Sunday, March 12, 2017

Penny Black Perfect Pear Stamp - My Story

It's no secret that I love everything about pears.  I particularly like the green, crisp, not ripe ones.  They have a unique taste, and the texture is different and appealing.  Aside from their taste, I think pears are the perfect fruit for drawing, painting, and, of course, stamping.  It is interesting, with it's shape and color variances.  It lends itself to creative interpretation.

When I had my stamp shop, The Stamp Pad, I taught many classes.  The most requested was always my 'pear class.'  We also had monthly demo days, and my trusty pear stamps were almost always used as subjects on my demo cards and techniques.  My groupies, uh, I mean customers, looked forward to what 'Lynda was going to do with her pears this time.'  But I digress.  Onto today's card......
 This stamp was a must-have for me when Penny Black first introduced it, and I hurried to add it to my collection.  However, I put off using it, as so many of the 'master stampers' had created such exquisite art with it.  I felt intimidated.  So, there it sat, lonely, and wanting to come out and play.  Finally, I brought it out and let it sit on my desk for several days.  Then, on a whim, I decided to take the plunge.  I wish I could say that a masterpiece developed from that plunge, but, alas, I tried and tried, and every piece found its way quickly into the circular file.  

Not to be outdone, however, I decided to take a different approach.  In the past, I had tried inking it with mini stamp pads in various colors, with markers, adding color where I thought it should go.  Yeach!  It was so difficult to see where the areas were on the rubber stamp surface, and I just could not get the colors where I wanted them.  So, lightbulb moment, I thought, why not ink the entire stamp with one color?  Genius, huh?  I know, you're thinking 'duh!'  Hey, it takes longer for some of us, be kind.

So, with the help of my trusted Misti, I inked up the stamp with Tim Holtz distress ink in scattered straw, then stamped it off on scrap paper, then onto a panel of Strathmore vellum bristol paper.  Aha!  There it was....the pear in all it's lovely perfection, all of the details finely printed out before my eyes.  I proceeded to add colors with my distress markers and inks, and a watercolor brush, layering and blending as I went along. 

The background:  I sponged distress colors onto the panel , the stamped background stamps...script, swirls, etc, here and there for interest.  To finish it off I stamped the verse, then added pieces of the die, which I had sponged with color first; and finally some green crystals.   Not perfection, but I'm sure that with practice, I will be able to conquer 'the pear' once again.  

Stamps:  All Penny Black:  40-493 Perfect Pear, 30-338 Special Thoughts, and various PB background stamps. 
Other:  Tim Holtz distress inks, Penny Black Creative Die 52-035 dots & swirls (I love, love, love this die); crystals from my stash.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Penny Black At Allsorts - Anything goes

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Bright and cheery colors

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Tutti Frutti

Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Song inspiration (Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears by The Monkees

Addicted To Stamps - Make your mark

The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

That's it for now.  Perhaps I will be back later...I need to catch up with my posts for the 30 day color challenge!  Thanks for visiting....I do appreciate your comments.    

Blessings,

lynda

 

11 comments:

  1. Oh My Goodness!! What a beautiful card you have created. I enjoyed reading your post today, and fully understand what you meant about being intimidated by the work of the "master stampers". I have never heard anyone nail that feeling so perfectly! Thank you for sharing your process, and good luck in the challenges you have entered.

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  2. That ripe looking pear would brighten any day for me. Great job on the pear and the background is amazing and goes so well with the design. Lovely story too.Thanks for joining my challenge the week at the Mod Squad. Good luck!
    Barbara DT member

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  3. Another super creation Lynda, you have achieved such depth of colour on this one with clever stamping and inking, many thanks for joining us again at Penny Black and More challenge.

    B x

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  4. I don't have this pear but I remember doing all kinds of things with the Stamp In the Hand company pear stamps! :D Gorgeous creating Lynda!

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  5. This is perfection. Your pear looks so real and it;s stunning! And you nailed our theme! Thanks so much joining us at CCCB!

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  6. It's so beautiful!! This is a real piece of art! Thanks so much for playing along at CCCB!!

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  7. I think this is gorgeous! Love reading your blog too...I think I may be your newest follower...
    Thank you for sharing with Addicted to Stamps and More!
    Susan
    Addicted to Stamps and More
    Calling All Crafters! – My personal Blog!

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  8. Your efforts were well worth it! You ended up with a very artistic & beautiful card! Glad you joined us at PBSC!

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  9. Fabulous and pretty card. Beautiful colouring.
    Thank you for sharing at Penny Black and more;-))m

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  10. a fabulous card featuring the beautifully coloured pear! i love the dimension and the background stamping. thank you so much for playing along with us at penny black and more!
    linda

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  11. This is beautiful! Love the vintage look on it. Thanks for playing along with Addicted To Stamps and More!

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Comments are welcomed and appreciated!