Happy Friday, everyone.

We have several more photo projects for you today.  I hope you are feeling that photos and stamps are a match made in heaven.

First we have this incredible card by Robyn Werlich.  Here’s what Robyn said about it: “My sweet Mom recently watched our children so that we could go on vacation to New York City. I wanted to write her a thank you card but wanted it to be from the kids as well. By using a small photo of them both on the front of the card, it really made it a special personalized note just for her…from all of us.” What a perfect reason for a photo card.

Card by Robyn Werlich.
Supplies:

• Thank You Sayings
• Hello Circle
• VersaMark Dazzle Frost
• Rose Petals and Pumpkin Patch Chalk Ink Queue
• Kraft Notecards
• Art Flowers Spring
• Other: White cardstock, sewing, string, staples, silver pigment ink, silver brad, pop-dots, circle punches

Here are some more photo cards.  These incorporate photos in the same way you would a stamped image or patterned paper.

Kids love to see photos of themselves, so why not include one on a card?  Here, the photo is positioned where a piece of patterned paper would normally have been placed.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Galaxy of Stars
• VersaMark and White Embossing Powder
• Black Memories Ink
• Mixed Gemstones
• Other: Photo, cardstock

Here is an example of making the photo the focus of the cards, and having the stamps act as the background and greeting.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Three Swirly Flourishes
• All Occasions Messages
• Black Memories Ink and Soft Sand Shadow Ink
  
• Summer Buttons
  
• Other: Silk ribbon (Creative Impressions), patterned paper (SEI), border punch (Fiskars), string
  

This card features the same stamp, but shows how you can replace a spot where a stamped image would normally go with a photo.  Just break out your book of sketches and look for designs that could incorporate photos!

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Three Swirly Flourishes
• Floral Accents
  
• All Occasions Messages
• Black Memories Ink and Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue
  
• Summer Buttons
  
• Other: Silk ribbon (Creative Impressions), patterned paper (SEI), border punch (Fiskars), string

And a day of projects with photos + stamping wouldn’t be complete without a scrapbook page!  Here is an awesome one from Robyn Werlich… celebrating our nation’s holiday.  We love how she used the VersaMark Dazzle Ink pad to create a sparkly background.

Layout by Robyn Werlich.
Supplies:

• Galaxy of Stars
• Birthday Sayings
  
• All Occasion Messages
  
• Whimsical Numbers
  
• Old Letter Writing
  
• Versamark Dazzle Frost and Versamark Dazzle Champagne
  
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Assorted Clear Tags
  
• Rose Petals and Chocolates & Blueberries Chalk Ink Queues
  
• Other: Blue dot patterned paper, cardstock, sewing, ribbon, brads, star punches, silver ink, pop-dots

Hope you are enjoying this photo challenge.  I am loving all your creations over in the Flickr group already!

Happy Friday,

Welcome back to the BLOG!  I’m here to announce the winners of last week’s Complementary Color challenge.  I asked you to use colors that you would not usually put together and you all really delivered spectacular cards and pages.   Each week just gets tougher to judge because you are all so AWESOME!! Thanks!

I’ll start with our Fresh Face winner “Purple & Yellow” by mrsr1 - Suzanne.  Wow… her flowers look so real!  Purple and Yellow really worked well with her arrangement!

Next let’s hop to our Scrapbook category with “Together“ by LysaQ. I have to say, her little splash of red in the photo ready paves the way to her adorable stamped couple!

Now for our 1st Place winner “Asian Doll” by kimlayu. Her colors are so vibrant and beautiful together. I like how she added in distress inked edges to this bright colored card. Stunning!

Our 2nd place prize goes to “Black, white & pink” by Lucille K. I think the simplicity of this card looks so elegant and clean.  I love her crimped flowers, just wonderful!

Third Place goes to “3 fern card” by stretchie88 for her wonderfully multi-colored stamping. The ink mixed together to make an amazing display of yummy goodness. Well done, I love trying new techniques too!

And now for our first Honorable mentions with “Awww, look at the ickle critters” by patchworkgandalf. This was toooo cute to resist and I can’t imagine it in any other color combination.

Next up is “Purple & Yellow” by rosigrl123(Rosemary). I love the subtle mix of her colors, so soothing to the eye plus this card could be for any occasion.

Next is this summer time card “Thank You” by rebeccakeppel.  The combination of red and green look nothing like Christmas, it’s all about picnics in the park!  So cute!

And finally a layout“Funny Guy” by sarahjane4kids (Sarah M). First it screams fun in the sun but most of all the photos of Sarah’s son are just adorable!

Congratulations winners. Please email us (in the right side-bar) to give us your addresses so we can get your prizes out to you right away!

I’ve got a little more inspiration for you, if you click on any of the circles below, they will take you to our Hero Hostess entries in the challenge.

Thanks everyone, Jennifer will be back tomorrow to finish up her week with photos.  I’ll see you on Twitter!

Before we get started, I have some more exciting news that I don’t want you to miss.  For more information, please scroll down to the post just below this one.  It will be fun!

Now… are you ready for some more ideas for incorporating photos into your stamped creations?  We have lots for you today, including a video.

For me, adding photos to a card makes it more personal.  So, when my dear friend Lisa Russo took pictures of my family, I knew I need to make a card that showcased some of my favorite photos she took.  I couldn’t just pick one, so I decided to make a card that folds out to reveal several photos.  Scroll down to see the video showing how to create it, along with tips for creating a layered embossed and inked background.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Shadow and Elements (floral)
• Raindrop Background
• Thank You Sayings
• Distress Inks
• VersaMark and Clear Embossing Powder
• Hero Arts Cream Notecards
• Pearls
• Other: Photos (by Lisa Russo Photography), silk ribbon (Creative Impressions), cardstock, Ranger foam inking tool

You can also include your photos inside your card.  Check out this great card from Erin Lincoln.  She added a sweet photo surprise inside.  Love it! (Oh, and click HERE to see the matching page for this card.)

Card by Erin Lincoln.
Supplies:

• ClearDesign: Hello Circles
• Houndstooth Background
• DesignBlock Four Leaf Grid
• Special Edition: Artistic Windows
• Anytime Messages (inside sentiment)
• Kraft Notecard
• VersaMark Ink, Memories ArtPrint Brown Ink, Soft Pool Shadow Ink, Faded Jeans Distress Ink, Memories White Ink
  
• Other: Circle punch, buttons, QK Silhouette (for letters)

How about another tip for making cards even more personalized?  Try using a photo AND stamping a one-of-a-kind message with alphabet stamps.  Here are some ideas…

This one would be sure to make a Grandma smile:

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Hugs and Kisses Heart
• Printer’s Type Uppercase Alphabet
• Printer’s Type Lowercase Alphabet
• Lime Notecard
• Card Buttons Spring
• Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue and Black Memories Ink
• Other: Photo (by Erin Cobb), patterned paper (SEI), ribbon (Creative Impressions), string

Here is a great way to remind Daddy how great he is:

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Sunshine Lowercase Alphabet
• So Sweet
• Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue and Black Memories Ink
• Other: Photo (by Erin Cobb), punches (EK Success), ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing

Kids really love to get a card that has a photo of themselves on it:

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Sky’s the Limit
• Printer’s Type Uppercase Alphabet
• Printer’s Type Lowercase Alphabet
• Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue and Black Memories Ink
• VersaMark and White Embossing Powder
• Clear Mixed Gemstones
• Kraft Notecards
• Other: Patterned paper (Scenic Route), cardstock

I hope you are feeling inspired to try using photos on your next stamped creation. And remember, you still have time to win some stamp sets HERE!

Happy stamping,

We have some exciting news for you today! For some time now, we’ve been working on a project — a very big, very special project. And now we’re bursting to let you in on the secret!

On July 15, there will be lots of exciting new happenings on heroarts.com…

• The Hero Arts website and blog are getting a brand new look! Think of it as a cupcake. We’ve gone and tweaked the recipe to make it even sweeter…and added some extra sprinkles on top too!
• And…we will also have a new and improved shopping area! You will be able to buy ALL of the products released in our 2009 Supplements, and FAVORITES from the 2009 Catalog!  And you can even choose to pick them up at your local store!
• In preparation for new products and our new store on July 15, we are selling all our kits at 20% off. Just click HERE to start shopping!
• Finally, for the month of July, get FREE Priority Mail Shipping (US Orders only) on orders of $35 or more! Otherwise pay just $3.95 (US domestic only).

It’s the start of something wonderful, and to celebrate we have some fun things in store — prizes, games, ideas and more.

And let’s start with some prizes now! To be entered into a random prize drawing, just add the blinkie below to your blog. (Look HERE for tips on adding blinkies to blogs.)  Then let us know you added the blinkie by leaving us a link to your blog in the comments section of this post.

From the comments, we will select two blinkie winners and one random winner (for those of you without a blog). The three winners will be announced on Saturday morning. (If you would like, please share your blog address in your comment.)

Fourteen days and counting! Stay tuned to this blog and follow us on Twitter between now and July 15 to keep up with the latest details. We will be sharing some sneak peeks too. Please help us spread the word and let’s have some fun!

The Hero Arts Team

We have not one, but TWO projects to share today — a fabulous layout and matching card from Erin Lincoln! Wait until you see the amazing details on both of these. Just click HERE for more on the layout and HERE for the card.

To all of our Canadian friends — Happy Canada Day! Enjoy your day!

Welcome back.  We have some more ideas for using photos on your stamped projects.  I just love the personal touch photos add.  Isn’t it fun?

However, there is something I want to mention quickly - we have some news!  Hero Arts is now on Twitter! You can follow “myheroarts” for tweets of ideas, prizes and inspiration.  Right now we are randomly giving away prizes for people signing up. For more information, scroll down to the “Hero Arts is on Twitter” post below.

Let’s get creating!

I thought I would start the day off with a scrapbook page and matching card. I am a big believer that whenever you create a page, you might as well create a card.  After all, you have the supplies and scraps out!  Also, I like to get doubles printed of all my photos.  That way I can use the extras on cards.  This page and card combo is from the talented Sheri Reguly.

Page and card by Sheri Reguly.
Supplies:

• Dots and Flowers
• Screen Shadow
• Card Messages
• Cutout Flower
• Thoughtful Messages
• Valentine Flourishes
• Soft Blossom Shadow Ink, Pumpkin Patch ColorBox Chalk Queue, StazOn Jet Black and VersaMark
• Smooth Clear Gemstones, Assorted Clear Circles and Art Flowers Neutral and Cream
• Card Buttons Spring and Card Buttons Summer
• Other: Patterned paper (October Afternoon), punches (EK Success), thread, cardstock (Bazzill Basics), sewing machine

Next up is a fabulous project from Tami Hartley that mixes a photo with stamping. Check out this personalized tag she made for her daughter’s softball bag. What a GREAT idea!  She sewed together two Hero Arts Acetate Tags and slipped the handmade piece inside. She only stitched on three sides so that once the season is over, she can remove the tag and put a new one in for the next sport or season!

The back side of the tag is stamped with more stars using White StazOn ink.

Tag by Tami Hartley.
Supplies:

• Modern Lines
• Galaxy of Stars
• Bracket and Tags (”Property Of”)
• Basic Uppercase Alphabet (for the numbers)
  
• Acetate Tags
  
• Diamond Stickles
• Broken China & Peeled Paint Distress Ink, Memories Black Ink and Mango Ink and White Stazon Ink
  
• Other: Cardstock, photo, string, ribbon, button, machine stitching, green and black fine tip markers

Finally, here is a card I did.  I noticed a few of you mentioned in your comments that you wanted to know how to turn a 4×6 picture into a card.  So, I decided to create a 4×6 photo card that hopefully will get you inspired.  I just found this picture of my mom and I about five years ago and decided to make her a quick card.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Flower Blossom Borders
• Friends
  
• Small Pearls
• Other: 4×6 photo, Copic Markers

And here are some more ideas from the Hero Arts website.  Just click to get a closer look.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for a photo card how-to video.

