Simple Rainbow Cards #2

 As I was cleaning up my stamping desk and moving things around some left over DSP scraps caught my eye.  I love the combination of the colours and decided a card was in order.  Using the Rainbow of Happiness stamps with the same colours I settled in a look that I liked and makes me happy 😃 

The Pool Party, Petal Pink and Misty Moonlight work so nicely together.  This is a simple, fast card to put together!

Happy Stampin!

Simple Rainbow Cards

 I am embracing going back to basics with my stamping right now.  These two cards are so simple and use the basics of what I started with; ink, cardstock, DSP, a punch, and (of course) great stamp sets.

Both cards feature a combination of Misty Moonlight, Granny Apple Green, So Saffron and Soft Sea Foam.

4 1/4” x 5 1/2” card

Note card size

Happy Stampin’!

Last Day to Sale-a-brate

 Today is the last day to earn FREE product during “Sale-a-bration”.  2 of my most favourite products from this year’s Sale-a-bration catalogue are the “ Sunshine and Rainbows” DSP and the “Special Moments” stamp set….both are featured on this card.

I just love the colour combinations in the “Sunshine and Rainbows” DSP.  I used Magenta Madness, Bermuda Bay, Mango Melody and Misty Moonlight for the rainbow.

Happy Stampin’!

Sunshine and Rainbows 2

 Stampin’ Up! always offers fabulous product for Sale-a-bration, this year was no exception.  I especially enjoyed the “Sunshine and Rainbows” DSP.  This simple card features it along with a sentiment from the “Special Moments” stamp set.

Place your order today to avoid missing out….Sale-a-bration ends February 28.

Happy Stampin’!

Sunshine and Rainbows

 This cute, simple card uses the dies from the Rainbows and Happiness bundle. I also used some fun products from the Sale-a-bration catalogue…..only ONE a more day left to earn free Sale-a-bration product. This card features “Special Moments” stamps and the “Sunshine and Rainbows” DSP from the Sale-a-bration catalogue.

Happy Stampin’!

Plentiful Plants

 I have been having so much fun creating with my new Plentiful Plants stamps and coordinating dies, Perfect Plants.  They came as a bundle (click here to see the product and savings) as part of the Bloom Where You’re Planted suite along with some gorgeous DSP.

I tried some different colour combinations with these first ones using Garden Green and Cinnamon Cider…perfect for a cold winter day!

 In this last card I used Gray Granite and Evening Evergreen along with the Macrame embossing folder

Please visit my online store  to learn more about these and other great ideas from Stampin’ Up!

Happy Stampin!

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’!

Simple Stamping - Forever Fern

 I cannot tell you how many times I have sat staring at my crafting supplies not knowing what to do, then eventually giving up.  Last night I vowed to complete something and settled on something very simple.

All you’ll need to make this card is the “Forever Fern” stamp set, Whisper White cardstock, 4 colours and adhesive. Simple!

Add some dimensional for more depth.

Head over to LauraGardiner.stampinup.net to place your order.  $Orders over $60 currently qualify for Sale-a-gratin rewards..

Happy Stampin!

Corner Bouquet from Sale-a-bration 2021

 

We recently reorganized our office to make space for a teaching from home.  My husband and I both needed a more functional space to teach from...and a more attractive background for our students to look at!  In the process of doing this, my crafting area got a little smaller, but it also prompted me to sit down and try crafting again.  I am so glad I did!

In a time when everyone in our household has been doing school at home it has become increasingly clear to me that I have to draw a line so that I don’t work all the time.  It is always hard for educators to stop...at least for me it is.  I just can’t leave work at work at the best times let alone when my work and home life collide.

Returning to stamping has helped me to draw this line.   Returning to stamping has reminded me (again) that I need to use my brain differently from time to time so that I can be a better mom and teacher.  

Over the next few days, I hope to post photos of some of the projects I have been working on.  Maybe you’ll be inspired to rediscover a hobby or start a new one!

