Today’s blog post is going to be a little different. I want to show you some Stampin’ Up! papercrafting supplies that you might be missing. To give you an idea what I mean, let me introduce you to the January Paper Pumpkin Kit, ‘Be Mine, Valentine’. Now, before you say you’re not interested in a monthly craft kit subscription I’d like you to think outside the box, literally.

SO WHAT IS PAPER PUMPKIN?

Simply put, Paper Pumpkin is a ready-to-make papercrafting kit from Stampin’ Up!

Every month this little red box contains a fully designed project that might be cards, treat packaging, tags or a 3D project. In January we got 24 reversible pillow boxes that coordinated with the Animal Expedition Suite on page 27 of the Annual Catalogue.

Included in every kit is a leaflet with instructions for how to put it together, and sometimes a few alternate suggestions too. If you’re more of a visual learner, a few days after the kits are shipped Stampin’ Up! releases a short video that you can watch and pause as you work through it.

EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS

The first thing you notice is the exclusive photopolymer stamp set that doesn’t appear in any Stampin’ Up! Catalogue. Also in the box is at least one mini ink spot that’s great for crafting on the go.

All the card pieces are cut and scored and there may also be laser-cut pieces or printed self-adhesive elements. Other items you may find are ribbon, twine, thread, enamel or wooden accents. In fact exactly the things that you might expect to see in the Stampin’ Up! catalogues. The difference is that they may be in colour or style that’s not available to purchase.

Each month Stampin’ Up! lets us know what colours are used in the kit so if you want to create something different, or step it up, you’ll be able to coordinate easily. For my own Paper Pumpkin customers I’ve started producing a visual reminder of the colours, like this one for the Be Mine, Valentine kit.

ALTERNATE IDEAS

I love making up the kits, but I also love coming up with alternate ideas using parts of the kit too. My alternate projects are shared in my Paper Pumpkin People Facebook Group. This is an exclusive group for customers who choose me as their Demonstrator when they subscribe to Paper Pumpkin.

Here’s a notebook I decorated using pieces from the Be Mine, Valentine Kit with some coordinating Designer Series Paper and a little baker’s twine from my stash.

As well as my ideas, more alternate ideas are shared on the official Paper Pumpkin Facebook Page towards the end of the month via Facebook live.

NOT INTO SURPRISES?

One of the most common comments about the Paper Pumpkin subscription is that you don’t know what’s in the kit until it arrives. I can understand that. But that’s also part of the fun. I sometimes get a kit that perhaps I wouldn’t have chosen if I’d known in advance. But I like that it introduces me to new products, ideas and techniques that develop my experience as a papercrafter.

That said, Stampin’ Up! have taken this concern on board and have started giving hints as to what might be in the next kit. For example with the January kit we were told it was 24 treat packages that coordinated with the Animal Expedition Suite.

For the February kit we’ve been told that it will contain 9 full-size cards (3 each of 3 designs). There’s been some sneak peek photos posted on the Paper Pumpkin Facebook Page as well as this fun video.

But what if you’re still unsure?

Stampin’ Up! guarantees that you’ll be happy with the kit when you get it. If not contact them, or me if you chose me as your Demonstrator, and we’ll put that right. That applies to every kit, every month. So my advice is always, subscribe to the kit. That way if you love it, you’ll have it. If you don’t then we’ll deal with it.

The subscription cut off is the 10th of each month. By that date you must have subscribed if you want that month’s kit. As a subscriber you also have the option to ‘skip’ getting the kit. The deadline of the 10th is the same, and you just go into your online account and check the ‘skip this month’s kit’ box.

BE MINE, VALENTINE LIMITED REFILLS

One of the other perks of being a Paper Pumpkin subscriber is you can purchase extra kits or refills when and if they become available. There’s no guarantee there’ll be extra kits or refills which is why I suggest you subscribe every month, just in case. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “Oh I love that kit, but I skipped it this month, and there’s no more full kits left!”

In the Paper Pumpkin Past Kits section of my online store you’ll find the full kits and refills that are currently available. There are refills for the Be Mine, Valentine kit available right now, but I suspect they’ll sell out quickly.

Refill kits are much cheaper that the full kits because they do not contain the exclusive stamp set or ink spot. If you already have the kit you already have these and so don’t need them. But what if you don’t have the full kit, why might you still want to get the refill?

The short answer is all the consumables.

If you get the Be Mine, Valentine refill, you’ll get 24 pillow boxes. On one side they have a Pool Party design and the other side is in Melon Mambo. You’ll get 15 card sheets with printed die-cut kangaroos, chameleon and heart images, Pool Party scalloped circles and hearts and white sentiment pieces. There’s 40 self-adhesive epoxy hearts in two sizes, 20 each of Melon Mambo and Petal Pink. Finally there’s 200 Dimensionals, 100 glue dots and 24 adhesive strips. Phew! That’s a whole lot of crafting supplies for $11.50.

So next time you’re looking for something a little different, don’t forget to check out Paper Pumpkin. Whether you become a Paper Pumpkin subscriber to get the kit every month, or just so you can get access to the additional kits or refills, it’s definitely worth a second look.

*Paper Pumpkin subscriptions are currently only available in Canada and the US.