March 2017 Paper Pumpkin

Hi Friends,

Well, I posted the March paper pumpkin video on my Facebook page and now it's time to give you a few ideas on what else you can do with this month's paper pumpkin.

This little card measures 3 x 3. It's made according to package directions. This kit will make 9 - 3 x 3 cards. It's a sweet little card, but there is more that we can do!	This little bunny is another item you can make using the March PP kit. You can fill the little bunny with candy or stuffing for decorations. This kit contains 9 little bags.

This card is standard size, 5 and a half by 4 and a quarter. I cut apart some of the patterned paper, and backed the bunny face with the matching dark blue. The design came from a sketch.

Sketches are a great way to help you decide on a layout of a card. All you do is stick the pieces in place.

This card took me a little while to decide what I could do with some of the colored pieces. The pieces were ovals meant to be the inside of the bunny ears. I took one of the pieces and cut it in half. I kept playing with it and trying different ways of putting them together.

I came up with kites! The kit came with the 3 different patterned ovals and 3 different colored twine. I added them to a piece of blue paper for the sky. The "Happy Spring" sentiment went perfectly!

It so fun when a card comes together!






The month of April is Paper Pumpkin's 4th Birthday! They have a special Paper Pumpkin specially designed by Sara, the CEO of Stampin' Up!

Sign up by the 10th of April to get this special kit. Click the paper pumpkin box on the right or contact me. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Happy Crafting!

Golden Sympathy

Hello Friends,

I had recently reorganized my cards that I had, and put them in a box by type. This was better than having them in piles on my dresser! I saw that I had more than a half a box of birthday cards, and 2 sympathy cards. So, I got busy making cards.

I needed some inspiration, so I looked through my old sets of paper pumpkin.
This card collection uses the August of 2015 paper pumpkin.

Most of these cards are CASED (Copy And Share Everything).
That means I copied someone's card that I saw either on Pinterest or on a paper pumpkin group that I belong to.











Here are a few close ups. I really enjoy taking a paper pumpkin kit and make as many cards as I can with the contents of that kit. In these cards, I added gold ribbon, Black and White cardstock and some pearls.
I still have enough supplies from the kit to be able to make at least 6 to 8 more cards, by just adding the few items I mentioned above.

The white part on this card is a part of the card next to it. They overlapped a bit. I didn't take individual pictures of all the cards.







I hope you enjoyed this little collection of sympathy cards. It's always good to have many different types of cards on hand.

We have our new Holiday catalog available now. There are great new stamp sets in there.  Check it out! The link is on the right.

If you ever need help with putting cards together, and want some help, just let me know. I would love to help you.

Celebrating Spring and April Paper Pumpkin 2016

HI Stamping Friends,

Today's post features the April Paper Pumpkin. This month came with a free stamp set to celebrate Paper Pumpkin's 3rd birthday and the mailing of their 1 millionth kit!

Here is the little wreath that you can make according to package directions.

I made one and hung it up at my work. Things just had to start looking a little more springy!

This kit, as I mentioned, came with an extra stamp set.

The stamp set on the left is the bonus stamp set. It's very cute, and of course, I can't just make cards according to package directions.










On the Paper Pumpkin Facebook page, many group members created a one sheet wonder with the bonus stamp set. I took this as a challenge.

Here is what I came up with:

How do you make a OSW (one sheet wonder)?

First you start with the flower stamp, stamping randomly. Then add the green leafy stamp. The stamp set has a little square lined stamp that I used to do the yellow center of the flowers, and then I added a little blue for an accent.

Here is the pattern to cut up the sheet that you created. You don't have to cut it in this pattern, but it will give you some place to start.

You can just cut it into rectangles like the top of the pattern.

Here are the cards I made. I used mostly extra pieces from the kit.

I didn't add much besides white card stock, and some Mossy Meadow, Daffodil, and Pool Party card stock as back grounds to mount the cut pieces on.

I also added a little ribbon on a couple of the cards.






