Say that ten times fast…  I’m back with some EASY ornament ideas that you can make with your Hero Arts accessories.  I’ve had these ideas in my head for awhile and the time has come to show you.

This first ornament uses the Poinsettia Flowers (about 1 1/2 packs) on a 3″ paper ring that I’ve cut from cardstock.  I’ve folded the flowers in half, then in half again and attached them to the ring with glue dots.  I also stuck in some felt greens and poinsettia.

Supplies

• Poinsettia Flowers
  
• Felt Poinsettias
• Silver Metal Decor
• Other: Ribbon, String, 3″ paper ring (cut from Silhouette or use punches), Glue Dots

This next card uses a clear tag that I’ve cut about 3/4″ off the bottom, then stamped the Flourish Background with White StazOn ink…I added the buttons with Glue Dots. So fun and sparkly!

Supplies

• Flourish Background
• Acetate Tag
• White StazOn
• Neutral Buttons
• Silver Metal Decor
• Medium Accent Pearls
• Small Accent Pearls
• Clear Gemstones
• Other: Ribbon, String, Glue Dots

Hope you’ve enjoyed today’s inspiration…they were so much fun to make!   I’ll be back tomorrow with a couple card ideas and a video.

Have a great day!

Hi everyone! Today is “Take Two Tuesday”, and I’m back with two mini canvases and lots more ways to use glitter, including mixing it with paint and gel medium!

I love how glitter can really set the mood for a piece — it can look happy, or sparkly, or even frosty.  It can be eye poppingly noticeable or more subtle. This first canvas makes me think of a cold, calm, quiet winter morning, before the sun has come up the whole way.

And, I love how just by tilting a glittered piece you get a whole different look!  Here, let me show you:

Shiny!

I think a little canvas like this would make a great gift — and it was really simple and fun to make.  I actually made it to give to my Grandma since she loves cardinals, but now I think I’m going to have to keep it and make another one for her!  Here’s what to do — supply list follows:

1. Stamp the Design Block Antique Flower Background with Soft Pool Shadow Ink on plain white tissue paper to make a subtle background.  Trim, leaving about a quarter inch extra all the way around.
2. Mix Prisma Glitter with an adhesive such as gel medium or mod podge and paint it all over a blank canvas.  Place stamped tissue paper piece on top, then brush more gel medium over top.  Let dry.
3. Cut out a branch from cardstock and the bird from felt.
4. Adhere the branch to the canvas with more of the gel medium + glitter mixture.  Brush it all over the top of the branch for extra sparkle!
5. Adhere the felt bird to the canvas with gel medium — you only need to put it on the bottom side.
6. Adhere a ribbon around the edge with more of the gel medium mixture.
7. Add Smooth Gemstones.

Supplies:

• Design Block Antique Flower Background
• Soft Pool Shadow Ink
• Prisma Glitter
• Smooth Gemstones
• Other: ribbon (American Crafts), brown cardstock (Bazzill), white tissue paper, red glitter felt, 4×5″ canvas (craft store), gel medium (Ranger/Claudine Hellmuth Studio Line), branch die (digital download from QuicKutz), bird die (Spellbinders — I cut the wing by hand) OR use this template HERE!

I had so much fun making that mini canvas that I just had to make another one!  In this one, I think the glitter gives the feeling that the sun is rising over new fallen snow that’s all fresh and sparkling!

This piece has LOTS of glitter — starting with little bits of Prisma Glitter in the sky and in the tissue paper snow

Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue on the snowman’s scarf

And more glitter mixed into the flock under the trees + snowman, too!

Supplies:

• Small Snowman
• Clear Design Holiday Sayings
• Felt Trees
• Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue
• Prisma Glitter
• Other: 5″ square canvas (craft store), glittery tissue paper (recycled), gel medium, blank canvas and classic teal acrylic paints (Ranger/Claudine Hellmuth Studio Line), sticks (from the back garden), markers (Copic), sunrise die cut (QuicKutz, downloadable for Silhouette), ribbon (EK Success/Martha Stewart), flock (The Craft Lounge), pool cardstock

I used pretty much the same instructions for this canvas as the first.  The only difference is that I painted the sky and didn’t use as much glitter in the gel medium mixture.

Can’t wait to put this little guy on my kitchen windowsill — he’s sure to brighten up these winter mornings!

I’ll be back tomorrow with a video featuring yet another way to add glitter to your stamped creations — can’t wait to show you,

We’re back for another colorful day at Hero Arts. Today we bring you our second of four unexpected color combos for your upcoming holiday cards, along with three new cards to get you inspired. Let’s get started!

The color scheme our three artists used for today is so yummy. Not your traditional holiday combo by a long shot but I think once you see the projects, you’ll see how well it works?

For my card, I stamped a background design onto dark brown paper and then embossed it with silver. I love how it gives just a hint of shine and shimmer to the card. I took the metallic factor up a notch by also using some of Hero Arts “metallic decor” scattered on the card. I kept the bold colors in the combo but used them sparingly to add just a touch of color here and there.

Supplies:

• Dots and Flowers
• Silver Metallic Decor
• Kraft Notecards
• Summer Mixed Notecards
• Neutral Mixed Notecards
• Memories Artprint Brown Ink Pad
  
• Silver Embossing Powder
• VersaMark
• Other: patterned paper (plum), chipboard accent (KI Memories), buttons (vintage), gemstone brads (Making Memories), scallop border (Doodlebug Designs)

Leslie’s Tips:

• I really like adding gemstones or metallic decor to my cards. Any easy way to make a uniform “border” like I did on the purple, is to use a dotted patterned paper and then just place a gem over top of each dot on the paper.
• Instead of sewing my buttons on, I put gemstone brads through the center holes of each button.
• Brown is a great neutral to use when working with challenging or non-traditional color combinations.

Next, check out this gorgeous creation by Sheri Reguly. I really like that she did a square card and it is just chock full of beauty and details. Sheri adds: “This unexpected color combination will give your holiday cards a fresh, new look. The touches of silver add a hint of holiday sparkle, while felt accents add both interest and dimension. Machine stitching and a touch of ribbon complete this modern design.”

Supplies:

• Antique Flower Background
• Joy
• White Notecards
• VersaMark
• Silver Embossing Powder
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Felt Trees
• Felt Poinsettia and Leaves
• Silver Metallic Decor
• Other: cardstock, glittered cardstock (Die Cuts With A View), circle/scalloped circle punches (Marvy Uchida), decorative edge scissors (Fiskars), ribbon (Pebbles), machine stitching

Sheri’s Tips:

• A clear embossed background on the blue paper adds a nice subtle detailing to the design.
• Using pre-cut felt embellishments makes assembling your holiday cards quick and easy.

Finally, to wrap up today’s inspiration, we have a great card by Robyn Werlich. Robyn “instantly fell in love with this color scheme that Leslie put together - it is so fresh and modern right now! They are the perfect colors for a modern Christmas card this year! I took the colors and put a traditional twist on this card with a die-cut ornament and a banner title. I’m thinking these colors are going to have to make their way onto my own Christmas cards this year!”.

Supplies:

• Antique Flower Background
• Holiday Sayings
• Raindrop Background
• Silver Metallic Decor
• VersaMark
  
• Embossing Powder Clear
• Chocolate Notecards
• Green Apple Notecards
• Lagoon Notecards
• Summer Mixed Notecards
  
• Other: brown ink, silver metallic paper, 1/2″ circle punch, white string, machine stitching

Robyn’s Tips:

• To re-create the look of snow, I stamped the polka-dot stamp with VersaMark Ink and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. By adding a few 1/2″ punched blue circles in a random order on top of it, it added to the winter feel of the card.
• Stamping in layers can really add to your cards. Cut up your papers and add on top of each other. I think that it adds additional depth and richness to a card when you see multiple layers of stamped images.

Now, let’s have a giveaway inspired by today’s cards. One name will be randomly drawn to win a set of notecards, the Antique Flower Background stamp, Felt Trees and a package of our Silver Metallic Decor. To enter simply comment on today’s post before 11:59pm PST on Thursday, November 5. We will post the lucky winner on Friday, November 6.

Thanks for another great day at the Hero Arts blog. I’ll see you tomorrow when you will be treated to a scrapbook layout as well as a terrific and always informative video by Jennifer McGuire.

