Once again, I was not able to hold my monthly Paper Pumpkin workshop, so posting my alternate card ideas descended to the bottom of my task list. The April kit was all about family.

This Paper Pumpkin box includes a stamp set, a Pear Pizzazz mini stamp pad, and the supplies to make these cards:

Here are the stamps included in the supplies:

In addition to the Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Father’s Day sentiments, it also contains other phrases and words you can use to customize your creation to give to another family member. Unfortunately, one minor complaint about the collection of words is that “Step” or “In-law” weren’t included. I suppose you could mimic the script as best as possible and write those if you felt the need to.

My first alternate card slightly alters the card with the branch of leaves on it so you can read the wonderful wording behind the leaves. It’s difficult to see on the picture, but it reads, “Life’s greatest blessings begin and end with family. It is in families that we learn to love, teach what is most important, and grow together in love and laughter. Grateful for you. Happy to be yours.”

Instead of overlaying the leaf branch atop the paragraph, I snipped up it into several pieces and placed them around the paragraph. Instead of putting the “I’ll always be here for you” sentiment on a tag on the front, I stamped it on the inside of the card.

My next card required no creativity on my part. I slightly altered an example from the leaflet included in the kit. The card in the kit featured a pink hydrangea. Where I live, hydrangeas grow blue, so it seemed wrong to have a pink one on a card. I had to make a blue one.

My final card is my stamps only card. This card required a heap of different ink pads. If you’re an avid stamper, you’ll probably already have them. If you’re a beginner, experiment with supplies you already own and create your own version. I used a sponge daubing technique to achieve the gradient on the tree leaves. To do this, first ink the leaf stamp with a light color ink and then use a sponge dauber to tap on some darker ink. For these trees, I used Granny Apple Green, Call Me Clover, Shaded Spruce, Crushed Curry, and Cajun Craze.

Product List

If you’re not already a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, I highly recommend subscribing. The kit is all inclusive, so even if you don’t have any other paper-crafting supplies, you’ll be able to make the projects.