Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - January 2023

This month's Key to My Heart Paper Pumpkin kit was so much fun to play with. While the kits include everything you need to make a set amount of projects, I always enjoy coming up with other ideas using the elements in the kit.

The kit included a Fresh Freesia ink spot, exclusive photopolymer stamp set, instructions, adhesive, and all the pieces needed for these original designs.

You can also purchase 10 heart boxes as an add-on to use with this kit. They come with additional keys and labels.  The dots on this box were from my stash of embellishments.

As for alternatives, here is what I am up with.  The additional supplies I used can be found at the bottom.    

Here are the additional supplies used on some of these cards: 

• Stamp Sets:  SAB Set, Good Things Come in Small Packages set
• Cardstock: Mango Melody, Fresh Freesia, White, Basic Black, Calypso Coral, & Petal Pink
• Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools: Big Shot, Stylish Shapes Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Black Sharpie, Exacto Knife, Dimensionals, Adhesive

Subscribers receive step by step instructions for all my alternatives and tips for maximizing the kit, as well as a free virtual class going through how to make them!

Visit here to learn more about becoming a subscriber.

Visit here to find out more about the February 2023 kit!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - December 2022

We had a lot of gnomes and glitter and jingle bells this holiday season so I'm really happy to share with you several ideas for the December 2022 Paper Pumpkin kit - Good Things Come in Small Packages.  This kit included supplies for 20 occasion boxes, a Garden Green ink spot, an exclusive photopolymer stamp set, adhesive, and instructions.  Here are what some of my box variations looked like!

There was an Add-On available for 20 cards for $10 so I jumped on that while supplies lasted.  The cards below were made by cutting up one box in each color (4 total) and one wrap in each color (4 total).  They are double-sided creating a lot of options!

I did add some of my own tools and inks to these projects.  If I did, I've noted that below.

For this sample, I used Memento Black ink instead of the included Garden Green and a retired circle punch (that should have been a stylish circle but I realized that too late....)

For this sample, I used Gray Granite instead of the included Garden Green.  The heart is done by stamping the image on white, cutting it out and turning it over.

For this sample, I used Memento Black ink instead of the included Garden Green.

For this sample, I used Tahitian Tide ink instead of the included Garden Green.

For this sample, I used all the tabs I cut off the boxes to make the pattern!  

For this sample, I stamped off the Garden Green to get a lighter shade.  I also punched out some flowers from the green flower sheet to use on the inside.  

For this sample, I masked the label on the pink insert with the die cut pieces and used the Blending Brush to fill in that area with Garden Green ink.  

Subscribers with me received a tip and trick sheet with step by step instructions for these cards and a virtual workshop on the 4th Monday of the month to show them how to make them and demonstrate different techniques.  If you are interested in learning more about Paper Pumpkin, visit my information page.  If you are sold and ready to sign up, go HERE.

Catch up on all the current promotions by visiting my Promotions page!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - September 2022 - Spooky Treats

This month's Paper Pumpkin is a Halloween delight.  Maybe not so spooky with smiling ghosts but still very fun to make by yourself or with you family and friends. 

The kit came with supplies to make 18 treats - six in three different designs.  The matchbook style boxes hold a lot of treats and will be great for passing out to neighbors or making with your kids.

Since not all of you are fans of the 3D projects, I wanted to show several card options as well.  These boxes can easily be cut apart to make different rectangles to use for card, scrapbook, and decor projects.  I will share my junk journal soon and many of these embellishments are for those pages.

Don't forget that you can pull out old stamp sets and embellishments left over from past Paper Pumpkin kits to celebrate the season.  These little folded mini-books are perfect as cards or to add photos and journaling to a scrapbook page.

Subscribers with me get a PDF with instructions for all these projects and the opportunity to join me for a virtual workshop on the 4th Monday of the month to see tips and tricks for these projects.  During those workshops, I tend to show even more projects than are in the PDF!

You have until the 10th of the month to sign up for kits. The October kit is our holiday card kit, called Ho Ho Ho.  It will include supplies and envelopes to make 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs.  You can sign up HERE to subscribe for that kit. My alternatives workshop will be Monday, October 24th, at 7pm MST.

October 1st is World Card Making Day!  If you haven't already, please register for the free event Stampin' Up is offering from 2-5pm MST.  You will get an email with a link to login for Saturday and all the dimensions if you want to make their projects. There is going to be a big announcement to those who "attend" and you don't want to miss it!!! (Even if you can't participate tomorrow, register so you can take advantage of the recording and all special offers.)  Sign up HERE.

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

More Sweet Sunflower Alternatives

Today's goal was to clean off the workspace and go back to our July kit and make some alternatives but I couldn't let all these cool pieces go to waste.  These cards were all created using images from the August 2022 Paper Pumpkin kit - Sweet Sunflowers and a few additional products from my craft room.

While I usually keep these types of projects for my subscribers, I am going to include the instructions here so you can have fun playing with your own scraps at home too.

