march 2025 paper pumpkin alternatives

march 2025 paper pumpkin alternatives

Do you like to craft but think you don’t have the time? Do you love papercrafting but feel like you do not have the right supplies or enough good ideas? Then a Paper Pumpkin subscription may be just what you are looking for! Want to connect with a friend or spend quality time with a family member – daughter or grandchild? Then you need a Paper Pumpkin Subscription.

Paper Pumpkin is a complete craft project in a box – it comes with everything to make that month’s projects including a full color instructions guide! Afraid that the crafts will be too simplistic and you are a more avid crafter than just be following demonstrators that routinely post alternative projects for each month – the possibilities are endless!

Every March Paper Pumpkin celebrates it’s anniversary and they do that by giving the subscribers the gift! This March 2025 the Daisy Daydream’s box came with an extra stamp set!

The first photos below show the full color instructions insert and the three cards that are designed for this month’s creativity box followed by photo’s of the two different stamp sets included in the Daisy Daydreams kit!

The first alternative cards I made were by cutting the daisy card in half. I cut the card front to 4″ x 5 1/4″. I mounted that card front to a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ Crushed Curry cardstock scored to 4 1/4″. I cut the back of the original card in four pieces. I stamped the sentiment on the 1/2″ strip in Mossy Meadow ink and cut one end in a banner edge. Pop up the sentiment strip on Stampin’ Dimensionals and add Linen Thread under the strip. Add Loose Frosted Dots to the card front to finish off the first alternative card.
For the second card, I stamped the honeycomb image in Crushed Curry ink on a Crushed Curry cardstock base. I cut the rest of the back of the card to three pieces 1 1/2″ x 4″, 1 1/2″ x 4″ and 1″ x 4″. I stamped the bumblebee and a sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Adhere the Loose Frosted Dots to the sentiment.
I cut the white envelope with the bee apart.
I cut the envelope to 4 1/2″ and scored at 2″,
2 1/2″, 4 1/2″ and 4 3/4″. I cut the bottom 1/2″ on the score lines and glued them to each other to create a little bag. I punched a hole through the top and placed a ribbon through the hole.
I cut a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of Pebbled Path cardstock. Score at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″. Cut a piece of Crushed Curry to 4″ x 5 1/4″ adhere to the front panel. Cut one of the envelopes open to 4″ x 5 1/4″. Adhere a 1/4″ piece of Crushed Curry diagonally over the envelope piece. Cut a piece of the envelope to 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ and adhere a small strip of the Crushed Curry strip under the sentiment piece. Pop up the daisy on a Stampin’ Dimensional below the sentiment piece. Then adhere three Frosted Dots around the sentiment piece.
The next alternative card used a Pebbled Path card base. I cut a Beautiful Bokeh DSP piece at 2 1/4″ and adhere to the left side of the card front. I cut the blue card base to 3″ x 4 1/4″, stamp the Happy Birthday, the honeybee and honeycomb image on the blue card.
Adhere the blue piece to the middle of the card above the DSP. Adhere the flowers die above the DSP and fussy cut a bumble bee and pop it up on a Stampin’ Dimensional. Add three Pretty Peacock Frosted Dots to finish off the card.
I made a shaker card out of the circle die layer.
I placed the layer over a Crushed Curry card front. I stamped the bumblebee image and the sentiment in the area that the circle will be.
I adhered a Window Sheet over the circle cutout.
I placed Foam Adhesive Strips around the backside of the window sheet around the circle.
Place frosted dots over the stamped area. Adhere the layer onto the card front.
Adhere three Pretty Peacock dots on the card front.
I cut a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock to. 5 1/2″ x 9 1/2″. Scored at 4 1/4″ and 6 7/8″.
I cut a diagonal from the first score line to the left edge.
I placed glue down on the bottom of the panel and the outside edge. Fold the first panel inward and glue the pocket down.
I adhered the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer to the inside. I adhered a 1 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ piece of card to the right side of the Basic White layer.
I placed together a 1 1/2″ x 5″ piece of card with the honeycomb back to back with a 1 1/4″ x 5″ piece of Crushed Curry cardstock. I punched a hole in the top and pulled a piece of ribbon through. I stamped the book mark and slipped the Crushed Curry cardstock in the pocket!
I added a piece of card to the front of the first panel. I adhered a flower die to the card front.
The last alternative card in this series uses a Mossy Meadow card stock cut to 4 1/4″ x 9 3/4″.
I scored the card at 5 1/2″ and then cut off
1 1/4″ off the edge. I cut a 7/8″ strip of the honeycombed card front. I tied some Linen thread around the strip and tied a bow. I adhered one of the bokeh circles from the kit, popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it over the strip. I adhered one flower on a Stampin’ Dimensionals on the bokeh circle. I stamped the Happy Birthday on the bottom of the front panel.
On the inside of the card I adhered to envelope sections separated by the 1 1/4″ piece from the card front, stamped with a sentiment and the bumblebee.
Check out Paper Pumpkin when you get a chance – it’s a great way to craft once a month!

