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June Paper Pumpkin Blog Hop: Bikes & Blooms

by | Jul 1, 2026 | Paper Pumpkin | 19 comments

Hello stampers! What a fun Paper Pumpkin this is with the Bikes & Blooms theme. It’s really perfect for this dual demonstrator living in the Netherlands. I live in the middle of the greenhouse district, the heart of the flower industry and am even married to a flower grower. In case you didn’t know, Gerard grows amaryllis as a cut flower.

Whenever my Paper Pumpkin arrives, I first make the cards as shown and THEN I decide how I am going to play with the contents to create something unique for you. Here are the cards included in the kit, there are nine of them with cute envelopes too, which of course I was too excited to photograph!

Yes, we do drive our bikes with flowers in the basket, not just because it looks nice, but because it is practical too. In the Netherlands there are more kilometers of bike paths than there are roads!! Biking is often quicker than taking the car because of limited parking spaces and because road traffic can get really congested.

The stamps that come with this Bikes & Blooms kit have some lovely sayings in a very pretty font. There is a dual butterfly stamp as well as a single butterfly stamp, two sets of flowers and of course a big bicycle stamp.

The ink spot (that is Stampin’Up! talk for a mini ink pad) is Calypso Coral which is such a wonderful, summery colour. Now are you ready for my card??

Stylish Shapes dies were used to cut four squares which were then layered on to the Perennial Postage die cuts. Clockwise from top left, I used Barely Blush, Crisp Canteloupe, Pretty in Pink and Calypso Coral. Instead of using cardstock, I used Basic White cardstock and blending brushes to create my own. I love the softer look that occurs with this technique. Both floral stamps were put to use to do the collage stamping. Believe it or not, it is better if you first do your stamping, and then do your die cutting, otherwise it affects the colour on the edges of the diecut if you stamp afterwards. Another thing to note, the Barely Blush is such a light colour that it doesn’t do the “stamping off” or second generation stamping very well at all.

I stamped the bike in Hybrid Black and fussy cut it. “The sentiment “Have a lovely day” is also stamped in Hybrid Black. The four coloured squares are mounted on a piece of Basic White cardstock measuring 3″ or 7.6cm square. This is adhered to another Basic White layer 4″ x 5 1 /4″ or 10cm x 14.35cm.

If you look closely, you will see that the centres of the coloured squares are popped up with dimensionals. Adhere your Basic White layer to your Thick Basic White card which measures 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″ or 21cm x 14.85cm scored at 10.5cm.

Thanks so much for joining me to find out other ways to use your amazing June Paper Pumpkin, Bikes & Blooms. I love it and I am sure you will too. If you haven’t already subscribed, you can do so in the Netherlands here, or in Canada here. Be sure to hop along and see what all the other talented Dutch demonstrators have made with this fun June Paper Pumpkin.

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Totally Techniques Blog Hop: Mirror Stamping

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Paper Pumpkin, technique cards | 0 comments

Well hello and welcome to this fun Totally Techniques Blog hop. This month we are diving into Mirror Stamping. I immediately knew what I wanted to use, the bike stamp from the June Paper Pumpkin, Bikes & Blooms. Why not share my Dutch culture with you and create a scene with some trees, a canal and a bike? Seeing as this is a technique blog hop, I decided to throw in two more techniques for good measure. Any guesses what they might be after looking at my card below??

For my card front I used watercolour paper so that I could use a watercolour wash to make my canal, my grass, and the bike path. The canal was done using Balmy Blue with a slight accent of Azure Afternoon. My grass is Garden Green and the path is Crumb Cake. Next I made my sky using a blending brush, a few drops of glycerine mixed with a few drops of Balmy Blue reinker. This creates a velvety smooth finish! Lastly, I stamped the trees from the retired set Autumn Trees in Garden Green and Pecan Pie, spritzed with a little water. My bicycle was stamped in Early Espresso.

