Greetings my stamping friends. I hope you all had a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends. For the first time in many years, almost my entire family gathered together this year. We were missing two nieces (Shelby and Lani), a great nephew (Ryder) and a spouse of one of my nieces (Marcial). Here are two family photos: all of us and then Mom and her girls.
My youngest sister asked me to make her a collection of cards so she would have them on hand when needed. This meant so much to me. While I have been a demonstrator for almost 17 years now, my sisters never showed much interest in cards.
Below are the cards I included in her box. I also used one of the “cute” Paper Pumpkin kit boxes and decorated it to hold her cards until they were needed. She loved the box as much as the cards. Just maybe she will ask for me to replenish it when she runs out. (NOTE: The following cards may use retired products, kits or current products.)
I typically charge $3.00 per card so she got all these cards plus the box for $36.00. She was very pleased.
If you are like me and have hundreds of cards just sitting around in storage boxes, making friends and family gifts sets for a holiday gift would be an excellent way of sharing what you love. After all, a handmade card is like a warm hug with a fold in the middle.
I apologize again for my absence this past week. I had one of my iGg infusions which triggered my migraines which did not respond well to my Rx. I hope to be back to posting daily soon.
Have you visited the Stampin’ Up! Online Store to check out the Black Friday Sale? Don’t miss this chance to save on select products. Sale ends December 1, 2025. Some products are already SOLD OUT! SHOP NOW
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper. And perhaps inspired to gift some of those cards you are hoarding to friends and family this year for the holidays. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. I have been working on my most recent Paper Pumpkin kit – Wrapped in Cheer – which is the November 2025 kit. I have not completed assembling all of the boxes just yet, but I did one of each design so I could share them with you.
This kit makes gift boxes that measure approximately 2.75″ x 4″ x .50″ once assembled. The boxes themselves are like miniature Paper Pumpkin boxes (so cute!). One kit provides enough supplies for eight boxes, four each of two designs. While the instructions only show the use of the “Merry Christmas” tags on one of the designs, there were enough of the tags to include on both designs so that was my option which you will see below:
I also opted to add Wink of Stella to the paper bow die cuts and used the same stamp on the back of the tag instead of the sample shown in the instructions for the wreath box. Another change I made to design was adding a piece of coordinating ribbon that I threaded under the tag piece after it was attached to the box front (I didn’t like how the box had that gap on the side). Unfortunately, the only ribbon I had that was the correct color is retired.
One tip that might make assembling your boxes easier, though not required or mentioned in the instructions, is to add Tear & Tape to certain sections of the box. I had issues with the boxes not staying assembled (the sides would pop loose) and this was how I solved that issue. Below is a photo that shows where the adhesive should be applied. Also be sure to burnish ALL of your score lines with your bone folder BEFORE you attempt to assemble the box.
Since I buy two kits each month, I have 14 more boxes to assemble which I hope to knock out tomorrow!
If you are not already a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, there will be a sale on prepaid subscriptions starting on December 1 (more details coming soon).
Here is the video from Stampin’ Up! showing in super speed how to assemble this kit if you have this sitting around your craft room. You can pause, rewind and of course watch it as often as you need to. However, if you still have questions on assembling this kit, I would be happy to answer them for you.
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. Get ready for Stampin’ Up!’s first-ever Black Friday sale with up to 40% off the most useful, needed, irresistible Stampin’ Up! products at deeper discounts than ever before. Shop between November 25 to December 1 so you can create more by spending less during this limited-time-only sale!
Why should you shop this Black Friday sale? Here are some excellent reasons:
Refresh Your Stash. Take some time to shop the sale and replenish all your stamping necessities AND save money while doing so.
Stock Up on Essential Products. This is a great chance to stock up and save on everyday tools and consumable items that every crafter needs AND save money while doing so.
Great Opportunity for New Stampers. If you have just started stamping and need essential products to help build their crafting stash, this sale presents a great chance for you to build your supplies base so you are ready to craft whenever inspiration strikes AND save money while doing so.
Perfect for Christmastime. All of the products that will be on sale make great gifts for crafters, whether they’re just starting to craft or if “Crafting” is your middle name. And with delivery set to arrive before Christmas, this sale is the perfect way to get in the festive spirit AND save money while doing so!
This is more than just a sale—it’s everyone’s chance to grab everyday crafting must-haves at prices too good to pass up. Come on – I mean, you save money!
There will be a link in the Online Store when the Black Friday sale begins which will allow you to quickly see the products that are included as part of the sale. (NOTE: Only select products are included as summarized above in the Promotion Details and items are only available at the sale price while supplies last.)
If you have any question regarding this sale or have difficulty finding the link on the Online Store starting November 25, please contact me.
