September Paper Pumpkin Alternative: Aspens of Gratitude Easel Card

 

I had so much fun creating an alternative project with the September 2026 Aspens of Gratitude Paper Pumpkin Kit! 🍂

For this alternative, I turned one of the beautiful kit card fronts into an easel card. I love how an easel card gives your focal image a little extra attention and creates a fun display piece that can stand up on its own.

The beautiful autumn colors in the Aspens of Gratitude kit make this card perfect for sending a little fall gratitude to someone special.

🎬 Watch the Video Tutorial

Want to see how I put this easel card together?

Grab your Paper Pumpkin kit and craft along with me!

✂️ Card Measurements

Card Base

Gray Granite Cardstock: 4-1/4" x 11"

Score at:

• 2-3/4"
• 5-1/2"

Front Panel

Gray Granite Cardstock: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Mat Layers

Golden Glow Cardstock or coordinating cardstock:

• 2 pieces, 4" x 5-1/4"

Focal Image

Aspens of Gratitude Kit Card Front:
Trim to 3-3/4" x 5"

Inside Sentiment Layer

Kit Card Back or White Cardstock:
3-3/4" x 5"

Inside Stopper Strip

Scrap or Patterned Paper:
1" x 3-3/4"

The stopper strip is what helps hold the front of the easel card in place when it is standing open.

🎨 Supplies & Tools

Kit:

• September 2026 Paper Pumpkin Kit – Aspens of Gratitude

Cardstock:

• Gray Granite
• Golden Glow or coordinating cardstock
• White cardstock, if desired

Ink:

• Early Espresso Ink Spot

Adhesives & Tools:

• Stampin' Seal
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Bone Folder
• Paper Trimmer

Embellishments:

• Gold embellishments from the Aspens of Gratitude kit

🍂 A Fun Way to Use Your Paper Pumpkin Kit

One of my favorite things about Paper Pumpkin is finding ways to take the beautiful pieces in the kit and turn them into something a little different.

This easel card is a great example of how you can use the gorgeous kit artwork as your focal point while changing up the card design. It's also a fun way to stretch your Paper Pumpkin supplies and create something that's uniquely yours!

I hope this project inspires you to pull out your Aspens of Gratitude kit and try an alternative of your own. What will you create with your kit? 🍁

Happy crafting!

Jean

Jean's Paper Jewels

Quick & Cute DIY Giftbag

 

A little gift bag filled with a little pampering! 💛🌻

I made this cute 4" x 5" x 1" bag using Sunflower Fields Designer Series Paper and the Round About Messages Stamp Set, then filled it with a few 24K Gold Eye Masks. I keep mine in the fridge and use them in the morning—what a wonderful way to ease into the day! ✨

This would make such a fun anytime gift for a friend, neighbor, coworker, or just because!

With all the different sentiments in the stamp set, you can customize it for birthdays, thanks, miss you, hello, celebrate, and more.

Here's my YouTube video showing how to make this cute little bag 🎥

Who would you make one of these little pampering gifts for? 💛 Tell me in the comments—I’d love to hear who deserves a little “just because” treat!

Happy Stamping,

Jean

Jean's Paper Jewels

A Little Gift Bag for a Little Everyday Pampering

Sometimes the best gifts are the little ones that say, “I thought of you!” This cute little gift bag is perfect for just that—and it holds a few of my favorite 24K Gold Eye Masks!

I made this bag using the beautiful Sunflower Fields Designer Series Paper along with the Round About Messages Stamp Set. I love how easy it is to create a little package that can be customized for any season and any reason.

A Little Morning Pampering

If you haven't tried these 24K Gold Eye Masks, they are amazing! I like to put a few in the refrigerator and use them in the morning. That cool, refreshing feeling is such a great way to ease into the day. Add a few to this little bag, and you have a fun anytime gift for a friend, coworker, neighbor—or yourself!

The Perfect Sentiment

The Round About Messages Stamp Set makes it easy to customize your gift bag for almost any occasion. In addition to the sentiment I used, the set includes:

• Happy Birthday
• Miss You
• Thanks
• Hello
• Celebrate

There are also some adorable little icons that fit right in the middle of the sentiments. They make it so easy to add a little extra personality to your project.

Easy Gift Bag Measurements

This little bag measures 4" x 5" x 1" when finished.

Start with a 6" x 10 1/2" piece of Designer Series Paper.

Score the short side:
• 1" for the bottom

Score the long side:
• 4"
• 5"
• 9"
• 10"

That's it! With just a few score lines, some adhesive, and a little DSP, you've got an adorable gift bag ready to fill.

And the best part? You can make these for any season and any reason simply by changing the Designer Series Paper and sentiment.

I'll have a YouTube video showing how to make this cute little gift bag coming very soon, so be sure to watch for it!

What would you put inside your little gift bag? 🎁

Supplies

• Sunflower Fields Designer Series Paper
• Round About Messages Stamp Set
• 24K Gold Eye Masks
• Adhesive

Happy Stamping!

Jean

Jean's Paper Jewels

 

Quick & Easy Gift Card Holder for a Stampin’ Up! Sideline Swap 🎁

I recently made these quick and easy gift card holders for a swap with my Stampin’ Up! sideline gals, and I had so much fun putting them together! I love a card project that is not only cute but also practical—and this one checks both boxes.

The Poppy Parade cardstock paired with the Timeless Christmas Designer Series Paper makes this gift card holder festive and perfect for the holiday season. There’s a pocket inside to hold a gift card, along with a space for a handwritten message.

The design is simple enough to make several at once, which makes it a great project for swaps, holiday gifting, or even a last-minute gift card presentation.

🎁 Quick & Easy Gift Card Holder

The card base starts with a piece of Poppy Parade cardstock measuring 4-1/4" x 11". Score it on the long side at 1-1/2" and 5-1/2". The smaller section folds up to create the gift card pocket.

I added pieces of Timeless Christmas Designer Series Paper to the front and pocket/flap for some festive pattern and color. A circle punch creates a thumb notch in the pocket, making it easy to remove the gift card.

For the front, I used the Stylish Shapes Dies to create a banner/pennant and the Spotlight on Nature Dies for the circle. The sentiment is from the Jolly Holly Stamp Set.

✂️ Measurements & Cutting Guide

Card Base – Poppy Parade:
4-1/4" x 11"
Score at 1-1/2" and 5-1/2"

Designer Series Paper:
Front Panel: 3-3/4" x 4"
Pocket & Flap Strips: 1-1/4" x 4" — cut 2

Inside Sentiment Panel – Basic White:
3-3/4" x 4"

📦 Products & Supplies Used

Cardstock & Paper

• Poppy Parade Cardstock
• Peaceful Pine Cardstock
• Basic White Cardstock
• Timeless Christmas Designer Series Paper

Stamps & Dies

• Stylish Shapes Dies
• Spotlight on Nature Dies
• Jolly Holly Stamp Set (retired)

Ink & Coloring

• Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools & Adhesives

• Simply Scored Scoring Tool
• Bone Folder
• 1-1/4" Circle Punch
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Tear & Tape Adhesive
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue
• Stampin' SEAL

🎥 Watch the Video Tutorial

Want to see exactly how I made this gift card holder? Check out my YouTube video!

YouTube Video: 

I hope this project inspires you to make some gift card holders of your own. They’re quick, easy, and a fun way to make giving a gift card feel a little more special! ❤️

Happy Stamping,

Jean

Jean's Paper Jewels

 

Craft Roulette Episode 336 – Happy Birthday from the Coast

It’s time for another Craft Roulette challenge! For Episode 336, the prompts were Birthday Card, Happy Colors, Ship(s)(ing), and Sparkles. I had so much fun bringing these parameters together for this cheerful coastal birthday card!

The Craft Roulette Prompts

Project – Birthday Card
I made an A2 birthday card featuring a birthday sentiment created with the Sweetly Sentimental Hot Foil Dies. The hot foil sentiment adds a little extra shine and ties in beautifully with the card.

Colors – Happy Colors
For my happy colors, I reached for a piece of Scenic Coast Designer Series Paper. The beautiful colors of the sea definitely make me happy! There’s just something about a coastal scene that brings a smile to my face.

Element – Ship(s)(ing)
For the ship parameter, I used the net die from the Sunset Coast Dies. Since it’s a fishing net, I thought it was a fun way to interpret the ship(s)(ing) prompt without actually putting a ship on my card.

Random – Sparkles
Of course, I had to add some sparkle! I brushed Wink of Stella over the sunburst die cut for a subtle shimmer, and the Sunset Sparkle Sequins add even more sparkle and shine.

Join the Craft Roulette Fun!

If you’ve never played along with Craft Roulette, I hope you’ll give it a try! Craft Roulette airs Fridays at 7:10 Eastern on YouTube. Come join us in the Chatterbox, see what Mr. Wheel comes up with, and then put on your stretchy pants and give it a go!

You never know where those four parameters  will take you—and that’s part of the fun!

I’d love to know: Which of these Craft Roulette prompts would have inspired your card?

Happy Stamping,

Jean

Jean's Paper Jewels

 

Craft Roulette Episode 335 – Fall Leaf Peeping Gatefold Card

 

It’s time for another Craft Roulette challenge! For Episode 335, Mr. Wheel gave us four fun parameters to work with:

• Project: Gatefold
• Colors: Vacation
• Element: CAS from last week’s gallery
• Random: Paper Strip(s)

I decided to take the Vacation prompt in a very fall-ish direction with a New England leaf-peeping vacation! 🍂🍁 There’s nothing quite like a road trip through New England when the leaves are showing off their gorgeous fall colors.

My A2 Gatefold Card

For the project, I made an A2 Gatefold card. The card base is an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock, scored at 2 1/8" from each side and then folded toward the middle to create the gatefold.

For my fall colors, I used the beautiful colors found in my Sunflower Fields Designer Series Paper. I love how perfectly these warm colors capture the feeling of a New England autumn vacation.

The CAS element was inspired by last week's Craft Roulette gallery. CAS means copy and selectively edit, and I chose to CASE Sharon Kastor's beautiful fall-colored card. I kept the basic design elements that caught my eye—an embossed background and a scalloped focal mat—while making the card my own.

I embossed my Sunflower Fields Designer Series Paper using the Softly Woven Embossing Folder, which adds some wonderful texture without taking away from the pretty fall pattern.

For the sentiment, I used the Round About Messages stamp set and mounted it on the second-largest die from the Scalloped Christmas Cheer die set. The scalloped edge adds just the right amount of detail to the focal point.

And finally, Mr. Wheel wanted Paper Strip(s), so I added two 1/4" strips along the bottom of the sentiment layer. Sometimes those little finishing details are just what a card needs!

Join the Craft Roulette Fun!

If you haven't watched Craft Roulette yet, it airs Fridays at 7:10 Eastern on YouTube. Come join us in the Chatterboxto see what parameters Mr. Wheel comes up with—and then put on your stretchy pants and give it a go!

You never know what combination of prompts you'll get, and that's half the fun. I love seeing how everyone interprets the same parameters in completely different ways.

I hope my fall leaf-peeping vacation Gatefold card inspires you to give Craft Roulette a try! 🍁

Happy Stamping,

Jean

Jean's Paper Jewels

September 2026 Sheetload of Cards: 7 Thanksgiving Cards from My Stash

 

Using What I Already Have

I had scraps of my Sunflower Fields Designer Series Paper that were perfect for these cards. Rather than letting those pretty scraps sit in my scrap box, I decided to put them to good use with this month’s Sheetload design.

I also had several leaves already made, so I incorporated those into the cards. I used the Lustrous Leaves Hot Foil Dieswith copper foil and created the reverse images as well. I love how the copper adds just a little bit of shine to these warm Fall cards!

The plaid paper in the center of each card adds another layer of Fall warmth and coordinates beautifully with the floral DSP.

Seven Cards, Seven Different Looks

One of the things I enjoyed most about making these cards was seeing how different each card could look while using essentially the same basic design.

I changed up the leaves, the placement of the elements, and the sentiments to give each card its own personality.

I even had one random sunflower sitting in my stash, so naturally, I had to find a home for it on one of the cards! 😊

It was really nice to pull out supplies that were already on hand and create something new with them. Sometimes the best projects come from simply shopping your own craft room!

The Sentiments

The sentiments are from the Soirée Salutations Stamp Set and were stamped onto punches made with the 3 Label Punch. The simple sentiments work perfectly with the busy floral paper and help keep the cards from feeling too cluttered.

I chose sentiments such as “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Grateful for You” to keep the cards perfect for the Fall and Thanksgiving season.

Watch the Video

I made a YouTube video showing all seven cards and how each one is just a little bit different. If you enjoy seeing how one card design can be changed up to create multiple looks, I think you’ll enjoy this one!

Please take a moment to subscribe to my YouTube channel, like the video, leave me a comment, and share it with your crafty friends. Every bit of support helps my channel grow, and I truly appreciate it!

And be sure to visit Alicia at Call Me Crafty Al to see her September Sheetload of Cards video. She does such a great job explaining the designs and provides cutting guides and instructions that you can print out, making it easy to follow along and create your own set of cards.

Whether you make all 20 cards or, like me, use the Sheetload as inspiration to make a smaller batch, it’s a fun way to get creative and use what you already have!

Supplies Used

• Sunflower Fields Designer Series Paper scraps
• Lustrous Leaves Hot Foil Dies
• Copper Foil
• Soirée Salutations Stamp Set
• 3 Label Punch
• Assorted cardstock and embellishments from my stash

Have you tried a Sheetload of Cards before—lots of cards or your own smaller batch?

Happy Stamping,

Jean

Jean's Paper Jewels