It’s Thursday – Jun 13 – and time for another Happy Inkin’ Thursday Blog Hop. We have a theme challenge today – fruit – and I’ve chosen the Penciled Pear stamp set using watercolor paper, Water Painters and inks. There are many layers of colors here: Crushed Curry, Peach Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green and Old Olive – oh, and Pool Party.

When using watercolors with a stamped image, it’s important to use Stazon ink – and then of course the Stazon Cleaner to clean the stamp. This image is perfect for watercoloring – and if you look at the 2024-2025 Annual Catalog, this stamp set is shown on page 118 and a bit of color inspiration on page 119. I liked the way it was colored but did my own thing as I went along, adding more color as I felt it needed. I began with Crushed Curry , coloring the left side of the pear and a bit on the single leaf as well. Next was Granny Apple Green, still on the left side. The final touch of green was Old Olive a couple of times, allowing it to dry a bit in between adding color and covering less space and lots of depth. This way it gently darkens. There is more Granny Apple Green on the leaf and just a bit of Old Olive near the stem. On the right side of the pear is Crushed Curry then Peach Pie, then Pumpkin Pie, each time lessening the area covered by the new color. I used the widest of the water painters to add just water outside the pear, then brushed on Pool Party, some heavier in places than others. This creates depth and space. I used my heat tool on the back of the watercolor paper to somewhat dry the paper a bit, then put a large acrylic block on the paper to keep it from wrinkling too much – and let it continue to air dry.

The photo below shows my ink pad where I have squeezed the ink pad when it was closed to get ink on the lid, then used the water painter to pick up the ink for coloring. Cool, right?

While this was drying I worked on the inside image following the same process: stamp the Penciled Pear image with Stazon ink onto the watercolor paper; using a water painter, add ink in layers, darkening and lessening the space covered each time.

While this was drying, I cut my card base and extra layers:

• Card base: Basic Beige 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 scored at 4 1/4; 3 5/8 x 4 5/8 (inside layer)
• Watercolor paper 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 (front); 1 5/8 x 3 5/8 (inside)
• Peach Pie 3 5/8 x 4 5/8 (front); 1 3/4 x 3 5/8 (inside)
• Basic White 3 1/2 x 4 5/8 (inside)
• Basic Black for the sentiment – size depends on the sentiment!

Sentiment… I used a sentiment from the Penciled Pear stamp set, cleaned it of any oils with my embossing buddy, then with VersaMark ink, stamped the sentiment. I sprinkled it with White Embossing Powder and heat set it with my heat tool and set it aside to assemble the card layers: Peach Pie with the single Penciled Pear water colored image adhered together, dimensionals added to the back of the Peach Pie and adhered to the Basic Beige card front. I then added the sentiment with dimensionals. I played with adding embellishments, but they were all too much. – for me.

Inside… layer together the Basic Beige panel and the Basic White and add to the inside of the card. Attach the smaller piece of watercolor paper to Peach Pie and adhere to the inside of the card. FINIS!

For the envelope front… stamp the image of four pears from the Penciled Pear stamp set, this time in Memento ink and color with Stampin’ Blends: Crushed Curry, Peach Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green and Old Olive – in the same fashion as with the water painters. Just remember to place a scrap of card stock in the envelope so the blends do not bleed through to the back of the envelope!

Now … hop on around to see what the others on the team created with this theme challenge. Click on the ‘next’ button or click on a name. Happy hopping!

Amy Koenders

Mary Deatherage

Karen Finkle

Akiko Sudano

Karen Ksenzakovic

Tara Carpenter

Terry Lynn Bright

Carol Buckalew

Nel Thames

Today is June 13, and the incredible stamp and die bundle sale with Stampin’ Up! is going on until June 30. ASlso remember the die cut & embossing machines are 10% off as well, which I haven’t seen before!

here’s a link to take you directly to the items available in this catalog –

and to shop with me.

STAMPIN’ UP! STAMP & DIE BUNDLE 10% OFF SALE!!

Sales Period: 5–30 June 2024
Ordering Deadlines
Phone: 28 June 2024 at 6:59 p.m. (MT)  
Online: 30 June 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (MT)

Get an additional 10% discount on stamp and die bundles only (that’s a total of 20% discount on stamp and die bundles!). This excludes suite collections, stamp and punch bundles, bundles not yet released to customers, and any other bundles*.

Save 10% on Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine and Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (white and Boho Blue). 

The 10% discount applies automatically to stamp and die bundles in all orders… including Starter Kit orders.

See and shop all qualifying bundles in the online store.

Please note Close to My Heart products are not included in this promotion.

Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators get the SAME discounts and sales that CUSTOMERS do – on TOP OF their demonstrator discount

Keeping that information in the forefront of your mind,

NOW is a perfect time to JOIN THE TEAM!

Join with me by following this link...

To view all the available ONLINE EXCLUSIVES, click here.

Clearance items may be found here

While you’re looking around in my store, remember there are some stunning kits available, for all ages and all seasons – even Christmas! And while you’re shopping, I offer fringe benefits to my customers: free tutorial of the month and a FREE Stampin’ Up! item valued to $10 – all for a $50 order, before shipping and taxes. Use my current host code to receive those benefits – especially when your order does not exceed $150. Make certain my name is listed as your demonstrator when checking out! :O)

HOST CODE  BAQG9RSE

Thanks for stopping by. May you have a beautiful day. Make someone happy when sending them a handmade card filled with love.