August 2026 Paper Pumpkin Alternatives! Three Cards made with One Blending Technique - Stampin' Up!

The August 2026 Kindred Greetings Paper Pumpkin Kit includes beautiful detailed leaf die-cuts that can be used for more than just the front of a card. Today I will show you how to use the leaf die-cuts as a mask for ink blending to create two colorful backgrounds. Then we'll use the inked die-cut itself as a decorative layer on a third card.

This is a fun way to get more use out of your kit supplies while creating three cards with coordinating colors and completely different designs!

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Supplies You'll Need

Paper Pumpkin Subscription

[166815]

Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad

[147108]

Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin Pad

[167680]

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad

[147101]

Small Blending Brushes

[160518]

Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146985]

Soft Sea Foam 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146988]

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146990]

Crisp Cantaloupe 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[167693]

Lemon Lolly 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161720]

Foam Adhesive Sheets

[152815]

Barely Blush Shimmer Brush

[167664]

Golden Glow Shimmer Brush

[167662]

Crisp Cantaloupe Shimmer Brush

[167661]

Flat Adhesive Backed Pearls

[160449]

Detailed Flora Dies (English)

[168664]

Circle Of Seasons Dies

[167277]

The Love Of Spring Dies

[164396]

The Love Of Spring Dies

[164396]

Hugs Abloom Dies

[166238]

Thanks & Beyond Dies

[164397]

Add All to Cart

———————— My Favorite Supplies ————————

• Stampin' Seal+ [149699] —— https://bit.ly/3Ibz8YK

• Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] —— https://bit.ly/3IaGF9S

• Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] —— https://bit.ly/3ajQSo5

• Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] —— https://bit.ly/3IbzezA

• Mini Glue Dots [103683] $7.25 —— https://bit.ly/3anAcw3

• Stampin' Pierce Mat [126199] —— https://bit.ly/3IjEq4d

• Simply Shammy [147042] —— https://bit.ly/3bQH7hE

• Paper Snips [103579] —— https://bit.ly/3ulT6tV

• Take Your Pick [144107] —— https://bit.ly/3IeYxR9

• Bone Folder [102300] —— https://bit.ly/3uhErzZ

• Clear Block D [118485] —— https://bit.ly/3uuabSs

• Paper Trimmer [152392] —— https://bit.ly/3abvykH

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] —— https://bit.ly/3ujz8zU

 

From the Kindred Greetings Paper Pumpkin Kit:

●      White textured card-base pieces - (3) 4” x 5-1/4"

●      Detailed leaf die-cut to use as a mask

●      Small rectangle greeting label

●      Long rectangle label

Technique: Create a Blended Leaf Background Using a Die-Cut Mask

We'll create two different backgrounds with the same leaf die-cut. For the first, the color stays mostly in the center. For the second, we'll blend three colors across the entire piece to create an ombre background.

Background #1: Soft Blending in the Center

Prepare your cardstock. Cut a white textured cardbase piece from the kit to 4" × 5-1/4". This will be the background for your first card.

Position the leaf mask. Place the detailed leaf die-cut in the center of the cardstock. Find a way to hold the mask in place: I like using the Stampin’ Positioner platform and magnets.

Begin with Petal Pink ink. Pick up ink with a blending brush and tap off any excess. Start blending in the center of the leaf mask, using small circular motions.

Build the color gradually. Continue blending Petal Pink until you have a soft layer of color. Keep most of the ink in the center rather than blending all the way to the outside edges.

Add Calypso Coral for depth. Use a little Calypso Coral ink in the center to deepen the color. Blend it softly into the Petal Pink so the transition looks natural.

Check your background. Lift the mask to see how the blended area looks. The goal is to have the leaf pattern stand out while the ink fades softly into the surrounding white cardstock.

Save this Background for Card #1.

Background #2: Three-Color Ombre

Prepare the second cardstock piece. Cut another white textured cardbase piece to 4" × 5-1/4". Position the detailed leaf die-cut in the center.

Start with Petal Pink. Blend Petal Pink ink across the top of the cardstock and continue all the way to the edges. Unlike the first background, this time you want the ink to extend beyond the mask to create a border.

Add Crisp Cantaloupe. Blend Crisp Cantaloupe through the middle of the cardstock. Overlap it slightly with the Petal Pink so the two colors blend together.

Finish with Calypso Coral. Using a separate blending brush for the darker color, blend Calypso Coral across the bottom of the cardstock.

Move the magnets as needed. If you're using the Stampin’ Positioner platform, reposition the magnets so you can blend across the entire piece without leaving uncolored areas.

Remove the mask. Carefully lift the leaf die-cut to reveal the finished background. This is the background for Card #2. Keep the colored mask for Card #3.

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Card #1: Thanks – Colorful Floral Card

This card uses the softly blended background, a large dimensional “Thanks” greeting, and layered leaves and flowers. The repeated “Friend” stamping along the side adds another fun detail.

Card Supplies

●      Petal Pink Cardbase - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4"

●      Calypso Coral Cardstock - 1" x 3-1/4"

●      Lemon Lolly Cardstock  - scraps for die cut flowers

●      Soft Sea Foam Cardstock - scrap for die cut leaves

●      Granny Apple Green Cardstock  - scrap for die cut leaves

●      Blended White Cardbase Background #1

Step-by-Step Instructions

Stamp “Friend” down the side. Using Calypso Coral ink, stamp “Friend” repeatedly down the left of center on the blended background.

Add shimmer splatter. Shake and pump the Crisp Cantaloupe Shimmer Brush to get the ink flowing. Tap the brush against a bone folder to splatter the background. Set the piece aside to dry.

Attach the background. Once the background is dry, adhere it to the center of the Petal Pink cardbase with liquid adhesive. Leave an even border around all four sides.

Cut out the “Thanks” greeting. Use the past coordinating dies: Thanks & Beyond, to cut “Thanks” from Calypso Coral cardstock with a foam adhesive sheet attached to the back. Run it through your die-cutting machine multiple times if needed to get a clean cut.

Add shimmer to the greeting. Brush Crisp Cantaloupe shimmer over the top of the “Thanks” die-cut. Set it aside to dry.

Cut & Arrange the leaves behind “Thanks.” Cut leaves from Soft Sea Foam & Granny Apple Green Cardstock. I used dies from past coordinating dies “The Love of Spring” & “Hugs Abloom”. Arrange them behind the greeting. Intertwine them slightly so the leaves look like a connected arrangement rather than separate layers.

Attach the greeting & leaves. Adhere the “Thanks” greeting across the lower portion of the card. Try to keep it straight, and press it firmly into place. Add liquid adhesive or glue dots behind the leaves wherever needed to keep them in place.

Prepare the flowers. Cut 3 Flowers from Lemon Lolly Cardstock using the Detailed Flora Dies. Add the flower centers using a small amount of liquid adhesive or a glue dot. Use the larger centers on the daisies and the smaller centers on the rounder flowers.

Add shimmer to the flower centers. Use the Golden Glow shimmer brush to add a little shine to the center of each flower.

Add the flowers. Use the mini Dimensionals from the kit to pop up the flowers. Arrange them in a small triangular cluster over the leaves near the greeting.

Finish with pearls. Add flat adhesive-backed pearls around the flowers and leaves, keeping them close to the main design.

Your first card is finished! The soft blended background, shimmer splatter, and dimensional greeting give this card plenty of detail without making it complicated to assemble.

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Card #2: Hello Friend – Ombre Floral Card

For the second card, we'll use the three-color ombre background. A circular shape behind the “Hello” greeting, a small “Friend” label, and layered leaves and flowers create a simple focal point.

Card Supplies

●      Petal Pink Cardbase - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4"

●      Calypso Coral Cardstock - 2-1/4" circle

●      Lemon Lolly Cardstock  - 1-1/2" x 2-3/4"

●      Petal Pink Cardstock  - scrap for die cut flowers

●      Crisp Cantaloupe Cardstock  - scrap for die cut flowers

●      Soft Sea Foam Cardstock  - scrap for die cut leaves

●      Granny Apple Green Cardstock  - scrap for die cut leaves

●      Blended White Cardbase Background #2

●      Small Label*

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Add shimmer splatter. Use the Crisp Cantaloupe Shimmer Brush and tap with a bone folder to splatter the ombre background.

Attach the background. Once the ombre background is dry, adhere it to the center of the Petal Pink cardbase with liquid adhesive. Leave an even border around the edges.

Create the Greeting. Use the circle die to cut a circle from Calypso Coral Cardstock with the “Circle of Season” Dies.

Cut “Hello” from Lemon Lolly cardstock with Adhesive Foam Sheet on the back, using the “Circle of Season” Coordinating Dies. Add shimmer to “Hello.” Brush Golden Glow shimmer over the top of the die-cut greeting and allow it to dry.Position “Hello” near the center of the circle, leaving a little extra space at the bottom

Stamp “Friend.” Stamp “Friend” in Calypso Coral ink on the small rectangle label from the kit. Apply liquid adhesive to the back of the label and tuck it underneath the right side of “Hello,” letting it overlap slightly.

Attach the leaves. Cut two leaves using the Hugs Abloom Dies in Soft Sea Foam and two from The Love of Spring Dies in Granny Apple Green. Use glue dots to attach the leaves behind the circle. Arranging them around the top and right side of the circle.

Add the focal point. Use Dimensionals to attach the circle greeting toward the lower-left portion of the card. Make sure “Friend” is straight and easy to read.

Prepare the flowers. Cut 4 Flowers using the Detailed Flora Dies. I use two Daisy Shape Flowers from Crisp Cantaloupe and two Rounder Flowers from Petal Pink, attach the centers. Add Barely Blush Shimmer Brush to the centers of the Petal Pink flowers and Crisp Cantaloupe Shimmer Brush to the centers of the Crisp Cantaloupe flowers.

