Beyond the Kit: A Magical Sparkling Celebrations Alternative

One of my favorite things about Paper Pumpkin kits is discovering just how far beyond the original instructions they can go.

Today’s project is proof that with a little creativity (and maybe a slightly messy craft desk), one simple kit can become something completely unexpected!

🌿Welcome to the Creative Hub

Here’s what you’ll find below (besides a little creative chaos):

This is a place where cozy creativity meets the moments that matter most – with a little bit of shenanigans sprinkled around.

Links to explore more projects in the blog hop

A closer look at both fun fold card designs

A fresh take on this month Paper Pumpkin kit

Inspiration for thinking outside the kit instructions

Printable templates to make yourself

Printable PDF instructions

Welcome to this month’s A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop, where we’re sharing alternative ideas using the beautiful Sparkling Celebrations kit.

If you’re new to the hop, APPT is all about taking our monthly Paper Pumpkin kits and creating something outside the box — literally! Instead of just assembling the kit as designed, we stretch our creativity and see what else we can make using the kit supplies.

Each project in this hop features the May kit with coordinating Stampin’ Up! products. I am Mikki Winebrenner from Iowa, and you have landed here on the PaperTales Creative Hub. Scroll down to the bottom for the full list of participating blogs and you can explore all the creative alternatives.

I’ll admit it… I rarely follow the directions exactly. 😂

As soon as I saw the lanterns in the Sparkling Celebrations kit, my mind immediately wandered to Disney’s Tangled.

When my daughter was little, she watched that movie so many times that I’m pretty sure I could recite the entire thing from memory. (And yes… I may have developed a tiny obsession with Pascal along the way. 🦎💚)

One of her favorite scenes was when the floating lanterns filled the night sky. She would sit there completely mesmerized, calling them “fire paper” floating through the air, and seeing these lanterns instantly brought back those sweet memories.

That’s exactly what inspired today’s project. I wanted to capture that same magical feeling by creating a dimensional window card where the lanterns appear to float against the evening sky.

Sometimes a crafting project becomes more than paper and ink—it becomes a little reminder of moments that make you smile.

🌸 About This Month’s Paper Pumpkin Kit Refill

The Sparkling Celebrations Paper Pumpkin Refill lets you create even more of the beautiful lantern-inspired cards from the original kit! Perfect if you loved the designs and want extras for celebrations, invitations, or simply to keep on hand for future crafting.

Inside the refill you’ll find supplies to create 9 additional cards (3 each of 3 unique designs), including:

🎉 9 pre-printed card bases
💌 9 coordinating printed envelopes
✂️ Precut die-cut pieces for easy assembly
💎 Sparkling silver gem embellishments
✨ Silver foil accents for added shine
🖇️ Adhesive to put everything together

The coordinating color palette features Black, Blackberry Bliss, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Hydrangea Hue, Melon Mambo, Misty Moonlight, Night of Navy, and Pumpkin Pie, creating the perfect backdrop for magical summer evening scenes.

The refill is designed to pair with the original Sparkling Celebrations Paper Pumpkin stamp set and ink spot, making it a wonderful way to extend the life of your kit and continue creating long after you’ve finished your first set of projects.

Please note: The refill is available exclusively to current Paper Pumpkin subscribers

For this alternative project, I created a layered window card featuring floating lanterns suspended behind the opening to add extra depth and dimension.

The result is a magical scene that feels almost like you’re looking out into a glowing summer night.

The best part? It still uses many of the beautiful elements included in the original Sparkling Celebrations kit while stretching those supplies into something uniquely your own.

I’ve also included a FREE downloadable PDF tutorial (coming soon) below complete with measurements and step-by-step instructions so you can recreate this project yourself.

✂️ Project Details

The card design uses:

Pop up window card front
Pop up lanterns
layered scene elements from the kit
soft dimensional details for depth.

There were a few moments along the way involving creative side quests and questionable crafting decisions 😅 but in the end the results are beautiful.

📄 A full PDF tutorial including measurements, instructions are available here. Scroll down for the full product list below.

Floating Lantern Card

June Paper Pumpkin – Bikes In Bloom

Paper Pumpkin is a monthly subscription kit that delivers exclusive stamps, supplies, and project ideas right to your door.

If you love surprise creativity in the mail each month, it’s a fantastic way to craft!

🏮Keep hopping to see more inspiration from the group

Let me know — are you a “follow the instructions” crafter or a “let’s just try it” crafter? 😏

🫶🏻That’s where the best crafty shenanigans usually begin ✂️💛

I hope this project inspires you to look at your Paper Pumpkin kits a little differently and reminds you that sometimes the best creations happen when you step beyond the instructions.

Be sure to scroll down for the complete supply list, and your free downloadable PDF tutorial.

One of the best parts of this hop is seeing how differently everyone uses the same Paper Pumpkin kit. Continue along the hop to see even more amazing inspiration from this talented group of designers!

Until next time… keep creating, keep smiling, and never be afraid of a little creative chaos.

🎉 Continue the Hop

Free Creative Download PDF Tutorial

I’ve got a complete written tutorial with measurements and step-by-step instructions coming soon so you can make your own projects with ease! The PDF includes both projects and templates. Happy Stamping!

✂️ Supplies Used

Here are the supplies that helped turn a little creative chaos into these finished projects.

Product List

Add All to Cart