Rainbow Thanks + VIDEO // Hero Arts

Squeezing in one last quick post (and a video!) for February.

Again, starring the February My Monthly Hero kit - I'm a little obsessed. The March kit also promises to be a doozy, so don't feel down if you missed out on this one. ;)

I only planned on making the right one, but while filming the video, the second just happened.

I started my rainbow cards out with a Sea card base, that I stamped using the gorgeous Kelly's Background Squares and then heat embossed in clear Sparkle embossing powder.

Isn't that such a pretty background? Hero Arts has some other really pretty backgrounds, like Kelly's Background Stars, Floral Wallpaper Background, and Doily Pattern.

I die cut a white cardstock panel using the Rectangle Infinity dies, then stamped and heat embossed sentiment from Thanks Stamp and Cut.

For the "thanks" die, I heat embossed a piece of black cardstock with Black Detail embossing powder, then die cut it. I do this so that I can get that extra shine from the black powder - it's something I especially love doing with the Black Sparkle embossing powder.

The umbrella's were from the main kit, which is sold-out and unavailable, but I listed some good substitutions for them in THIS blog post. Anyways, I stamped and heat embossed the umbrellas, colored them in quickly with my ZIG's, die cut them, and adhered them to my card base! All done! 

One quick question - has anyone else noticed their red ZIG ink being rather messy? Even when heat set, the red ink seems to very easily come off at slight touches.
Lastly, pay no heed to the fact that my rainbow is out of order! Lol, didn't realize until I was doing the voice over for the video! Let me know if you catch it, because it apparently was sneaky enough for me to make the mistake on both cards. ;)

VIDEO

It's been awhile since I've done one of these, and this one is a quicky!

If you are having problems viewing this video, please try watching it HERE on YouTube.

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Hero Arts Sea Layering Paper

Stamps: Hero Arts 2017 February My Monthly Hero kit (see substitutions HERE), Thanks Stamp and Cut and Kelly's Background Squares

Ink: Versamark, ZIG pens

Other: Hero Arts clear Sparkle and Black Detail embossing powder

Tools: heat gun, Cuttlebug, Hero Arts 2017 February My Monthly Hero kit coordinating die, Thanks Stamp and Cut die and Rectangle Infinity dies

Quick Sunshine // Hero Arts

Today I'm sharing some quick cards I made using this month's My Monthly Hero - these cards use an image from the main kit, but I found some substitute stamps you could use (continue reading for more info!) and also, the design is something pretty to easy to replicate with a number of different images anyways. ;)

For my first card, I stamped the umbrella image (from the main kit stamp set) in Pale Tomato, Rusty Blue, Passion Flower and Fresh Peach - not my usual color combo, but something I was inspired to use from browsing Pinterest.

For the sentiment, I heat embossed a message from the Color Layering Graphic Flowers stamp set. This stamp set is such a staple - images that work for various styles and occasions, with such well crafted sentiments.

For my second card, I stamped a whole rainbow of umbrellas, using Grape Juice, Orchid, Crimson, Soft Apricot, Fresh Lawn, Dandelion, Deep Ocean and Summer Sky. 

This card would take a little longer to create than the first, just because you'd have to clean off the image more in between using all the different colors.

Same sentiment idea, and for both cards, I adhered some little hearts I die cut using Sun Showers Cutting dies - I think this die has the most perfect little heart shapes ever!

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, the umbrella stamp comes from a limited edition kit by Hero Arts that sold out, so I have some substitute suggestions.

• One of the add-ons from this month, Fun in the Rain, also has a larger line umbrella
• The bee from Busy As A could be so cute!
• The Japanese Wishing Garden has a couple really cute little images, 
• Butterfly Pair Stamp and Cut for a classically beautiful butterfly card
• French Treats could make a fun look if you wanted to also quickly add dabs of watercolor 
• Finally, Balloon Animal Birthday would make for some really fun and quick birthday cards.

I found these all real quick browsing through my Hero Arts 2017 catalog, so basically just check any simple line image sentiments you may already have and you have something fun in store!

MY MONTHLY HERO KIT

In case you haven't heard about My Monthly Hero, or you're just a little confused about it, THIS page has all the info!

The March kit will be coming in about two weeks, so keep a lookout! If you're worried about missing a kit - they often sell out extremely quickly - you can become a subscriber.

Hope that helps, and please feel free to ask me any questions! Have a great weekend and God bless!

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Canson Bristol (white), Bazzill (black)
Stamps: Hero Arts February 2017 My Monthly Hero (sold out - similar stamps listed above) and Color Layering Graphic Flowers
Ink: Pale Tomato, Rusty Blue, Passion Flower, Fresh Peach, Grape Juice, Orchid, Crimson, Soft Apricot, Fresh Lawn, Dandelion, Deep Ocean, Summer Sky and Versamark,
Other: Hero Arts Ocean, Blush, Blue, Green, Sunshine, and Purple sequins, White embossing powder

Other: heat gun, Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Sun Showers Cutting dies

Vol. 1 #CardmakerProbs // Hero Arts

I've decided to start a new, impromptu series here on the blog, called (very trendily) #CardmakerProbs. The series will follow REAL-LIFE problems of cardmakers - REAL problems, people, REAL.

In our first installment...

#CardmakerProbs No. 1 - Photography

The struggle is real, my fellow crafters. While some of us cardmakers - such as Keeway, Melania Deasy and Lisa Spanlger - apparently do possess magic (also lots of patience and skills), the rest of us mortals just have to struggle-bus it out.

I present to you Exhibit A.

Okay, so to be fair,  for these card I used some strangely weird white Michaels cardstock, so that didn't help getting the darn white balance right, but I tell ya, I spent at least two hours photographing these.
Two hours may seem little - I mean, two is kind of a small number, technically speaking - but hours! Of my life! On card photos! Absurd.

Anywho, I got sick of trying to make things fancy, so I ended up with these...

These two simple little numbers use some add-ons from this month's My Monthly Hero - Fun in the Rain - so that means, the stamps are still available! Yay! Well, technically not the little girl image I used in the first card, since that came from the sold out main kit, but the cat and umbrella from Raining Cats and Dogs would be just as cute! (and I know because I've already done a card like this with it ;))

I used Soft Pool and Black for my ink, and then some quick and snappy coloring with my trusty ZIG pens.

Aren't those little puddles and ducks just the cutest?!

I forgot to take a close up shot while I was at it, and I was too lazy/annoyed to set up again, so there it is! Two hours of my life, for everyone to see!

One day, when I have the ideal work-at-home job (you know, the imaginary kind where you don't actually have to work? ha!), I'll take lots of nice pictures in nice, natural lighting, but for now, we struggle on folks, we struggle on.

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: cheapo Michaels white
Stamps: Hero Arts Fun in the Rain and Raining Cats and Dogs
Ink: Hero Arts Black and Soft Pool
Other: ZIG pens

Tools: scallop edge scissors (for rounding corners)

Timeless Classic // Hero Arts

I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today, sharing a super versatile background stamp in some Spring-ey colors!

Check out the blog for more details!

Blossoming Jar // Hero Arts

Hello all! Today I'm participating in the Hero Arts 2017 Catalog Release blog hop and sharing a fun floral card!

I'm gonna be honest - I got my blog hop dates confused and long story short, had to whip this card the night before (and am writing this post in the wee hours of the morning!), so it didn't turn out quite the way I wanted, but it works for a pinch. ;)

My card features the beautiful new Color Layering Hydrangea, as well as the Birds and Blossoms...

I stamped the base layer of the hydrangea in Soft Pool, and the top layer with Stonewash, then die cut it using the handy dandy coordinating dies. The leaves were stamped with Lime Green, Moss, Field Greens, and Forever Green, and also cut using the coordinating dies.

The Color Layering Hydrangea also comes as part of a bundle, where you get the stamp set, dies, and a coordinating four ink cube set in one bundle!

To give the bouquet some more volume, I stamped and die cut some wee flowers from the new Birds and Blossoms stamp set, and also added some blossoms from the Color Layering For You Flowers. Ink wise, I used Pale Tomato, Fresh Peach, Soft Pink, Rose Madder (beautiful new pink ink!) and Red Royal. 

Birds and Blossoms is also available as a bundle - inks, dies, and coordinating ink cube set! Actually, you should probably just look at the entire catalog - many of the stamp sets come in these nice little bundles! ;)

These flowers desperately needed a vase, so I provided one using the Mason Jar Bugs stamp set and Jar die, then stamping in Unicorn. I shortened my jar using the tips I gave in THIS blog post.

For the sentiment, I embossed a panel of black cardstock in Detail Black embossing powder, then die cut it using the Happy Stamp and Cut die. I also die cut a piece of black foam, adhered the two together, and added that to my base, along with a matching white heat embossed sentiment.

