Make Your Fireworks POP - My Last Alternative Card Idea with May 2026 Paper Pumpkin Kit

I'm so excited to share my ninth and final alternative from the May 2026 Paper Pumpkin Kit!

I wanted to finish this month's alternatives with a card that really celebrates the beautiful fireworks theme. The star of this design is the firework die from the Wonderful Scenes Dies. By placing colorful cardstock behind the die cuts, the fireworks instantly come to life! It's a simple technique that creates lots of contrast and makes each burst stand out against the dark nighttime sky.

This card is clean, elegant, and lets the fireworks do all the talking.

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Supplies

Paper Pumpkin Subscription

[166815]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

Silver & White 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Sheer Ribbon

[162149]

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131297]

Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[115320]

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119683]

Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[105117]

Adhesive Sheets

[152334]

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141897]

Faceted Snowflakes

[166077]

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

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

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

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

Measurements

String Lights Cardbase* - 2-1/2" x 3-3/4"

Night Sky Envelope* - front 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"

Thick Basic White Cardbase - 4-1/4" x 11 scored at 5-1/2"

Basic White - 2-5/8" x 3-7/8"

Coastal Cabana - scraps & 1/2" x 2"

Melon Mambo - scrap

Pumpkin Pie - scrap

Daffodil Delight - scrap

Ribbon - 13"

Silver Embellishments*

Card Assembly Instructions

1. Prep the Background

Cut from the coordinating Envelope to the Night Sky Cardbase a 4-1/8" x 5-3/8" piece.

Stamp the Stars in Misty Moonlight link randomly in the corners. Add it to the center of the cardbase.

Wrap the white/iridescent ribbon around the center of the card front and tie a soft knot on the right side.

2. Create the Firework Panel

Using the Wonderful Scenes Dies, die cut three fireworks from the String Light Cardbase piece. I did add Adhesive Sheet to the back before cutting to make adding the color cardstock easier.

Behind each die cut opening, adhere small pieces of brightly colored cardstock. I used Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie & Daffodil Delightl to mimic colorful fireworks bursting across the sky.

This simple layering technique instantly adds depth and makes the fireworks stand out beautifully.

3. Add Dimension

To add a little extra sparkle - I colored over each opening and followed each stitched line with Wink of Stella.

Mat the firework panel onto a Basic White layer before attaching it to the card with dimensionals.

The white border helps frame the focal image while giving it even more contrast against the background.

4. Add the Greeting

Stamp “You are” in Misty Moonlight ink on the Coastal Cabana piece and flag the ends. Add it near the knot with dimensionals.

Cut out two "Wonderful" die cuts from Coastal Cabana cardstock with adhesive sheet on the back. Layer them together to create a thicker die cut.

Adhere it below “You are” at an angle.

The layered greeting becomes the focal point without covering too much of the fireworks.

5. Finish the Card

Scatter a few embellishments around the fireworks to resemble sparkling stars in the night sky. I placed them in the middle of each firework.

These tiny accents add just enough sparkle without overwhelming the clean design.

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My Favorite Design Detail

Adding colored cardstock behind the die-cut fireworks completely changes the look of the dies.

Instead of seeing only the cut lines, each firework becomes bright, bold, and full of life. It's an incredibly simple technique, but it creates such a dramatic effect. Best of all, you can completely customize the colors to fit any occasion or color palette.

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Video Tutorial

I’ve also created a step-by-step video tutorial showing exactly how this card comes together. If you’d like to craft along with me, be sure to watch the video!

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Thank You!

Thank you so much for following along during this month's Paper Pumpkin alternatives! I hope these nine projects have inspired you to look at your kit pieces in new ways and encouraged you to stretch your supplies even further.

Whether it's cutting apart die cuts, adding colorful layers, creating fun folds, or trying simple techniques like this one, there are so many ways to make each Paper Pumpkin kit your own.

If you recreate this project, I'd love to see it! Be sure to tag me on social media using @creativechelsey | #creativechelsey or email me at chelsey@creativechelsey.com.

Have a creative day,
Chelsey