Hey Everybody,

Here is the new information about Paper Pumpkin for the next three months.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Blessings,

Sue

monthly craft kits for creative cardmaking & paper crafting!

Unleash your creativity with a Stampin’ Up Paper Pumpkin subscription – These monthly, all-in-one craft kits are delivered straight to your door and are perfect for both beginners and experienced crafters. Each kit includes everything you need to make stunning handmade cards, home décor, and one-of-a-kind gifts with ease!

subscribe to paper pumpkin!

sneak peeks! details on the next three month's paper pumpkin kits

APRIL: Lakeside Retreat
​SNEAK PEEK OF THE NEW WATERSIDE RETREAT SUITE!

Subscribe by April 10

Show your appreciation for the men in your life with cards inspired by tranquil waterside scenes.

• Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9 coordinating envelopes

• Precut paper pieces and enamel pebble embellishments

• Stamp set tailored to male recipients

• Coordinating colors: Balmy Blue, Misty Moonlight, Old Olive, Peaceful Pine (Classic Stampin’ Spot - NEW In Color), Pecan Pie, Pool Party​

Coordinates with the Waterside Retreat Suite Collection (item 167932)!

MAY: Sparkling Celebrations

Subscribe by May 10

Create bold, celebratory cards perfect for invitations, congratulations, and special occasions.

• Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9 coordinating envelopes

• Precut paper pieces with silver foil

• Gem embellishments

• Coordinating colors: Blackberry Bliss, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Misty Moonlight (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie

Silver foil gives cards an eye-catching finish!

JUNE: Bikes & Blooms

Subscribe by June 10

These cheerful cards with standout silver details are made for feel-good moments.

• Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9 coordinating envelopes

• Silver foil and precut paper pieces

• Silver butterfly embellishments and linen thread

• Coordinating colors: Calypso Coral (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Crushed Curry, Lost Lagoon, Misty Moonlight, Old Olive, Pecan Pie

Metallic butterfly embellishments add pops of shine!

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Wonderful Scenes Dies Add-On—available while supplies last! Available only to Paper Pumpkin Subscribers! This add-on die-set coordinates with the Paper Pumpkin kits shown above! Use requires a die cutting machine (not included). shop the add-on!

A New Stamp Set Called Help Me Grow

 Hey Everybody,

 Today I have a card I made with new product that is in the Stampin' Up Online Exclusives.

It can be found here.  It is called, Help Me Grow.  I got this because it can be used for masculine or feminine cards.

I paired this stamp set with a new designer series paper called, Garden Poetry, which can be seen here.  I stamped the tools with versamark then heat embossed them with silver embossing powder. The flower handles are two different stamps; one is leaves and one is flowers. I played around with colors that would compliment the green background.  This set comes with dies.  If you don't purchase the dies, you can easily cut out the pieces and put the tools together.

I saw another demonstrator use smoky slate as the ink color for the metal part of the tools. That is a quicker way to get a similar look.  The sign was stamped in ink then stamped with the sentiment. If you wanted to save a bit of time, you could stamp the sign on colored cardstock then stamp your sentiment and cut out the sign.  I stamped on white paper with a light pink ink, then stamped my sentiment in green.

Garden Poetry Designer Series Paper

I will be playing a bit more with this set and will have a card using this set for our April class.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Sue

Faux Linen With a Pop

 Hey Everybody,

I completed two challenges today from Splitcoaststampers.  The first one is the Technique Challenge. Today was the 1100th challenge so we could choose from any of the challenges ending in 00.  I chose 200 which was Faux Linen With a Pop.  The challenge can be found here.

The challenge I chose can be found here.

Here are the directions.

Here is what you will need for today's technique:

• Cardstock
• Ink
• Stamps
• Gift bag tissue paper
• Two Way Glue Stick or your favorite type of glue stick

Step One. Cut your tissue a little bigger than the piece of cardstock that you will use to adhere it onto.

Step Two: Stamp your image onto the tissue paper and let the ink dry before moving onto step three.

Step Three: Wad up the tissue into a ball getting lots of crinkles. Then gentle unroll the wadded ball of tissue. CAREFUL - don't tear it.  Next - spread out the tissue, leaving some of the wrinkles visible. This will help achieve the faux silk effect.

Step Four: Stamp the same image onto a piece of white or very light colored cardstock.

Step Five: Using paper snips (sharp, small blade scissors) cut out the portion of your image that you want to POP.

Step Six: Take your colored cardstock and apply your glue stick to the entire surface. Now lay your white cut-out onto the cardstock and place the tissue on top - aligning the images. Press your tissue paper onto the glue covered cardstock, and be sure to leave in the little wrinkles. You can either trim off the excess tissue from the sides, but it's just as easy, and gives the piece a more finished look, if you just fold the extra tissue around the cardstock and stick the edges down on the backside of the cardstock.

Now you can finish your card as desired.

The stamp set I used is called, Notes of Spring which is a Product of the Month for April. It is a two-step stamping set.

Keywords: TLC1100 TLC200

Stamps: SU-Notes of Spring-Product of the Month

Paper: white, old olive, lemon lolly

Ink: memento tuxedo black, old olive, lemon-lime twist

Accessories: Copic Markers, Tissue Paper

Techniques: Faux Silk With a Pop

Our 2nd challenge is for the Clean and Simple Challenge which was to use a rarely used or new stamp. You can find that challenge here. 
The stamp I used is one of my favorite old, wood mount PSX stamps. I don't use it often, but I love it so much I can't get rid of it.
I stamped in Memento tuxedo black ink. The image was colored with Derwent watercolor pencils. Then I used a blender pen to blend the light and dark colors of the flowers and leaves. I used a fancy, old-fashioned looking die to cut out the image. I added small hearts from an embossing folder to complete the card.

I purposely used an oval die for this card to get used to different shapes besides squares and rectangles.

Keywords: CAS891

Stamps: PSX-Bleeding Heart stamp

Paper: white, bubble bath

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Derwent Watercolor Pencils, Blender pen, Cuttlebug-Love Language embossing folder, decorative oval die

Techniques: dry embossing, watercoloring

This next card is not a challenge card, it is a card for a local hospital near me. It will go on a dinner tray. I had a partial piece of dry embossed cardstock, so I made it into a card. 

I used  Azure Afternoon, Polished Pink and Gorgeous Grape with blending brushes and colored the debossed side of the embossed panel.  Then I used direct to paper technique with my Night of Navy ink pad.

I stamped this little guy and coloring him with Copic Markers. I cut him out with the Deckled Circles dies. Again, I wanted to use a shape other than a square or rectangle.

I stamped the sentiment and fussy cut it because it was already an unusual arrangement for a sentiment. Cutting it out made it stand out more. The image panel was added to a night of navy card base.  This card is more vibrant than the picture shows.

This card was made during a FaceTime session with a friend today.  Every now and then we'll FaceTime and stamp. The weather was crummy here and this is a great work around to be able to stamp with someone but not have to drive across town in crummy weather.

What's fun is we talk and stamp and help each other with what we're working on with suggestions or ideas of how to finish a card or what to add to it to make it 'just right.'

Do you FaceTime with anyone? How about to stamp?

Well, it's time to finalize my pre-order for our new catalog. I can order at 2 a.m. our time.

Thanks for stopping by again.

Blessings,

Sue

What's In a Shape?

 Hey Everybody,

I'm back again with another card.

Our challenge was to Think Spring. The challenge can be found here.  

I stamped these cuties from a retired Stampin' Up! set called, Fable Friends. I also used a set by Jillian Vance called, Spring Hootie for the sentiment. I colored the images with Copic Markers. I die cut the image panel then cut another oval as a frame around the image. I used the reverse side of the designer series paper. The designer series paper is from Stampin' Up! called, Painted Illusions. It was the Product of the Month last month. I love the combination of colors in this paper. It's too bad it's a Product of the Month instead of a paper in the Online Exclusives. I stamped the sentiment, Happy Spring. Inside is an Easter greeting. 

Keywords: CAS889

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Fable Friends, Jillian Vance-Spring Hootie

Paper: white, Stampin' Up-Painted Illusions designer series paper

Ink: memento tuxedo black, pretty peacock, granny apple green

Accessories: SU-oval framelits, Copic markers

Techniques: coloring, die cutting

While I looked at this, I thought about how often I use a rectangle shape for my image panels. How about you? Do you use ovals on your image panels?  How about circles?  How about other shapes other than squares or rectangles?

