With everything included to make twelve tri-fold cards it was hard to know where to start. There were so many possibilities. The scenic backgrounds lend themselves to lots of occasions so for today’s alternate projects I decided to go with Christmas. Well why not? And just to make the kit stretch even further my two cards used just one card base from the kit.

So with Christmas in mind I couldn’t resist breaking out the Snowman Season Stamp Set. I love this set and was so pleased to see it carried over into the latest annual catalogue.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

For my two cards I chose the card base with the lantern. I began by cutting off the right-hand section (the one without the lantern). Then I trimmed that down to 4″ x 5-1/4″.

Keeping things simple I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score two card bases from one sheet of Night Of Navy Card. After folding the cards along the scored lines I sharpened the creases with a Bone Folder and set one aside. Then I attached the printed piece to the front of the other card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).

Next I popped out the white piece surrounding the lantern. Rather than throwing it away I decided to stamp the snowman onto it using Tuxedo Black ink. Then I added a pop of colour using Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers; light Bermuda Bay for the hat and scarf, and light Cajun Craze for his carrot nose. Cutting the snowman out with Paper Snips was a bit fiddly but not impossible, and I kept a little of the ‘ground’ too.

Going back to the kit I took the sentiment strip with the blue tree attached and simply cut it off. Then with liquid glue I tucked the tree behind the left side of the snowman.

LET IT SNOW

Now I needed a sentiment and I chose “Let it snow” from the Snowman Season Stamp Set. This fit perfectly onto the circle piece from the kit and I stamped it in Tuxedo Black ink towards the top. That left enough room for me to glue the sentiment behind the snowman and tree before adding the assembled piece to my card front.

I was nearly done but still had the inside of the card and envelope to decorate so I went back to my snowman image. Using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped him in the bottom right-hand corner of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Basic White Card. I repeated this on the front of a Basic White Medium Envelope too. Then I simply coloured in both snowmen to match the one on the front of my card.

To finish I glued the Basic White layer inside the card base, then added a few blue sequins from the kit to the front. Finally I ‘painted’ the snowman, the tree, the falling snow, and across the ground with a Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush. Card number one was done.

MUSICAL CHRISTMAS

With card one complete I picked up the rest of the lantern card from The Adventure Begins kit.

As before I cut the printed section from the card base and trimmed it down to 4″ x 5-1/4″. Then from the Snowman Season Stamp Set I chose the large “Merry Christmas” sentiment. This fit perfectly onto the banner sentiment strip in the kit and I stamped it with Tuxedo Black ink. Then I added it to the space below the lantern using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

At this point I decided that I would need something to fill the large gap around the lantern. So I cut a 3-7/8″ x 4-1/8″ piece of Vellum Cardstock and embossed it with the new Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder. Then using Tear & Tape Adhesive I fixed the vellum to the back of the printed layer.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Now turning over the assembled layer I could see where to place my Stampin’ Dimensionals so that they would remain hidden. All around the edge was obvious, but I was also able to add a couple to support the area under the lantern. Then I fixed the layers to the front of my second Night Of Navy card base.

This time for the inside and envelope I opted to use the Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder again. First I embossed a 1″ strip along the top of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card. Then I fixed the layer inside the card base with liquid glue. On the Basic White Medium Envelope I embossed the whole envelope flap.

To finish this card I wanted a bright pop of colour and chose the Real Red 3/8″ Sheer Ribbon. I tied the ribbon in a simple bow and fixed it to the top of the lantern with Tear & Tape Adhesive. Then I added a few of the orange sequins from The Adventure Begins kit.

Finally I wanted the lantern glass to be glossy so I covered it with Shimmery Crystal Effects. Then with everything else done I could safely set it aside to dry.

I must say that I love how these two Christmas cards turned out. The Adventure Begins kit may have started out with fireflies, but those lighter spots are now softly falling snow.

AUGUST KIT

You still have a few more days to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin and get the August kit called Hope Box. This kit will contain all the pieces to create nine A2 cards with coordinating envelopes.   As always the kit will have everything prepared plus adhesives to assemble the cards. The exclusive stamp set will include inspirational sentiments to use with the Classic Stampin’ Spot in one of Stampin’ Up!’s current colours.

In addition there will be extra pieces and ribbon to turn the box into a keepsake / hope box.

If you’re not currently a Paper Pumpkin subscriber why not give it a try? Unlike many subscription services you’re not committing to take a fixed number of kits. You’re free to skip a month if you wish, or cancel completely at any time. Stampin’ Up! are so sure you’ll enjoy the kit they have a ‘satisfaction guarantee’. If you’re unhappy with the kit when it arrives, simply contact them and they will put it right. To get the August “Hope Box” card kit make sure you subscribe by August 10th.

CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE

For even more alternate project ideas using The Adventure Begins kit, make sure you visit the rest of the blog hop…

And finally, if you missed it I have three more alternate project ideas using The Adventure Begins kit. You’ll find all three in my blog post The adventure continues with Count On Me.

PRODUCT LIST

Sadly the full kit is no longer available, however The Adventure Begins Refill Kit is now on sale while stocks last. Please note the refill kit contains everything from the original The Adventure Begins kit EXCEPT the ink spot and exclusive stamp set, hence the lower price. You may have noticed that I didn’t use the stamp set from the kit on today’s alternate cards. This means you can recreate these projects using the just refill kit (and the additional products listed below).

In order to purchase the refill kit, or any other Paper Pumpkin kit, you must be a Paper Pumpkin subscriber. If this does not apply to you why not subscribe to Paper Pumpkin now?