Paper Pumpkin Alternatives April 2024 and Sketch Challenges

The past week was so busy that time literally flew by.  I have a number of projects on the go, including working on my April 2024 Paper Pumpkin kit alternatives so I decided to use some sketch challenges for inspiration.  For this card I was excited to try another sketch challenge with sketch #573 from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge (AHSC) but unfortunately I missed the deadline.    

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #573

Why waste a good post?  Even though this card isn't entered in that challenge, it's still post worthy.  Let me know if this has ever happened to you when you've been doing challenges?  The turnaround times sometimes are just not in my reality.  Oh well.....

Here's My Card: 

In this photo the lighting has captured the Lost Lagoon in all it's glory.  I used pieces from a white card base in the April Paper Pumpkin kit for the top and bottom panels of this card. Before cutting these panels I used blending brushes and Lost Lagoon ink to change the look of the design and add some colour.  I also ran the top panel through my big shot and embossed it with the hatch design from the Basic 3D embossing folders which are available in the On Line Exclusive products list. 

I love the dies that coordinate with the Delicate Wing Paper Pumpkin kit.  They give a three D effect.  Before cutting the butterflies out with these dies I stamped them on the reverse side of one of the white panels with the butterfly stamp from the kit.  I used gold gems to highlight the centers of the butterflies and for design elements. 

I had some left over Lost Lagoon taffeta ribbon which I used to divide the bottom and middle panel.  I stamped the "Sending Love and Best Wishes" sentiment from the Perennial Postage stamp set in Lost Lagoon ink on a scrap of white paper and then die cut it with the smallest of the Stitched Rectangle stamps.  This was mounted on a scrap of Lost Lagoon that was also cut with those dies. 

Supplies Used:

The April 2024 Paper Pumpkin kit called Delicate Wings card stock, stamps and dies were used to create this card.  

Stamp Sets:  Perennial Postage, Perennial Birthday, and Delicate Wings

Cardstock:  Basic White (card base 8 1/2 x 11 scored at 4 1/4", Inside Mat 3 3/4" x 5" and scraps for butterflies), Lost Lagoon (4 1/8" x 5 3/8" Mat)

DSP:  Paper Pumpkin April 2024 Delicate Wings Kit

Accessories:  Lost Lagoon Taffeta Ribbon, Gold gems, Basics 3D Embossing Folder, Stitched Rectangles Dies, glue dots, tombow glue. 

HAPPY STAMPING!

Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Independent Stampin Up Demo since 2006

Click here to see my 24/7 Webstore Page: 

wwc67 - Deborah's

Whew, where did the weekend go?  So many things to do and so little time.  As a result I've just missed a wonderful challenge by Deborah entitled "All About Boxes WWC67 on the Watercooler Wednesday Blog Site.  Oh well, that will teach me not to pay attention to the time zones before posting. 

As far back as I can remember in my stamping world, I have always loved to make boxes.  Big ones, small ones it didn't matter.  Most often I like making boxes for card gift sets or for small presents.  

One day in my search for the perfect box instructions I stumbled upon a tutorial on the now defunct Stamping 411 - Stamping With the Operators blog  for a card box that actually worked.  I've been referencing this tutorial "How To Build a Card Box" by Lee Convey ever since.  

Here is My Box
If the design on my box  and colours look familiar, it's because last month I made this double fold card for the last of my three projects using the retiring In Colours for the April Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop.  Since I simply can't get enough of this colour combination I decided to use the same design and supplies for this box.   

Here's  a view of finished box lid.  I've decorated it to correspond with the double fold card inside. 

The box lid measures 6 5/8 x 8 1/8" and is scored at 1" on all sides.  It couldn't get any easier than this!  The corners are miter clipped on an angle to make folding nice and easy.  Once you've added your score tape cut from the short end fold lines to the 1" score line. 

When decorating the lid I began by cutting a 5 3/4 by 4 1/4" mat from Blackberry Bliss, and then added a second mat measuring 5 1/2 x 4" from Whisper White. For the rest of the design I just used the same format as the card, with the exception of adding more floral pieces from Botanical Gardens.

The sentiment is from the "Remembering Your Birthday" stamp set, which I'm so sad to say is retiring on May 31st.  This has been one of my "go to" sets all year and I'm really going to miss it.   The beautiful Lost Lagoon and Blackberry Bliss ribbon's are also retiring, so I made sure I had lots in my stash.

Remembering Your Birthday - this is an eight piece wood or clear mount birthday sentiment stamp set.  Order # 131350.  It's only available froom now until May 31st, 2016 before it retires forever.

Here's a side view showing the height of the box. The sides are 2" high.  The corners fit beautifully, not too snug and not too loose, so the lid isn't hard to lift off or put on. 

The bottom of the box is made exactly the same as the lid.  The starting measurement is  10 x 8 1/2".  This bottom is nice and deep so it's great for holding candy or lots of cards.

This view shows the box lid and the bottom full of matching cards.  It is the perfect box size and so easy to make. 

