Flashback Friday Part 5: The 2010s
It's Friday which means it's time for another flashback! Over the course of the past four weeks, we've enjoyed sharing the story of Hero Arts with you, including the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and today...the 2010s. Time flies when you're having fun! Hero Arts CEO Aaron Leventhal joins us again with a summary of the decade:
"The 2010s started off in difficult ways for the stamp industry, with a deep recession claiming many wonderful independent retailers, and larger ones too, including Archivers, driving many to sell online. The decade was also a creative one, and Hero Arts advanced its elegance theme with designs related to journaling, Color Layering, floral, collage, coloring, and more. Hero Arts dramatically grew its line of inks, with Shadow Inks in soft and medium hues, as well as Hybrid Bolds, Ombre, Liquid Watercolors, Daubers, Child Safe, and more. The decade also started with Hero Arts in partnership with other vendors, including co-branded products with Sizzix (and the first dies by Hero Arts), and artists Lia Griffith and Kelly Purkey. The decade was marked, too, by the introduction of the popular Hero Arts My Monthly Hero, an online-only monthly kit that, for the first time, was a popular product-line not featured in the famed Hero Arts Catalogs."
Speaking of catalogs, do any of these bring back memories?
Donuts and cupcakes were popular themes in the early part of the decade, as shown on this sweet spread from our 2010 Catalog, entitled "The Art of the Stamp."
Bring on the color, bring on the techniques! We mentioned in our 1980s post: "...there were only a limited number of ink colors -- black, brown, red, blue, green -- before exciting and new colors like hot pink and purple hit the industry by storm." By contrast, check out just a few of the color products from the 2010s!
The pages of the 2013 Catalog were chock full of coordinating Hero Hues accents, from gems and pearls to buttons, dots and ribbon.
And then there was the excitement of My Monthly Hero! We released our first kit in October 2015 and it sold out in just a few hours. Perhaps some of you own this poinsettia-themed kit?
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment below and tell us one of your favorite techniques. We will pick one winner at random to receive a $25 Hero Arts gift card! Comment by Thursday, May 23 at 11:59pm PT and you'll be entered to win.
Our Flashback Friday series may have come to a close, but our 45th Anniversary celebration is far from over. In fact, the best part comes next week when we host a BIG 3-day blog hop filled with an incredible lineup of artists and industry friends! We can't say too much, but just wait until you see the prizes!! That all begins on Wednesday, so mark your calendars now and get ready for lots of fun!
Thank you so much for joining us. Happy weekend!
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128 Responses
Edda Tan
August 15, 2019
I love coloring using various mediums! What fun. 😀
Darlene DeSario
June 08, 2019
I am new to paper crafting, unfortunately I dont have a story for all those years AND products. I do however love your stamps, products, and heart. I am on a limited budget and the small stamp sets Nd die combos are an excellent price point and option. The companies soul and how it lifts up others in the same industry is amazing. God bless.
Karen Voller
May 24, 2019
Oh where to start.. I LOVE ink.. Stamps, stencils, resist.. Playing with ink directly on any surface is probably my favorite thing to do..
Micki Taylor
May 23, 2019
I Love the watercolor look! I need to learn how to do that!!
Karenajo
May 22, 2019
I like to try so many techniques but especially love heat embossing and coloring and stenciling backgrounds for my cards. I have so many wonderful HA items.
Stacy K
May 22, 2019
I love the color layering stamps by Hero Arts! I have a flower one I recently bought and love to use it in my card making. It has been so much fun revisiting the “old” and bringing them back out. The My Monthly Hero kits are so beautiful!
Miriam Prantner
May 22, 2019
I love emboss resist! These flashbacks have been so much fun, really enjoyed looking back with you guys!
Gina McCarty
May 21, 2019
Since becoming a monthly kit subscriber I have become an avid fan of die cutting. I love the clean look they make for my card making.
Kenzie Higdon
May 21, 2019
I LOVE the Color Layering animals, my favorite part is that they are realistic, I keep hoping one day you will put out a Giraffe, a Leopard, and a Bear. I think they would be so much fun and versatile.
Kirsty
May 21, 2019
Such nice work, I really love embossing when comes to making cards!
Mary M
May 20, 2019
I love color layering and I honestly think that Hero Arts has the best stamps for this…you have so many fun designs! I can’t wait to see the blog hop.
PS – you should bring back that poinsettia kit…I would totally buy it!
Shauna Mathie
May 20, 2019
I’m loving the flashbacks and celebrating 45 years with you! I still love the magic of heat embossing!!
Karen Schaeffer
May 20, 2019
Watercolor is one of my favorite techniques
Geri S
May 20, 2019
I Love die cutting! So many techniques can be done with dies – that’s why I love HA kits – they include the dies!
Angela Enlow Myhre
May 20, 2019
Favorite technique? Only one? Right now I guess watercolor. I just got the HA liquid watercolors and I am excited to use them. Congrats on your 45th anniversary! Thanks for the enamel pin that came with my monthly kit. I love this throwback kit with the poinsettias!
Brenda
May 20, 2019
I love embossing and using layered stamps.
DeNel
May 19, 2019
I love to heat emboss! It’s still one of the coolest techniques!!
Kerry A.
May 19, 2019
So many techniques that it’s hard to choose! I’m currectly doing a lot of heat embossing.
Jill
May 19, 2019
Still miss Archivers, still love donuts and cupcakes! A technique I like to do on occasion (and learned forever ago) is using marker to stamp. Especially coloring in many colors on the same stamp, huffing on it and stamping it. Even current stampers ask how I do it, as this was something we did before having many colors of pads,
Stacy Levick
May 18, 2019
I love heat embossing. It makes things look so fancy.
jill
May 18, 2019
thank you for the chance to win stuck on bedrest lost all my stamps in a basement flood so to win anything to help get my supply back would be great thank you for the chance
Lisa Bharath
May 18, 2019
I love ink blending 😊
shartl
May 18, 2019
Nothing too fancy here when it comes to technique but I would love to learn how to watercolor. Otherwise it’s usually plain stamping with dye ink or coloring in with dye markers. What a fun series of Hero Arts history!
Henriétte
May 18, 2019
Ohh I love all the looking in the past with the Flasback Firday, times flies indeed.
My favorite technique is colouring flowers with all kind of mediums.
You have made me very curious about what is comming with the big blog hop on Wednesday, you can count me on!
Thank you for the amazing Hero Arts story.
Amy Hanne
May 18, 2019
Embossing is my current favorite technique!
Terri Burson
May 18, 2019
Popped over from seeing your flashback on Insta. That coffee/donut set is awesome! My favorite technique, by the way, is watercoloring.
Danielle
May 18, 2019
I’m still new to card making but watercoloring with inks is quickly becoming a favorite for me.
barbara lassiter
May 18, 2019
One of my fave techniques is heat embossing a design and then water coloring it in. I love that look!
Carole Palmiere
May 18, 2019
My favorite technique is using images colored with Copic markers. Heat embossing is a close second. Thanks for this awesome giveaway opportunity!
Mary Holshouser
May 18, 2019
I love the layering stamps. My shading is not the
best so I can get a lot more depth in my designs
with the aid of these stamps. Congratulations
on a fun look lack. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Cindy Macias
May 18, 2019
Love your color layering, so beautiful! Especially with flowers! Thanks!
DSW
May 18, 2019
I enjoy heat embossing and using alcohol inks to make my own backgrounds. I missed out on the fairy monthly kit because it sold out so quickly. That’s when I decided I had better sign up for a monthly subscription. Have enjoyed creating cards & tags with the kits!
DSW
May 18, 2019
I enjoy embossing and using alcohol inks to make my own backgrounds. I missed out on the fairy monthly kit because it sold out so quickly. That’s when I decided I had better sign up for a monthly subscription. Have enjoyed creating cards & tags with the kits!
Diane Zalusky
May 18, 2019
One of my favorite techniques is emboss resist.
Amy Cairns
May 18, 2019
One of my favourite techniques is definitely rainbow ink blending with white heat embossing over the top. It’s my favourite all the time.
Cynthia Finn
May 18, 2019
I love Hero Arts
Teri Wilson
May 18, 2019
Wow. Just one technique? I love playing with Distress products to make colorful backgrounds!
Becky
May 18, 2019
I love to make alcohol ink backgrounds and then cut them up to use in various cards. I like to pair them with embossed elements or die cuts as well. I got a sealife Hero arts set a couple of months ago that is beautiful done this way.
Kathy H
May 18, 2019
I really love paper piecing and collage. Unfortunately O don’t get around to doing either of them very much.
Kathy Simonson
May 18, 2019
I do alot of embossing cards for elder friends the cards brings a smile when the mail comes. The holiday one are the best.
Marty C (miffersss)
May 18, 2019
Omg! I am loving flashback Friday!! Hope you keep it up in perpetuity!!! 💗 Hero Arts!!!!🙌🙌
Janet
May 18, 2019
Such wonderful memories looking through these products … and still using today! I love the ink and mist technique which gives a watercolour effect.
Denise Bryant
May 18, 2019
Enjoying these flashback posts!
My favorite technique is heat embossing. It impressed me from the get-go when I first saw it demonstrated around 1986, and it still wows me all these years later!
Patricia R.
May 18, 2019
I have the first card kit! I also have so many wood mount stamps from back in the day. Hero Arts always had the best sets, usually four stamps in a little box. I still have every single one. They are keepers for sure. Love to use the layering stamps. It really takes things up a notch.
Susan Carlson
May 18, 2019
Do I have to have only one favorite technique?!? I’m kinda into shaker cards at the moment
Cheri Johnston
May 18, 2019
Coloring images! I love markers, pencils. It’s sooo therapeutic❤
michele gauthier
May 18, 2019
I love blending the ink for the background..
Josmary
May 17, 2019
My favorite technique is water reactive ink backgrounds 😍 can’t wait to get the new inks in my collection. I have the mini cubes from past kits and love them
Josmary
May 17, 2019
2018 was my first catalog. 😍 ah how much I live your monthly hero kits. ❤❤❤
Jeanne H
May 17, 2019
Just checked my supplies and I have an early Kelly Purkey set called Cheers. Makes good masculine cards. Love to do emboss-resist technique as I have lots of different inks including Ombre from you guys!
Stacey Kowbel
May 17, 2019
One of my favorite techniques (products?) is using alcohol inks to make backgrounds.
Lin Brandyberry
May 17, 2019
Don’t know if this is considered a technique, but I am SO glad we have color layering stamps! Not being an especially talented colorist, I love how layering inks with these stamps gives such lovely results!
Janet Sisk
May 17, 2019
I love die cutting and coloring with alcohol markers. I have been a fan of yours since I started card making back in 2001. Thanks for the inspiration all these years. :D
Jeanne Beam
May 17, 2019
I love color blending, especially for backgrounds. I also love die cutting…
Thanks for sharing…
Lindarub
May 17, 2019
Love to stamp and image and color it.
Patt H.
May 17, 2019
I love trying lots of techniques but I always find heat embossing to be my favorite. It’s like magic every time!! Thanks for sharing all these awesome memories!
Hilde Larsen aka Tindaloo
May 17, 2019
Its too difficult to choose, but one of my absolute fave techniques is to heat emboss! the transition from powder to awesome raised metallic surface is always amazing to watch :)
Deb Selby
May 17, 2019
I started collecting the mid tone shadow inks shortly after I started cardmaking and I use the very same ink pads today. They still work wonderfully, only the size of my storage case changed as my collection grew. Now I also have many Hero Arts cube inks as they are more convenient to take to retreats. Great when I bought them in 2011 and still great now.
Michelle P
May 17, 2019
I love all the flashback photos of your products through the years.
My favorite technique lately is heat embossing.
Gloria Peterson
May 17, 2019
The first technique I learned back in 1994 is still my favorite — heating embossing powder on pigment or Versamark ink. It was magic then and is still just as wonderful!
Joan
May 17, 2019
I love the color layering, it always looks good!
LaNell Taylor
May 17, 2019
‘ve loved the flashback. Fun to dig through my old Hero arts stamps. Been a fan from the beginning of my stamping life, 2001.Marisela Delgado
May 17, 2019
I love adding glitter. It just adds something special.
Emilia Fregoso
May 17, 2019
My favorite tecnique is to emboss with stamps. Love the metalic powders and my favorite is the clear one.
karenladd
May 17, 2019
Ah yes, I do remember the days when the only colors available were neutrals and primaries! Now I need a color and shade in every possible configuration, ha! My favorite technique is still stamping and coloring. I’ve moved on from dye markers to alcohol markers, but coloring is still the best way to customize an image to fit your papers. Thanks for the peeks into the past!
Kathy Dippner
May 17, 2019
I like ink blending on stencils with layers.
Elaine Muto
May 17, 2019
I like daubering.
Anang
May 17, 2019
Love seeing this trip down memory lane, it’s so much fun to see and go like ooooo, I have that or wish I had that :p It’s lovely to see how paper craft has evolved over the years and how Hero Arts has been a huge influencing part of it.
Nikki S
May 17, 2019
Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane these past few weeks. I really enjoy color layering and the freedom of mixed media. Thanks for the chance to win
Tina
May 17, 2019
I gotta say my favorite technique is still diecutting.
Karen Lingel
May 17, 2019
I love the color layering. Makes your work look so professional! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Nancy Wilcox
May 17, 2019
Current fav is ink blending and Hero Arts has such yummy colors to use!
Diane T.
May 17, 2019
I love Color Layering! My favorite stamp set is the Color Layering Sea Turtle.
Susan McRae
May 17, 2019
I would say emboss resist is my fave, always a fun technique to do!
Linda Clark
May 17, 2019
My favorite techniques change. Right now I’m having fun with alcohol ink and regular ink over embossed images.
Charlynn
May 17, 2019
Color layering is cool.
Linda K
May 17, 2019
Oh the memories! I love so many techniques but one of my top faves is to directly apply ink pad colors on a stamp and use a stipple brush ( or many times my finger) to slightly blend the colors before stamping. Great especially for leaf or flower stamps!
Susan b.
May 17, 2019
My favorite technique is layered stamping. I love how using 3 stamps can give such life like dimension.
Margaret R
May 17, 2019
I love heat embossing – it adds such elegance and shine to any project! I’ve really enjoyed reading these Flashback Friday pieces, and I look forward to the Blog Hop next week. Forty-five years of Hero Arts, that is definitely worth celebrating!
Debbie Cote
May 17, 2019
I started stamping in the mid 1990’s and advanced from there. I love everything from stamping to mixed media but I think my favourite is still stamping and ink blending then cutting with lots of layering. I am so glad heat embossing has come back as it seemed to disappear for awhile.
Rebecca
May 17, 2019
I love die cutting, especially for things with layers like flowers!
Sally sherfield
May 17, 2019
I love all my crafting but emboss resist is one of my favourites.
Bonnie K.
May 17, 2019
Right now my favorite technique is the oldie but goodie – ink blending over stamped, heat embossed images. Simple, yet impressive!
Carla Hundley
May 17, 2019
I like making interactive
cards and using the dies
to make them.
Carla from Utah
Amanda Fletcher
May 17, 2019
My favorite technique at the moment is ink blending!!
Becca Yahrling
May 17, 2019
I love seeing all of the older stuff (of which I have quite a few!). One of my favorite techniques is embossing! I emboss just about everything I stamp.
Cindy Hanson
May 17, 2019
I wish I owned that first kit!
My favorite—or at least most used—technique is layering die cuts. I love the layered look (in stamps, too. My faves are the layering seahorse and octopus!)
Lindar C
May 17, 2019
One of my favorite techniques is faux watercolor, or loose watercolor.
Brian Poteraj
May 17, 2019
Huffing on the ink on my stamp is my way of making the ink really stand out. If the ink is somewhat dry, I might have to add more using the MISTI.
Sharon Gullikson
May 17, 2019
Coloring stamps with markers in different colors is a favorite technique of mine. So cute.
Karthikha Uday
May 17, 2019
This is the time I got into the blogging world and got to know about Hero Arts :) My fav technique is emboss resist :)
Beverly
May 17, 2019
I love using your amazing ink pads and stamps to make gorgeous cards for others! To top it off by using your Dies which are awesome and can create unique cards and crafts! Stamping and die cutting wonderful technique!!
Erica
May 17, 2019
I use copic lot on my cards
Greta H
May 17, 2019
Emboss resist is still one of my favorite techniques. Happy Anniversary!
Heidi Macy
May 17, 2019
I really like marker thumping. I don’t do it often anymore, but it is always a fun way to get multi colored images. These posts were fun! TFS!
Cynthia Cole
May 17, 2019
Loving all these flashback posts! One of my favorite techniques is using distress oxides for an ink blended background and then using water droplets and also heat embossing because it’s magical!
Cynthia O.
May 17, 2019
Love this walk through Hero Arts history! My current favorite technique is foiling. It’s like magic every time!
Terrie D.
May 17, 2019
I love learning about Hero Arts over the years! Your first My Monthly Hero kit looks wonderful. :) Lately, one of my favorite techniques has been using layering stamps. I also love heat embossing sentiments and images.
Helen Gullett
May 17, 2019
It’s been great to read your Flashback posts and learning so much more about Hero Arts history.
I own that Poinsettia Themed Kit – MMH October 2015 and still use this set to make Christmas cards every year.
My all-time favorite techniques are stamping and diecutting, plus watercoloring with watercolor pencils, crayons, markers and paints.
Thank you for your amazing contribution in the paper crafting industry!
Kailash
May 17, 2019
I love to create different watercolored designs with inks which are blended with drops of water. That technique has to be my favorite as it feels like magic each time!
Vicki Kroll
May 17, 2019
I love learning the history of Hero Arts in your Flashback Friday’s Blog, seeing the catalogs and the stamps that were popular at the time. I just love stamping a scene with my cards and I love embossing.
Leanne in Cali
May 17, 2019
I do have that poinsettia kit and absolutely love the MMH kits! One of my favorite techniques is emboss resist. I love color and enjoy seeing what everyone creates so I can’t wait for your blog hop! Congratulations on many years in this business!!
PHYLLIS FREESE
May 17, 2019
It’s so great to see reminders of some of the stamps I own & still use today. HA is such a large part of my wood stamp collection. My favorite technique is ink resist against a vibrant background of rainbow colors.
Helen
May 17, 2019
These Flashbacks are so enjoyable. My online shopping has been a great experience. So many products, including the kits and softer inks that I can’t get anywhere else. Keep up the great work!
Lagene
May 17, 2019
I love your looking back articles! One of my favorite techniques is creating alcohol ink backgrounds and sometimes using them with the LIFT technique as seen here: https://inkylageney.wordpress.com/2018/08/20/2018-c103-hero-arts-alcohol-ink-lifting-foiling/
Dee Earnshaw
May 17, 2019
love the walk back in Time!!
my fav technique would be water coloring
Dana M
May 17, 2019
So fun looking back at the trends and history of Hero Arts. Lately my favorite technique is to blend backgrounds.
Angela Self
May 17, 2019
Loved this flashback Friday! It’s always fun to look back and see how Hero Arts continued to grow and innovate in the crafting world 😊Ellie S.
May 17, 2019
Currently my favorite technique is playing with inks, stamps and stencils to create backgrounds which I can use with silhouette stamps. Like the smooshing technique or splash watercolor.
Thank you for sharing more of Hero Arts’ history and for a chance to win!
Kel Berg
May 17, 2019
love seeing these flashbacks! i love the technique of shaker cards. will all the products out there now you can do so many different shapes and fill with so many beads and embellishments!
Laura P.
May 17, 2019
My favorite technique is color layering and Hero Arts makes it so easy with their stamps and ink colors! I love the realistic images, especially animals and wildlife. So glad I discovered Hero Arts as soon as I started stamping in the 1990s!
Maria B
May 17, 2019
Does embossing count as a technique? It’s certainly a favorite of mine.
KT Fit Kitty
May 17, 2019
Great review of the 2010’s – stamping and crafting really got exciting during this decade! I love all the gorgeous colors! I think one of my favourite techniques is coloring. I love making inky backgrounds too! I have really enjoyed your Flashback Fridays! It’s fun to take a look back to see where we all started!
Lisa Byers
May 17, 2019
My favorite technique is watercoloring. I have a few different sets and I love mixing them and exploring new videos to learn new ideas. Watercoloring is beautiful and freeing.
GLenda M Sultan
May 17, 2019
I love to use liquid watercolors on an entire page. Then die cut. FUN…FUN….FUN
Anne
May 17, 2019
Love the new Hero Arts Inks! the most fun is blending the inks and spraying the work with water. Watercolor without all the fuss!
Judy
May 17, 2019
I remember many of those catalogs and always look forward to the Hero Arts catalog for the great products and inspiration. One of my favorite techniques is ink blending.
Meghan Kennihan
May 17, 2019
I have LOVED these Flashback Fridays! They remind me of a simpler time when I worked in a small craft store in my town… sadly those have all but disappeared :(… Thank you for sharing these FlashBacks! My favorite technique right now is ink blending with blender brushes and stencils!!!
Cyndi Morris
May 17, 2019
I’ve enjoyed this walk down memory lane with Hero Arts! I have many of the products you show in this post — I still love those ombre ink pads. Hard to pick a favorite technique, but right now I’m having fun with ink blending and creating backgrounds.
Sue Baker
May 17, 2019
Yes – I do own the first kit with the poinsettia! I think one of my favorite techniques is using the layering stamps. The results are so beautiful.
Isabel Z
May 17, 2019
My favorite technique is using alcohol inks to create backgrounds.
Lisa K
May 17, 2019
A favorite technique is emboss resist. I have enjoyed the trips down memory lane with the flashback postings.
Jan Elmore
May 17, 2019
I’m not good at it, but I like water color being a part of cards…just a bit of background or loose painting inside some embossing! …love “Flashback Fridays”!
Amy Cooley
May 17, 2019
I really love creating shaker cards!
ginger na
May 17, 2019
Embossing is my favorite. I’m enjoying the flashbacks.
MandaLJ
May 17, 2019
I like watercolouring over heat-emnossed stamping.
SHARI CZERWINSKI
May 17, 2019
I still love torn paper edges, which is a pretty simple technique, but I use it a lot! If I don’t tear edges, I was a distressing tool to rough it up. Inking the edge is frequently my next time, since it really makes the shapes and layers pop! Thanks for a great month of flashbacks!
Sue D
May 17, 2019
One of my favorite techniques is emboss resist.