Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It’s the treats, the decorations and the crafty opportunities. I love the build up of excitement that lasts for the next two months.
Stampin’ Up!’s Boo To You made me think of lots of friends, some crafty and some artsy. Here’s my attempt at bringing a smile to the artsy friends’ faces.
Here’s How I Created the Cute & Creepy Handmade Halloween Card
Love the Andy Warhol repetitive style. I inked the walking zombie on Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green and Gorgeous Grape cardstock using the Versamark Pad and heat set with Black Embossing Powder. Next, I used bleach and an old Blender Pen to bleach areas of each zombie.
Each zombie was die-cut with a Stitched Rectangle.
Cute? Or Creepy?
Here’s Another Cute & Creepy Handmade Halloween Card
Another Halloween choice in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalog is the Monster Bash Suite. Everything is adorable. The Designer Series Paper is irresistible.
I paired the haunted house pattern with the Brick & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder. The cute/creepy monster was colored using Stampin’ Blends. Yes, it was hand-snipped—twice. First the entire monster, then just the head to pop up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Here’s a card from Halloweens past. It’s more cute than creepy.
Here’s What I Used to Create the Cute & Creepy Halloween Cards
Click below to get the details on supplies for both of these cards.
Whether you are the Thanksgiving guest this year, or you’re welcoming guests into your home, this pretty autumn pillow gift box makes a perfect token of appreciation. Slip a small gift for the hostess inside, or fill with mints or chocolates to set at each table place setting.
Kraft Pillow Boxes
Start with a printed die-cut pillow box. Found on page 172 of the current Stampin’ Up! catalog, the boxes are packaged in sets of 10 for only $5.
To coordinate with the color combination from the Come To Gather Designer Suite, add color, Pretty Peacock, to the box before decorating. The Sponge Brayer makes it clean and simple.
Leaf and Label Die-Cuts
To decorate, stamp and die-cut the large leaf from the Come Together 10-piece stamp set using Crushed Curry and Pretty Peacock cardstock and ink. Cut a set of the smaller leaves from the Gathered Leaves Dies from a Gold Foil Sheet.
A large label from the Stitched Label Dies in Mint Macaron cardstock pulls together the beautiful leaves.
Crop the medium-size Stitched Label in Very Vanilla. Stamp the sentiment with Pretty Peacock ink. Insert the sentiment label into the leaf arrangement using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Final Touches
One small feather from the Tags and Feathers Elements adds natural texture to the layer of leaves.
Two types of ribbon finalize the pretty package. To secure the box, Gold Metallic-Edged Ribbon does the job. Add color to the Very Vanilla ribbon using the Mint Macaron Stampin’ Blend. This technique enables you to create coordinating ribbon for any project.
One itty-bitty bow tied from Linen Thread completes the leaf and feather display.
Here’s Everything I Used to Create a Pretty Autumn Pillow Gift Box
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It’s not too soon to start thinking of special ways to deliver your annual greetings to friends and family. Here’s a hand-made Christmas card with Jolly Santa reminiscent of my early Christmas memories.
When I first eyed this stamp set in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday catalog, I fell for this Santa. Seeing that the set has a companion die-cutting set won me over to place my order.
Since the stamp set includes both images and sentiments, it’s simple to whip up cheery hand-made greetings with just one product suite. The patterned papers clinch the deal. There are so many patterns in traditional Christmas style and colors, I know I’ll be using Every. Single. Sheet.
I took a few minutes to add color to the line art Santa with Stampin’ Blends. They’re my favorite coloring tool because I get beautifully blended images with no streaks.
I chose to add a strip of Old Olive “ribbon” across the patterned paper to anchor Santa and the Christmas greeting that was stamped on a Stitched oval. Overall, it’s a fun card with little fuss. Friends and family will be impressed with this hand-made Christmas card with Jolly Santa.
Here’s What I Used
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Beautiful Friendship Card Project | Stampin’ Up | Just Stamp Birthday Card
Having birthday cards at-the-ready makes it easy to remember friends and family on their special day. There’s nothing like receiving a hand-made card — it is a keepsake that will cheer the recipient beyond their special day.
The combination of bright colors and white makes this birthday card perfect for your card stash. I loved the look so much that I created a collection of cards in the same pretty style and colors.
The hand-stamped birthday card collection in Impressionism style was created with the Beautiful Friendship stamp set by Stampin’ Up! It’s a 13-piece set of flowers —hydrangeas and rose, I think, and sentiments presented in a pretty combination of script and block letters.
