A Blog Named Hero

A challenge blog dedicated to our love of Hero Arts!

Archives for June 2012

Three Different Looks for the Starburst Background

Hope everyone is having a great Father’s Day weekend. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

Just warming up for the new Stretch Your Stamps class over at onlinecardclasses.com. If you know me, you know I am a BIG HUGE fan of these classes. Everytime I take one I get new and different ideas of ways to use my stamps, and I know I am excited for Stretch Your Stamps to start. How about a little warm up? I decided to use the Hero Arts/Studio Calico Starburst Background in a a few different ways.

Here are 3 different looks that I created with this stamp along with a brief description of the techniques used.

 Color in the Starburst with Distress Markers to get each “ray” a different color. I colored directly onto the stamp with different color Distress Markers. Then I gave it a light spritz with a mini mister for a watercolor effect.

Stamp the Starburst and emboss in a bright color for a bold pop! Do it on black paper for a really big contrast. Use a big bold greeting to make it fun.

Cut out alternate rays of the starburst and use it a Mask for spray ink. I used Studio Calico Mr. Huey’s in silver to make a fun celebratory card. Added just a little oh so trendy confetti and some wood veneer “potty people” to make an anniversary card. A shiny spray is fun for any party themed card. Don’t forget to save your mask to use again. Just a note-I did not cut all the way to the center of the rays  since I was going to cover it up and it kept my mask from falling apart!

How would you give this stamp a different look? I would love to hear about it in the comments!







SUPPLIES:

Stretch Your Stamps Giveaway!

How would you like to win a spot in STRETCH YOUR STAMPS? Leave a comment on this post by Friday at 5pm ED/ST and we’ll draw TWO lucky winners. If you don’t trust your luck, then go register!
 I know this class will be amazing!

 Here is a bit about the class (and you can find out more information HERE)…

The popular “One Stamp Three Ways” lesson from Clean & Simple Card Making is now it’s own class! And with even more ideas!
In Stretch Your Stamps, Jennifer McGuire, Kristina Werner, and many of your favorite stamping artists across the globe show examples of different types of stamps and how to use them in innovative ways. Stretch your stamping dollar by learning how to get the most out of your stamps with fresh, new techniques and clever tips! Each day will focus on a specific type of stamp – background, collage, sentiment, etc. – and will include five different innovative ideas on how to include them in your next card design.
Join Jennifer, Kristina and special guests Tim Holtz, Ali Edwards and more, for 50+ card ideas and 20+ videos as you learn to Stretch Your Stamps!
Class runs July 9 – July 23 and includes shopping discounts to favorite online stores and lots of prizes.

Challenge #6 KISSING

Hello everyone!

Welcome to our latest challenge!


Use the kissing technique!
For those of you who might not know, the kissing technique is when you ‘kiss’ two stamps (both inked or just one inked), together and transfer the image from one onto the other.
Remember, one lucky random winner will receive a 



from our amazing sponsor




Lets jump straight into the Design Team’s inspirational cards for you shall we!?

Linda
Steph


Michelle

Danielle

Lucy
Tina

Well we hope that you’ll find these cards inspirational!! Hopefully they spark something in your creative mind to help you make something to add to our challenge?!

As always, please link your entries through the inlinkz tool.

You have until June 26th at 5pm EDST to get your entries in!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

document.write(‘

Happy Birthday Cristina!!

Hello there!!

here with a special post today!

It’s DT member Cristina‘s 30th Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Cristina!!!

A few of the girls thought we would make a card for her :

Steph K

Linda

Kelly

Tina

Simone

Danielle

Steph B

Melissa

For the couple of girls who couldn’t make a card today–they send their apologies and BIGGEST happy birthday wishes.

So please, be sure to comment and leave Cristina some birthday love–it IS her 30th after all!
We’ll be back at 5pm with our challenge post!

Linda x

Envelope dress up

Hello crafty friends, it`s Tina here.

I love it when the card I send has a matching envelope, but I am not always in the mood to make and customize an envelope. So I will share with you, how I decorate the inside of the regular office envelopes bought in the supermarket.

You need envelopes, cardstock, plain printing paper and stamps that match your card.

To make a template (to keep for later), follow these steps:
Trace the lines around the opening side of the envelope, draw another line inside to make the template slightly smaller than the envelope and cut on the inside line. The idea is to insert it in the envelope, so it should only be “deep” enough so the bottom edge isn`t seen. 
Insert the template in the envelope, so you make sure it fits perfectly. My template sits about half an inch down into the opening. (You don`t need to cover the entire inside, but you can make it as long as you want.)
When you have made a template, you can cut several white inserts in just few minutes. I use regular printing paper and I usually  cut up to 5 pages at the same time. As you can see in the photograph, I align two borders perfectly, so I only need to cut two sides and round the corners. 
Here is a stack made really quickly. I usually make a lot of them when I am in the mood so I have them ready when I need a matching envelope. (this is a great thing to do when your mojo is on a vacation :-))
When I finish making a card and I still have all my stamps and inks on my craft desk, I just take one insert, stamp it, apply the glue and put it in the envelope.That’s it! Now you have a beautiful matching envelope to suit your hand-made card!
Thanks for joining me today, I am sending you a big crafty hug.