Something About Pumpkins!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few projects I worked on this week that were inspired by a few great fabric pumpkins which were made by my sister and gifted to me.  There is definitely something about pumpkins - the iconic image of fall!

Just a quick summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming paper and cardstock;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring decorative lines and card fold lines - to ensure crisp folds I also burnish all folded scored lines using my Bone Folder (item 102300).  To add some additional dimension to the background cardstock panel in my first project I placed the trimmed cardstock panel facedown in the scoreboard and scored lines every 1/2", turned the cardstock panel, still facedown, ninety degrees and scored lines again every 1/2" to create a grid of raised lines on the front of the panel;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors are great for doing any necessary trimming of die cuts - i.e. removing a few leaves or shortening a stem (and a great help for fussy cutting too of course!);
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755). I also used a small broad-tipped paint brush (not my best one!) to spread the glue on the DSP strips used to cover the MDF pumpkin shape in the first project.

For my first project I used the Stampin' Brayer (item 162936) to roll over the Designer Series Paper strips immediately after gluing them to the MDF pumpkin shape to ensure even coverage of the liquid glue and good even adhesion of the DSP strips to the MDF pumpkin.

To add shading to cardstock die cuts I used Small Blending Brushes (item 160518) to apply Classic Stampin' inks.  For some additional texture - a slightly mottled effect - I sometimes lightly spritzed the inked die cuts with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), being careful not to add too much water to the cardstock die cuts.  

On with the projects!

For the first project - framed using a thrift-store black wood frame with a back opening of 6 3/4" square, glass removed - I used a 6" x 4 1/2" wide x 1/2" thick MDF pumpkin shape picked up from Dollarama (I used similar MDF pumpkins in projects shared in my September 22, 2023, and October 6, 2023 blog posts - https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/09/fall-is-in-air-hello-with-autumnal.html and https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/10/no-bones-about-it-halloween-is-coming.html).  I painted the edges of the MDF pumpkin with black paint, and used 1/2" wide strips trimmed from Wild Wheat patterned paper from the Regal Winter 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 164156) and the Thoughtful Journey 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 163303) to cover the body of the pumpkin.  Before gluing the DSP strips to the MDF base I sponged the horizontal edges of all DSP strips with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665).  After all DSP strips were glued to the MDF base I used my craft knife to cut away the overhanging portions of the DSP strips, and then sponged additional Pecan Pie ink around the edges of the pumpkin.  To cover the stem portion I used a small piece of Mossy Meadow patterned paper from the Traditions Of St. Nick 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162355) - all edges also sponged with Pecan Pie ink.

To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Copper Clay cardstock (item 161721) for the 6 3/4" square back panel - after adding the decorative score lines I added splatters to the cardstock panel by using a paint brush to mix Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) with a little water and rapping the loaded paint brush against my Bone Folder;
• Cheerful Daisies dies (item 161296) to cut the two petal layers for the daisy from Wild Wheat cardstock (item 161725) and the flower center from Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) - I used Pecan Pie ink and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to add shading to the two petal layers and the center;

Cheerful Daisies dies - 161296

• Simply Zinnia dies (item 163479) to cut the three petal layers for the zinnia and the two blossoms from Wild Wheat cardstock, and the stem and leaves for the blossoms from Old Olive cardstock (item 100702).  I again used Pecan Pie and Early Espresso inks to add shading to the petal layers and both blossoms; and Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) to add shading to the stem and leaves.  For the center of the flower I cut two 4" x 1/2" cardstock strips - one from Pecan Pie cardstock and one from Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) - and used my Paper Snips Scissors to make cuts approximately every 1/16" of an inch along the length of each cardstock strip, down to a scant 1/8" or so from the bottom edge of the strip.  Using my fingernails I ruffled the fringe of both strips before curling the Early Espresso cardstock strip around a toothpick, spot gluing along the bottom edge as I continued to curl the strip around itself.  Around the curled up Early Espresso cardstock strip I added the Pecan Pie cardstock strip, again spot gluing along the bottom edge as I continued to curl this strip around itself.  After removing the toothpick I fluffed out all the fringe by using my fingers to gently pull down the top edges.

Simply Zinnia dies - 163479

• Changing Leaves dies (item 164138) to cut three three-leaf sprigs from Old Olive cardstock (shaded with Mossy Meadow ink); two three-leaf sprigs from Pecan Pie cardstock (shaded with Early Espresso ink); one double skeleton leaf sprig from Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) - shaded with Early Espresso ink; and two berry sprigs from Pecan Pie cardstock, also shaded with Early Espresso ink;

Changing Leaves dies (also includes Hybrid Embossing Folder) - 164138

• Encircled In Nature dies (item 163628) to cut four curvy oak leaf sprigs from Crumb Cake cardstock - shaded with Early Espresso ink;

Encircled In Nature dies - 163628

• Country Flowers dies (item 163410) to cut two leafy clumps from Old Olive cardstock - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink; and

Country Flowers dies - 163410

• Crumb Cake baker's twine from Baker's Twine Essentials Pack (item 155475) to thread through the "almost Mossy Meadow" vintage button from my stash.

Before securing the completed pumpkin to the cardstock back panel using a combination of foam tape and Multipurpose Liquid Glue I used some brown wired paper ribbon - also picked up at Dollarama - to wrap around the base of the stem of the pumpkin and to tie the bow - I wrapped the ends of the wired ribbon around a pencil to create the curling tendrils. 

Just two cards . . .

To make each pumpkin for each of these two cards I used the oval die from the Mini Pocket Envelope dies (item 1591667) to cut three ovals from, appropriately enough 😉, Pumpkin Pie cardstock (item 105117).  

Mini Pocket Envelope dies - 159167

I stamped each cardstock oval using Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) and various stamps from the Of Art & Texture stamp set (item 162687), adding splatters using Pecan Pie ink refill mixed with water, and shading with Pecan Pie and Early Espresso inks.  

For the pumpkin stems I used the stem with two leaves die from the Simply Zinnia dies - snipping or tearing off the top "cup" portion that would otherwise hold the zinnia blossom.  For the smaller card I cut the stem/leaves from Old Olive cardstock - shading with Early Espresso and Mossy Meadow inks; and for the larger card I cut the stem/leaves from Crumb Cake cardstock but again shading with Early Espresso and Mossy Meadow inks.  For the bases of both cards I used some left-over retired Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) - maybe you were lucky enough to pick up some of this lamentedly retired cardstock while it was briefly available on the Clearance Rack last week!

Additional supplies used to complete this 3 1/2" x 3 1/4"  top-fold card:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 2 7/8" x 2 5/8" matting panel - edges scraped with the blade of my craft knife;
• Basic Beige/Smoky Slate wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393) for the 2 3/4" x 2 1/2" panel - edges sponged with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116);
• Pebbled Path/gold script patterned paper from Nature's Sweetness 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 162616) for the 2 5/8" x 1 1/4" strip (both ends torn); and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the bow tied around the pumpkin stem (before pumpkin was glued to the card front) - ends secured with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. 

And finally . . . 

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" square top-fold card:

• Wild Wheat cardstock (item 161725) for the 3 3/4" square background panel - using the same procedure as I did for scoring the background cardstock panel on my first project I scored a 4" square piece of  cardstock from which this panel was trimmed to create a raised grid pattern on the front side of the cardstock of 1" squares. After trimming the cardstock to the 3 3/4" square dimensions the squares in the top, bottom, and side rows were reduced to 7/8";
• Wild Wheat patterned paper from the Regal Winter 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 164156) for the 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" strip;
• dark wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393) for the 1/2" x 2 1/2" strip;
• Very Vanilla baker's twine from the Baker's Twine Essentials Pack (item 155475) for the bow tied around the pumpkin stem before pumpkin was glued to card front; and
• five Very Vanilla dots (two large and three small) from the retired - but currently available on the Clearance Rack - Classic Matte Dots (item 158146).

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on my pumpkin projects!

Unfortunately Stampin' Up! advises that the Linen Thread (item 104199) is not currently available but is expected to again be available for ordering the week of October 21, 2024.

The good news is that there are two Stampin' Up! specials for the month of October (October 1 through to October 31):

• Kits Collection Sale:  all kits in the Kits Collection are up to 30% off - these all-inclusive kits, which include a range of Christmas projects, include easy to follow step-by-step instructions and all supplies required to complete pre-designed projects.  These kits also make great gifts for fellow crafters!; and
• Starter Kit Special:  for anyone interested in joining Stampin' Up! as an Independent Demonstrator you will receive $206.00 CDN worth of your choice of Stampin' Up! products for the Starter Kit price of $135.00 CDN!  There is free shipping on all Starter Kits, and each Starter Kit also includes free business supplies.  Whether you are an avid crafter who would like to receive a nice discount on personal art and crafting supplies or someone who would like to establish a home-based business, I would be very pleased to have you join my team as one of "Archie's Arties"!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and if you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) - I would be very pleased to be your demonstrator!  The digital version of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/) - as is the digital version of the September-December 2024 Mini Catalogue, and the digital only September 2024 Scrapbooking Brochure - the companion brochure to the Mini Catalogue. When visiting my online store don't forget to check out all the products now available as Online Exclusives, and the great deals on the Clearance Rack!  More products were added to the Clearance Rack earlier last week - including the retired Classic Matte Dots!  Items on the Clearance Rack are only available while supplies last, and quite a few of the items added earlier last week sold out very quickly!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Thanks to a phone filter you can still enjoy the falling leaves even if you are an indoor-only guy!