Thursday, October 22, 2026

Gingham Designs Made with Scraps: Two August 2026 Paper Pumpkin Alternative Card Ideas - Stampin’ Up!

Welcome back to Paper Pumpkin Week here on Creative Chelsey! Today I’m sharing two more alternative card designs using the August 2026 Kindred Greetings Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin’ Up!


For these two cards, I’m using a leftover die-cut piece from the kit to create a beautiful, soft plaid background. I love finding creative ways to use those leftover pieces, and this masking technique is a fun way to transform a simple white background into something special!

Let’s get started!


Have You Joined the Paper Pumpkin Cut Club Yet?

If you love making alternatives each month and want exclusive perks, make sure you join my Paper Pumpkin Cut Club on YouTube! For only $4.99/month, members receive:

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The Cutting Guide is one of the most requested resources I create—it shows exactly how to cut your cardbases/gift boxes to make all of my alternatives. Cut Club members get it EVERY MONTH.

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Want to Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin?

If you’re not already receiving Paper Pumpkin, now is a great time to join! My subscribers receive:

🎁 A FREE exclusive card kit designed by me each month

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🎁 And of course—my support, tips, and creative inspiration!

 Subscribe here and select me as your demonstrator (Chelsey Christensen–CO):

https://www.stampinup.com/products/paper-pumpkin-subscription/?demoid=2042902

Supplies

Paper Pumpkin Subscription [ 166815 ]
[166815]
Small Blending Brushes [ 160518 ]
[160518]
Soft Sea Foam 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 146988 ]
[146988]
Hugs Abloom Dies [ 166238 ]
[166238]
Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad [ 161678 ]
[161678]
Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad [ 150083 ]
[150083]
Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147107 ]
[147107]
Lost Lagoon Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [ 161680 ]
[161680]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [ 159229 ]
[159229]
Very Vanilla 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166784 ]
[166784]
Gray Granite 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 146983 ]
[146983]
Stampin' Positioner [ 167768 ]
[167768]
Baker's Twine Essentials Pack [ 155475 ]
[155475]
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

Technique: Creating a Soft Plaid Background

You’ll use the leftover rectangular die-cut piece from the kit as your mask. This is the piece with five long rectangular openings. Instead of throwing it away, we’re going to use it to create our plaid pattern!

The key to this technique is building the color in layers. Start with a light blend, reposition the mask, and blend again to create the overlapping lines. Keeping the ink light allows each layer to show through and gives the plaid a soft, delicate appearance.

Blending Techniques Supplies

●      White Cardbase* - 4-1/4” x 5-1/2"

●      Large Rectangle*

●      5 Rectangle Masks* (leftover piece from the kit)

●      Lost Lagoon ink

●      Lost Lagoon Stampin’ Blend Markers - Light & Dark

●      Blending Brushes

Step 1: Prepare Your Mask and Cardstock

Place your Large Rectangle from the kit vertically on your magnetic positioning tool.

Position the 5 rectangular mask horizontally across the cardstock.

Adjust the mask so there is an even amount of space at the top and bottom, with three full rectangular openings visible through the center.

Use magnets to hold everything in place. If your cardstock is smaller than the mask, move the magnets as needed while keeping the paper from shifting.


Step 2: Blend the First Set of Lines

Using Lost Lagoon ink and a blending brush, lightly blend over the mask.

Work across the left side first, then move the magnets and blend the right side.

Keep the color soft. You only want a light layer of ink to begin building the pattern.



Step 3: Reposition the Mask

Carefully move the mask so it covers the center of each section, leaving the previously blended areas partially exposed.

Blend lightly over the left side and then the right side again.

Be careful not to completely cover the lighter lines you created in the first step.

This creates a second layer of color and creates smaller horizontal lines.



Step 4: Rotate the Mask and Repeat

Turn the mask so the rectangular openings run in the opposite direction.

Position it evenly over the cardstock, keeping the spacing balanced.

Blend lightly across the left side and then the right side.

Reposition the mask once more to cover the center of the sections and add another light layer of ink - again creating smaller lines.

You’ll begin to see a beautiful, soft plaid pattern emerge!

Tip: For a more defined plaid, concentrate a little more ink along the edges of the covered areas. Remember to keep your layers light so the different lines remain visible.

Create a Larger Plaid Background

For the second card, use the same technique on a larger piece of cardstock.

Place the White Cardbase 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" piece from the kit under the 5 rectangular mask.

Lightly blend Lost Lagoon ink across the entire exposed area.

Move the mask if needed to continue the lines across the cardbase piece.

Rotate the mask 90 degrees and repeat the blending process. Move the mask if needed to continue the lines across the cardbase piece.

For this larger background, you don’t need to cover every edge perfectly because you’ll be trimming the piece later.

Add Extra Plaid Details

For the first card, I added two more layers of lines to make the plaid pattern more interesting.

Take a Light Lost Lagoon Stampin’ Blend and use the brush tip to draw a loose line through the middle of each section of the plaid.

Rotate the cardstock and repeat the lines in the opposite direction. These lines can be a little imperfect—the hand-drawn look adds to the design!

Using a Dark Lost Lagoon Stampin’ Blend and the fine tip, draw a straight line down the middle of each hand-drawn line.

Use a piece of chipboard from the Paper Pumpkin kit as a straight edge. This helps keep the lines straight without getting ink on a ruler.

You now have a layered plaid pattern with blended lines, hand-drawn lines, and fine accent lines!

Card #4: Sending My Whole Heart


For this card, I combined the Large plaid background with a banner, stamped branches, small hearts, and a layered leaf greeting.

Card #4 Supplies

●      Thick Basic White Cardbase - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4" vertical

●      Soft Sea Foam - scrap for die cut leaves

●      Gray & White Twine* - 12"

●      Long Rectangle*

●      Calypso Coral Circle & Leaves Label*

●      Leftover Long Rectangles Frame*

●      Large Plaid background created with the masking technique

Step 1: Trim the Plaid Background

Trim ¼" from each side of the larger plaid background, including the bottom.

This evens out the edges and gives the pattern a cleaner finish.

In the center of one short edge, cut a slit approximately ½" deep.

Cut diagonally from each corner of the slit to create a banner point.

Your plaid background is now ready to decorate!


Step 2: Stamp the Branches and Hearts

Using Pretty Peacock ink, stamp the branch image from the Kindred Greetings stamp set along the bottom portion of the plaid banner.

Stamp the branch in one direction, then rotate the stamp and add another going the opposite direction.

Using Gray Granite ink, stamp the small heart image in a few places around the branches. I stamped three hearts, but you can add more if you like.

With Pool Party ink, stamp the splatter image around the banner. This adds texture and helps disguise any small marks you don’t want to show.

Step 3: Distress the Edges

This is an optional technique, but I love the extra detail it adds!

Take the plaid banner and gently rub its edges against the Pool Party ink pad.

Hold the cardstock flatter against the ink pad for a deeper distressed edge, or tilt it at an angle for a softer line of color.

Be sure to ink the edges around the banner point, too.

Tip: The ink on the blended background may smear if you rub it too much. Use a light touch and handle the cardstock gently.

Step 4: Attach the Background

Place the plaid banner toward the top of a Thick Basic White card base, leaving extra space at the bottom for the greeting.

Attach it with Dimensionals.

Press gently to avoid smearing the ink.

Step 5: Add Color to the Long Label

Use Pretty Peacock ink and a blending brush to add color to one of the long rectangular pieces from the kit.

Blend until you like the variation in color. It doesn’t need to be perfectly even.

Cut a small slit in the center of each end and trim diagonally from the corners to create a banner shape.

Attach this narrow banner across the plaid background, between the stamped branches. Let the right end extend slightly beyond the plaid panel.

Step 6: Prepare the Greeting

Turn the orange circular die-cut over to use its white side.