The thing about a one sheet wonder is that they can make 9 to 12 cards, depending on how you cut them. If you make just straight cuts, you can make the cards all the same if you want. Doing it the way I did gives me a variety of cards.

Don't be afraid to experiment. You can use any type of stamp set that you like. (It doesn't have to be flowers!)

Happy Stamping!

March 16 Paper Pumpkin and a Male Birthday

Hi Stampers,

I finally got back to stamping and I'm featuring the March Paper Pumpkin with a few alternates.

First, I want to show you a male birthday card I created. This card followed a sketch from one of my favorite sites, "Stampin' Gals Gone Wild".  She has some great sketches.

Male Birthday

The Sketch

Here is my card. The car is from a set named "Guy Greetings".

The designer series paper (DSP) is a 6 x 6 stack named "Go Wild".

The little dots or gems next to the car are small rhinestones colored with a black sharpie.

This sketch is such a nice, simple, and versatile design.

Now for the March Paper Pumpkin I told you about last month. This month was the 3rd Birthday for Paper Pumpkin, and they shipped their 1 MILLIONTH Kit!!

Here is the card made according to package directions.

This kit made 4 cards, 4 envelopes, 4 gift card holders, and 4 little cards for the holders.

They are just right for birthdays, graduations, or just a thinking of you card.

Here is my first alternate card with this kit. You might have noticed that I used the same sketch above.

The patterned paper is from one of the envelopes.

When you get your kits, don't be afraid of cutting up the paper or envelopes. They usually are decorative and can be incorporated into cards.








Here is one more alternative. Can you see the difference between them?


The left one does not have the 3 little green beads on the center square. I couldn't decide which one I liked better or looked better. What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments.

Next month's paper pumpkin we get a free stamp set in the kit as a birthday present to us. I'm excited to see it.
It will be here soon.

Contact me anytime. To subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, click the link on the right.
Keep Stamping!!

February and March 16 Paper Pumpkin

Hi Stampers,

March is Paper Pumpkin's 3rd Birthday! 

And the sale of Paper Pumpkins is still on!
Buy a 3 month pre-paid subscription to paper pumpkin and get 1 Sale-a-bration item free!

Now for the February paper pumpkin. We had a craft work day at my church, and I had time to play with the February kit. I just love it. It is so versatile!

The first picture is of the cards made according to package directions. Very cute cards in my opinion.

Here are a couple of the alternatives I came up with.

The left card uses the negative space from the middle swirly gold flower above.
I added Pool Party and Calypso Coral flowers.

The right one, is using the envelope, cut apart and added to a white card base. I added just a few light flowers.

The right one is using the negative space from the left card above with some added flowers and sequins.


The left one, I added some Blackberry Bliss ribbon. The left side of the card is a portion of the card from the top right.






There are so many ways to put these cards together, you just have to let your imagination run wild.
If you make this kit as directed, you will have 9 cards with envelopes. There is always more than enough supplies in one kit to make more cards than that.

I hope you are enjoying getting the surprise every month. I sure do! I can't wait to see what they send us for the March Birthday kit.

If you would like to purchase the 3 month supply of Paper Pumpkins, go to My Stampin' Up! Store. 

Thanks for looking, and contact me if you have any questions.

December 2015 Paper Pumpkin

Happy New Year, Friends!

The title may be deceiving, but this blog post is featuring December 2015 Paper Pumpkin.
I've just had time to work on it.

It was designed to be a calendar, but I feel it lends itself so easily to making cards.

My first card is made according to package directions. I just did the February calendar because I don't have any birthday's in February. The white behind it is some white cardstock just to hold it a little more upright.

The little gold holder came with this paper pumpkin, and I love it for photographing cards.











The following cards are made with the kit supplies. All I added was white cardstock to mount the designer paper.

This background I thought would make such a nice "Thinking of you card". The flowers and colors gives me peaceful, gentle feelings.












These two cards are for up coming birthdays. My family members will know who they are for.

The sentiments are from other Stampin' Up! sets. Thanks for coming by and checking out the cards. Remember, if you ever have questions feel free to message me.