Now the big question is of course, how do you do the Mirror Stamping? It’s so stunningly simple, you might just chuckle. I merely stamped the bike in Early Espresso again on a piece of acetate that comes with our photopolymer stamp sets. After stamping, flip it over and rub onto your card front where you want it to be. I gave it a very light spritz of water after doing this to create a softer watercolour effect. The tree was even easier because it is symmetrical, so I just stamped it upside down under the first tree stamp. This time I gave it a spritz before stamping to give it a watery look.

I struggled a bit with where to place my sentiment before deciding to create a skinny banner to go on the back of the bike. What do you think?

Be sure to hop along and see what our other talented design team members came up with! Remember, we love to read your comments so that we don’t feel all alone in cyberspace. If you live in Canada, you can click on the icons below to shop with me. In the Netherlands, you can use this link. In the UK this link will be better for you. I appreciate you and will send you a free pdf tutorial bundle as a thank you.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Thanks so much for joining me today, I hope you were inspired to create your own card using the Mirror Stamping technique. Have a wonderful day! Stamping hugs, Jackie aka The Pampered Stamper

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Totally Techniques Blog Hop: Dry Embossed and Sanded Two-Tone Cardstock

by | May 29, 2026 | embossing, technique cards | 0 comments

Welcome to the Totally Techniques Blog Hop. My name is Jackie VanderSar-Boot and I am a demonstrator in both Canada and the Netherlands. My business name is The Pampered Stamper.

I have been welcomed as a guest to help out until my fellow Canadian demonstrator Diane Evans is feeling better. What an honour to be here, I hope you enjoy my cards. I was just invited yesterday and I am leaving on Saturday for the Stampin’Up! incentive trip to Alaska, so time is of the essence. Let’s take a look at my cards, I made two different ones because I couldn’t choose between Moonlit Flora or Delicate Dreams designer series paper.

How do you get this look?? Dry embossed and sanded two-tone cardstock is what it is called. A long name for a simple technique.

Well, truthfully, it is so easy that I almost hesitate to call it a technique. Yet, it is a simple and very satisfying technique. You only need three things:

  • two-tone cardstock because it has a white core.
  • embossing folder
  • sanding block or nail file or piece of sandpaper

First, run your piece of two-tone cardstock through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine. Choose whether you want the light side or the dark side. Now you can lightly sand it and the white core will show through. That’s it!

Diagonal Flip Card

I have combined this technique with a really easy designer series paper trick. To see how it’s done, you can check out my YouTube video here. Mixing your embossed and sanded two-tone cardstock with patterned paper is really striking. Another huge benefit of two-tone cardstock is it’s light weight. It has less bulk and will save you on postage!!

Totally Techniques Blog Hop List

I really hope that you hop along and see what all the other amazing demonstrators have done with this simple but effective technique: Dry Embossed and Sanded Two-Tone Cardstock.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Product List

Moonlit Flora Suite Collection (English) [167749] $119.00Moonlit Flora 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [167737] $18.00Fern & Flora 3 D Embossing Folder [167744] $15.00Delicate Dreams 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [167498] $23.00Paradise Garden Hybrid Embossing Folder [167120] $60.00
Misty Moonlight 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock [166686] $13.75Old Olive 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock [166683] $13.75Nested Essentials Dies [161597] $47.00Earthen Toned Metallic 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper [165901] $10.25Adhesive Backed Metallic Gems [163780] $12.25

Lakeside Retreat: April Paper Pumpkin 2026

by | Apr 29, 2026 | Nautical, Paper Pumpkin, Uncategorized | 14 comments

Welcome to the very first European Paper Pumpkin Blog Hop!! It is SO very exciting to finally be able to offer Paper Pumpkin subscriptions to my European friends. It also feels good to get back to regular blogging again.

What is Paper Pumpkin? It is a monthly card making kit that comes complete with a stamp set, a mini ink pad and all the materials needed to make 8 cards. Your first kit also includes an acrylic block. You can purchase a single kit, you can do a month to month subscription or you can purchase a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription. When you choose a 6 or 12 month prepaid subscription you do get a discount.

The best part is that you can skip a month if you want and you can also end your subscription whenever you want without penalty. Such freedom!!

Paper Pumpkin Blog Hop Participants

I hope that you get lots of inspiration when you hop along to all the other talented people who are sharing their alternative projects for the Lakeside Retreat kit.



