had some fun!!!

Center Step, Stair Step, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″. With your piece in your Stampin’ Trimmer at the 1″ mark, you will cut from 1″ to 5-1/4″. Then slide your paper to the other side and 1″ from the edge you will cut from the 1″ to the 5-1/4″ mark. Now using a Stampin’ Trimmer or Simply Score, along the 8-1/2″ side, you will score at the 1″, 2″ and 5-1/4″ mark and only score in 1″ deep. Flip your paper around to the other side and do the same. When you are done, you should have two little squares and one long rectangle on both sides of your card. Again along the 8-1/2″ side, you will score at 4-1/4″ but rather than going all the way across your card, you will score just in the center leaving 1″ on both sides un-scored. Now you can fold creating a mountain/valley fold on the bottom portion and then all of the top score lines down. Now you have your card base and you can decorate as you wish!

In the sample above, I used some of the Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper for the side pieces. Those measure 7/8″ x 1″ and 7/8″ x 3-1/8″. Those were leftover scrap pieces that I had after doing another project. I love being able to use up my scraps! For the center decoration, the Bermuda Bay cardstock measures 3-3/8″ x 4-1/8″ and then the Whisper White is 3″ x 4-1/8″. I stamped the greeting from the Big Day Stamp Set which is one of the Sale-A-Bration items you can get for free!!! I brushed the edges with my Sponge Daubers and colored in the cake!!!! Love it!!!

I’m sure I lost you all in the directions above and so a Video Tutorial is a must! Julie did an amazing job showing this off and providing a template so you can check that out here!!!

I hope you try this out and add your own flare. I would love to see what you create. Also, today is the last day of Sale-A-Bration which means this stamp set used for this card will no longer be available after today! Earn your Sale-A-Bration items today when you place a $50 (US) order!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 26 2015

So Proud of You!!!

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Crazy About You, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I love this card because of the coral colors, the greetings and that fun flower embossed background!!! This would make a great Graduation card or for someone who recently go into college, got a new job, or accomplished something great. I started off with a Crumb Cake card base and embossed it with the Lovely Lace Embossing Folder! For the greeting, I used the “so proud of” from the Crazy About You Stamp Set! The YOU was stamped using the Epic Alphabet Stamp Set! Then I colored in the letters with my Calypso Coral Blendabilities. I know those aren’t available any more but I still wanted to share this sample with you. 🙁 Some of you may have these and want to use still use them and for those that don’t have them, you could always use your Markers – Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral. I layered my greeting onto Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral and added it to my card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals! To finish it off, I added some Calypso Coral Seam Binding!!! I am not a huge fan of seam binding since it frays easily and has that vintage look usually but I LOVE the Calypso Coral because it is so bright and fabulous!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 25 2015

Easter Flowers!!!

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Easter Sheltering Tree, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Easter is a week and a half away!!!! I love Easter and it is my favorite holiday! I love the bright colors, the Spring weather, the joyfulness and fun of the low-key holiday! Of course, there is also the AMAZING candy at Easter time!!! Since I don’t do a lot of cards for Easter time, I don’t like to spend money on a Easter specific stamp set because I want something more versatile. You want versatile…..Teeny Tiny Wishes is the stamp set for you! I LOVE IT! It has a greeting for everything. That is the greeting I used here with my Modern Label Punch and Word Window Punch. For the flowers, I used the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog! Love this set! You can see more samples here, here and here! I used Pear Pizzazz for the stems and the flowers are Crushed Curry, Rose Red, and Wisteria Wonder! I rounded the corners of the Whisper White to soften the edges. Want something even more soft? Try the Painted Blooms Cotton Twine! It is soft and easy to tie and not chunky on your card at all!

Let me know what you think of this card? Do you send Easter Cards? This would make a great spring card for any occasion. Also, let me know in the comment below what you favorite Easter candy is!!!!!

I don’t know if I have a true favorite……I love jelly beans, malted eggs, and peeps!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 23 2015

Birthday Balloons!!!

