Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - September 2024

While the Autumn Abundance Paper Pumpkin kit has been a lot of fun, there hasn't been an "abundance" of time to play with it.  I finally found myself back and home and inspired by the changing trees around me and knocked out some great alternatives.

To find out more about Paper Pumpkin, visit HERE.

This kit came with supplies to make 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs.  I love the originals.  A little busy but useful and the envelopes were really beautiful as well.  The kit came with the supplies to make 9 of these cards plus the instructions, envelopes, Cajun Craze ink spot, and exclusive photopolymer stamp set.

Below are the first set of alternatives that I created.  I put these step by step instructions together for my customers as a thank you.  The first three use one of the envelopes on each of the cards and were mounted on an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of Very Vanilla. 

Tip: Uses the small envelope & a black marker to create some definition.

Tip: Combine with the Add On Dies.

Tip: Keep it simple when you design and leverage supplies you have already and love - that makes designing easier.  

Tip: Cut up the card fronts to size onto new cards - two cards for the price of one!  The upper background is a wash using the ink spot provided in the kit and a little Wild Wheat because it wasn't properly cleaned off my waterbrush from my last project.

While there was a pdf for these cards for subscribers, these next cards just sort of happened this time around.  

Tip: Cut the wood card in half at the score line - then cut in half again.  Score at 1/2" on the right side and attach to the square of Cajun Craze in the kit using the Tear & Tape.  Then stamp the wood and add a sentiment.  Layer the pieces on the front with adhesive.

This is another version of my card above.  This time I used the tag from the Merry Tags & More Add On Dies (only available to subscribers and while supplies last) and cut off the tag top.  Then I layered my snail and leaf again and stamped the sentiment.  I layered it on a Stylish Shapes square die of Wild Wheat and then put it on a bigger square of Copper Clay.  This is layered on a cut off card front (with the circle) and is mounted on a larger piece of Copper Clay.  The snail layer is added with dimensionals.

This is the square card's other piece, without the circle, cut into 1" strips.  I put a 3 1/2 x 5 piece of Cajun Craze in the center of a Very Vanilla card and then layered the strips on.  I stamped the sentiment on a 1 x 4 piece of Very Vanilla and added it with adhesive too.

This one is a leaf card cut in half.  Cut one side down to 5 1/4 x 4 and add to a standard Very Vanilla card. Add a stamped 4 x 1 piece of Very Vanilla to the middle.  Add a copper leaf with dimensionals and a Very Vanilla bow using the Essentials Baker Twine.

This is the other half of that card.  This time I used a base of Misty Midnight.  I cut the card down to 5 1/4 x 4.  Then I cut 1" off the top of the card front and the next piece at 3" (which leaves a 1 1/2 piece for the bottom.)  I turned over the 1" piece so the leaf is on the left and stamped the sentiment from the Online Exclusive set - Sweetly Scripted.   Then I mounted all three pieces on a 5 1/4 x 4 piece of scrap with adhesive and added the ribbon. It's mounted with Tear & Tape due to the ribbon.   

This card isn't my favorite but it used up scraps I had on the table.  Remember you can stamp leaves anywhere and you can turn over dies to use the white size if you'd like!

This one uses the leaf die from the "Every Celebration" Add-On dies and is shaded with ink and a blending brush.  I cut a large Stylish Shapes circle to help guide the placement.  The background is embossed using the birch 3D embossing folder.

This uses the other half of the wood card from up top.  I cut the tag and trimmed the top. Then I layered some of the leaves using adhesive and dimensionals and then stamped a banner saying for the sentiment using the Stylish Shapes dies again.  It also uses the 3D birch folder.

Finally, I needed a few more Get Well cards so I simply cut another leaf card in half.  Then I trimmed the pieces to 5 1/2 x 4.  I cut off the top 3/4 of each panel and stamped with the sentiment.  Then I added the leaf piece to a Very Vanilla card with adhesive and added the sentiment with dimensionals.  That way I can add more leaves or images if I'd like later.

I hope something here is inspiring and that you'll consider signing up for Paper Pumpkin so you can make great projects and fun alternatives along with me.

