Paper Pumpkin Kits - The Maine Stamper

The Best Deal On Paper Pumpkin

February 16, 2022 2 Comments

Your Paper Pumpkin Choices

Are you looking for the best deal on Paper Pumpkin? You may have heard the rumors, and it is true! Due to the cost increase of raw materials, shipping and overhead, the price of Paper Pumpkin is going up. And it all starts with the March 2022 Paper Pumpkin Kit.

The new cost of each Paper Pumpkin kit will keep the value and high quality standards in effect. There is nothing better than getting that orange creativity kit delivered straight to your door! With each kit brimming with supplies, you will find it easy to craft long past the kit’s limits.

A Breakdown of Costs

Of course, you may really want to know what the best deal for Paper Pumpkin is! And what the cost will be compared to what they used to cost. I will break all of that down for you here:

Paper Pumpkin Month-To-Month

With the Paper Pumpkin Month-To-Month Plan, you are paying as you go each month. This gives you the flexibility to cancel at any time, since you are not locked in to a specific subscription plan. As you can see, the price increase is $1.50 per month:

Previous Price: $22.00 (shipping included, tax not included).

New Price: $23.50 (shipping included, tax not included).

This new price is already in effect, since the next kit coming is the March Kit. If you are on this plan, you will be billed the new price on or around March 11th.

Speaking of the March Paper Pumpkin Kit…

March happens to be Paper Pumpkin’s birthday month! I have explored Paper Pumpkin kits in previous blog posts, but the best part about Paper Pumpkin’s birthday is that you get a gift! In the upcoming March Kit, titled Beyond The Horizon, you get not one, but two stamp sets…the second stamp set is free!

And if you love the New Horizons Suite Collection in the January-June 2022 Mini Catalog, you will love this Paper Pumpkin Kit!

Paper Pumpkin Subscription Plans

When you prepay, you save! And just like buying in bulk, the more you purchase, the more you save. I will break down the previous and new prices for each of the prepaid options. But first, did you know the prepaid codes for Paper Pumpkin never expire? You can redeem them anytime in the future. This is a great reason to have one or two on hand…especially now before the price increases.

1 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription

Besides being amazing for you, Paper Pumpkin makes a great gift. When you purchase a prepaid Paper Pumpkin, you get an email with a redemption number. When you are ready to redeem your code for a kit, you log on to Paper Pumpkin, set up your account, and activate your kit.

This makes the codes “giftable”. Yup…you can give your code away and let someone else get the kit in their mailbox instead! Starting on March 1, the price will go up $1.50.

Previous Price: $ 21.00 (shipping and tax not included).

New Price: $22.50 (shipping and tax not included).

3 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription

By purchasing 3 months of Paper Pumpkin, you are not actually saving money. The cost per kit is the same as the 1 month subscription. And the increase remains $1.50 per kit.

When you redeem your 3 month code, you will receive 3 consecutive months worth of kits. You do have the option to suspend a kit (cancel for a month), but this does not affect the number of kits you will eventually receive.

SPENDING TIP: During Sale-A-Bration, the purchase price of a 3 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription will earn you a free SAB product! (For each $50 purchase before shipping and tax = a Sale-A-Bration freebie.)

Previous Price: 63.00 (shipping and tax not included).

New Price: $67.50 (shipping and tax not included).

6 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription

Here is where the savings start! By purchasing a 6 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription, you save $1 per month. This also lessens the increase as seen with each category above from $1.50 per month to $1.42 per month.

SPENDING TIP: When you purchase the 6 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin during Sale-A-Bration, you will earn 2 qualifying products in the $50 Sale-A-Bration category, or 1 qualifying product in the $100 category.

Previous Price: $114.00 (shipping and tax not included).

New Price: $122.50 (shipping and tax not included).

12 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription

The 12 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription is the largest offering and the best deal for Paper Pumpkin. Again, by buying in bulk you are saving money. In fact, it is like buying 11 and getting the 12th kit free. Just think, a whole year of Paper Pumpkin creativity! And the cost increase goes from the highest amount, $1.50, as seen above to the lowest amount, $1.25, per kit.

SPENDING TIP: When you purchase the 12 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin during Sale-A-Bration, you will earn 4 qualifying products in the $50 Sale-A-Bration category, or 2 qualifying products in the $100 category. You can also mix it up and choose 2 of the $50 and 1 of the $100 category products. What a great time to splurge on Paper Pumpkin!

