Bloom Where You’re Planted

 I played around with my new “Bloom where you’re Planted” bundle with the “Plentiful Plants” stamps and coordinating dies today.  So much fun!

Here  are a couple of cards that I came up with…

To make the leaves and the pot, I stamped the card stock with the same colour of ink…Cajun Craze on Cajun Craze, etc.  I really like the effect

Here is the second card…

The Macrame embossing folder adds a lovely, nostalgic feel.

Order online at https://lauragardiner.stampinup.net

Happy Stampin’!

Mosaic Birthday for DD100 and TSOT165

I'm a little sad as I write this post.  One of my favourite challenge blogs, The Dynamic Duos, is saying farewell after this challenge : (  While I didn't always enter each week I certainly was looking and taking inspiration from the colour combinations posted.  I wish Anne Marie and Lesley as well as the rest of the design team all the best as they pursue new opportunities.


Here are this week's colours:

Another challenge blog that I love is Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  Again, I don't always enter but I've always got one eye on their sketch for the week.  Here is this week's sketch:

I love the colour combination and this sketch is just so versatile!  It's been a while since I used my scallop-edge punch so I was glad to get it out again for this card.

Pretty, eh?  We have a lot of birthdays in May and June in my family so I'm stocking up on my stash of birthday cards to send out.  

I'm sad to see the "Simply Sketched" hostess set go and I'm pretty sure that it'll be one of those sets that I hold on to even after it's retired.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

Stamp Sets:  Mosaic Madness, Flower Shop, Simply Sketched (Hostess set.....contact me to host your own party)

Paper and Ink:  Smoky Slate, Pool Party, So Saffron, Whisper White

Other:  Pansy Punch, Petite Petals Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack (scallop circle), 3/16" corner rounder punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, bone folder (to curl edges of the flowers), Mosaic TIEF.

Happy Stamping!

CAS Happy Birthday Lanterns

I've got another Clean and Simple (CAS) card for you tonight.  My Crushed Curry ink pad stayed on my desk today and I was able to use it again for this week's Paper Players colour challenge - Marina Mist, Crushed Curry and Smoky Slate.

I really like the "Happy Congratulations" stamp set from this year's Occasions Catalogue.  It's got a really fun vibe and makes me think of the summer patio season.....which will be here soon....right?  I love winter but I know that spring is coming....sometime....maybe : )  So I pulled it out for this super simple birthday card.

This card is based on a sketch from Sketch Frenzy Friday

There are SO many possibilities for cards from this sketch!  I was looking my collection and so many possibilities came to mind...stay tuned for more cards using this sketch.

Here's what you need to make tonight's card:

Stamps:  Happy Congratulations, Remembering Your Birthday

Ink and Paper:  Smoky Slate, Marina Mist, Crushed Curry, Whisper White

Other: White Baker's Twine, 3/4" circle punch.

Thanks for reading!  Happy Stamping!

Perfectly Purple CAS Birthday

For those of you who follow this blog regularly, tonight's colour combination will look eerily similar to yesterday's post.  That's because it is almost identical.   Yesterday I wrote about how this week's CAS - Colours and Sketches colour combination had been "speaking" to me for a number of days.  In fact, I had it a little wrong.  I wrote yesterday's blog post, published and linked it up to the CAS - Colours and Sketches challenge and another challenge AND THEN realized I had one of the colours "wrong"!  I had used Summer Starfruit instead of Crushed Curry.

Oh horrors!

Luckily, I quickly realized my error and "un-linked" from the CAS - Colours and Sketches challenge : ) I went back to my desk and put the Summer Starfruit ink pad back in it's spot in my colour caddy.  Just for the fun of it, pulled Crushed Curry down and set it beside the two purples.  Then I went to bed, because it really was late and my brain was not ready to start another project.

Today, again, the colours "spoke" to me.  So this evening I gave it another go, this time with the sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  I have to say, while I like Summer Starfruit with these two purples, Crushed Curry really does make it "pop" more.....

The twist this week...use stripes and squares.  

Fun....and totally different than yesterday!  I really like how this card could be adapted to masculine or feminine.  Firstly, one could really use any combination of colours and it would still work.  Secondly, while I used the flowers from "Banner Blast", there are also little stars and hearts in that stamp set that could be easily substituted in.

I reached way back into my big stash of DSP (I have a problem using DSP....) and found some "old" Perfect Plum DSP from a stack of "Subtles" I bought about 4 years ago and haven't used up yet.  I like how the DSP adds texture to the card without having to use a Big Shot or Texture Boutique machine.

