Although I used to canoe in my younger days, I don’t think that I’ve ever kayaked. They do look like lots of fun though and I really like that this kayaker could be either a male or female so that the card is gender neutral. I also added the lily pads because I remember loving canoeing amongst the lilies.

I wanted to make a simple one layer card, but I also wanted to color the kayak with Stampin’ Blend Markers. The Stampin’ Blend Markers do bleed through the paper and I don’t like the look of the bleed through, so I stamped the kayak onto a separate piece of basic white, colored it and then fussy cut it and adhered to the card front. It does give a bit of dimension to the kayak as well.

Stampin’ Blend Colors:

• Tahitian Tide Light and Dark – Kayak
• Gray Granite Light – Rubber
• Poppy Parade Dark – Paddle
• Crumb Cake Light and Dark – Hat
• So Saffron Dark – Paddle Handle
• Natural Tones Medium Light Dark
• Misty Moonlight Light

To add a little sparkle to the card, I added a 1/4″ strip of Brushstroke Specialty Paper on the front and a 1/2″ strip on the inside. It doesn’t show well on the photo but the strip is shimmery with lots of texture.

The inside greeting comes from the Very Best Occasions stamp set found in the July to December Mini Catalog. It has several Christmas themed greetings as well as some all occasion ones.

Do you have a huge wish list of fun stamps that you like? Or are just starting out stamping and need all of the tools? Did you know that most Stampin’ Up! demonstrators are “Hobby Demonstrators”? As a demonstrator you get a minimum discount of 20%, early access to products, special demonstrator only events and access to the demonstrator website. To continue being a demonstrator you need to spend/sell $300 a quarter, that’s only $100 a month. To become a demonstrator simply purchase a Starter Kit and read and sign the Independent Demonstrator Agreement. The Starter Kit is always a great deal, but right now it’s even sweeter! For only $99 you get to choose $155 of product (that’s $30 more than usual!) plus, free shipping, plus a Paper Pumpkin Kit, plus business supplies.

Of course, if you want to work hard, do workshops, hold classes etc. you can turn your demonstratorship into a business. For myself, it’s become a way of life. I love stamping, love the friends that I’ve met stamping and enjoy sharing what I love. If I had to survive financially, on what I make stamping, I would be very, very hungry, lol, but my soul is filled.

Product List – The punch from the Very Best Occasions Bundle was NOT used on this card, but I did include a link to the Bundle as well as the stamp set in case you wanted to save 10% and get both.

Adventurous Journey Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [159103] $17.00	Very Best Occasions Cling Stamp Set (English) [159871] $25.00	Very Best Occasions Bundle (English) [159879] $41.25
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Tahitian Tide Classic Stampin’ Pad [159210] $8.00	Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Pad [147095] $8.00
Basic White 8 1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock [159229] $8.75	Basic White 8 1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [159276] $10.25	Brushstroke 12” X 12” (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper [159250] $5.00
Paper Snips [103579] $11.00	Tahitian Tide Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [159221] $9.00	Gray Granite Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154886] $9.00
Stampin’ Blends Medium Light Combo Pack [159463] $9.00	Poppy Parade Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154958] $9.00	So Saffron Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154905] $9.00
Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154882] $9.00	Misty Moonlight Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [153108] $9.00

There’s still time to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin and get your start on Christmas!