On Saturday afternoon I hosted my monthly Zoom call with my Paper Pumpkin customers. These calls are always a highlight of my month.
During our Pumpkin in the Fungeon gatherings, I share a few creative ideas using the monthly kit, and my customers always bring incredible inspiration of their own. I’m continually amazed by what everyone creates. I only wish I could bottle up the creativity, laughter and friendship from these calls and share it with you all.
About The Kit
The Bikes & Blooms Paper Pumpkin Kit includes a variety of cards that feature bicycles and flowers (just as the name suggests). While I knew there would be bikes and blooms, I wasn’t prepared for how much fun these cards would be. The cards are perfect as designed.
Here’s a look at the finished as-designed cards in this kit::
The oversized bicycle images make these cards wonderful for quick, beautiful projects exactly as designed, but they also present an interesting challenge when creating alternatives. Rather than fight the large focal images, I decided to embrace them by turning two of the cards into easel cards.
Alternative Projects
When the images are so large and so specific, reshaping the layout of each card front is a challenge. To embrace the images, I made two easel cards to showcase images from the kit. Here’s a look at two of the easel cards I made with the Bikes & Blooms Paper Pumpkin Kit:
Both are easel cards, but they are not constructed the same way. Below is a closer look at how each of these cards is constructed.
Standard Easel Card
The yellow card base and card panel are combined in the as-designed cards from this kit. I added an extra score line on the card base at the 2-1/8″ mark to fold the card base back into itself:
By adhering the large panel to the front section of the folded card base and adding a popped-up sentiment inside the card, the design becomes an easel card that can be proudly displayed. It’s a classic easel construction and always a fun surprise for the recipient.
Modified Easel
I wanted to showcase the large basket of flowers from one of the card fronts, so I carefully snipped away the bicycle, leaving only the basket arrangement. I stamped the flowers to fill in the leaves and popped the floral piece up over the basket. I wanted this card to be an easel card, too, but I modified the card base a bit before scoring my card base.
Here’s how I constructed this modified easel card:
- I trimmed 1″ from the right side of the front panel (leaving the back of the card intact) and adhered that strip to the back of the card.
- I scored the remaining front panel at 2-1/8″ to create the easel.
- I added a sentiment using the kit’s punch-out pieces and Calypso Coral ink.
- More punch-out flowers inside the card act as the stopper that holds the easel open for display.
Wonderful Scenes
If you enjoy stretching your Paper Pumpkin kits even further, don’t overlook the coordinating add-on dies. Each quarter, Stampin’ Up! releases a set of exclusive dies for Paper Pumpkin subscribers—and they’re always a great addition to your collection.
These coordinating dies are available for a limited time and add even more versatility to your kits. Here are the dies offered to coordinate with the April, May and June kits:
Refills available
Refills of the Bikes & Blooms kit are currently available for subscribers. These include everything except the stamp set and ink spot—perfect if you want to create even more cards with this beautiful kit. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
Sign Up for Paper Pumpkin Today
If you like the easel cards I made with June’s kit, then you are going to be thrilled for July’s Hooray for Birthdays kit. Here’s a little preview:
When you subscribe, you’ll be invited to join my monthly Pumpkin in the Fungeon calls where we share inspiration, laughter, and creativity. You can subscribe month-to-month or prepay to earn Stampin’ Rewards.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin.
If you’d like to craft along with us each month, I’d love to welcome you to Pumpkin in the Fungeon. If you have questions or need help getting started, just send me an email at [email protected].
Last Thoughts
One of my favorite things about Paper Pumpkin is that every kit can be enjoyed in different ways. Sometimes I create the projects exactly as designed, and other times I challenge myself to see just how far I can stretch the supplies. These easel cards were a fun way to showcase the beautiful artwork in the Bikes & Blooms kit while creating something a little unexpected. I hope they inspire you to look at your own kits with fresh eyes and try something new!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
Product Shares – Order Now!
A new launch of Online Exclusives arrives on July 1, and I’m hosting a Product Share so you can have a little bit of all the “consumables” – the papers, ribbons and embellishments. I’m making Designer Series Paper Swatch Books, too, to don’t miss out!
To read more and sign up today, click on the image above.
Join Us for a Summer One-for-One Card Swap
I’m hosting a one-for-one card swap, and I’d love for you to join us! Design a card with current products, send it to me, and I’ll send you someone else’s card in return. What fun!
To learn more about this card swap, click on the image below:
Shop the New Products
The May – August 2026 Catalog and coordinating Online Exclusives are live – and you can place your order now. To learn more, click on the image below:
And don’t miss the Online Exclusives!
