I love writing in PURPLE INK (and have a box full of violet pens) so I’m looking forward to sending some matching messages in the cards I create, and don’t miss how beautiful these products look on a scrapbook page! The suite includes a stamp set, coordinating dies, 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper, Ribbon and the prettiest embellishment blooms.
My first project with the Violet Dreams Suite was a simple card using one of the die cuts from the Designer Series Paper as the focal point:
This quick video tip will help you get a perfect layer for any shape of sentiment: Use the outline of the photopolymer stamp to trace & cut the shape FIRST, flip it over (lay on a contrasting background to see where to stamp) and add your saying! While I heat emboss this example, it could simply be stamped in a coordinating color.
It’s been a while, so I’m offering a “3 for Free” Virtual Class with the purchase of the Violet Dreams Suite from my store!
Here’s how it works: When you purchase the Violet Dreams Suite from my Stampin’ Store by July 31st, I’ll send you the rest of the supplies you need to make 3 exclusive cards (which you won’t see anywhere else!) and the link to the craft-along YouTube instructions. Supplies and link will be automatically sent to the address and email on your order!
This is a PERK for my customers, but here are two other ways to participate:
If you choose to order just the Framed Violets BUNDLE (stamps & dies) from my store, I’ll email you an offer to purchase the supplies & Virtual Class for just $10. This offer is also available for demonstrators on MY Sprinkled Ink Team.
If you are a demonstrator or customer who has ordered this from another demonstrator, you may purchase the Violet Dreams Class (includes supplies) for $25. Sign up via PayPal by July 31st.
I DO appreciate you, and love hearing what you are learning, what you are creating, and how I can best serve your art!
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
Like popping a fresh berry into your mouth while picking them from the garden, I couldn’t stop once I started playing with the Made with Sweetness fruit-shaped dies! Happily, the TGIF Challenge #tgifc578 gave me a reason to make another card featuring the dies AND use my circle punch again. Here’s the inspiration:
And here’s my take:
The card stock square I blended the circles on is 4″ x 4″ in case you want to try it yourself, and all the supplies are listed below (thanks for supporting my small business and shopping with me!). Now to see this card come together quickly, watch this YouTube Short:
Fresh, fruity and fun for the summer, right? Speaking of summer, here’s a special offer for the weekend- you’ll use the Puffy Star stickers for Flag Day and 4th of July crafting, so shop now!
One of the techniques I wanted to show you with the circle punch was Reverse Masking with a torn edge. This makes for beautiful mountain backgrounds, or in this case, a sunset walk with a friend.
The secret to this technique is MASKING PAPER which you can punch and lightly stick to your card stock so it won’t move. Then I tore the sticky edge of a Post-it note to make the ragged edges, as you can see in this quick video tutorial:
Remember to carefully peel off your Masking Paper once you’ve finished blending the ink. Did you see a few more tricks-of-the trade, like making the banner longer by cutting it in half? And of course, add this technique to your circle punch repertoire as a card maker.
One thing to note: Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends are the *PERFECT* colors for Winnie the Pooh, and this iconic friendship duo will warm your heart and your craft room.
Remember: When you invest in the Stampin’ Up!®️ Starter Kit this month, you could choose the 2026-2028 In Color Ink Pads as a BONUS!
“O steadfast circle punch, quiet hero of the craft,
You press into the spotlight with a single, perfect draft.”
Of all the paper punches I own, the CIRCLE is the one that I reach for the most often. It’s simply a tool that every paper crafter must have on hand, and the only thing better than one circle punch is TWO!
Today I shared a three card ideas using a circle punch, along with a few paper crafting tips that will help you become a better creator in my LIVE CRAFTING VIDEO:
This is the card guests stamped at my Catalog Carnival Open house over the weekend, and it’s so simple to make by using the 1-3/4″ Circle Punch for the sentiment. The butterflies are stamped and cut out with the All Aflutter punch that drops tomorrow in my Stampin’ Store:
Hydrangea Hue (the color of the butterfly card) is a NEW 2026-2028 In Color, and I showed the new ink pad case in the video, which I KNOW you are going to obsess over both the pads & colors, so I made this notecard in every color (clockwise from top left: Barely Blush, Golden Glow, Hydrangea Hue, Crisp Cantaloupe and Peaceful Pine):
SIDE NOTE: Join my team in May 2026 and you’ll get all 5 of these In Color Stamp Pads in your Starter Kit FREE!
