Big congratulations to the McGuire family and welcome, sweet Lila Grace!

Thinking of you all on this joyous occasion and sending lots of love!

We are so excited to welcome Lila into the Hero Arts family. We can’t wait to meet her!

Love,

Hi all, and happy May! We have some exciting news to share: we’re launching a new program called My Monthly Hero! Each month we’ll have a theme, contests, and NEW stamps to go with the theme. May’s theme is “Happy Birthday”.

We’ll be sneak peeking the four NEW stamp sets for May here on the blog in the coming days, and they’ll arrive in our online store starting May 15th! But here’s the really exciting part! Participating local stamp stores have these new stamps plus a fabulous idea booklet in store already! Stores like Stamp On Over in Sunnyvale, CA, that is!

Stamp on Over is located at the Cranberry Hill Mercantile, an awesome one-stop-shop for crafts. In addition to ALL the Hero Arts My Monthly Hero stamps, including the four new sets plus the idea booklet, they also have fabric, paint, ceramics and MORE Hero Arts stamps (and stamping supplies, of course)! So why not stamp on over to Stamp On Over? Click right HERE for their hours, phone, and location.

We’ll be highlighting more participating stores in the coming days, plus we’ll have a whole list of participating stores for you too!

Now on to the May contest!

The May contest themes include birthdays, a color challenge and the technique is interactive cards. Fun! Click right HERE for all the contest details and find out how to enter to win one of MANY Hero Arts shopping sprees to be awarded this month. We can’t wait to see what you create!

We’re going to be featuring LOTS of great birthday stamps this month here on the blog so that you’ll have plenty of ideas for birthday cards for friends and family or to enter the contest! If you’d like to stamp along with us, the stamps we’ll be featuring are right HERE in the Hero Arts online shop! As always, orders placed in the Hero Arts online shop are fulfilled by local stamp stores — just one more way Hero supports local businesses!

And of course we have an example to share with you today! Here’s a fun pair of cards from Sally with images from Life of the Party Birthday. And we just love how Sally transformed a triangle of patterned paper into a party hat! So clever!

Find out how to make this card — click for complete supplies and instructions.

Both of Sally’s cards feature the Happy Definition background stamp, which is our current Stamp of the Week and one of the featured stamps in this month’s My Monthly Hero! You will find Happy Definition in the Hero Arts Online Store, this week only, for 25% off!

And don’t forget, you can check out all the stamps and supplies that will be featured this month right over HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today! Shari will be here tomorrow with one of her fabulous techniques!

Hello and Happy Friday, everyone! This morning it’s our pleasure to introduce one more stamper to our growing Hero Hostess team!

Please join us in welcoming the fabulous…the “newly aproned”…Marcy Kaminski (marcyk924)! And just take a look at this stunning Newspaper Tulips creation she’s sharing with us today! From the eye-catching color combination to the patterned paper that so perfectly frames the focal image, this card is delightful…

Find out how to make this card — click for complete supplies and instructions.

As we’ve been doing all week, let’s sit down for a friendly chat with our new Hostess…

How long have you been stamping and how did you get started? I started stamping almost 4 years ago, but have been crafting my whole life. I was convinced I was going to be a scrapper, but when a friend (a former shipper for OWH) introduced me to cardmaking, I was hooked. Now, instead of making 30 cards a day, it can take me a whole day to make just one! I feel I’ve become a lot more creative over the years.

When did you discover the Hero Arts blog and did you leap into the Flickr group right away too? I was introduced to the Hero Arts blog in 2009, when the same friend was helping to organize a blog hop for OWH. It was amazing, seeing all those talented people, and when I came to the HA blog, I was blown away! The videos, card samples, the store and most of all, the warm feeling extended to hoppers that day, had me signing up to follow immediately. After spending a few hours back and forth on the blog, I noticed a little blurb inviting followers to join the Flickr Group. I took my poor little card, without even a stamp on it, and posted it. The welcome I received was like walking into a new church for the first time! I felt like the most talented person in the world! And do you know that everyone of those who posted on my first card, are still very active in the Flickr Group today!!

What is your favorite kind of card to stamp? I LOVE layered cards with lots of pretty papers, die cuts and ribbon. I think my style is casual elegant. I love shabby and vintage too, but that takes some time and effort to get it right. I’m very much a perfectionist. CAS scares the wits out of me, but I have been known to make one or two! I tell everyone it’s not as easy as it looks!

If you could have one “stamping wish” what would it be? WOW, good question! I actually have two, but they are good ones!  First, I would LOVE Shari Carroll to come spend a weekend with me in my studio, and give me private lessons. She looks like she would be SO much fun! She is a woman whom I admire very much, professionally. She has an amazing work ethic. My second wish would be to have a Hero Arts Flickr Group gathering. We always talk about it, and there’s a group of us here in the Northeast that are hopefully going to have one, but it’s a wish, nonetheless. So there ya have it!

You can see more of Marcy’s work here at Flickr and also on her blog. Many thanks, Marcy — we’re truly honored to have you as a Hostess!!

Congratulations once again to ALL of the new Hero Hostesses! We’re looking forward to the next three months, and can’t begin to thank you enough for the endless support and creativity you offer the Hero Arts community and Flickr group.

Are you wondering what the new Hostesses will be “wearing” over in the Flickr group? Cheiron, Kathy, Emily and Marcy have dyed their aprons in different colors, and we’re giving you a little peek below so that you’ll recognize their new avatars in the group! Don’t they look happy and cheerful? Fitting, since they bring so much happiness and cheer to the group.

Thank you so much for joining us during this special week and leaving such kind comments for our new Hero Hostesses!

Wishing you all a very happy weekend,

We are excited to announce that the new What’s Up and PB&J collections from Hero Arts-BasicGrey are here! The collections feature stamps and 6×6″ paper pads that coordinate perfectly together.  As usual, orders placed in the Hero Arts Online Store are fulfilled by local stamp stores.

And! If you haven’t seen them yet, check out the first round of winners from this month’s Sunshine and Showers contest — they’re sure to make you smile!

Happy stamping,

Hello, friends! Here we are on the third day of our week of Hero Hostess introductions and it’s time to find out who will next be donning an apron alongside Cheiron and Kathy! Let’s get right to it…

Today we’re thrilled to welcome Emily Leiphart (eleiphart) as our newest Hero Hostess! You’re in for a treat, because Emily created both a card AND video to share here on the blog! When we saw how she used the stamped and die-cut flower as a sun, we thought it was (pardon the pun) pure brilliance! And we adore the happy pops of color against the kraft background.

Find out how to make this card — click for complete supplies and instructions.

You can watch her Hero Hostess video debut below. Take it away, Emily!

And now for a little chat with our new Hostess…

How long have you been stamping and how did you get started? I started stamping about 15 years ago. On a lunch break, a friend and I ventured into a stamp store at the lakefront during our lunch hour. It was right there and then that I was hooked. I stamped to make cards for family and friends but it didn’t become a serious hobby until three years ago, after the birth of my son.

When did you discover the Hero Arts blog and did you leap into the Flickr group right away too? I discovered the Hero Arts Blog in December 2010 and ended up building a huge collection of Hero Arts stamps since they’d just had a release and there were so many end-of-the-year holiday sales! I jumped into the Flickr group right away after being inspired by the Hero Artists as well as all the warm and talented Hero Arts fans.

What is your favorite kind of card to stamp? My favorite kind of card to stamp is a general hello or thinking of you card. I like to surprise friends with these.

If you could have one “stamping wish” what would it be? My one stamping wish would be to have the opportunity to design my own line of stamps. I hope to make that dream a reality someday!

You can find more of Emily’s creations here at Flickr and on her blog. We’re so happy to have you as a Hero Hostess, Emily…thank you!!

Before we go, we have some more good news - our winners from the Operation Write Home blog hop! We asked you to leave us a comment on that post and tell us which of our three OWH sets is your favorite for a chance to win that set. The winners are:

• Beverly Sizemore who said “Julie’s card is a hoot….so funny. Hard to pick a favorite from the three sets but ‘All The Time’ has wonderful sentiments for the OWH cause. ;)”
• Cynthia Chapman who said “I love all your products. I also LOVE that they are made in the USA! My favorite stamp set is ‘Right At Home’. It’s one that I don’t have. Thanks for supporting our heroes!”

Ladies, please send an email with your address to winner@heroarts.com to claim your prize.

Thanks for stopping by today. We’ll be back tomorrow with our first round of April contest winners and then another Hostess announcement on Friday. So much happy news this week!

Welcome back to our week of Hero Hostess introductions! It’s time to hand out our second apron of the week, and this one’s going to a talented stamper who’s been a member of the Hero Arts Flickr group since its formation in March 2008. It’s our pleasure to welcome our next Hero Hostess…Kathy Wade (krolski)! She’s created a Spring delight for us all today with this adorable card. Such sweetness!

Find out how to make this card — click for complete supplies and instructions.

Now how about a little chat with our newest Hostess…

How long have you been stamping and how did you get started? I have been stamping for about 12 years. I was invited to a stamping party and bought a couple of stamps and ink pads, and as they say, the rest is history.

When did you discover the Hero Arts blog and did you leap into the Flickr group right away too? I saw the HA website on the back of one of my wooden stamp sets so I checked it out. This was before Hero Arts started their blog. I looked through all the card ideas they had online at that time.  When HA started the blog, I was in awe of the ideas and inspiration and I still am to this day!  I then joined the Flickr group in March of 2008 right after it started.  I think I lurked around a bit before I submitted any of my own cards. The HA Flickr group is such a warm and friendly community and I’m continually inspired by all of the members and the awesome cards they create.

What is your favorite kind of card to stamp? I love to make all kinds of cards, but I make Birthday cards most often. I come from a huge family with lots of siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws, etc., so I have no choice but to make A LOT of Birthday cards. When you have “no choice” in the matter, you must have lots of stamps! Ha!  I also like to make cards for Valentine’s Day and anniversaries for my husband.

If you could have one “stamping wish” what would it be? Well I’m already very blessed to have lots of Hero Arts stamps, and now, to have the opportunity to be a Hero Hostess is such an honor. I sure hope I can do the “hostess apron” justice. heehee…  My “stamping wish” would be to meet some of the ladies from the HA Flickr group in person….maybe one year at ScrapFest! 

I’d like to thank Hero Arts for their dedicated commitment to their customers, their amazing generosity and this exciting opportunity!  I’m thrilled to be on the Hero Hostess team!

You can find more of Kathy’s creations here at Flickr and also on her blog. Kathy, thank YOU and welcome to “The Order of the Apron” (as many of the Hostesses like to say!)

We have one quick housekeeping note before we go — this week’s Stamp of the Week! As you’ll notice from the image below, it’s not a stamp at all. It’s our Sunshine Designer Papers! Now through Sunday, this 12 sheet paper pack (4 each of 3 designs) is available in the Hero Arts Online Store for just $3.75. It’s the same great thickness as our notecards and layering papers…heavy enough to use as a card base, as Kathy did on her card above!

That’s a wrap for today. Thanks for stopping by and we’ll see you tomorrow for our next apron announcement and a video!

Hi everyone! We’re so happy you’re here today! It’s a big day, and it’s going to be a big WEEK, as we introduce a new group of Hero Hostesses!! That’s right, the Hero Hostess sisterhood is growing…and we couldn’t be more excited!

What exactly is a Hero Hostess? While our Flickr group members and long-time blog readers are likely familiar with the Hostess program, here is a post with more information. Hero Hostesses are chosen for their wonderful contributions to the Hero Arts Flickr Group discussions and challenge submissions. Simply put — they inspire, they encourage, and they help make the Hero Arts community a special place.

So let’s jump right in and welcome our newest Hero Hostess…none other than Cheiron Brandon (cheironbrandon)! Just look at this beautiful friendship card she created for us today. Such a  lovely combination of stamps, die cuts, and colors! Perfect for Spring.

Find out how to make this card — click for complete supplies and instructions.

Now, let’s get to know Cheiron with a little stamping Q & A!

How long have you been stamping and how did you get started? I started stamping in 2004 when a stamp store opened a mile down the street from my house. I took my first card making class there (using Hero Arts stamps) and have been stamping ever since.

When did you discover the Hero Arts blog and did you leap into the Flickr group right away too? I have been reading the Hero Arts blog for a few years now, but just started to participate in the flickr group in the beginning of 2011.

What is your favorite kind of card to stamp? My favorite type of card to stamp is a hello or thinking of you card. I love to send cards “just because”, it’s always nice to get something in the mail besides bills!

If you could have one “stamping wish” what would it be? My one stamping wish would be to have someone to clean up after me between projects!

You can find more of Cheiron’s work here at Flickr and on her blog. Cheiron, we’re honored to have you as a Hostess. Thank you!!

Tomorrow brings another Hero Hostess introduction…we’ll see you then!

Have a wonderful day,

Hi everyone, it’s Lisa here! You know the old saying “April showers bring May flowers”? Well, April showers bring so much more than that here at Hero Arts! What all do they bring, you ask?

First, they bring a brand new contest! This month’s theme is “Sunshine & Showers” and you can interpret it however you like, from a sunny get well soon card to a baby or wedding shower! Plus there’s an awesome sketch challenge and Shari’s technique is shaped cards! Read all about it, and hope that you enter!

April showers also bring a rainbows! For this one, I just had to break out some Hero Arts-Studio Calico stamps — both new and old — and a colorful array of Distress inks to make this cheery card!

(Find out how I made this card plus complete materials and instructions.)

Here’s a closeup of the clouds so that you can see them better:

April showers also bring the NEW Hero Arts-Studio Calico stamps HERE in the Hero Arts Online store, including one of my *many* new favorites, the Lattice background. Here I embossed it in white to really make it pop.

As always, orders placed in the Hero Arts store are fulfilled by local stamp stores!

And that’s not all! We’ve decided to mix things up here on the blog and have the artists host blog days instead of weeks. This way you’ll get to see more creativity and more stamping styles. Jennifer will be here tomorrow, can hardly wait to see what she’s stamped up.

Thanks so much for joining me today, and happy April!

The time has come to announce the winner of our 10,000 Likes Giveaway! First of all, a big thank you to our blog readers and Facebook fans, new and old, for your participation. We truly enjoyed reading all of the comments about how stamping became a part of your creative lives. Thank you for sharing your stories with us!

Now for our randomly chosen winner! We received over 1000 comments and the lucky one is #834…McCoko! (March 26th, 2012 at 3:10pm) Congratulations! Please contact us at winner@heroarts.com to claim your prize and we’ll send your goodies on their way to you.

We hope you enjoy the rest of this beautiful April weekend!

Hi there! It’s another happy Friday here in Heroville — we have exciting news and a giveaway too!

First, the news. We passed the 10,000 “likes” milestone on our Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon! Earlier that day, I noticed the count was at 9,996 so I had my finger poised and ready to capture a screenshot of the big moment, which you can see below. I also created a card for our wonderful Facebook fans because we like you too. A lot.

Thank you for your support!!

This calls for a celebration, don’t you think!? As you know, around here the words “celebrate” and “giveaway” often go hand in hand. So…it’s GIVEAWAY TIME!! One lucky stamper is going to walk away with a prize pack that includes some of our newest stamps for Spring:

Please Note, Konnichiwa Lantern, Be Happy, Newsprint Butterfly, 19th Century French Script

For a chance to win the goodies pictured above, here’s what you can do:

1. Leave a comment on THIS blog post telling us how long you’ve been stamping, and how you got started. We love learning more about our blog readers!
2. If you’re already a Hero Arts Facebook fan, leave a comment on THIS blog post and let us know.
3. If you’re not yet a Hero Arts Facebook fan, we invite you to “like” our page here and then leave a comment on THIS blog post and let us know you’re our newest “liker”!
4. Spread the word about the “10,000 Likes” giveaway and let us know. You could share via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, etc. — any social media.

Each comment gives you a chance to win the prize. The giveaway will be open through the end of the month. Please comment by Saturday, March 31st at 11:59pm PST. Good luck!!

Thanks so much for joining me on the blog this week. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!