Rotate it so the leaves run diagonally from the upper-right corner to the lower-left corner.

Using Gray Granite ink, stamp the greeting “Sending my whole heart at a time when words fall short” in the center.

Give the ink a moment to dry before handling the greeting.



Step 7: Add a Faux Bow with Linen Thread & Die Cut Leaves

Cut approximately 12" of linen thread from the kit.

Add adhesive to the back of the circular greeting.

Create a small bow on one side, leaving a tail, then create a second bow on the other side with another tail.

Adjust the loops and trim the ends if needed.

Die cut two leaves from Soft Sea Foam Cardstock, I used the Hugs Abloom past coordinating dies. Adhere them behind the Linen Thread loops.

Step 8: Assemble the Card

Add Dimensionals to the back of the circular greeting. You can place some over the leaf elements to help hold them in place.

Position the greeting over the lower portion of the plaid background, following the diagonal direction of the stamped branches.

Press everything into place.

Your first alternative card is complete! The soft plaid pattern adds a beautiful background, while the branches, hearts, and linen thread give the card lots of texture.

Card #5: Always Here for You


For the second card, I wanted to bring in the warmth of Very Vanilla cardstock to coordinate with the die-cut from the kit. The plaid background is softer here, allowing the large leaf die-cut and double bow to take center stage.

Card #5 Supplies

●      Very Vanilla Cardbase - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4" vertical

●      Gray Granite - 4" x 5-1/4"

●      Vanilla Twine - 20"

●      Large Rectangle*

●      Long Label*

●      Gray Branch Die Cut*

●      Smaller plaid background created with the masking technique

Step 1: Stamp the Plaid Background

Using Gray Granite ink, stamp the branch image from the Kindred Greetings stamp set along the right side of the plaid panel.

Let part of the branch extend slightly beyond the edge of the panel.

Using Pool Party ink, stamp the splatter image around the background.

Rotate the stamp as you go to create different images..

The gray branches and soft blue splatter add interest without competing with the plaid.


Step 2: Assemble the Card Base

Attach the 4" x 5-1/4" Gray Granite cardstock panel to the Very Vanilla cardbase using liquid adhesive.

Attach the plaid background on top of the Gray Granite panel.

If you have a subtle embossing folder, you could emboss the Gray Granite cardstock before assembling the card for added texture.



Step 3: Attach the Large Leaf Die-Cut

Use the small Dimensionals from the Paper Pumpkin kit to adhere the Gray Branch die-cut over the stamped branch image.

You don’t need a Dimensional on every leaf. Add them where they will provide enough support.

Position the die-cut so you can still see the stamped branches behind it, and keep the bottom of the stem within the plaid panel.



Step 4: Add the Double Bow

Cut approximately 20" of Very Vanilla twine. You may find that around 16" is enough, but having extra makes it easier to adjust the loops.

Secure the bottom of the leaf die-cut with a small piece of adhesive or tape.

Find the center of the Very Vanilla card base and decide which direction you want the twine to run. I placed mine from right to left.

Create a small bow with two loops, adjusting the size until you like the look.

Trim any excess twine.

Step 5: Add the Greeting

Stamp your greeting “I’m always here for you” on the Long Label from the kit in Gray Granite ink.

Position it across the lower portion of the card, covering the adhesive and twine ends. Adhere with dimensionals.

Align the greeting with the edge of the rectangular background panel.

Your second alternative card is finished! I love how the Very Vanilla cardstock warms up the design and how the large leaf die-cut stands out against the plaid background.

Which Card Is Your Favorite?

I love how one leftover die-cut piece can become a mask for creating such a unique background. By changing the ink color, layering the lines, and adding a few extra details, you can create your own plaid pattern to coordinate with just about any card design.

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 the video!

Thanks so much for stopping by Creative Chelsey! I hope you enjoyed these two alternative card ideas and will give the plaid masking technique a try. 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

 

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