Add the flowers. Attach the flowers with mini Dimensionals, arranging them around the leaves and circle. You can place some flowers over the leaves and others beside them to create a fuller arrangement.

Finish with pearls. Add flat adhesive-backed pearls around the flowers and leaves to finish the design.

Your second card is complete! The ombre background gives this design a different look from the first card, even though the two cards share similar colors and floral elements.

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Card #3: Beautiful Friend – Detailed Leaf Focal Point

For the third card, we'll use the colored leaf die-cut from our masking technique as the main decorative element. The detailed leaf pattern stands out against a white background, while the “Beautiful Friend” greeting and coordinating flowers bring everything together.

Card Supplies

●      Petal Pink Cardbase - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4"

●      Calypso Coral Cardstock - 1-1/4" x 3-1/4"

●      Lemon Lolly Cardstock  - scraps for die cut flowers

●      Crisp Cantaloupe Cardstock  - scrap for die cut flowers

●      Petal Pink Cardstock  - scrap for die cut flowers

●      Soft Sea Foam Cardstock  - scrap for die cut leaves

●      Granny Apple Green Cardstock  - scrap for die cut leaves

●      White Cardbase* - 4” x 5-1/4"

●      Long Rectangle*

●      Delicate Rectangle Leaf Die Cut* Blended

Step-by-Step Instructions

Add the white background. Adhere the white textured cardstock piece, measuring 4" × 5-1/4", to the center of the cardbase with liquid adhesive. Smooth it out so the adhesive spreads evenly and the background lies flat.

Splatter on the colored leaf die-cut. Take the detailed leaf die-cut that was colored during the masking technique.Add shimmer splatter with the Crisp Cantaloupe Shimmer Brush and allow it to dry. Once dry, adhere it to the center of the cardbase with the light section at the top.

Prepare the greeting strip. Take one of the long rectangular labels from the kit. Use the Golden Glow Shimmer Brush to add color and shimmer to the top portion of the strip. The brush marks will remain visible, so arrange them in a way that you like. Set the strip aside to dry.

Cut out “Beautiful.” Use the Beautiful Blooms coordinating dies to cut the word “Beautiful” from Calypso Coral Cardstock with Foam Adhesive Sheet on the back. Add Crisp Canteloupe Shimmer to the top of the greeting and let it dry.

Attach “Beautiful” to the strip. Position the greeting near the upper half of the shimmered strip, leaving room below for the word “Friend.”

Stamp “Friend” in Calypso Coral ink near the bottom of the strip, underneath “Beautiful.” Allow the ink to dry before assembling the card.

Attach the greeting strip. Use Dimensionals to attach the greeting strip to the card, approximately one-third of the way up from the bottom. Keep it straight across the card.

Add the leaves. Use glue dots to attach the Soft Sea Foam (Hugs Abloom Dies) and Granny Apple Green (The Love of Spring Dies) leaves behind the greeting strip. Position them toward the left side, tucking them behind the strip so the stems are mostly hidden.

Prepare the remaining flowers. Use the leftover flower die-cuts from the first two cards. Add the appropriate flower centers and Golden Glow, Crisp Cantaloupe & Barely Blush Shimmer, if you haven't already done so.

Arrange the flowers. Use mini Dimensionals to attach the flowers over the leaves and around the greeting. Arrange them to cover any visible stems and create a balanced floral cluster.

Finish with pearls. Add three flat adhesive-backed pearls around the flowers and other decorative elements. Tuck them into the arrangement for a subtle finishing detail.

Your third card is complete! This design highlights the detailed leaf die-cut itself, showing how the same piece can work as both a mask and a decorative layer.

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Tips for Getting the Most from This Technique

●      Save your mask. The inked leaf die-cut is useful for another card, so don't throw it away after blending.

●      Blend gradually. Start with a small amount of ink and build the color until you reach the desired intensity.

●      Keep blending brushes separate. Use a separate brush for the darker Calypso Coral so it doesn't muddy the lighter colors.

●      Let shimmer dry. Allow splatter and shimmer-brushed elements to dry before assembling the cards.

●      Use flowers to cover small mistakes. A flower or leaf can hide an unwanted ink mark while adding another layer of detail.

●      Use up your scraps. These three designs are a great way to use leftover flowers, leaves, and labels from the kit.

I love how one simple masking technique can create three completely different backgrounds. I hope these Kindred Greetings alternatives inspire you to look at your Paper Pumpkin supplies in a new way!

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Video Tutorial

I’ve also created a step-by-step video tutorial showing exactly how these cards come together. If you’d like to craft along with me, be sure to watch below!

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If this project inspires you to create something, I would love for you to tag me on social media using @creativechelsey | #creativechelsey or email me at chelsey@creativechelsey.com.

Have a creative day,

Chelsey