September 2018 Paper Pumpkin Samples - Frights and Delights

Sometimes we just get behind and October seems to be when I have the most classes and most obligations and I end up ignoring one of my favorite holidays - Halloween!  Today I'm sharing the ideas for the September 2018 Paper Pumpkin kit - Frights and Delights.  

Paper Pumpkin a kit you get in the mail.  It contains all the supplies you need to make great cards or 3D options.  You get a kit, instructions, stamp set, and ink for $19.95 plus tax.  When you subscribe with me for one month or multiples, you get a project idea sheet with alternative ideas.  For September's kit, we traditionally get a Halloween kit that makes great treats for neighbors, classrooms, and more.  Here are the ideas I sent to my subscribers - I hope you enjoy!

This alternative treat holder was inspired by a project from Angie Juda that utilized a paper bag and I modified it to work with our printed cello bags in this kit!

If you are interested in getting the project sheet, just sign up below to be a subscriber and you will have access to all my past sheets!

Sign up by November 10th to get this holiday kit.  Creating for the holidays has never been easier and this kit with 10 cards (5 each of 2 designs) will help you put the homemade into your holidays for only $19.95 plus tax.  New subscribers get a free clear block in their first kit as well!  That is a great deal any time of year.  The colors for this kit are Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Gold, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Whisper White.  Don't delay - the holiday kits have run out in the past so sign up today!  

Sign up here:   https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

October 2018 Paper Pumpkin Samples - Friends of a Feather

I love it when Paper Pumpkin arrives at my door.  It helps me create cute projects for the holidays or for events that I need.  And sometimes, it just gives me an excuse to play around with supplies and work on techniques.

The October 2018 Paper Pumpkin kit may not have been the fall kit I was expecting but it does have some interesting color combinations with the Grapefruit Grove, Cajun Craze, Night of Navy, Pool Party, Fresh Fig, White, and Vanilla.  The kit comes with an exclusive stamp set, Night of Navy ink spot, and all the supplies and adhesives you need to make 8 cards with instructions.  Even if you don't make the cards directly from the kit, you can use the pieces to make some pretty and unique creations.

Now subscribers with me get a project sheet with alternative ideas and tips for the kits each month.  For this kit, I thought I would share the tips with any reading this post so you can get the most out of your projects.  However, to get the step by step instructions for my projects, you need to be a subscriber with me.

A few tips I saw with this kit.

• Cut apart the white card so you can use the feather rectangle on another card and the patterned paper with your framelits to make interesting background shapes.
• Use the white side of the feathers if you don’t like the colors.  You can also ink them up with the ink spots or sponges.
• You can color the twine with the ink spot as well – just let it dry before working with it.
• Color your block with your ink spot and swirl it around – then stamp on a notecard.  It gives a “grunge” or textured backdrop to a flower.
• Cut off the scalloped end of your Crumb Cake cards – it will still make them too long for a standard envelop but works well with the feathers.
• Pull the metallic thread out of your baker’s twine if it won’t tie well for you.
• Cut up the envelopes – but beware, the Crumb Cake cards are larger than our usual cards so if you cut the Grapefruit envelopes, you won’t have an envelope for your card.
• Change out the ink for a fall color in your stash.  Crumb Cake looks great with the kit, as would the Blackberry Bliss spot from the August kit or another neutrals color.
• If you don’t have an aquapainter for your cards, you can use a paint brush or even something like a q-tip.

Additionally, I think the idea of the friends of a feather stick together would be great with bird stamps and the little lines and flourishes in the stamp set versatile as well.  If only I new where that Chick set was from Sale-a-Bration a while back.

Subscribers are getting instructions for these card projects.  By adding just a few extra supplies from my stash and past kits, I was able to play and create something I'm happy to send out.  I think the gable box that would work great for a place setting for a fall or Thanksgiving event.  I hope you enjoy them!

Thank you for looking at my samples.  If you are on the hunt for a demonstrator for the November 2018 kit, look no further.  My subscribers also have access to all my past project sheets!

Sign up by November 10th to get this holiday kit.  Creating for the holidays has never been easier and this kit with 10 cards (5 each of 2 designs) will help you put the homemade into your holidays for only $19.95 plus tax.  New subscribers get a free clear block in their first kit as well!  That is a great deal any time of year.  The colors for this kit are Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Gold, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Whisper White.  Don't delay - the holiday kits have run out in the past so sign up today!  

• Sign up here:   https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

2 Types of Ink - Dear Santa

I'm a sucker for Christmas.  While I just got out my Halloween decorations last night with the kids, I'm deep in prepping for all my Christmas in October classes and hearing Jingle Bells everywhere I go.

When it comes to the holidays, I'm not just about the crafty creations and the photography.  I also love holiday books.  Like LOVE them.  I'll read an adaptation each year of A Christmas Carol and I read holiday books non-stop to the kiddos.

When sent a link to Dear Santa by St. Martin's Press to read and provide feedback on, I was excited.  When things get stressful prepping, I love being able to turn to a good story that allows me to escape for a bit and find the magic of the season.

Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle follows the plotline of You've Got Mail only in a holiday sense.  We have Geoff, the owner of the Big Bad Christmas store called Christmas Galore, and Angela, the shopkeeper for the Heart of Christmas that is in danger of closing it's doors.  The books transpires after a Dear Santa letter is sent asking to save her shop.

The story is romantic, with all the butterflies and none of the graphic imagery, and you want them to find each other and be happy.  The author does a great job capturing the personalities of all the townspeople and describes the scenery very well.

I really enjoyed this read and it definitely helped provide some smiles when I needed a break from prepping.

In honor of this book, I'm posting one of my favorite Santa projects that I've been teaching this season.  This project uses the Santa's Workshop Memories and More cards and envelopes from the holiday catalog.  They are the best buy in my opinion (10 cards and envelopes of each size for $8.50) and they work perfect for sending 4 x 6 photos or making gift cards like I did below.

This gift card holder features the Signs of Santa stamp set and is colored with the Poppy Parade and Mango Melody Blends.  Once colored, I cut him out with the coordinating Santa's Signpost framelits and mounted him on the 3 x 4 flocked candy cane striped paper.

On the inside is a 4 1/4 x 1 piece of designer paper that is adhered on the left, right, and bottom.  You just slide in the gift card to that pocket and put it into the little envelope.  Quick, easy, and sure to delight for the holidays!

Supplies:

• Cardstock/DSP: Santa's Workshop DSP (3x4, 4 1/4 x 1), Poppy Parade (4 1/4 x 1/2) 
• Stamp Set: Signs of Santa
• Ink: Memento Black
• Big Shot: Santa's Signpost Framelits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Big Shot, Cutting Mats
• Embellishments: Santa's Workshop Memories and More card and envelope, adhesive, dimensionals, Dark and Light Poppy Parade Blends, Dark Mango Melody Blends.

Come back and visit tomorrow for another new release and some spooky Halloween creations!

Take care and have a craftastic day,

Stacy