December Paper Pumpkin Alternative Cards

Happy New Year!!!  I trust that you had great holidays.  Welcome to 2020, crazy, huh?? 

My husband, Bruce, and I just got back from a week’s vacation that included ushering in the New Year.  We went to Universal Studios in Orlando and then stopped in Savannah on our way home.  We had an absolutely great time.  Both of us are huge Harry Potter fans and really enjoyed everything Harry Potter at Universal.  The rides, buildings, and details from the story were truly amazing!  And, Savannah did not disappoint.  It is beautiful, full of history, and a wonderful place to spend the beginning of the year.

I have had a little technical issue with my website (all on my end 🙂 ) which is part of the reason for the delay in posting.  So sorry for that!

When we got back from our vacation, I pulled out my latest Paper Pumpkin kit called “Something for Everything”.  The stamp set that came with the kit is full of very useful sentiments that I know I’ll be using quite a bit.  While I liked the example cards from the kit, I wanted to create something just a little different with layers, multiple colors, and a little punch.  Take a look below at the three cards that I made.

Here are pictures of each card individually.  They may look a little complicated with the many die cuts that are included on each card, but they are really pretty straight forward to make.  All you need is a set of nesting dies. 

Below are the basic steps that I used to create the cards.  As you know, I am a visual person which means I’ve added pictures to help explain my instructions 🙂

  • First – Get out your paper trimmer, and cut each of the kit’s card bases in half.  There are three gorgeous color combinations for the card bases that are in the kit!

  • Now – Get your Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies out.  You will use these to make all the die cuts for these cards.  Use the largest die to cut a rectangle from each of the solid color pieces that you cut.

  • Use the second largest die to cut a rectangle from each of the patterned pieces that you cut.

  • Next – Take the smallest die (you can see the vacant space for the die that I used) to cut a rectangle from the patterned die cut piece.

  • Next – Use the two smallest dies (again you can see the vacant spaces for the dies that I used) to cut a frame from the solid color rectangle die cut piece.  Tip:  You’re going to put this piece under the patterned die cut piece.  Make sure you cut your frame in an area where you won’t see the hole from the die cut when you put the patterned piece on top of the solid color rectangle.

  • Last – Grab the extra “frame” that was leftover from die cutting the patterned piece.  Cut 1/8″ inch off the top edge and the right edge.  You’ll have a frame that is slightly smaller than the patterned paper that you started with.

  • After I followed the above steps for one solid and one patterned piece of card base, I ended up with the pieces shown below.

  • When I followed the steps for three solid and three patterned pieces of card base, I ended up with all the pieces shown below.

  • You now have quite a few colors – solid and patterned – and sizes of layers that you can use to make some very pretty cards!  You will need a Whisper White card stock base for each card.  Be creative when you make your cards!  For example, use one of the frames on the left of the picture above to be your first layer you add to the Whisper White card base.  Add a solid piece as the next layer.  Add a patterned piece as the next layer.  Pick a smaller frame to go around the die cut opening on your patterned piece.  Then, you can add one of the smaller die cut rectangles in the die cut opening.  This layering is what I did for the card pictured below!

  • Other pieces in the kit were used to complete my cards.  Another tip – Cut the gold stickers in half and put them just to the edge of the die cut opening.  Adhere the small frame around the opening after you’ve added the gold stickers.  Here is an example pictured below.

This design has SO MANY possibilities!  Think of all the Designer Series Paper that you have and haven’t used!  Get a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ solid card stock piece in a complementary color and use the two pieces as the basis for a card like this.

Change the dies to different shapes.  Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  A card with this design and heart dies for the die cuts on the solid card stock (for the small frame) and on the patterned paper would be amazing!

I cannot wait to see what you create with the design.  Please share your cards!

If you don’t have the Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies, please trust me that you need them!  I’m surprised mine haven’t worn out at this point.  I use them all the time!  You can order them simply by clicking on the picture of the set that is shown below.  You’ll go directly to my on-line store.

Happy stamping!
Laurie