Paper Pumpkin Cozy Christmas and AHSC #653

Hi and welcome to my blog.  The past two weeks have been a blur with work and family tasks taking the forefront over crafting, but today I was able to spend some time with my stamping bestie Sheri, and have some fun.  

For inspiration I chose to use the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #653:

Here's My Card For the Sketch Challenge: 

My October Paper Pumpkin Kit called "Cozy Christmas" was sitting on my counter for over a week, so I was anxious to dive in and make some Christmas cards.  This sketch worked out perfectly for my first card. 

Instead of using an oval or circular shape I chose to add the large Christmas bauble from the kit and place a die cut sentiment at the base.  

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies: 

• More Merry Messages Stamp for inside sentiment
• Branching Out Dies #165775
• Abundant Joy Dies (Paper Pumpkin) #167855

I'm absolutely head over heels in love with the Abundant Joy Dies. This die set is designed to work with THREE Paper Pumpkin Kits: the Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit (Oct 2025), the Wrapped in Cheer Paper Pumpkin Kit (Nov 2025), and the Watercolor in Bloom Paper Pumpkin Kit (Dec 2025). 

Please note that this Paper Pumpkin "add on" die set and any other add-ons are only available for current Paper Pumpkin subscribers to purchase. To become a subscriber, visit www.stampinup.ca/paperpumpkin. 

Cardstock and DSP:

• Card base - Basic White 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Scored at 4 1/4"
• Inside Matte - Basic White 5 1/4" x 4" die cut with Branching Out Die Nesting die #2
• Cherry Cobbler 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" for front matte and 5 1/4" x 4" for inside matte and scrap for die cut "JOY"
• Garden Green 5 1/4" x 4" for front of card matte
• Pre-cut Crumb Cake layer from PP kit - randomly stamped stars from the Cozy Christmas PP kit stamp artwork
• Christmas Bauble and leaves ephemera from Paper Pumpkin kit 

Here's a view of the inside of the card.  I used the nesting dies from Branching Out and I was so pleased with how this turned out. 

Ink:

• Pecan Pie 

Accessories: 

• Traditional Sparkling Sequins (red) #165875
• Dimensionals 

This card came together fairly easily.  The most finicky part was gluing the two piece bauble together as the red portion has very thin design edges and tears easily. The background bauble with the flocked greenery was far easier to work with.  

Before I go, I made three other cards from the Cozy Christmas kit and thought I'd share them with you. 

I hope you enjoyed my AHSC #653 challenge card and the Cozy Christmas October 2025 Paper Pumpkin cards.  If you have a favourite be sure to let me know, I love to receive your input.   

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT!
Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online shop

Top 3 Sketch Challenge AHSC#651 Winner

 

Thank you Atlantic Hearts Design Team for choosing my Peaceful Place Shaker card to be among the Top 3 for challenge #651.  Congrats to the other two winners Tracey Stevenson and Christine (Belgium).  

What a fun sketch.  Just the right elements in the design for making a monochromatic Christmas shaker card to add to my growing stash.  Here is my winning card: 

You can find details on how this card was assembled by clicking here.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Freshly Made Sketches Winners For Challenge FMS708:

 Freshly Made Sketches Winners for #708

I was just checking for this week's sketch challenge and I see my entry for last week's FMS708 challenge was chosen by Judy as one of the princesses. How awesome!  What wonderful and positive news at the start of my day.  

This was extra special news as I've been so swamped with work at our Strata that it's hard to find time and energy anymore for cardmaking.  So, this card came together in the wee hours of the morning following a very long and stressful day. I was literally feeling blue, so my choice of matte colours, designer paper, sentiment and title for my post was really a message to myself to hang in there doing the thing I love.  Thanks so much Judy and the other FMS design team for affirming that! 

There were so many beautiful cards entered this week.  Congrats to Chris Lawlor the Queen and to all the other princesses and entrants for their beautiful cards too!  Here's my card and link to the details. 

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Free Shipping - Three Days Only!

 Don't miss out...............

Free Shipping starts October 22nd through 24th..........

• All order types qualify for this promotion.
• Free shipping is for three days only. Orders must be opened and closed from October 22–24.
• Free shipping automatically applies to your cart after the qualifying amount has been met, which is $100 CAD (before tax).
• Coupon codes and Stampin’ Rewards will lower your order’s retail amount. Orders must meet the qualifying amount to be eligible for free shipping.
• The additional cost for expedited shipping is not covered by this promotion.
• Prepaid 3-, 6-, and 12-month Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and month-to-month subscriptions do not qualify for free shipping.
• Refills, past kits and add-ons do qualify toward free shipping, but you must be a subscriber to purchase. Subscriptions billed and shipped this month will be charged for the normal amount ($36.75 CAD shipping included) + tax.

