I must be honest and say that while I love the new colours, the kit projects didn’t really appeal to me at first. That was until I actually started making them. Oh my goodness, the three cards I made following the instructions in the kit were such fun to put together. In no time at all I was smitten. So with some new In Color cardstock at hand I continued playing to create a couple of alternate projects for you.

OH, HAPPY DAY

I began my first alternate project idea with the bright and cheerful panel from the kit. Looking at the stamp set my eyes fell on the “Oh, Happy Day” sentiment and I had an idea. I sat my acrylic block onto the panel so I could see the larger Bumblebee (yellow) strip. Next I placed the sentiment onto the block, curving it to follow the shape of the strip. Then I stamped the curved sentiment on the strip using Misty Moonlight ink.

I’d initially planned to use some of the coordinating In Color card as a mat for the striped panel, but nothing seemed right. Then looking at the sentiment I realised I needed something dark. In hindsight I could probably have used Misty Moonlight Card, but instead reached for Basic Black. It was then that I decided to use the panel as the top of a box.

To make my life easier later I decided to trim 1/8″ off the panel so that it was 2-3/4″ x 4-1/4″. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I mounted the striped piece onto the Basic Black layer. To complete the panel I added three puffy stickers from the kit and set it aside.

MAKING THE BOX

Now it was time to make a simple two part box. I started with a 7-1/2″ x 9″ piece of the new Magenta Madness Card and scored it on all four sides at 2″. Next I folded the card along the scored lines and sharpened the creases with a Bone Folder. Then with a long side towards me I used Paper Snips to cut up the two scored lines to the horizontal one. I cut a little wedge off the edges of the tabs I’d created, turned the card around and did the same from the other side.

To make the box lid easier to get off the base I used the Label Me Fancy Punch to add a little notch in the centre of each of the shorter side panels. Then all I had to do was tuck the tabs in and secure them in place with liquid glue.

For the box base I used a 7-15/32″ x 8-31/32″ piece of Basic Black Card. Once again I scored the piece at 2″ on all four sides then folded, cut and assembled it in the same way. I know the measurements look odd but this way I knew the two boxes would nest beautifully.

If you’ve never made a simple two-part box before here’s my YouTube video that explains the basic process.

With the boxes made I used the Magenta Madness tissue paper from the kit to line the box and added my gift.

Then I put the lid on the box and attached the assembled panel with Stampin’ Dimensionals. In no time at all my first project was complete.

A HAND-STAMPED BACKGROUND

For my second project I decided to make a simple card concentrating on some of the stamps in the kit.

I began with the small Purple Posy notecard base and cut it in half down the scored line. To turn the piece into a custom background I chose the two smaller curved stamps from the A Kit In Color set. First I stamped the larger of these two images over the layer using Misty Moonlight ink. I turned the stamp each time and made sure the images didn’t overlap. Then I stamped the smaller image, however after inking up the stamp I ‘stamped-off’ onto scrap paper. This way when I stamped onto the Purple Posy layer the ink would be lighter.

Once the background was stamped I used liquid glue to mount it onto a 3-3/4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Misty Moonlight Card.

My next task was to decorate an envelope and a layer for the inside of my card. So I chose the large envelope from A Kit In Color with the Purple Posy lining. Then using the same stamps and technique I stamped my custom design over the flap. Finally I took a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Whisper White Card and covered all but a 1″ strip down the right-hand side with scrap paper. Then I stamped the design over the 1″ strip.

FINAL TOUCHES

I was nearly ready to put the card together. All I needed was the focal piece for the front. For this I went back to the A Kit In Color stamp set and chose the large ‘hey’ sentiment. Using Misty Moonlight ink I stamped the sentiment onto a 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ piece of Whisper White Card. Then with liquid glue I mounted it onto a 2-3/4″ x 2-3/4″ piece of Misty Moonlight Card.

To complete the focal point I added three of the self-adhesive puffy stickers, two in Purple Posy and one Misty Moonlight.

Next I cut a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Thick Whisper White Card and with the long side at the top scored it at 4-1/4″. Then after folding it along the scored line I sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. With liquid glue I lined my card base using the Whisper White layer with the 1″ stamped strip to the inside.

Then using more liquid glue I mounted the layered background at an angle onto the card front. To finish I added the assembled sentiment piece onto the background with Stampin’ Dimensionals and my second alternate project was complete.

PAPER PUMPKIN KITS

Paper Pumpkin monthly craft kits are only available by subscription in Canada and the US. Sadly the May “A Kit In Color” sold out well before the usual deadline. The June kit promises to be equally awesome so make sure you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin today so you don’t miss out. The kit will ship around June 15th.

A KIT IN COLOR

I hope you enjoyed my alternate projects. Now for more inspirational ideas featuring “A Kit In Color” make sure you visit the rest of the blog hop posts. You are currently at step 3 – Tracy Elsom.

PRODUCT LIST

Here’s all the regular Stampin’ Up! products I used for today’s projects.