Sometimes one project idea turns into “well now we’re making a floating window scene and a matching gift box too” 😅

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Welcome to this month’s Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop featuring the beautiful Lakeside Retreat 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 April 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.

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🌸 About This Month’s Paper Pumpkin Kit

Keep the creative fun going with the beautiful Lakeside Retreat Paper Pumpkin 💛

Filled with peaceful lakeside scenes, rich outdoor colors, and relaxing nature-inspired details, this kit is perfect for creating thoughtful handmade cards for birthdays, Father’s Day, thank you cards, and the outdoorsy people in your life.

Whether you’re crafting for the fishermen, lake lovers, cabin adventurers, or simply someone who appreciates a quiet scenic moment, these projects come together beautifully with coordinating card bases, printed envelopes, precut pieces, and embellishments already included.

Honestly? The colors alone are enough to make me want to sit lakeside with coffee and cardstock 😏

✂️ Kit Details

• Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs
• Folded card size: 5-1/2” x 4-1/4”
• Includes coordinating printed envelopes
• Precut paper pieces
• Self-adhesive embellishments
• Adhesive included

🎨 Featured Colors

Balmy Blue, Misty Moonlight, Old Olive, Peaceful Pine, Pecan Pie, and Pool Party

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This kit immediately gave me all the peaceful cozy lakeside vibes… and then my brain decided we should absolutely make things more complicated in the best possible way 😏

For today’s projects, I created:
✨ a double flap card featuring a faux glass front using a window sheet for a floating scene effect
✨ and a coordinating small gift box using one of the gorgeous scenic images from the kit

The floating effect on the card gives the whole project a soft layered look that almost feels like peeking through a cabin window at the lake outside — and honestly, I may have become slightly emotionally attached to it by the end 😂

What makes this project even more special is that the card itself is actually headed to my dad for his birthday next week 💛

His favorite place to be is lakeside with a fishing pole nearby, so this kit immediately reminded me of him the moment I opened it.

Between the peaceful scenes, soft outdoor textures, and those beautiful colors… this one felt like the perfect fit.

And honestly? Projects always become a little more meaningful when they’re created with someone specific in mind.

The gift box was one of those “well now this needs a matching project” moments… because apparently I don’t know how to stop at one idea.

And honestly? No regrets.

✂️ Project Details

The card design uses:

• a double flap layout
• window sheet for the faux glass front
• layered scene elements from the kit
• soft dimensional details for depth

The coordinating gift box uses one of the beautiful printed scenic elements from the kit to create a quick but polished finishing touch.

Both projects are easier than they look — even if there were a few moments along the way involving creative side quests and questionable crafting decisions 😅

📄 A full PDF tutorial including measurements, instructions, and product list is available here.

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May Paper Pumpkin – Sparkling Celebrations

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!

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🌺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 these projects inspire you to look at your kits a little differently and maybe try something outside the box… even if it starts as a simple idea and somehow turns into floating windows and matching gift boxes 😏

Thank you so much for hopping along with us this month!

One of the best parts of this hop is seeing how differently everyone uses the same Paper Pumpkin kit.

👇 Click below to visit the next stop on the hop!

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

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🎉 Continue the Hop

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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!

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✂️ Supplies Used

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

Product List