Don’t need ink? You can choose an additional $35 worth of products for your Starter Kit instead. That’s $160 worth of products for only $99!
Circling back to our circle punch projects, the next card I demonstrated was the “Old Friends are the Best Friends” card featuring the Silly Old Bear Designer Series Paper and more of the new In Colors. This one layered the 2″ circle (Pooh & Piglet) over the 2-3/4″ circle punch:
And the last card was a “Golden Glow”up of the Moonlit Flora suite as a peek-through card – you’ll want to watch to see how this one is done in the easiest way:
This is NOT a comprehensive list of ways to use the Stampin’ Up!®️ circle punches, only the very beginning! Check back often this month for MORE sensational stamping with circles as we launch our May products starting May 5th.
Both Silly Old Bear and Moonlit Flora Designer Series Paper is included in the Creative Juice Paper Share and tomorrow (May 5th) is the deadline to reserve your share.
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
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!
The jar from the Stampin’ Up!®️ Filled with Sweetness bundle is quite large, so I wondered if I could just use part of it on the front of a card, and the answer is YES! Be sure to print the tutorial for this card below
Using Vellum Card stock (like my pull-out fruit jar card), I stamped the jar with STAZ-On ink (to make it quick to dry and not smudge) then colored on the BACK of the vellum to fill the jar with Blueberry Jam.
I remembered to use the curved-line die to create a slit in the top of the jar to slide my spoon handle through! Silver foil sheets really make the handle look like a metal utensil.
Print the instructions to make your own, and the supplies are listed below for easy shopping! If I’ve served you well, I would appreciate your support in my Stampin’ Store 😃 🧡 🍊
As we come to the end of our Reasons & Season week, I have one ultimate #celebrationcombination card for you, and it’s the VERY BEST REASON to celebrate: The Life, Atonement and Resurrection of the Savior of the World!
In my first-Monday-of-the-Month LIVE crafting video, I demonstrated this “Empty-Tomb” card which testifies of the greatest gift we have ever received:
I am grateful to combine more than just two stamp sets, but also my love of paper crafting with my testimony of Jesus Christ. Because of His life, sacrifice and resurrection, we can have HOPE for better things to come! We can repent of our sins and strive to become the person He wants each of us to be. Without Easter, there would be NO joy at Christmas!
For this card, you can use any picture that shows your gratitude for Christ’s atonement. This is the picture I printed depicting a risen Christ speaking to Mary which I used in the first card, but perhaps you have another illustration that strikes your heart-strings. Obviously, there were no cameras to mark this event most central to the history of all creation, but I appreciate those who attempt to capture the awe and reverence of the moment.
In this video, I share tips and tricks to make this card simple to prepare, stamp and assemble:
Thank you for visiting, for saving your favorite project of the past week (scroll through to see them all), and for supporting my Stampin’ Up!®️ business in many ways.
Reading is my favorite sport. It’s a shame there isn’t a competition for it, because I’d be on the medal stand, for certain!
My most recent reading obsession has been “The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion” by Beth Brower. I started the first volume on December 27th and finished volume 8 less than a month later! Now, in the appropriate mourning period between what I’ve consumed of Emma’s own words and the release of her next journal installment (there are rumored to be close to 25 books when done), I’ve done what any self-respecting reading-crafter would do, and made a card that is also a bookmark gift:
The Stampin’ Up!®️ Hobby Haven suite had the patterned paper appropriate for book lovers, and the bookmark cleverly clasps onto the page you are reading (and the front of the card) with strips of self-adhesive magnet sheets:
Now put down your book and come to stamp and craft with us at our Spring StampFest events in Utah County on March 21 or Southern Utah on March 28th! Click on the links to register, or on the pictures to see the events on Facebook:
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove