Nov 20 2014

Holiday Holly!!!

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Last week I showed you how to use the Wondrous Wreath Stamp Set and matching Wonderful Wreath Framelits (Bundle & Save) for a Fall and Winter Wreath and Tuesday I showed you how to make garland! Today I’m going to show you how to make a window planter full of holly!

You will start with a piece of Garden Green cardstock measuring 4-1/4″ x 11″ and score along the 11″ side at 2-3/4″ and 8-1/4″ and fold those in. This created your gate fold card base! Next you will need 2 piece of the Plaid Designer Series Paper from the Trim the Tree Paper Stack measuring 2-1/2″ x 4″. Put some adhesive on the back of one piece of Designer Series Paper and attach one end of your Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon (7″) to the edge (outside edge, centered from top to bottom, see photo above). Now add additional adhesive and place it on the left side panel of your card base. Adhere the right side panel as well. Now you will pull the ribbon around to the front and next to the edge of the inside portion of the panel you will apply 2 strips of Sticky Strip as shown below! Cut the end of the ribbon diagonally or with banner tips!

Now it is time to create the window! Just like on Monday’s sample, you will start with a 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ piece of Early Espresso cardstock and run it through the Big Shot with your Woodgrain Texture Embossing Folder! This adds a little texture to your window! Then place four 1″ Square Punched pieces on top to resemble a window! These will be your guide! You can punch your squares out of Post-It notes on the sticky end or just use some scrap paper and add a small dab of Snail Adhesive. Now using your 1″ Square Punch, you will slide the white square in and line up those scrap squares and punch! Now you have your window!

Now to create the curtain you will need some of the Garden Green checked Designer Series Paper from the Trim the Tree Designer Paper Stack. You will need three Large Oval Punches and you will cut one in half! Turn your Window frame over (face down) and apply Snail adhesive to the back side! You will place the two full ovals on the top two windows diagonally with the green check face down and then you will add the halves to the two bottoms. These bottoms ones are only slightly diagonal. Turn over your window and it should like to curtains (see photo above). Now you can pull the Sticky Strip backs off of your card base and center your window to the front of your card. Your window should only be adhered to your card on the left side so that your card can still open!

Now for the planter, you will need a piece of Garden Green cardstock measuring 3/4″ x 3″ and you will cut a diagonal from both ends to give the shape of the planter. Then using your Sponge Dauber, brush the edges of the planter with Early Espresso. Place two Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the planter (towards the bottom, so your holly and be tucked under) and place it on your window. You will need 1 wreath for all of the holly in the planter. I used Wild Wasbi, Garden Green, and Cherry Cobbler for my wreath and Cherry Cobbler for the Ribbon! Check out this Video Tutorial to see how to stamp and die-cut your wreath!

Now you will cut the wreath into sections about 1″ or less long. You will want to cut along the leaves so it looks like real holly and leaves. Place 2-3 of your pieces in the planter (left, center, right) with Snail Adhesive. Then take the other 2 pieces and place them in between with Stampin’ Dimenionals to add texture and dimension. Adhere the ribbon to the center of your planter and you are all done!!!

I hope you enjoyed this technique on another way you can use your Wondrous Wreath Stamp Set! Be sure to check back on next week to see more fabulous ideas!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Nov 4 2014

Technique Tuesday – Curvy Keepsake Boxes!!!

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!! You know what that means…..I have a fabulous technique to share with you today (with a Video Tutorial)! Woot Woot!!!! These little boxes are so adorable and super easy to assemble (I was surprised at how easy)!

Supplies Needed: Big Shot, Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlet Die, Cardstock, Vellum or Designer Series Paper, Embellishments, Sticky Strip or Fast Fuse

You will need a piece of cardstock (vellum or Designer Series Paper) measuring 9″ x 5-1/2″. This is enough to cut out 2 pieces with the Curvy Keepsake Die. Place the Die on your paper, run it through your Big Shot and repeat! Now that you have your piece die-cut pieces, you will fold on the score lines (3 per die-cut). If you are using cardstock and would like to stamp on it, now is the time. It is much easier to stamp now then after it is assembled! 😉 Now I like to run the tabs on each die over my bone folder a bit to break those fibers a little and allow the box to curve. Using Sticky Strip or Fast Fuse, you will apply adhesive to one of the squares on the die (don’t go super close to the edge). Now you will take the die-cut that doesn’t have adhesive and lay it on top, matching up the corners to the edge of the score line. Your squares will not overlap exactly (if they do, your corners will not lay correctly). Here is a photo showing you what I mean!