Here are all the supplies you'll need to make this card:

Stamps:  "Banner Blast" (Sale-a-bration 2014), Remembering Your Birthday

Ink and Paper:  Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Crushed Curry

Other:  White Baker's Twine, 1/2" circle punch, Rhinestones Basic Jewels.

Thanks for reading!  Happy Stamping!

CAS Ikat

Happy Monday All!  It's March Break here in my little corner of North America and I REALLY enjoyed having my husband and son home today from school!  I always look forward to this week in the course of the school year!  It's always a much needed break in the course of a long winter.  We often go down to South Carolina for the week to warm up and have some fun at the beach but this year we're in the middle of a big renovation project so we're sticking close to home.  I've been spending most of my time cleaning up drywall dust and reorganizing my cupboards so stamping is happening in small spurts.

A few days ago I started a project using this week's CAS - Colours and Sketches colours but just couldn't figure out how to make it work.  Then, this evening, I saw the Techno Stamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge and everything fell into place.....yay!  I love when that happens : )

Aren't these FABULOUS colours?!!!  Seriously, I've had the ink pads sitting out on my desk for about 3 days....calling to me....

I stamped this Eye-Catching Ikat pattern and used my Banners Framelits to cut it out 2 or 3 days ago but, as I mentioned above, I just couldn't figure out how I wanted to use it.  Here's the sketch that helped me out tonight....

Here is the resulting card....

And look!  I used Designer Series Paper again!  Woohoo!  This is the "Sweet Sorbet" DSP from the current Sale-a-bration brochure!  Only 3 more weeks to Sale-a-brate by the way : )  I had fun using my photopolymer stamps for this card too.  They are SO great!  I especially love that they don't fall off the acrylic blocks.

Here are the rest of the details:

Stamps:  Eye-Catching Ikat photopolymer stamps, Another Thank You photopolymer stamps, Wanderlust photopolymer stamps

Paper and Ink:  Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White (White Craft Ink).

Other:  Chevron TIEF, Banners Framelits, Summer Starfruit Baker's Twine (Sale-a-bration Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack ).

Happy Stamping!

Retro Peaceful Petals

I have a problem.  I LOVE Stampin' Up's Designer Series Paper (DSP) but I just can't bring myself to use it!  I've had this problem for a while now but it's become worse since I became a Stampin' Up demonstrator in 2010!   Now I purchase it thinking, "I've just got to have this so I can share it with others"...but then I can't bring myself to cut up one of those gorgeous 12 x 12 sheets, so it sits in my office, unused!  Does anyone else have this problem?

I've had enough....this gorgeous DSP is meant to be used and shared!  So, here goes....I cut up one sheet of Retro Fresh DSP this evening (after a failed attempt....see previous post) and created a card.  Yay!

 I'm hoping this is the first step in my recovery process!  I'm determined to use up my DSP before Stampin' Up's next catalogue launches in June.  Then I'll have a really good excuse to purchase NEW DSP...I'll have to replenish my stock....lol : )

Thoughts?  Would you add more texture?  Round all the corners?  I'm interested to hear what you would change or leave the same.

Here are all the details:

Stamp Sets:  Peaceful Petals (Occasions 2014).

Ink and Card Stock:  Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Black StazOn Ink, Retro Fresh DSP.

Other:  Coastal Cabana Ruffled Ribbon, Banners Framelits, Corner Round Punch.

Happy Stamping!

Grungy Petals

I sat down this evening fully prepared to cut into some of my newest Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up...."Retro Fresh".  I'm loving the colours that are included in this particular DSP and was fully prepared to make the first cut tonight....I couldn't do it!  More about that problem in a future post : )

Instead, this is what came out of my stamping session this evening.  The colour combination is based on the colours used in the Retro Fresh suite - Tangerine Tango, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight and Baked Brown Sugar.

I took inspiration from this week's CAS - Colours and Sketches Challenge blog.

Now, I know I've taken some liberties both with the sketch and the definition of "Clean and Simple" for this card.  While there are many elements to this card it did come together quite quickly.  That was, in part, because of the "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp set.....I'll admit it, I'm addicted!  I just can't seem to make a card without it : )  The flowers are from Stampin' Up's "Petite Petals" set with matching punch....so simple!

The sentiment comes from the "Yippee Skippee" stamp set.

Here is a complete list of supplies used:

Stamp Sets:  Gorgeous Grunge, Petite Petals (Occasions 2014), Another Thank You (Photopolymer).

