My Paper Pumpkin

I joined Stampin Up's new monthly kit called My Paper Pumpkin.  The monthly club ships with everything you need to complete a project.  All you need it your time and adhesive.  I've received two club shipments so far, and I've enjoyed them.

Cards from the kits (March on the left, April on the right). I did modiciations on April to make it a thank you.

While there are a lot of pros, there are also a few cons to the program.  I'm on the fence if I will continue it indefinitely.

Pros:

• Everything you need is in one box.  The My Paper Pumpkin box comes with paper, ink, stamps, and accessories).  All you need to add is adhesive.
• Items are high quality paper - heavier than the normal SU cardstock.
• Die cuts are pre-cut - all you need to do is pop them off the paper.
• It's portable.  I've taken the kits to work and been able to complete them during my lunch hour.
• Variety of paper products that are not found in the regular catalog.
• Automatically delievered to your mailbox each month - with no designing involved.
• ....and it's a surprise project!

Cons:

• Price.  This is a big one for me.  With shipping, the kit comes out to $20/month.  I've received two months so far, and each month only contains 4 cards, coming to $5/card.  I wish it were 6 or 8 cards.  For the products your getting (paper, diecuts, accessories, stamp set, and an ink set) it is a good deal, but I already own most of the ink SU sells.

Right now, that's my only con.  I received notice that May's kit just shipped and I can't wait to see what it looks like.  Overall, if you are new to stamping or don't have a lot of materials already, it's a great deal because it gives you the option to acquire ink and complete a well designed project.  If you're already a SU customer, you'll have to decide if it's worth it for the price.  I'm going to continue for a little while and see.  Perhaps one day there will be an option without the ink? 

Did anyone subscribe?  What did you think?  Is there another paper subscription that you know of and like?

Extra scrapbook paper? Make envelopes

I've slowly been working my way through leftover scrapbook and Stampin Up DSP paper.  While incorporating it into cards is great, it does take a while to work through those leftovers pieces - the ones that no longer have matching paper or stamps.  To help get a handle on the situation, I busted out an old favorite, The Envelope Mill, to put some of those to good use.

The book provides you with three different template sizes and I used the largest (a regular business size envelope) since the paper I was working with was 12"x12".  After you trace and cut, you glue the side flaps together and viola!, you have some of the nicest looking envelopes in the mail.

 

Even if you don't have access to the book, there are plenty of templates online to get you started.  What do you think?  Have you tried it?

Off and running...

I'm off to a Stampin Up card workshop at my demonstrator's house in a few minutes, when I remembered that I haven't shared a homemade card in weeks!  I've mailed off most of the ones we made last month, but thought I would share these:

  

Both great designs and in spring-y colors!  I can't wait for the weather to warm up.  In the mean time, I made a set of these last week to be used after the shower:

Card Change

Changing out some of the cards today:

 

What's on your weekend to do list?

Valentines in the Mail

Valentine's Day cards went in the mail!  The paper is an older piece from Stampin Up and the embossed paper was an older embossing folder purchase from Hobby Lobby.  They turned out simple and graphic, which is not my normal style, but I like the way it turned out.  I should try this more often!

Taking RSVPs

The wedding shower invitations are complete and all in the mail!

I can't wait to continue the mason jar theme at the shower.  To compliment the black and white theme, I added some green and pink for pops of color.  I tried in with a white polka dot background, but it was too blah and un-cheerful for the invite.  In the end, I used Whisper White, Basic Black, Wild Wasabi, and Pink Pirouette as the colors.

Now, to organize all of the RSVPs...

What's old is new again

See all of those?  They are a fraction of the past year's handmade cards that I have received from other stampers.  They were residing in a shoe box (decorated at least!) in my closet when they were not chosen for display.

Until now that is.  This week I've decided to start upcycling and reusing the tops of the cards.  It's a shame to let them sit.  And honestly, the month of January disappeared and I still have mountains to do for the shower.  It's win-win for me - I get to declutter the card box and give these beauties another life.  Off to work, but I'll be looking for new base card colors for these later tonight.

Invitation Assembly

I was out of town over the weekend bridesmaid dress shopping for my friend K's wedding in June.  We're all wearing different black dresses, and I would say that our shopping trip was 50% successful.  I'm holding K's Illinois bridal shower in mid-March, so the invitations need to go out this week. 

 

Now that I'm back, I'm in full invitation assembly mode.  I'll post a picture when they're done, but her evening outdoor wedding will feature mason jars, so I thought I would incorporate them into the shower invitation.  It's part of SU's Perfectly Preserved set, and I've made 40 of these little guys!

This only leaves the table decorations, final menu choices, favors, and final cake decisions....it's kind of like planning an whole other 'mini' wedding....

Pen pals

I received this little gem of a letter from a pen pal last week.  I've been admiring it propped up on my kitchen table and just realized that the stamp was never canceled.  I thought about reusing it, but the recycled envelope is too cute to rip apart...

Mittens and Stockings, Oh My

Last year Stampin' Up created a small stocking punch and I didn't think it could get cuter, but it did.  This year they introduced a tiny mitten punch and, as a knitter, how could I resist?  Using the 2011-2013 In Colors, I whipped these cards up to mail out to my knitting friends. 

Uses Make a Mitten, Stitched Stockings, and Hand Knit stamp sets as well as the 2011-2013 In Colors.

Unique Snowflake

We have had a few days of snow recently - enough to cover the lawns and put that magical feeling into the air.  My cards this week reflect those days when you can curl up with a good book and watch the flurries fly. 

I used the retired Northern Hearts set to add some snow magic to the mail.  I've become a fan of the blue/red color combinations and came up with a few cards that use the same color theme (and it also appeared on my holiday cards this year).  The dazzling details in Cherry Cobbler brought sparkle to liven it up and went well with the Baja Breeze.

Refill please, table 1!

Last year I gifted my mother with a box of handmade cards in different designs and occasions.  She loved it - practical, handmade, and useful in a pinch when you needed a last minute thanks or happy birthday card as you're running out the door.  Unsurprisingly, this fall she requested a refill for the holidays. 

Since I couldn't share photos before Christmas, I thought I'd share a few photos of some designs that were included in her refill this year.  She requested a little bit of everything, so enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since I had the card making supplies out, I made a set of cards for my dad using the Lovely as a Tree set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas - from me to you!

 

Wishing you a wonderful holiday with family & friends and a Happy New Year!

One of my holiday card designs this year.  Stamps: Make a Mitten set and "Merry Christmas" from the Merry Messages set.  Northern Flakes embossing folder used for the top card.  Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, and Marina Mist.  I found the blue and red twist twine on Etsy.

Making Paper Mittens

I'm making mini paper mittens.  Lots of mini paper mittens.  The reason?  I'm putting the finishing elements on my holiday cards this year.  Last year, the majority of my cards featured miniature stockings (from the retired Stitched Stockings set) and when Stampin Up released the Make a Mitten set with coordinating punch this year, I didn't hesitate to keep with my 'knitted objects' theme.  Dozens of little mittens will soon be winging their way through the postal system to friends!

Snowy Days, Frosty Nights

 

A few weeks ago I borrowed the retired "Branch Out" set from a friend.  If I ever come across this set, I might have to pick it up - it is very versatile.  Again, I used the blue/red color combination (Bashful Blue, Rose Red) and added the embossed snowflake background. 

 

"Snowy days,

frosty nights,

warm hearts"

 

I'm working on my holiday cards and they'll be ready to go out in the mail very soon.

Exhange Cards, Part 2

I'm back with the other three designs I used for our holiday card exchange.

I've had the lace ribbon punch for a while, but always forget to use it.  What better way to showcase it than repeating the ribbon?  I used Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, and Perfect Plum to create the ribbons and added them straight to a white card.  The decorative label punch cut out the phrase from the retired Smarty Pants set.

By far, this was the most labor intensive card, but the resulting Pinwheel is well worth it!  I used the DSP Everyday Enchantment paper and a circular punch to create the pinwheel.  Inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest, I used 8 circles, folded them in half and then used a large brad to secure them.  Getting them onto one brad was a bit of a challenge, and I ended up adding them to the brad different directions rather than just one and rotating them around.  Pool Party (card), Everyday Enchantment paper, and the decorative label punch rounded out the card.  Ribbon is Calypso Coral an Lucky Limeade from the Sale-A-Bration last spring.

PS - The pinwheel doesn't actually spin and is held in place with dimensionals.

My final card tried embossing with two separate embossing folders - polka dot and a handwritten script.  I framed some images from the Pocket Silhouettes set on the Rose Red background and added the other two embossed layers (Wild Wasabi and Pretty in Pink).  It's something I'd never tried before, but I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out. I might have to try this again!

Holiday Card Exchange

Instead of giving gifts, a few friends and I participate in a Stampin' Up card exchange for the holidays.  This year our theme is friendship cards and I put together 6 designs to be shared.  Earlier this morning we swapped, so I can share what I've been working on behind the scenes for the past two weeks.

The first card featured the retired Merry Winter set.  I used Early Espresso for the base and folded it so that it would open in the center.  Bashful Blue background was embossed with the seasonal snowflake embossing folder from last year and topped with the stamped image.  If you look closely, you can see that I added glitter over the snow before I added the ribbon.  It sparkles more in person, I promise!

As I show you the rest of the cards, you'll notice that I was on a punch kick, so this card featured the large scallop and 1.5" circle punch.  Lot of colors here: Wild Wasabi (base), Almost Amethyst (top card, retired color), Early Espresso (center), and the flowers are Pink Pirouette, Perfect Plum, and Pretty in Pink.  The words are from the retired essentials set and I raised the flowers with dimensionals after I embossed the background.

Remember the punches?  Well, I went to town with this card!  I had small pieces of the DSP paper from last year's Sale-A-Bration in small pieces and wanted to figure out something to showcase the patterns and use of color.  I used Calypso Coral for the base and twine, and added big 'polka dots' of the different papers down the center panel.  I pulled another in color, Lucky Limeade, for the 'friend to friend' stamp from Pocket Silhouettes sets.  This one is one of my favorites and I wish I had made more to use myself!

I made three more designs for the swap and I'll share those tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you all have a chance to relax and think about what you are thankful for this season.  My Thanksgiving cards went out in the mail over the weekend.

I reused the Autumn Accents die to cut leaves out of paper and cork!  You can stamp straight on the cork.  The pumpkin was made with 3 oval punches and the green top is from the new Make a Mitten set turned upside down. 

Although pumpkin pie is traditional, we're also going to be enjoying Nantucket Pie this year.  I found the recipe a few years ago listening to an NPR story about why Americans enjoy cranberries.  Take a stab at the recipe, it's fabulous!

Good Works & Daisies

Although this set it retired, I thought it was appropriate for the Ronald McDonald House cards.  The quote reads: 
                          "Good works are links that form a chain of love." ~Mother Teresa 

I used Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron to give it a soft, soothing feel.  Added it to the batch heading out the door soon!

Friendship Cards

Two more sets of cards headed to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  While making these, I challenged myself to use some of my older Stampin Up paper.  No point in saving it for a rainy day- they should be shared!