June's "A Little Smile" Paper Pumpkin kit has everyone in my clubs smiling ear-to-ear with the colourful and fun collection of little acknowledgement cards, complete with a carrying pouch.  As always the kit came with a great little stamp set and loads of great embellishments - there were even 40 sentiment tags and sparkly sea stars and sand dollars.



This month, with the kits arriving just the day before the first club meeting, and not having a clue what was inside - other than it would be beach related, I had to come up with some "coordinating" alternates on the theme in the days before and hope it worked. 

So out came the brand new Sail away bundle with the lighthouse & seaweed, some well retired paper from (2015 I think) with fishies and waves, the wavy seaside and subtle embossing folders, stitched oval dies and paper in beachy colours: Coastal Cabana, Night of Navy, and Pear Pizzazz (I know, pears are neither tropical or beachy... but I didn't have any soft sea foam on hand - that is one of my new favourite colours along with the new seaside spray.  Well, I was blown away when I opened up the kit and saw just how close I was in colour combinations, and how well the embellishments went with my designs.  It all came together just like I knew it would - lol!

I also introduced the group to sponging techniques to create the sunset and sand on the beach card - and the Caribbean sky though the window cut-out on the Lighthouse card.  Sponging is a great way to get gradients of colour, almost like watercolour but without all the wetness, warped paper and waiting for things to dry.  You can get everything from a stippled effect for sand on the beach, to clouds, to water just by pressing a little harder, or swirling the sponge in circles, or by wiping it in one direction.  It was a great deal of fun for everyone to try and each developed their own preferred technique as they progressed.


In the end everyone put their own special flare on the dressing and embellishing and we had a good variation of designs to show for our efforts.

I am still looking for additional people in both the Annapolis Valley and Halifax areas for my clubs.  If you'd like to know more CLICK HERE to find out about Paper Pumpkin, or send me a message.  I'd love to have you join in on all the fun!

JULY's KIT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DOOZY - Coordinating with at least three new suites of product.....

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