Hello everyone! It’s summertime, and that means vacations, lazy days, swimming, family reunions, picnics and STAMPING, of course! So, I asked our talented team of Web Artists to share some summery stamping projects using stamps from the Summer Catalog. We’ll be featuring a different artist each day.

The fabulous Laura Griffin is here to start things off — take it awaaaaaaay Laura!

This first project shares two of my favorite things with you…journals & traveling! As I look back on summers past, I think I was first bit by the travel bug when I was 17 years old and spent a summer studying abroad in Paris. Growing up in Kansas, I had never seen a place so amazing before…it was a bit like the Wizard of Oz, “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto!” Since that first visit, I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit over 20 countries, and I still get goosebumps when I step off of a plane in a different country for the first time. I find that the best way to document my travel memories is to bring along a handmade travel journal! Not only can you write about your experiences, but you can use the project as a scrapbook and add your favorite pictures, ticket stubs, and memorabilia from your adventures as you go along.

Hero’s new lines of summer stamps are PERFECT for this! I just love the background that was used on the cover here & the long travel word strips work great for borders. You can spell out the word travel on the cover or perhaps add the name of your destination to personalize it further. Don’t forget that you can add custom colored flowers with just a little ink (like the blue ones shown here)!

Stamps used:

• DesignBlock Postage Background
• Clear Design Bold Caps Alphabet
• Clear Design Long Travel Borders

Last summer, I visited China for the first time and was really taken with all the gorgeous red lanterns that were at the front of each garden, monument, & temple we visited. I was thrilled to see all of the gorgeous lanterns included in Hero’s summer stamp sets! I used the larger lantern image on the project below along with an Asian floral branch and Asian fans to create an altered Chinese takeout box. These are super-easy to make and would be perfect as party favors for a summer Asian-themed party, or just as a gift box for a friend. You can change up the colors for a completely different look or to coordinate with your own party decor.

Stamps used:

• Asian Elements

I don’t know about you, but I adore flowers & like to visit the local Arboretum at least once or twice during the spring/summer season. One of my favorite flowers is the red poppy. I was so excited to see the new etched flower stamp that looks just like one!

To add dimension to your flower, just stamp it twice, color with markers and cut out. Then cut out petals from one and add to the second with foam tape. You can use your fingers to curl the edges. Add glitter to the center for sparkle.

Stamps Used:

• Etched Flower
• Clear Design Thank You Messages

Thanks Laura! Those are all simply stunning!

Now for the weekly challenge! Using at least one Hero Arts stamp, create a card, scrapbook page, or other project that represents summer to you. Submit it to the Hero Arts Flickr Group by 11:59 PM PST on Sunday, July 20th and tag it with the code word “summer”. Here are the prizes:

• 1st place: $50 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2008 catalog
• 2nd place: $25 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2008 catalog
• 3rd place: $10 of new Hero Arts stamps + a 2008 catalog

Happy Summer Stamping!

This entry was posted on Monday, July 14th, 2008 at 4:18 am and is filed under Motivation Mondays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.