Paper Pumpkin July 2023 for Christmas in July at Inspiration Station

Hi, Stampers!

This challenge photo nearly defeated me!

My creative wheels had no roads to ride on with this challenge photo at the new Inspiration Station Challenge that starts today! The inspiration photo has a beach umbrella, blowup pool with floaties, balloons, and flamingo yard stakes on one side and a Christmas tree, a huge teddy bear, and presents on the other. Wow, the only thing I could relate to was the rustic fence in the background!

But I was not going to give up (though I thought about it a few times). The same problem that I had in yesterday’s blog post was really hampering me from getting anywhere. Then I remembered something in the Paper Pumpkin kit I’d finally unpacked from storage. Thanks to my new organization system, I quickly found the July 2023 beach-themed kit… and suddenly the ideas started flowing. The Paper Pumpkin July 2023 kit was a fabulous kit of fun fold cards with a beach theme. Perfect! The beach part was easy…but making it feel like Christmas? That took a little creativity, and that’s where the sentiment comes in! I thought the “warm wishes and mistletoe kisses” sentiment from the retired Tin of Tags stamp set was perfect. This card would be great for the “snow birds” sending cards during the holidays, don’t you think?

Create this card using Paper Pumpkin July 2023 by Stampin' Up! and Debbie Mageed at Secrets to Stamping

So, what about you? Don’t have this kit? No worries! I bet you have something in your stash that would work as well. Let this card be more inspiration for you to come up with your own creative card.

What part of the inspiration photo speaks to your creative soul? I’d love to see how it moves you. Your interpretation of the inspirational photo is your own, so let your creativity flow!

Ready to see what everyone created? Head over to the Inspiration Station gallery for even more ideas—and if this photo sparks your imagination, we’d love to have you play along!

My Secrets!

Let’s start with the fun part…

The card base was already cut and scored, so once I made the folds to make it stand up, I was ready to get creative.
The Paper Pumpkin July 2023 kit has instructions that you can follow to make all of the cute cards. But, you know me; I have to make alternative cards from the kits.
Then, I started with the piece in the front with the umbrella, sand bucket, and shovel and stamped the sentiment from the Tin of Tags stamp set in Granny Apple Green ink. Once that was done, I adhered it to the front of the card base.
After that, I added the chair to go under the umbrella, popping it up with dimensionals, and then added the sunglasses, flip-flops, and a sea star.
Then, for the next row, I added the palm trees.
Finally, for the last row, I adhered the background of the water and beach, plus another set of palm trees to set a more tropical scene. I thought the coconuts weren’t distinct enough, so I added a cluster of the clear dots from the Ladybug Garden Epoxy Shapes, which really added a nice touch of sparkle to the card.

Then, on the back…

The back of the card was the perfect place for the sign and crab. I loved this sentiment from the kit! What a cute way to rub in the fact that you’re enjoying the sunny, warm temperatures to your freezing friends or family back home!