Every fairy tale has a beginning, and Paper Pumpkin’s story started with one, too.
When Stampin’ Up!® first introduced Paper Pumpkin, it was inspired by Cinderella’s pumpkin… a little reminder that creativity can transform an ordinary day into something special. While I can’t promise a carriage or glass slippers, I can guarantee a creative escape delivered to your mailbox each month! (No fairy godmother required.)
The July “Hooray for Birthdays” Paper Pumpkin kit appeared in my mailbox this week and I went to work creating an alternate project using just the Hooray for Birthdays stamp set, Timid Tiger Ink Spot and the Detailed Flora Add-On Dies. Each month, I help my subscribers extend the use of their kit after the projects are assembled by sharing new ideas in a special newsletter.
Let’s review how to create a perfect layer for the “Hooray”:
Place the stamp flat (face up) on card stock and trace around the photopolymer shape.
Cut out the shape and FLIP IT OVER to stamp the sentiment. If you used a white card stock, it helps to lay it on a darker surface so you can see where to place it.
For crafters who crave convenient and fabulous, August is the perfect time to start creating with Paper Pumpkin because new subscribers can save 25% on their first kit!
Here’s who qualifies:
You haven’t had an active Paper Pumpkin subscription in the past 18 months.
You choose a pay-as-you-go subscription (this offer doesn’t apply to prepaid subscriptions).
Your discounted first kit will be the August 2026 Kindred Greetings Kit: The cards in this kit are all about sharing meaningful messages, with thoughtful sentiments and detailed botanical designs.
Why so many people love Paper Pumpkin
Everything you need in one box (except scissors!)
Precut pieces and step-by-step instructions
An exclusive stamp set and coordinating ink spot
A fun creative break without planning, shopping, or cleaning up a craft room
Whether you’ve never stamped before or you’ve been crafting for years, these kits make it simple to sit down and create something beautiful in about an hour.
Sometimes the best adventures begin with a pumpkin.
If you are a paper crafter but aren’t a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, perhaps this will change your mind!
A kit is a starting point for creativity: You can assemble a kit “as is” or find ways to extend the use of the supplies in the kit (as I did) OR use them in a completely different way (for scrapbook pages, gifts, decor, etc.) This month, I took the LOVELY June Bikes & Blooms kit and added exactly 4 sheets of coordinating card stock to make 14 cards instead of 9:
Here’s what I added:
4 Basic White Card Bases
2 Lost Lagoon Card Bases
Two 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ Lost Lagoon panels for the Congrats and Thank You flip cards
Two 4-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ white card stock to stamp on for Lemon “Lovely Day” cards (cut at 3″ to split)
Four 1/2″ x 4-1/2″ strips of Calypso Coral card stock to add behind stamped panels.
Watch the process as I cut the lemon bike panel AND one of the pink card bases in half, then added some Lost Lagoon card stock! For some reason, I can only share the YouTube link here:
Because the REFILL for this Bikes & Blooms kit is availablewhile supplies last (for subscribers only…you CAN subscribe by July 10th for the next kit, then shop the past kits and refills immediately) I wanted to show that it’s easy to complete the kit with any sentiment stamps you already own, since the stamps and ink spot are NOT included in the refill. I used sayings from Banner Sayings and Reason to Celebrate sets and the cards on the left are gift card holders:
If you received the Bikes & Blooms Paper Pumpkin kit, then you have the stamp set, which is what I used to finish off the other Lemon Lolly card bases. The April and May kits included the Peaceful Pine and Misty Moonlight ink spots, so I used a blending brush with those colors to create grass and sky, stamped the bike and sentiment in Misty Moonlight and the flowers and butterflies using the Calypso Coral ink spot from this month’s kit:
The butterflies are from the sold-out add on Wonderful Scenes dies. Once you subscribe, you’ll want to remember to order the dies that coordinate with kits for the quarter: The July/August/September kits are enhanced by the Detailed Flora add-on, which are only $14:
Finally, because I cut one of the pink card bases in half for the Thank You and Congratulations cards, I cut the other pink card base down to 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″ and added each to the front of white card bases to use the other pieces for that design from the kit:
Before I answer some Frequently Asked Questions about Paper Pumpkin (the BEST monthly craft kit by mail!), let’s peek at the July kit (shipped around the middle of the month):
If these answers aren’t enough to help you SUBSCRIBE and anticipate a fabulous craft kit next month, PLEASE leave a comment and I’ll answer any other questions!