Ink and Card Stock:  Tangerine Tango, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Baked Brown Sugar and Very Vanilla.

Punches and Framelits:  Petite Petals Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Banners Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits

Other:  Pearls Basic Jewels.

Happy Stamping!

Happy Watercolour for JAI #204

I love trying out new colour combinations and one is sure to find a unique one while surfing around in the blogging world.  This week was no different.  Just Add Ink has a really unique and fun colour combination for this week's challenge:



You've got to try it to love it.  There are a lot of different ways to interpret this and I encourage you to head over to the Just Add Ink blog to see what the design team and other entrants have come up with.  I decided to ink up one of the new stamp sets from Stampin' Up's 2-14 Occasions catalogue, "Happy Watercolour" for this card.

I love the look that comes out from the "smudgy" stamp.  It looks so much like one has taken a watercolour brush and done a test of colour on the page.  I stamped these "smudges" in Pistachio Pudding and Crumb Cake.  I stamped the dots and sentiment in gold (although it's hard to see here).

I tried one card with gold foil card stock as the vertical strip but personally prefer the burlap.  You can decide for yourself though : )

In any case, it's a really fun colour combination to use and I'm certainly going to tuck it away for further use.

Here is a list of the supplies I used:

Stamp Sets:  Happy Watercolour (Occasions 2014)

Ink and Card stock:  Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Gold

Other:  Burlap ribbon, linen thread, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF.

Happy Stamping!

Petal Parade

I'll admit that I really didn't like the "Petal Parade" stamp set when I first saw it.  It certainly wasn't on my "must-have" list of Sale-a-bration items that's for sure.  But I decided to give it a chance.  The blogging world and those lovely people who pin their ideas on Pinterest have certainly inspired me so I inked "Petal Parade" for the first this week for 2 challenges:

Colour Q


and Try Stampin' on Tuesday!



I certainly am "dreaming of spring" like so many people and the fun flowers are helping feel a little warmer!

What do you think?

I'm loving the vibrant colour combo and the hint of spring in this card.  I can't wait to do some more stamping with this set!  This is a really easy set to do some masking with because the images are smaller and manageable to cut out.

Stamp Sets:  Petal Parade (Sale-a-bration), Banner Greetings (Hostess)

Card Stock and Ink:  Summer Starfruit, Coastal Cabana, Basic Black, Crumb Cake and Whisper White.

Other:  Lattice TIEF,  Decorative Dots TIEF (Sale-a-bration), Crumb Cake Seam-Binding Ribbon.

Happy Stamping!

Eye-catching Ikat #3

This is my 3rd post in a series featuring Stampin' Up's "Eye-catching Ikat" photopolymer stamp set.  It is so fun to work with and versatile too!  Because it is a photopolymer stamp set it is completely see through and therefore, one doesn't need a stamp-a-ma-jig to line things up.  Click here to see another great example of how to create a continuous line with these stamps.

And finally, here is my #3 REASON TO LOVE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMPS:

They are very affordable!!  Woohoo! 

Just like you, I have to purchase all of my supplies....now granted, because I'm a demonstrator I get a 20% discount (you can to, just email me for more info)....but I still like to get a good price on things!  Stampin' Up's photopolymer sets are all $16.95!!!  Isn't that great!  Click here to see a complete listing of their photopolymer stamps and then email me with your wishlist : )

Click here to see my #2 reason : )

Happy Stamping!

Eye-catching Ikat

This the second in a series of posts highlighting the "Eye-catching Ikat" photopolymer stamp set and the top 3 reasons I LOVE Stampin' Up's new photopolymer stamp sets.  I had a lot of fun playing around with the colours from this week's Dynamic Duos challenge:

Here's what I finally settled on:

I love how I can create a pattern that makes it look as though I've used Island Indigo paper when I've really only stamped in two colours on Whisper White card stock.  To create the 2-tone blue, I stamped one row in "full" ink and then stamped off once before stamping the second row.

I think it looks like fabric (which is the idea of Ikat I suppose) and decided to have the sentiment look like a tag on a gift.  I can create simple, quick tags using my Chalk Talk Framelits.


Here is Reason #2:

Stampin' Up's Photopolymer stamps 

stick to the acrylic blocks. 

I mean REALLY stick!  No falling off after they've been inked up or while you're cleaning them!  It's fantastic!!!!

Click here to see Reason #1.

Happy Stamping!

Birthday Sale-a-bration!

