Hi everyone!  Before we get to today’s announcement, we wanted to quickly let you know that the wonderful Distress Inks are now available in the Hero Arts Online Store. Just click on over HERE and scroll down to see all of the great colors.  We are very excited to be offering these versatile pads from Ranger!

Now, onto the announcement of the winners for the “My Message” Challenge…

One of the hardest things to do on my blog week is to select winners. Every day I look through the Flickr entries and every day I wonder how I will ever pick. The fact that you all seemed to have such fun with this challenge makes you all winners in my book.  Congratulations to the following stampers; there were so many amazing sentiments and I loved all the colors everybody used to make each one unique.

Let’s begin with the Fresh Face prize.  Each week we award this prize to someone who has not yet won a challenge, and this week the honor goes to Mom of one.  I love the way she tied her unique message in with the stamped insect images — very clever!

In the Scrapbooking category, our winner this week is julie21566.  She created a one-of-a-kind title for her Easter layout, “Tweet Treats from the Big Bunny”.  You can see the title in even more detail here.  Wonderful job, Julie!

First Place honors for the challenge go to dedernc3, who created this absolutely beautiful birthday card.  By combining the Bold Caps Alphabet with a birthday sentiment from the Card Messages set, she was able to personalize the card for the recipient.  I’m sure Anita appreciated this special touch!

Coming in Second Place is Virginia L., who caught my eye with some wonderful colors and adorable cupcakes.  I really enjoyed the unique birthday message she came up with for her daughter. As Virginia says in her description, “live, love, laugh…just what a mother would want for her daughter.”

And in Third Place we have a super creative card from debstamps. Check out the way she stamped the fun message right onto the fish using our classic Printer’s Type Alphabet.  These colorful tropical fish are made of punched hearts — how “fin”-tastic!

Who could stop there?  Here are three wonderful Honorable Mentions!

First, jess619 composed a heartfelt message with a touch of whimsy on this cute card featuring the Balancing Owls.  I love the play on words and the mix of alphabet fonts she used here.

Next, Pocketful of Paper combined several messages on these great bookmarks that celebrate her childrens’ reading accomplishments.   What a great way to praise and encourage!

Speaking of celebrations, yesterday was Earth Day and I just loved this card krolski (Kathy) created for the special day.  

Well done, everyone!  To the winners and honorable mentions:  please send an email to the blog (address located in the sidebar) to let us know your address so we can send your prizes. Thank you!

I hope these creations have inspired you to look at your message stamps and alphabets in a whole new light. The inspiration all the entries give me is overwhelming. I am always laden with ideas after my blog week and have sticky notes all around my computer screen with ideas on each one. Thank you all for making my blog week so much fun.

Tomorrow Jennifer will show several more distressed creations and…a little birdie told me she’ll have five giveaways too, so be sure to stop by.

See you next time,

Thanks so much for joining me on the blog this week. Here’s a little recap of our projects featuring unique messages:

Click on any of the links below to be taken to that day’s post.

• Monday - Combining message stamps and alphabet stamps to create unique messages, inside and out.
• Tuesday - Two creative cards that use repeated messages.
  
• Wednesday - A video filled with tips on watercoloring, plus a layout and matching card.
• Friday - An array of amazing projects with French flair!

Reading all your comments this week has made me want to experiment with the many techniques available. Thank you all for the amazing cards that have been submitted to the Flickr Group so far. I am humbled by all the effort you put into your cards and projects. Thank you for sharing your work with all of us.

The “My Message” challenge runs until Sunday at 11:59 pm (PST) and more details can be found HERE.  See you next Thursday for the announcement of the winners!

Until then,

Today we have some very special guests, all the way from ADT Design Team in France! For a long time, creative artists in France have been seeking out Hero Arts for their scrapbooking and card making projects. The ADT Design Team is among the most creative and talented artists in France, creating beautiful projects using Hero Arts. Hero Arts has designed many new stamps and sets, specifically in French. We are thrilled that ADT will be able to supply French customers the full line of Hero Arts products, as well as provide great service, great products, and great inspiration to a ever growing audience of stampers.

Let’s meet these amazingly talented artists and see what they stamped for this week’s “My Message” challenge, starting off with a fabulous dimensional scrapbook box by Prisca Jockovic!