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Words of Encouragement - FMS Challenge #708

Freshly Made Sketches #708:

The wonderfully talented Jen T is the hostess for this week's wonderfully basic card sketch on Freshly Made Sketches.  Make sure you check out her own card design, it's stunning!  Also, why don't you play along.  Don't be intimidated by the blank canvas and simple design.  You  can choose any element to replace the circle and make it your own.  

 Here's My Card: 

Clean and simple cards are one of the biggest challenges I face as a papercrafter.  I never know when is enough or if I've done too little on my card designs.  After I finished this card I thought I could have possibly done more by dry embossing the white matte after I stamped the sentiment on it.  However, I didn't because I was concerned it would affect the lettering.  Oh well.  

I love the floral wreath die cut on this card.  Its a bigger image than I was going to use however it worked out well on the card. I die cut the image from a piece of Meandering Meadow Designer paper and then used the cut piece that was left, as a matte.  This combination of matte and design compliments each other quite effectively without having to do blending or other means of adding colour and design.  

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Encircled in Natures stamps and dies #163623

Cardstock and DSP:

• Basic White card base - 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" 
• Balmy Blue matte  5 1/4" x 4 1/4" 
• Meandering Meadow DSP matte 5" x 3 3/4" - die cut taken from the center of this piece before adhering
• Basic White matter 4 3/4" x 3 3/4" 

Ink and Blends:

• Misty Moonlight

Accessories:  

• Adhesive Backed Shiny Sequins #163484 

Well that's it for this challenge.  I'd love to hear your comments.  Do you use designer paper for mattes?  What are your thoughts? 

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Store 

Peaceful Place Shaker Christmas Card #AHSC651

 Hi and welcome to this week's sketch challenge by Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges.

I really love the layout of this sketch which features multiple layers and  opportunities to add texture.  Making it into a monochromatic shaker Christmas card meant I didn't have to colour the cute little garden cottage, which kept things simple and I was able to keep the sparkle and shine in the shaker portion of the card.  

Here is my card:  

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies: 

• Home for the Holidays Oct 23 Paper Pumpkin Kit stamps
• Snowman Magic  #159816 sentiment stamps
• Stitched Circle Dies 

Cardstock and Designer Series Paper:

• Basic White 
• 1/2" x 4 1/4" for sentiment strip
• 3 x 3 for stitched circle cut out 
• 3 3/4" x 5" for inside layer
• Smokey Slate
• 3" x 4 1/2" for front matte
• 4" x 5 1/4" for inside matte
• DSP Stampin' Up!: 
• Peaceful Place 12 x 12 #156394 (R)
• 1st matte 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
• 2nd matte 5 1/4" x 4" 
• Window Sheet 
• 2 3/4" x 4" for shaker window cover 

Ink:

• Pebbled Path 

Accessories: 

• Foam Adhesive Strips #141825
• Frosted Sequins #135835 (R) SU
• Subtle Shimmer sequins #156407
• Dimensionals
• Snowflake Sky Embossing Folder #162026

The Peaceful Place DSP was one of my all time favourite Christmas papers when it came out a few years ago. There's such a rich blend of silver foil and images on each of the pages. The first mat is a mix of foil snowflakes and basic gray background while the second matte has rows of snow capped trees making it the perfect background for the winter cottage. The basic gray layer worked really well for creating a shaker card. 

Well that's it for this sketch and I've lost count, but I think this is the 101st of 150 cards for this season. Please leave me a not to let me know if you liked the style of this card.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Store 

 Top Three for Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #650.

Thanks to the designers at Atlantic Hearts for choosing my card to be among the top three winners for sketch challenge #650 for my masculine birthday card.  There were so many awesome cards from designers, participants and Birgit and Elisa A. the other two Top Three Winners this week.  Nicely done ladies! 

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT
Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Masculine Birthday - AHSC #650

Here's this week's sketch from Atlantic Hearts Challenge #650  I really like the diamond focal so decided to do the same for my card.  I don't know about you but October is such a busy month.  Almost every day there another' birthday and most of them this month are male friends and family.  This clean and simple sketch presented me with another opportunity to get a masculine card in my stash.  

