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I’m very excited to announce that I have created the cutting files to go along with my Perfect Pumpkin Template Set! Finally, right?

You can now purchase the Perfect Pumpkin Template Set in all of the typical template files (psd, png, pdf) and new cutting files (svg, jpg, ai, dxf). You have the option of purchasing the entire set, or JUST the cutting files.

I had a lot of fun putting together a new sample with this template. You might remember that the last time I played with it, I created an adorable apple. Still love that apple!

This time, I decided to create an actual pumpkin! Shocking, I know!

I thought I would share some little tips with you as you create your pumpkin.

Tip #1 - Use your fingernail to curl the edges of the pumpkin to make it a little rounder. I just ran my thumbnail down the middle of each section until it curled a little bit.

Tip #2 - I applied a tiny bit of dry adhesive (Tombow Mono Adhesive - a tape runner) to each tab. Next, I dabbed a bit of wet adhesive (which gives a more permanent bond to the same tabs. So, the dry adhesive is to hold it temporarily, and the wet adhesive is to hold it permanently. I do this with a lot of my projects, actually. My favorite wet adhesives are Beacon’s Zip Dry and Beacon’s 3-In-1. Actually, with the 3-in-1, I can just apply the adhesive, let it set for a minute or so, then assemble the project and it will hold. I can skip the dry adhesive step! LOVE this stuff.

Tip #3 - I made a cute little loop of ribbon to act as the stem, and ran it through a matching button. To do this, I cut the edge of the ribbon at a steep angle. I poked the ribbon from the bottom to the top, and then looped it and pushed it back through to the bottom.

Tip #4 - I tried to slip the ribbon through the notch in the lid, but it made the “stem” off-center, so I used my eyelet setter to poke a hole in the middle of the lid.

Tip #5 - I could now slide the ribbon through the slot and position it in the center of the lid. I didn’t bother tying a knot. I just used my 3-in-1 glue to adhere the ribbon to the inside.

Tip #6 - You may notice that right near the slit, the tab is a bit different and there is a notch. When creating the apple, I poked the middle of the lid down and then closed the slot entirely by adhering the top tab to the inside (which pulls the lid a little tight), while leaving the bottom tab a bit loose (not pulled tight into place). With the pumpkin, though, I did just the opposite. I left the top tab a little loose (so, yes, you can see the notch) and tightened up the bottom tab so that it matches up perfectly with the opposite edge. You can play with these tabs and adjust them to fit your project.

For my pumpkin, I covered the notch with a couple of leaves that I cut from my Autumn Leaves Template Set and Cutting Files, sized way down to fit my project. I am SO excited about these leaves! Talk about a versatile product! They would round out your Paper Flower perfectly, by the way!

Tip #7 - I used my scoring tool to add veins to my leaves, then I scrunched them a little and bent them.

I dressed up my pumpkin with some bling by Prima and filled it with candy corn (which were totally gone right after the photo shoot)! Notice the ribbon that I added along the inside edge, too. This will make the pumpkin a little more stable, and it adds a nice touch!

Many people write to me and ask about the size of the pumpkin. Well, if you purchased the entire set, the smallest version is the one that is shown. The smallest version will fit the lid and the bottom on a single 8.5in x 11in piece of paper, and it will end up being about the size of a medium apple. Will it fit a cupcake? That depends on how much frosting you use, but I’d say it will. Just make a test pumpkin (or apple, or ball, or acorn, or any spherical item!) and then try it! The full template set includes a medium and large version, too, plus all the files can be resized. Just remember to resize the lid and bottom at the SAME time so that you don’t end up with a lid that is too big or vice versa.

The cutting files can obviously be resized according to your digital cutter. I separated the lid and the bottom (so you could create a ginormous pumpkin out of a 12×12 paper, if you want to), but I also included the smaller version all in a single file just to make it easy on you. That is the file I used when I cut my pumpkin out of some printed digital paper from Sugarplum Paperie’s Enchanted Evening kit. I recolored the paper just slightly to make it a little more orange (in Photoshop Hue/Saturation) and I printed it out on Red River linen paper (gorgeous texture!!). Sugarplum Paperie is selling just the papers, if you are interested! You don’t even need Photoshop to be able to print digital paper. Just open the digital paper jpg file (which is the same as a photo file) and print. Same with my templates. Just open the pdf lines only version and print it on the back of your paper! Easy-peasy, people!

Love this pumpkin!!

Isn’t it adorable??

Don’t forget to check out my other new release, Masquerade. Oh, the possibilities with that one!