Paper Pumpkin FAQ:
Q. Why didn’t I get a clear block in my kit?
A. Blocks are only included in the Welcome Kit for new subscription purchases. You will not find a clear block in your monthly subscription after your first kit, in refills, or in past kits.
Q. How do I make changes to my subscription?
A. Log into your Stampin’ Up! account, open the account dropdown, and select Subscriptions to manage your subscription(s).
Q. Can I skip a month?
A. Yes, simply log into your Stampin’ Up! account, open the account dropdown, and select Subscriptions. Click on the subscription you want to manage, then click Skip [MONTH] in the Need a Break Box on the right side of the screen on or before the 10th of the month to skip Paper Pumpkin for that month. If you skip any day past the 10th, the current month’s kit will bill and ship, and the following month’s kit will be skipped. Note: You won’t be able to skip or modify a newly purchased subscription until after the first monthly kit(s) ship.
Q. What if I need to cancel my subscription?
A. For a pay-as-you-go subscription, log into your Stampin’ Up! account and open the account dropdown. Click on the subscription you want to manage, then click Cancel on or before the 10th of the month to cancel completely. If you cancel on (or after) the 11th of the month, you’ll receive that month’s kit and will not receive any more Paper Pumpkin kits after that time. You CAN suspend for a month (at any time after the first shipment) and we will not count the suspended month against your prepaid subscription.
Q. When does my subscription expire?
A. A pay-as-you-go subscription will renew until you cancel it, and a prepaid subscription lasts for the duration of the purchased subscription. We will send an email with a link to the subscription product page to remind you and your subscribers when your prepaid subscription is about to expire.
Q. How much is a Paper Pumpkin Subscription?
A. $29 month plus tax. Shipping is included in that price! You may also purchase a 3-, 6- or 12- month pre-paid subscription. ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS QUALIFY for you to earn Stampin’ Rewards *if you’ve opted in* for that free program!! Log into your Stampin’ Up! account, open the account dropdown, and select REWARDS to check!
The Global Design Project color challenge #GDP553 felt “retro” to me, so I grabbed the stamp set from the June “Bikes & Blooms” Paper Pumpkin Kit and started playing.
I was reminiscing about the freedom we had during the summer growing up in the 1970’s: We would leave on our bikes and ride/play until dark, with a stop at one house or another for lunch. The rule was that we had to be home by dark! It was glorious to feel safe and to have the mobility our “wheels” provided.
TRUE STORY: One of my granddaughters just learned how to ride a bike without training wheels and she called me from her watch/phone as I was writing this post to tell me she was taking a ride around the block! While things are a little different than they were 50 years ago, I’m grateful she has acquired a new skill and a taste of her own freedom.
Back to our card of the day: Following the diagonal card fold shared earlier this month, I added a sliding channel lock piece that keeps the front flaps together, and slides off to open. TIP: When you cut your scored card stock diagonally to get two card bases from one sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ card stock, cut it *slightly* shorter (like 1/16″) so there is a small gap between the edges when folded to allow the locking piece to slide easily.
The Perennial Postage dies were perfect for giving the bike image a frame and creating the mechanism. Watch how to create a channel lock and how this card works:
To fit the Peaceful Pine/Barely Blush/Timid Tiger color scheme, I colored one of the 2026-2028 In Color Butterflies with the Timid Tiger Stampin’ Blends marker. It was easy because it was already orange-ish in Crisp Cantaloupe. The extra embellishments actually cover up an ink smudge I made with my finger, and I wasn’t about to start over again 😆 FYI: The Card base is Basic Beige, which really gives it a 70’s Vibe.
This was a fabulous stamp set from the June “Bikes & Blooms” Paper Pumpkin kit.
If you missed the Bikes & Blooms kit, the good news is that the REFILL is in my store…and you don’t really need the stamp set to complete the cards because you can add your OWN sentiments and use an ink pad you already own. BUT, you do have to be a subscriber.
You’re just starting to paper craft or rubber stamp
You don’t have a lot of space to store supplies (a year’s worth of stamp sets and ink spots fit in one of the kit boxes which is smaller than a half a shoe box!)
You are traveling and need something fun to take along!
You enjoy a creative experience that is carefully curated for the season and includes everything you need (except a pair of scissors).
You can subscribe NOW and you’ll receive the July “Hooray for Birthdays” kit which guides you through creating 9 Easel Birthday Cards which stand up to display in a delightful way. Pause your subscription or cancel anytime (but you won’t want to!).
