Saturday, July 11, 2026

Watercoloring Images

 Hey Everybody,

    Lisa's challenge was to make a card using a wild animal.

 You can check out her challenge here.

 I recently got this set because my brother calls on my birthday and sings these words and HEY, then hangs up! LOL  This set is from Stampin' Up!-called Birthday Song.

I stamped with Stazon black ink then colored with Stampin' Up! and Derwent watercolor pencils. I used a blender pencil to blend the colors on the flamingos. 

I added the image panel to black glimmer paper then to the flamingo paper. The flamingo paper was given to me. I wish I knew where it came from. I'll have to look online and see if I can locate anything similar. 

Most of what I found online is gorgeous paper that I wouldn't want to cover up with other images.

This will go to my brother for his birthday.    

Keywords: CAS903
Stamps: Stampin' Up!-Birthday Song
Paper: white, black glimmer, flamingo
Paper Size: A2
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: Watercolor pencils, blender pencil
Techniques: coloring
161700
Stampin' UP! WATERCOLOR PENCILS ASSORTMENT 1
$18.00
Product detail
High-quality, smooth color pencils in Stampin’ Up! colors. Perfect for watercoloring stamped images. Use with Water Painters, Blender Pens, or alone.

* 13 pencils
* 6-7/8" x 1/4" (17.5 x 0.6 cm) each
* Acid free

Colors: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Basic White, blue, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Fresh Freesia, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red


149014
Stampin' Up! WATERCOLOR PENCILS ASSORTMENT 2
$14.00
Product detail
Expand your Watercolor Pencils set with this assortment in 10 additional Stampin’ Up! colors.

High-quality, smooth color pencils. Perfect for watercoloring stamped images. Use with Water Painters, Blender Pens, or alone.

10 pencils in Stampin’ Up! colors. Acid free.

Colors: Balmy Blue, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Flirty Flamingo, Garden Green, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy
I found a Stampin' Up! video with some great ideas on how to watercolor. This was made years ago when we had archival ink and white glimmer paper. We don't carry those products now.
Instead you will need to use, Stazon black ink and watercolor paper. You can use whisper white cardstock if you are using a blender pen. Note that with Whisper white the color you apply will be instantly absorbed into your paper so it is more difficult to blend your colors. If you use a water brush on whisper white, your paper will probably warp a bit. If that happens, you can run it through your embossing machine between the two plates and that will help to flatten the paper.

Another thing I would recommend is to start with a small image so you can practice different techniques. You can also experiment with different papers like she did in the video. 
Practice the techniques she demonstrates. It takes time like anything and repetition. You will develop your own style.
Some people like to color on the image then blend it and some people like to touch the blender pen or water brush to the pencil and paint.

Here are several different options for blending your watercolor pencils.

 The first is a blender pencil.  A watercolor blender pencil (often called a colorless blender) is a special tool made of wax or a mix of wax and oil, but it has no color. You use it to rub colors together so they mix perfectly. It makes rough edges look smooth.

What it does:Mixes Colors: You use it to push two different colors together. For example, if you lay down red and yellow, the blender connects them to create orange.

Smooths Lines: It acts like an eraser for harsh pencil marks. It fills in the gaps on the paper so the color looks even.Adds Shine: Pushing down hard (called

The second option is a water brush with a reservoir.
A water brush with a reservoir holds water inside its handle. You do not need to dip it in a cup. You squeeze the barrel to send water to the brush tip. This lets you blend paint, clean the bristles, and paint on the go.

A water brush works like a sponge that you control. When you squeeze the hollow handle, water pushes through the bristles. When you stop squeezing, the brush acts like a dry brush, perfect for making fuzzy textures like grass or fur.
Here are the best ways to use it:

Travel Painting: You do not need a cup of water. This makes it great for painting outside or on a plane.

Wet Watercolors: Squeeze water onto dry paint palettes to wake the colors up.

Easy Cleaning: Squeeze the handle and wipe the brush on a paper towel. The flowing water cleans the old color out.

Blending: Use the water to soften harsh edges on your artwork.

The third option is a blender pen.
A blender pen is a marker filled with a clear liquid. Artists use it to soften lines and blend colors together without adding new colors. Think of it like a magic eraser or a wet paintbrush that smooths out your coloring. It works great with watercolor pencils, water-based markers, and alcohol markers.

How Blender Pens Work

Water-Based Markers: Pens like Tombow Dual Brush Pens use water-based blender ink. Touch the blender pen to a colored marker, then color on the paper to create soft gradients or a watercolor wash.

Colored Pencils: The clear liquid in the pen softens the wax or oil binder in the pencil. When you color over your pencil lines, the blender melts them together to make a smooth, painted look with no white spots.

Alcohol Markers: Brands like Copic use alcohol blender pens. You can use them to push ink around, fix mistakes, or create highlights.

Quick Tips for Best Results

Always work light-to-dark: Blend lighter areas into darker areas to keep your light colors clean.

Clean the tip: When you pick up a dark color, rub the tip of the blender pen on a scrap piece of paper until it is clean before using it on a new color.

Use thick paper: Blender pens make the paper wet. Thin paper might tear or pill. Use heavy cardstock or mixed media paper.


Well, I hope that gives you enough information on watercoloring and the tools you can use.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you give watercoloring a try.
Blessings,
Sue



Friday, July 10, 2026

Yupo Paper Background

Hey Everybody,

Anita's challenge was to make a textured background using Yupo paper. Check out her challenge here. Near the bottom of Anita's post is a PDF file with her directions and photos of how to do the technique.

I mixed water with my acrylic paint and added it to the Yupo paper leaving small bubbles on the page.

 Next I put a K-cup on the paper and twisted it to make the feathered circles.

 Next I pushed a ribbed candle into the paint on the paper. Those are the lines you see.

 Lastly, I stamped with a round tea bag. It made things more white than anything so I only stamped it once in the middle.


I stamped and colored my image then trimmed around her so you could see more of the background. This is a Unity Stamps image called, Old Bird.

I added gold balls for buttons and gold rhinestones for her earrings.

 The image was added with dimensionals. The image panel was added to a melon mambo card base.


 
Keywords: TLC1112
Stamps: Unity Stamps-Old Bird
Paper: Yupo paper, melon mambo, white
Paper Size: A2
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: sponge brush, Copic Markers, striped birthday candle, K-cup, round tea bag, purple acrylic paint
Techniques: Textured Background on Yupo paper

Here are some of the things I used on my background. I tried to find unusual things or things with texture. Next time I do this, I'm going to look in my husband's work room! 


This is what I used. It's Tim Holtz Yupo paper.


Yupo is a synthetic paper made from 100% polypropylene. Completely non-absorbent and waterproof, it does not buckle and allows paints and inks to sit on the surface for vibrant, flowing effects. If you make a mistake, you can easily wipe the surface clean and start over. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Characteristics:
  • Media Compatibility: Ideal for alcohol inks, watercolors, acrylics, and mixed media.
  • Durability: It is tear-resistant, durable, and remains perfectly flat.
  • Types: Available in opaque bright white and translucent varieties, and in different weights.
  • Technique: Because it is non-porous, colors take longer to dry and can be reactivated with water even after they are dry. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
It is widely available at art supply stores. You can explore standard white and translucent pads on Blick Art Materials or find deals on Hobby Lobby. To learn more about its manufacturing and archival properties, visit the Legion Paper product page. [1, 2]
This background takes a while to dry since the paper doesn't absorb the water so I put it in front of a little fan on my desk. I was afraid to use my heat tool. I wasn't sure if it would curl the paper.

Take a look around your house. What types of things do you have that you could use?
Some of the ideas from the challenge were.
bubble wrap
dry wall mesh tape
The top of a glue bottle
paper doily

Thanks for stopping by today.
Blessings,
Sue







Thursday, July 9, 2026

To Stich or Not to Stitch

 Hey Everybody,

Nancy's challenge for us today was to use stitching on our card. You can find her challenge here.

I started by stamping and coloring my image with Copic Markers. This is a very old Stampin' Up! stamp called, Kindness Koala. I used dies that looked like stitching around the image. The dies are called, Textured Notes. I punched out squares from The Stampin' Up!-square snippets designer series paper and used them as a border around my image.

 I made four sets of holes with my paper piercer and an old SU tool called a paper piercing tool that helped you line up holes or embellishments.   I used an orange gel pen to make the faux stitches.
The image panel is popped up on dimensionals. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.


Keywords: WT1109
Stamps: Stampin' UP!-Kind Koala
Paper: white, Stampin' Up!-Square Snippets designer series paper
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: Copic Markers, orange gel pen, paper piercer, paper piercing template, paper piercing pad, Stampin' Up!-Textured Notes Dies, 1 1/4" square punch
Techniques: faux stitching, coloring

I found a picture of the tool I used. This was part of a 4 pack of small templates that we used to make decorations on our cardstock years ago before we had all of the embellishments and dies and things that we have today. LOL


Some people did real stitching. Here are a few samples from the gallery.



Well, what would you use for this challenge? Would you do faux stitching or real stitching?
What stamp set would you use? Maybe you have dies that would make your card look stitched.
The fun of it is looking through your supplies to see what you have and what you can put together.

Thanks for stopping by today.
Blessings,
Sue

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

NEW!! Stampin’ Hot Foil System

 Hey Everybody,

Hot news for sure. A new product line and a discount on Paper Pumpkin if you are a new subscriber.

Blessings,

Sue

NEW!! Stampin’ Hot Foil System From Stampin’ Up! Available July 10!!

Introducing one of the hottest items in crafting—the new Stampin’ Hot Foil System!!

The metallic magic starts with Stampin’ Hot Foil Rolls, specially-made Hot Foil dies, and the Stampin’ Hot Foil System that works with the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (sold separately). The heat of the platform transfers the foil using hot foil dies designed specifically for this system, allowing you to add dazzling details to paper and more.

WHAT IS INCLUDED WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE STAMPIN’ HOT FOIL SYSTEM?

This everything included in the Stampin’ Hot Foil System & Craft Class:

  • Metallic Magic Craft Class ($30 value—limited time only!)
  • Stampin’ Hot Foil platform
  • Stampin’ Hot Foil Shim & Spacer
  • Stampin’ Hot Foil Magnetic Pick-Up Tool
  • Silicone platform station
  • Silicone cooling pad
  • Power cord
  • Instructions on how to use the system

The Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, Stampin’ Hot Foil Rolls (the foil itself), and Hot Foil dies and bundles are sold separately.

CRAFT CLASS

As an added bonus, everyone who purchases this system before January 4, 2027, will automatically be able to access the upcoming Metallic Magic Craft Class, a technique-centric virtual class. Attendees will make unique projects and learn crafting tips intended to elevate their hot foil crafting experience. This class is a special limited-time offer exclusive to this system and is an amazing tool when it comes to increasing skills, learning techniques, and making the most of this new product line.

You can see more details about the system, find the bundles and foil that will be available to order beginning on Friday, July 10 in this brochure:

A few notes about the new system:

  • Hot Foil results are best with either White Willow or Two-Tone Cardstock.  Smoother card stocks like the Two-Tone Cardstock and White Willow will achieve the best results when using the system, but you can use the regular card stocks too.
  • The Hot Foil System, foil rolls and new hot foil dies and bundles will be available Friday, July 10, 2026 in the online Stampin’ Up! store.
  • A FREE Hot Foil Online Class from Stampin’ Up! is included with your hot foil system purchase (a $30 value!), do not add the class separately to your cart (you’ll be charged for it if you do!).  You’ll automatically get a link to it after you purchase the Stampin’ Hot Foil System.
  • The Stampin’ Hot Foil system is $160. Dies & foil are sold separately.
  • Stampin’ Up! has let us know that if the Stampin’ Hot Foil system goes on backorder, it may take longer than normal to restock.  So if you would like to order the system, order sooner rather than later!
  • IMPORTANT NOTE:  Cutting dies are not designed to be used with hot foiling.  You cannot die cut using foiling dies.  Doing so risks damaging the dies and the system.

I’m so excited for you all to be able to order this new system!  I have recently started playing with mine and it’s so much fun!  Head over to the Stampin’ Up! online store beginning July 10 to see and order the new system!


25% Off Your First Paper Pumpkin Kit For New Subscribers!

Have you been thinking of trying Paper Pumpkin?  Now’s a perfect time to get started with our all-inclusive crafting kit subscription!  Purchase a pay-as-you-go subscription from July 11–August 10 and get 25% off the first kit!

Not only will new subscribers receive the wonderful August Kindred Greetings Kit at a discount, but they’ll also gain access to exclusive add-ons, past kits, and refills as soon as they subscribe!  It’s a great way to carve out a little creative “me time” each month while joining a global community of passionate crafters!

Promotion Details:

  • Promotion Begins: July 11, 2026
  • Promotion Ends: August 10, 2026
  • Offer applies to new subscribers only (those who haven’t had an active Paper Pumpkin subscription in the past 18 months).
  • Offer is valid for pay-as-you-go subscriptions only.  Discount does not apply to prepaid subscriptions.
  • The discounted first kit is the August Kindred Greetings Kit.
  • This kit cannot be skipped.

It's a Bit Sketchy Today

 Hey Everybody,

Today we have a sketch challenge. You can find the challenge here. Here is what the sketch looks like.

Here is my card 
I stamped the image  which is from the Unity Stamps set called, Flock Talk. I colored the bird with Copic Markers. I wanted to make the image stand out a bit without adding another layer so I lined the border with a black sharpie using a ruler. 
I used a retired Stampin' Up! 3D embossing folder called Lace. I dry embossed the designer series paper which is from Stampin' Up! called, Delicate Dreams, then added retired Stampin' Up! lace to the bottom strip of designer paper. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: SC1118
Stamps: Unity Stamps-Flock Talk
Paper: white, hydrangea hue, Stampin' Up!-Delicate Dreams designer series paper
Paper Size: A2
Ink: memento tuxedo black, hydrangea hue
Accessories: Stampin' Up!-Lace 3D embossing folder, Stampin' Up very vanilla lace, copic markers
Techniques: dry embossing, coloring

I wanted to show you some of the other ideas ladies had for this sketch.

 



  




There are some pretty creative ladies for sure. Did you notice on the pink cake, that she used shaving cream and swirled it like finger paint?

How about the chicken on the card where the sketch was flipped? I love that Unity Stamps chicken.
Ladies had all sorts of ideas of how to use this challenge. Think about the stamps, ink and paper you have. What would you make with this sketch?

Thanks for stopping by today.
Blessings,
Sue







Watercoloring Images

 Hey Everybody,       Lisa's challenge was to make a card using a wild animal.   You can check out her challenge here .  I recently got ...