Prisca created a happy, sweet secret garden (jardin secret) with a photo of one of her twin daughters and LOTS of French messages!  Feast your eyes:

Here’s a closeup of the “secret” part that folds down:

Featured Stamps:

• LP154 (French) Messages Fleuris
• LP148 (French) Definitions

Thanks so much Prisca! Learn more about her in her Hero Arts Bio HERE, or HERE on her blog!

Now, prepare to be “wowed” with another dimensional scrapbook piece by Elodie Touzet!

Elodie created a family portrait of herself, her husband, and their smiling Yorkshire Terrier! 

Here’s a closeup of just some of the wonderful little details…

Featured Stamps:

• LP150 (French) Empreintes d’Amour
• LP148 (French) Definitions
• LP152 (French) Famille Calligraphie
• CL344 (French) Coupons et Etiquettes
• Heart Winged Butterfly
• Leaf Flourish

Wow, Merci, Elodie!  Learn more about Elodie HERE in her Hero Arts Bio, or HERE on her blog!

Next we have a fun card by Gauxanne!

This clever card is in English, so you can figure it out…we all “amour” what she did!

Inside view:

Featured Stamps:

• Clear Design Thank You Flourishes
• Clear Design Treasure The Moments
• Clear Design Mix & Match Elements

Thanks very much Guaxanne! Find out more about Gauxanne HERE in her Hero Arts Bio or HERE on her blog!

Now, how about a scrapbook page?  Check out this super fun page by Gaëlle!

She combined several stamps to create her own message about her two daughters: “living is made of moments of happiness together.”  So true!

And how clever is this — she made the flowers by inking just part of the Pop Art Bird!

Featured Stamps:

• LP148 (French) Definitions
• LP150 (French) Empreintes d’Amour
• D5222 (French) Petits Bonheurs
• LP152 (French) Famille Calligraphie
• Pop Art With Bird

Learn more about Gaëlle HERE in her Hero Arts Bio or HERE on her blog!

Now for another layout — this one by the amazing Sylvie Leblanc!

She used stamps from several different sets to create this FUN page about her daughter!

Featured Stamps:

• Dandelion
• Artistic Windows
• Raindrop Background
• Message Blocks
• Clear Design High Heels
• Clear Design Mix & Match Elements
• Moments Background

Surprise! Today we not only have a video for you, but a scrapbook page and matching card too. The video is filled with ideas to simplify watercoloring on stamping.  And as a bonus, the cards shown in the video will be mailed to the winners of this week’s challenge, in addition to the usual prizes!

Additional Tips:

• The image stamped on the acetate was stamped with StazOn ink and trimmed to fit the front of the notecard.
• The more water you add to paper the more it curls. The solution is to place the slightly wet paper in a heavy book overnight and it will dry flat. Put a piece of paper towel on either side so your book does not get wet.
• To tell if paper is truly dry try this:  if it feels cold to the back of your hand, it is wet. Dry paper does not feel cold.

Now, for a matching scrapbook page and card.  Every year I make my friend Peggy a scrapbook page for each grandchild, either from photos I took or her photos. The 8½” x 11″ size does not take up too much room for her or too much time for me. The first year I give her a page in a 1/2″ binder and decorate a single sheet to slip in the front clear cover of the binder.

Did you notice the two color name at the top? I stamped the letters in blue ink on blue paper. After cutting them out I drew a black line around each letter, to coordinate with the rest of the lettering.

Supplies:

• Clear Design Friendship
• Clear Design Pattern Alphabet
• Clear Design Woodland Creatures
• Black StazOn Ink
• Other: paper trimmer, patterned ribbon (American Crafts), blue ink, blue and rose papers, hole punch, fine point black marker, tape and glue

Instructions:

1. Stamp the messages on blue paper (see the tip below for creating messages on textured paper) using a black ink pad. Create the child’s name using the Pattern alphabet and a blue ink pad. Trace around the letters with a fine black marker. Trim the messages and cut around the stamped letters.
2. Add bits of ribbon to each message using a different style of attaching the ribbon on each message. Mount the messages on rose paper.
3. Attach all the elements to an 8 1/2″ x 11″ dark blue paper.

Here is a tip for stamping words on Bazzill or other lightly textured papers: Rub a bone folder or craft stick across the area of paper you will be stamping. This flattens the texture just enough so your words have clean lines. If there are still some areas that are not inked, use a fine black marker to complete the words. Peggy has the most adorable grandson so I made her some notecards to match the scrapbook page.

