Welcome to this week’s Watch it Wednesday. Today I have created a card that features ALL of this month’s contest themes.  It is a masculine card based on sketch 1 and I have layered my stamp up too.  Hooray!  This card also features the fabulous Monster Party digikit that I have been playing with all week.

Card by Lucy Abrams. Complete supplies and instructions here.

My video today shows you how I made this card, and includes a few tips on using digital images.

Now, let’s have a look at today’s More Spring catalog sneak!

That sure doesn’t look like a stamp, does it? Be sure to stop by later today when we’ll “unravel” the mystery behind peek #2!

Don’t forget to come by tomorrow for Social Club; we have some more FABULOUS cards to share!

Have a great day,

Hi, me again.  And I’m here to share another card made using the new Monster Party digikit just released at twopeasinabucket.  The stars, sentiment and monster are all from the kit.

Card by Lucy Abrams. Full supplies and instructions here.

I fit this card into two of the month’s themes - first, it uses Sketch 3, and second, it’s masculine. This digikit is just perfect for masculine cards.

Have you seen this week’s Stamp of the Week yet? It’s the beautiful Stone Etchings set, and all this week it is 25% off in the Hero Arts Online Store. It’s also perfect for masculine designs!

And finally, today I leave you with a snippet from our More Spring catalog!

Later today we’ll show the full reveal. Watch for More Spring products at a retailer near you now, and starting April 18 in the Hero Arts Online Store!

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing a video!  Be sure to pop by.

Have a happy day,

Hello!  It’s Lucy on the blog this week, and today I have made a card that fits in with the masculine theme of this month’s contest.

There’s nothing like a HUGE image to give a card a kick.  This card features digital images from a brand new digikit, Monster Party. This fabulous kit is available in our digital store at twopeasinabucket.com.

Card by Lucy Abrams. Complete supplies and instructions here.

I actually did a bit of stamp layering here too; once I’d printed out my big monster, I stamped over him with Envelope Pattern to give him a bit of texture.  Then I paper pieced him together, giving him cream legs, arms, teeth and a big cream eye to really make the orange color pop.  I think this card would make a boy of any age smile.

I’ll be back tomorrow.  Until then, have a monster sized Monday,

Hi Everyone!  This is going to be a fun-filled, birthday-themed week with lots of Hero artists! We are helping Lisa out since she’s been out of town.

I remembered it was a special person’s birthday today, so I decided to make her a birthday card with some of our new Basic Grey Life of the Party papers and the Typewriter Letters alphabet set.  Carol is the person who packs up our classes at Hero and does a GREAT job.  Happy Birthday, Carol!

To make the “wrap” on the card, I started with a square that I folded and stitched shut.  Add some ribbons and crepe paper and you have a party all “wrapped up!”

Card by Sally Traidman.  Find complete supplies and instructions here.

Nancy will be showing you a great idea tomorrow, so stay tuned to our week of birthday fun! Anyone else celebrating your birthday TODAY?????? Leave us a comment and you can win a surprise!

Happy Stamping,

Birthday cards that are sure to add a smile to the recipient’s face are not all that hard to create. Even if you don’t have a lot of time and/or supplies, you need only a few stamps, some ink, pens or pencils and a few accents.

Imagine changing images, messages and colors to make your cards unique. Our catalog is designed to give you ideas for every occasion that needs a card. Each card shown here may have taken a lot of time on the drawing board; but easy for you to recreate using the colors of your choice. We spend the time so you don’t have to.

All of you are so creative and I can’t wait to hear how you might change these 6 cards into mailable fine art. Tell us your ideas to be entered to win a set of Hip Hip Hooray images.

We will be picking 5 winners so start thinking. I will be watching all weekend.

Have a great weekend!

Make every birthday special by adding the birthday number on top of the cupcake. Just like the number on a store bought card when you were a kid, having your special birthday on a card makes everyone feel special.

Card by Nancy Taylor. Instructions and supplies can be found here.

How many times have you looked through the 2011 catalog and just passed right by the Envelope Pattern stamp? It looks interesting, but…wait till you try it! Stamp using different colors of ink, use as a subtle background, or stamp outlined images over the pattern and you have cards that solicit “how did you do that” comments. After watching Shari’s video on Wednesday this stamp will be at the top of your wish list this week!

Our theme this month is Birthdays & Stamped Envelopes and our STAMP of the WEEK is the Envelope Pattern which is 25% off in the Hero Arts online store this week only!

This month we are celebrating birthdays for everyone! From the rough and tumble men to the dainty princesses, we have card ideas for everyone you know.

What makes this card happy and full of excitement; maybe the bling on the candle, the big pink pearl on the flower or maybe the patterned paper going in opposite directions?

If you want to express excitement and a festive celebration use bright colors, lots of patterns and bling. This patterned paper from BasicGrey’s Life of the Party collection combines colors that work for men and women. By changing the color of the cupcake and adding small punched out designs you can create cards for everyone.

Card by Nancy Taylor. Instructions and supplies can be found here.

Tomorrow we will be using the same stamp with a different idea to personalize each card you send.

The party is almost over, but we’ve left room for two more cards.  First, a card that features the message cloud from Happy Birthday Cupcakes cling set - when mounted on a dot background it’s fast and festive.  Mat with different colors, add some sparkle and ribbon and we have a five minute card… maybe even less.  (I am speedy!)  The little dots on dots in the background, made by making orange dots with a pen, are another way of adding dimension.  Punching tiny holes around the edge of the message cloud lets the yellow shine through!

Card by Sally Traidman.  Click HERE for complete supplies and instructions.

Our last card of the week features the Birthday Gift stack of presents.  I made a little “door” with the word happy inside to change it up a bit.  Simply stamp the bottom block on any color along a fold to make the little door.  Add ribbon, glitter and sequins for added texture.

Card by Sally Traidman.  Click HERE for complete supplies and instructions.

But we do still have a little more inspiration to take you into the weekend!  Check out our fun Idea Friday creations… more great birthday ideas!!

Here’s another idea with our stacked presents.  Shari shows you step by step how to achieve all the different colors with paper piecing.

Cards by Shari Carroll.  Click HERE for complete supplies and instructions.

And more very colorful ideas using those Decorate Your Own Cake stamps!!

Cards by Sally Traidman.  Click HERE for complete supplies and instructions.

And finally, one more card featuring those yummy cupcakes we’ve been drooling over all week long!

Click HERE for complete supplies and instructions.

Hope you had fun at our party this week.  Have a wonderful weekend and join us back here on Monday when Tami will be here to inspire you!

Welcome to Social Club Thursday, where we highlight creations from this amazing community of stampers!  As you know, Sally has been throwing a birthday party on the blog this week.  She invited some of you to join her by sharing some wonderful birthday creations from the Flickr group pool.  Let’s see who’s joining the festivities…

First up, this sweet card for the birthday girl from b.swiderski featuring images from both the Three Flowers and Color Me Flowers cling sets.  The colored pencil on kraft cardstock looks absolutely gorgeous!

Next is a completely adorable card by skermit12. She put the owl’s hat from Wonderful Birthday on the whale’s head from Ocean of Joy!! Are you squealing out there like we are?? Love it!

This card, wow, what do we even say about it?  It’s amazing! Fantastic! Monsterously fantabulous!!  Whoever jerseystamper gave this card to is one lucky six year old. By the way, if you’d like to make one of these Tri-Shutter cards yourself, there’s a good tutorial over on Splitcoaststampers, HERE!

And finally, a yummy cupcake card by kellsterstamps. We don’t know about you, but between this card and what Sally’s been sharing, we are REALLY craving cupcakes - both to eat and to stamp!

A great big thanks to these ladies for sharing their art with the group!  We have sidebar blinkies for everyone featured during Social Club - if you’d like one, send a quick email to winner@heroarts.com and we’ll get it right out to you!  And a big thanks to ALL OF YOU for sharing with us, we so enjoy seeing what you come up with!

And speaking of sharing what you come up with, a reminder that the first half of our May contest wraps up tonight!  Post your Birthday, Dads & Grads creations in the Flickr pool by 11:59 PST, tagged with May2010A. (Full details HERE!).  Good luck!!

Thanks for joining us today!

Welcome back for day three of our birthday party!  Here are some little tags.  Simple and cute.  Make a bunch of them and stash them away for last minute gifts!  Quick and easy touches add a lot - look how adorable the Happy Birthday Cupcakes message cloud looks by merely adding some color to the dots with a marker.  In a pinch for a card?  Just adhere one of these to a larger piece of card stock and voila - you’re good to go!

Tags by Sally Traidman.  Click HERE for complete supplies and instructions.

For our video today, I thought I would show you how to make an ultra simple gift card holder.  It is made from a regular 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock.  Our giant Happy Happy Birthday woodblock stamp makes a great birthday cake in seconds!  Add some “layers” with a scallop border punch and bling it up with lots of glitter glue!! A printed paper inside makes a nice contrast…or OF COURSE, you could stamp it!

Card by Sally Traidman.  Click HERE for complete supplies and instructions.

So, grab a piece of cake, a cup of coffee and start thinking about your challenge card.  Entries are due tomorrow night at 11:59 PST! (Click HERE for all the details.)  And be sure to stop back by tomorrow for our Social Club Thursday - maybe you’ll find your own creation here on the blog!