Just Stamp Birthday Card | Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Friendship
There is no coordinating punch or die set, but it’s not needed. The photopolymer stamp set stands alone. If you must layer, you can fussy cut. Or, stamp the sentiment on a shape and pop it on with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I used dies from the Wild Rose and Layering Ovals dies sets for the card below.
Just Stamp Birthday Card | Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Friendship
The colors and design lend themselves to cards for many occasions. Here’s a congratulatory and best wishes cards with an array of small buds and wisteria. Notice the delicate cross stitching extending from the sentiment. It was created with a die from the Stitched Labels die set.
Just Stamp Best Wishes | Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Friendship
The Beautiful Friendship stamp set was created in the striking Distinktive style that Stampin’ Up! has mastered. One inking of one stamp stamps an image that appears to have highlights and shadows. Beautiful Friendship is one of many stamp sets in the Distinktive style.
It’s the best time of the month at Studio 5425. Mid-month I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of my monthly surprise, the One Stop Box for Creativity. Paper Pumpkin has been getting better and better each month for several months, and June was no exception. Take a look at the projects Paper Pumpkin sent me this month.
The 16 tropical designs with sparkly sea stars and sand dollars make sweet cards to share with a gift or as thank you notes for the hair dresser, gardener, dry cleaner, barista or all kind souls. The kits includes a handy carry case for the small cards.
For those who don’t think they need 16 small cards, I offer three full-size alternates for the June Paper Pumpkin. You can create these with just the addition of Silver Foil-Edged Cards & Envelopes (item 147900, $10).
You’ll also need a Stampin’ Sponge.
Full-Size Alternate Card 1
Swaying palm trees remind me of quiet moments in Kauai.
I stamped the scene using one die cut from the kit and the negative that would typically be tossed in the rubbish bin. I used this as a stencil to sponge repeatedly on one foil-edged card. The Gray Granite ink spot from April’s kit was used for sponging. I started with the center tree using a fully inked sponge and tapped lightly with the stencil in place. The tree to the left was created by moving the stencil slightly over, thus masking the full-sponge tree. I tapped lightly again, without reinking. Finally, I repeated the process one last time. I did have to lightly reink the sponge.
Next I stamped the ground using the sand stamp from the kit and Gray Granite ink.
I then lightly sponged Coastal Cabana above the sand.
The sentiment was stamped on a small piece of one of the pre-printed cards using the Coastal Cabana ink, and adhered using Stampin’ Dimensionals. One coral die cut and sea star were added, along with a bow tied from the Natural Twine.
Full-Size Alternate Card 2
Beach elements create the focal point for a second alternate. Coral, sea stars and sand dollars were stamped using Gray Granite. One Coastal Cabana envelope was deconstructed for a 2 1/4″ circle on which I stamped sea stars in Coastal Cabana.
The sentiment was stamped on the same pre-printed card scrap from Alternate Card 1.
Natural Twine was adhered behind the circle, which was adhered to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals. All other elements were adhered with Glue Dots.
Full-Size Alternate Card 3
A lone palm tree with textured fronds creates another serene scene. This card features more sponging in both Gray Granite and Coastal Cabana. Next, I used my stencil to ink the trunk of the palm tree. One vellum detailed circle was placed on the card base after sponging. Palms were added using Glue Dots to construct the tree. A sand dollar, sea star, coral and Natural Twine bow were added using Glue Dots.
Just Stamp Paper Pumpkin Club
I am loving Paper Pumpkin, and I think you’ll love it too. Click HERE if you’d like to subscribe to this fun monthly surprise. It’s a relaxing 30-minute escape, or a leisurely date with friends. It’s compact and portable, and it has everything needed to get started creating. Your first kit even includes the clear block to use with your monthly kit.
Each month I’m offering alternative project ideas monthly, either here on my blog or on Facebook. I also have a monthly drawing for my active subscribers.
Winner! Winner!
Here’s this month’s winner: Alicia M.
Congratulations, Alicia. You will receive your own Silver Foil-Edged Cards & Envelopes in the mail. Thanks for subscribing to Paper Pumpkin through me!
The May Paper Pumpkin kit is my all-time favorite. The style, colors, sentiment fonts and card designs are beautiful. I created my twelve cards, three each of the four designs exactly as instructed. There is no need to stress over alternative designs. The cards are simple and pretty as designed.
The bonus is that when all cards are stamped and assembled, the stamp set and ink spot remain. So do leftovers that would normally land in the rubbish bin: the tissue paper, the negatives of the die cuts, scraps of twine and cord, and one trinket. With just these supplies, my paper snips and glue, I created four Hugs From Shelli One-Stop Box for Creativity Bonus Projects.