Try some alternative projects – create your own artwork – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

seaside wishes z with a side fold fun fold

seaside wishes z with a side fold fun fold

This is a fun fold I designed it is a z fold with a side flap. I added an extra piece on the z fold and extended over the side flap with lots of fun Seaside Wishes die cuts!

Measurements:
BASE: Crumb Cake 5 1/2″ x 10 3/8″
scored at 2″, 4″ and 8 1/4″
scraps for die cutting and stamping
1/2″ x 4 1/2″ strip
Basic Beige CS: 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
4″ x 5 1/4″ for inside middle layer
scraps for stamping, embossing and die cutting
Flirty Flamingo CS: 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ strip and scraps
for die cutting

Stamp the inside sentiment and starfish images on the Basic Beige 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer and adhere to the inside middle panel.
Score the base cardstock at 2″, 4″ and 8 1/4″.
Fold the 2″ score line in a mountain fold, score the 4″ and 8 1/4″ score lines into a valley fold.
Emboss the 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ Basic Beige layer in the Seaside Wishes hybrid embossing layer and placing tape on the outside of the first panel adhere so the Basic Beige panel is about 1/4″ from the edge and hanging over the right hand side of the first panel.
Emboss and die cut a few of the sand dollars from the Hybrid embossing folder in the Basic Beige CS and adhere to the outside middle of the right hand panel.
Die cut a few small starfish stamped in Pecan Pie ink on Crumb Cake CS and plain and use two on this panel as well.
Die cut a bunch of the Seaside Wishes images and dies in all three cardstock colors and arrange them on the left-hand outside panel extending over towards but not exceeding the right-hand edge of the card.
Stamp the outside sentiment in Pecan Pie ink on the Flirty Flamingo strip and adhere it over the Crumb Cake strip. Pop up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and place in the middle of the left-hand panel.

Color Pearl Basic Jewels with the Dark Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends and adhere to the card as a final coordinating detail!

Unfolded this card will stand on it’s own and with all of the die cut decor it will display beautifully!

Try this extra flap z-fold card soon with your supplies and show me how it turns out!

Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

friends of the ocean h spanner fun fold card

friends of the ocean h spanner fun fold card

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge screams warm weather in hues of spring grass and sunsets of Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral and Lemon Lime Twist.

I have seen this type of fun fold called many things – front flap fun fold card, front flap H fold, Spanner card etc. whatever you name it this is a winner… easy to replicate and make – it is an easy WOW card!

Pair this fun fold with the Friends of the Ocean Suite of products and well – I am SOOOO ready for spring and summer on the water! LOL!

Measurements:
BASE: Melon Mambo CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, (1) 3/4″ x 5 1/2″
scraps for die cuts
Basic White CS: (4) 1 1/8″ x 4 1/8″
(2) 2 7/8″ x 4 1/8″
scraps for stamping and die cutting
DSP: (4) 1″ x 4″, (1) 2 3/4″ x 4″ and
(1) 5/8″ x 5 1/2″
Lemon Lime Twist CS: scraps for die cuts

Score your base card at 4 1/4″.
Cut the front flap of the card base at 1 1/4″ from each side from the score line to the edge.
This will make a 1 1/4″ flap on each side of the card front.
Adhere the 1″ x 4″ DSP pieces to the Basic White 1 1/8″ x 4 1/8″ cardstock layers.

Adhere two on the outside of the side panels.