Already a subscriber? Remember to add the Detailed Flora Add-On Dies to your next order, for it will extend the usefulness of the stamp sets in the July, August and September kits!
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
This is your advance notice that there are 3 days of FREE SHIPPING coming on June 11-13 (this Thursday-Saturday) on orders over $75 PLUS when your order reaches $75, you can choose a Product of the Month for just $5 (while supplies last).
To maximize your crafting investment, check the last chance list, buy SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS (a.k.a. KITS) and restock adhesive and card stock. The new Paper Pumpkin add-on dies (Detailed Flora) will also drop on the first day of free shipping, so remember to add them to your cart because they coordinate with the July-September kits!
Each month, I add the newest Product of the Month to the right column of this website, and in case you haven’t paid attention to June’s product, it’s the cutest critters in stamp set form!
The sketched plaid brought to mind the Misty Moonlight Checkered Trim that I’ve been itching to use, and my UK demo friend Helen Read shared a card map that I borrowed:
I believe you’ll find it easiest to color these animals with the wonderful Stampin’ Up!®️ Watercolor Pencils, and you can really blend them nicely when the tips of the pencils are dull, not sharp. If you want to enhance the colors, lightly color over the pencils with a Water Pen, starting with the lightest colors first.
The details definitely define the card, and while the flower embellishment is part of the Violet Dreams Suite coming in July, both ribbons and Designer Series Paper are available now and are listed in the supplies below, moving your order toward the minimum for free shipping and the Product of the Month!
One final reminder: Today (6/10) is the deadline to subscribe for the June Paper Pumpkin Kit “Bikes & Blooms” which includes everything you need to create 9 cheerful summer-style greeting cards with silver accents and matching envelopes! This is happy mail you’ll look forward to every month.
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
It’s the day the world looks to the marvelous machine, the bicycle! This short reel by National Geographic explains a bit about how this invention affected the world:
Like myself, you probably have fond memories of the freedoms provided because of a bicycle! I felt so grown up when I was able to ride my bike to the Market Basket 3 blocks from my house to spend a quarter on a candy bar and having “wheels” allowed me to ride to work at the hotel my father managed. Though it was uphill to the hotel, I was grateful to coast home after stripping sheets from all the beds.
To commemorate the mechanics and freedom of a bike, I’ve created a birthday card:
Fussy cutting a bike from the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper got me rolling, and a label from the same paper provided a place to stamp.
I sprayed the Pecan Pie with water, crumpled it up and then spread it out to dry flat, giving it a leather-like texture, then distressed the edges of the seagull print.
Ready to celebrate the bicycle through crafting? June’s Paper Pumpkin is the Bikes & Blooms kit and it’s going to be fabulous:
You’ll enjoy creating 9 cheerful cards which include shiny silver foil and embellishments and you can transform your kit into alternate projects, like scrapbook pages. Make sure to subscribe to the world’s best craft kit by June 10th to get the Bikes & Blooms kit!
The supplies I used for my bike card are listed below, and when your cart reaches $75, you could add the June Product of the Month for just $5…and who wouldn’t want this Wild Bunch in their craft arsenal? Note: it’s actually NOT a two-step stamp, and I think this one will sell out quickly, so don’t delay your order.
I’m revisiting an oldie, but a goodie: This classic shadowbox card is easy to make with any scenery-inspired Designer Series Paper and when it’s removed from the envelope, pops out to stand up!
What could be better than spun sugar (a.k.a. cotton candy) to celebrate any special occasion? This Strawberry Slush shadowbox is created from the same Beach Boardwalk Suite I spotlighted last week and it’s now on the LAST CHANCE list, so don’t hesitate!
To help you learn how to make a shadowbox card, I’ve made a tutorial video you can watch (you’ll find it as you scroll down) and features a sneak peek at the Waterside Retreat Suite coming in May, which coordinates with the April Paper Pumpkin Kit. As the PP kit will have it’s own unique stamp set, consider it an extension of the Waterside Retreat suite, with additional sentiments & images that will complement the suite. You REALLY DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS and must subscribe by April 10th:
This is the card I demonstrated in the how-to video:
There is room to write a message on the back of the card, and a fun anchor & rope detail on the front:
Naturally, I had to make a few more versions:
For the landscape shadowbox cards, you’ll score two pieces of 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card stock at 1/2″ and 1″ from both short sides, but if you want to make a portrait card (as shown below), score at 3/8″ and 3/4″ on the long sides:
Watch this video and you’ll be stamping shadowbox cards in no time:
As I mentioned in the video, I also have a Designer Series Paper Share in May where you can get a 6″ x 6″ piece of EVERY pattern dropping next month! Sign up early, as there may be backorders delaying orders (crossing my fingers we don’t have a problem)
While the Waterside Retreat suite is also a preview, you can order other supplies from my Stampin’ Store to create shadowbox cards, such as the previously mentioned Beach Boardwalk Suite, Cute as a Bug Suite and much more!
