Sneak Peek: June's Paper Pumpkin Kit Box of Sunshine

This exclusive Sara-inspired Paper Pumpkin kit is here to help you #sharesunshine. It includes supplies for eight handmade cards and is specially designed to help you create a box full of cheer. Once you’ve made all the cards, use any leftover pieces to decorate the box. Fill it with yellow goodies, add the included adhesive label, address it to someone special, and brighten their life with a little sunshine!

The June 2020 kit contains supplies to make 8 cards and 8 envelopes (2 cards of 4 designs)

• Card size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" (10.8cm x 14cm)
• Envelope size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" (11.4cm x 14.6cm)
• Box of Sunshine Information: This kit includes extra pieces and stickers (including a sticker label) to help you create cards AND a Box of Sunshine filled with treats and goodies to send to a friend. Treats not included.

The coordinating colors are Basic Black, Bumblebee, Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade, Shaded Spruce, White, and Gold. What a striking color palette! It is bright and cheery! Just the perfect bit of sunshine to bright our days!

Start or renew your subscription for June's Paper Pumpkin kit at paperpumpkin.com from May 11th through June 10th. Please note that supplies may be limited toward the end of each subscription period. May's Paper Pumpkin Kit sold out really quickly. So, please, don't delay in subscribing!

Then bring your Paper Pumpkin Kit to my VIRTUAL Paper Pumpkin Party on Thursday, June 25th from 6pm to 8pm on Zoom. We will assemble our kits together virtually and view alternative project ideas! RSVP by June 18th. Once you RSVP, I can send you the Zoom meeting information.

I look forward each month to getting my Paper Pumpkin Kit in the mail. You never quite know what will be in each kit. It like a surprise box of stamping goodness! There are always extra project pieces that I can use on other cards and projects. Paper Pumpkin truly expands my creativity because I can create my own projects instead of following along with the instructions. It is like a stamping version of a Chopped basket!

I know you will love Paper Pumpkin too! Start or renew your subscription for June's Paper Pumpkin kit at paperpumpkin.com from May 11th through June 10th. Please note that supplies may be limited toward the end of each subscription period. May's Paper Pumpkin Kit sold out really quickly. So, please, don't delay in subscribing!

Happy Stamping!
Beth

Second Sunday Sketches #13 Starts Today!

It is time for another Second Sunday Sketches challenge! If you are new to Second Sunday Sketches, please review the rules here or below. Each second Sunday of the month, I will post a card sketch. A sketch is graphic or drawing of how the elements of a card are layed out.

You will then use the sketch as a guide to create your own card. Your card must be a new creation and reflect the challenge guidelines. Your card must include the major elements of the card sketch, such as the number of layers and the general position of the embellishments and/or die cuts. You can rotate the sketch for a top-folding card or for a side-folding card.

You choose the occasion and the color palette as well as the stamp set(s) and the embellishments. I do ask that you use Stampin' Up! products (current or retired).

The measurements will also be included in the blog post for each Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge. You can use the measurements as given or increase them or decrease them. For example, if a greeting is stamped on a 1" circle on the sketch, but the greeting you choose is 1-3/4", then increase the size of the circle to 1-3/4". You can also change the shape. Instead of a circle, you can use an oval, a square, a daisy punch, etc.

The challenge will run from the second Sunday of the month until the last day of that month.

Below is May's card sketch.

Challenge Dates

May's challenge will run from May 8th, 2020 until May 31st, 2020 at 5pm EST.

If you would like to participate in the Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge, please create a card using the sketch above and email me a photo of your card by May 31st, 2020 at 5pm EST with the subject line Second Sunday Sketches Entry.

Prize Drawing

The day after the last day of the month (June1st), I will place all of the names of the participants in a proverbial hat and randomly draw a winner. The winner will receive a prize! The prize each month will change and will be announced at the start of each challenge. May's Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge prize is Item #151254 5/16" Burlap Trim and three hand-made cards from me.

Winner Announcement

If you are the winner, I will notify you by email. Please respond to my email with your complete mailing address, and I will mail you your prize! If the winner does not respond to my email within 7 days, I will draw another winner.

I will also post all of the entries on my blog (with your names attached to the photos) and the name of the winner.

