Fall Decorations with Stampin' Up!

	Q&A Q:  I want to make some fall decorations. Do you have any suggestions?  A:  Pumpkins are fantastic for fall décor! Pumpkins can be used through both Halloween and Thanksgiving. I have 3 favorite ways to create pumpkin décor: Washi Tape, Punched Pumpkins, and 3-D Paper Pumpkins. All three ways are mess-free and fun for the whole family. Washi Tape Pumpkins Washi Tape is all the rage in décor and papercrafting. It's fast and something you can even do with kids. Try decorating real fresh pumpkins or decorative pumpkins with the Halloween-themed Witches' Brew Designer Washi Tape (#132156). Create fun and colorful vertical stripes by alternating strips of different Washi Tape patterns. Begin each strip at the stem on top then wrap down the side and end at the bottom. Or create a spiral pattern by wrapping strips of alternating patterns diagonally around the pumpkin. Kids of all ages have fun creating jack-o-lantern faces - make yours from Washi Tape and avoid the mess of carving pumpkins! Punched Pumpkins Punch art is a great way to create fun accents for cards, scrapbooks, and décor. Create paper napkin rings, name tags for the Thanksgiving Table, belly-band type wraps for candles, or tags on yummy fall treats with punch art pumpkins!  Our Small, Large, and Extra-Large Oval Punches are perfect for creating pumpkins.  Punch three ovals of the same size from Pumpkin Pie or Tangerine Tango cardstock. Sponge the edges of the ovals to add depth and dimension. If you want even more pop, try stamping the punched pieces with a graphic patterns like Positively Chevron or using the Big Shot with the Houndstooth or your favorite Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to add texture. To create the punch art pumpkins, adhere two ovals side by side so they overlap slightly. Add the third oval centered over the other ovals. Use a Stampin' Dimensional to create a 3-D effect. Add a little sliver of Chocolate Chip or Soft Suede cardstock behind the top of the pumpkin to create a stem. Group several punch art pumpkins created with different-sized oval punches for larger tags or in a row around a candle. 3-D Paper Pumpkins Create 3-D pumpkins from strips of Witches' Brew (#132185) or Sweater Weather (#132184) Designer Series Papers or cardstock. Cut 8 strips 1" wide and 4" long for small pumpkins or 12 strips 1" wide and 6" long for larger pumpkins. Stack the strips for each pumpkin neatly. Punch 1/8" hole near both ends of each strip. Knot one end of a 12" or 18" ribbon. Thread the unknotted end up through the holes the bottom of each strip. Bend the strips gently to create a "C" shape. Thread the ribbon up from the inside of the "C" shape through the other punched holes. Knot the ribbon above the paper strips at the top of the "C". Fan out the strips to create the pumpkin shape. Create a bunch of pumpkins and use them to create a garland, fill a basket with various colors and patterns, or set at the table with a tag on each with the names of your dinner guests. Easy as Pumpkin Pie! I think you'll have fun creating all three types of fun and easy pumpkin projects. Enjoy ... and as always, if you have questions, contact me!
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