Paper Pumpkin DIY Craft Box Review – March 2018

Paper Pumpkin is a monthly paper crafting subscription box from Stampin’ Up! They send everything you need for a creative paper project right to your door.

This month’s theme is “May Good Things Grow.”

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

About Paper Pumpkin

The Subscription Box: Paper Pumpkin

The Cost: $19.95 per month + free shipping in the USA, $26.95 + free shipping in Canada

The Products: Everything you need to design a creative paper project with stamps, ink, accessories and more. (Please note per their FAQ you will need adhesive for some monthly projects.)

Ships to: The United States & Canada

Paper Pumpkin March 2018 Review

The instruction leaflet is not as informative as the how-to-video on YouTube, which I prefer to watch before starting the project. I use the instruction leaflet as a guide when I get stuck on a step.

Enclosed is a “thank you” gift in honor of their 5^th anniversary. Paper Pumpkin sent a set of wood embellishments that I can use for future crafting. They encourage me to check out their social media pages for ideas on how to use the “thank you” gift. Their Pinterest Board has ideas on how to use the wood embellishments.

Enclosed in each monthly kit are a water-based dye ink stamp pad in the color early espresso and a photopolymer stamp set. The photopolymer stamp set has “Happy Birthday, Happy Mother’s Day, hello, May Good Things grow All year long, What a Beautiful friendship we've grown and floral designs.”

Here I stamped the corners of the card piece that I will adhere to the card base.

Here I added ribbon and stamped the sentiment sheet onto the card base. I love the etching along the sentiment sheet. The adhesive is a pain to use; they are difficult to peel off the sheet and adhere to the medium I’m using. They should include glue dots, which is better. I may pick up some at Micheal’s my local craft store. Also, on the photo in the instruction booklet, the ribbon appeared to be thicker like two ribbons were cut and placed together.

Here is the finished look of the card piece that I will adhere to the card base. The pearls were tricky to apply to the card piece, but I made it work.

Here I stuck two cardstock sticker strips towards the bottom of the card piece. The cardstock sticker pieces were longer than the card base so, it’s recommended to cut off excess, or you could wrap around the card piece. I don’t understand why the cardstock sticker strips were not cut to size to fit the card piece, that would have been better, and no excess. The contrast of colors against the brown rose design has a calming effect and reminds me of a garden.

Here’s the finished look of the second card with the leaves and stamped sentiment on top of the cardstock stickers. There are two holes at the end of the sentiment that requires linen thread to the other hole to make a bow. I have mentioned how I disliked using thread/twine and was not interested in using, plus after looking at the instruction and the design of the card, I felt it wasn’t needed.

Here I used the extra pearls and adhered them to the holes; I think this adds a lovely touch.

Here I’m adding the stamped sentiment to the front of the envelope, and I applied the floral die cut to the front of the envelope.

Here I’m attaching the brass brads on the back of the envelope as a closure.

Here’s a close-up of the closure on the back of the envelopes.

The finished look of the envelopes.

The finished look of the cards.

Verdict: This month’s Paper Pumpkin seemed more time consuming than other monthly projects, but the finished look turned out great! This craft kit sends quality paper products and all the materials to make a variety of cards well worth the $19.95 a month subscription cost. They have sentiments for each season and a variety of cards for the occasion. I would like to see a wider range of stamped sentiments that can be used beyond the season and to have a photopolymer set just for “thank you’s” and “birthdays” that I can use. Plus, after reviewing Paper Pumpkin for over year, each month the projects blur together, and I would like to see something different, not sure what it would consist of but a varied technique or something other than cards.

The Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if I sign-up today? No, you will receive the April box. Sign up by the 10^th of the month to receive that month’s kit.

Check out all of our Paper Pumpkin reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wish list!

What do you think of this month’s Paper Pumpkin box? Have you tried a monthly crafting kit before?