Good day, stampers! Today two more Web Artists are here with their versions of holiday cards, simple style!

Let’s start with Kandis Smith and her absolutely adorable card featuring the Clear Design: Holiday Dolls set. I love the non-traditional color palette she used here! Here’s Kandis with more: “How cute are these little Christmas dolls? I could just eat them up!! I think they are perfect for a darling little holiday card. Make this holiday card a snap by stamping multiple dolls across a piece of white cardstock. Then while watching a favorite TV show, sit down and color them all at the same time. Later all you’ll have to do is cut them out and put a pop dot on the back! Super fast!”

Supplies:

• Clear Design: Holiday Dolls
• Cream, Lime, Winter Notecards
• Clear Smooth Gemstones
• Pale Pink Gemstones
• Memories Black Ink
• Chalk Ink Queue - Primary Elements
• Other: patterned paper, corner rounder, ribbon, decorative scissors

Tips from Kandis:

• Arrange two different sizes and colors of gems on the page — it appears that you spent more time on the card than you did!
• Use simple decorative scissors on one side of the cardstock to add a little interest without a lot of time!

Leslie Lightfoot brings us our second card today, a wonderful example of simple stamping. She stamped the background as well as the sentiment tone-on-tone, and added interest with colorful stripes. Leslie says, “This card went together really simply. I stamped the background onto kraft notecard and then stamped the message onto a red rectangle of cardstock.”

Supplies:

• Flourish Pine
• Joy
• Holiday Mixed, Kraft Notecards
• Memories ArtPrint Brown Ink
• Memories Ruby Ink
• Red Metallic Decor
• Other: patterned paper, brads, heart punch

Tips from Leslie:

• I love to add a touch of striped patterned paper to most of my cards, it adds a splash of color while allowing the stamped images to still stand out.
• For a subdued stamped look, stamp with the same color ink (in a darker shade) as your background paper.

Two great cards…now how about two great giveaways?! Today we are giving away two different prizes — the clear stamps Kandis used on her card (Holiday Dolls) and the woodblock stamps Leslie used on hers (Flourish Pine and Joy.)

For a chance to win, simply leave a comment on today’s post  by 11:59pm PST on Thursday, October 29. We’ll pick two random winners and announce them on Friday.

Thanks for stopping by today! Tomorrow we’ll have a video and we’re going to “heat things up” — see you then!

What could be simpler than stamped trees, torn paper and a few gems? These trees were so easy to stamp and color. Add a few gemstones and bingo…a card. I am adding these trees to my favorite images.

Making multiple cards is really easy with these two designs and you can use all those little pieces of gemstones we seem to find stuck everywhere on our desks. This would make a wonderful project for a Girl Scout troop, as the same sketch can be used (on a mini scale) for place cards or tags.

What a treat to make this year’s Thanksgiving invitation simple, yet festive. I typed the details of Thanksgiving dinner on vellum and slipped it inside.

Supplies:

• Clear Design: Happy Thanksgiving
• Giving Tree
• Fall Mixed Notecards
• Memories ArtPrint Brown Ink
• Other: markers in light brown, orange and green, narrow green ribbon, glue, ruler, tape, and red notecards

Instructions:

1. Tear about 1 1/2″ from the bottom front of an orange notecard. Stamp the tree in ArtPrint Brown ink on the torn notecard. Stamp the message next to the tree.
2. Tear a strip of brown cardstock and glue under the orange paper. Attach the green ribbon to the brown strip, securing on the back with tape. The red torn strip is attached under the brown (this hides the taped ribbon).
3. Using three markers, add color to the leaves on the tree.

Tearing Tip: Position a ruler along the paper and tear against the ruler. This gives you a straight tear line.

I turned to the Winter Tree for my next simple design. Stamp, tear and add gemstones. That’s it! Seriously, I made a box of these and added gemstones during our favorite TV show.

Supplies:

• Winter Tree
• Clear Design: Holiday Cheer
• Green Apple Notecards
• Gemstones
• Other: StazOn Olive Green ink, ruler, glue, and two colors of green paper

Instructions:

1. Tear a 1″strip from the front of a green notecard. Stamp the tree and message above the torn edge in green StazOn ink.
2. Tear two strips of varying green paper and glue under the notecard.
3. Add gems to the tree and dot of the letter “j” in the word “joyous”.