Here’s What I Made
With only the leftovers and rescued rubbish, plus Very Vanilla cardstock, I created four full-size cards using an easy tissue paper technique. Card Number One above requires a 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ Old Olive cardstock scrap and two Stampin’ Blends: Petal Pink and Old Olive. The silver foil labels on Cards 3 and 4 were created with the negatives of the label die cuts.
Paper Pumpkin is the BEST option for making sure you have cards on hand when you need them. It’s easy, relaxing, affordable, portable and adorable.
The Best Deal
Enjoy your monthly kit AND savings when you purchase a prepaid subscription. The price per kit of the month-to-month Paper Pumpkin subscription will increase by $2.05 in the United States effective June 1. Lock in the current annual subscription price of $209 (buy 11 at 19.95 and get one kit free) before the price increase. Another option that saves is the 6-month subscription.
Subscribe today! Purchase a pre-paid subscription to lock in the current rate before the fee increases on June 1. Click here to subscribe.
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I love getting gifts from my fourth grade students. It makes no difference if it’s a mug, a hand-drawn picture, or a gift card to my favorite coffee watering hole. I’m always honored that they deemed me worthy of a teacher gift.
I try to make it a point to have a hand-crafted thank you card for the gift-giver the very next day. In fact, I often keep a stash of my designs in my desk drawer so I can write the note at recess and get it to them as we’re lining up for dismissal.
Most instances, the student rips open the envelope to check what’s inside while still standing in line. My heart leaps from so much joy. To think that my thank you note brings them just as much joy as I experienced receiving their modest gift gives me goosebumps.
Most heart-warming is when the thanks come full circle. Every time I have given Eeliyah a thank you card, she has pulled me aside and whispered, “Mrs. Palmerin, thank you for the card.”
I have to admit, I’m teary-eyed just remembering her soft voice in my ear. To think that a few minutes of my time composing two to three sentences inside my hand-made card could create a circle of kindness and thanks is a great reminder of the power of a hand-crafted, hand-written card. It’s why I create.
Today when I received a spring gift from Natalie, I opened my drawer and browsed through my stash of cards. I had to smile when I reached the back of the box and eyed the little beauty I share with you today. The Brilliant Blue and Real Red card throws me back to my early years with Stampin’ Up! The colors and stamps may be long-retired, but the tradition of the hand-crafted, hand-written card to convey thanks is fresh at work.
Next month’s Paper Pumpkin subscription kit is going to be a must! The company co-founder is adding her personal style to the all-inclusive monthly kit.
I love her style. It’s elegant, earthy, feminine and So Shelli. Take a look.
What Exactly is Paper Pumpkin?
With a monthly Paper Pumpkin craft subscription box, you can craft and create beautiful projects, save time and money . . . and eventually build a collection of versatile Stampin’ Up! crafting supplies.
Your first kit comes with a FREE, clear stamping block. The box you receive each month contains all the materials you need to craft with ease, from adhesive to precut paper. All you need to do is follow the crafting instructions and assemble the pieces to create a Stampin’ Up! card or project. OR feel free to let your creativity flow and personalize your Paper Pumpkin craft!
Build Your Crafting Tool Box
Our CRAFT subscription box also doubles as a STAMP subscription box. Every month, as part of your subscription, you’ll receive a unique, decorative stamp set and at least one ink spot. Our stamp sets are ideal for all types of crafting projects. Plus, we don’t repeat an ink color in a 12-month period, so you’ll quickly collect a variety of reusable stamps and ink spots.
You Will Love Your Monthly Crafting Experience
I know you’ll find something to love about crafting with Paper Pumpkin. You’ll have cards available at your fingertips for all the occasions that deserve a hand-made greeting, but you no longer have to wonder about what to make or how to make it. Everything is prepared for you.
And every kit is guaranteed. So don’t worry! If you experience any problems with your monthly crafting subscription just contact us at 1-800-STAMP UP or ds@stampinup.com for the answers you need.
Two Ways to Discover The Shelli Kit in May
Join me for a traditional, live class on Thursday, May 23. Simply email me at amp@anamariepalmerin.com to reserve your seat. No subscription or sign-up is needed. No commitment. $20 per kit
Sign up HERE before May 10 (I recommend earlier as kits will likely sell out) for a month-to-month subscription delivered straight to your door. You may cancel or suspend your subscription at any time to meet your needs.
The Best Deal
Enjoy your monthly kit AND savings when you purchase a prepaid subscription. The price per kit of the month-to-month Paper Pumpkin subscription will increase by $2.05 in the United States effective June 1. Lock in the current annual subscription price of $209 (buy 11 at 19.95 and get one kit free) before the price increase.
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