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - July and August 2024

You know how sometimes life gets away from you?  I feel like this summer was spent trying to find relief from the heat and smoke.  That should have meant easy justification to hang out in the craft cave but summer also brings kiddos that you don't want on too many devices for too long.  In the end, the kids won and we had a great summer but not much creative time.

While we still have fires, including one just in front of our neighborhood today, the kids are back in school and I'm slowly adjusting back to the idea of spending my time with myself and with things I enjoy.  As I watched the smoke plumes from my craft cave window, I finally took pictures and typed up instructions for the last few months of Paper Pumpkin. 

Paper Pumpkin is a subscription service that you can learn about HERE.  The July kit came with supplies to make 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs, featuring Painted Petals.  

The August kit was named Time for Cake, even though it focused around candles and balloons.  It also came with supplies to make 9 cards, with 3 each of 3 designs.

Subscribers with me usually get tips and trick sheets and step by step instructions for all the alternative projects I make with the kit.  The alternatives are designed to help you use additional supplies from your stash and also give you options for cards that might be easier/harder than the cards in the kit.  Below are my alternatives for the July kit - Painted Petals and the August kit - Time for Cake.  I hope you enjoy and are inspired by something!

JULY ALTERNATIVES

AUGUST ALTERNATIVES

I am currently planning my holiday class featuring products in our newly released September - December catalog. I hope to share those projects with you, but hope something here is inspiring in the meantime.

Have a good night, be safe, and make time for who matters (which includes yourself!)

Stacy

Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - March 2024

Today is the last day to sign up for the April Paper Pumpkin kit, Delicate Wings.  I'm looking forward to getting my butterfly kit so I can make some easy gratitude cards for teachers in May and a few graduation cards for seniors we know.  Paper Pumpkin kits are so versatile and with the help of a demonstrator, you can take them to a whole new level.  You can sign up HERE to get this great kit.

Below are my ideas for the Memorable Meadows March 2024 kit.  This card kit featured supplies to make 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs.  It came with TWO stamp sets, a Garden Green ink spot, and wood embellishments.  The kits include instructions to make the projects as designed and first time subscribers also get a free clear block in their kit.  Below is the unboxing video for the projects in the March kit.

I like to take it one step further and make alternatives for my subscribers.  In addition, my subscribers get a tips and tricks tutorial with directions on how to make all the projects below. This month, all my alternatives were made by cutting up one card of each design and then pairing them with things in my craft cave like my Black Stampin' Write marker & Memento Black ink, coordinating cardstock, and Blends. The other six cards are just being stamped with a sentiment of my choice because they are gorgeous prints!  I hope you enjoy and that they inspire you!

I will also share a tip I figured out.  I don't like using wood pieces on my cards but I love the shapes of these.  I cut up the cardboard in the kit and mountain one each using dimensionals.  Then I inked them up with the ink spot and stamped them on White paper and Watercolor paper.  Then I used a Blender pen to pull the ink in from the edges.  I love the look of it and am using to make some pages for my Girl Scout junk journals too.

Thanks for taking the time to visit today and have a craftastic day!

Stacy

Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - February 2024

Easter was fun as always at our house and it was so nice to have some homemade items already prepped and ready for the kids' baskets thanks to the February Paper Pumpkin - Sweet Springtime.  Last month's kit had supplies to make 6 cards (3 each of 2 designs) plus three treat boxes.  The exclusive stamp set included some spring sentiments and the envelopes allowed for some extra pop.

Paper Pumpkin is a kit subscription offered through Stampin' Up!  The kits include all the supplies needed for a set of projects and include instructions and adhesive.  First time subscribers also get a free block.  You just provide your scissors and your time to complete it!

Subscribers with me also get a tips & tricks sheet for each kit that includes step by step instructions for all my alternative projects.  We also do a virtual workshop to show the projects and answer questions.  Below are the alternatives I created with this great kit. I did use the Love of Spring Add-on Dies, Daffodil Delight/Granny Smith Apple/Crumb Cake/Petal Pink Blends, and some Basic White/Petal Pink cardstock.  

Next month's kit is Delicate Wings and includes supplies to make 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs.  If you are interested in next month's kit, please visit my site to subscribe!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy