#paperpumpkinalternatives

Gifts Galore Paper Pumpkin

The November 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit is titled Gifts Galore. This is one of my favorite kits of the year! The kit features enough supplies to create 9 adorable gift holders, three of each design.

Today’s Video

I made the complete kit as it was intended. Aren’t these gift holders the cutest? I think that the size of these cutouts just makes the project perfect!

Since I made the kit as intended, I didn’t use the kit supplies to create alternatives. However, I used the stamps from the kit to create some fun and festive gift tags! We all need those this time of the year.

Gifts Galore Tags

Last Chance Sale

Don’t forget to take a glance at the retirement and carryover lists. The sale will be from December 1, 2021 until January 3, 2022 or until supplies last.

Thank you for joining me today. I always enjoy spending time with you. As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin

You can subscribe to Paper Pumpkin in two ways.

Month-To-Month:

Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin: https://bit.ly/3iCCtS1

Or Prepaid Subscriptions:

You can shop my entire store here: https://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Peaceful Christmas Paper Pumpkin October 2021

The Peaceful Christmas Paper Pumpkin kit for October is packed full of holiday goodness! The main color is Shaded Spruce. Accents of silver add a beautiful shimmer to the cards.

Today’s Video

I chose to make the cards in the kit as directed. They are lovely! My alternative cards use the stamps from the kit. Additionally, I used the Peaceful Place Specialty Designer Series Paper. But you could substitute any DSP that you have in your craft stash to recreate my cards.

More Peaceful Christmas Cards

The card that is featured at the top of the blog is my favorite. I used our White Craft Ink to stamp a background on Basic Gray cardstock. The small snowflakes around the sentiment were heat embossed using Silver Embossing Powder. But getting to use the Smoky Slate Textured Ribbon really made my heart happy! It is just so dreamy to work with.

On this card, I used the tree image stamp to create a border on Basic Gray Cardstock. The silver embossing makes the trees pop right off the page!

I had some leftover paper that I had stamped with the White Craft Ink. So, I cut that down into 1″ strips along with some leftover DSP. I adhered these strips to a Basic White layer of cardstock that measures 3 3/4″ x 5″. Then I added this layer to a piece of Silver Foil Specialty Paper. Before adhering this layer, I added some Smoky Slate Textured Ribbon. I then added this layer using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Do You Have A Long Wish List

Do you love a lot of items from the Stampin’ Up Catalogs? Now would be a wonderful time to join Stampin’ Up and become a discount shopper. The Starter Kit is valued at $125. You get to pick exactly what you want in your kit. And you only pay $75 plus tax!!! That is a crazy good deal. After you purchase a kit, you get 20% discount on your products right from the start!

You can join my team here: https://www.stampinup.com/join?demoid=2211250

Thank you for joining me today. Don’t forget to drop a comment on how you use your Paper Pumpkin kit. I want my posts to be helpful to you! As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

August 2021 Paper Pumpkin Alternatives- Hope Box

The August 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit is titled Hope Box. It was created by one of Stampin’ Up’s founders, Shelli Gardner. When Shelli designs a kit, it is highly sought out!

Today’s Video

Once again, I have found that Paper Pumpkin has improved their kit cards and I like them! As a result, I decided to create my alternatives using only the stamps and a few unused elements of the kit. I love that I can then choose any Stampin’ Up colors for my cards!

More Hope Box Cards

This is a greeting card created with elements of the Paper Pumpkin Hope Box kit.

For example, the card featured in today’s video uses So Saffron, Pool Party, Melon Mambo, and Bermuda Bay. However, my first version uses Blackberry Bliss, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Rich Razzleberry, and Bermuda Bay.

The sentiments that are included in the Hope Box are great for those cards that are really difficult to send. It is important to have these greetings in our stash. But we are not limited by them either. Mixing our stamp sets is super fun!

I used my Stampin’ Write Marker in Blackberry Bliss to make the dashes between the butterflies. I could do this with complete confidence that the marker would match my stamped image. You cannot do this at the local craft store. I love that Stampin’ Up inks match with the embellishments, markers, cardstocks, and ribbons!

This card design was my favorite one to make. The process is a little messy but it is fun! Some of the splatters were created using the included stamp and the rest were created by flicking the Stampin’ Write markers. Then I used the Ornate Floral Embossing Folder to dry emboss this layer. Next, I stamped al butterfly on an additional piece of Basic White cardstock and fussy cut it out. It is popped up on the card with dimensionals. And lastly, I used some Wink of Stella on it to give it some sparkle and I adhered the sentiment across the middle.

Next Month’s Paper Pumpkin

Don’t forget to hurry and sign up for next month’s Paper Pumpkin kit, Haunts and Harvest by September 10th. You can use one of the links below.

I hope that you enjoyed today’s alternative cards. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel to get informed whenever I post a new video. As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Card Supplies

Shop my entire online store: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Card Measurements

  • Melon Mambo Cardstock: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″
  • Pool Party Cardstock: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″, and 1/2″ x 5″
  • Basic White Cardstock: 4″ x 5 1/4″, and (3) 7/8″ x 2 1/4″

July 2021 Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

My July 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit has arrived! The kit is titled The Adventure Begins. The kit has included supplies to make 12 cards and envelopes. Coordinating Stampin’ Up colors are Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso,Flirty Flamingo, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green,Mango Melody, Night of Navy, and Basic White. You will find a Garden Green Stampin’ Spot inside the kit.

Today’s Video

I really love the included cards and ideas in the kit. So I decided to create alternatives using the stamps only. I feel that this makes the most sense anyway! We own our Paper Pumpkin stamps long after the kit contents are gone. I place my stamps in a sleeve, download and print the image for that kit, and file them in a bin. You can download the inserts here: https://www.paperpumpkin.com/en-us/how-paper-pumpkin-works. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see several inserts to download.

I love the softness of the card shown in my video. The card is made using a very simple layout. However, I think that is why I like it so much. It’s very clean and uncomplicated.

More July 2021 Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

A multi-colored greeting card made using the July 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit.

The first thing I did was make a background DSP. I used Gorgeous Grape, Misty Moonlight, Bermuda Bay, and Granny Apple Green to create the background. It is really fun to play with blending brushes! Second, I took the solid tree stamp and stamped three trees along the bottom of my paper in Evening Evergreen. Next, I stamped those same trees and stamped them on Evening Evergreen cardstock. I fussy cut the images. Finally, I glued the trees to my paper. I adhered the center tree using Stampin’ Dimensionals. You can choose to add a sentiment to your card by stamping directly on the paper or by adding a banner.

In like manner, I created this card using only the stamps from the kit. I showcased the Let Your Light Shine sentiment by stamping the adorable fireflies around it. Additionally, I used the Hand Penned DSP to anchor the greeting to my card. The Macrame Embossing Folder adds the perfect texture to the background.

A Look At August’s Kit

As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative.

Sally

Card Supplies

Shop my entire store: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Card Measurements

  • Basic White Thick Cardstock: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″
  • Soft Succulent Shimmer Vellum: 4″ x 5 1/4″
  • Basic White: 3 1/2″ x 4 1/2″

Paper Pumpkin Expressions In Color June 2021

I am so late with my Paper Pumpkin Expressions In Color alternatives! But isn’t this kit fantastic? I think that Paper Pumpkin has really upped the quality of their kits in the past year. And I really like the cards included with the kit. I had a hard time trying to decide how to approach my alternatives this month. That is why I only made one card using the kit supplies. For the other two, I used the stamp set and pulled in items from the Expressions In Ink Suite of products.

Today’s Video

The card featured in today’s video is a combination of kit supplies and other supplies I had on hand. You could totally use the large vellum flower that was included in you kit instead of die cutting a white one. And we have so many sprigs or greenery pieces that you could pull in as well. Make sure to watch the video to see both my vellum and my white cardstock versions. I was surprised that I actually like the white version better. Who knew?

This greeting card was made using supplies from the Paper Pumpkin Expressions In Color kit.  Other supplies from Stampin' Up were also used.

Undoubtedly, Evening Evergreen has stolen my heart. And no one was more surprised than me! I am not usually a dark or jewel tone color person. It is falling into the same category for me as Night of Navy. I consider it a neutral. In particular, it works perfectly for accents and sentiments. I could have chosen any color for this card, yet I chose Evening Evergreen. This would be a perfect masculine card.

This card could also be made using any color of your choice. I seem to be having an In Color phase. 🙂

Next Month’s Kit

Here is a little preview of the July 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit. Please make sure that you are signed up on or before July 9th. That way you can craft along with me next time! As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative.

Sally

Paper Pumpkin Expressions In Color Card Supplies

Shop my entire online store: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Card Measurements:

  • Polished Pink Cardstock: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″ and cut 3/4″ off one edge
  • Fresh Freesia (Or from the card in the kit) 1 3/4″ x 5 1/2″
  • Alcohol Inked Design or Basic White Stamped: 1 1/2″ x 5 1/4″
  • Basic White Cardstock: 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ for sentiment, and 4 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ for inside layer

Paper Pumpkin So Cool April 2021

This month’s Paper Pumpkin kit is So Cool! And it really is! The kit features card bases in the shape of frozen treats, watermelons, and rainbows. I did not want to cut the cards up to use in alternatives. They are just so cute and I wanted to make them as intended. Therefore, I decided to show you what you can do with your stamps after all of the kit supplies are gone.

Today’s Video

I do not think that I have ever used this color combination before. It is definitely unusual! I do like how it turned out. But if I make another card using this DSP, I will likely choose to use some of the lighter colors. My brain is just not wired for the darker colors. However, my friend totally loves creating cards using jewel tones and they are beautiful. They are her wheelhouse. God really did create us individually with different gifts and preferences!

I used the paper piecing technique to create the popsicles on this example. I failed to mention in the video that the Basic White layer was die cut using the Stitched Rectangle Dies. You can use a label die of your choice.

More So Cool Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

Don’t forget about the DSP Stampin’ Up offers in the various color families and In Colors. They usually offer 3 or 4 different prints in each color. You can make your creations in any color that you love! Additionally, you can use the search feature of my online store to find any product that we offer in a particular color. I use this tool frequently. Sometimes it just helps my creative process start to flow.

I used my Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers to color in the popsicles on this card.

For this card, I used my watercolor pencils and a blender pen to color the watermelons.

As a little bonus technique, I showed you how to turn this card into a gift card holder. So fast and easy! I think this card is a great way to reach out to someone that you love and encourage and/or celebrate them. Send this to your favorite child to celebrate the end of the school year, a dance recital, or because they have been “spotted” doing something kind. God calls us to encourage one another and we can do that using our gift of crafting. Now that is really So Cool!

Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate it. As always remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative.

Sally

Card Supplies

Paper Pumpkin Prepaid 12-month Subscription: https://bit.ly/3fiCPgB

Bermuda Bay Cardstock: https://bit.ly/3vH4Vt7

Blackberry Bliss Cardstock: https://bit.ly/3eceYR2

Basic White Thick Cardstock: https://bit.ly/3bm4BJ1

Paper Snips Scissors: https://bit.ly/3gVYazl

Blackberry Bliss Striped Ribbon: https://bit.ly/2QP1YaP

Shop my entire online store here: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Join my team: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/join-my-team/

Card Measurements

Bermuda Bay: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″

Blackberry Bliss: 4″ x 5 1/4″

DSP: 3 3/4″ x 5″

Basic White Thick Cardstock: Whatever size you need for your sentiment and die cut piece

YouTube
YouTube
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Instagram