See you tomorrow…

Hero Arts is now on Twitter! Go HERE to sign up to follow our tweets - little messages containing links to ideas, information on prizes and more.

If you have questions about Twitter, click HERE.

Hope to see you there.  Hurry - there are prizes being given as we speak!

Happy Monday!

I am really excited about this week. We are going to be exploring ideas for using photos on cards and other projects. This will be fun! We will be sharing lots of ideas for creative ways to showcase favorite photos.  Let’s get started!

First, here are three photo cards I made using the same supplies.  I used the I Care Frame Messages set to create frames for my photos.  (I love finding unique ways to use stamps… increasing their value!)  I also love the A Little Note set for adding messages to the photos, making it look like they are speaking.

Cards by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• I Care Frame Messages (for frames on photos)
• Wallpaper Background
• A Little Note
• Soft Pool, Soft Leaf and Soft Stone Shadow Inks and Black Memories Ink
  
• Spring Notecards and Kraft Notecards
  
• Other: Sewing machine, colored pencils, markers and photos.  (Photo of Shari and Jennifer by Jamie Waters.)
  

Next we have this beautiful card from Kelly Rasmussen. Isn’t it lovely?  Kelly used some flower photos she found in a magazine. What a great idea!  Kelly said, “I cut three different flower photos from a magazine and adhered them to a piece of cardstock to make them sturdy.”

Card by Kelly Rasmussen.
Supplies:

• Dots
• Old Letter Writing
• Everyday Sayings
• Lime Notecards
• Spring Felt Buttons
• Orange Gemstones
• Soft Apricot Ink Pad
• Other: Ribbon (Making Memories), Antique Linen Distress Ink, white cardstock, flower photos from Women’s Day magazine, twine, sewing, pop dots

I also wanted to share a project using a photo.  Erin Lincoln created this amazing frame using stamps and a photo.  What a great, inexpensive and thoughtful gift it would make!

Frame by Erin Lincoln.
Supplies:

• Special Edition: Artistic Windows
• Scallop Borders
• Anytime Messages
• Dot Trees
• Dot Hearts
  
• Black Memories Ink and Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue
  
• Other: Magnetic frame (Target), patterned paper (Chatterbox)
  

I was looking through the Hero Arts website yesterday and found some more photo card ideas for you.  Just click on the circle to see a full-size image and information:

And, if you are a scrapbooker like me, be sure to visit our huge scrapbooking idea gallery HERE.

Time for our challenge! Yep, this week’s challenge is to create a new stamped project using a photo. This photo can be one you have taken or something you found in a magazine. Anything works! And, yes, scrapbook pages are welcome. Please use at least one Hero Arts stamp on your project and use the tag word “photo” when uploading to the Hero Arts Flickr Group.  The deadline for submitting is Sunday, July 5th at 11:59 pm PST. Here are the fab prizes you may win:

• Fresh Face Winner (someone who has not yet won a contest): $50 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2009 catalog
• Scrapbook Page Winner: $50 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2009 catalog
• 1st Place: $50 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2009 catalog
• 2nd Place: $25 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2009 catalog
• 3rd Place: $15 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2009 catalog

And, of course, we have to have a giveaway! I have a set of each of the stamps I used on my set of photo cards above - the A Little Note and I Care Frame Messages sets. I will pick a lucky winner from those who leave a comment by 11:59 pm PST Wednesday telling me if they have ever created a photo card. Good luck!!!

See you tomorrow.  Have fun stamping…

This week’s card by Jacki Jones features the Clear Design: Birds and Branches set — so fun for summer.  I just adore the hills that she created, the cloud and the sun!  More HERE.

I had a blast playing with Complementary Colors this week.  It’s amazing to me how using a little different color combination can inspire a completely new direction in my card making.  Having this “color” reminder will help from always using my “go to” colors.  Here’s a recap of the week.

• Monday - Black and white
  
• Tuesday - Blue and orange
  
• Wednesday - Purple and yellow
  
• Friday - Red and green
  

Thanks for joining me this week.  Remember, you still have time to enter the Complementary Color challenge.  For more information, please visit Monday’s post for details on the colors and challenge.  Have a great week-end!