Okay, I'll admit it, masculine cards aren't always that exciting for me to design. I tend to prefer flowery, girly images and pretty colors. However, today I had an opportunity to sit down with my May Paper Pumpkin Kit and boy-oh-boy (couldn't resist a bad pun!), did I have fun!!
What the heck is a Paper Pumpkin Kit you ask?! Paper Pumpkin is a monthly craft kit subscription from Stampin' Up!. Every month, a beautiful red orange box shows up in your mail box with stamps, ink, and a craft project. Sometimes it is cards, sometimes a mini scrapbook, or other craft project. I LOVE the surprise factor!!
So I settled down for some Pumpkin Play Time!! (Mommies need play time to, ya know). This month's kit came with supplies for four full size cards and two 3" x 3" cards along with instructions on the "suggested" way to make the cards.
So here is the "suggested" way to make the four cards (the kit came with stamps that read: Happy Birthday, Happy Father's Day, Bro, Son, Dad).
And here is the "suggested" way for the two 3" x 3" note cards. Both really nice cards. So I made one of each of the "suggested" ways yesterday, and today I sat down and decided to do a little rule breaking!
Well, okay, not really rule breaking – because it is your kit and you can do whatever you want to it! So I cut up the other 3" x 3" and used the back side (which is green) to make a tag (I used part of the front to make the tie). This project was inspired by demonstrator Cathy Caines who is a contributor to a blog called "My Pumpkin Challenge". Every month people post creative, alternative ways to use your monthly kit.
I loved Kathy's tie concept and used it both on a card and on the tag, which I then attached to one of our Chevron Tag A Bag Gift Bags. My hubby loves Oatmeal Raisin cookies so this will be perfect for my son to give to him on Father's Day with a cookie inside.
Of course, you can use your My Paper Pumpkin supplies in conjunction with your other paper crafting stash to make different projects. For this card, I used the new Traveler stamp set, some Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stock, and some Soft Suede ink (the kit comes with Marina Mist ink).
I used the tags and twine from the kit for the inside of the card. And, just like that, I have my son's birthday card all ready to go – a week and a half early!!
So – here is what I ended up with from the Pumpkin. Four standard-size masculine cards with envelopes, one 3" x 3" card with envelopes, one gift tag, a new set of 5 stamps, a mini ink pad, and various leftover embellishments and tags that I will use on other projects. Oh, yeah, and I also got an hour of creative fun and I'm now all set for Father's Day and family birthdays!! What does the kit cost? The price is $19.95 per month which includes tax and shipping. How do you get yours? Here are a couple of ways…..
Become a monthly subscriber by clicking here.
You can cancel or suspend it at any time (take a month off or cancel it for an extended time period, or cancel it all together).
OR
Purchase a prepaid subscription and gift it to someone who needs a creative escape! For instance, I purchase a monthly subscription for my niece who is in college. She is absolutely thrilled to recieve that bright box in the mail each month "from Aunt Sue", when in fact, Stampin' Up! took care of all of it for me!
1 month, 3 month, 6 month (save $1 per month), or 12 month (save $2 per month).
Questions? Please e-mail me, I would be happy to answer them for you! And of course, I must leave you with the one who inspired our "Whip-It" Wednesday, my lovely Whippet Bella. Here she is at last weeks dog show, handled by my friend Lexie. (She did win a blue ribbon that day!).
Happy stamping!
Susan
