paper pumpkin adventures

I subscribed to, and loved my Paper Pumpkin kits, for somewhere between 3 and 4 years, but I wasn't completing them in a timely manner, and my supplies were piling up.  (Oh, and I retired from my career and thought it may be a good idea to decrease my monthly expenses.)  Knowing there would be an extra gift in March for the 5th anniversary, I resubscribed.  There was a bit of hype, too, and so many people subscribed or resubscribed, that the kits were completely sold out the day before the final sign-up date.  You can see why everyone loves it:

The kit included everything needed to make four of each fabulous card and envelope!  I do love them, but I've never been a fan of making multiples, so after I completed one of each, I used the components intended for one more of each, to make the other six in this set:

I still have all the components for two more of each card!  I took a photo-op pause to report that these are cards 86 through 93 of my #365cards2018 for #365somethings2018.

Not wanting to make multiples contributed to my stockpile of kits.  I waited for other subscribers to post their ideas for alternative ideas, and then had trouble making up my mind which were my favorites to recreate.  This month, to avoid that, I immediately and proactively searched Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube for ideas.  My designs include many bits of the ideas I saw, but as far as I know, I didn't recreate any whole cards - something of a first, for me!

Paper Pumpkin kits include everything you need to complete a paper craft project, other than snips/scissors and adhesive.  Specialty adhesives, when needed (which is almost every month), are included - for the March kit we had a generous sheet of Stampin' Dimensionals and a sheet of glue dots.  If you're interested in receiving your own kits, new subscribers who sign up between now and May 10 get 50% off their first 2 months! You can find a link, in the sidebar on the right of my blogspot blog, or under the Specials dropdown of my Stampin' Up demonstrator website, that will give you more information and a chance to sign up.

'Tis the Season for Merry Monday adventures

OK, I may have been stretching a bit for that title, but don't you think the Merry Monday warm beverage prompt and the sketch from 'Tis the Season play well together?

stamp sets - Holly Jolly Greetings, Thanks a Latte (Paper Pumpkin Sept 2015); ink - Cherry Cobbler; card stock - Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive; designer series paper - Merry Moments; punch - Word Window

I've been working harder at remembering to put those fabulous Paper Pumpkin stamps to use.  I'm jumping way forward in the calendar, but perhaps this will qualify for part of A Full Year of Fun at My Pumpkin Challeges, as well.

Paper Pumpkin adventure

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up!®  is a paper crafting subscription, or as they put it, a "paper fairy godmother (without the white hair)...sweeping away the mundane for 25 years."  Everything is designed, coordinated, measured, cut and ready.  I've been a subscriber since 2013, but I may have neglected to tell you about it.  I don't make up every kit as soon as it arrives and if you're not a subscriber, they aren't available, so I was trying not to tease you.  Subscribers can pick up extra kits after the current month if they're available, but the December kit - One Great Year - is already sold out.  It's my favorite so far, and this time I guess I'll be teasing a bit:

I had been thinking about making myself a desk calendar, and this made it so easy, I almost feel guilty claiming that I made it myself.  Plus, the stamp set of all the months and some special day icons will be a great addition to the Document Life Project™ 2016: the unPlanner™ project that I've signed up for - major bonus!

Not only did I make up my calendar as soon as I could find my craft table, I made it nearly identical to the designer's version - I almost never do that.  Here is the October kit - Blissful Bouquet - which I made up recently as a gift for a friend.  The original design was 3 different size cards, 3 each, but I prefer A2 cards for mailing, so I added a few pieces of card stock, a stamp or two from another set, and switched up the designs a bit:

This kit is still available to subscribers as a refill (without the stamps and Stampin' Spot ink pad), so not quite as much teasing going on here ;)

Edited to Add - forgot to mention My Pumpkin Challenge where the theme for December is Season of Giving, and where you can always find other papercrafters who love and share their Paper Pumpkin creations

#stampingsunday adventure

Perfect Pennants was our #stampingsunday assignment this week, and I needed a Father's Day card for my amazing husband as well as a birthday card for a friend.

For my husband, Paper Craft Crew offered up a great sketch that worked well with the colors from ColourQ for a clean and simple offering, which happened to be the challenge of the week at Addicted to Stamps + More:

stamp sets - Perfect Pennants, My Paper Pumpkin Framed Love & Hey Man; ink - Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Pacific Point, Summer Starfruit (retired); card stock  - Calypso Coral, Naturals White, Pacific Point; punch - Decorative Label

Because I used My Paper Pumpkin stamps, I'll also link this at My Pumpkin Challenge as well as at Friday Mashup and The Pink Elephant for their Father's Day challenges.

For my friend's birthday I was hoping to break out some new supplies - you can see them on this Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch:

stamp sets - Perfect Pennants, Petite Petals; ink - Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey; card stock - Hello Honey, Sahara Sand; designer series paper - Moonlight; washi tape - Watercolor Wonder; punches - Scalloped Tag Topper, Petite Petals, Envelope punch board