Now you just need to pull the 2 tabs together and slip the other ends over the tabs are you are all done! You can always add some ribbon, charms, tags, or punched pieces to decorate as you wish!!!! The box on the left in the top photo was done with Whisper White cardstock and I stamped snowflakes from the Endless Wishes Stamp Set all over it using Night of Navy, Lost Lagoon, and Pool Party Ink. The box on the right was done with All is Calm Designer Series Paper and I added some Silver Ribbon and Pool Party Cotton Ribbon to the top. I also added a little tag using the circle tag die from the Curvy Keepsake Die Set and added a little All is Calm Snowflake Embellishment!

This one is super fabulous because you can use it like a lantern. It was created with the Silver Fancy Foil Designer Vellum (it comes in Gold as well, after all Gold is In!) It was created the same way but in the end I added a little tea light inside for a glow! This would be amazing on a Christmas Tree, in a window, on a table place setting, mantle, wedding decoration and so much more!

I saved the best for last. Ohhhhh Ahhhhhh I know I know! It is PRECIOUS! This would be the cutest thing ever for a Baby Shower or Birthday Party or a Spring Party (oh I’m dreaming of spring already)! I created the box with Real Red Cardstock, added 1/2″ Circle Punch black dots (5 on each side). For the body, I used a 1-3/4″ Circle Punch in Black and 1-3/8″ Circle Punch in Smoky Slate. For the head, I used a 1″ Circle Punch in Black! The eyes and antenna were created with the Cupcake Builder Punch and Owl Builder Punch. Yep those are cherries you see upside down as the antenna! I did brush the edges of the Smoky Slate with my Basic Black Sponge Dauber to soften the edges and I dotted the eyes with my Chalk Marker! 🙂 Love it!!!!!

To see the Curvy Keepsake Die in action, check out my Video Tutorial below! Don’t forget to give it a Thumbs Up if you like and be sure to Subscribe so you don’t ever miss out on any of my videos!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 30 2014

Perfect for Under The Tree!!!

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

I have a fabulous Gift Packaging idea to share with you today and it will look amazing Under the Tree!!!

The Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper in the Holiday Mini Catalog is perfect for boxes. It is heavier than typical Designer Series Paper so it holds up much better (and you stylus will punch through the paper)! It is beautiful as well. One side is kraft and white patterned and the other side has a color (Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green & Early Espresso)!

See isn’t it beautiful! I used my Gift Box Punch Board to create these boxes! The one pictured above is the largest box which uses a 12″ x 12″ piece of paper and the box is 4″ x 4″ x 4″. I used some Cherry Cobbler Chevron Ribbon to wrap around the box. For the tag, I used a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock and punched the end with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch. On the Whisper White cardstock, I stamped a few snowflakes in Cherry Cobbler Ink as well as the greeting from Endless Wishes Stamp Set. I took my Sponge Dauber and added a little bit of Garden Green to the edges! I attached the tag to the Chevron Ribbon with some Whisper White Baker’s Twine!

For this box, I added some Lost Lagoon Satin Stitched Ribbon and a little tag! For the tag, I used the Scallop Tag Topper Punch and my Work of Art Stamp Set! Love that set! Also, you can’t really tell in the photo but I added some bling with my Dazzling Details along the chevron pattern!

I made a Video Tutorial for you so you can see these boxes made in action! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you like and don’t forget to subscribe to My Channel so you don’t miss any other videos in this series!

Happy Giftin’

~Laura

Oct 29 2014

Watercolor Winter Too!

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

If you missed yesterday’s post, be sure to check that out here! Today I’m going to share the other 2 cards in the kit as well as a few other samples and ideas! Have I said I loved these cards yet? I love these cards! 🙂

Watercoloring this little sled in Cherry Cobbler was super fun! It brought back memories of sledding down the hills on our runner sled as a kid! 🙂 Ahhhh! The card base already had the white dots on the upper half of the card. I adhered the vellum snowflake from the kit with some Snail Adhesive in the center. I didn’t worry about putting a lot of adhesive on it because I wanted it to flare on the ends and it was going to be on the bottom layer. Next you will add the sled and then the Bermuda Bay banner. I stamped the greeting from the Watercolor Winter Too Stamp Set! Then I added the gold strip and the Baker’s Twine that comes in the kit! Finish it off with a few sequins for a little bling!