Thank you for stopping by today. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. There are lots of surprises ahead in December, including a new promotion – Product of the Month.
If you love exclusive products, you’re going to love Product of the Month, a promotion centered around a special product release every month. The Product of the Month items are specially designed to be some of the best items Stampin’ Up! has to offer that aren’t available in any of our catalogs or our Online Exclusives. Every month Stampin’ Up! will release a new item that is only available for purchase once per account. These items will be limited quantity and are likely to sell out quickly—once they’re sold out, they’re gone for good!
PROMOTION DETAILS:
Stampin’ Up! Account. To participate in Product of the Month, you MUST have a Stampin’ Up! account. If you need help setting up an account or are unable to create an account, please let me know so I can contact Demonstrator Support.
A New Product Every Month. Stampin’ Up! will release a new Product of the Month item every month. The Product of the Month items will be available at midnight sometime near the beginning of every month. We will NOT announce ahead of time the exact dates of the product release, nor will we announce what the products will be. You can view the newly released products on the Product of the Month page.
Qualifying Amounts. You can purchase the Product of the Month item for only $5 USD when you spend $75 USD or more in a single order. Your cart total MUST be $75 USD or more at checkout to qualify. You cannot add the Product of the Month to your cart until you’ve reached the qualifying amount. If you use Stampin’ Rewards, coupons, or discount codes on your order and your cart amount falls below $75 USD, you’ll need to add items in your cart to get the total at or above the qualifying amount again. If you reach the qualifying amount, add the Product of the Month to your cart, and the Product of the Month sells out before you’re able to check out, you won’t be able to complete your checkout until you remove the product from your cart.
Product of the Month Price. Currently the Product of the Month is only $5 USD. This should be the same month to month, but we’ll keep you informed if anything changes.
Product of the Month Purchasing Limit. The Product of the Month is limited to one month’s product per Stampin’ Up! account. Additionally, the Product of the Month items are only available while supplies last, so once they’re all sold out, they’re gone for good. So, if you purchase the January Product of the Month, you cannot purchase another January Product of the Month. However, you could purchase the previous December Product of the Month or the new February Product of the Month, provided those products are available for purchase and you meet the qualifying amount once for December and again for February. If you don’t meet the qualifying amount in January until later in the month and the January Product of the Month sells out in the first two weeks, you won’t be able to purchase it. Product of the Month items that are still available for purchase after the month they’re released will have an “exclusive” product tag.
Order Restrictions. Demonstrator orders, customer orders, proxy orders (as long as the person ordering has a Stampin’ Up! account), and phone orders all apply toward the qualifying amount for a single order. Starter Kit orders and gift orders do NOT apply toward the qualifying amount. You cannot qualify for the Product of the Month by making separate purchases that eventually amount to $75 USD or more. The only way you can qualify for Product of the Month is with a single order that reaches the qualifying amount.
No Preorder. Product of the Month will NOT have a preorder period. These products will become available to customers and demonstrators at the same time with no preorder announcement.
Starter Kits. When a new team member orders a Starter Kit, the price of the kit will NOT count toward the qualifying amount to earn the Product of the Month. After they’ve purchased their Starter Kit, their next order will begin to qualify for the Product of the Month.
Available Until Sold Out. Product of the Month products will be available until they’re sold out. Once they’re sold out, they won’t be available for purchase again. If you didn’t qualify to purchase the Product of the Month during the month it was first offered and it’s still available in the following months, you can purchase that product once you reach the qualifying amount. So, if you didn’t qualify in January but you qualify in February, you can choose to buy the January Product of the Month, provided it’s still available for purchase and you meet the qualifying amount. If you buy the January Product of the Month but still want the February Product of the Month, you’ll need to qualify again.
Stay tuned for more information about this new promotion!
Thank you for stopping by today. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. Here is a tiny sneak peek at the December Paper Pumpkin kit.
Immerse yourself in lush botanical elegance and an evocative palette of deep blues and greens with the December 2025 Watercolor in Bloom Paper Pumpkin Kit!
The stunning cards created with this kit showcase lovely layers and eye-catching copper accents, with sentiment stamps that make it easy to personalize your greetings. Each kit includes printed card bases, precut paper pieces with copper foil details, precut vellum pieces, copper sequins, and coordinating envelopes with botanical designs.
Whether you’re expressing gratitude or reaching out to a loved one, your message is sure to be unforgettable when it arrives in one of these gorgeous cards!
Subscribe by December 10 to get this all-inclusive kit!
If you are already a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, make sure your subscription is active if you wish to receive the December kit. If you need multiple kits, you can also increase the number you receive before the 10th of the month (just make sure to reset after billing unless you want to receive the same quantity each month thereafter).
