It’s the first Friday in September and that means I’m taking part in the A Paper Pumpkin Thing blog hop. This month I’m excited to bring you a couple of alternate projects using the August Paper Pumpkin kit called “Sweet Sunflowers”. This amazing kit was chock full of prepared pieces. These included printed card bases and envelopes with gorgeous watercolour images that were hand-painted by one of the designers at Stampin’ Up! If you missed out on the kit I hope my designs will inspire you to make something similar.

SEASONAL SUNFLOWERS

My first project is this pretty thank you card. I began with a Mossy Meadow card base from the kit and cut a 2-1/8″ strip off the front. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I attached the piece to the inside back of the card base.

Next from the kit I chose the sunflower, sunflower centre, and leaf images. I stamped four leaves and one two-part sunflower on some Basic White Card using the Soft Suede ink spot included in the kit. Then I began to colour using Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. For the inside of the sunflower I simply used a light Soft Suede Stampin’ Blends. Then for the petals I started with light Daffodil Delight, then the dark one, and finally a little dark Pumpkin Pie. I started the leaves with light Old Olive, then some dark Old Olive. I went back over the leaves with the light Old Olive to blend the colours a little, then finished with some more dark Old Olive down the centre. Once the colouring was done I spend a few minutes cutting out all the pieces with Paper Snips.

For the sentiment I went back to the Sweet Sunflowers Stamp Set and Soft Suede ink. After stamping “thank you” onto a 1/2″ x 2″ strip of Basic White Card I cut a V in the end. Then I drew on a border using the bullet tip of a dark Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends marker.

Now I was ready to assemble the fussy-cut pieces using Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals from the kit. Once that was done I used more Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to fix them to the cut-down front of the card base.

Although the kit came with printed envelopes I decided to use a Basic White Medium Envelope from my stash. To coordinate with the card I stamped the two-part sunflower in the bottom right-hand corner with Soft Suede ink. Then I coloured it in using the same Stampin’ Blends markers as before. Just like that my first project was complete.

GIFT CARD HOLDER

My second project came as a total surprise when I was playing with the Mini Pocket Envelope Dies. That’s when I realised the main die fit perfectly on the front of one of the printed envelopes in the kit.

So with that in mind I carefully cut the envelope open and trimmed off the front section. Then I placed the die on top and ran it through my Cut & Emboss Machine. After folding the die-cut piece along the lines ‘scored’ by the die I fixed the tabs in place using liquid glue.

Finishing off the gift card holder was quick and easy using more pieces from the Sweet Sunflowers kit.

On one of the long narrow printed ‘labels’ I stamped “Wishing you so much happiness” using Soft Suede ink. Then I took one each of the two different bees (one faces right and the other faces left). Finally I trimmed down one of the Blackberry Bliss strips and kept just a 1″ piece.

Now I could assemble the various pieces and started by using Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to fix the sentiment piece onto the cut-down strip. Then using Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals again I added the two bees. However as I placed the assembled pieces onto the gift card holder I thought it looked a bit lost. So I went back to the Sweet Sunflowers kit and pick up one of the small honeycomb vellum pieces.

To be honest I didn’t think the vellum helped much. That was until I coloured it with the dark Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends marker! With that done I glued the vellum to the gift card holder. Then with the sentiment on top my second alternate project was finally complete.

While that’s my two projects for today I’m certainly not finished with this kit yet. There’s so much more still left in the box I will be having fun for a while yet.

SPOOKY TREATS

Looking forward… if you haven’t already done it, you still have time to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin and get the September kit “Spooky Treats”.

This Halloween-themed kit has everything you need to make EIGHTEEN 2-1/2” x 3” x 1” treat boxes (6 each of 3 designs). Everything comes cut and prepared, and as well as the printed box bases and tops, you’ll get die cut pieces, an Orchid Oasis mini ink spot, adhesives AND an exclusive Spooky Treats Stamp Set. If you’re new to Paper Pumpkin there’ll even be an acrylic block so you can start creating right away. What’s more every kit comes with a satisfaction guarantee, and you are free to cancel your subscription at any time without penalty.

The colours used in the Spooky Treats kit will be Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Fresh Freesia, Gray Granite, Orchid Oasis and Pumpkin Pie.

To get the Spooky Treats kit make sure you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin by September 10^th, but be aware that stocks may be limited towards the end of the subscription period. If you’re not sure about boxes, fear not, I’m certain you’ll see lots of card alternative designs soon enough.

MORE FROM SWEET SUNFLOWERS

But now back to this month and the Sweet Sunflowers kit blog hop. Make sure you check out the other alternate project ideas from the rest of the talented APPT team. You’re currently at number 3 – Tracy Elsom.

Still looking for ideas? Check out this month’s official Paper Pumpkin blog for additional projects, a stamp case insert and much more!

PRODUCT LIST

Sadly the Sweet Sunflowers kit was extremely popular and there were none left over to release as Refill Kits. If you missed out you might be pleased to know that Stampin’ Up! is looking at the possibility of developing a similar kit to release as part of their Kits Collection. When/if that happens I’ll be sure to let you know. If you can’t wait, check out the Celebrate Sunflowers Stamp Set and coordinating Sunflowers Dies in the 2022/2023 Annual Catalogue.

All the other products used today are listed below, along with the full-size ink pad and additional adhesives.