Take a look at your stash of dies. What shapes do you have that may be older, but fun to use? I looked in my gallery at Splitcoaststampers and found a few I had that were older.

The first card uses the Top Note Die. Do you remember this die?

How about this shape? It is popular right now in stamping.

Do you have a circle you could use?

How about a heart? It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to use a heart shape.

Well, it seems that there are many different shaped dies in my collection that aren't squares or rectangles. I know I have some other shapes. I may challenge myself to use them in the coming weeks with challenges.

Thanks for stopping by. Check out your dies and get stamping and die cutting.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Sue

A Block + Ink = A Background

 Hey Everybody,

I've got a new card for you today.

Stamping with blocks is our challenge for today. You can find it here.

Here is the technique:

 Take a smaller acrylic block, put a few drops of reinkers (or similar), two colors that will look good together but don't let them mix too much. Spritz with water and stamp on paper that can handle some water. Other options: smear an Oxide ink pad on the block, then spray another color on top, spritzing with water as needed. Oxides blend well so you don't have to worry about the dreaded 'mud.' In the end, you can use any water reactive medium you like.
Don't fill the whole piece of paper, leave some white space. Re-spritz with water if necessary but don't overdo. This isn't 'wrinkle free Distress' or 'dip and dab'. Be sparing and only stamp a few times! That's it! You'll have an interesting, colorful background to decorate in any way you like.

I used watercolor paper with pretty in pink and fresh freesia reinkers on blocks. I spritzed the blocks then stamped them down on the watercolor paper. I used a medium and a small block.
I stamped and colored this cutie pie. I fussy cut him so his hair would really stand out.

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 GMT Views: 203 Favorited: 1

Additional Info

Keywords: TLC1098

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Little Weirdo

Paper: watercolor paper, white, fresh freesia

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Copic Markers, dimensionals, water spritzer, pretty in pink, fresh freesia reinkers, acrylic blocks

Techniques: stamping with a block, fussy cutting, coloring

I found a video that demonstrates 4 different ways to use ink on your acrylic blocks.  She uses only one stamping of her acrylic block but my card used multiple times of stamping with ink so it formed a background.

Well, what do you think? Do you think you would like to try this then make it into a card?

I used the two colors with spritzing technique. You can experiment with inks and blocks and see what you come up with.

You can try both watercolor paper and regular white card stock like the video shows.

Well, thanks for stopping by today. I'll see you again soon.

Blessings,

Sue

What To Do With a New Stamp? Hmmmmmm

 Hey Everybody,

Ardyth chose Karen for today's featured stamper. Here is the challenge.  I chose this card as my inspiration. Here is my card.  Keywords: FS996 Stamps: House Mouse-Bird-Day Treat, Happy Birthday Paper: white, pacific point, SU-Iconic Celebrations designer series paper Paper Size: A2 Ink: memento tuxedo black, Pacific Point Accessories: SU oval framelits, Copic Markers Techniques: coloring, die cutting I stamped and colored the image with Copic Markers. I used the oval dies to cut out the image and designer paper. I used a different stamp but kept a bird and House Mouse character. I changed the orientation and used two ovals instead of an oval and rectangle. The image panel was added with dimensionals. If you know me, you know I love House Mouse stamps. I have a question for you. When you get a new stamp, how do you decide what colors to use if your background is more plain than lots of colors that stand out?   I chose a birthday designer paper that was pretty neutral and didn't really show a lot of the paper. So I debated what colors to use for the image. Here's something I often will do. I will Google the name of the stamp and click on images at the top so I don't see shopping and videos etc.  Then I look at the samples of others and see what others have done with the image.  After looking at samples, I decide what colors I want to use for my card. I also look on Pinterest and do the same thing. Many times I will go to a blog to see the colors someone combined for their image. Did you know if you have a Stampin' Up image you can look on Splitcoaststampers? Check it out here. Scroll down until you see the Stampin' Up galleries near the bottom of the page. Here's a link to a new set called, Filled With Sweetness. Check out the different samples. Most of the galleries have an index page listed first which shows you all of the stamps in the set. Well, there you have it. Another way you can get more from your stamps and more ideas to help with layouts and help you think outside of your typical stamping style. Thanks for stopping by today. Blessings, Sue