Woohoo!  3 great things to celebrate in my world.;

1.  It's getting a little warmer...only -19 C with windchill today!  So much better than -35C!!!!

2.  The framing started in our new addition today!  Now we can see the new space we'll have, including an 8 foot coat closet!  So much better than my 2 foot one now : )

3.  SALE-A-BRATION started this week!  WOOHOO!  FREE STUFF!!!!!

Stampin' Up! has done a great job with their Sale-a-bration items this year!  I LOVE them all!  And I also really like how they've made it really easy to coordinate items.  Take the "Birthday Bash Bundle" (on p. 5 of the Sale-a-bration brochure) for example.  The bundle includes the following:  the 2013-2015 In-Colour Markers, Whisper White card stock, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Whisper White envelopes and the Remembering your Birthday stamp set.  Everything you need to make some great birthday cards...all for $69.55 (Clear Mount or $77.55 Wood Mount).  Because you've spent over $60 that means you can choose the Banner Blast Sale-a-bration stamp set for FREE : )   Click on the "Sale-a-bration" icon in the right side-bar to view the entire catalogue!

Check out this example of what you could make with that bundle:

Birthday Sale-a-bration

I totally CASE'd this from the Sale-a-bration catalogue!  It was super simple to make and looks great don't you think?!

Contact me today to order your "Birthday Bash Bundle" and to learn more about how you can earn more FREE product during Sale-a-bration.

Happy Stamping!

Black Tie Language of Love

My, my!  I've spent more time in my stamping space in the last 3 days than I have in a while.  Partly because I'm getting ready for my Sale-a-bration Kick-Off party on Tuesday and some upcoming parties and partly because I've got so many fun new stamps that I want to use!

For this card I took inspiration from Freshly Made Sketches  and  Dynamic Duos,

FMS Sketch 120

Dynamic Duos #87

I love the "pop" created by the Melon Mambo.  I think if I was going to re-do anything on this card I'd texture to the black banner but otherwise I'm happy with how it came together.

Here's what you'll need to create this card:

Stamps:  Language of Love (Occasions 2014 catalogue)

Ink and Card Stock:  Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer paper

Big Shot and Punches:  Perfect Polka Dots TIEF, Banners Framelits (Occasions 2014 catalogue), Hearts Framelits, Small Heart punch

Happy Stamping!

A Perfect Blend for ColourQ 225

If you're ever stuck for a colour combination for your cards I would highly suggest going over to the Colour Q challenge blog.   I love their tag line:  "Your weekly cue to challenge yourself...."!  This week's colour combination was certainly challenging:

Interesting choice isn't it?  Certainly not colours I would put together normally (or even use for that matter) but I was up for a challenge this week so I gave it a go.  

I wanted to do something other than flowers because that seemed like an obvious choice, so I pulled out the next obvious choice...."Gorgeous Grunge".  Originally I had a strip of Calypso Coral washi tape but it was too bold for the look I was after so I flipped my card stock over and started again.

I've been itching to use my "Perfect Blend" stamp set so I took this opportunity to ink it up.  Fun, eh?

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

Stamp Sets:  Gorgeous Grunge, Perfect Blend

Ink and Card Stock:  Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip,  Cherry Cobbler, Calypso Coral

Other:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips.

Happy Stamping!

Thinking of Spring for JAI

It's a bit of a wild day in my neck of the woods.  Most of the roads are closed and we got quite a bit of snow last night.  It's a bit warmer today though (only -14C with wind chill) so we could actually get outside today to play....yay!  I LOVE winter but it is fun at this time of year to pull out my flowery stamps and butterflies : )

I recently came across a great challenge blog called Just Add Ink and really liked this week's sketch.  The possibilities for creativity are endless and I just had to try my hand at it.

Just Add Ink Challenge 199

For my colour inspiration I turned to a Sale-a-bration freebie that I got last week...the Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack come with 3 colours of twine and adhesive-backed cork embellishments.  Don't forget, Sale-a-bration starts Tuesday!  

A Sale-a-bration FREEBIE!

After playing around with a few different ideas of circles and scallops I changed tack and decided to do a "springy" theme of flowers and butterflies.  Pretty, eh?  There are tons of spring birthdays in my family so I'm getting a head start on my cards : )

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

Stamps:  Mixed Bunch, Petite Petals, Papillon Potpourri, Bring on the Cake

Ink and Card Stock:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White

Punches: Blossom Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Petite Petals Punch (Occasions 2014 Catalogue), Elegant Butterfly Punch

Other:  Sweet Sorbet Accessories (SAB 2014),  Fancy Fan TIEF,  Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Happy Stamping!