Here's My Card:

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Happy Hour #126642
• Brewed for You Stamps #159087
• Brewed Dies #159092 
• Stitched Squares Dies 

Cardstock and DSP:

• Whisper White 
• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" for card base 
• 3" x 3" scrap for Whisper White Diamond and 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" for inside circle 
• 5" x 3 3/4" for inside matte 
• scraps for glasses and mugs 
• Basic Black 
• Cut 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" for front matte 
  
• Tartan Foil Designer Series Paper #162332 
• Cut two pieces 5 1/4" x 4" for front and inside mattes. 

Inks and Blends:

• Pebbled Path 
• Merry Merlot
• Crushed Curry 

Accessories:  

• Dimensionals 
• Nuvo Clear drops to add shine to wine and beer mug. 

Well, there you have it.  Nothing like a clean and simple design to make the focal point stand out.  Thanks for dropping by and checking out my card this week.  Make sure you stop by the Atlantic Hearts blog as well, the designers really outdid themselves this week.   

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Men and Their Love of Cars - Masculine Birthday Cards

 Freshly Made Sketches #707 

Here Are My Cards: 

Recently we had lunch with some old friends who just happen to be car buffs. They're into the speedway and going to the show and shines during the summer months.  I'd forgotten just how much these guys are into cars of all vintages and how enthusiastic they get when the conversation turns to cars, which it inevitably does.  So with that in mind, I made three birthday cards featuring some of my old car stamps and this wonderful sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  

  

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies:

• Geared Up Garage Stamps #148590
• Garage Gears Dies
• The Route 66 Stamp Set by Carta Bella 52830

Cardstock and DSP: 

Whisper White

• Cut three card
• Card base in Whisper White cardstock measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is scored at 4 1/4".Scrap pieces for sentiment layers 
• Whisper White matte for inside card 5" x 3 3/4"
• Real Red for card mattes inside and out 5 1/4" x 4".  Scraps for circles or rectangle mats for focal point 

Inks and Blends:

• Memento Tuxedo Black 
• Real Red 
• Daffodil Delight Light and Dark, Smokey Slate, for car details. 

Accessories:  

• Dimensionals 

Thanks so much for dropping by and looking at my interpretation of this weeks FMS challenge.  What fun!  See you again soon! 

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Atlantic Hearts #649 - Top Three!

 Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge - Top Three #649 

I just checked out last week's sketch challenge top three over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and I'm thrilled to say my "Feeling A Little Beachy" card was selected.  How awesome is that!  A big thanks to the design team.  Make sure you check out Patti Dolan from P.S. Papercrafts and Stefani from Stamp with Stefani the other two Top 3 Winners, their designs are awesome!  

Have a great week and make sure you come back to check out my next AHSC Card #670! 

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Fall For Toile Paper Pumpkin Kit and FMS#706

 Once again it's time for a Freshly Made Sketch challenge.  Here's #706

Here's My Card:

This sketch was perfect for making an alternative card with the Fall For Toile September 2025 Paper Pumpkin kit.  I made a "thinking of you" card and featured a deer on the focal. 

Supplies:

Stamps and Dies:

• Autumn Abundance August 2024 Paper Pumpkin sentiments
• Nature's Beauty #150528 (R)
• Stitched Circles Dies  (R)

Cardstock and DSP: 

• Whisper White 
• Card Base 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" 
• Inside Matte 3 3/4" x 5" 
• 3" x 3" for stitched circle matte
• Pecan Pie
• Cut two 4" x 5 1/4" mattes for front and inside card
• 3 1/4 x 3 1/4" piece for stitched circle matte
• Cut two 3/8" x 2 3/8" strips for ends of DSP matte

• DSP:
• 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" piece of white/pecan pie cardstock from Fall For Toile Paper Pumpkin September 2025 kit
• 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece of cardstock with deer and trees in pecan pie 

Inks and Blends:

• Pecan Pie 
• Paper Pumpkin 
• Timid Tiger and Peach Pie blends for leaves 

Accessories: 

• Mini Corrugated Embossing Folder 
• Basics Cross Hatched Embossing Folder 
• Dimensionals 
• Gold Self-Adhesive Sequins 

Fall for Toile Alternatives: 

Here are some additional cards that I've made with the Fall for Toile September 2025 Paper Pumpkin kit. 

The last card was featured in this sketch challenge. 

Thanks for dropping by and checking out my sketch challenge entry. I hope you'll leave a comment or come back again.

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin Up! Demo since 2006