Every time I think Paper Pumpkin kits can’t get any better they up the ante.  The July kit called “The Adventure Begins” did it again.  With all the supplies to make twelve cards with coordinating envelopes I knew I’d have fun.  Despite being tri-fold cards all three designs were really simple to put together.  I loved the outdoor theme and immediately an idea for alternate projects popped into my head.  What goes well with the great outdoors?  Animals of course!  And that had me reaching for my current favourite stamp set with animal images, Count On Me.

THE WORLD AWAITS YOU

My first alternate design for the kit uses the card base with the circle cut out. It already had a tree either side of the hole but I wanted to add one more. So I took one of the larger die-cut trees from the kit. Using Garden Green ink (included in the kit) I stamped the the large tree-shaped lined image onto the die-cut. This added ‘needles’ to the tree and tied the colours of the card together. Then using Mini Glue Dots from the kit I fixed the tree to the back of the hole overlapping the taller tree.

Looking at the sentiment stamps that came in the kit I chose “The world awaits you”. I thought this really suited the scene printed on the inside panel of the card.

Instead of using one of the sentiment strips from the kit I decided to heat emboss it directly onto the card front. After stamping the sentiment with VersaMark ink I sprinkled Black Stampin’ Emboss Powder over the top. Then I tapped off the excess and removed some stray specks before melting the rest with my Heat Tool set on 2 (high).

Now I needed the bear from the Count On Me Stamp Set as he was about the right scale and facing to the right. That meant he would be looking through the trees towards the hills.

After stamping him onto the waste piece from the centre of the card using Early Espresso ink I set to work colouring him in. For this I used Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers with light Crumb Cake on his snout, and light and dark Soft Suede for his fur. Once I’d finished colouring I cut him out with Paper Snips leaving behind the heart he was carrying.

Finally I attached him to the front of the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals from the kit. Alternate card number one was complete.

A LITTLE FOX

For my second card I chose the card base with the travel trailer (caravan). As before I folded the card base along the pre-scored lines and sharpened the creases with a Bone Folder. Then I popped out the white piece from around the travel trailer to reveal the trees printed on the inside flap.

The area below the travel trailer was much lighter than on the previous card so I decided to stamp the sentiment directly onto it. From the exclusive “The Adventure Begins” stamp set I chose “We can make it through anything if we do it together”. This seemed apt considering some people’s feelings about camping. So I stamped the sentiment using Tuxedo Black ink and set it aside while I created my animal accent.

On the waste piece taken from the front of the card I used Early Espresso ink to stamp the small fox image from the Count On Me Stamp Set. I coloured him in with Stampin’ Blends using light Crumb Cake for his face and the tip of his tail. Then for the rest of his fur I used light and dark Cajun Craze.

Finally using Paper Snips I cut out the fox and added him to the card with pieces of Stampin’ Dimensionals. In next to no time my second alternate card was done.

PENGUIN ADVENTURE

That just left one card base design to use, the one with the large lantern. This one gave me some challenges because of the scale of the lantern. Any animal I placed beside it would be dwarfed so I had to think differently about this project.

After folding the card along the pre-scored lines I decided to start with the sentiment “Dream Big. Aim High”. Like my second card I stamped the sentiment directly onto the front of the card base using Tuxedo Black ink.

Next I popped out the white piece surrounding the lantern and the little circle from the lantern top. On the waste piece I used Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the cute penguin and balloon image. Then I went back to my Stampin’ Blends to colour him in. For the penguin I used light Basic Black and light Pumpkin Pie. Then for the balloon I used light and dark Flirty Flamingo. The highlight towards the bottom of the balloon was added using the Colour Lifter to remove a little of the pink ink.

Cutting out the penguin with Paper Snips was more fiddly than the previous two animals but not impossible. Then because he’d look odd close to the lantern I decided to fix him to the inside printed section of the card using pieces of Stampin’ Dimensionals. Now my penguin looked like he was floating down (or up) some distance behind the lantern.

To finish I simply used a Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush to add a shimmer to the yellow/orange part of the lantern. With that I had quickly made three alternate cards.

ANOTHER ADVENTURE NEXT MONTH

The Adventure Begins kit has proved to be even more fun than I expected, but to be honest that’s often the case with Paper Pumpkin.

I’m definitely looking forward to 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, the box is specially designed to turn into a Hope Box – a keepsake box full of cherished items to add hope to my life or to the lives of others.

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.

Well that’s all from me for today. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow as I start my sneak peeks featuring products from the new Mini Catalogue that goes live to customers on August 3rd.

For more alternate project ideas using this kit check out the official Paper Pumpkin Blog The Adventure Begins.

PRODUCT LIST

All the card pieces used to create today’s alternate project ideas came from The Adventure Begins kit. Listed below are the extra items I took from my craft stash.

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. In order to purchase this, 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?