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
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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!”
