The exclusive stamp set included the Lots Of Pun kit contains 13 different sentiments. “I pick you” was designed to work with the cherry die-cut piece and stamp, but I saw something different. That egg-cellent printed and die-cut egg just looked like a flower and it all carried on from there.

From the kit I took the card base with the gingham printed front. However I wasn’t going to use it as a card base. Instead I cut along the scored line to separate the back and front. Then I trimmed the plain back to 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8, while the checked front was cut to 4″ x 5-1/4″. Finally, using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I mounted the checked layer onto the plain one and set them aside.

For my card base I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Thick Basic White Card. Next I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. Then, using Stampin’ Dimensionals I added the layered piece onto the front.

With that done I cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card. Then using liquid glue I added a Crumb Cake strip taken from the kit along the top edge. With the assembled layer glued inside the card base I set this part of the project aside. Finally I took one of the printed and die cut “eggs” and glued that to the flap of one of the Pool Party envelopes in the kit.

FLOWER AND EGGS??

Now all the preparation work was done set to work on the focal point for the card.

Going back to the kit I took one of the small Pool Party strips. Next using the Early Espresso ink spot included in the kit I stamped “I pick you”. Then I took another of the Crumb Cake strips from the kit and glued the sentiment to it.

While the egg reminded me of a flower there weren’t any “leaves”, so I grabbed the Flowers & Leaves Punch. I punched three leaves from Granny Apple Green Card and used a Sponge Dauber to add Granny Apple Green ink around the edges. Then I fixed the leaves to the back of the “flower” with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To finish, I added the flower to the left side of the sentiment piece with liquid glue. Then I attached the completed piece to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Finally I added a few yellow enamel dots from the kit and with that alternate card number 1 was complete.

I LOAF THIS CARD!

For my second card I simply had to make something using the a-maize-ing bread slices…

I began with two of the printed bread pieces. First using the Early Espresso ink spot I stamped the bread outline onto each piece. Then I stamped the wider eyes image on both. I set one aside and on the other added the glasses and moustache. Finally on one of the smaller speech bubbles from the kit I stamped “I loaf you”.

Once again I created a card base using Thick Basic White Card. It was at this point that I had an idea. So I reached for a new product from the January to June 2022 Mini Catalogue; the Beautiful Shapes Dies.

For my layers I went back to the Lots of Pun kit and found the card base with the Daffodil Delight-coloured back. Then as before I separated the back and front of the card base. This time I trimmed the front (splattered) piece to 4″ x 5-1/4″, and the back (plain) piece to 3-3/4″ x 5″.

A HOLE LOT OF LOVE

Next, from the Beautiful Shapes Dies I took the hexagonal dies #3 and #4 (counting from the smallest up). I placed the #3 (smaller of the two) in the centre of the plain layer and cut it out. Then I centred the layer on the front of my Basic White card base and drew a light pencil line inside the hexagonal hole. After removing the layer I used the #3 die to cut a hole in the front of the card base. With that done I lined up the holes on the two pieces again and glued them together.

Now I wanted a frame to add some contrast. This time I nested the #3 and #4 dies together and cut some Early Espresso Card. After gluing the frame around the hole on the card front I was ready to add the finishing touches.

ONE FINAL BREAD PUN

Going back to my little stamped pieces I first attached the smiley bread slice onto the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I followed this with the speech bubble sentiment, again using Stampin’ Dimensionals. Finally I added three of the little self-adhesive heart enamel shapes from the kit.

Opening up the card I began by gluing the ‘splattered’ (card front) layer onto the inside. Then I closed the card so I could glue the moustached bread slide inside the window. This meant it was actually stuck to the inside part of the card.

But I wasn’t quite finished… from the stamp set I found the “Let’s grow mold together” sentiment. I wanted this to be hidden when the card was closed so as I put it onto my acrylic block I curved the stamp. This is one of the benefits of photopolymer stamps. It also meant I didn’t have to worry about the stamping the sentiment straight. Then I simply stamped the sentiment on the inside of the card above the bread slice.

Finally I took a Crumb Cake envelope from the kit and two more small stamps. First I used Early Espresso ink to stamp the small speech bubble onto the envelope flap, Then inside that I stamped the small heart image using Poppy Parade ink. And with that my second alternate project was complete.

KISSES AND HUGS

If you want to make more cards with a love theme, now’s the time to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin. The January kit will be called Kisses & Hugs and contains everything you need to make 10 heart-shaped, tri-fold cards (5 each of 2 designs). But don’t be fooled, the Kisses & Hugs kit is not just for Valentine’s Day, it will work for all love occasions like anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, or those “just because” days.

As well as all the pieces to make the cards, the Kisses & Hugs kit will also include a Gray Granite Stampin’ Spot and an exclusive two-step photopolymer stamp set. The colours used to create the kit are Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Gray Granite and Very Vanilla, plus foil accents.

If you’re looking for a treat giving option then they’ve got that covered too. From January 25th (while stocks last) you’ll be able to buy coordinating boxes and tags. Each box is 1-3/4″ x 1-3/4″ and there are 20 boxes, 20 heart shaped tags and 10-1/2 yards of gold cord in the add-on kit. To purchase the Kisses & Hugs Mini Treat Boxes you must be an active Paper Pumpkin subscriber. As soon as the add-on is available to purchase I’ll let you know here on my blog and on my Facebook Page.

LOTS OF PUN REFILL KIT – Not yet ready to give up the puns? While stocks last, active Paper Pumpkin subscribers can purchase the Lots of Pun Refill Kit. This will contain all the consumable supplies to make 9 more cards with envelopes (3 each of 3 designs) from the original kit. However the refill kit does not include the Stampin’ Ink Spot or the exclusive Lots of Pun Stamp Set. Hence the lower price.

I hope you liked my alternate projects for the Lots Of Pun kit, but there’s lots more ideas to inspire you. Simply click on the links below to visit the blogs of other members of the A Paper Pumpkin Thing Team.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – Both the Flowers & Leaves Punch and the Beautiful Shapes Dies can be bought in a ‘bundle’ with a coordinating stamp set (not used today). Buying coordinating products using the ‘bundle’ item number sill save you 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included links to the two bundles in case you want to explore these options further.

Here’s all the items used in addition to what was included in the Lots Of Pun Paper Pumpkin kit.