Simple Petite Petals

I LOVE Friday mornings!  It is my one chance in the week to have the house all to myself!  Once the my son is safely off at JK I hurry my daughter over to her preschool program and then I'm FREE for 1 1/2 hours!

So this morning after having a HOT cup of coffee I decided to neglect all of my housework and come down and play a little.  I saw a card on Pinterest last night that inspired this Clean and Simple (CAS) card.

Isn't it pretty?!  I went a little out of my comfort zone with the colours and pulled out two Regals; Elegant Egglplant and Rose Red.  I love how using my Simply Scored tool I can create a quick and simple frame around the image.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

Stamps:  Petite Petals (Occasions 2014 catalogue), Teeny Tiny Wishes, Fabulous Florets

Ink and Paper:  Elegant Egglplant, Rose Red, Soft Sky, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Other:  Simply Scored tool, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Happy Stamping!

One Layer Valentine for PP179

Wow!  This was a difficult card to come up.  I didn't realize how much I rely on layers to create interest in my cards until I tried this week's Paper Players Challenge:  One Layer Valentine.  It was all I could not to punch something out or add ribbon!!!  It took me 3 tries to settle on something I really like and here's the result:

I did a lot of "masking" to create this look.  I stamped the Real Red heart first then placed a cut-out of the same heart over it and sponged the Coastal Cabana heart.  Finally, I covered the Coastal Cabana heart and stamped the "Gorgeous Grunge" lines in Smoky Slate.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out and the simplicity of the card.  Take a closer look:

Here are the supplies you'll need to make this card:

Stamp Sets:  Language of Love (Occasions 2014 catalogue), Gorgeous Grunge, Express Yourself (hostess set).

Ink:  Real Red, Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate

Misc:  Stampin' Pierce Mat, Paper Piercing tool, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, "masks" -- mine were from various cut-outs using the Hearts Framelits dies.

Happy Stamping!

New Year, New Stamps!

Happy (belated) New Year everyone!  Now that the craziness (and illness) of the holiday season is over and my desk is clean again it's time to break out the new stamps.  YAY!!!!!!   Before Christmas I ordered a whole bunch of new stamps from Stampin' Up's annual catalogue and the new "Occasions Catalogue".  There's nothing quite like putting 10+ stamp sets together at one time!

I had a moment of quiet this afternoon during which I was able to sit down and focus for a bit on stamping.   I feel a little bit adrift without an anchor at this time of year in terms of crafting.  I find making Christmas cards so all-consuming that when faced with a blank slate I'm really at a loss.  To get my brain back into crafting mode I took a look through the most recent issue of "Stampin' Success" (our demonstrator magazine) and found inspiration with the "Happy Congratulations" stamp set.  It is a new set out of the Occasions Catalogue and is super simple to use to make a pretty little card.

Simple stamp with a black ink.  I used Basic Black and then used the lower setting on my embossing tool to dry the ink.  Then I stamped the individual lanterns using Bermuda Bay, Crisp Cantaloupe and Crushed Curry inks.  I've been itching to use my Banners Framelits and wasn't disappointed (yes, perfect banners in one easy step!).

Finally, here's a shot of my stamping space....any bets on how long it will stay like this?  Those that really know me know it won't be long....lol : )

Happy Stamping!

Endless Wishes Flurries

I had a great workshop last night with a friend and a few of her friends.  Two of the guests were brand new to stamping so I wanted to share a technique and stamp set that are versatile and easy to use.  If you follow me regularly you'll know that my favourite technique right now is the "magical masking tape" technique that creates a really cool feature on the page.  I am also really enjoying  my "Endless Wishes" photopolymer stamp set (item number 133455).  The photopolymer stamps are so easy and fun to use.  They stick REALLY well to my clear block, are totally clear and therefore make stamping an image super easy!  The stamped image is also very clear and consistent with Stampin' Up's high quality stamps.

Here's what we did:

The ladies had lots of fun playing around with the stamps and the sentiments.  The possibilities for sentiments in "Endless Wishes" really are "endless".  I love how one can mix and match the sentiments to say so many different things!

Here's all you need to make this card:

Paper:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse card stock.  Optional Silver Sparkle paper is fun!

Ink:  Soft Sky, Midnight Muse

Stamps:  Endless Wishes Photopolymer set (item #133455)

Other:  Boho Blossoms punch, 3/4" circle punch, Rhinestone Basic jewels, painters tape, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Happy Stamping!