Does this ever happen to you? You finally get some time to yourself to craft, but you’re too tired to think, let along design? I had one of those day last Saturday. I spent two-thirds of the day cleaning and doing chores. When I finally sat down, my brain was mush after a long work week. Then, I spied my April Paper Pumpkin kit just sitting there waiting for me … It was perfect! No thinking required!!!
The April kit is sort of a special kit, because it features DistINKtive stamps. These stamps are designed to have a photo-type quality with just one simple stamp. Here’s a photo of all the contents of the kit, including the stamp set and a Gray Granite ink spot:
You get all these supplies for around $20! (Lower the price with prepaid subscriptions from my online store!) Each month, the kit is different. This particular kit includes all the supplies to make nine cards and a beautiful acetate gift box to hold them! It comes with simple instructions to make the pre-designed projects. Plus, after you’re done, you’ve still got the pretty stamp set and ink spot for future crafting.
Here’s the first pre-designed card from the kit. (I stamped matching envelopes with coordinating ink!)
And here’s card two. Don’t you love the coordinating colored droplet embellishments and corrugated tags?
Finally, here’s the third design. I really love the soft colors, including Flirty Flamingo, Mint Macaron, Daffodil Delight, and Gray Granite.
After assembling the cards, the kit also includes everything you need to create this gorgeous acetate box to store the cards. I decided to give this to my Mother-In-Law as an additional gift for Mother’s Day.
Then, I took some of the spare cards and wrapped them up as door prizes for my Stamp Club this week!
OK by now, I was starting to perk up. Included in the box, was an idea for an alternative card that was so cute! I just had to CASE it.
I created a cardbase with Flirty Flamingo cardstock to match the envelope liner. Then, I cut a layer of Pink Pirouette cardstock. I inked up the rose stamp with Flirty Flamingo ink, and then used a sponge dauber to add Merry Merlot ink directly onto the center of the flower before stamping. Afterwards, I used a Chalk Marker to add some white highlights and a Merry Merlot Stampin’ Write Marker to add dots. The sentiment is from the Love What You Do stamp set.
Next, I decided to take the supplies from one of the cards, add a few extra products, and create a full-size 4-1/4″ by 5-1/2″ card. I used the Layered Leaves 3-D embossing folder as a background.
By now, I was feeling back to my old self, and was ready to design my own alternative card.
I absolutely ADORE the rose and leaf stamps in this set. You just can’t go wrong with them!!! The DistINKtive style is SO COOL! So I decided to try stamping on Shimmery White cardstock and adding a little watercoloring.
I stamped the roses with Flirty Flamingo ink, with Poppy Parade ink sponged in the centers. Then, I used my Aqua Painter to paint over the stamped images and slightly blend the ink. For more depth, I sponged the edges with Flirty Flamingo ink after cutting them out. I also highlighted the centers with a matching Poppy Parade Stampin’ Write Marker.
For the leaves, I stamped with Old Olive ink (both first and second generation) and then used an Aqua Painter to blend and add highlights.
Finally, I created a smooched background with Coastal Cabana ink, and then I added some pearls that I had colored with a Dark Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends Marker.
Oh, I also used one more little stamp from the kit to create this subtle border across the top of my card!
So in the end, Paper Pumpkin really helped me get my creative mojo back!
The upcoming May Paper Pumpkin Kit is going to be an EXTRA SPECIAL one! It was designed by Stampin’ Up!’s co-founder!!! I’m so excited to see what it will include, because I KNOW I’m going to love it. Sign up by May 10th to receive this kit. (Yes, that’s Friday, so hurry up!)
So the moral of the story is, Paper Pumpkin is good therapy for a tired person!
Have a wonderful and creative day!