Notecard #1:

• Cut out a White square using the Stylish Shapes dies.
• Attach the Poppy Parade flower to it using adhesive.
• Add to a White notecard using dimensionals.
• Stamp the sentiment in Poppy Parade and stamp below it – careful to be far enough down the block doesn’t hit the popped-up square.
• Add a bee with a glue dot.

Notecard #2:

• Stamp a sunflower and two leaves in Memento Black on a scrap piece of White cardstock.
• Color using the Blends of choice – I used Mossy Meadow, So Saffron, and Soft Suede.
• Cut out using your scissors leaving a slight white border.
• Stamp two twigs in Soft Suede on the lower left as shown.
• Add the leaves using adhesive.
• Add the flower using dimensionals.
• Stamp your sentiment in Soft Suede.

Notecard #3:

• Stamp a sunflower on a White scrap and cut out.
• Stamp two sunflowers in Crushed Curry on the front of a Notecard.  
• Stamp center on all 3 flowers using Soft Suede.
• Lay template from sunflower dies over the stamped sunflowers and color using a blending brush.
• Color the sunflower you cut out as well.
• Stamp twigs and leaves in Soft Suede. 
• Color the leaves with a green marker if desired.
• Using your honeycomb, lay it over the notecard and brush in Crushed Curry ink around the card.  You can also use Soft Suede or a combo of both.
• Add your flower with dimensionals
• Stamp your sentiment on the card & bees in Soft Suede

Shaker Card:

• Add all the bees you’d like in a pile on the 8 ½ x 5 ½ Soft Suede card base.
• Add a window sheet to the honeycomb – about 4 x 5 ¼ - using glue dots or glue strips.
• Add thin strips of dimensionals to the four edges.
• Attach to the Soft Suede card base.
• Ink up the sunflower with Crushed Curry and then wet using the water pen.  Add a little brown to your water if you want to have the vintage look of my sample.
• Stamp on a 3 x 3 piece of watercolor paper.
• Ink up the center with Soft Suede and then wet using the water pen.
• Stamp in the center of the flower.
• Ink up friend from the stamp and add to the bottom corner.
• Add some light watercoloring around the flower if desired – mine is watered down Soft Suede.
• Add the label from the kit in the upper left.
• Add to the front of the card using tear and tape adhesive.
• Add a loose bee somewhere to the card on the outside with a glue dot.

I hope you enjoyed these alternative ideas and that you are inspired to play with your kits every month.

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Paper Pumpkin Envelope and Card Bag

Below are step by step instructions for how to make a bag out of a card and envelope.  While I still like buying bags and decorating them with hanging tags, I do appreciate that this is a way to leverage those beautiful watercolor envelopes that I can't bear to mail from the August 2022 Sweet Sunflowers Paper Pumpkin kit.

I only had the green card left so I used it but you could use normal cardstock with the beautiful water-colored envelope as well if you didn't get this kit or are out of pieces.  I chose to clip mine at the end with a binder clip instead of adding a handle – I just didn’t think the bottom was sturdy enough for something that needed handles but you could include a ribbon handle with the aid of brads or staples.  

The bags dimensions are 4 ¼ x 5 ½ x 1 ½ and would work best for a set of notecards and envelopes or a light-weight gift.

First, the cuts.....

Card Cuts:

• Cut in half at the score line so you have two 5 ½ x 4 ¼ pieces.

Envelope Cuts:

• Line up the envelope so the bottom is at 4” and cut.  
• Turn the envelope 90 degrees so the opening is at the top.
• Cut 1/8 inch off the side, turn 180 degrees, and cut another 1/8 off the other side – now it’s 5 1/2”.
• Open the card up and cut at the score line.
• Cut the largest piece in half to make two 5 ½ x 2 pieces (these are the sides)
• Score the sides each at ¼”, 1”, and 1 ¾”.  
• With the pattern facing up, fold the pieces in half at the 1” mark and then fold back the ¼ lines and set aside.
• Align the bottom of the other envelope piece on the 3” mark and cut off the rounded area (this is the bottom)
• Score the 3” side at ¾, 1 ½, and 2 ¼.
• Score the 5 1/2” side at 5/8 & 4 7/8.
• Cut off the four corners. 
• With the white facing up, fold in half.  Open up and then fold the four sides in at the other score lines.

Now the assembly:

• Put adhesive on the left and right sides of the back of the first cut card.  
• Use either Tear and Tape, glue strips, or tombo adhesive. 
• Attach the sides to the card front at that ¼ score line – make sure the patterns are going the right way on the card front and sides!
• For the bottom, add Tear and Tape to the four printed sides of the envelope paper.
• Peel the first piece and adhere to the inside of the box from edge to edge.
• Next peel the two short sides of the bottom and attach to the sides.
• Peel the tape from the last flap and attach the card front to the bottom.
• Add adhesive to the remaining ¼ tabs and attach to the card front.  
• Embellish the front of your bag.

Notes:

You can add ribbon – just do it before you embellish the front.  You can attach it with staples or brads and cover it with your embellishments.

Here are a few visuals to help if needed.....

At this point, you are probably thinking a video would have been easier and you would have been correct.  But those are skills to work on for another day.

Come back tomorrow to see what I was working on before bag-a-palooza.

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy