A Creative Way to Use Paper Pumpkin, Even When Life Happens

Mom and Dad on their 55th wedding anniversary (with one of my great nieces) in 2017

It has been over two months since I last blogged. I'm not sure if anyone has missed it except for me, but I've learned that sometimes life happens and priorities change. For the past several years, my dad has been battling Parkinson's. Then a year and a half ago he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. With a noticeable decline in his health for sure in the past year, our family - my mom and four siblings and me - have had a pretty narrow focus: keeping Dad comfortable. May was particularly difficult as we watched the decline grow steep, until his passing on May 30. We thank God having a wonderful, God-fearing Dad who raised us and for taking Dad Home. We are now firmly focused on making sure Mom has what she needs. For so many years Mom and Dad have taken care of us, and now roles have reversed. It's a strange thing as an adult with grown children to be now taking care of parents, but it's been nice that my siblings and I have been able to be on the same page about our parents' care and all the things that go along with that. I'm grateful for all of the support I've received from my stamping community...all the cards, messages, thoughts, prayers. You are a special group of amazing people.

So now you have an explanation of my absence (not that you asked 😁). I have been stamping - although maybe not as much - but I do feel like the creative juices have continued to flow. I'm thankful for all the amazing products from Stampin' Up!®, which makes it easier for me to get excited to get into the studio to create, and Paper Pumpkin Kits are the perfect springboard for creativity, even though they have prepared projects. Take a look at my May 2025 alternate project. I love how it turned out!

The Mountain Majesties Kit is just gorgeous in itself (check out the pieces of the kit shown here), but I can never help myself to create a fun-fold card with the kit's contents.

You can see here the items from the kit I used for my alternate project, and I added some Misty Moonlight cardstock:

• 11" x 4 1/4", scored at 5 1/2" and 9 3/4"

• 6 3/4" x 4 1/4", scored 1 1/4" from each end

I also added a couple pieces of 4" x 4" Basic White cardstock and some Linen Thread. These are all simple supplies to add to the kit's supplies to create the amazing fun fold card.

You can get all the details for this card by watching as I make it. Head to my YouTube Channel or by watch it here:

Always remember that even if you don't subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, my Alternate Paper Pumpkin projects can almost always be adapted for use with many other products. The Stampin' Up! supplies world is your oyster! If you're feeling left out and want to join the Paper Pumpkin community, you can subscribe by heading here.

Happy fun folding!

Amy