July My Monthly Hero Countdown: Idea #5 + Giveaway!

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Good morning! We are back with another countdown post, leading up to the release of the July My Monthly Hero Kit! Release day is Monday, July 2nd at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific. Join us as we continue to share ideas using both the main kit, as well as the new optional add-on products that will also be available on Monday. Now let's join Jess who is sharing a slightly different take on the main kit!

Okay, so I hope everyone has been enjoying the bright and cheerful countdown cards this weekend because I'm going to take it in a different direction! ;) Ever since I was a kid I've always found carnivals and fairs a little creepy.  It didn't help that I read a horror book as a teen that featured a carnival and cemented the idea of a creepy carnival in my head.  So when I saw this month's kit I immediately thought about using it to make a creepy carnival/It-themed card!  Ha.

I'm pretty sure I can count on one hand the number of times I've intentionally set out to create a sepia or vintage-themed card.  However when I saw the kit I immediately thought about the scene in the movie It (the original 1980s made-for-tv movie) where the kids are looking at a book with old photographs and there's carnival music playing and suddenly the photograph comes to life and the creepy clown pops up.  There wasn't a clown stamp in the kit but I figured the red balloon was a pretty iconic image from that movie so I used it instead!  

To start I blended Soft Brown ink around the edges of a piece of watercolor paper.  Then I blended Cup O' Joe ink around the corners and edges to add a little darker shading.  I deliberately kept the shading a little uneven to give it more of a natural look.  I also added a little Gold ink to the edges.

Next I stamped the carousel with intense black ink and masked it with a post-it note.  Then I stamped the park silhouette stamp across the panel with intense black ink.  I removed the post-it mask and added a little shading with brown colored pencils.  I also stamped the balloon and colored it with colored pencils.  Then I stamped the sentiment with versamark and heat-embossed it with gold embossing powder.  Finally I added a little nuvo crystal glaze to the balloon to a little extra shine.  I definitely went in a horror movie-themed direction with my card but you could also use this technique to create a simple vintage look (without the evil clown)! ;) 

Win a kit before you can buy it! Just leave a comment on this (and every) Countdown to Creativity post! We'll randomly draw one lucky winner from all the comments left across all the countdown posts, and announce the winner first thing Monday morning, July 2nd, before the kit launches at 1pm Eastern. The more you comment, the more chances to win! 

Have a fabulous day and good luck!


  • Christine Fitzgerald

    I just love this card. I find the browns just suit my pallet from thes all wonderful cards. I would love to try my own spin on these colours when my kit arrives. Love it

  • Susan Keiser

    So agree! All things carney – the stuff of nightmares! And I love this card! ❤️

  • Oleta Trainer

    Thank you sooooo much for your wonderful inspiration!

  • Shweta

    The kit is truely Magical!

  • Lori Barnett

    Love, love 💕!

281 Responses

BarbaraW

BarbaraW

Jul 01, 2018

Love this take on the vintage look. Amusement parks have such a nostalgic feel.

isabel Z

isabel Z

Jul 01, 2018

I love the color of this card—so soothing.
Ana A

Ana A

Jul 01, 2018

What an awesome card! I love all neutral colors and 1 red balloon!

kt fit kitty

kt fit kitty

Jul 01, 2018

Super cute card! I’m loving this kit so far!

Jeanne Beam

Jeanne Beam

Jul 01, 2018

Great card. Love the story about how you created it.
Thanks for sharing!

Nicole

Nicole

Jul 01, 2018

I love the sepia and the red balloon… super creepy lol

Sue D

Sue D

Jul 01, 2018

I think you achieved the look you wanted with this card.

Heidi

Heidi

Jul 01, 2018

Beautiful card.

Becca Yahrling

Becca Yahrling

Jul 01, 2018

I love a good horror movie! And the ones from the 80’s are the best. lol I love your card and well, don’t get a creepy vibe from it. lol I love the sepia tones and of course the carnival images. Great job!

Robin P

Robin P

Jul 01, 2018

Love this card. Has very nostalgic look to it.

Theresa P

Theresa P

Jul 01, 2018

Love your sepia colored card. You have really showcased the great stamps on your card.

Tani K

Tani K

Jul 01, 2018

I never saw the movie so I don’t see the card as creepy. I love it! If you’d have put a creep clown on the card, it would have been a different story. I love the vintage coloring with the touch of gold.

Leonie Haines

Leonie Haines

Jul 01, 2018

Great use of the stamp set! I too think carnivals are creepy and the book ‘IT’ cemented that.

Kristin

Kristin

Jul 01, 2018

Looks like a fun kit. Wonderful memories of summer in childhood. Thanks for sharing this card and inspiration.

Luci Manos

Luci Manos

Jul 01, 2018

Looks like a fun kit got sure!

Marcee Rodgers

Marcee Rodgers

Jul 01, 2018

This is awesome! You captured the historical feel of Derry perfectly. IT is one of my favorite books by Stephen King and one of my favorite mini series/movies. The 2017 retake is phenomenal. I will be CASEing this for sure. PS-IT fans may also like the book, The Chalk Man by C J Tudor.

Leigh Madison

Leigh Madison

Jul 01, 2018

Haha love it! I would have never thought of this. My mother is a huge Stephen King fan! I will definitely have to make her a card like this :)

Lise Mariann Alsli

Lise Mariann Alsli

Jul 01, 2018

What a beautiful card. I love the dark feel of it. Would have been perfect for a horror movie fantastic I know. Thank you so much for the inspiration. 😍

Celeste C

Celeste C

Jul 01, 2018

I like the vintage theme. These stamps lend themselves well to it. Very nice!

Ruth Davis

Ruth Davis

Jul 01, 2018

love the card with the thought of the vintage versus creepy.:)

Sherrie

Sherrie

Jul 01, 2018

What a clever take on the carnival theme. It does look a bit creepy, lol.

Lauren Z.

Lauren Z.

Jul 01, 2018

This card definitely brings the nostalgia of old timey carnivals. I thinks its great that you went for the creep factor adding the red balloon. Well done. This kit is going to be awesome!

Brandy Duncan

Brandy Duncan

Jul 01, 2018

I haven’t seen many if any all vintage/sepia cards. I really love the look. I’m going to have to give it a try. I works well for a creepy carnival. It would be such a great idea for Halloween cards.

Diane Stricker

Diane Stricker

Jul 01, 2018

What a great card, love the color scheme.

Audrey Glenn

Audrey Glenn

Jul 01, 2018

Love this! I get the reference to the movie, but I also see summers end and the sepia tones give the hint of autumns arrival. These images will make many beautiful cards!

Kathy

Kathy

Jul 01, 2018

This is a beautiful card.

Lisa Byers

Lisa Byers

Jul 01, 2018

Great idea!! Super looking card!! I love that red balloon floating up in the sky. I read the book, it was creepy and this card really captures it. Wonderful!!

DUMONTIER Marjorie

DUMONTIER Marjorie

Jul 01, 2018

Oh WoW ! What a gorgeous background/ sky ! That blending and the color combo are perfect !

Em

Em

Jul 01, 2018

I’m sure this carnival scene evokes lots of different memories and yours is a very interesting one and well done with the little red balloon.

Christina Dauven

Christina Dauven

Jul 01, 2018

Love it and that movie as well. When I first saw the sneaks I thought of American horror story freak show. I think vintage sepia suits your cards.

Helen

Helen

Jul 01, 2018

I would decribe this as old world and not creepy at all. Did you know the first ferris wheels were made of wood? Now that’s terrifying lol!!! Love the card Jess.