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

Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - January 2024

 If this year of Paper Pumpkin is anything like the January kit, those of us subscribing are in for a treat.  The January 2024 kit, Lovely Lavender, included supplies to make 8 cards, 4 each of 2 designs, plus envelopes and 4 tags.  The kit coordinates with the Perennial Lavender suite in the current January - April mini catalog and combines our shades of purple and green with Crumb Cake in a beautiful way.

The samples in the kit were wonderful. When you subscribe, you get a kit that includes the project pieces and instructions, adhesive, an exclusive photopolymer stamp set, and ink spot.  In this case, the kit was aimed towards loving occasions and Valentine's Day and included a Gorgeous Grape ink spot (one of my favorites!)  

For my subscribers, I also create a tip and tricks sheet with step-by-step instructions and dimensions for all my alternatives.  I also do a virtual call on the 4th Monday of the month to walk through the projects and answer any questions.  We all agreed last night that the kit is just really beautiful and fun to play with.

Below are my individual alternatives for this great kit.  I did add some Gorgeous Grape, Basic White, Crumb Cake, and Highland Heather cardstock to my samples and used the Love of Spring Die Add-On that is still available while supplies last.  

Which is your favorite?  Mine is the easel card - it's kind of my "card design of the moment" and I'll be sharing other samples using those dimensions this week.  If you are interested in subscribing, please do!  You can find out more information about Paper Pumpkin on this page or visit here to find out more about next month's Spring kit.

REMEMBER, it's Sale-a-Bration time!  For every $50 you spend, you can pick out free product!  Check out MY PROMOTIONS PAGE for more details!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Making Time for Kits

Last week, my lovely mother-in-law had a total knee replacement.  Since that day, it has snowed off and on to a total of over a 1 1/2 feet of snow around her house.  If I was staying at my house, I'd be entertaining my kids during their snow days and probably trying to clean my stamp room.  Over here, I'm occupied with making meals and doing PT and loving on my mother-in-law as she gets her mobility back.

But crafting is what I do to refill a bucket that is impacted by the needs of others and I needed some serious bucket filling after the last four months of health and holidays.  That is why I'm grateful that Stampin' Up! makes such quality kits that can be taken with you wherever you go.  Not only did I bring a few older kits that I hadn't put together yet, but I was able to make our newest kit, Rock Legend, in between nursing tasks!

This kit does not include any inks or stamps, it's all about assembly.  The kit makes 8 cards, 4 each of 2 designs, and contains all the precut pieces, adhesive, and embellishments you need for successful duplication.  Imagine being able to make 8 cards for $14 (plus tax & s/h).  I used to spend almost $5 just on one from the store!

Sometimes I offer up alternatives for kits like I do for Paper Pumpkin, but not this time.  I am just going to enjoy the easy approach of making cards from the kit as good as I would design on my own!

If you are interested in checking out this kit or our others, please visit my store HERE.

PAPER PUMPKIN is another kit option if you'd like on trend and timely kits with ink, stamps, and paper.  Sign up HERE by the 10th of the month to receive the next kit!  

REMEMBER, it's Sale-a-Bration time!  For every $50 you spend, you can pick out free product!  Check out MY PROMOTIONS PAGE for more details!

Have a craft 

Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - December 2023

A new year means new goals for the McCain family.  I don't like resolutions as much as I like setting a word for the year.  This year my word will be "refresh" and I will use it to lead my art journaling and the types of content that I try to consume.  We also do the Goal Setting sheets from Big Life Journal as a family so we can help each other accomplish the goals we'd like to see for the year - new things to learn, habits to break, and adventures to be had.

I'm still working on what the new year means for me and my business but I did want to make sure I got my alternatives out into the world from the December 2023 kit.  I really like the Paper Pumpkin kits because they encourage creativity but also include instructions for the standard projects so if I just need to make something someone else designed, it's right at my fingertips!

The December 2023 kit was called "All the Best" and included supplies to make 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs, and a card holder if gifting the cards away.  The prints on the cards were beautiful, as was the font on the exclusive stamp set that comes with the kit.  The ink spot included was Pebbled Path, a new In Color, and it somehow pairs perfectly with the gold accents in the kit.  Even the included envelopes had the watercolor flower look.  Just a beautiful kit all around.

For my subscribers, I come up with alternatives and provide a tip and trick sheet with full instructions on how to cut and assemble the alternatives using their kits and a handful of supplies from their craft rooms. I also usually do a virtual share session on the 4th Monday of the month to answer any questions on the projects.  

Below are my alternatives.  If you are interested in learning more about Paper Pumpkin and the upcoming kits, go to my Promotions page or just sign up here for your first month.  You can cancel any time.

Here are the original cards and card holder from Stampin' Up! that were included in the kit.  They were beautiful and easy to assemble.  They would also work great with other sentiments from your stamp collections.

Here are my alternatives - which one is your favorite?

I hope you enjoyed your time here today and that it helped refresh your creativity or helped you get a few moments of time to yourself.

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy