cozy christmas paper pumpkin alternatives

cozy christmas paper pumpkin alternatives

Paper Pumpkin kits are so incredible for $27 you get detailed color instructions to make 8-9 cards, a stamp set, an ink spot, an acrylic block in your first box and all of the supplies to make these lovely cards as is…

OR you can follow a multitude of creative Stampin’ Up! demonstrators that make alternative cards for that particular box! Today I am using the October 2025 Cozy Christmas kit to turn 9 card supplies into 44by adding extra card stock and envelopes! I added Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green cardstock, cut up bases and envelopes and added die cuts to make some lovely simple Christmas cards!

This month’s kit came in a festive box with a versatile stamp set. The box makes 3 sets of 3 card designs if you follow the enclosed directions.

For the my first alternative card I used the Merry Christmas sentiment die, stamped it in a Cherry Cobbler ink pad that I brought in. (The kit comes with a Pecan Pie ink spot)

I cut the Garden Green tree printed base card into 2 – 4″ x 5 1/4″ pieces. I mounted the tree layer onto a 5 1/2″ x 81/2″ cardstock base that I scored at 4 1/4″. I cut all of the flocked leaves apart and after popping up the sentiment onto the layer I adhered the flocked leaves under the sentiment piece. I adhered the layer to the base and added embellishments to finish this simple and fun card.

In order to more than quadruple the cards made from the kit I separated the die cuts to try to use them in expanded ways. I took the Cherry Cobbler JOY letters to use on a different project and used the negative die images of the letters and traced the letter outlines in Garden Green ink where the die cut letters would have been. I cut away the flocked red flower images from both sides of the JOY sentiment piece.

I cut one tree printed card into four pieces at
2 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ and adhered the strip onto the middle of a Cherry Cobbler base card.

I stamped the “to the world” in Pecan Pie ink under the outline JOY on the sentiment piece and popped it up onto Stampin’ Dimensions
I tucked one flocked flower and one flocked leaf segment under the sentiment piece.

Add embellishments and this card alternative is finished as well.

This next card uses a Cherry Cobbler CS base, I cut the envelope flap off of the envelope and adhered it to the scored side of the card. Cut off the excess on the sides and make sure all of the sides are adhered down.

Take the ornament pieces and adhere the top piece over the flocked bottom piece. Pop up the ornament die cut in the center of the card over the envelope’s flap point.

I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment in the bottom right-hand corner of the card base in Cherry Cobbler ink for a tone on tone effect and added embellishments to finish this next simple and elegant Christmas card alternative.

I cut the Cherry Cobbler card base into 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ layers each card base will make 2 layers.

Adhere the layer onto a Garden Green base.

I embossed a 1/2″ x 5 3/8″ strip and took one of the thin strips cut from the card base and adhered it into the middle of the white strip. Adhere the white and red strips to the middle of the card layer. I die cut a middle circle from the Stylish Shapes die set and stamped the JOY sentiment in Cherry Cobbler ink and the stars around the word in Garden Green ink.

Pop up the circle die over the right-hand side of the strips, and add embellishments to finish off this card.

I adhered a Basic Beige layer to a Cherry Cobbler CS base.

I cut up the flocked trees into smaller tree sections making more available for more cards. I added Stampin’ Dimensionals under the bottom of the three tree base and under the one tree image. I mounted the one tree over the five tree image and adhered that tree to the middle of the card. I added the flocked star over the flocked tree and adhered it under the tree top.

I stamped “DECK the Halls” sentiment in Pecan Pie ink on a smaller banner die from the Stylish Shapes die set. Pop up the sentiment piece under the tree image on the card layer.

I added embellishments to finish off this card!

For the next alternative card I die cut one of the larger circles from the Stylish Shapes die set in Cherry Cobbler CS. I stamped the Merry Christmas and the stars image in Cherry Cobbler ink.

I adhered the envelope flap on the top short side of the card, cut off the excess and adhered the excess to the bottom card corners.

Pop up the circle die on Stampin’ Dimensionals over the envelope point and add embellishments to complete this card.

This last card is a CASE card from my sideline Rachel T., she is such a great source of inspiration! Thanks Rachel. I changed up the placement of the ornament but loved her idea of using just the ornaments tops to stretch the kit even farther!

I used one side of the envelope as the card layer cut at 4″ x 5 1/4″. I adhered this to a Cherry Cobbler card base. I adhered the JOY letters to the top of the card in a diagonal whimsical way. I punched a small circle out of Cherry Cobbler CS, positioned it directly under the O in the JOY lettering and adhered off the bottom of the card layer. Adhere the ornament cap and decor to the top of the circle, making sure that the Pecan Pie “string” butts up to the O.

I have a few other designs which I will post after my Stamp-a-stack on Monday – but can you believe 44 cards from this kit and with Christmas cards – so useful!

Now go and create some alternative Paper Pumpkin cards or some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

jolly holly cut out card

jolly holly cut out card

Did you know that the Jolly Holly Online Exclusives bundle contains a hybrid embossing folder that does a PARTIAL die cut on the holly background! This is such a cool technique – you can gently bend the holly leaves up to give the card front extra depth and dimension or tuck a sentiment card in between the holly leaves like I did on this card!

Measurements:
BASE: Cherry Cobbler CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, scrap for the word die
Garden Green CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for the sentiment matte and the holly dies

Hybrid emboss and die cut the Jolly Holly leaves on the Garden Green CS layer.
Stamp two holly clusters in Garden Green ink. Using a Blender Pen pull the green ink inward to color the holly leaves. Using a Cherry Cobbler dark Stampin’ Blends marker color the berries in the holly clusters.

Die cut the White sentiment rectangle from the Jolly Holly die set, two holly leaf bundles and the word joy from the Cheery Cobbler CS.

Pop up the embossed background on Stampin’ Dimensionals onto the Cherry Cobbler card base.

Tuck the white sentiment rectangular die cut into the partially cut holly leaf background. Adhere with a little dab of Multipurpose Glue on the back of the sentiment rectangle and under the holly leaves that go over the rectangle.

Glue the Joy die to the sentiment matte and pop up the colored holly leaf beside the word.

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White CS layer to the inside of the card.

I saved the 1/8″ strip I cut from the Garden Green CS and adhered it to the White layer.

Adhere the other colored holly leaf onto the Garden Green strip.

I adhered three red Traditional Sparkling Sequins around the sentiment to finish off this easy and fun Christmas card!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays meets christmas mix and match

more color mondays meets christmas mix and match

Today’s More Color Monday color challenge cards could not get any easier to make with the new Mix and Match series from Stampin’ Up!’s new creativity stepped approach. Starting with this current Annual catalog, the powers that be at Stampin’ Up! devised a creativity system that is stepped and perfect for EVERY TYPE of crafter! Want a very quick and easy option – we got you covered, Want a little but more stepped up – we got that too! WANT IT ALL and want to step it up all the way – WE DEFINITELY GOT THAT!!!
(Speaking of wanting it all – if you are in that category do not miss the current JOIN special – OUR Stampin’ Up! Starter kit is still only $99 but instead of $125 worth of great merchandise of your choice you get to choose $155 worth of merchandise! Have you had your eye on a Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine you can put that on your order! – BUT ONLY until the special runs out on October 31st!)

Here are the images from the current mini catalog of the
1) Gold Dipped Mix and Match Cards and Envelopes. #164108. $12
2) Tags for the Season Mix and Match Ephemera Pack. #164111 $9.50
3) Joyful Images Mix and Match Ephemera Pack. #164110. $9.50
4) Joyful Sayings Mix and Match Ephemera Pack #164109. $9.50

My first color challenge sample is a tag which comes from the Tags for the Season Ephemera pack and combines a sentiment from the Joyful Sayings pack and a pinecone image from the Joyful images pack. I added a little Red and white Baker’s twine and easy peasy!
My second sample is also a tag from the Tags for the Season Ephemera pack and I just added a saying from the joyful Sayings pack and some of the same Baker’s Twine – even simpler!
The next sample is a card made with the Gold Dipped Cards and Envelopes Pack which takes your cards to a whole new level!
I positioned the Gold Dipped card in the horizontal alignment and added a large sentiment from the Joyful Sayings, and a sprig of holly and greens along with a Garden Green strip and an image of gift boxes in hues of Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green and Night of Navy and Gold to tie it all together!
These packs are loaded with sayings and images so using multiple images to build the scene is easy and fun.
I loved this Night of Navy scripted saying “Wishing you a Christmas FULL OF Peace & Wonder” so it became the focal point on my Night of Navy Gold Dipped card and Envelope, after adding a row of evergreens and a blue bow and a Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler ornament on the side!
I added a reindeer image and a pretty single gold-foiled tree along with a pinecone and pine sprig adorned “Christmas Wishes” Gold-folied sentiment to a Garden Green card!
I added a poinsetta image as well as a holly and stocking full of goodies to a Cherry Cobbler card in the portrait position. I also popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals the Merry Christmas banner in the center!
On a Garden Green Portrait card, I added the drum image, a green striped candy cane and Green “Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Season” sentiment popped up in the center.
I love the snow globe effect of the house in snow image with the gold foiled circle enclosing the die cut – I added a lovely blue ribbon and a pinecone along with a blue banner of pool party to compliment the darer blue with the sentiment wonder and a gold striped banner below!
The gold die cut sentiments are striking on the card themselves but adding die cut images of holly, ribbon and a pine wreath set off the words and make an elegant and easy card!
My next card on a Garden Green Gold dipped background uses the Happy Christmas sentiment strip, a bow and three individual ornaments. i popped up the ornaments and drew a black line with a Stampin’ Write marker to the pine boughs adhered above!
My last sample places the Color dipped Gold card to the top of the portrait position and added a blue “Thinking of you this Christmas” sentiment popped up in the center of the card with a star, snowflake and skates as the complimenting images to finish off these lovely and super easy Christmas cards!
Check out these super fun and easy to use Christmas images for your fast and elegant cards with Christmas we are less than 60 days from Christmas now and these are a great way to make lots of great cards!

Current Hostess code until the end of the month is ST2ECEUQ.

Now go get started on creating your great Christmas cards – one stamp at a time or maybe using these great die cuts and no stamping!!

Happy Creating!
Natalie

nests of winter designer series paper card

nests of winter designer series paper card

I had some left over foliage frames dies from a previous card design from the Winterly Tree Tops Bundle that I just could not let go to waste so this is the card I designed around that fun frame die!

Measurements:
BASE: Granny Apple Green
scrap for sentiment piece
Basic White layers (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″
Nests of Winter DSP scrap for bird fussy cut

Color one of the Basic White layers with Granny Apple Green ink and Garden Green ink and individual Blending brushes for each color.
Starting off the paper in a circular motion color different portions of the Basic White layer until the entire surface is covered and the colors are blended together.
Spray the colored layer with water from a Stampin’ Spritzer. allow to dry – where the water droplets hit the ink it will lift the color and lighten the area creating a very cool splatter background!
Cut the other Basic White layer with the foliage frame die from the Winterly Tree Tops die set.
Adhere the frame over the splattered blended background.
Adhere the frame die to the Granny Apple Green card base.
Die cut the rectangular sentiment piece from the Peaceful Season die set and stamp the “thinking of you always” sentiment from the Winterly Tree Tops stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and thread a 5 inch White Diagonal Trim ribbon from the Petal Pink and White Diagonal Trim Combo Pack through the openings and cut the edges in a diagonal.
Pop up the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals and place in the lower right-hand corner of the card base.
Fussy cut the chickadee bird from the Nests of Winter Designer Series Paper and adhere above the sentiment piece.
Finish the card off with three white Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs and the card is done!

What a difference that background makes on the card!

Try this background today and combine it with stamps you have to create your own card – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

stamp and spritz watercolor technique

stamp and spritz watercolor technique

Watercoloring techniques are many and varied.
This following technique is called Stamp and Spritz. It creates a soft stamped image.

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scraps: for sentiment mattes
Lemon Lime Twist: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Watercolor paper: 3 1/2″ x 5″
Basic White: scraps for the sentiments

Stamp one of the base foliage stamps in Lemon Lime Twist ink. Spritz the stamp surface with water. Stamp the images on the half sheet of watercolor paper.

Stamp in Garden Green ink with the top stamp of the two step stamping over the Lemon Lime Twist ink.
Stamp the bottom foliage stamp in Lemon Lime Twist ink and the top stamp in Pretty Peacock ink.
Stamp the sentiment in Pretty Peacock and Lemon Lime Twist ink. Fussy cut the sentiment. Mount the sentiment onto Pretty Peacock CS.
Pop the sentiments up onto Stampin’ DImensionals.
Emboss the Lemon Lime Twist with Birch Wood 3D embossing folder.
Adhere the embossed layer onto the Pretty Peacock cardstock base.
Adhere the watercolor paper onto the embossed layer.
Adhere the Pretty Peacock sequins from the Adhesive-Backed Sequins Trio to finish off the card.

Try this watercolor technique the next time you create some artwork of your own.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie