Hello!

I am back to announce the winners of last week’s photo challenge.  And, MY OH MY - you all rocked this challenge!  Wow.  I am so impressed by all the entries.

Our Fresh Face prize goes to Agata Dag for this colorful masterpiece.  I keep coming back to take another look at this card.  So sweet.

Our Scrapbooking winner is [asm] for this fabulous colorful page.  I just love it!  I could see doing a whole album in this design.

First Place goes to janeB74 for this adorable pocket card.  This design could work for a family holiday card, too.

Second Place goes to tomoh08 for this incredible card.  I love the little scene she set up!  Makes me want to hop on a plane and head south.

The Third Place winner is ima dz2 (daria) for this eye-catching nature card.  I really like taking pictures of my flowers outside… and now I know what to do with them!

An Honorable Mention goes to silvakelly54 for this marvelous photo card.  What a great use of the monkey stamp!  Such a great photo, too.

Another Honorable Mention is sent to Alice W (Aliceh83) for this clever card using something cut from a magazine.

And the final Honorable Mention goes to skrappergirl for this super cool greeting.  I am sure the child was so excited to open this!

Congratulations all! Please email us at the address in the blog sidebar with the subject line “Photo Challenge Winner” and your mailing address.

Next, I wanted to share with you some of the fabulous creations from our Hero Hostesses:

Projects by Jenn Biederman, Judy Jung, Deborah Nolan, Kelly Booth & Karen Piskor.

Thanks for stopping by.  Sally will be back tomorrow with more ideas for you.

Happy 4th of July to all our USA stampers! Hope everyone everywhere is having a great weekend.

In addition to wrapping up the week, I have a great red, white and blue photo card to share with you from Kandis Smith.  Adorable!

Card by Kandis Smith.
Supplies:

• Galaxy of Stars
• Smooth Clear Gemstones
• Crimson Notecards
• Just for Kids Red Ink
• Memories Blue Ink
  
• Other: Patterned paper (Scenic Route, Imaginesce), photo corners, picture, tulle

I also thought today would be a good day to announce our three Cards for Heroes winners, randomly picked from all of the cards received during our card drive.  We received almost a thousand cards - thank you! The winners will each receive three Hero Arts stamp sets of their choice…

• Daria Zender
• Janelle Klapperich
• Nancy Best

Also, we have three winners for our new blinkie post on Wednesday.  The lucky ones are…

• Carmen
• Jennifer P.
  
• Tricia Dee

Finally, the lucky winner of the stamp sets from Monday’s post is Cami Haveman. Woohoo!

And I thought we should wrap up the week with all the photo projects we shared…

Click on any of the links below to see the project details:

• On Monday we showed how you can use photos from magazines for photo cards.
  
• Tuesday, we shared a great idea for a bag tag and for showcasing a 4×6 photo.
  
• Wednesday brought us a video for a fold-out photo card.
  
• And on Friday we give tips for incorporating photos in a simple way.
  

Thanks for stopping by.  See you Monday!

Happy Friday, everyone.

We have several more photo projects for you today.  I hope you are feeling that photos and stamps are a match made in heaven.

First we have this incredible card by Robyn Werlich.  Here’s what Robyn said about it: “My sweet Mom recently watched our children so that we could go on vacation to New York City. I wanted to write her a thank you card but wanted it to be from the kids as well. By using a small photo of them both on the front of the card, it really made it a special personalized note just for her…from all of us.” What a perfect reason for a photo card.

Card by Robyn Werlich.
Supplies:

• Thank You Sayings
• Hello Circle
• VersaMark Dazzle Frost
• Rose Petals and Pumpkin Patch Chalk Ink Queue
• Kraft Notecards
• Art Flowers Spring
• Other: White cardstock, sewing, string, staples, silver pigment ink, silver brad, pop-dots, circle punches

Here are some more photo cards.  These incorporate photos in the same way you would a stamped image or patterned paper.

Kids love to see photos of themselves, so why not include one on a card?  Here, the photo is positioned where a piece of patterned paper would normally have been placed.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Galaxy of Stars
• VersaMark and White Embossing Powder
• Black Memories Ink
• Mixed Gemstones
• Other: Photo, cardstock

Here is an example of making the photo the focus of the cards, and having the stamps act as the background and greeting.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Three Swirly Flourishes
• All Occasions Messages
• Black Memories Ink and Soft Sand Shadow Ink
  
• Summer Buttons
  
• Other: Silk ribbon (Creative Impressions), patterned paper (SEI), border punch (Fiskars), string
  

This card features the same stamp, but shows how you can replace a spot where a stamped image would normally go with a photo.  Just break out your book of sketches and look for designs that could incorporate photos!

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Three Swirly Flourishes
• Floral Accents
  
• All Occasions Messages
• Black Memories Ink and Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue
  
• Summer Buttons
  
• Other: Silk ribbon (Creative Impressions), patterned paper (SEI), border punch (Fiskars), string

And a day of projects with photos + stamping wouldn’t be complete without a scrapbook page!  Here is an awesome one from Robyn Werlich… celebrating our nation’s holiday.  We love how she used the VersaMark Dazzle Ink pad to create a sparkly background.

Layout by Robyn Werlich.
Supplies:

• Galaxy of Stars
• Birthday Sayings
  
• All Occasion Messages
  
• Whimsical Numbers
  
• Old Letter Writing
  
• Versamark Dazzle Frost and Versamark Dazzle Champagne
  
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Assorted Clear Tags
  
• Rose Petals and Chocolates & Blueberries Chalk Ink Queues
  
• Other: Blue dot patterned paper, cardstock, sewing, ribbon, brads, star punches, silver ink, pop-dots

Hope you are enjoying this photo challenge.  I am loving all your creations over in the Flickr group already!

Happy Friday,

Before we get started, I have some more exciting news that I don’t want you to miss.  For more information, please scroll down to the post just below this one.  It will be fun!

Now… are you ready for some more ideas for incorporating photos into your stamped creations?  We have lots for you today, including a video.

For me, adding photos to a card makes it more personal.  So, when my dear friend Lisa Russo took pictures of my family, I knew I need to make a card that showcased some of my favorite photos she took.  I couldn’t just pick one, so I decided to make a card that folds out to reveal several photos.  Scroll down to see the video showing how to create it, along with tips for creating a layered embossed and inked background.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Shadow and Elements (floral)
• Raindrop Background
• Thank You Sayings
• Distress Inks
• VersaMark and Clear Embossing Powder
• Hero Arts Cream Notecards
• Pearls
• Other: Photos (by Lisa Russo Photography), silk ribbon (Creative Impressions), cardstock, Ranger foam inking tool

You can also include your photos inside your card.  Check out this great card from Erin Lincoln.  She added a sweet photo surprise inside.  Love it! (Oh, and click HERE to see the matching page for this card.)

Card by Erin Lincoln.
Supplies:

• ClearDesign: Hello Circles
• Houndstooth Background
• DesignBlock Four Leaf Grid
• Special Edition: Artistic Windows
• Anytime Messages (inside sentiment)
• Kraft Notecard
• VersaMark Ink, Memories ArtPrint Brown Ink, Soft Pool Shadow Ink, Faded Jeans Distress Ink, Memories White Ink
  
• Other: Circle punch, buttons, QK Silhouette (for letters)

How about another tip for making cards even more personalized?  Try using a photo AND stamping a one-of-a-kind message with alphabet stamps.  Here are some ideas…

This one would be sure to make a Grandma smile:

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Hugs and Kisses Heart
• Printer’s Type Uppercase Alphabet
• Printer’s Type Lowercase Alphabet
• Lime Notecard
• Card Buttons Spring
• Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue and Black Memories Ink
• Other: Photo (by Erin Cobb), patterned paper (SEI), ribbon (Creative Impressions), string

Here is a great way to remind Daddy how great he is:

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Sunshine Lowercase Alphabet
• So Sweet
• Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue and Black Memories Ink
• Other: Photo (by Erin Cobb), punches (EK Success), ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing

Kids really love to get a card that has a photo of themselves on it:

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Sky’s the Limit
• Printer’s Type Uppercase Alphabet
• Printer’s Type Lowercase Alphabet
• Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue and Black Memories Ink
• VersaMark and White Embossing Powder
• Clear Mixed Gemstones
• Kraft Notecards
• Other: Patterned paper (Scenic Route), cardstock

I hope you are feeling inspired to try using photos on your next stamped creation. And remember, you still have time to win some stamp sets HERE!

Happy stamping,

Welcome back.  We have some more ideas for using photos on your stamped projects.  I just love the personal touch photos add.  Isn’t it fun?

However, there is something I want to mention quickly - we have some news!  Hero Arts is now on Twitter! You can follow “myheroarts” for tweets of ideas, prizes and inspiration.  Right now we are randomly giving away prizes for people signing up. For more information, scroll down to the “Hero Arts is on Twitter” post below.

Let’s get creating!

I thought I would start the day off with a scrapbook page and matching card. I am a big believer that whenever you create a page, you might as well create a card.  After all, you have the supplies and scraps out!  Also, I like to get doubles printed of all my photos.  That way I can use the extras on cards.  This page and card combo is from the talented Sheri Reguly.

Page and card by Sheri Reguly.
Supplies:

• Dots and Flowers
• Screen Shadow
• Card Messages
• Cutout Flower
• Thoughtful Messages
• Valentine Flourishes
• Soft Blossom Shadow Ink, Pumpkin Patch ColorBox Chalk Queue, StazOn Jet Black and VersaMark
• Smooth Clear Gemstones, Assorted Clear Circles and Art Flowers Neutral and Cream
• Card Buttons Spring and Card Buttons Summer
• Other: Patterned paper (October Afternoon), punches (EK Success), thread, cardstock (Bazzill Basics), sewing machine

Next up is a fabulous project from Tami Hartley that mixes a photo with stamping. Check out this personalized tag she made for her daughter’s softball bag. What a GREAT idea!  She sewed together two Hero Arts Acetate Tags and slipped the handmade piece inside. She only stitched on three sides so that once the season is over, she can remove the tag and put a new one in for the next sport or season!

The back side of the tag is stamped with more stars using White StazOn ink.

Tag by Tami Hartley.
Supplies:

• Modern Lines
• Galaxy of Stars
• Bracket and Tags (”Property Of”)
• Basic Uppercase Alphabet (for the numbers)
  
• Acetate Tags
  
• Diamond Stickles
• Broken China & Peeled Paint Distress Ink, Memories Black Ink and Mango Ink and White Stazon Ink
  
• Other: Cardstock, photo, string, ribbon, button, machine stitching, green and black fine tip markers

Finally, here is a card I did.  I noticed a few of you mentioned in your comments that you wanted to know how to turn a 4×6 picture into a card.  So, I decided to create a 4×6 photo card that hopefully will get you inspired.  I just found this picture of my mom and I about five years ago and decided to make her a quick card.

Card by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• Flower Blossom Borders
• Friends
  
• Small Pearls
• Other: 4×6 photo, Copic Markers

And here are some more ideas from the Hero Arts website.  Just click to get a closer look.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for a photo card how-to video.

See you tomorrow…

Happy Monday!

I am really excited about this week. We are going to be exploring ideas for using photos on cards and other projects. This will be fun! We will be sharing lots of ideas for creative ways to showcase favorite photos.  Let’s get started!

First, here are three photo cards I made using the same supplies.  I used the I Care Frame Messages set to create frames for my photos.  (I love finding unique ways to use stamps… increasing their value!)  I also love the A Little Note set for adding messages to the photos, making it look like they are speaking.

Cards by Jennifer McGuire.
Supplies:

• I Care Frame Messages (for frames on photos)
• Wallpaper Background
• A Little Note
• Soft Pool, Soft Leaf and Soft Stone Shadow Inks and Black Memories Ink
  
• Spring Notecards and Kraft Notecards
  
• Other: Sewing machine, colored pencils, markers and photos.  (Photo of Shari and Jennifer by Jamie Waters.)
  

Next we have this beautiful card from Kelly Rasmussen. Isn’t it lovely?  Kelly used some flower photos she found in a magazine. What a great idea!  Kelly said, “I cut three different flower photos from a magazine and adhered them to a piece of cardstock to make them sturdy.”

Card by Kelly Rasmussen.
Supplies:

• Dots
• Old Letter Writing
• Everyday Sayings
• Lime Notecards
• Spring Felt Buttons
• Orange Gemstones
• Soft Apricot Ink Pad
• Other: Ribbon (Making Memories), Antique Linen Distress Ink, white cardstock, flower photos from Women’s Day magazine, twine, sewing, pop dots

I also wanted to share a project using a photo.  Erin Lincoln created this amazing frame using stamps and a photo.  What a great, inexpensive and thoughtful gift it would make!

Frame by Erin Lincoln.
Supplies:

• Special Edition: Artistic Windows
• Scallop Borders
• Anytime Messages
• Dot Trees
• Dot Hearts
  
• Black Memories Ink and Primary Elements Chalk Ink Queue
  
• Other: Magnetic frame (Target), patterned paper (Chatterbox)
  

I was looking through the Hero Arts website yesterday and found some more photo card ideas for you.  Just click on the circle to see a full-size image and information:

And, if you are a scrapbooker like me, be sure to visit our huge scrapbooking idea gallery HERE.

Time for our challenge! Yep, this week’s challenge is to create a new stamped project using a photo. This photo can be one you have taken or something you found in a magazine. Anything works! And, yes, scrapbook pages are welcome. Please use at least one Hero Arts stamp on your project and use the tag word “photo” when uploading to the Hero Arts Flickr Group.  The deadline for submitting is Sunday, July 5th at 11:59 pm PST. Here are the fab prizes you may win:

• 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

And, of course, we have to have a giveaway! I have a set of each of the stamps I used on my set of photo cards above - the A Little Note and I Care Frame Messages sets. I will pick a lucky winner from those who leave a comment by 11:59 pm PST Wednesday telling me if they have ever created a photo card. Good luck!!!

See you tomorrow.  Have fun stamping…