Hope in a Box

 The August Paper Pumpkin kit, the Hope Box, is stunning. The colours are wonderful, especially my fave, Blackberry Bliss, & the stamp set included has butterfly images & sentiments of hope & encouragement.

There are enough materials to create nine cards plus embellishments & ribbon to decorate the box. The cards made as per the instructions are lovely but my challenge every month is to create & share alternatives using all the pretty extras provided.

                             

This card uses the stunning die-cut mounted on a card base as the focal point. I snipped the pre-stamped sentiment in half so that the words continue on the inside.

A few butterflies stamped over the textured stamp finish off the inside.

For the next card I used the back of the large die-cut as a mask to create a brushed background. After using the Blending Brushes & shades of Soft Succulent, Melon Mambo & So Saffron brushed onto a Basic White card base, I added a layer of Vellum cardstock to soften the look. This provided a lovely backdrop for my die-cut butterflies. I added a touch of Wink of Stella to the wee creatures to add a little sparkle. The sentiment is a favourite of mine from the Ornate Thanks stamp set - perfect for any greeting or occasion.

The grand collection of stamps, embellishments, ribbon & die-cuts provided materials for at least five more designs just by adding some black or white cardstock to the mix. 

Some heat embossed white butterflies highlight the water-coloured mat from the kit.

With inspiration from Rachel Tessman, I mounted the die-cut butterfly onto a black base for a bit of drama.

Refills are available for this kit so you could make a set of these beauties & gift them in the pretty box provided. Shop HERE.

Subscribing with me as your demonstrator comes with loads of perks! Free classes & tutorials are provided every month as a member of my PP Peeps gang. Be sure to subscribe before September 10 to get the fun Autumn kit for September. Subscribe in my online store under PAPER PUMPKIN. Here's a sneak peak at the September box of fun.

With one more month to go for Sale-A-Bration, you could earn a free SAB product with a 3 month Paper Pumpkin subscription. Free classes + free stuff - what's not to love?

Cheers,

Arlene

Hydrangea Heaven

 My favourite flower is the hydrangea. And while the big blue & pink hybrids are the show stoppers these days, I still love the reliable white Annabelle variety. They go from creamy white to soft green as the summer progresses & bloom consistently for weeks.

I tried to create the same effect with my Hydrangea Haven stamp set.

After stamping the image from the Hydrangea Haven stamp set in Pear Pizzazz, I added subtle touches of Soft Seafoam on the petals with my Blends marker. I then painted the whole flower top with Wink of Stella for some subtle creamy shimmer. The flower was die-cut with the matching dies, then popped up on a vellum mat embossed using the Timeless Type 3D Embossing Folder. The card base is Soft Seafoam, highlighting the tint on my bloom.

It's fun to get inspiration from things around us, and even better that we can create a message to share. 

Leave a comment below & let me know what inspires you.

Cheers,

Arlene

Just Peachy!

 After returning from the local Farmers' Market with a basket of peaches yesterday, I was drawn to the beautiful images in the You're A Peach Suite. The stamps are amazing - beautiful shading & the matching dies cut out these luscious treats so they look scrumptious! The matching DSP combines all the summery colours of summer in Ontario so it's pretty easy to make a stunning card.

Using a sponge dauber to highlight the edges of the peach with some Calypso Coral ink adds a realistic touch to the Pale Papaya peach.

This set is a "Distinktive" stamp set. The images have a photographic look, with shading & highlights giving a 3D-like image. Using an ink pad that is a little less "juicy" will produce the best results with these stamps.

A happy discovery that I made is that the blossoms on the elegant DSP are very similar to the cherry blossoms in the Forever Blossoms stamp set. Some people have noted that they are similar to apple blossoms as well. Since I'm a stamper not a botanist I will use artistic license to create beautifully coordinated blossoms & fruit & leave the fact checking to the experts!

Enjoy this stunning collection of coordinating products & check them out in my online store under the Shop tab above. Contact me if you need assistance ordering these beauties. This lovely DSP is on sale at 15% off till Tuesday so be sure to pick it up to enjoy during peach season!

Enjoy,

Arlene

The Adventure Begins

 

The July Paper Pumpkin has arrived & it's perfect for celebrating summer fun! The camping/outdoor theme makes for great memory keeping pages & the timing is perfect for celebrating an adventure or life changing event.