The inside message “a lot” is perfect for grandmothers.

Supplies:

• Clear Design Friendship
• Happy Uppercase Alphabet
• Black StazOn Ink
• Hyacinth Notecards
• Other: paper trimmer, glue, rose cardstock, decorative ribbon (American Crafts), tape

Instructions:

1. Trim a photo to fit the front of a notecard and mount on a piece of rose cardstock. Add ribbon to diagonal corners, securing the ribbon to the back with tape.
2. Stamp a message on the front of the card in black ink and the rest of the message on the inside.
3. Attach the photo.

Now, how about a stamp giveaway to brighten the day? We have three of the Garden Roses stamps shown in the video to give away.  To enter to win, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me how you envision coloring this image (technique, color, anything!)

I will announce the three random winners on Friday morning.  Good luck!

Pssst…the Garden Roses stamp has been added as a Featured Product in the Hero Arts Online Store right here.  It’s perfect for Spring and Mother’s Day, as well as all occasion “thinking of you” type cards.

Welcome back to our week of unique message ideas!

Sometimes there are special people who deserve more than a single “Happy” when it comes to wishing them a happy birthday. By inking only the “Happy” you can send a unique birthday card. If you use Hero Arts Long Notecards, you can make many “Happy” birthday wishes.

By trimming the paper flowers in half you create the illusion that they extend over the edges of the notecard.

Supplies:

• Big All Time Greetings (CL350) NEW!
• Wisteria Notecards
• StazOn Black Ink Pad
• Ultra Clean Stamp Cleaner
• Art Flowers Neutral
• Lavender Gemstones
• Other:  hole punch, assorted ribbons, glue

Instructions:

1. After attaching the clear stamp, ink only the “Happy” on the “Happy Birthday” image once and stamp. Ink the entire message in black ink and stamp the image.
2. Punch two holes on the folded side of the notecard and draw three different pieces of ribbon through the holes. Tie the ribbon in a single knot, trimming the ends if needed.
3. Add paper flowers and gemstones, allowing two flowers to disappear off the edges of the paper.

This next card demonstrates how to create your own backgrounds by repeating the card message. Clear stamps give you the advantage of knowing exactly where you are stamping and if you stamp on the diagonal, mistakes in spacing will not be as noticeable. Could stamping be much easier? A single message, some paper flowers with gemstones, and your creativity make this card unique.

Supplies:

• Everyday Sayings (CL342) NEW!
• StazOn Black Ink Pad
• Ultra Clean Stamp Cleaner
• Wisteria Notecards
• Lagoon Notecards
• Lavender Gemstones
• Art Flowers Neutral
• Art Flowers Summer
• Other: black paper, paper trimmer, glue

Instructions:

1. Stamp the message on a piece of Lagoon paper and trim to create a large square, with the message on the diagonal. Mount the stamped paper on a piece of black paper.
2. Add the layered paper on the front of a notecard, placing three flowers in a corner. Add a gemstone to the center of each flower and a row of them along the top edge of the black layer.
3. Stamp the message on the notecard.

Tip: If there is an area of the background you are not happy with, place the flowers over that area.

Thanks for dropping in today. Be sure to check back tomorrow, when I will share a video on watercoloring made easy. I have included an easy way to add a bit of fresh scent to those Mother’s Day cards too.  See you tomorrow!

Good morning everyone, and welcome to this week’s Hero Arts Blog. There are times when even Hero Arts doesn’t have exactly the message you want to send, so…this week’s challenge is to use a combination of alphabets and/or parts of phrases to create your own unique and personal message.

During the entire week we will be creating silly and serious cards and even a scrapbook page using your very own message. The “Make Your Own Message” Challenge starts now!

This first card “Enjoy” is one of my favorites, why? Because it is very easy to make and the message can be used for a quick word of encouragement or just to let someone know you are thinking of them today. There are lots of times that “Get well soon” is not really appropriate and this card can be used to send a positive message and a postal smile.

Here is the inside message:

The large letters and exclamation point were stamped from the NEW Big All Time Greetings Set (CL350) and the rest of the words are made from the Happy Uppercase Alphabet. The large “E” was created by inking only the “E” from “Enjoy”. The word “Day” was created by inking only part of the phrase “Happy Birthday” and the exclamation point is part of the “J” (upside down) from the word “Enjoy”.

Supplies:

• Big All Time Greetings (CL350) NEW!
• Happy Uppercase Alphabet
• StazOn Black Ink
• Ultra Clean Stamp Cleaner
• Garden Notecards
• Art Flowers Summer
• Lavender Gemstones
• Teal Gemstones
• Orange Gemstones
• Other: paper trimmer, glue, patterned paper, masking tape

Instructions:

1. Trim a piece of patterned paper to fit the front of coordinating notecard. Stamp the word “Enjoy” on the paper using a black ink pad. When the ink has dried, attach the paper to the front of the notecard and add a group of layered flowers with gemstones in the center.
2. After placing the Enjoy stamp on the clear block, ink only the “E” with black ink. Since the letter is at the beginning of the word it is easy to ink only the single letter. Finish the word “every” using letters from the alphabet set. Stamp the word “single” from the alphabet also.
3. Place the Happy Birthday message on a clear block and ink only the “DAY” letters in black ink. Complete the sentiment using the “J” (upside down) and covering the surrounding letters with masking tape before inking. Remove the masking tape before stamping and any stray ink will come up with the tape. Add a single layered flower with a gemstone in the center and your card is ready to send.

Here are some tips for inking part of an image.

• If you are using clear stamps, you can easily cut apart the stamp so that it has just the letter or word that you need.
• Words and/or letters on the end of a phrase are the easiest to stamp.
• Use masking tape to cover any letters and/or words you do not want inked. Quickly remove the tape after inking the desired letters. Pull the tape away carefully to avoid tearing clear stamps.
• Tapping the ink pad on top of the image makes it easier to control where the ink goes.
• If you are daring and good with scissors you can cut the image apart then reposition it on the indexed plastic to use again. I only use this technique if I will be making multiple cards using the same phrase; which is why I use the masking tape instead.

A Mom-to-be’s last few weeks can be challenging so this next card is one that can add a smile to her day. Add this card atop a homemade dinner for the family and you have a friend for life. This card is made with a boy in mind, but changing the colors to pink will work for girls as well.

The inside:

Supplies:

• Big All Time Greetings (CL350) NEW!
• Friendship (CL332) NEW!
• Happy Uppercase Alphabet
• StazOn Black Ink
• Ultra Clean Stamp Cleaner
• Other: patterned paper, blue and beige papers, striped notecards, glue, paper trimmer, scissors, black fine point pen

Instructions:

1. Trim blue and patterned papers to fit the front of a striped notecard. Using a black ink pad, ink the word “soon” from the “Get Well Soon” message and stamp four times on the front of a notecard (notice the placement of the fourth “soon”). You need to leave enough space before the word to stamp “not”. Add the rest of the message using the Uppercase Alphabet set and the black ink pad. Place a series of dots after the third “soon”. Attach the layered message on the front of the card.
2. Stamp the bird from the friendship set on the patterned paper in black ink. Stamp the bird again on the inside of the card (allow enough room to add the baby bundle in his beak). Cut out the patterned bird body and glue over the matching image on the card. Do not add glue to the beak yet. Cut a large, fat, tear shape with two pointed triangles at the small end (like an upside down balloon). Punch or cut a circle of beige paper and add eyes, a smile and a curl for the baby’s face. Glue the blue bundle and the baby face under the bird beak, adding a tiny bit of glue under the beak to hold it down.
3. Stamp “thinking of you” or your own special message above the bird in black ink.

Another idea: One of my favorite “New Mom Gifts” is to create three sample announcements and let her choose which one she likes best. Present her with the desired amount, wrapped with a big bow, so they are ready for her return from the hospital.  (Including postage on the envelopes adds an extra thoughtful touch.)

For this week’s challenge, put on your thinking caps and come up with some original phrases that combine message stamps and/or alphabet sets! Use at least one Hero Arts stamp (it doesn’t have to be the message or alphabet set). Upload your projects to the Hero Arts Flickr Group by Sunday, April 19th at 11:59 PM PST and tag them with the code word “mymessage“.

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

Now, how about a giveaway?  Up for grabs is this NEW Big All Time Greetings Set (CL350) from the 2009 Spring Catalog that was used on the cards I showed today! It will be available in retail stores soon! Feast your eyes:

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post.  The lucky random winner will be announced tomorrow.

Until then,