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Remembering Your Birthday for the sentiment
Card Stock:  Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow
Ink:  Blackberry Bliss
Accessories:  The Big Shot, Botanical Gardens Thinlet Dies, Lost Lagoon Satin Ribbon, Black Berry Bliss Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dimensionals

This finished box will hold 8 cards and envelopes comfortably, so if you like giving away boxed occasion cards as a gift, this box is for you.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin Spot

2014 Catalogue Premiere & Sneak Peak

This isn't going to be my usual post today because I want to share an exciting event I attended last night in North Vancouver.  

When you get a chance to be the first to see the 2014-2015 annual catalogue you jump at it, and I did! 

Yesterday Canadian demos from across the country were made to feel just as if we were attending a star-studded Hollywood movie premiere.  For the first time ever, Stampin' Up premiered their annual catalogue through video simulcast across North America to over 7000 Stampin' Up! demonstrators. 

While the LIVE premiere and simulcast was actually held in Long Beach California on April 28th, Canadian demos had to wait two extra days to participate due to a booking glitch.  Regardless, it was no less exciting to join other British Columbian and Canadian demos and get an early sneak peak at the new catalogue and brand new products.

 

A group of ten of us who use to be part of Kristina Koch's Colourful Impressions group met at Boston Pizza on Esplanade in North Vancouver.  This was no small feat as we came from as far away as Richmond and Hope and areas in between.  That's lots of bridges to cross, believe me!  Once we arrived in North Vancouver were able to sit, relax and enjoy a wonderful meal on the Boston Pizza patio overlooking Vancouver's waterfront.  The weather gods were certainly smiling down and blessing us with clear skies and 22 degree Celcius.  Sunscreen weather for sure!

This is the beautiful patio location before we took it over.

We had lively discussions at dinner trying to guess what the new InColours would be and what changes had taken place in the catalogue. Most of us had avoided looking at Stampin' Connection and other sites where US blogs might post some spoilers!  

My beautiful friends and stamping demos: Debbie, Maureen and Sheri.

Following dinner the anticipation was growing.  We walked over to the theatre with 20 or 30 other demos we met up with.  Upon entering the Landmark Theatre we were thrilled to see Shannon West and Katy sitting at the registration table.  Personally I was blown away to see these Stampin' Up! reps.  Both gals are beautiful, talented and genuine nice people and of course great ambassadors for Stampin' Up!.

Shannon West and Katy taking a break after registration.

When the production began it was exciting to see Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Ups! matriarch and founder on the big screen.  She really made us feel welcome and excited about the 2 1/2 hour presentation we were about to see.  It was as though we stepped through a time warp and were back at Convention once again.  Presentations by Bonnie Thurber, Brian Pilling, Carrie Cuddnie, and Donna Griffiths were also entertaining and inspiring. It didn't take long for us to be hooting and hollering, especially when Prize Patrols were announced.

My new "Work of Art Stamp Set" we received for attending the event. See the beautiful images it creates.

There were lots of breaks for prizes and Prize Patrol was very generous!  Our group of five demos each won a prize. Diane, Debby and myself each won three of the brand new In Colour ink pads...........can you say exciting!!!!  And, Sheri and Maureen won beautiful new stamp sets they simply can't wait to ink up.

Through on-screen demonstrations and sneak peaks we received heaps of information and inspiration.  Over the coming weeks I'll be sharing some of that information with you so stay tuned.  

As we exited the theatre we were presented with our brand new 2014-15 annual catalogues and an awesome free stamp set.  What fun!  I just wanted to sit on the floor and pour through my cattie but couldn't.  Instead, I had to wait through an excruciatingly long drive home before I could do so. What can I say, I was the driver. And, as you can well imagine, I saw the other side of midnight examining it when I got home.  It was well worth it though.  

The 2014-2015 Annual Catalogue and Stampin Connection Magazine.  If you look carefully you may be able to see some of the new products..........just saying!

For all my loyal customers who have placed orders throughout the year, you'll be able to join me in the excitement soon because your "free" catalogues have been ordered and will arrive on your doorstep before it goes live on June 1st.  If you're a new customer and would like to get your copy of the new catalogue contact me, and I'll help you get one.

You're going to love this catalogue.  Although I can't show it to you on line you're welcome to drop by and take a peak in my studio.  Some of the great features of this catalogue are:

• 03 New Stamp Sets  
• 9 New Punches, including 3 New Handheld punches
• 7 New Hostess Exclusive sets
• 5 New In Colors
• 49 New Ribbons
• 5 New Embossing Folders 
• QR codes to "how to videos"
• Copy and Case information
• Indexes including sections and Picture index of all the Word Stamps

Made with the three new InColours I was lucky enough to win:  Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon and Blackberry Bliss

  

This is the theme for Stampin' Ups! 26th Annual Convention being held in Salt Lake City in July.  Did you know that if you sign up now to be a demonstrator under me that you can get to go to the Convention for free!  Ask me how. 

Penny