Many of my stampers who come to my classes say mine is always perfect and how come their’s doesn’t look like mine…..can you find my mistake? The snowflake is cut off on top! See everyone makes mistakes and I would say most don’t even notice! I forgot to add the vellum snowflake until after I put the letters on and there was no way I was adjusting them since it took me a year and half to put them on! This was my favorite card in looks but least favorite in patience. Wowza those letters weren’t easy! The directions say to color them with Bermuda Bay and then while they are still intact on the sheet, add adhesive and lay the twine down. Then you can pop the letters through and they are all set on the twine. I’m going to bet I used too much glue, didn’t wait to let it dry long enough or all of the above but that didn’t work. 🙂 Once it was all over though it created a fabulous card!

Now this card I created with the leftover vellum piece that the snowflake was cut out of. I used my Sponge Dauber to color it with Bermuda Bay Ink and it turned out fabulous! Be gentle around the tips of the snowflake. I adhered that to a Whisper White card base, added some White Satin Ribbon and a greeting from Endless Wishes Stamp Set!!! Love it!

Here are few other cards that I created a little differently. To be honest, I didn’t like that the twine was more vanilla and the cards were white so I didn’t use it and will save it for another project! I love how these all turned out!!!! I hope that you try out the Watercolor Winter Simple Created Kit and please share your ideas and samples with me! I would love to see what you come up with!

Happy Watercolorin’

~Laura

Oct 28 2014

Technique Tuesday – Watercolor Winter Cards!!!

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!!! I have a fabulous technique to share with you today!!!! When I first looked at the Holiday Mini Catalog, I was intrigued by the Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit! The cards were so cute and different! And while watercoloring isn’t my favorite technique I do like to do it every once in awhile! I’m glad I did!!!

These cards are just so detailed and amazing with the watercoloring! I will also note that you DO NOT have to be good at watercoloring to do this! Trust me! 🙂 The kit comes with all of the supplies as well as a paint brush. I did use my Aqua Painter a little because I liked that it already had water in it! For the card above, you will watercolor the trees with Old Olive and then add the Gold Glimmer Paper to the back of it! I used my Multi-Purpose Adhesive to adhere some of these items to the card – trees and Happy gold greeting. The stamped Holidays greeting is from the Watercolor Winter Too Stamp Set. Also, you can hardly tell in the photo but the Whisper White rectangle is actually wood-grain embossed for you already! 🙂 Love it!

You can see the wood-grain embossing on this one more! 🙂 The letters MERRY were watercolored with Old Olive. I found it best to do a light layer of green all over the letters and then slowly add a little more color to the top half. It will bleed a little up and down. Then get a little more ink and touch just the top. I think mine turned out really well on this sample…..no so much on a few others. 🙂 The holly leaves were already die-cut in vellum and I didn’t like how they didn’t show up well white on white so I added some Old Olive with my Sponge Dauber! Again I used the Watercolor Winter Too Stamp Set and added the Gold Glimmer dots and sequins!

Stay tuned and be sure to come back again tomorrow to see more cards from this kit!!!! Also, Stampin’ Up did a fabulous video showing this kit so you can check that out here!!!!

Happy Watercolorin’

~Laura

Oct 23 2014

Northern Flurry!

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Need a quick and simple Christmas Card? This is the card for you! It is quick to make and has a major WOW factor with the embossed snowflakes and beautiful color! I started with a Pool Party card base. The Whisper White piece measures 4-3/4″ x 3-1/2″ and then run that through the Big Shot with the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder. Then I brushed the edges of the cardstock with my Sponge Daubers! Love them! The greeting is from the Christmas Bliss Stamp Set and it is stamped in Pool Party as well! See! Quick and Simple! You could crank (literally with your Big Shot) these cards out in no time at all.

I like to watch my favorite movie or show while working my Big Shot! What do you like to do while crafting – watch a movie, chat with others, listen to music or books on tape, or just enjoy the silence? I like each of these at different times! 🙂 Leave me a comment down below with your favorite!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 21 2014

Technique Tuesday – Cafe Bag Creation!