To join paper pumpkin, the link is on the right.
If you need supplies, or would like to look at the catalogs, the links are at the right or at the top.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Christmas 2015

Welcome Back! Sorry to be gone so long but Christmas preparations bogged me down, plus I needed a card making break.

I'm back now with the November 2015 Paper Pumpkin. It was such a fun kit.

I was able to make 30 cards from this kit. The items I added are:
Whisper White card stock, extra Linen thread, Old Olive ink, and the pine bough stamp.

The first two cards are the ones made closest to package directions. Both cards have not as many pearls as suggested. The Joy card has one less holly sprig.

The next card is similar to the layout of the card above, but I didn't have anymore of the mistletoe. 
So I used a pine bough from an old Stampin' Up! set called Autumn Days. I stamped it in chocolate chip and outlined the pine with an old olive marker.

The next 2 cards are loosely based on cards I saw on Pinterest. I made the holly background paper with the enclosed stamp, I used extra old olive ink (which came in a previous paper pumpkin), and I used some of the extra red pearls.

With this card, and with the above one, I cut up the envelopes and used the cherry cobbler paper as backgrounds and the red striped paper comes from the inside of the envelopes.  (I just used white envelopes for mailing.)











I hope you enjoyed seeing my Christmas cards. One of them might be coming to a mailbox close to you soon.
But which one ???

Remember, if you need any extra stamping supplies, check out the links above to take you to the Stampin' Up! website. There are many great end of year deals. If you would like to start receiving paper pumpkin, the link is on the right.

Have a wonderful Christmas season.

May Paper Pumpkin and a Tale of Two Cards

May Paper Pumpkin is here! It's such a cute set. You can make 6 cards and 4 gift bags.
Here's the card and bag I made according to the package directions.

Here are a couple of alternative cards that I made.

This card I made by cutting the front and back of the card apart. I then cut the striped section at 2 1/2 and the blue section at 3 inches.

I attached the balloon string with glue dots.

This card uses a 1 1/2 inch strip of the striped paper,and the belly band from the bag, along with a tag.












And now: A Tale of Two Cards

This card struggled to come into being. I wanted to have Calypso Coral balloons too, but it was nowhere to be found. I thought to myself, "I thought for sure I have that color." But I looked and looked, and no Calypso Coral.

So, I used the Island Indigo from this kit and Daffodil Delight from a previous paper pumpkin kit. I decided that a blue and yellow card should look ok.






Along the way, there was a smudge on the yellow balloon (conveniently covered up with the little blue heart) and a another smudge along the top left. I added a part of another blue balloon, making it look like it was there all the time. In card making, you have to improvise!

Well, the time came to photograph the card, so I had to tidy up my craft table. Low and behold, under some papers, what did I find?? Yes, it was the Calypso Coral ink !!!

It was back to the craft table, and start another card. Just like the card above, but with coral balloons.

I think it does look better with the 3rd color.













I hope you are inspired to create! Don't get too frustrated when stuff happens. It is just paper after all!

If you don't receive paper pumpkin yet, click on the link on the right, and join the fun! A special promotion until June 10. Get 2 months of paper pumpkin for the price of one!

April 15 Paper Pumpkin

The April Paper Pumpkin is here and it's soooo cute!

This kit contains enough supplies to make 8 cards. The stamps are so versatile, you could make almost any saying that you would like.


They are perfect for Mother's Day and Father's Day.









These cards are made according to package directions. It's such a cute Father's day card.
(Did I mention that I love this set?)


These cards are alternatives that I made with the supplies in the kit, and all I added was a piece of white cardstock. The left card is the blue card cut in half and adding the yellow bow.
The right card's tan background is from the pocket and decorated with the little x's. The yellow background is the yellow card cut in half.

If you cut all the colored cards in half, you could make 16 cards! All you need is some extra white cardstock for the center and to create the card.

I hope that you are enjoying your paper pumpkins. If you have any questions or help, don't hesitate to contact me.

P.S. I added new cards to the Card Gallery. Check them out!