You also earn Host Rewards when your order total is over $150 before shipping and tax. That means more product for free when you choose the 12 Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscription.

Previous Price: $ 220.00 (shipping and tax not included).

New Price: $235.00 (shipping and tax not included).

Past Paper Pumpkin Kits & Refills

Another benefit that is exclusive to Paper Pumpkin subscribers is the option to purchase past Paper Pumpkin Kits and Refill Kits. This inventory will vary, and when depleted will not be refilled. Just like the Paper Pumpkin Kits themselves, there will be a price increase with the past and refill kits too.

Previous Price: Past Kits, $19.00 (shipping and tax not included).

New Price: Past Kits, $20.50 (shipping and tax not included).

Previous Price: Refill Kits, $10.00 (shipping and tax not included).

New Price: Refill Kits, $11.00 (shipping and tax not included).

Get Your Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Plan Now

Time is really running short on the pending Paper Pumpkin price increases. Remember, all the new prices go into effect on March 1. Make sure you take all the cost calculations into consideration. And factor in Sale-A-Bration freebies, which also end on February 28, to make the most of your purchase.

If you are already on the Month-To-Month Plan and would like to switch to a Prepaid Plan, you will need to purchase your selection before March 1, and redeem before March 10. Click here to order your Paper Pumpkin today! Enjoy your Paper Pumpkin Happy Mail!

Beary Awesome Paper Pumpkin Kit

November 16, 2020

Paper Pumpkin – Paper Crafting Kits in the Mail

When you get the December Paper Pumpkin kit you’ll be set to start the new year with a big, uplifting bear hug! We all know lots of people that could use a bit of cheer, comfort, and love this year – so Paper Pumpkin is making it easy to share a the love with the “Beary Comforting” December Paper Pumpkin kit!

If you haven’t heard already, Paper Pumpkin is a monthly One-Stop Box™ that offers a wide variety of unique papercrafting projects for subscribers of any skill level! These themed, all-inclusive craft kits encourage everyone to explore their creativity, try new techniques, and discover their potential in papercrafting.

VIEW SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS

——————————————————————————————————————–

What’s Inside?

With a monthly Paper Pumpkin craft subscription box, you’ll save time and money . . . and eventually build a collection of versatile Stampin’ Up! crafting supplies. Besides the consumables, each kit comes with an exclusive photopolymer stamp set. You will also receive a Stampin’ Ink Spot (or two!).

Look back on some of my Paper Pumpkin blog posts, starting with Part I of My Paper Pumpkin Addiction for more information.

December Design

Card size: 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 in (10.8 x 14 cm)

December Project Type

Kit contains enough supplies to create 12 cards and coordinating envelopes.

December Coordinating Colors

Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Cinnamon Cider, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Sea Foam, Whisper White

Paper Pumpkin Important Dates

Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin before December 10th. Paper Pumpkin kits start to ship on the 11th of the month. They typically arrive within a week of that date.

Who Needs Instructions?

Your Paper Pumpkin kit will contain step by step instructions with lots of pictures. Videos of assembly can be found on YouTube. Not a fan of following the enclosed directions? Find lots of alternative ideas for creating online, thru Pinterest and FaceBook groups!

Give (or get) the Gift of Paper Pumpkin

When you purchase a subscrption, you will receive a code to redeem the subscription via e-mail. The Paper Pumpkin code does not expire, and can be redeemed by you or your gift recipient at any time.

Maybe you should buy a subscription for yourself… and for your bestie too! There is so much joy in creating together.

My Paper Pumpkin Addiction Part III

March 21, 2020

This is the last installment of my ‘all things Paper Pumpkin’ series. If you have been following along, you know what Paper Pumpkin is and how to coordinate and organize your kit. Today I am tackling the pros and cons of a Paper Pumpkin Subscription, and what’s in it for you.

Paper Pumpkin Subscriptions

There are 2 easy ways to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin:

For $22 a month (plus tax), you can pay as you go. You simply place a credit/debit card on file when you sign up and you will be billed monthly for your kit. As with any subscription option, you can choose to skip a month if desired. And you can easily cancel your membership at any time. This is a great way to try Paper Pumpkin if you are on the fence.

Then there are pre-paid subscriptions. There are 4 options here, with a 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and 12 month choice with unique price points for each. For example, when you purchase the 6 month subscription, you save $1 per month. When you get the 12 month subscription, you actually buy 11 and get one free.

Pre-paid Paper Pumpkin subscriptions make great gifts, for yourself or someone you love. When you purchase the pre-paid option, there is no expiration date for it to be used by. In fact, Stampin’ Up only allows subscribers to have 1 Paper Pumpkin code (per email) on file at a time. This keeps you from getting duplicate kits in the same month.

Paper Pumpkin Grid Paper, #153985, is perfect(-ly cute) to stamp on!

Pros of Paper Pumpkin

Paper Pumpkin is an all inclusive kit, the only thing you need is a clear block to mount your stamp(s) on. It is a no-brainer, easy to assemble whether you are following along with the printed instructions or watching a how-to video. Also great to take on the go!
Paper Pumpkin contains exclusive stamp sets. And the stamp set and included ink spot are still valuable even after the consumable paper products are used up. In fact, you typically end up with extra consumables even after the entire kit is assembled. Refills of kits, when available, are also exclusive to subscribers.
Paper Pumpkin is delivered to your mailbox, you don’t need to add it to your purchase list for errands out and about. If you have a recurring subscription you don’t even have to remember to order it every month. It just shows up and provides you with happy mail! So cool, right?

Cons of Paper Pumpkin

Paper Pumpkin is a surprise. You never know what type of kit you are getting, the color of the ink spot, or the images of the stamp set. It is money spent without exact choice. There are no refunds or exchanges. You need to be able to make lemons out of lemonade, if need be. Thankfully, Pinterest and FaceBook provide lots of change-it-up inspiration.
Paper Pumpkin has some consumable pieces that are manufactured in nature, printed on thinner paper, that pop apart on perforations. If your intention is completely homemade and cardstock thick, you will need to do the work on your own. Granted, for “supermarket shortcut” or “half-homemade”, the images are lovely.
Paper Pumpkin provides you with an ink spot, or jackpot, sometimes two! However, you will end up with lots of duplicates in color. It is hard to get a rainbow assortment, so you may need to supplement your ink supply by other means. Ink spots also dry out quicker than traditional ink pads, so refills will be necessary with time.

What’s In It For You?

By now, you should have a great understanding of Paper Pumpkin, but the best way to make an informed opinion is to subscribe and try it for yourself!

Your happy mail will provide you with an amazing kit full of mystery and possibility. There is help galore on the internet to assemble or create alternatively. Spending time crafting will give you some relaxing alone time, or the opportunity to gather and share the experience with your friends, family or children.

The BEST time to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin is NOW. During Sale-A-Bration, which runs from January to March each year, pre-paid subscriptions earn you free Sale-A-Bration item(s). I encourage subscribers to renew during this event, because free is always a great benefit.

Pre-paid subscriptions may also be added to a party or event, where hosts earn free merchandise any time of the year. Contact me today regarding Paper Pumpkin, or sign up now at https://www.paperpumpkin.com/en-us/sign-up/?demoid=2116612. Let the pumpkin bring some magic into your life!

My Paper Pumpkin Addiction Part II

March 20, 2020

This 3 part series to discuss all things Paper Pumpkin continues with coordination and storage. Now that you know what Paper Pumpkin is, you need to know how to coordinate with it. And more importantly, suggestions on Paper Pumpkin storage options.

Paper Pumpkin Kit February 2020 — The glorious splendor of a Paper Pumpkin kit! PUMPKINHOWTO.com shows video assembly.

Coordinate Paper Pumpkin

Your Paper Pumpkin has arrived! Did you know the instruction sheet has more than instructions on it? Okay, besides the cool ruler at the bottom, the backside lists Stampin’ Up!’s coordinating colors. If you have items with those colors on hand, you can mix them in without fear of your project clashing like mud in March.

There is also a link, stampinup.com/paperpumpkin-coordination, that gives a list of coordinating products. If you have some of those products on hand, or want to purchase those particular products, you can expand your kit. In case you want to change it up a bit…

That’s right, you can follow directions or put your own super creative fun and fancy-free style on your kit. Want to do something different but need kick start ideas? Pinterest and FaceBook have you covered. You can see how to make a project kit into cards, or a card kit into projects. Versatile indeed.

Store Your Stuff!

Paper Pumpkin Storage Boxes — Paper Pumpkin boxes aren’t always orange. Specialty boxes make beautiful storage options.

So you’ve assembled your Paper Pumpkin and have left-over bits and pieces, or need to store your cards until they are sent out in the world to bring happiness to others. The box your kit arrived in is perfect for this! And, as a bonus, you can take that plain orange box and get crafty.

Get Crafty With That Orange Box:

Re-purpose everything from Paper Pumpkin, and save that pretty blue tissue paper as well!

First, inside-out your orange box. Take it apart, flip it around and reassemble. It is really easy, and the orange will be on the inside and the cardboard brown on the outside. Then, decorate with pretty paper.

I used a 12″x12″ sheet of designer series paper, cut a 6″x9″ for the top, 2 @ 1.5″ x 6″ for the short sides and 2 @ 1.5″ x 9″ for the long sides. Tape or glue to adhere. If you want to use more than one pattern, mix it up!

Keep the kids busy and let them decorate boxes too. Instead of pattern paper, you could have them draw, color or stamp on cardstock. If you have magazines or want to print images from the internet, let them cut and paste a collage collection. Put the imagination to use. From my experience, kids have lots of bits and pieces to store too.

Paper Pumpkin Stamp Storage

In part one of this series, I spoke of the exclusive, limited stamp sets that come with Paper Pumpkin (and my FOMO issues). When you receive stamp sets from a Stampin’ Up! order, they arrive in a sturdy plastic case with a lovely insert, neat and tidy, ready to hit your craft room shelf.

When you get your Paper Pumpkin stamp set, it’s a different story altogether. There are lots of thoughts on what to do with those loose, unlabeled photopolymer sets.

Julie’s Paper Pumpkin Stamp Set Storage and Indexing:

My stamp sets are placed in clear envelopes (item # 102619) with a piece of white cardstock that labels the name of the set, the kit # and date. Next, I file them in a photo-keeper style box, under the coordinating year in chronological order. I can easily fit 6 years worth of stamps in one box!

The white cardstock is useful in many ways. It serves as a background so the “see-thru” stamps are easier to view/read. It allows me to quickly and inexpensively catalog each stamp set. Furthermore, an empty envelope lets me know a stamp set is missing and needs to be returned to its proper place.

A box full of stamps is like finding a needle in a haystack….without indexing. Paper Pumpkin Fan Club has files on FaceBook that allow you to print colorful pages of kit contents and stamp images.

Each index page covers the contents of 2 Paper Pumpkin Kits.

This goldmine of info goes into an 8×11″ binder and makes my search for just the right stamp as easy as turning a page. (Highly recommended in case of power or internet outages for those who prefer evernote, excel, etc!)

Excessive Use Of Binders

Confession #598,632. I love using binders.

I keep my Paper Pumpkin assembly instructions in…you guessed it, binders. The early directions fit into a 5×7″ binder, but in June of 2016, the instruction pamphlets grew in size. So to accommodate, I started another binder in 8×11″ variety. Good thing clear hole-punched sleeves come in multi sizes too!

See Spot Run

See Spot Store-age

Ink spots are a beautiful thing to have. With each Paper Pumpkin kit you receive a new ink spot, and sometimes (happy day!) even two. But how do you organize and store those spots to keep them secured safely and at your fingertips when needed?

If you guessed binder….then I am sorry to disappoint. I would if I could, but since that is not possible… moving on.

Ink spots should be stored upside down. Let me repeat…upside down.

The spots are designed very differently from Stampin’ Up!s regular ink pads. In this case, you want the ink to be stored closer to the surface, and upside down storage makes it happen. Spots also have tendency to dry out quicker, so proper storage, mini rubberbands to keep lids tight, and ink refills will combat that issue.

Since the spots are stored upside down, the label isn’t easily viewed. How do you know at a glance what color the spot is? I “label” my spots with a small circle of coordinating paper glued to the base. Don’t have coordinating color cardstock? Use the ink to make your own sample on white paper. The effect is the same.

After years of collecting Paper Pumpkin (I did disclose my addiction via the series title), I have collected lots of ink spots! At one time, Stampin’ Up! even sold ink spots individually, but that may be a different story for a different day. Regardless, I am able to sort my spots into color families, separating them into see-thru containers for ease of grab and go use.

And yes, I do store all of the containers upside down in my cabinet. I often listen to my own advice and words of wisdom. Sometimes learned the hard way, but still…

I hope I have inspired you to think about the benefits of Paper Pumpkin. In case you are still on the fence, catch the third installment of this series, where I will dive into the pros and cons of having a Paper Pumpkin subscription.

In the meantime, if you have Paper Pumpkin guts stacking up all over your craft room, consider some of my organizing tips. Let me know if my methods are helpful, or if you have your own Paper Pumpkin storage system in place, feel free to share your ideas. I am open to suggestions, just let me keep my binders!

My Paper Pumpkin Addiction Part I

March 19, 2020

In this 3 part series, I am talking all things Paper Pumpkin. That’s right, the good, the bad and the ugly. I will be delving into what is is, what is in it for you, the history, coordination and storage for your supplies, and lastly, the pros and cons of a subscription.

Paper Pumpkin Kits — When this orange box arrives in the mail, subscribers do the happy dance!

Monthly Subscription Program

Paper Pumpkin is Stampin’ Up!’s monthly subscription program. As a subscriber, you receive an all inclusive kit delivered straight to your door. Every month, the orange box contains an all new project, pre-cut, pre-designed elements, an exclusive collectible stamp set and a new ink spot.

Marketing for Paper Pumpkin has included catchphrases “creativity in a box“, “so you can skip to the fun“, and “share the fun“. These are all great descriptions, as with each monthly kit, you simply open the box, stamp and assemble. Easy-peasy.

The creative ideas are mapped out for you with pictorial and written directions. The kits are quick to assemble, even for beginners or kids. Advanced crafters will find value in less time spent gathering various supplies to create with and more time simply creating. And there is fun for all in sharing ideas for alternative projects or your finished creations with others.

My granddaughter loves to be creative with Paper Pumpkin.

A Story In The Making

Paper Pumpkin started in March of 2013. The idea was having a fairy godmother (Stampin’ Up!) deliver a pumpkin to your doorstep (the orange box) and giving you the ability to magically create awesome projects from the kit (which is lovingly wrapped in blue tissue paper, Cinderella ballgown color). Up until May 2017, the original logo resembled a pale blue pumpkin carriage (preferred delivery method) with curling vines.

Who doesn’t love a fairy tale?

Paper Pumpkin Kit March 2013 — The first Paper Pumpkin Kit, March 2013

Early kits did not live up to the hype. The stamp offerings (of red rubber cling style) were minuscule. The projects were kind of…blah. People canceled subscriptions. It just wasn’t worth the time or money.

Paper Pumpkin Kit March 2020 — The 85th Paper Pumpkin Kit, March 2020

Fast forward 7 years! Stampin’ Up! listened to their customers, corrected the course and began to deliver real value. Social media sharing alerted the masses that this program was full of not-to-be-missed potential. More and more subscribers signed up, kits began to sell out early.

As of February 2014, stamp sets changed to photopolymer variety. But the greatest addition wasn’t the type of stamp but the amount of stamps given. This benefit became evident between 2015 and 2016. And in March, for Paper Pumpkin’s birthday month, Stampin’ Up! typically gives subscribers bonus gifts in their kits. Instant party!

Collector or Hoarder?

I do love to collect things. Especially susceptible to FOMO, fear of missing out. Here’s the thing with Paper Pumpkin, you get one shot at it. You sign up by the 10th of the month to receive that month’s kit, or you loose out. There is no going back to reorder it once you see how fabulous it is from social media looky-loo-ing.

So, I don’t take chances when it comes to Paper Pumpkin. I keep that subscription current, and let the boxes pile up where they may…which is usually my closet. I also have random stacks in other places, but one mustn’t discuss the size of her crafty stash.

So perhaps a little hoarding does go on in my craft room. But I am okay with that for several reasons.

First, these supplies never expire or go bad. I will always have something to work on in the event of social distancing, so boredom is not an option. I can send cards with happy thoughts to anyone at anytime, providing emotional support. And my FOMO is under control, I am not missing out on collecting those limited, exclusive Paper Pumpkin stamp sets.

In fact, those fabulous stamp sets are safely cataloged….which is something I will discuss further in Part II of my Paper Pumpkin Addiction Series. Make sure you check back for some great tips on organizing your Paper Pumpkin supplies.

And if you need more information on how Paper Pumpkin works or want to subscribe yourself, contact me via email, juliem@themainestamper.com, or go to https://www.paperpumpkin.com/en-us/sign-up/?demoid=2116612. After all, there is solidarity in Paper Pumpkin addiction.