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!!! That means I have a fabulous technique to share with you today!!!! Since the Holiday are upon us that means that there will be lots of gift giving – teacher gifts, neighbor gifts, friends gift, family gifts and everyone in between! Why not make the gift packaging just as special as the person you are giving it to!

I am loving these Cafe Bags which are in the Holiday Mini Catalog because they are the perfect size and they come plastic lined which is great for putting homemade treats in them! Love it!!! Now lets tell you how to re-create it!

Supplies Needed: Cafe Bags, Decorative Mask, Sponge Daubers, Ink, Ribbon, and Tag

I left the Cafe Bag all folded up like it comes and laid my Stars Decorative Mask over top! Using my Whisper White Ink and Sponge Dauber, I colored in all of the stars! NOTE: When using Whisper White Ink (Craft), it takes a little bit longer to dry so set that aside while you create your tag! For my Tag, I used some scrap Mossy Meadow and Whisper White cardstock. For the banner tips, I cut up in the center of the end and then from the corner to that center cut line! This gives you even banner tips! I used the Endless Wishes Stamp Set for the snowflakes and greetings! They are stamped in Lost Lagoon Ink! I love how you can mix and match the greetings in that stamp set – just perfect! Once your bag is dry, you can fill it and then roll down the top and secure the tabs! Wrap some Lost Lagoon Satin Ribbon around it and tie a bow or knot! I attached the tag with a Mini Metallic Clothespin! Adorable! Quick and Simple for any of your gift giving this season! The bag below uses Blackberry Bliss Satin Stitched Ribbon and a tag from the Tag A Bag Accessory Kit! The greeting is from the Work of Art Stamp Set! Love it!

If you would like to see this gift bag creation in action, check out the Video Tutorial that I created for you! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you like it and want to see more in this Gift Packaging Series!

Happy Giftin’

~Laura

Oct 16 2014

Beautiful Boxes!!!

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

The season of gift giving is upon us – Teacher Appreciation, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and the Winter Season (people love to bake when it’s cold outside)!!! I always find that fabulous gift packaging really makes a present that much more amazing and these boxes are just that! I used some of the Kraft Gift Boxes which measure 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″! This is the perfect size for a gift card, cookies, trail mix, candied pecans, a little mini loaf, jewelry, nail polish/manicure set, and sooooo many more fabulous gift items! I tied the Cherry Cobbler 1″ Sheer Ribbon around the box, creating the beautiful bow! For the tag, I stamped the Merry & Bright in Cherry Cobbler. The greeting is from the Christmas Bliss Stamp Set! I am loving that set so much! The greeting is on a 1-3/4″ Square of Whisper White Cardstock. Then I brushed the edges with my Mossy Meadow Ink and Sponge Daubers. This added a little pop of the green and makes the greeting stand out! You know how I love my Sponge Daubers too! 🙂 I layered that piece on to a piece of 2″ x 2-3/4″ Crumb Cake that was punched on one end with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch! I tied the tag onto the bow with some Baker’s Twine – either Cherry Cobbler or just Whisper White! Love it!!!

If you would like to see this gift box packaging in action, check out my Video Tutorial below! Be sure to give it a thumbs up if you like it! I will be posting more gift packaging videos over the next couple of weeks so be sure to subscribe to both my blog and my YouTube Channel!

Happy Giftin’

~Laura

Oct 7 2014

Technique Tuesday – Filter Paper Flowers!

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Happy Tuesday!!!! You know what that means…..I have a fabulous technique for you! Have you heard of Filter Paper or seen it in the catalog and wondered how do you use that?? Well today I’m going to show you a few ways to use it!!!

How fabulous is this card? Eee And it says Fabulous!!!!! 🙂 I love it! That amazing 3D flower was created with the Filter Paper. Let’s get started on how to create it.

Supplies Needed: Filter Paper, Punch or Framelit, Handheld Hole Punch, Brad or Staple

For the flower above, I punched out 4 Blossom Punch Filter Flowers and 4 Pansy Punch Flowers. TIP: When punching the Filter Paper, it helps to place a piece of scrap paper in there as well to make it more stiff and punch better! You can punch at least 4 layers and 1 layer of scrap at a time! Now you will lay all of your flowers on top of each other and you can either staple them in the center or add a Brad after punching a hole with your Handheld Punch! Now one by one pull the flowers up and scrunch to the center. You will repeat this until all flowers have been scrunched to the center. Now you can fluff it until you get the desired look. At this point, you can spritz your flower using re-inker and alcohol or water or you can leave it white and brush the edges with your Sponge Daubers. In the photo above, I spritzed the flower with Melon Mambo, let it dry and then gently touched the edges with my Elegant Eggplant Sponge Dauber to get those dark tips and color variation. I attached the flower to a card with some leaves from the Bird Builder Punch peaking out from behind and the amazing greeting if from Million & One!!!!

