Hey y’all! Welcome to another Inkin’ Crew Blog Hop! This month, our theme is Giving Thanks, and what a wonderful reminder to slow down and appreciate the people and little moments that make life special. Whether it’s sending a simple thank-you, writing a thoughtful note to a friend, or preserving a favorite memory, paper crafting gives us so many beautiful ways to express our gratitude.

For today’s hop, I’m sharing projects made with the Aspens of Gratitude Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin’ Up! I’ve created the original kit cards, a few alternative card designs, and even a couple of scrapbook pages to show just how versatile this gorgeous autumn kit can be!

Aspens of Gratitude—The Kit Cards

Let’s start with the cards just as Stampin’ Up! designed them! The Aspens of Gratitude Paper Pumpkin Kit features beautiful watercolor aspen trees, warm autumn colors, and coordinating embellishments that capture the beauty of the season. The kit makes 10 cards—five each of two designs—and includes coordinating printed envelopes that are every bit as pretty as the cards themselves!

I love the soft watercolor look of the aspens and the rich fall colors. These cards are perfect for sending a little gratitude, encouragement, or a thoughtful hello to someone special.

Two handcrafted greeting cards featuring autumn designs with orange and yellow leaves, birch trees, and evergreen trees; one card says 'thank you so much' and the other says 'I'm here for you.' An envelope with a similar autumn design is also present, alongside decorative elements like a vase and pumpkins.

Want to see how quickly these beautiful cards come together? Head over to the Christie Crafts YouTube Channel for this week’s video tutorial! I’ll walk you through assembling the Aspens of Gratitude cards step by step so you can see all the lovely details up close. Whether you have the kit, are considering the refill, or just enjoy a little crafting inspiration, be sure to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin today!

Missed this Kit? There’s Still an Option!

Art supplies featuring various styled envelopes, white cards with watercolor tree designs, and decorative labels, all arranged on a beige background.

The subscription window for this kit has passed, but here’s some good news! The Aspens of Gratitude Paper Pumpkin Refill (168636) is available while supplies last.

The refill includes enough materials to make 10 cards (five each of two designs), including the beautiful printed card bases, coordinating envelopes, precut pieces, self-adhesive gems, and adhesive.

One important detail: You must be a current Paper Pumpkin subscriber to purchase the refill. The refill does not include the original kit’s stamp set or ink spot, so you’ll need to use supplies you already have for your sentiments and stamping.

If you loved the look of this kit, the refill is a wonderful way to enjoy those beautiful autumn designs!

And while you’re thinking about Paper Pumpkin, be sure to subscribe so you’re in line for the Tags of Joy Kit! This festive kit creates 12 beautiful gift tags, perfect for adding a handmade touch to your holiday packages. The subscription window is October 11–November 10, so don’t miss your chance to get in on the holiday crafting fun!

Red gift box with white polka dots and a striped ribbon, featuring gift tags and crafting supplies, advertised with the title 'Tags of Joy'.

A Little Creative Twist—Alternative Cards

Now, you know I can’t resist taking a kit and seeing what else I can create with it! While the original cards are beautiful, it’s fun to take those supplies in a completely different direction. For these alternative cards, I used elements from the Aspens of Gratitude Kit and gave them a fresh look. The beautiful watercolor designs and autumn colors make a wonderful starting point, and with a little imagination and a few supplies from my craft stash, there are so many possibilities!

That’s one of my favorite things about Paper Pumpkin. You can follow the instructions and create the projects exactly as designed, or you can put your own creative spin on them!

A fall-themed greeting card featuring vibrant autumn trees with orange leaves and a blue sky. The card includes a sentiment that says 'beyond grateful' along with small decorative elements. The background has a rustic brown border, and the card is set against a warm, autumnal backdrop with decorative pumpkins and foliage. — For my first alternative card, I took inspiration from the gorgeous work of Stampin’ Up! Artisan Michelle Pepper. Using a ***Water Painter*** and ink, I extended the watercolor scene beyond the original image, blending colors into the sky and ground for a seamless look. I finished it off with a sweet little bird from the ***Woodland Wishes Stamp Set*** and the “Beyond Grateful” sentiment from the Aspens of Gratitude Kit.

A handcrafted greeting card featuring a circular illustration of trees with autumn leaves in shades of yellow and orange. The card has decorative elements, including embossed texture, colorful leaves, and a sentiment that reads 'you are in my thoughts.' Background features plaid patterns and an arrangement of autumn-themed decor. — For this card, I die cut the beautiful watercolor aspen scene from one of the kit envelopes and made it the focal point. I layered it over a white embossed panel and fall plaid DSP, then framed it with stamped and die-cut leaves for a little extra autumn color and dimension.

A handmade greeting card featuring artistic leaf designs in autumn colors, with the message 'you are in my thoughts' printed in the center, set against a softly shaded background, surrounded by decorative autumn foliage. — Inspired by Jacque Williams, I kept this card simple, using the three-leaf stamp to create a pretty autumn background for the “You Are in My Thoughts” sentiment. A little ink splatter and a few embellishments were all it needed to finish it off!

A birthday card featuring a scenic watercolor design with tall evergreens, autumn-colored trees, and birds in flight. The message 'Happy Birthday' is prominently displayed on a layered brown and white banner. — The beautiful woodland images in this kit are perfect for masculine cards, too! For this birthday card, I layered the kit images and added a few stamped leaves to the background and finished it off with a simple birthday sentiment.

Beyond Cards—Let’s Make Some Scrapbook Pages!

Who says Paper Pumpkin is just for cards? Certainly not me! The beautiful aspen imagery and warm autumn colors inspired me to take this kit one step further and create a couple of scrapbook pages. I love finding ways to stretch my paper crafting supplies, and the elements in this kit work beautifully for preserving fall memories.

Whether you’re documenting a family gathering, a beautiful autumn afternoon, or simply a moment you’re thankful for, these designs make a lovely backdrop for your favorite photos.

A decorative scrapbook page featuring autumn-themed elements including colorful leaves, trees, and floral patterns, with a blank space for photos or text.

A handmade autumn-themed card featuring fall leaves, floral patterns, and the phrase 'beyond grateful' in decorative typography.

The Glow of Harvest Specialty DSP makes the perfect background for this fall scrapbook page! I paired it with the beautiful aspen images from the Aspens of Gratitude Kit, then added layers of autumn leaves and the “Beyond Grateful” sentiment to bring it all together.

A decorative scrapbook layout featuring two empty photo spaces on a textured green background, adorned with autumn-themed elements like orange and yellow leaves, and a forest scene with colorful trees.

Autumn-themed card layout featuring colorful trees with orange and yellow leaves, set against a textured green background. Two blank spaces for photos or messages are present at the top.

For this scrapbook page, I used a rich, textured green background to make the colorful aspens really stand out. I fussy cut the beautiful trees from the kit materials and layered them along the bottom to create a woodland scene, then added a few autumn leaves and the “Beyond Grateful” sentiment to finish it off.

Keep Hopping for More Giving Thanks Inspiration!

Thank you so much for stopping by Christie Crafts today! I hope these projects have inspired you to look at your crafting supplies in a new way and maybe even create something special for someone you’re thankful for. If you have any questions about the products or techniques I used, feel free to email me at christie.king@gmail.com or leave a comment below. For more card ideas, step-by-step tutorials, creative inspiration, and the latest Stampin’ Up! news, be sure to subscribe to my blog and the Christie Crafts Weekly Newsletter at ChristieCrafts.com.

But don’t leave just yet! This is a blog hop, and there are more wonderful Giving Thanks projects waiting for you! Be sure to follow along to the next stop on the Inkin’ Crew Blog Hop for even more creative inspiration!

A graphic featuring the text 'NEXT blog' in pink and black on a gradient aqua background.

This month’s talented contributors:

A woman with glasses smiling at the camera sitting at a crafting table with various craft supplies, promoting a special join offer for a crafting team. The text highlights products, rewards, and benefits of joining.

More to Love About Joining in October!

If you love paper crafting, October is the perfect time to get more for your crafting dollars! For just $99, you can join Stampin’ Up! and receive $175 in shopping power—$125 in products of your choice PLUS $50 in Stampin’ Rewards! And the savings don’t stop there! You’ll enjoy a 15–20% discount on future purchases, early access to new products, and more. Best of all, there’s no obligation to sell—you can join just for the perks! This special offer is available October 6–31, and anyone joining my team during October will also receive a special welcome gift from me! ❤

JOIN US!

We welcome all types of Demonstrators from those who join just for the discount for themselves to those who want to run a business! We’re a relaxed group that loves to create, with no pressure to sell!

There is absolutely never any obligation or penalty if you decide being a Demonstrator isn’t for you. So why not give it a try? We have fun Facebook groups where we chat, share creative ideas, and support one another. Plus, we host virtual gatherings, training sessions, and even offer occasional giveaways just for our team. It’s a welcoming space full of inspiration and encouragement!

Email me christie.king@gmail.com if you have any questions. You can also see more information about the benefits of becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator HERE.

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Category: Autumn/Fall, Blog Hop, Crafting, Greeting Cards, Kits, scrapbooking, Stampin Up, Video Tutorial

5 thoughts on “Aspens of Gratitude Paper Pumpkin: Cards & Scrapbook Pages”

Pingback: Stampin’ Up! Thanks & Giving Happy Thanksgiving Card for the Inkin’ Krew Blog Hop – Stamp With Amy K
Tara Carpenter says:

October 13, 2026 at 7:51 am

Lovely projects! TFS

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Charlene @ All Kinds of Crafty says:

October 13, 2026 at 7:56 am

I love your alternative cards and scrapbook pages. What a great way to use that kit!

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Karen Ksenzakovic says:

October 13, 2026 at 8:01 am

Your cards are absolutely stunning Christie 🙂 And those scrapbook pages are just as beautiful. Love that DSP!!

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stampwithamyk says:

October 13, 2026 at 8:19 am

Amazing projects Christie!! The fall images are perfect for your cards and pages. Love them all! 🙂

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