Card Sketch Sample

Here is a sample of how I interpreted this card sketch using the Gather Together stamp set.

Some Ideas on How to Make this Card Sketch Your Own

There are many ways to change this card to make it your own! You can rotate the card layout 90 degrees, change the flowers and the oval to other shapes, add a mat layer beneath the designer paper strips, use embossing folders to add more texture to a mat layer, and more!

Share Second Sunday Sketches with a Friend

Be sure to join in on the fun and share with a friend! Starting in March 2020, if you enter the Second Sunday Sketches challenge, you can get a bonus surprise prize by sharing this challenge with a friend (for US residents only)! Here's how to get a bonus surprise prize. Limit two bonus surprise prizes per person per month.

1. Enter into this month's Second Sunday Sketches challenge
2. Share this month's Second Sunday Sketches challenge with a friend (that hasn't participated before)
3. Have your friend submit their this month's challenge card entry
4. Email me that your friend has submitted their card entry. Submit your complete mailing address and the name of the friend that you shared with. I will confirm their entry and then send you a bonus surprise prize.

I am looking forward to seeing your personal take on the 13th Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge! If you have any questions about this card sketch challenge, please let me know! I am happy to assist!

Happy Stamping!
Beth

Botanical Flap Fold Thank You Card

The Pressed Petals Specialty Designer Series Paper is one of my favorite designer series paper packs from the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog! I have been using it sparingly throughout the year because it is so pretty and so my style. In addition to stamping, I also make different natural cosmetics and natural cleaning products. I love learning about flowers and plants. This particular patterned paper reminds me of my flower press. I used to press little leaves and forget me not flowers. So beautiful!

I am not sure of the official name of this fun fold, but I do know that it is a variation of a flap fold. The card opens by lifting the top flop to reveal the message inside of the card. What a cute way to open a card!

The flap fold card base when folded is 4-1/4" by 5-1/2", so it can fit easily into an envelope and two card bases can be made from 1 sheet of 8-1/2" by 11" cardstock. The basic layout of this flap fold card doesn't use a lot of materials, making this an economical card and a card that you can customize to your occasion and materials on hand.

Pressed Petals Top Flap Fold Thank You Card Measurements
	Paper	Dimensions
Card Base	Mossy Meadow Cardstock	4-1/4” x 8”; scored at 5-1/2”
1st Mat	Crumb Cake Cardstock	4-1/2” x 3-1/4”
2nd Mat	Very Vanilla Cardstock	4-1/4” x 3”
3rd Mat	Pressed Petals Designer Series Paper	3” x 3”
Inside Mat	Very Vanilla Cardstock	4-1/4” x 3”

The focal point of today's card is a 3" by 3" square of Pressed Petals Specialty Designer Series Paper. This size piece of designer series paper makes me so happy because you can evenly cut 16 squares from one sheet of designer series paper with no scraps left over.

No little bits to throw out. No small pieces to figure out how to use. Nope. Not a one. I can see using a sheet of designer series paper to create 16 flap fold cards to make a gift. You could use the front and back sides of the designer series paper and a variety of greetings too!

It is so easy to hold on to designer series paper because it is so pretty. I am totally guilty of that, too! But, we should use it and share it. My stamping goal this year is to find ways to use up the designer series papers that I have so loving organized on my shelves.

Let's do this! Let's use our designer series papers and share their beautiful patterns with family, friends, and our community members! Are you with me? What are some of the ways you use your designer series paper? Leave a comment below. I would love to hear your tips and tricks to use designer series paper!

If you would like to purchase the supplies I used to create this card, please use the supply list below to shop in my online store. I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth

Pressed Petals Top Flap Fold Thank You Card Supply List
Stamps	#151595 Peaceful Moments (Cling-Mount)
Paper	#120953 Crumb Cake Cardstock #133676 Mossy Meadow Cardstock #101650 Very Vanilla Cardstock #149500 Pressed Petals Specialty Designer Series Paper
Ink	#147111 Mossy Meadow Ink Pad
Embellishments	#149485 Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack
Tools	#152392 Stampin’ Trimmer #102300 Bone Folder #103579 Paper Snips Adhesive Corresponding Clear Acrylic Blocks