Blog Hop Index


Lakeside Retreat April 2026 Alternatives

The April kit is truly spectacular and it coordinates with the Lakeside Retreat suite in the Stampin’Up! catalog which makes it even more versatile. You can even get a special Paper Pumpkin add on kit which has some great dies that will coordinate with the next three Paper Pumpkin kits.

Let’s take a look and see what I did with my kit after making the cards just as described in the kit. For my first card I decided to pair it with one of our Product of the Month offerings, Notes of Spring.

My second card uses the envelope as my card front. I just loved the cloud pattern on the envelope and thought it would make the perfect backdrop for my Blessed Beginnings card.

The last card is one that I cased from Ingrid Heijnen. She presented the Waterside Retreat suite at OnStage in Cologne, and I absolutely loved this magnetic closure card. I will share my video tutorial for this card as well so you can see how easy it is to make.

What makes Paper Pumpkin so special?

When you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, you are joining a worldwide community! Everyone gets this amazing kit around the same time and there is even a special Facebook group called the Paper Pumpkin Fan Club where people post alternatives that they have made using the kit.

I have been a Paper Pumpkin subscriber myself in Canada since it began and I would love to have you subscribe through me! Here is my link for my Canadian friends and here is the link for my European friends.

Thank you

Thanks so much for joining us today for our first ever Paper Pumpkin Blog Hop. I hope you got lots of inspiration and that you are excited to become a part of the Paper Pumpkin community. I have special gifts for you if you decide to subscribe through me as well. If you would like to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin in Europe, you can do so here. Live in Canada? Wonderful, you can subscribe with me here.

If you purchase a three month prepaid kit that will also qualify you for the Product of the Month. Right now there are three to choose from: Painted Illusions designer series paper, Notes of Spring stamp set and the Eyelet Blooms die. In Europe the product of the month is available for €6 with a €90 purchase and in Canada it is $5 with a $100 purchase. Limit of one per person and you must have an online account to get one. Your demonstrator cannot order this product for you.

Made With Love Magical Projects

by | Jan 14, 2026 | embossing, gifts, Valentine's | 0 comments

Love is magical! Made With Love is fun and beautiful paper from Stampin’Up! that I am using to make some truly magical projects. Why magical? Because they are truly filled with love. Meaningful love that can truly make a difference in someone’s life. Never underestimate the power of a handmade card or project! Let’s take a look.

Meet the Valentine’s Accordion Fold Surprise Treat Holder. Long name for a relatively simple project. This beauty is based on my super popular Tea Advent Calendar. This one has 14 numbered pockets to count down to Valentine’s Day. The other ten pockets all have a sentiment on them AND a tag tucked in them with a Scripture verse. The love of God is truly the best love that there ever was, and we all need reminding of how precious we are in His sight.

If this is not what you would like to do, you can also put words of affirmation, meaningful quotes or promissory notes inside these pockets. The numbered pockets can hold fancy teas, wrapped chocolate squares such as Ghirardelli or Ferrero Rocher.

Disney Magic

Why not use Disney stickers to make this magical for your child, grandchild or the inner child of a big Disney fan? For this one I used White Willow 12 x 12 cardstock to make the pockets. I used two different embossing folders, All in a Row and Hearts of Love 3D to add lovely texture to them.

To add numbers to the pockets, I used the retired Give it a Whirl dies also from Stampin’Up! It’s good to hold on to your. favourites!

Video that shows my heart behind this project

Pdf Tutorial Available

Want to make this lovely and meaningful gift yourself? No worries! I have a fantastic pdf tutorial available for you. You can get it for FREE if you place an online order with me in Canada or in Europe. It’s also free for team members. If not, I am thrilled that you are willing to support my business with your purchase. Here is the link to make it easy for you. Remember, this tutorial includes the instructions for the Christmas Advent Tea Calendar as well.

Thanks so much for joining me today. It was indeed high time for me to write another blog post. Now you can also pin your favourite projects to find them again later. Perhaps consider subscribing to my YouTube channel where you can easily keep tabs on my latest work. Have a super day! Hugs from Holland, Jackie

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