This project uses a great stamp set that I earned through Sale-a-bration by purchasing $60 of product.  Sale-a-bration has always been my favourite Stampin’Up! promotion.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or would like to earn this stamp set yourself.

Happy Stampin!

 

2019-2020 In-Colour #2

Today’s In-Colour is “Rococo Rose”.  I love how delicate it is while still be fairly saturated.....does that make sense?  It’s a little like the “Dusty Rose” of the ‘90’s 😀 but not in a bad way.  I paired it with Sahara Sand and Pretty Peacock for this very simple card.

I used a number of products from the “Woven Threads” suite, which you can see here.  The stamp set, “Woven Heirlooms” is so pretty.  I love the script and sentiments included in this set.  The stamps in this set are the new cling stamps.....which are SUPER clingy....no more guessing at whether or not your stamp will fall off your block mid-stamp, there is no chance of that with the cling stamps.  They are great!

  I also use the new scalloped linen ribbon....

 

This ribbon comes in all the new In-Colours and is really nice to work with.   

Happy Stampin'! 

2019-2020 In-Colour #1

Firstly....how on earth did we get so close 2020 so quickly?!  I don’t feel like we can be here yet....but we are and Stampin’ Up! has delivered some fantastic new In-Colours to celebrate.

Today’s card features “Pretty Peacock”, which is my absolute favourite of the 5 new colours, along with an old favourite, Old Olive.  I love how the two compliment each other.

The stamp set is also a new one called “Parcels and Petals”.  I’ll be honest, I ordered it by mistake in my preorder (a demonstrator perk) but ended up using it first....it’s pretty great!

It’s been a while since I have been truly excited about a new catalogue, but the 2019-2020 Annual Catalogue is pretty great!  If you haven’t seen it yet, click on the link on the sidebar to check it out.  I also have print copies, just let me know if you’d like one.

Happy Stampin!

Merry Christmas for FMS362

Hi to all those who are still out there!  Thanks for sticking with me after all this time.  I had a very hard year professionally last year and my stampin' really fell off, but as part of my commitment to my own self-care I have begun stampin' again with the help of some dear friends.  A big thanks to them (you know who you are!) for crafting with me this week and inspiring me.

I also spent some time today looking through blogs...which I haven't done in a while either.  The sketch at Freshly Made Sketches really caught my eye and was my incentive to get some marking done (report cards are due this week....ugh)!

Here's what I came up with:

Here is the sketch that I worked from:



I have been playing around with the Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF from the 2018-2019 Holiday catalogue and LOVING it!  While it's hard to see here, I embossed a piece of Crumb Cake card stock and then sponged Craft White ink and Frost White Shimmer paint (also back in this year's Holiday catalogue!!!) onto it.

It really does create that vintage tile look.  I paired it with the Merry Merlot and Tranquil Tide colours which really pop against the crumb cake background (at least they do in person....I'll need to work on my photography).   I'm hoping to play around with more throughout the week and will continue sharing with you.

Here is a list of some of the supplies I used:

Crumb Cake card stock

Merry Merlot card stock

Tranquil Tide card stock

Whisper White card stock

Merry Merlot and Tranquil Tide Stampin' Write markers

White Craft ink

Snowflake Sentiments clear-mount stamps

Merry Merlot 5/8" copper ribbon

Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF

Pretty Pines Thinlet Dies

Happy Stampin'!

Sale-a-bration 2018

Happy New Year!  As 2018 begins, so does Stampin' Up's annual "Sale-a-bration" extravaganza.  One of my favourite freebies is the "Party Pandas" stamp set.  Check out these cute cards that the designers at Stampin' Up! created:

Aren't they so cute....I can't wait for my own set to arrive next week!

Contact me to learn more about you too can get this stamp set for free!

Happy Stampin'!

Thanks Grandma!

So here I am again apologizing for my absence from the blogging world.   And yet again I'll say something about "trying to do better"....especially for those of you, my faithful friends, who have expressed that you miss stamping with me and seeing what I'm up to.   I will do my best.

I have been absent because, honestly, I haven't been stamping!   The winter and spring were crazy busy...my husband, who is head of Music at his school, was helping to run a musical....my kids were busy....I was busy....

