I created a card with the same fancy fold as the Extraordinary Flora greeting cards I shared recently, but this time I chose dark and moody hues, inspired by the Painterly Pears Designer Series Paper.

Bundles: Perfectly Pears Stamp Set + Perfectly Pears Dies (photopolymer: 166154).  Ink: Secret Sea (165285).  Card/Paper: Darling Duckling (165294), Secret Sea (165296), Basic White (166781), Painterly Pears 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (166146).  Accessories: Mossy Meadow & Gold 1/4" Trim (166158).  Tools: Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (149653), Stylish Shapes Dies (159183), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

Painterly Pears 12" X 12" Designer Series Paper (166146) - $26.25
Twelve sheets of 12" x 12" patterned paper: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs.

The front of this Congratulations Card is all about layers and texture. It begins with a striking die-cut lattice in Darling Duckling cardstock, softened by delicate white blossoms tucked here and there.  The star of the show is, of course, that beautiful watercoloured pear.  I die-cut the pear and stem directly from the Painterly Pears Designer Series Paper and mounted them onto a stitched circle with Stampin' Dimensionals for a touch of depth.  To finish, I tucked a sweeping bow of Mossy Meadow & Gold Trim behind the circle—simple details that combine for a truly elegant effect.

The colour palette is rich and sophisticated: Darling Duckling, Secret Sea, and Mossy Meadow.  These tones play beautifully together on the front waterfall-style fold, and then continue seamlessly on the inside of the card.

In fact, the patterned paper inside the card was the starting point for the entire design.  Its deep tones and painterly textures inspired not just the colours, but also the overall mood of the project.  Sometimes it’s one sheet of Designer Series Paper that sparks a whole creative journey—and this was one of those times.

If you love this look too, try pulling your colour inspiration directly from patterned paper you already adore.  It makes coordinating your cardstock, ink, and embellishments almost effortless while ensuring your finished card feels cohesive and polished.  The Painterly Pears Suite is perfect for experimenting with this approach—you’ll be amazed at how many moods and styles you can create with the same products.

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