Lots of Pun with Paper Pumpkin

Cards made with the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin subscription box.

The Lots of Pun, December 2021, Paper Pumpkin is filled with funny yolks, you know, the “moldy oldies.” But seriously, it’s a super cute kit with sentiments for celebrating, condolences, and general good wishes. At least one of my cards will be perfect for my Valentine.

These are the cards made as designed. The kit comes with extra pieces, so it’s easy to get more than the nine cards it was designed to make. For my alternatives, I took one of each of the card bases and cut it in half. Then I trimmed each half to 4″x5-1/4″. That means I have six more punny ideas for you!

Lots of Pun with Cherries

Alternative design for the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

For the first split card, I used the Granny Apple Green back and embossed it with the Tasteful Texture 3-D embossing folder from the current Annual catalog. After mounting the pane on a base of Pool Party cardstock, I put the cherries in the frame exactly like the card was designed. Instead of using vellum and the red banner detail, I used the rainbow striped banner. The heart embellishments in the kit were the perfect final touch.

Alternative design for a condolence card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

The second alternative I created from the same card base is a condolence card. Unfortunately, sometimes we need to send this kind of card. Again, the front panel is layered on Pool Party cardstock. For the sentiment cluster (vellum, rainbow banner, red ruffle, and stamped banner), I trimmed the scrap piece of rainbow-striped paper from the pre-punched frame. The narrow strip adds a nice pop of color. The clean and simple (CAS) design lets the sentiment stand out.

Orange You Glad I Said Banana Again?

Alternative design for a thank you card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

Okay, that’s not how that ancient knock knock joke goes, but of course it came to mind when playing with these punny bananas in the Lots of Pun kit. For this alternative duet, I used the yellow checked card base with the Pool Party back. Both cards are on White cardstock as the base.

The first card is another CAS. I used the smaller vellum circle to anchor my cluster of bananas. The “top” banana is raised on Dimensionals. I giggle every time I see the banana with glasses. The sentiment in the word bubble banner is also elevated. For a final touch, I added three of the Daffodil Delight gems from the kit.

Alternative design for a congratulations card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

The second card, starts with the Pool Party back that I stamped with the hat and dots stamps from the kit using Pool Party ink. When stamping a background like this, it’s good to make the images “fall off” the edge. That technique keeps the background from fighting for attention with your focal point. In this case, I super cute piece of toast in a Granny Apple Green party hat. The blue plaid medallion is the “left over” piece from the frame used in the cherries card.

Egg-stra Alternatives

Alternative design for a greeting card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

The last two alternatives use the Daffodil Delight card base that has the watercolor sploosh on the front. Starting with the Daffodil Delight panel, I embossed it using the same Tasteful Textures folder. Next, I layered on the big vellum circle from the kit. I staggered the two eggs, generally only line up items if you have three or more and usually odd numbers. Again, those eyeballs will do funny things to two eggs lined up on your card. And not the good funny.

Alternative design for a greeting card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

I used two sentiments, one in the bubble banner popped up on Dimensionals. The other has the Early Espresso ruffle under to give it some visual weight. I love the little smiling eggs. Talk about “sunny side up!”

The last alternative calls to my serious side, a pun-free alternative. I used the Crumb Cake banner from the kit, layered over a second scrap of rainbow banner and then the Early Espresso striped banner. I used Dimensionals cut in half for the hello sentiment from the kit. If you have the mini Dimensionals, they work so much better, but they still should be cut in half. Last, I added that twine bow because everyone I know loves tying bows. (I said pun free, not joke free.)

I hope you liked the cards I have for you here. If you haven’t signed up for Paper Pumpkin, there’s a link to the right. Here’s a preview of the January 2022 box. Sign up by January 10 so you don’t miss out. And until next time, “Ink up!”

Clean and Simple Masculine Birthday Card

Clean and simple cards are not my usual, but I wanted to play with the Paper Players this week. You may see clean and simple abbreviated as CAS. But what does it mean? A CAS card has minimal layers, minimal, if any, embellishments, and lots of blank space. The clean and simple challenge from the Paper Players this week was a birthday card. Here’s what I came up with.

A Masculine Clean and Simple Birthday Card

Clean and Simple masculine birthday card featuring Stampin' Up! Rustic Retreat and Woodland embossing folder.

I started with a base of Thick Very Vanilla card stock. The next layer was an experiment. I used the Natural Touch DSP. This paper has a woodgrain texture already embedded in it. I wasn’t sure how it would do being embossed, but it held up really well. Using the soon to be retired Woodland embossing folder was a nostalgic moment for me. I think this is the first embossing folder I ever bought from Stampin’ Up! and I love it.

Next, I used a 2″x5″ strip of Very Vanilla and stamped it using the Rustic Retreat set in Cinnamon Cider. I used my Stamparatus so I could ink and stamp both images at once. I left a lot of blank space at the top as part of my Clean and Simple design. Using Mossy Meadow, I did color in a few spots of grass under the deer to add a spot of contrasting color. For the final touch, I added a simple knotted Cinnamon Cider ribbon between the sentiment and the deer.

I enjoy creating cards for challenges that stretch my creativity. I’m so glad The Paper Players continue to issue great challenges and I thank them for letting me play along. Do you like Clean and Simple cards? Have you experimented with your craft supplies lately? Let me know and happy crafting!