Key to My Heart Paper Pumpkin

My dear husband has had the key to my heart for over 35 years. He’s my best friend, my traveling companion, and my personal chef. Yes, I’m a dietitian by training (a long time ago), but he does all the cooking – YUM, YUM! He does an incredible job, and he loves to cook, I don’t. So I always make him a card for special occasions. This past week I made Valentine’s Day cards using the Key to My Heart Paper Pumpkin kit. I’m giving them to him to “secretly” choose which one he wants to give me and I’ll choose his card from the remaining ones. Yes, if I look carefully I’ll know what he chose, but it’s the thought that counts!

Here’s the preview of the Key to My Heart Paper Pumpkin kit and what the designed cards look like.

The kit included the colors Fresh Freesia, Mango Melody, Petal Pink, and Calypso Coral. Alas, Fresh Freesia and Mango Melody are not my favorite colors. I added Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape card stock to make the Fresh Freesia fade into the background.

I always start by pulling out the kit pieces, punching them out, and lining them up. That way I can mix and match pieces for new combination ideas. In all, I created 13 cards, 9 using the original card base (in some form), and 4 additional ones with pieces from the kit and additional card stock. I made 11 Valentine’s Day cards and 2 birthday cards, most of which I sent out to my family.

Fresh Freesia cards

I started with the Fresh Freesia card bases since I knew that would be my hardest challenge. With two of the card bases, I turned them inside-out, then folded the gold front back onto itself for a fancy fold card. They have several of the kit’s pieces and Gorgeous Grape ink for the hearts and greetings. I cut the front off the 3rd card, trimmed it to 4″ x 5 1/4″, and put it onto a Highland Heather card base. Using the keyhole punchout from one of the other cards, I trimmed off the bottom. I used a Blending Brush to add Petal Pink for depth of color. I fussy cut a bouquet of flowers from the Fitting Florets DSP to add to my vase.

Key to My heart cards

Here are my 3 Petal Pink “keyhole” cards. One became a shaker card (upper left) using leftover sequins from other Paper Pumpkin and card kits. The second card (upper right) has a piece of the vellum circle added over the Fresh Freesia color wash to tone it down (see picture). I added a Highland Heather Scalloped Contours die to frame it on the inside around the vellum and color wash. On the third card, I left the keyhole on the card and covered it with a Highland Heather scalloped circle overlaid with a Petal Pink circle. The greeting tag is from various kit pieces.

Fun Fold cards

My last set, the 3 Petal Pink cards from the Key To My Heart kit were fun to make. The first one (upper left) is a little complicated but definitely has an interesting layout. I recreated one of Rachel Tessman’s cards she made. Not sure I’ll attempt it again! For the next card, I cut 1 3/4″ off the edge, adhering it inside the card to create another fancy fold. I created another fancy fold for the last card, scoring it at 3 1/4″ from the front edge, and 1″ from the back edge. The 1″ fold is adhered to the bottom to make another fun fold card. I also cut one of the enclosed envelopes apart and used the pieces for two of these cards and some of my earlier cards.

More alternatives with kit pieces

For my last 4 cards, I used leftover kit pieces with Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape card bases and a birthday greeting from the Something Fancy stamp set. All-in-all, I thought my color additions really made my alternative Paper Pumpkin Key to My Heart cards pop.

Want to see more Paper Pumpkin alternatives like these? Subscribe to my newsletter (upper right-hand column) to get my newsletters and event announcements. I do a Paper Pumpkin alternatives Zoom event on the 4th Monday of the month. Join me!

And, if you try a 3-month Paper Pumpkin subscription with me, you’ll earn a free Sale-a-bration selection.

Meanwhile, Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. I’ll post tomorrow which card my husband chose to give to me and which one I gave to him.