If you are not already a Paper Pumpkin subscriber and really want to receive this kit, you can subscribe HERE. Unless you subscribe after December 1, but before December 9, I would recommend a monthly pay as you go subscription that will bill automatically each month because there will be a SALE on prepaid Paper Pumpkin subscriptions the week of December 1-9, 2025 (details to follow soon)!
Also, don’t forget that there are now coordinating dies for each quarter (in this case October, November and December) of kits. These coordinating dies are only available to subscribers and while supplies last. (Abundant Joy Dies #167855 / $12.00)
Please let me know if you need help becoming a Paper Pumpkin subscriber or have any questions regarding how this subscription works. I can say for certain these boxes are filled with fun and improve year over year.
Thank you for stopping by today. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. Sorry for the week-long silence. I was juggling medical appointments and tests, my birthday week and a little bit of creativity block all at the same time.
I made today’s share a few days ago and was not 100% sure I was going to share it with you because I am more of a traditional “Christmas colors are red and green” type of person, so the Modern Christmas Suite Collection is taking me a little out of my comfort zone. Are you also Team Traditional Colors, or are you Team Alternative Colors? Here is today’s card:
I cut strips of the designer series paper from the Suite in varying widths and adhered them at an angle on a piece of Basic White cardstock, trimming off the overhang for a clean edge. I die cut three of the trees from the coordinating Ornamental Christmas Dies from a piece of the designer series paper. I folded each of the three pieces in half and burnished the folds with my bonefolder. I then glued the right side of the first tree to the left side of the second tree; then the right side of the second tree to the left side of the third tree. I cut a circle from Gold Foil paper using the same set of dies and then adhered the left side of the first tree and the right side of the third tree to the center of the circle, pushing the pieces together to form the tree. (If formed correctly, the tree should fold flat when put into an envelope.)
As usual, I added Wink of Stella to the die cut tree pieces and the stamped “Merry Christmas” greeting which comes from the Ornamental Christmas Cling Stamp Set. (NOTE: Save 10% and purchase the stamp set and dies as a Bundle.)
If you wish to add some or all of these products to your Online Shopping cart, here are thumbnail links that will make doing so both quick and easy:
If you have any questions regarding the dimensions or design of this project, how to place an Online Order, or any other questions related to Stampin’ Up! or their products, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am here to help you maximize the potential of your crafting experience.
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. Just a reminder that the last day to subscribe to receive this month’s (November) Paper Pumpkin kit is November 10. This month’s kit will provide you with supplies to create gift tags and small gift boxes that are perfectly sized for gift cards or small treats. If you are already a subscriber, make sure that your credit card information and mailing address are current to avoid delays or errors in processing your subscription. If you are not already a subscriber, this is an excellent once a month “happy mail” surprise with everything you need for an evening or afternoon of some “me time” to get your creative juices flowing.
If you wish to become a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you can click HERE to begin your subscription process.
If you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, do you have a hoarding problem like I do? During my craft room organization process I have discovered that I have been guilty of stacking my kits to the side and forgetting about them. Since I have been a subscriber since the very beginning, this means I have A LOT of kits that I have not completed. It just boggles the mind.
As I was taking the kits out of boxes and transferring them to Avery Elle envelopes, I constantly found myself admiring how beautiful many of the kits are and wanted to stop right then to work on them. But I pressed on. I have processed years 2021-2025 (to date) and finally took a break today and am working on the October 2022 Ho Ho Ho Kit.
I still have a lot left to organize and transfer, but I can fit an entire year in one acrylic bin so removing the kits from the boxes is freeing up a lot of space for more things I NEED.
Here is the system that I am trying out for my Paper Pumpkin storage:
I purchased both items through Amazon. The Avery Elle clear folders are the “Extra Large Stamp & Die Storage 6-3/4″ x 9-3/8″ Pockets – 50 Pack”. They include a flap at the top which I found to be a pain so I cut them off with my trimmer at the fold line. The Acrylic Bins are the “ClearSpace Storage Bins 11″ x 8″ x 6″ 4 Pack”.
I typically buy two of each month’s kit and unless they have something extra like a stocking (around the holidays), I do not have any problem fitting two months in one pocket.
If you have any question regarding Paper Pumpkin, on how to subscribe, or even on my new storage solution, please contact me. I am here to help you maximize your crafting experience.
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper. And if you have a stack of Paper Pumpkin kits like I do, perhaps pull out a few and have some fun creating for a while. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. Today I am sharing with you the last card from my Connect & Create group swap. Today’s card was created by Michelle Hines from San Francisco, California, someone I ACTUALLY know and have crafted with at several group events over the years! Here is Michelle’s card:
I titled today’s post “An Autumn Toile Pick Three” because while Michelle used the designer series paper from the Autumn Toile Suite as her main focal point of her card design, she used two other stamp sets in building the front greeting and then the verse on the inside of the card. This is just one example of how well Stampin’ Up!’s products coordinate with each other. It goes far beyond the consistency of the color matching/coordination.