All of this new goodness was adhered to a white card base that I had adhered to a panel of new Woodgrain Vellum. I love this stuff! It has beautiful texture, and at least with white cardstock, you don't have to worry about the adhesive showing through, like you do with most vellums! 

Topped off the card with some clear droplets and a piece of twine, and done!

BLOG HOP

For loads of inspiration and a chance to win a prize, follow this hop! The always amazing Yana Smakula would be next on the hop, after me:

The Hero Arts Blog 

Jennifer McGuire

Laura Bassen 

Wanda Guess 

Amy Tsuruta 

Clare Prezzia 

Yana Smakula 

Kathy Racoosin 

Debby Hughes 

Kelly Purkey 

Lydia Fiedler

May Park 

Jessica Frost-Ballas 

Heather Ruwe 

Libby Hickson 

Michelle Short 

Jana Millen

Hero Arts is giving away three $25 shopping sprees, drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. Please comment by Tuesday, February 21st at 11:59pm PT and the winner will be announced the following week on the Hero Arts blog.

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Hero Arts Woodgrain Vellum and Kraft cardstock, Michaels white cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts Color Layering Hydrangea, Birds and Blossoms, Happy Stamp and Cut, Color Layering For You Flowers, and Mason Jar Bugs
Inks: Hero Arts Lime Green, Moss, Field Greens, Forever Green, Pale Tomato, Fresh Peach, Soft Pink, Rose Madder, Red Royal, Unicorn, and Versamark
Other: clear droplets - 4mm & 6mm, string (stash), Hero Arts Detail Black and White embossing powders

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Color Layering Hydrangea, Birds and Blossoms, Happy Stamp and Cut and Jar die

Watercolor Clouds

Hello all! Today I'm participating in the February My Monthly Hero blog hop and sharing a fun Pinterest inspired card!

I used the add-on, Raining Cats and Dogs, to create a fun background, inspired by THIS pin...

I started off by stamping the clouds in Versamark, then heat embossing in white. I had to do a little masking here and there for the overlapping clouds, but nothing too intense. ;)

After I had heat embossed the clouds, I quickly colored them in using my ZIG pens. Because the color was a bit too intense with just the pen, I added some water to the clouds, then dabbed at it with a paper towel. The paper towel picked up some of the color, leaving a less intensely colored version of the clouds. 

Just be careful with the paper you use whenever you add water - watercolor paper works best, and if not, I find that thicker, uncoated cardstock works decently as long as you don't add too much water.

I adhered my grey panel to the card base, then white heat embossed a sentiment from You're So Lovely on black, and adhered the sentiment to the card base. To top everything off, I used some of the gorgeous new Hero Arts sequins - I think these sequins are my new favorite thing. ;) I used Ocean, Blue and Purple to match my clouds.

THE KIT

The kit contains:

• 1 4X6 clear stamp set
• 20 coordinating dies
• 1 coordinating stencil, with several cutouts included
• 1 Soft Sky ink cube
• 1 sponge for daubing 
• 2 thin rolls of glitter washi tape in blue and silver 
• 1 skein silver embroidery thread
• Vellum in blue and patterned white 

The kit value is $65, an amazing deal at $34.99.
There are also some amazing add-on stamps (such as the one I used today) and dies, so be sure to check out the Hero Arts blog for information on them.

BLOG HOP

For loads of inspiration and a chance to win one of these kits, follow this hop! The amazing Kathy Racoosin would be next on the hop, after me:

The Hero Arts Blog 

Jennifer McGuire 

Yana Smakula 

Wanda Guess 

Amy Tsuruta 

Clare Prezzia 

Kathy Racoosin 

Debby Hughes 

Kelly Latevola 

Lydia Fiedler 

May Park 

Jessica Frost-Ballas 

Libby Hickson 

Michelle Short

Hero Arts is giving away one kit as a prize to one blog reader - selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop.

The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone. However, you can subscribe to receive the kit monthly and never have to worry about missing it! More details on the subscription HERE.

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Canson watercolor, Simon Says Stamp Fog cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts Raining Cats and Dogs and You're So Lovely
Ink: Versamark, ZIG pens
Other: Hero Arts White embossing powder and Ocean, Blue and Purple sequins

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun

You Age Well

I have a punny little card on the Hero Arts blog today...

Check it out for more details!