Hi friends! Thanks for your patience- my computer is still on the injured reserve list , so I finished typing & the post on my phone. So I’m FINALLY here today with two more Paper Pumpkin alternative cards in my second post on alternative cards. Yesterday’s post also had 2 cards, & on Monday’s post, I shared my kit cards made just like the instructions. I wanted to make a few special cards for Valentine’s Day so these two are probably in the Artistically Avid category, but I’ll let you be the judge. Avid or Artistically Avid?

- Directions to the first card in Petal Pink:
- 1. Cut a card base of Petal Pink cardstock 5.5 x 8.5; score at 4.25.
- 2. Cut a piece of Distressed Gold Specialty Designer Paper to 4-1/8 x 5-3/8. & adhere to Petal Pink card base. Set aside.
- 3. Cut another piece of Petal Pink cardstock to 4 x 5.25.
- 4. Cut a piece of Textured Chic Specialty Designer Paper & adhere to 4 x 5.25 Petal Pink layer on the left side.
- 5. Cut down a PP kit Petal Pink & Gold plaid card front; cut off the back part of the card. Cut the card front in half. Save the cut off half & the card back for later use.
- 6. Cut the edges to approximately 1/8″; ensure the frame around the gold plaid is approximately the same width. Adhere to the right edge of the card base & over the Textured Chic piece.
- 7. Cut a piece of Distressed Gold to 1.5 x 4.25″. Adhere over the junction of the card front & Textured Chic papers.
- 8. Using a scrap piece of Petal Pink cardstock, stamp the heart lock in Petal Pink & cut using a scalloped Layering circle.
- 9. Cut a Distressed Gold circle, slightly larger than the scalloped Petal Pink circle. Mount the Petal Pink circle with the key image onto the Distressed Gold Circle.
- 10. Using dimensionals, adhere the circle to the panel with papers.
- 11. Adhere dimensionals to the key from the kit & mount on the panel.
- 12. Tie a bow with Gold Elegant Trim & adhere to the center of the key.
- 13. Stamp sentiment in Petal Pink on a scrap of Petal Pink card & cut out using Tailor Made Tags. In Distressed Gold cut out a “paper hole reinforcer”. Adhere to the Petal Pink tag & add Gold Elegant trim. Add dimensionals to the back of the tag & mount as shown in picture. BTW- Those little open circles have the name of “paper hole reinforcer” according to office suppliers. Who knew?
- 14. Adhere panel to the Petal Pink & Distressed Gold card base that you set aside in step 2.
- 15. Add three Petal Pink Solid Faceted gems around the circle & add three Gold Pastel Adhesive backed Sequins around the tag & key.

- Alternative Card+ indicates non-kit, Stampin’ Up current products used.
- Supplies: All Stampin’ Up; Paper Pumpkin kit elements are designated as PP 1/23; AC = ’22-’23 Annual Catalog; MC= ’23 J-A Mini Catalog, SAB = ‘23 J-F SAB
- Stamps: PP 1/23 Key to my Heart
- Paper: Petal Pink #146985, PP’23.-card front panel cut down
- DSP: Distressed Gold Specialty Paper #159237 AC; Textured Chic Specialty Paper #158808 AC
- Ink: Petal Pink #147108
- Tools: Layering Circle dies #151770- AC; Tailor Made Tags #155563 AC
- Accessories: Gold Simply Elegant Trim #155766 AC; Petal Pink Solid Faceted Gems #159189 MC; Pastel Adhesive backed Sequins #160387 MC
My second card uses the Fresh Freesia card & it is cut down but differently than the Petal Pink Card. Follow the directions below.


- Directions for the Fresh Freesia card. This card is a bit of a free flow of layers.
- Alternative card+; Use abbreviation legend above.
- 1. Cut 1/4″ off the open sides (3 sides) of the Fresh Freesia card. Leave the fold in place.
- 2. Using the Timeworn Type 3D embossing folder, emboss the kit’s Fresh Freesia parallelogram. Distress with sanding block or sand eraser around the edges & across the embossing. Allow some white paper (called the core) to show.
- 3. Adhere diagonally across the card front. Trim any excess that hangs off the sides.
- 4. Choose coordinating DSP. Here is Dandy Designs in Balmy Blue. Cut to 1.75 x 5.25″ & adhere to the card base a little to the left of center.
- 5. Cut two strips of Distressed Gold at 1/4″ x 5.25”. Mount the first strip adjacent to the left side of the 1.75x 5.25 “ of the Balmy Blue DSP panel. Mount the second strip on the right alongside the Fresh Freesia parallelogram in two places.
- 6. Punch two scalloped Hearts in Coordinating DSP. Here: Balmy Blue from Country Floral Lane. Adhere at an angle to the card panel.
- 7. Use the large Vellum circle from the kit & adhere in a “hidden” place. Here I put our Multipurpose liquid glue on top of the blue hearts b/c the Fresh Freesia will be on top.
- NOTE: This liquid glue gives it a little wrinkle, but I like that b/c it adds dimension. If you’re looking for a more uniform look, use Tear & Tape or Stampin’ Seal.
- 8. Punch two Fresh Freesia DSP hearts. Here: Dandy Designs. Ink the small heart background stamp in Orchid Oasis. Stamp off once then stamp the two hearts.
- 9. Stamp the Medallion & key in full strength Orchid Oasis on a scrap of the same DSP as the hearts.
- 10. Cut the Medallion with Layering circle & fussy cut the key. Adhere the key to the center of the Medallion. Glue the entire medallion between the hearts.
- 11. Stamp your sentiment in full strength Orchid Oasis on scrap DSP. Punch out with Handmade Tag Punch with the sentiment towards the top. Cut off bottom portion of sentiment to get a straight edge & align at the bottom right.
- 12. Grab your envelope & decorate while you have out your ink & heart stamp; if desired.
- 13. Adhere Embellishments in grouping of three.
- 14. Cut a piece of Orchid Oasis cardstock to 5.5 x 4.25. Mount finished card on the Orchid Oasis

- Supplies: All Stampin’ Up. Refer to the Abbreviation Legend from the above card.
- Stamps: PP 1/23 Key to My Heart
- Paper: Orchid Oasis- AC, Kit Fresh Freesia base, kit Fresh Freesia parallelogram.
- DSP: Dandy Designs- SAB; Country Floral Lane- MC #160375
- Ink: Orchid Oasis- AC
- Tools: EF- Timeworn Type 3D-AC #156505; Around the Bend dies (small hearts) MC #160649; Handmade Tag Punch #159690 – carryover from ‘22 Holiday MC
- Accessories: Loose Flower Flourishes- AC #155808; Iridescent Pastel Gems-MC #160429; Opaque Adhesive-backed Gems-MC #160412
Finally ready to post … computer’s still funky so I’ve been typing on my phone. Slow go but complete at last!
Below is a second look at the two cards. So what do you think? Avid or Artistically Avid. ?Happy Stamping, Marilyn (akaMJ)