The “Thinking of You” greeting on the front of the card and the pine cones on the inside of the card come from the Branching Out stamp set that is also available as a Bundle with a coordinating set of dies. (Unfortunately, due to its popularity, the Bundle is currently not available for purchase.) The “So incredibly grateful” verse on the inside of the card comes from the Words for the Season stamp set that is also available as a Bundle with a coordinating set of dies.
Michelle also colored portions of the designer series paper with what appears to be Watercolor Pencils. Lastly, she used an embossing folder that is retired (oops).
Below are thumbnail links to the products that Michelle used in the creation of her card in case you “need” to add them to your Online Shopping Cart. Remember if an item is in “not available” status to activate the notification by email so are alerted when the item(s) is back in stock.
If you have any questions regarding the measurements or design of this card, placing an Online Order or anything related to Stampin’ Up! in general, please contact me. I am here to help you maximize your crafting experience.
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. Today I am sharing one of the few cards I have left from the Connect & Create group swap from several weeks ago. Today’s card was designed by Donnie Seibel from Georgetown, Colorado. Donnie used products from the Peaceful Garden Suite Collection which is one of the collections found in the September – December 2025 Mini Catalog.
Here is Donnie’s “glimmery” card:
The Glimmer Paper that Donnie used on the front of her card for the two doves and the sprig are also part of the Suite Collection. The colors used in the Suite are Basic Beige, Cloud Cover, Crumb Cake, Misty Moonlight, Pecan Pie and Secret Sea.
The design of this card looks the opposite of what one would expect to see — typically the designer series paper piece would be on the front of the card, rather than on the inside. Very clever switch up. I love the coordinating dies that come as part of this Suite, especially the doves. They have little accessory pieces that include a very small envelope or a tiny sprig that you can have them carry in their beaks.
Here is a list of the Stampin’ Up! products that were used in the creation of this card with thumbnails that will allow you to quickly and easily add these items to your Online Shopping Cart:
(NOTE: If you do not wish to purchase the entire Suite, the thumbnail link will also include options to purchase select products from the Suite on the right side of the product listing. You may need to scroll down a little to see all options.)
If you have any questions regarding the design or measurements of this card, the products used or how to place your Online order, please contact me. I am here to help you maximize your crafting experience.
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
Greetings my stamping friends. I actually began working on a new kit yesterday that I finished up earlier this morning — the Nutcracker Tags Kit.
I LOVE nutcrackers so I just had to buy this kit. I have several large wooden ones that I have had for more than 20 years (that I sometimes have to glue back together when I take them out of storage). I really did not have a “need” for gift tags, so I decided to design “outside of the box” and create cards with the kit — another ZERO stamping kit. I hope you enjoy today’s share.
The kit makes four different nutcrackers (three of each) so there are four different card designs as follows:
Since many of the elements in the kit have gold glitter accents, I did not use very much Wink of Stella — I just added my favorite glitter coloring tool to the berries on the holly and berries element on each card.
On the “Believe” card, the designer series paper did not have Granny Apple Green in the plaid colors. I have a centering ruling that has channel cutouts in the center, and I took my Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Write Marker (retired but still available in Last Chance Products Lists as Brights color family purchase) and added a stripe inside each of the Soft Seam Foam stripes. (Me so clever, right?) I think I should have also added a piece of vellum cut with the Arch Dies to mute the pattern down a bit (as used on the “Joy” card), but that idea came to me too late for that particular card design.
Unfortunately, at the time of this post, some of the products used in my projects are not available (Nutcracker Tags Kit and Christmas Tags & More 6×6 Mix & Match Specialty DSP). If you run into this issue in the Online Store, be sure activate the “Send me an email if this item becomes available” option so you are notified when these items are back in stock.
If you wish to order some or all of the items I used in the design of these cards, here are thumbnail images that will allow you to add these items to your Online Store Shopping Cart:
I also used some retired embellishments called Low-Profile Dots that were Online Exclusives and just fell off the Last Chance List when they sold out. S0rry, they were the only gold toned embellishments I had on hand.
If you have any questions regarding the dimensions or products used in my projects, please contact me for more information. I am here to help you maximize your crafting experience.
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper. Until next time, stamp on my friends.
The content on this Blog is my sole responsibility as an independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and the use of and content of the classes, services, or products offered on my DBWS, personal blog, website, or other Internet medium is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up!
I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .
I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.