You can also color your Filter Paper before you get started with Sponge Daubers, Spritzers, or some ink and a Brayer!

Another style of flower is the Rich Razzleberry flower above. For that flower, I used a Brayer to add the Rich Razzleberry Ink to my Rectangle piece of Filter Paper. I used a piece measuring 3″ x 12″. Once it was dry, I applied Sticky Strip to the long end of the Filter Paper, folded the filter paper over to meat the Sticky Strip. This creates a tube (kind of). Then with your Fringe Scissors, cut all along that loop of folded over Filter Paper. Be sure to only cut half-three quarters of the way down do you are cutting a piece off. Now you will apply another piece of sticky strip all along the bottom (below the loops). Starting at one end, you will roll the Filter Paper onto itself around and around to create this flower. Are you completely lost? I think I would be….so here is a Video Tutorial for you to watch! 🙂 I hope you are liking this videos. Be sure to give me a thumbs up if you are!!!!

Happy Stampin’

~Laura

Oct 6 2014

Halloween Treats!!!

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Laura's Stamp Pad

Halloween is right around the corner so it is time to start working on those treat bags for your child’s classroom, trick or treaters who come to your door, to pass out at your place of business or for the little monsters in your life (that would be my nieces and nephews 🙂 ) Here are a few simple yet adorable ones that I have created!

I think the fact that it is so little just makes me so excited I could squeal!!! 🙂 This is one of the Tiny Treat Boxes from the Holiday Mini Catalog which is a 2″ square! Small enough that you don’t need to put a trunk load of treats inside but big enough for some goodies! Before assembling the box, I used my Decorative Mask (click here to see how to use this) and black ink pad to add the polka dots (using my sponge daubers of course). Be sure to set it aside to dry for a bit because I found it takes just a bit longer for the ink to soak into this material. I then used my Pumpkin Pie Chevron Ribbon to tie around it and into a knot. For the tag, I stamped the little bat from the Freaky Friends Stamp Set and the Trick or Treat from the Good Greetings Stamp Set (Hostess Exclusive)! I punched out the greeting with my Scallop Oval Punch and layered it onto a Large Oval Punch in Black cardstock. I attached it to my chevron ribbon with some Black Taffeta Ribbon! Super cute!!!

Then I have these little treat bags which are even easier to whip a few hundred…..okay maybe not that many…or maybe! I used the 4″ x 6″ Cello Bags, tied the Chevron Ribbon around to close it and made the tag. For the tag, I used my scrap pieces of 2″ wide Whisper White cardstock. Slide that piece into your Scallop Tag Topper Punch and stamp your greeting. On my longer pieces I stamped bigger images from the Freaky Friends Stamp Set (like the witch) and for the smaller pieces I stamped smaller images. I love using up scraps! I did use my Corner Rounder Punch for the bottom corners so it would match the rounded top corners that the tag topper punch creates! I used the Freaky Friends Stamp Set and Good Greetings Stamp Set! I thought I would share this photo as well!

I colored in the witch with an Old Olive face, Pumpkin Pie legs and arm, and Soft Suede broom! 🙂 heeeeheeeheee

I hope these gave you some great ideas for your Halloween Treats! You have 24 Days or less to get them done!!! 🙂

Also, don’t forget today is the last day to Stock Up and Save!!! Click here for all the details!

Happy Treatin’

~Laura

Laura's Stamp Pad

Laura Borchert ¤ Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator ¤ Laura@LaurasStampPad.com

Tag Archives: Sponge Daubers

Holiday Holly!!!

Technique Tuesday – Curvy Keepsake Boxes!!!

Perfect for Under The Tree!!!

Watercolor Winter Too!

Technique Tuesday – Watercolor Winter Cards!!!

Northern Flurry!

Technique Tuesday – Cafe Bag Creation!

Beautiful Boxes!!!

Technique Tuesday – Filter Paper Flowers!

Halloween Treats!!!