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Boy Balloon Bash, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Can you say, the perfect Man Card??? I think so!!! I love how fun this card turned out and I love that it is a great man card as I struggle with those since my favorite color is Pink and I love ribbon and bling and flower stamps! You could create this card in any color that you wish….even Pink! It also uses up some scraps as well!!! Double Bonus! You can create this card in the recipient’s favorite color as well! How awesome is that? Okay let’s get started!!! I used a card base of Whisper White (4-1/4″ x 11″) and layered on some Pacific Point (4″ x 5-1/4″). Then I took a piece of Whisper White (3-3/4″ x 5″) and stamped the balloon from the Balloon Bash Stamp Set in the Occasions Mini Catalog randomly all over the card! Be sure to fall off of your cardstock to give the illusion that the balloon are floating all over. For the greeting, I used a piece of Whisper White measuring 1″ x 3-3/4″ and stamped the Happy Birthday from the Big Day Stamp Set which is a Sale-A-Bration stamp set! I layered that onto a piece of Pacific Point measuring 1-1/2″ x 3-3/4″ and added it to my card. You can place it anywhere on your card….center, lower half, or upper half. I usually place it where I need to cover up a mistake or a place that the covers just the right amount of balloons. 🙂 This card is fairly simple and uses up scraps! I love it!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 19 2015

In the Forest…

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Fall Forest Sheltering Tree, www.LaurasStampPad.com

I love how you can create a forest look with the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog! I do wish I did more Spring colors rather than Fall but either way it is super fabulous! I have a card base of Rose Red (4-1/4″ x 11″), with Mossy Meadow layered (4″ x 5-1/4″), and then Whisper White (3-3/4″ x 5″)! My trees were stamped in Chocolate Chip and a few of them are full strength and some are stamped off. For the leaves, I used Rose Red, Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze, and Crushed Curry! Some of them are full strength and some are stamped off. I stamped right to left, up the left and around to the right along the top. Love it!!! Spring colors….hmmm those would be like Wild Wasabi or  Pear Pizzazz and then some Strawberry Slush, Rose Red, Crushed Curry. I think that would look amazing as well! I love it! The greeting is from the Remembering Your Birthday Stamp Set! Quick and Simple!!! To see more samples using this stamp set, check out this post and this post!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 18 2015

Simple Sequin Birthday Card!!!

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Balloon Bash Sequin Trim, www.LaurasStampPad.com

This card is simple and fabulous! I love it!!!! I started with a card base of Whisper White (4-1/4″ x 11″) and layered on some of the Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper (4″ x 5-1/4″). I love this paper because it is so versatile and fun!!! Then I stamped the greeting from the Balloon Bash Stamp Set in Bermuda Bay. I did like the card just like that but I thought I would add a little POP! I cleaned the stamp and got out a little strip of scrap paper and my Calypso Coral Ink. I inked up the top half and stamped it onto my scrap paper, making sure that center banner was on the paper. Then I cut out the banner…..I know fussy cutting is no fun but this is straight (ish) lines and fairly simple!!!! 🙂 Using my Stampin’ Dimensionals, I add that coral banner to my project on top of the Bermuda Bay banner! LOVE IT! For a little more pop, I add a strand of Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim. This was really simple because I just cut a piece and added to my card in the corner with 2 Mini Glue Dots!!! Simple and Fabulous!!! You could leave off the trim and change the colors to make a more masculine card as well!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 16 2015

Sheltering Tree!!!

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Sheltering Tree Swing, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Simple and fabulous! I love the look of this card. It is just so peaceful and perfect for lots of different occasions. I started with a Crumb Cake card base (4-1/4″ x 11″). Then I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 4″ x 5-1/4″. All the stamps used were from the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog! Love it! You can see more samples here and here! I used Chocolate Chip for the greeting, swing, and the tree. For the grass and the leaves, I used Mossy Meadow. I stamped the grass once in full strength and the side two were stamped after stamping off once. For the leaves, I put the stamp on the clear block with the leaves/dots against the clear block (meaning I used the back side). I inked it up in Mossy Meadow, stamped off once, and then onto my card. Then I cleaned it, turned it over, inked it in Mossy Meadow and stamped it full strength. I finished it off with some Painted Blooms Cotton Twine….so soft!! How fabulous is that look?!?!?!? Using that solid back side really gives a great look. I learned this trick when I was watching Stampin’ Up’s Live Leadership Event! I love learning these new tips and tricks!!! Now to figure out what other stamps would look amazing with this trick!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 13 2015

Painted Blooms & Friday the 13th!!!

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Happy Friday!!!! I hope you all had a wonderful week!!!! I just wanted to share this quick and simple FABULOUS card today to brighten your day!!!

Painted Blooms DSP, www.LaurasStampPad.com

This card uses the Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog! I layered it onto some Rich Razzleberry and then a Blackberry Bliss card base! I added some Blackberry Bliss Satin Stitched Ribbon and the greeting is from the Label Love Stamp Set and coordinating Artisan Label Punch (Bundle & Save)!!! Perfect Anniversary or Wedding card!!!!

BONUS: I started my Laura’s Loyal Stampers this week and this weekend (Today, Saturday, & Sunday), if you place an online order you will earn double points. That means if you place an order for $25 or more, you will earn 2 points. If you place an order for $50 or more, you will earn 4 points and a Free Sale-A-Bration item!!!! Woot Woot!!! I’m so excited to start spoiling you all even more!!! How is that for Friday the 13th!?!?!?!

Of course, it’s not a Friday without the Weekly Deals!!!!

Weekly Deals 3.10

Also, I don’t want to have to say it but I feel you should know sooner rather than later. Stampin’ Up has discontinued the Blendabilities. As I stated last week, they turned the Blendabilities off because of a quality issue that Stampin’ Up and their customers were having. It seems this is a permanent defect in the pens that has microscopic holes in the barrels so they are drying out since they are alcohol. The manufacturer is unable to correct the problem to meet Stampin’ Up! high quality standards and provide a stable, long-term solution so they have been discontinued. 🙁 I am really sad about this but I won’t want to purchase or sell a defective product to all of you. Hopefully since these were super popular, Stampin’ Up will come out with a new Blendable pen soon! Fingers crossed!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 12 2015

Background Basics!!!

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Sheltering Tree Rainbow Background, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Have you started to notice my love for bright colors and rainbows??? You can check out my other rainbow creation here! I just love bright colors and why not use all of the colors??? I created this beautiful card with the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog! That fabulous little snowflake/dot image is what I used to create the background. I did my best to match ROY G BIV – Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay, and Elegant Eggplant. Start on one corner (like one image in from the corner) and stamp diagonal. I stamped with image taller rather than wider. After doing that first line, I filled in the corner with the same color (Real Red to start and Elegant Eggplant to finish). Then just keep going through the colors, stamping 1 row each per color! If you feel like you aren’t going straight, you can always take a scrap piece of paper and use it as a guide. I layered this piece onto a Daffodil Delight card base. For the Greeting, I used the Age Awareness Stamp Set and used my markers in the same colors and colored the greeting! You could always pick your favorite color and do a solid greeting as well. I then layered that greeting on some Bermuda Bay and added it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals! Love it!!!!

You can use this stamp for lots of different backgrounds for any project – memory keeping, cards, treat boxes, tags, and more! Let me know in the comment below which colors you would use for your background – rainbow?? Just 2 colors?? Just 1 color??

To check out more samples using the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set, click here!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Mar 11 2015

A Card For Every Season!

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Sheltering Tree Winter, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Have you seen the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set in the Occasions Mini Catalog? It is fabulous! I really wanted it when the catalog came out but thought….”no, I have Lovely As A Tree.” So I waited about a month and a half and the more I saw samples using this set, the more I needed it! I am so glad I got it! It is super fun and versatile! The card above is my winter card using Pool Party and Real Red. I added in some Dazzling Details to really make the snow sparkle! I love it!!

Sheltering Tree Spring, www.LaurasStampPad.com

My Spring Tree makes me so happy because it is PINK! I used Blushing Bride for the card base and the tree uses Blushing Bride and Strawberry Slush! The “grass” is Pear Pizzazz and all of my trees are done in Chocolate Chip!

Sheltering Tree Summer, www.LaurasStampPad.com

This is my Summer Tree because of the bike but you could always flip flop my Spring and Summer Trees or add flowers to the Spring Tree Card. Riding bikes always takes me back to childhood because that is what we did as children all day and all night. I remember my mom calling us in to take baths as we were riding our bikes in circles by the light out by the shed. Love it!!! I used Crumb Cake and Rose Red cardstock. For the stamped images, I used Mossy Meadow for the grass, flower stems, and leaves (stamping off to get those different shades). The flowers were done in Rose Red and the bike was done with Soft Suede and Pacific Point. I did another bike with Basic Black for the base and it POPPED so much more so I would recommend black rather than brown for the bike!

Sheltering Tree Fall, www.LaurasStampPad.com

Then we have our Fall Tree. I used Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry cardstock and some Linen Tread to add to the rustic look! The Tree uses Cajun Craze, Rose Red and Crushed Curry for the leaves. You can stamp the leaves in full strength for a richer look or stamp off once and then onto your tree for a more subtle look.

You could always make up a few of each of these to have on hand for all of your card needs during that season. All of your Birthdays in that season, get this card. They would also make perfect Thinking of You cards, Thank You, and even Sympathy. I love it!!! Don’t think I stopped there with this stamp set either. Be sure to check back as I will be posting so more fun cards using the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set later this week and next week! Afraid you might forget to check back? Subscribe to my blog along the right side and you will get an email every time I post something new!!! How fabulous is that?!?!?

Happy Stampin’

~Laura