Do you have a standing appointment on your calendar for creativity? Not a someday, not a “when-I-have-time”, but a regular, reliable pause where ink meets paper and you focus on the divine act of making something from scratch.
One of the things I love most about Paper Pumpkin by Stampin’ Up!®️ is that each month, a fully coordinated, all-inclusive kit arrives at your door like a little box of possibility. No supply hunting. No decision fatigue. Just open the box and begin your date with creativity!
Here’s the part that might surprise you… the creativity doesn’t end when the kit is finished.
For this card, I used the stamp sets from the March 2026 “Fluttering Garden” Paper Pumpkin kit to create something entirely new for the Freshly Made Sketch challenge #FMS730. I wanted to see how far I could stretch those detailed stamps, and it turns out—they fly beautifully.
I discovered that my favorite way to color the hummingbirds is with blending brushes and ink pads. No need to be particular… JUST START BLENDING! The soft gradients give them a delicate, natural look and once you fussy cut them out, they look lovely.
The real gift of a monthly kit like Paper Pumpkin is that it builds your confidence while quietly expanding your skills. First, you follow the included designs. Then, you start to experiment with a new layout or color palette… until one day you realize you’re not just assembling—you’re creating.
I used two of the Nesting Essentials dies to create dual frames for this card, and the card colors are Very Vanilla, Pretty Peacock, Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive and Crisp Canteloupe (a returning In Color).
Having a monthly crafting ritual is grounding is grounding and you’ll find a Paper Pumpkin subscription is the mail you anticipate the MOST! The April kit, “Lakeside Retreat,” is available to subscribe to through April 10th. It includes a Peaceful Pine ink spot (an early release of a NEW IN Color!) and coordinates with the Waterside Retreat Suite which will be available in the May-August catalog:
It’s a flexible subscription, with the ability to skip a month or cancel at any time (but why would you?).
Stay tuned for some sneak peeks of this suite and the optional “Wonderful Scenes” Add On dies that coordinate with the April, May and June Paper Pumpkin Kits!
One more detail to point out on my hummingbird card: Add a wash of WINK OF STELLA GLITTER BRUSH over the wings for gorgeous shimmer & shine!
The best way to keep creating… is simply to begin.
Some cards leap off the desk and insist on being created -this one was definitely in that category!
When the new Wooly Friends bundle arrived on my porch (available to customers beginning January 6th), the sheep all but marched themselves to my craft table. I paired them with December’s Product of the Month, the True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper (which you can add to any $75 order for just five dollars). The rich blues felt like the perfect stage for these fuzzy little scene-stealers.
To give the sheep their soft, pettable charm, I stamped them on All-Season Velvet specialty paper. It adds a texture that turns the card into something people instinctively want to touch, the way you might absentmindedly run your fingers over a cozy blanket.
Today is an especially good day to treat yourself to some craft supplies: It’s the last day of Stampin’ Up!’s free shipping offer on orders over $75, which makes this the perfect moment to tuck a few favorites into your cart and scoop up that $5 paper special along the way. BONUS: If you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you can also shop the PP product sale, with past kits, refills and add-on dies included!
Consider this your gentle nudge to craft something that makes you smile. These little wooly faces certainly did the trick for me.
When my cousin Valarie asked if I could make a Gift Card Folio like one she had seen on a social media, I watched the video she shared and said ABSOLUTELY!
This is a larger version of a classic interactive card design called a “Waterfall Card”, and this one presents FIVE GIFT CARDS (or would be an excellent base for a mini photo album). After a few tries and tweaks, I was satisfied with the result – give this a try! You can follow along with the video instructions below 🖥️
I’ve used the Modern Christmas Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up!® to embellish this folio, though I show a few other versions made with the retired “Season of Green & Gold” DSP in the video. The black, white & gold is just so elegant, and of course, you can choose any colors/patterns/paper that fit your occasion.
TIP: Add gift cards to each of the five panels with mini glue dots, or use the panels and both sides of the folder for photos of a event to remember!
When you pull the tab, the “waterfall” begins to cascade, and a “secret message” appears:
Maximizing the use of materials was important to me, so this version uses a full sheet of 12″ x 12″ card stock (and a full sheet of 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper, if you cut it wisely), plus a few extra pieces. WATCH the tutorial to see HOW TO CUT the card stock!
Measurements:
11-7/8″ x 9″ Basic Black card stock, scored at 4″ and 8″
12″ x 3″ Basic Black card stock, scored at 1″, 2″, 3″, 4″ and 5″
6″ x 1-1/2″ Basic Black card stock, scored at 1″ and 4-7/8″
5 pieces of card stock 2-1/2″ x 3-3/4″
Designer Series Paper: TWO 8-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and TWO 8-3/4″ x 3-5/8″
Gold Foil sheet: 1-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ for the belly band
Scraps of card stock for label, scraps of Designer Series Paper for embellishments inside.
Making paper crafting easy for you is my goal. What did you think about this tutorial? Please leave a comment and tell me what you’ll use this idea for (comments are found at the top of the post, next to the posting date).
If you’ve been waiting for a good time to subscribe to the BEST MONTHLY CRAFT KIT, OR you need a unique and creative gift for a friend, this is your sign! From December 1-9, pre-paid Paper Pumpkin subscriptions are discounted as follows:
3-month prepaid: $61.00 (regular price $81.00)
6-month prepaid: $122.00 (regular price $162.00)
12-month prepaid: $244.00 (regular price $324.00)
This price includes shipping! Now, here’s the fine print:
* Subscriptions purchased during this promotion start immediately with the December Watercolor in Bloom Kit. This kit cannot be skipped.
* Do not purchase multiple subscriptions for the same recipient. The subscriptions will all start with the Watercolor in Bloom Kit, so the recipient will end up receiving duplicates of the same kit each month.
* If you are already a Paper Pumpkin monthly subscriber, this is a great opportunity to save on your upcoming kits!
* If you ALREADY HAVE a pre-paid subscription and wish to take advantage of the sale, go into your account and PAUSE your currrent December kit, unless you wish to have 2 of the same boxes shipped to you (the other would be a lovely gift to give!).
Have ever looked at a stack of pretty designer series paper and think, “It’s too pretty to cut”? I hear you—but here’s the good news: when you do cut it, you can get the most out of every single sheet! I created this cutting map that turns any 6” x 6” piece of designer paper into perfectly sized layers for the front of your cards:
In my live video today, I walked through the process step by step and made the card shown here from the Autumn Toile pack of paper that will be available on September 2nd. (You’ll find the replay below if you want to craft along!) The cutting map is below so you can print it out, tuck it near your paper trimmer, and use it anytime you want to make lovely layers of backgrounds for your greeting cards.
The first cut you make (circled) will be 3-7/8″ into the square. The second cut will be to cut the leftover pattern down to 4-1/2″ tall, then other cuts as shown.
Layer the two large rectangles on a contrasting card stock base, and the two long strips go on a piece of card stock that is 2-1/2″ x 4-3/4″, which can be attached with dimensionals to either the left or right side of the front of the card.
For my samples, I used a mix of Stampin’ Up! designer series paper. Four of the patterns come straight from the September Paper Share I’m offering — fifty-three 6″ x 6″ sheets of Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, all cut down and ready for you to create with. It’s a perfect way to try every new design without committing to full packs, and it gives you plenty of variety for projects like this.
My last two examples of this sketch feature the Painterly Pears Suite and the Spooky Sweet Suite. Isn’t it terrific how the same cutting map works across completely different styles—fall-inspired pumpkins, happy holiday greetings, fresh pears, or playful Halloween motifs?! It’s proof that a simple template can stretch your supplies and spark new ideas.
Whether you’re making cards in bulk or just want a foolproof way to get more from your paper, this card design is one you’ll use again and again. Scroll down for the video, save all six card samples, and grab your trimmer—you’ll be amazed how quickly 6” x 6” papers can turn into a gallery of handmade cards.
The 1″ x 3-7/8″ piece from the cutting map goes INSIDE the cards, like this:
TWO more opportunities before you go:
The Autumn Toile paper (on the first card I demonstrated) coordinates with the September Paper Pumpkin kit, so if you adore autumn and those detailed designs, you will certainly want to subscribe by September 10th to receive a fall-filled box of coordinating crafting!
While the Spooky Sweet Suite paper is NOT included in the Paper Share, I *WILL* be teaching a Virtual Halloween class with the suite on October 2nd – Add the suite to your cart for an invitation to join the party, or visit the Facebook event page (link above) to find out how to register.
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove