CommUNITY: Inspiration from Annette Allen

Hi friends! Today we are here with an installment of our monthly series, CommUNITY, where we share artwork from artists who we'd love for you to get to know. CommUNITY is about embracing and honoring the creativity of individuals who are often underrepresented. By sharing art from a diverse group of creators, we hope to not only bring inspiration to this papercrafting community we all love so much, but also support and empower individuals to be their authentic selves as they create and share. Look for a new CommUNITY guest artist right here on the blog each month. Today our talented guest is Annette Allen.

Hello Hero Arts friends, my name is Annette Allen from myclevercreations.com. I am so excited to be guest designing today and to be able to share a couple of my designs using Hero Arts amazing products. But first let me tell you a little about myself. I have been crafting since 1997 and as most crafters, it all started because I attended a Stampin’ Up party and well I was hooked right away and it has been nonstop since. I love color and being able to think outside the box when I create. I am inspired by life, I get ideas by reading magazines, nature, art…my surroundings inspire me. So let’s get started!

Card #1

On a piece of Dove White cardstock measuring 4" x 5 1/4", stamp United People Bold Prints with Hero Arts Fruit Punch, Bubble Gum, Creamsicle, Green Apple and Lemon Drop inks. I started with one color and just rubbed the ink from top to bottom the width of the mini ink cube. I then added some Clear Embossing and Watermark ink and stamped the images again. Make sure to leave your stamp in place so it will stamp directly in the same place. Now heat emboss using Clear Detail Embossing Powder. This will make the colors more vibrant.

Cut an A2 panel of Azalea carstockand and adhere your stamped panel using foam tape. Now adhere the Azalea panel to your Dove White card base. Trim one strip measuring 1/4" each of Papaya, Azalea and Cherry cardstock. Adhere them to a piece of Dove White cardstcok at an angle, trim down and add to your colorful background. Stamp the "fabulous" sentiment from the Textured Compliments stamp set on Cherry cardstock using Clear Embossing and Watermark Ink and heat emboss Detail Black Embossing Powder. Trim down the sentiment and adhere to card using foam tape. Stamp the "you are" sentiment from the same stamp set on Dove White cardstock using Intense Black ink, fussy cut around the sentiment and adhere to card using foam tape.

Card #2

On a Dove White cardstock panel measuring 3 3/4" x 5", stencil the sun from the Clouds and Grass Scenic Stencil using Lemon Drop ink. Start in the middle and use a light hand when added the ink. Cover your panel with this sun stencil. Stamp every sentiment from the Textured Compliments set on your sunny background using Granite ink. Start at the top and line up two sentiments and stamp. They will not fit completely but that is ok. Stamp the entire panel, just make sure to offset your sentiments when stamping each line.

Cut a panel of Granite cardstock measuring 4" x 5 1/4". Adhere your stamped panel with foam tape to the grey panel and then adhere it to your white A2 card base. Stamp the "you are" sentiment on Dove White cardstock using Intense Black ink, fussy cut around the sentiment, add some foam tape to the back and adhere it to the left, middle side of the card. Stamp the heart from the Textured Compliments set using Granite ink on Dove White cardstock, fussy cut, add some foam tape and adhere to card. Finish with a few Midnight Black Accent Pearls. And that's it! Two beautiful cards made using products from the Hero Arts Unity Collection.

We can't thank Annette enough for being our CommUNITY guest for the month of May. Sharing what makes this community special is exactly why we love doing these posts with such amazing guests.