Adhere the 2 3/4″ x 4″ DSP piece to the 2 7/8″ x 4 1/8″ Basic White layer and adhere that to the middle outside flap in between the two side panels.
Adhere the other two smaller DSP panels to the inside of the card. These will go on the outside edges leaving 1/8″ border on the top, bottom and outside edge.
Adhere the other 2 7/8″ x 4 1/8″ Basic White layer in between the two smaller DSP layers as shown in the photo below.
Stamp the hello friend sentiment from the Ocean Friends stamp set and the bubbles across the 5/8″ x 5 1/2″ strip.
Mount to the 3/4″ cardstock strip.
Stamp the two step stampin’ crab in Melon Mambo ink – stamping the base in the ink and then stamping off on a scrap piece of paper before stamping on your cardstock – creating a lighter base image.
Stamp the detailed crab full strength in Melon Mambo ink over the base image.
Die cut the crab and adhere to the middle panel.
Die cut the small starfish in Melon Mambo cardstock and adhere around the crab.
Adhere only the ends of the cardstock strip so that the strip is ONLY attached to the side panels of the card front!
Die cut the edging die in Lemon Lime Twist cardstock and some more small starfish.
Adhere under the spanner sentiment careful to only adhere to the side panels (or you will glue this fun fold closed)
Adhere the Lemon Lime Twist starfish to the card front.
Color some small pearls with Melon mambo Stampin’ Blends and adhere to the card front.
I decided I wanted a little more Calypso Coral in the card other than just in the DSP so I stamped a lobster in Calypso and adhered the tail under the spanner and the claw on the right hand side panel.
I stamped another crab on the inside middle panel of the spanner fun fold and the LOVE YOU sentiment above the image to complete the third level of the card!
A spanner card has three little layers, the crab and lobster show up when the card is completely closed but when you lift up the spanner portion of the card you get to see the crab on the middle panel without the lobster and then you pick up the middle panel and get to see the inside of the card!

Try this fun fold with a set you have in your stash! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

february swap cards

february swap cards

I LOVE getting HAPPY MAIL!
What is Happy Mail – for me it’s most anything sent by mail that is not advertising, junk or bills! When you get a hand written card in the mail doesn’t it bring you joy?
Demonstrator swaps are like that too! Every month I participate and cannot wait to get 10-20 cards in the mail from sister stampers that create some lovely cards for me to share with you all!

The first card is actually a late arrival from my January Swap that arrived in the mail after I posted my January Swap blog so this one features the most popular Sale-a-bration requested FREEBIE – the Bloom Impressions DSP. Carol S’s swap card uses that Sale-a-bration DSP paired with the Beautiful Butterflies dies and the Painted Plaster 3D embossing folder. For all of you that EARNED this gorgeous paper here is a lovely idea for how to use it on your own creations!

This Mediterranean Blooms DSP card from Lyn L shows an easy way to create a card using our gorgeous Designer Series papers as the main attraction! She used the coordinating bundle on top of the DSP.
Marie W’s swap card features the Linked Together bundle from the current January to April 2025 mini catalog products to create a lovely die cut creation full of colorful flowers and sentiment oval die set atop the neutral Country Woods DSP.
Judith P’s masculine swap card used the Terrific Toadstools bundle in neautral shades of Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Basic Black with splatters of Craft White ink over it to create a “magical” vibe!
Jeanna T’s swap card gives us an excellent peak at the newly released Online Exclusive suite Botanical Textures that features the Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder, gorgeous masculine paper showing textured textiles in neutral shades and great dies and stamps to coordinate!
The Thankful Garden Bundle with it’s coordinating die, masks and stamp set is featured on Veronica S’s swap card in Bubble Bath and Lemon Lime Twist set on a background of contrasting black and white for a stunning thank you card! This is the first time I have seen the Starburst Sequins from the Lovely Garden Suite and they are stunning!
STARBURST SEQUINS #165539 $7.50
* 180 adhesive-backed pieces
* 5 mm, 6mm
* Crushed Curry, Fresh Freesia, white
This delightful swap Thankful Garden card is from Carol S. Using the sentiment from the Country Birdhouse stamp set and the flowers and foliage from the new Thankful Garden bundle with masks for easy coloring this cards focal pieces pop in Melon Mambo and Garden Green set on Black and White! The rectangular dies from the Textured Notes bundle set the tone on both the front and inside of the card.
Susan W’s swap card in beautiful green hues features the Layering Florals embossing folder, the Winter Meadow DSP, the Everyday Details stamp set and the coordinating (retired) Everyday Details dies and the Shaded Spruce ribbon all set on a Shaded Spruce card stock base.
Robin C’s swap card features the lovely Wildflower Birthday Suite of products including the Wildflower Specialty Designer Series Paper and die cut sheets, the Spotlight on Nature dies, and the eyelet embossing folder for a fun Gatefold Offset fun fold card with coordinating envelope flap with an additional piece of Designer Series paper!
This Tower card fun fold from Nancy F uses a fun stand alone display card featuring the Lovely Garden DSP and the sentiment from the Bright Borders stamp set and the coordinating To the Point Label punch for a very springtime card! She also decorated her envelope flap with DSP – clever!
Lori V’s swap card uses a belly band with a die cut from the Mixed Labels bundle to close around this gorgeous DSP from the Mixed Media Suite. But the best is the surprise inside with a pop up floral arrangement from the Mixed Florals bundle over the Painted Plaster 3D embossing folder panels!
The last card in my February Swap collection is from my upline Denise W and she made a Tri-fold Shutter card – fancy! I will be highlighting my own version on one of my upcoming blog posts and I will teach you have to make this fun card! Denise used Petunia Pop In Color for the base card and the Meant To Bee bundle with coordinating DSP to complete the look!
Hopefully we inspired you with all these fabulous swap ideas and now it is your turn to go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – flirty flamingo, daffodil delight and balmy blue swap card

more color mondays – flirty flamingo, daffodil delight and balmy blue swap card

Today’s More Color Monday Color Challenge was all about my Fun Fold Swap for the SOLD OUT OnStage 2025 Stampin’ Up! Event starting this coming week in Raleigh, North Carolina. On March 13th lucky demonstrators that registered in the first 6 hours that the event registration was open will be gathering in Raleigh, Strasbourg, France and Brisbane, Australia. I sadly will not be among them this year as I got shut out but a friend and fellow demonstrator that is hosting a large scale swap allowed me to remain on the list so I will have some fun elite OnStage Swaps to share as soon as they return home and he mails them out – stay tuned!

This is the card I submitted to the Fun Fold card swap!

Measurements:
BASE #1: Basic Black CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″
BASE #2: Basic Black CS: 3 1/2″ x 7″
scored at 3 1/2″ and 5 5/8″
scrap for die
Mixed Media DSP: (2) 1 7/8″ x 5 1/4″
Beautiful Bokeh DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 3 3/8″ x 3 3/8″
2″ x 3 3/8″
1″ x 3 3/8″
scrap for the sentiment die
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the Mixed Florals stamp/die cut
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the back-side of the card

Score the larger Basic Black BASE #1 at 2 1/2″ and 4 1/4″.
Adhere the 1 7/8″ strips of Mixed Media DSP to the first and second panels of BASE #1.
Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Beautiful Bokeh DSP to the third panel of BASE #1.
Stamp the tulip image from the Mixed Florals stamp set on one of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layers.
Color the smaller flower petals in Light Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends markers.
Color the lower half of the smaller blooms in Dark Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends and then go over the entire petal to blend the colors with the Light Marker one last time.
Color the tulip petals with the Light Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends marker.
Color the lower half and the highlight marks of the tulip blooms with the Dark Flirty Flamingo marker and then color the entire tulip petal surface with the Light marker to blend the flower petal.
Color the leaves with Soft Sea Foam Light marker.
Highlight with the Dark marker and then blend with the Light marker to finish the leaves.
Die cut the floral image out with the corresponding die.
I cut the flower image in two pieces.
I initially took the first and third Basic White layers the 3 3/8″ square (1st panel) and the 1″ (for the third panel) and embossed them with the Beautiful Butterflies embossing folder I later decided to use the Distressed Tile 3D embossing folder – because I liked the smaller pattern for this card!
I stamped the inside sentiment onto the 2″ layer and adhered all three layers to the smaller Z fold BASE #2.
I die cut the rectangular die shape from the Mixed labels die set in Basic Black cardstock and adhered it to the lower portion of the first panel.
I stamped the outside sentiment and die cut from the Mixed Labels bundle and burnished the edges with Flirty Flamingo ink and adhered it above the black die on the first panel.
I folded the smaller z fold closed and added Stampin’ Seal + to the exposed edge of the back of the first panel and adhered it to the middle of the larger BASE #1 first panel.

Then I closed the smaller Z fold and placed Stampin’ Seal + to the back of the third panel and closed the back side of the card over the tape securing the smaller Z fold to the larger z fold.

Adhere the smaller tulip stamped image to the third panel of the smaller z fold so that the leaf is sticking out at the top.
Place Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the large tulip piece and adhere to the left side of the first panels.
I decided I wanted one of the bloom to be Daffodil Delight as I did not have enough of this color on the card. So I redid the smaller bloom in Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends.
I added Adhesive-Backed Pearl trio embellishments to the card to finish off this fun swap card with some coordinating bling!

I love the way this turned out – how about you do you like the decisions I made during the creative process – changing the flower colors and the embossing folder? Let me know what you think and which way you preferred it!

Do not be shy to change your mind while creating – creative process is a fluid thing and be open to your creative instinct – try new things and do not be afraid to go in a different direction then you originally imagined – you might just like the outcome better than the original inspiration!

Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

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