Everyday life is looking a lot different these days. But that doesn't mean we can't make the most of it. Let's stay connected, stay crafty, and bring positivity and kindness into the world! Today we are kicking off #staycraftywithhero with a brand new weekly challenge! Who's going to play along with us?

To kick off our challenge, we immediately thought of the type of cards so many of us can use right now - Encouragement Cards. We hope you'll play along by making a card to encourage somebody to hang in there, something with an uplifting message. Something to brighten somebody's day, and reassure them that you are there for them, and we will get through this together. (Bonus points if you actually put those cards in the mail to friends or family!)

Keep scrolling to the end of this post for more information about joining this challenge, but first we have some inspiration from Libby. She was inspired by this card design from Creative Team member Ilina Crouse. While Ilina's card features the Sunflower Field HeroScape, Libby used the Tulip Field Heroscape stamp set for this card, layering her flowers with Taffy, Crimson, Key Lime Fizz and Fresh Lawn inks. That's right, she combined both Reactive Inks and regular dye inks in her layering - that is a-ok to do!

The sky was ink-blended with Pool Party Reactive Ink, and the clouds from the stamp set were stamped in Unicorn Pigment Ink. The message from this stamp set was perfect for this challenge! It was stamped in Intens-ified Black Ink. The final touch was a bit of dry embossing, done on a scoring tool.

Color layering cards are really easy to mass produce on a MISTI, so Libby made a stack to enable her to share handmade hugs with many people!

Want to see how to make this card? Libby will be hopping on the Hero Arts Facebook page for a live demo and to chat about this challenge - keep an eye out for that. She is hoping to jump on at about 2pm eastern! 

Now it's your turn - we'd absolutely love for you to join us! We want to encourage you to actually sit down and enjoy the process of creating. We know it is a source of fun, relaxation and stress relief - something we all can use a bit more of right now. Create a new card for this challenge with the theme of ENCOURAGEMENT. Use the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of this post to link up your card, and you will be entered into our drawing. We will be giving a $35 gift certificate randomly to one person who plays along! To link up your project, you need to share it publicly somewhere that you can grab the link - this can be your blog, Instagram, a Flickr account - anything that allows you to have a URL or website location to link up. 

We, of course, encourage you to use your favorite Hero Arts products. But any and all entries are eligible for consideration. We really care most about you bringing a little inky joy into your life. Entries must be submitted by Wednesday, March 25 at 11:59pm PT to be eligible for the giveaway, and the winner will be announced when we announce our next challenge next Friday. Scroll down below the product thumbnails to find the linkup!

And if you share your project on social media, we'd love if you'd use the #staycraftywithhero hashtag.

Here's to connection, creativity, inspiration, and kindness. ❤ We will get through this together.

Take care, friends.

Click on products to shop:

CM412 Tulip Field HeroScape - Hero Arts [ HA ] MT310 MISTI Mini Hero Black - Hero Arts [ HA ] MT300 MISTI Regular Hero Black - Hero... [ HA ] AF420 Taffy Reactive Ink - Hero Arts [ HA ] AF335 Crimson Bold Ink - Hero Arts [ HA ] AF424 Key Lime Fizz Reactive Ink -... [ HA ] AF372 Fresh Lawn Mid-Tone Shadow Ink... [ HA ] AF426 Pool Party Reactive Ink - Hero... [ HA ] AF249 Unicorn Pigment Ink Pad - Hero... [ HA ] AF435 Intens-ified Black Ink Pad -... [ HA ] PS325 Hero Hues Dove white - Hero Arts [ HA ] PS400 Hero Hues Dove White Top Folded... [ HA ]

Enter our contest by linking your project below! By linking your project, you are giving us permission to feature your card on our blog, social media or newsletter, crediting you as the artist.