The kit is designed to make 12 cards, 4 each of 3 designs & is great fun made as is. It coordinates, as usual, with current Stampin' Up! colours & the sentiments are big & bold. The cards themselves are a tri-fold design but by cutting apart the card sections I managed to create some simple cards with a Christmas theme.

My first alternative is a shaker card. I cut the three card sections apart & added an acetate window sheet behind the card front opening using Seal.

Next came some foam strips creating and star sequins for a sparkly shaker. I backed the "window" with vellum to add a subtle touch to the background which is adhered to the vellum. The card front is then adhered to a Basic White card base. The lantern & fireflies are perfect for the card front & inspirational message.

The stamp set has an evergreen tree that can be stamped & fussy cut for more cards.

A star embellishment from a previous kit tops this Evening Evergreen tree with a coating of Wink of Stella.

There are tree die-cuts (the same size as the stamped image) that can be popped on a card base for a quick holiday card. Even the envelopes are colourful & perfect for cutting up for mats for the trees!

The die-cuts are large enough to use on a 12 x 12" scrapbook page & are perfect for recording vacation memories.

Subscribers to my Paper Pumpkin Club, receive along with their subscription, a PDF of instructions for alternative project designs as well as extra materials to stretch their kit. The stamp sets provide a grand collection of themed images & sentiment so make card making & memory keeping quick & easy.

Be sure to check out this fun monthly idea box in my online store:

https://www.paperpumpkin.com/en-ca/sign-up/?demoid=2174147

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,

Arlene

Gilded Seashells

 All this lovely summer weather has inspired me to play with the Friends Are Like Seashells stamp set. This versatile set has a matching embossing folder as well as matching dies. The large die-cut seascape can be embossed for extra texture & detail. Stunning!

Here I die-cut the large die using the  Soft Succulent Shimmer Vellum. Then I added texture by embossing the die-cut with the matching 3D Embossing Folder. A few flakes of Gold Gilding add the golden touch. The flakes are easy to apply. I smudged some VersaMark ink over the embossed die-cut, then sprinkled the Heat & Stick powder over the ink, then melted the powder with a heat tool. The Gilding Flakes were then rubbed over these raised areas to create this golden effect.

By matting the die-cut onto Gold Foil cardstock, the highlights really pop! A simple gold embossed sentiment & a Soft Succulent card base finish things off. This card would be perfect for a beach wedding or golden wedding anniversary or any other special occasion.

And speaking of special occasions...

Stampin' Up! is having a paper sale! Select DSP patterns are 15% off for the month of July. The selection is fabulous from tailored to trendy, floral to funky so be sure to check them out & re-stock.

Click the SHOP button to shop my online store or contact me for help placing an order.

Stay tuned for samples & sneak peaks of the new June-December mini catty going live August 1st

Cheers,

Arlene

June 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit

The stunning Expressions in Color Paper Pumpkin kit for June is ah-mazing! It comes at the perfect time of year to celebrate weddings, anniversaries & graduations. Its elegant components were beautiful (I say were because the kit is pretty much gone) & I just love every card produced by this kit.

The cards as designed are lovely but the goal of our monthly gathering with the P.P. Peeps is to create alternatives using all of the materials in the kit. This kit came with vellum floral dies-cuts that we brushed with colour & leafy patterned die-cuts that became the focal point of some of our designs.

The card bases had a watercolour  look that tied in beautifully with the Expressions in Ink DSP.

The stamp set included both line images & a "splotch" stamp that added to the artistic look.

Even the leftover die-cuts combined with a sweet message from the Many Happenings stamp set produced a stunning wedding card for a lucky couple.

Creating with my Paper Pumpkin Peeps is the highlight of my month! If you'd like to join the fun, subscribe to this monthly box of fun & receive free classes, tutorials & alternative materials with your kit. Click HERE to check out subscriptions in my online store or contact me for details.

Thanks for stopping by,

Arlene

Free!

 

Free shipping that is! Today, June 24 until midnight tonight all orders over $65 CAD will ship free. This is a wonderful saving especially if you are in the market for a a larger item - perhaps a Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine? Maybe the matching mini? What fun to get these items at a 10% savings!

If you need a small order, contact me & I will add it to my group order so that you can still enjoy the savings.

Pre-paid Paper Pumpkin purchases apply as well so it's a great time to join my P.P. Peeps club for free classes each & every month! Sorry, month to month subscriptions do NOT qualify for the sale. 

Shop now in my online store or contact me with your order.

Cheers,

Arlene