CHARMING TOUCHES
Using tiny charms, eyelets, pressed flowers, or ribbonette roses will add texture and dimension to your handmade cards. Just stamp your card and then adhere your "charming touches." Choose colors and trinkets that compliment the hues and theme of your card. We recommend using a hot glue gun to adhere these embellishments.

COLORED PENCILS
After stamping your design, add soft color with colored pencils. Your image can look handpainted when you use special watercolor pencils. Just color in your design and then using a fine-tipped paint brush with a dab of water, blend colors together.

EMBOSSING
Embossing is a stamper&##146;s delight! It turns a simple stamped design into a statement of elegance.

How to Emboss:

1. Use pigment ink or an embossing pad to ink your stamp.
2. Sprinkle embossing powder over the entire stamped design and tap off excess.
3. Carefully wave a heat gun back and forth until entire design is raised and shiny. This takes about 20 seconds. Be careful not to overheat!

INK
There are many different varieties of ink pads that are good for different purposes.

Dye Ink Pads. Dye ink is the most basic ink and comes in many colors. It prints with precision and dries on any surface paper. If you are stamping in a family album, we recommend an acid-free dye ink pad which will not fade and dries permanently.

Shadow Ink Pads. Shadow Ink is a specially formulated dye ink pad that is particularly soft and subtle. Shadow Ink is ideal when combined with Shadow Stamps for soft backgrounds of color. Shadow Ink is both acid free and archival.

Pigment Ink Pads. This is an opaque, acid-free ink that comes in interesting, bright colors including wonderful metallics and rainbows. Pigment ink must be used on paper which does not have a glossy surface, as it will not dry without embossing. It is the ink recommended for embossing.

Washable Ink. These ink pads are specially formulated with nontoxic, washable ingredients. Recommended for teachers and children who want to try stamping.

When you are finished stamping or want to change colors, clean the surface of your stamp with a damp cloth or stamp cleaner.

MARKERS
Markers can be used in many ways with stamp designs. Some stampers like to color in their designs completely with bright, vibrant color. Others just add a touch of color. It depends on your style. The color label top on Hero Arts stamps serve as a coloring guide for you. You can color directly onto the rubber of your stamp, or color the image after you have stamped it.

To add a touch of glitz and glamour to cards use metallic gel pens. They have fine points which can be used to write messages, too.

METALLIC MARKERS
To add a touch of glitz and glamour to cards use metallic gel pens. They have fine points which can be used to write messages. Typically, metalliic markets come in gold and silver.

PAPER
Paper suitable for stamping, layering and crafting comes is a wide range of textures, styles, sizes, and prices.

Generally, there are two types of paper: glossy and non-glossy.

Glossy Paper is a non-absorbent surface that traditionally has a clean, cut edge and a reflective, non-porous surface. Glossy paper does not allow the ink to be absorbed into the paper. No additional drying time is needed and the result is vivid and crisp. Check the package information to see if the paper you are purchasing is suitable for rubber stamping.

Non-glossy cardstock can be stamped with pigment or dye ink pads with a minimal amount of drying time. Non-glossy paper allows the ink to be absorbed into the paper giving the stamped image a more subtle, sophisticated look.

Specialty handmade papers come in many varieties, are usually non-glossy, delicate and have uneven edges. These papers are wonderful additions to cards as layered elements, but are more difficult to stamp due to their uneven surfaces. Because they are so absorbent they do not give crisp, clear images.

RIBBON
Ribbons, cord, and raffia, available at most local craft stores, are a great way to put the finishing touches on your cards. Tied, wrapped or simply glued to your card, they add a touch of elegence.

SCISSORS & TRIMMER
Cutting out small, stamped designs and trimming edges of cards is easy when you own a small, sharp paper scissors. Take good care of it (and remember don&##146;t run with your scissors).

When cutting larger pieces of paper for layering onto cards, use a card paper trimmer. Rulers on the trimmer make it easy to cut and measure exact length and width of paper pieces.

SCISSORS -- FANCY
These specialty scissors come in with a variety of patterned blades that add interesting borders to paper edges. Experiment with different styles on your cards. For example, mini scallops are cute on baby announcements.

SHADOW STAMPS
Shadow Stamps are the perfect canvas for all of your card creations. Shadow Stamps come in many different sizes and configurations in order to inspire your stamping. Try them, and you will realize that Shadow Stamps will stimulate your creative interest and awaken your stamp designs.

WATERCOLORS
Watercolor paints can add beautiful washes of color to your cards. Watercolors can add soft hues and more delicate looks compared to color pencils. You can also use ink pads if you don't have paints. Plus, watercoloring is easy. Just get a bowl of water, and using any paint brush or even a Q-Tip, you are ready to go. Use a light touch and add just a hint of color for a soft look.