Project Life for a Child’s Summer Vacation Activity

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Stampin’ Up! has partnered with Becky Higgins to bring you Project Life products in exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors. It makes a simple way to get your photos into albums by just slipping them in the pocket pages and adding Project Life cards. Add a bit of journaling and maybe some embellishments if you like, but it’s much easier and simpler than traditional scrapbooking.

On their blog today, Stampin’ Up! has an article about getting your kids off their devices during the summer and having them work on a Project Life album, perhaps chronicling their school year or whatever they like. Project Life is simple enough even for kids! Surely the rest of us could do it as well!!

Watch the appearance of a mom from Stampin’ Up! and her daughter on a local Utah TV show encouraging parents to give their children some alternative ideas for summer fun besides being in the digital world constantly. Click HERE to watch the show segment!

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Adult Coloring Flourishing Phrases Card

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Adult coloring is such a big trend right not, but did you know you can make your own adult coloring page or card with an outline image to color in after stamping like this Adult Coloring Flourishing Phrases Card?

Flourishing Phrases is a beautiful stamp set in the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog with this flowering stem image and LOTS of phrases to use on all your projects. I stamped the full image on the Shimmery White cardstock for the front of the card and then stamped partial pieces of the flower stem randomly around the edge of the card I used Basic Black Archival Ink to stamp the images and then colored in with my Aqua Painter and various colors of ink. You could also use a Blender Pen for picking up the ink color.

I prefer the Shimmery White Cardstock when watercoloring because it is the next best thing to using real Watercolor Paper. You can use Whisper White cardstock, but you have to just color very lightly so that the paper doesn’t get too wet and pill up.

To make my adult coloring page into a card, I just layered it on Blushing Bride and then on the Pear Pizzazz card base, The ribbon is one of my all-time favorites, Whisper White 5/8″ Organza Ribbon. I also used my new Layering Ovals Framelits Dies to cut out the greeting which is in the Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set.

If you would like the coordinating thinlits dies that go with the stamp set and would like to save 10%, order the Flourishing Phrases Bundle and get it all!

Adult coloring is all the rage these days and the coloring books are quite expensive. I find that I don’t really want to spend time on an entire page of intricate images, but I love stamping something and coloring in my own creation. It’s relaxing and therapeutic! Try your hand at some stamping and “adult coloring” with your design, like my Adult Coloring Flourishing Phrases Card and see if it is not stress-relieving and pleasing for you!

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Flourishing Phrases Monochromatic Card

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Not sure why I decided on this Flourishing Phrases Monochromatic Card, but it’s what I came up with while playing with the new Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set and the Flourish Thinlits Dies. I really thought I would stamp something randomly all over the background of the card, but then I ended up just stamping the two flower stems. I actually the thinlit was going to cut out the stamped flower stem, but I was wrong! Which only makes sense since it would be very difficult to match up all those flowers and stems inside the thinlit! That would have taken a “framelit” not a “thinlit”!

Anyway, when I die cut the flower stem, I was blown away by how beautiful and intricate it was! I have to say, with the new platform, the Precision Base Plate and rolling it through twice, the die came out perfect! Then I used my Die Brush to get all the pieces out, and it was all very easy and quick!

I used Daffodil Delight for the card base with a Whisper White layer on the front. I could have embellished the card further, maybe with pearls or rhinestones or glitter, but for today I just kept it simple. I think this will be a beautiful stamp set to work with along with the Flourish Thinlits Dies.

You can purchase the stamp set and thinlits dies in a Bundle HERE.

You, too, can make a beautiful card like this easy Flourishing Phrases Monochromatic Card.

Botanical Pop Up Corner Birthday Card Inside

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When I discovered these Pop Up Corner Cards, I loved them and made several including this Botanical Pop Up Corner Birthday Card for my daughter. They are so easy and the recipient will think you are so clever!

Start with an 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of cardstock for the card base. Score in the middle vertically and horizontally so the paper is divided into fourths. In the upper left quadrant, score than on a diagonal. Fold on all the score lines back and forth, then cut the right horizontal line just to the center.

Fold the top half down.

Fold the top piece back on the diagonal score line.

Fold the top quarter down.

That piece you just folded down and the piece to the right are the areas where you will put adhesive and glue those two pieces together when you fold over the right area.

Open the card, make sure you have it all going in the right direction and decorate! As you get experienced, it’s probably easier to adhere paper and embellishments on the sections before those two areas are glued together to actually make it the folded card,

I hope you will try one of these cards like my Botanical Pop Up Corner Birthday Card.

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Floral Thinlits Thank You Card in Peekaboo Peach

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I was really anxious to play with the Detailed Floral Thinlits Dies and my Big Shot as soon as I got them, and this Floral Thinlits Thank You Card in Peekaboo Peach is one of the results. I actually started using the Floral Thinlits with the Floral Boutique Designer Series Paper, but of course these Floral Thinlits are beautiful with other colors as well, such as this new In Color Peekaboo Peach. The Peekaboo Peach 3/8″ Ruched Ribbon is gorgeous to use on the card! In fact, the ribbon is so gorgeous, that it is on backorder at the moment. As I write this, it is due to be back in stock around July 11th. You really do have to get your hands on this beautiful ribbon as soon as it is available! The thank you greeting is stamped with the Floral Phrases Stamp Set. Right now the Clear-mount version is backordered but you can purchase the Floral Phrases Clear-Mount Bundle and get both the stamp set and the Thinlits – and save 10%. You can also buy the stamp set in wood-mount. While it is inconvenient and disappointing to have backordered products, it shows that Stampin’ Up! has some real hits in the new catalog!

If you would like a copy of the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog, please email me at Karen@KarenStamps.com with your contact information. Or you can view it HERE online.

With these new really intricate dies, if nothing else I would suggest you purchase the Big Shot Die Brush to help get out those little pieces from both the die and the die cut. And if you can take it another step, the Precision Base Plate might be beneficial to you. There is also the new Big Shot Platform that has a special adapter that comes with it and has a raised center portion to work better with these new dies. It probably all depends on your personal Big Shot and how it works for you. If it works on these fancy dies and you’re happy, then no need to purchase any of the newer accessories (except maybe the Big Shot Die Brush!). You can go from there and see what you need.

If you want to be able to make some really elegant cards, these Detailed Floral Thinlits Dies are for you for sure! Check out the Floral Boutique Suite in the new catalog on pages 76-77 and the products online HERE. You will be able to make cards like my Floral Thinlits Thank You Card in Peekaboo Peach and many other variations!

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The First Day of Summer Sitting Here Porch Swing Card

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Today is the first day of summer or Summer Solstice and I thought what seems more summery than sitting outside on a porch swing and sipping iced tea or lemonade! This First Day of Summer Sitting Here Porch Swing Card expresses that perfectly with the Sitting Here Photopolymer Stamp Set and a little coloring. The images are just stamped with Basic Black Archival Ink and colored in with Stampin’ Write Markers and maybe a little help from my Aqua Painter and Blender Pen.

There are no mistakes in stamping, as they say, so I will admit that when I stamped the flower pot, it didn’t stamp completely since it was new. I should have stamped with it several times to get it conditioned first. SO I just stamped it again on a scrap paper and cut that out and adhered it right over the original flower pot! I even colored in the one on the card front a little bit in case any of it peeked out around the cut version. Then I popped up the flower pot on a Stampin’ Dimensional so it would be 3D. Very cute!

You can’t really see how the pillows turned out in this photo, but they are very cute! If you stamp and color the pillows and cut out, place them stamped side down on a foam mat and take the top end of the Aqua Painter or a stylus and run it around and around on the backside of the pillows. This makes them poof out a little bit and you can put a Stampin’ Dimensional underneath and they look like real pillows on the porch swing.

I think today is hardly the first day of summer here in Houston, Texas. It was even hotter last week! I don’t know how people out west in Phoenix and other places can take any more heat than we have here! A flight from Houston couldn’t even land in Phoenix yesterday because the temperature was too high and apparently airplanes can’t land or take off when the temperature hits 120! I never heard that before. I remember landing in Phoenix to change planes at least once and having to pull down all the window shades so the heat wouldn’t get in the plane any worse than it was. But it wasn’t 120 degrees that day.

I hope you are enjoying your first day of summer and sipping some cool drink on a pretty porch swing like on my First Day of Summer Sitting Here Porch Swing Card.

Need any Stampin’ Up! supplies??! Order Online at Stampin’ Up! 24/7!

Last Minute Father’s Day Card Ideas

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Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there!

In case you are needing a last minute Father’s Day card idea, I thought I would go back in the files and offer some suggestions and inspiration! You won’t even need all the new stamp sets for these, some may even be retired, but if you have the products in your stash, it works!

Layered Letters Alphabet and Crazy About You Stamp Set. See the post HERE.

Lovely As a Tree – always a classic!! See my post HERE.

Easy to duplicate with whatever supplies you have! See my post HERE.

A Saying about a Dad

If you are looking for some quotes and sayings about fathers, read my post HERE.

I made this as a birthday card but all you have to do is change the greeting! See my post HERE.

And one more, a great masculine card for any occasion, just change the greeting, using the favorite Lovely As a Tree. See my post HERE.

Hope these ideas provide some inspiration for last minute Father’s Day card ideas for you, especially if you are a procrastinator like me!

Make a Father’s Day Pop Up Card

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Make a Father’s Day Pop Up Card very easily for your father this weekend! Dad deserves a special card, don’t you think?! For the card base, I used one of the new In Colors, Dapper Denim. It turned out to be a red, white and blue card so I suppose you could turn this into a patriotic card for the 4th of July! There is a Real Red layer with Whisper White on top with stamping and some Dapper Denim 3/8″ Ruched Ribbon.

The greeting on the front is stamped with part of a stamp from the Better Together Stamp Set and also an “A” from the “Happy Birthday” stamp in the set. I just colored with a Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker to get portions of the stamp that I wanted. I used the marker to put the little dots. The stars are stamps from the same set as are the arrows at the bottom.

To make the pop up portion inside, just fold the cardstock layer in half like you normally would. Cut from the fold up with the Paper Trimmer or just scissors to make as large a pop up as you want. Then the pop up part folds out while the rest layers inside the card like normal. When you do it, you will know exactly how to do it.

Decorate the inside of the card however you like. I used the Layered Letters Alphabet to spell out “Dad”. The greeting inside is stamped with words from the Crazy About You Photopolymer Stamp Set. Lots of word and phrase choices in there!

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Lovely As a Tree Father’s Day Card

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It felt so good to use this “old” stamp set to make this Lovely As a Tree Father’s Day card! Lovely As a Tree has been a favorite stamp set since I joined Stampin’ Up! many years ago and I believe it is still going strong! Every year we wonder if they will retire it, but so far they have not. It is just a classic stamp set, good for so many occasions and projects, so many techniques you can do with it. Lovely As a Tree is a must-have stamp set if you are a Stampin’ Up! stamper!

To make this card, I stamped the tree with the Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad and colored in with various Stampin’ Write Markers. An artist I used to know always said every green should have a little yellow in it, so first I randomly colored areas of light yellow, like So Saffron on the tree leaves. Then I colored (lightly) with lighter to darker shades of green, choose whatever colors you like. You don’t want to use a heavy hand when coloring with the markers, usually. To get a lighter look with some colors you could use a Blender Pen or Aqua Painter rather than coloring direct with the marker, which might be too dark. For the tree trunk and branches, I first colored with Crumb Cake and then used Soft Suede on the shaded areas of the tree. I also added some Crumb Cake and various greens to make the grassy area and sponged on some Soft Sky in for the sky in the background. (Cut the sponges into wedges.)

For a little background on the plain Crumb Cake card base, I was going to emboss, but then thought of just stamping the little leaf in the Lovely As a Tree Stamp Set randomly around the card in Crumb Cake ink.

“Dad” is spelled out using the Layered Letters Alphabet. I could have also made a banner across the bottom of the card with a “Happy Father’s Day” greeting instead.

If you don’t already own Lovely As a Tree, I highly recommend you put that on your next order! I love my wood-mount set, but now it is also available in Clear-Mount.

Whatever you do, be sure you have a Father’s Day card for your dad or special man in your life for Father’s Day, this Sunday June 19th! Make it today so you don’t have to rush at the last minute! If you already have the Lovely As a Tree Stamp Set, go ahead and dig it out and use it to make a Father’s Day card!

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Floral Boutique Thank You Card

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I think one of the most amazing collections of products in the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog is the Floral Boutique Suite, and this Floral Boutique Thank You Card is one of my first creations from that suite. This new Stampin’ Up! Catalog, I think, has the most amazing products and display of samples and products on its pages. In this suite are a stamp set, intricate thinlits for die-cutting, Baker’s Twine, Washi Tape, and designer series paper. Everything you need to make amazing projects! Not that you have to stick with the colors shown. Do your own thing! But the inspiration is there on pages 76-77 for the taking to get you started!

This card is just a piece of Whisper White Cardstock with the fold at the top (it would have been better to use the Whisper White Thick Cardstock if I would have thought of it!), so it is cut lengthwise at 4 1/4″ instead of horizontally. Then I scored it at 5 1/2″.

After getting my first big order (of course, not counting my pre-order!) the night before, I spent yesterday afternoon experimenting with the new Detailed Floral Thinlits Dies. On this card, I only used the one large die cut on the bottom of the card and stamped with the Floral Phrases Stamp Set. When you stamp with this big flowery stamp, you may think it is not stamping properly, but it actually is designed to have lighter and darker areas, so don’t worry! It’s that “denim” look. After stamping the flower in the top center, I stamped the ends of the stamp on each side so that it would go all the way across the top of the card.

I used the new Big Shot Platform that comes with a Thin Die Adapter, kind of like a shim. If I didn’t use that piece, it didn’t come close to cutting. I also used the Precision Base Plate which is very helpful in cutting these intricate dies. I find the Die Brush to be indispensable! It’s not very expensive, so I would put that on your next order for sure. I tried to do various combinations of old and new platforms, Precision Plate, etc. but I got myself mixed up so I have no conclusions to share right now! I did find, that with MY Big Shot, cutting both the larger and smaller dies on cardstock on the same run through the Big Shot was VERY hard to go through the Big Shot but each one separately worked fine. With all of these things, you will have to see what works best with YOUR Big Shot! But these dies are beautiful and will make gorgeous cards and projects. If you don’t own a Big Shot yet, I would put that on your Wish List because I use my Big Shot all the time and you will want to get in on using these fancy new dies!

On the bottom of the inside of the card, I just adhered a strip of the Floral Boutique Designer Series Paper. I could have used a piece of Washi Tape or added some Rhinestones to the front of the card. Lots of possibilities!

You will want to put this whole Floral Boutique Suite on your next order, if you haven’t already, so you can make a card like this Floral Boutique Thank You Card.

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Layered Letters Father’s Day Card With Bowtie

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Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19th, so if you haven’t already made a Father’s Day card maybe this Layered Letters Father’s Day Card with a bowtie will provide some inspiration to you. It’s very easy to make and you can customize it to your father or husband. It doesn’t even have to be just for Father’s Day. We are always looking for good masculine card ideas and you could customize this card to any special occasion for a man.

To make the bowtie, I checked the Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper and found that this black and white pattern would be perfect for a bowtie! You can cut two triangles and a circle any way you like, but I happened to think of the triangle in the Pyramid Pals Thinlits Dies and used that to cut two triangles. Then I used the 1″ Circle Punch for the bowtie knot.

For the greeting, I could have used the Father’s Day stamp in the Crazy about You Stamp Set, but I opted to use the Layered Letters Stamp Set. This is another stamp set that I just find to be fun and useful. After stamping the rectangles with Crumb Cake ink on the Whisper White card front and getting some ink smudges in the corner (ugh!) I just cut out the rectangles instead and adhered them to the card! Another proof there are no mistakes in stamping! (usually!) Simple card to make, I think, and you can change the colors and the greeting style any way you like.

The card base is Basic Black with a Crumb Cake layer. The letters are stamped with Basic Black Archival Ink.

Get started on the Father’s Day card or cards you need to make for the special men in your life! I hope this Layered Letters Father’s Day Card with a bowtie will give you some ideas!

If you need stamping and papercrafting supplies, check out Stampin’ Up! Online, open 24/7!

Affectionately Yours Mini Treat Bag Birthday Card

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On Friday I needed a quick birthday card before I left town for the weekend, and I came up wtih this Affectionately Yours Mini Treat Bag Birthday Card. I decided to combine the new Affectionately Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper with one of my favorite things, the Mini Treatbag Thinlits Dies.

I used the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits and the Big Shot to die cut the mini treat bag out of this cute paper. I love how the inside pattern is as cute as the outside and provides a good contrast. Out of a thin scrap, I made a belly band around the bag so I could showcase that pattern from the inside of the bag a little bit more. Then I die cut a Daffodil Delight piece of cardstock with a thinlit from the Swirly Scribbles Thinlits Dies to kind of look like a flower and put a large rhinestone (retired) in the center. I already had the white flower pieces die cut from the Botanical Builder Framelits Dies in my pile of scraps so I used those and added sequins from the Metallics Sequins Assortment plus a couple of the retired In Color Blossom Accents since I was hand-delivering the card. They make mailing the card a little difficult!

I used the Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Bundle (the stamp set and punch) to make the little greeting on the front. And on the top of the card inserted inside the treat bag I stapled on a piece of the retired lace to pull out the card. I used my favorite Handheld Stapler by Stampin’ Up!

I hope you are enjoying the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog. If you need one and do not have a Demonstrator, please contact me.

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Learn to Make These Cute Popcorn Boxes!

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Images (c) Stampin’ Up! 2016

If you don’t want to get coerced to buy these Popcorn Box Thinlits Dies, then don’t watch this Stampin’ Up! video with Donna Griffith from the Home Office! I was NOT interested in these (well, I’m “interested” in every single product Stampin’ Up! sells, but being as I can’t have it all, I have to limit myself!), but then I watched this video and these Popcorn Boxes sure look cute!!!

Just think how cute these would be as party favors, teacher gifts, Christmas gifts, neighbor gifts, treat holders, even popcorn boxes!! Just think of how you could decorate them for Halloween parties!! Or something in red, white and blue for July 4th! Yep, they just might have to go on my next order!!

Images (c) Stampin’ Up! 2016

Put these Popcorn Box Thinlits Dies on your Stampin’ Up! order!

It’s a One Day Deal For the Paper Pumpkin Kit!

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Here is a rare sneak peek from the upcoming June Paper Pumpkin Kit, shipping out mid-June! Read below about the special FLASH SALE going on right now! Today is the last day! Order your Paper Pumpkin Kit before 11:50 pm Mountain Time tonight!! It’s only $5! Don’t miss it!! Use the promo code: ONEDAYDEAL Join Paper Pumpkin today!

It’s a One Day Deal for Paper Pumpkin! The special offer started last night but it runs all day today until 11:50 pm Mountain Time!

Have you ever said, “One day I’ll sign up for Paper Pumpkin.” Well, THAT DAY is today. For 31 hours, first-time subscribers can get their first kit for only $5 USD! This deal doesn’t last long so don’t delay and forget!

JOIN HERE!

Use Promo Code: ONEDAYDEAL

What is Paper Pumpkin anyway??! It’s a complete kit to make a papercrafting project of some kind! It’s almost always a surprise and could be cards, home decor, a calendar, holiday items, a mini album, etc. Every once in awhile there is a sneak peek!

In your first kit you will receive a clear acrylic block on which to mount your stamps. Every Paper Pumpkin Kit includes a set of exclusive stamps, an ink spot, and all the paper, pieces and embellishments to make the project, already die cut and ready to go! Instructions are included plus a link to a Stampin’ Up! video. Anyone can make the project, newbie or experienced stamper.

Details

The price of the kit is $5. Shipping is included.
This offer is open to first-time subscribers only. Discount applies to one kit for June 2016. After the first month, the price for the subscription will return to $19.95 USD/$26.95 CAD. You can cancel at any time or simply pause your subscription when you need to.
Offer starts on Thursday, June 9 at 5:00 PM (MT) and ends Friday, June 10 at 11:50 PM (MT).
Available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.

JOIN PAPER PUMPKIN! Get Your First Kit for only $5! It’s a no-brainer!!

Use Promo Code: ONEDAYDEAL

Pop of Pink Swirly Scribbles Polka Dot Scalloped Tag

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Here is a quick and easy project to make a Pop of Pink Swirly Scribbles Polka Dot Scalloped Tag. I simply punched a tag with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch out of the polka dot pattern of one of the papers in the Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper. I first was going to use some other die cut flowers, but then I thought it might be fun to see how the Swirly Scribbles die cuts might work. I chose three colors in the Brights family: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight. I also die cut some green leaves.

The banner is stamped with the Thoughtful Banners Stamp Set, both on Whisper White and Real Red so that the greeting cut be cut and adhered to the Real Red banner. These were punched with the Duet Banner Punch. You can purchase this stamp set and the punch in a Thoughtful Banners Bundle and save 10%!

***Be sure to check out Paper Pumpkin today so you are ready for the FLASH SALE! Purchase your first Paper Pumpkin Kit for only $5 beginning today, June 9th at 5:00 pm Mountain Time and ending on Friday, June 10th at 11:50 pm Mountain Time.

The first Paper Pumpkin Kit comes with a clear block on which to mount the stamps that come in the kit. Everything you need for the surprise project is inside the box! Stamps, ink, and everything cut and ready to use! You can follow the enclosed directions, watch a Stampin’ Up! video, or change up the project however you like.

Details

The price of the kit is $5 USD.
This offer is open to first-time subscribers only. Discount applies to one kit for June 2016. After the first month, the price for the subscription will return to $19.95 USD.
Offer starts on Thursday, June 9 at 5:00 PM (MT) and ends Friday, June 10 at 11:50 PM (MT).
Available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online HERE!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there!

Shop for any stamp sets, ink, paper or accessories you need from

Stampin’ Up! at our Online Store!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online 24/7!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online!

If you need stamping and papercrafting supplies, check out Stampin’ Up! Online, open 24/7!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online 24/7.

Have you ever said, “One day I’ll sign up for Paper Pumpkin.” Well, THAT DAY is today. For 31 hours, first-time subscribers can get their first kit for only $5 USD! This deal doesn’t last long so don’t delay and forget!

Use Promo Code: ONEDAYDEAL

Use Promo Code: ONEDAYDEAL

***Be sure to check out Paper Pumpkin today so you are ready for the FLASH SALE! Purchase your first Paper Pumpkin Kit for only $5 beginning today, June 9th at 5:00 pm Mountain Time and ending on Friday, June 10th at 11:50 pm Mountain Time.

Details

The price of the kit is $5 USD.

This offer is open to first-time subscribers only. Discount applies to one kit for June 2016. After the first month, the price for the subscription will return to $19.95 USD.

Offer starts on Thursday, June 9 at 5:00 PM (MT) and ends Friday, June 10 at 11:50 PM (MT).

Available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.