Excuses.  I know!

In any case, after months away from stamping I started again this week.  A lot of the stuff I've made, I've already passed along to others before taking a picture.  But I captured today's card before it gets put in the mail.

My daughter and I just spent a lovely day with my mother-in-law while the boys were away doing their thing.  A neighbour of ours was selling a little pink bike and, very generously, "grandma" bought the bike for L.  She LOVES it and spent the afternoon going up and down in front of the house.

Almost immediately, an idea began to form in my mind for a thank you card.  I remembered that "Sheltering Trees" has a bicycle stamp in it and the tree itself works so well because the leaves are gorgeous here right now.

Here's what came of the idea:

Cute, eh!

I hope (but won't promise) that I'll be back again soon!

Keep stamping!!!!

Party Wishes for a Friend

My son is going to his best friend's 7th birthday party in a matter of minutes.  With the gift wrapped all that was needed was a card to go with it.

And because it's me....it has to be handmade....

My son is always incredibly excited when I let him use "my stuff".  Probably because I'm so strict about them not touching it.  EVER.

They have their own stamping bin....but this is a special friend....so I pulled out my BRAND NEW "Party Wishes" set.

SO. MUCH. FUN.

Party Wishes for a Friend

My son stamping candles

The glue isn't quite dry here....but I wanted to show you the fun little candles that he punched out and the cool balloon Washi Tape!

I love this suite of products and I can't wait to feature them at my Birthday Card Stamp Camp (see "Upcoming Events" for more details).  It is such a versatile suite and easy to use.....clearly....my son is only 6!

Happy Stampin'!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Hello to Sale-a-bration

Hello!  Welcome to Sale-a-bration 2016!

Sale-a-bration is, hand's down, my FAVOURITE Stampin' Up! promotion!  Before I was a demonstrator I used to save up my purchases until this time so I could get more for my money....who am I kidding....I still do!   Some of my favourite Stampin' Up! stamp sets are Sale-a-bration sets!

Here's one of the best of this year's Sale-a-bration sets...."Hello":

There are so many possibilities!   Here is one design that I used for 2 different cards:

Hello Birthday Day Girl!

Hello My Friend!

 I heat-embossed the "Hello" image using White Emboss Powder and then, using my AquaPainters, watercoloured over top of it.  Then I used paper from the "It's My Party" DSP package (which is HUGE by the way....48 sheets!) for the background.   There is a good mix of really "Birthday-ish" themes and more neutral ones.

Using the "flip" side of the DSP allowed me to make 2 cards, with different messages, really quickly!

Want in on the fun?   Here's how:

Purchase $60 in Stampin' Up! product from the Annual or Occasions Catalogue and you can earn the "Hello" stamp set FREE!   If you purchased the "It's My Party" DSP pack, the Aqua Painters, and some cardstock, you'll have $60 and will be all set to go.

But HURRY....because this set is ONLY available until February 15th!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Stampin'!

Welcome Words

Happy New Year!  I hope that all of you reading this have had a wonderful holiday season and that 2016 holds many blessings for you!

With a new year come new beginnings.  In the Stampin' Up! world that means a new Occasions Catalogue launching on January 5th.   I had the good fortune of being able to participate in Stampin' Up!'s "OnStage Local" event in November and got a look at this catalogue early.  One of the first sets to catch my eye was the "Welcome Words" set.

Here's why....I have a friend who is a travel consultant and she has been looking for a "Welcome Home" or "Welcome Back" stamp for a number of years now.   Every time a new catalogue comes out we scour it for one....and this time it was there!  Yay!

I ordered it in the demonstrator "pre-order"....another great perk of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.....and had fun playing around with it last night.

Here's the one I like the best:

I also used another new stamp set, "Timeless Textures".....SO great!

Check out my Stampin' Up! website, http://lauragardiner.stampinup.net, on January 5th to see the new catalogue and SALE-A-BRATION catalogue.

Happy Stampin'!

Twelve Days of Christmas Cards: Day Three

Tonight's post is actually not Christmas cards, but a Christmas gift (or anytime gift) idea.

I really like to give handmade cards as a gift.  I have lots of people in my life, as I'm sure you do too,  that enjoy giving handmade cards but don't make them themselves.  So, I like to provide them cards as gifts.

But actually MAKING a bunch of cards to give as a gift is sometimes a challenge for me.

Life is busy....work, kids, housework, church commitments, Stampin' Up! commitments.....

....procrastinating!

So THIS year I decided to try out some of Stampin' Up!'s kits for Christmas gifts.

I. AM. BRILLIANT!

Well, okay.....Stampin' Up! is brilliant!

I chose the "Cottage Greetings Card Kits"  to give as a gift to each of my children's teachers:

There are enough supplies in the kit for 15 cards.

FIFTEEN!!!

I normally can only get around to making 6 or so!

I made all 15 in one kit in less than an hour tonight, in front of the television!!

AND....it cost $19.95!  When you include tax and shipping, that's what I would spend on them if I was buying a gift!!!!

Awesome!!!

So instead of scrambling teacher-gifts together this year.  I'll be done before the end of November!

AWESOME!!!!!

Right now, I'm offering 15% off this kit, stamp set, and one ink pad when you place your order with me (online orders do not qualify) by December 1st.

Here's what you'll get for $40 plus tax and shipping (one kit, one stamp set, one ink pad)

One kit alone is $16.95 plus tax and shipping:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Stampin'!

Twelve Days of Christmas Cards 2015: Day 2

Today I've got another uber-simple card for you to make.  I'm currently all about simplifying and cutting down the clutter in my house and I'm finding my cards are also reflecting that for the most part.

Start with mono-chromatic layers then add a couple of "pops" of colour and "bam" you've got a card (thanks to Rich Jutkins at Stampin' Up! head office for the card-making sound effects!)

Create the snowflake with Whisper White craft ink or by embossing

See what I mean?!

This card will come together in seconds if you use the Whisper White craft ink.  Or "step-it-up" a little by embossing with White Embossing powder and adding some glitter or rhinestones.

Again, I've used one retired stamp set but you can create this card with the following products:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Stampin'!

Twelve Days of Christmas Cards 2015: Day One

For those of you looking for this on the 12th, my apologies.  I was knee-deep in exam marking, report cards and hosting out-of-town family.   I should have looked at my calendar before I made my announcement :/

I spent yesterday with my dear friend, Julia, at Stampin' Up's first OnStage event!  It was SO much fun.  I met with old friends and new friends and got to stamp with BRAND NEW product from the 2016 Occasions Catalogue!

You are going to LOVE it!

But for now, because I'm not allowed to show you anything yet, I'll be showcasing some of the work I've been doing in preparation for Christmas with new stamps, retired stamps, kits and My Paper Pumpkin in my second annual "Twelve Days of Christmas Cards" blog posts.

Be sure to check back every day or two to see what's new and to be inspired.  

I've been planning towards my latest class, a Stamp-a-Stack of 16 cards, and have been working on some simple Christmas cards to include.

Here's one that I'm really liking:

Use a small snowflake to create a wreath

Isn't it pretty?  I stamped the wreath using Pool Party, Island Indigo, and Silver ink.  To create the "fourth" colour I simply stamped again in the Island Indigo before re-inking.

Super simple!

Here's a closer look at the wreath:

Use coordinating colours or stamp a few times before re-inking to create this look.

I realize that I've used mainly retired products to create this card; the "Endless Wishes" photopolymer stamp set, the "Good Greetings" hostess stamp set and a retired TIEF that I can't remember the name of.  

Don't have any of these products?

Have no fear!

You, too, can create this card.   Consider using these products to create a similar look;

Flurry of Wishes

Holly Jolly Greetings

Woodland TIEF

You can purchase any of these products from my website at  http://lauragardiner.stampinup.net  or by clicking on any of the images.

If you'd like to attend my Stamp-a-Stack of cards on December 1st, please contact me for more information.

Happy Stampin'!