Welcome back to the Hero Arts Blog!

I look forward to my blog weeks so much…especially this go round when I got the idea of doing Card Shapes!!!  Once I chose the theme, my mind became flooded with things to try. Each day this week I’ll use a different template or shape to create some fun cards.  I’ve also invited a few guests to join me later and I can’t wait to share their awesome creations with you.

Let’s get right to it.  Today’s cards use this Crown Template.  I created a few variations of cards with different colors and stamp combinations to inspire you.

Crown in Black
(perfect for those “upper” milestone birthdays!)

Supplies

• Country Hearts
• Notecards Neutral
• VersaMark
• White Embossing Powder
• Art Flowers Meadow
• Summer Embellishments
• Other: Ribbon, ribbon flowers, scallop lace trimming and glue dots

Instructions:
White emboss the Country Hearts onto a black notecard. Cut the card using the crown template. Add trim. Affix flowers and ribbon flowers.  Tie ribbon in a bow and affix in place with a glue dot.  Add heart gems.

Dreamy Crown in Mixed colors

Supplies:

• Heart Flourish
• Scallop Borders
• Accent Pearls
• Distress Inks: Broken China, Shabby Shutters and Walnut Stain
• Water Mist Bottle
• White Notecards
• Art Flowers White and Cream
• Clear Card Buttons
• Frosted Lace Stickles
• Other: Pattern paper (Prima, Basic Grey), string, trimmings, Glue Dots, circle punches 7/8″ and 3/4″

Instructions:
Press the ink pads onto a craft sheet; place the ink blots close to each other but not touching. Tap the Heart Flourish stamp through the three inks to mix the colors. Mist the stamp with water and press onto the card. Repeat until the top of the card is stamped. Allow the image to dry. Cut the card using the crown template. Apply Stickles on the stamped image. Allow to dry. Add a strip of paper to the bottom portion of the crown, trim. Stamp the scallop border onto pattern paper, cut out scallops, add pearls and affix to card. Add trim, flower and string tied in a bow on a button. Punch circles for the top, affix to the card. Tie string through the buttons and affix in place with Glue Dots.

Pink Princess Crown

Close up of acetate detail

Supplies

• Outline Flowers Design Block
• Scallop Borders
• Live In the Moment
• Acetate cards
• Cotton White StazOn
• Black Memories Ink
• Frosted Lace Stickles
• Accent Pearls: Pale Pink, Light Green and White
• Other: Pattern Paper (Basic Grey, Bo Bunny), Glue Dots, ribbon, white tulle, white string, button, circle punches 7/8″ and 3/4″.

Instructions:
Stamp the Outline Flowers image onto an acetate card with White StazOn. Allow to dry.  Cut the card using the crown template.  Cut a piece of pattern paper using the crown template and insert it into the card (affix with a few Glue Dots).  Stamp the greeting with black ink on the pattern paper.  Apply Stickles to the stamped acetate on the centers of the flowers, allow to dry.  Cut a strip of pink paper and affix to the the card.  Stamp the scallop border, cut scallops, add pearls and affix to the card.  Affix a strip of ribbon in place.  Cut a piece of tulle, tie with string secured with a button and bow (adhere to the card with Glue Dots). Punch circles and affix to the top of the crown.  Add pearls.

Tip:
Create frosted glass effects by using Stickles on acetate. Allow extra drying time.

Here are a few other shape templates that I’ve created. You can print them, paste onto cardstock and cut out to use again and again.  Also re-size them to your liking before printing.

Sailboat

Wagon

House

Arches

Okay, are you ready?  This weeks Challenge is to create projects that have a shape to them.  I’ll be looking for submissions where the actual project is a shape rather than a shape mounted to a standard card.  Feel free to use my templates or create your own and don’t forget about common shapes like circles, hearts and stars.  How Fun! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Each project (card, scrapbook page, or other) should feature at least one Hero Arts stamp. Submit your creations to the Hero Arts Flickr Group by 11:59pm PST on Sunday, March 15 and tag them “Shapes”.   We will award the following prizes:

• 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

I enjoy making cards that are interesting, sometimes out of the ordinary and definitely ones that take a bit more time. Most of all I enjoy the process of layering elements.  As a giveaway, I will pick one person to receive a personalized signed copy of my book “Layers”.  Just leave me a comment telling me what process of creating you enjoy most…by 11:59pm PST, tonight.  I’ll announce the winner tomorrow.   Edited to say: this giveaway is closed, thank you for your comments.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

Filed under: shapes

This entry was posted on Monday, March 9th, 2009 at 4:00 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.