Wednesday’s video will show different tearing techniques. Sometimes we forget how beautiful torn paper can be. With the wonderful selection of papers available these days you can create impressive cards and projects by making collages, backgrounds, and accents with just bits of torn papers. Something to think about, that’s for sure.

In keeping with our Christmas/holiday card theme, I decided to use the build a snowman set to make (what else?) a snowman…that was a given. It is so easy to create him. Stamp, stamp, stamp, cut, cut, cut…EASY breezy. A wonderful set to use with kids…and of course, bling it up!

Supplies:

• Clear Design: Create Your Own
• Memories Black Ink
• Pool Notecards
• White Notecards
• Assorted Gemstones
• Sparkle Gems Hearts
• Red Gemstones
• Other: markers

Then I decided to think of another use instead of the whole body…got it…just snowman heads! A totally different concept.

Supplies:

• Clear Design: Create Your Own
• Memories Black Ink
• Winter Mixed Notecards
• Assorted Gemstones
• Other: pom pom, markers, scraps of various notecards

So then, I pondered, how could I use this set ALL YEAR, instead of just winter? Circles, dots…my true love as you know! AND the backs of them. So, just random stamping with circles and festive colors would make a great party invite, birthday card or generic greeting. OOPS…forgot my bling!

Supplies:

• Clear Design: Create Your Own
• Memories Black Ink
• Chalk Ink Queue - Misty Meadow
• Chalk Ink Queue - Primary Elements
• White Notecards
• Summer Mixed Notecards

Have you started your challenge card yet? If not, tick tock…come back tomorrow for more holiday stamping.

Grab your scissors and paper scraps because today we’re playing paper dolls…or rather…paper snowmen!

Paper piecing is essentially like playing paper dolls — you cut your pieces, you “dress” your images. Snowmen are perfect for the technique! So today Jennifer McGuire and I will be showing you two variations on paper piecing the jolly snowman from the Share the Joy Cling set. Isn’t he (or she) adorable?

As I mentioned yesterday, some images practically beg to be paper pieced — this is one of them if you ask me! Aside from the fun clothing options,  it’s also great for piecing because it allows you to omit cutting around the arms. You can simply stamp them on the base card, layer the main body over the top, and that’s it…no fancy trimming required. Love that!

When I sat down to create my card, I had just returned from winter coat shopping for my daughters, so I decided to give my snowGIRL a two-tone pink dotted coat and matching hat cut from patterned paper. I save almost every little scrap of patterned paper that comes across my desk and LOVE the fact that paper piecing puts those odd sized scraps to good use.

I added a little touch of white flock to her hat. The partial tree was created by repeatedly stamping a single branch image from the Clear Design: Decorate Your Own set and adding white pen highlights.

Supplies:

• Clings: Share the Joy
• Clear Design: Decorate Your Own
• Sparkle Clear: Merry Christmas
• Stunning Snowflakes DesignBlock
• Memories Black Ink
• Soft Pool Shadow Ink
• Pool Notecards
• Frosted Lace Stickles
• Smooth Clear Gemstones
• Other: cardstock, patterned paper (Bo Bunny), green ink, aqua colored pencil (PrismaColor), white flock, white pen, gray and pink chalk, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Next, Jennifer has a wonderfully creative twist on piecing that I can’t wait to show you! She used the same stamp and created a fabric snowman using Sticky Back Canvas from Ranger, an easy-to-work with fabric that is self-adhesive. She stamped the snowman on the back of the fabric several times and cut out the different pieces. She then inked them with her Ink Blending Tool and Distress Inks from Ranger and assembled them together to create a fabric snowman. Brilliant! I just love the texture…

Supplies:

• Clings: Share the Joy
• Flourish Trio
• Clear Design: Everyday Sayings
• Memories Black Ink
• Soft Pool Shadow Ink
• Pool Notecards
• Small Accent Pearls
• Other: Claudine Hellmuth Sticky Back Canvas, Ink Blending Tool and Distress Inks from Ranger

Jennifer’s snowman has me thinking about other possibilities for piecing aside from paper. Felt would be fun!

Time for a giveaway now — how would you like to dress up some snowmen/women of your own? Today we’re giving away the featured Share the Joy Cling stamp plus some great new embellishments, Snowflake Gems and Metallic Decor.

Just leave a comment on today’s post for a chance to win these goodies and we”ll announce the random winner on Friday morning. Good luck!

Speaking of giveaways, we’ve drawn the winner for the big World Cardmaking Day prize…

Congratulations to Cindy Kelly! Cindy, we’ll be contacting you soon for your four favorite stamps from the new Crazy for Clings catalog.

Thanks for stopping by today…have a great day everyone!

Welcome back, I’ve got some great things to share with you, so let’s jump in and get started.

Today I made some fun Fall and Thanksgiving type ATC’s. I’m really in the mood for fall, the leaves are starting to turn and drop, it’s so pretty. I must have pumpkin pie on my mind because I couldn’t resist working with them in a couple different ways. They’re so versatile!

This first ATC uses the Traditional Pumpkin stamped on book text and colored with pencils. I used an awesome 7Gypsies transparency over the top, added a bit of ribbon and machine stitching.

Supplies:

• Traditional Pumpkin
• Sunshine Lower Case Alphabet
• Fall Chalk Ink Queue
  
• Memories Black Ink
• Other: 7Gypsies paper and ATC transparency, book text, color pencils, brads, ribbon

My next ATC use the same stamp as the one above, but I’ve stamped it onto three different pattern papers. I cut out the papers and restacked them with thin foam tape in between the layers. It’s quite 3-D but with the thinner foam tape and distressed edges it lays fairly flat.

Supplies:

• Traditional Pumpkin
• Flourish Background NEW Cling Stamp!
• ClearDesign Season of Giving
• Fall Chalk Ink Queue
  
• Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Other: Basic Grey papers, 7Gypsies ATC, Tim Holtz ink applicator, hemp string

This next card sits in a landscape format and uses the Season Of Giving ClearDesign set. I just did some basic stamping and added our new Felt Leaves, yummm.

Supplies:

• ClearDesign Season of Giving
• Felt Leaves
• Fall Chalk Ink Queue
  
• Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Orange Gemstones
• Other: Basic Grey paper, Tim Holtz ink applicator, hemp string

And finally, I used a bunch of scraps to cover my ATC base. I then stamped the entire piece with my newest favorite Flourish Background stamp from the Crazy for Clings Supplement.

Supplies:

• Flourish Background NEW Cling Stamp!
• ClearDesign Season of Giving
• Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Other: Basic Grey and 7Gypsies papers, Tim Holtz ink applicator, ribbon and sewing supplies

Okay are you ready for a surprise?  The kind folks over at 7Gypsies sent me some ATC goodies to GIVE AWAY!!! I’ve added in the Traditional Pumpkin stamp because I like it sooo much. Check it out!

I’ll choose TWO random winners from the comments made today. Just post a message by 11:59pm EST tonight for a chance to win. I’ll announce the winners on Friday.  Good luck everyone!  Edited to say, this contest is now closed.

Why not add a bit of humor to this year’s holiday cards? I purchased a box of candy, removed one piece, added a tree made from polymer clay, and snapped a photo. No special lens is needed and prints are inexpensively made from most discount stores.

To make the polymer clay tree, I first made a pattern from paper, then cut the clay around the pattern. You can use a red and white hard candy if you like. Use this same idea for Valentine’s Day too, changing the tree to a red heart — instant Valentine card.

Today I am showing three variations using the same supplies, which are listed below all of the cards and instructions. It is more fun to vary the designs if you are making a lot of cards.

Instructions:

1. Trim the photo to fit a red notecard. Adhere the photo to white and green cardstock, leaving a small border of each color.
2. Stamp the tag image twice in black ink, once on red and once on white cardstock. Trim around the stamped tags and glue the white center on the red tag.
3. Attach the tag to the mounted photo, add your message and tie a knot of ribbon over the top of the tag.

Instructions:

1. After trimming the photo, attach to green cardstock and mount on a brown notecard.
2. Stamp the message on a scrap of the same green paper, allowing enough room for the green metallic décor accents.
3. Glue the message to the front of the card and add the green décor after the last letter.

Because this photo is dark brown I used acetate to stamp the message on the next card. The acetate layer makes it easier to read the message.

Instructions:

1. Stamp the message on acetate with black StazOn ink. Trim the photo and acetate to the same size.
2. Glue both pieces to green cardstock. Add a piece of ribbon to one side of the mounted photo.
3. After attaching to the front of a red card, make a small knot of ribbon to glue to the strip of ribbon.

Supplies for all of today’s cards:

• Clear Design: Holiday Cheer
• Clear Design: Cozy Moments
• Green Metallic Décor
• StazOn Jet Black Ink
• Other: acetate, paper trimmer, glue, scissors, green and red paper, decorative ribbon, red and brown notecards, polymer clay

Using several formats for your cards will allow you to add more details and embellishments to special greetings without creating a totally different card.

And yes, it was wonderful eating the candy after the photo was taken.

See you tomorrow,

Welcome back! Today we’re continuing our week of learning and growing with two more “then and now” creations, courtesy of the Hero Hostesses.

Virginia Lu is here first to share a project makeover that’s sweet as can be! Virginia shares, “I have learned SO much since I joined the Hero Arts blog. It’s amazing how this blog has changed my life — literally! My first entry was very simple.”

(Click image for a larger view.)

“After learning all the techniques and taking weekly challenges actively through the Hero Arts blog, I have implemented my learned skills into making the new and improved version of my first entry. Here I incorporate distressing and embossing and add textures, embellishments to make the card more inviting. I also used a template to cut out the shape for the Friendship Definition and stamped the bird images on top. I love the Hero Arts digital kits. I’m pleasantly surprised how easy they are to use! Virginia also used the new Write Your Own Cling Stamp for the recipe for some chocolate chip cookies — great idea! She says, “It’s really handy to have this stamp, as your own writing adds a lovely personal touch to homemade goods.”

Supplies for card:

• Decorative Birds
• Clear Design: Bird Branch Alphabet
• Sparkle Clear: Simple Messages
• Friendship Definition Digital Kit
• Small & Medium Accent Pearls
• Summer Art Flowers, White & Cream Art Flowers
• Sunshine Mixed Notecards
• Spiced Marmalade  & Broken China Distress Ink
• Others: embossing powder (Stamp-n-Stuff Detail White), raffia

Supplies for cookie tag:

• Clings: Write Your Own
• Clear Design: What’s Cooking
• Other: ribbons and glossy paper (for cookies), Stickles

Virginia’s sweet ensemble would brighten anyone’s day– and wouldn’t the personalized recipe card tag be great for a cookie exchange between friends?! Love it!

Sarah Moerman is our next Hostess with a tale of two cards…take it away Sarah!

“I chose to redo a card (here) I made for the very first challenge on the Hero Arts blog. I have learned so much and been so inspired since the blog started almost a year and a half ago.”

(Click image for a larger view.)

“I kept the colors and design pretty close to the original but incorporated a few things I’ve learned since then like tone-on-tone stamping, using Staz-on on acetate, machine stitching, and distressing. I also added interest by moving away from my strict use of  ‘blocks’, having the patterned paper extend part way across the second side of the card and adjusting the placement of my buttons.”

Supplies:

• Clear Design: Wishful Messages
• Clear Design: Thoughtful Messages
• Artistic Windows
• Lemon Notecards
• Card Buttons Clear
• Other: ghost letter, ribbon, twine, brads, cardstock, patterned papers, inks, sewing thread, cross-stitch floss

I love the finishing touches and the subtle changes Sarah made to her design. She added great details and lots of interest without adding too much, achieving that perfect balance.

Many thanks to Virginia and Sarah for sharing their wonderful makeover projects today!

Before we go, how about a fun giveaway? Up for grabs is the new and fabulous Write Your Own Cling Stamp, as seen on Virginia’s recipe tag today. And we’re giving away not one, but two of them– one for you and one for a friend! A great chance to teach a friend something about stamping.

For a chance to win, just leave a comment on today’s post for Virginia and Sarah, and if you’d like to share something you’ve learned since you joined the blog we’d love to hear that too! The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on the blog on Thursday morning. Good luck!

See you tomorrow for Watch It Wednesday!