A Blog Named Hero

A challenge blog dedicated to our love of Hero Arts!

Archives for 2021

Colorful Birthday Window

Hi and Happy August!

August is my birthday month (the 15th!) and lots of other family members celebrate their birthdays this month (I need 8 cards this month!) So I like to make all the cards I need in one sitting.

Let me take you through my process for making these cards.


I took the Wish Big Peek-a-Boo parts background stamp (CM 418), stamped with Embossing & Watermark ink (AF470) and embossed with Detail Black embossing powder (PW119). I made several of these black and white panels while I had it all set up in my Misti Stamping Tool. (You actually get 2 cards from one panel!) Set those panels aside.

 

Now it’s time to get inky!  Ink blend a strip of card stock 2 1/4 x 4 /4 inches in whatever color combo you like: rainbow, pinks, blue, greens…whatever colors are the recipient’s favorite!

 

Cut the stamped/embossed Peek-a-Boo panel (A2 card front size) to two panels each 2/1 x 4 1/4 inches.  Use a large word die (here I used the “happy” from the Happy Thanks Stamp and Cut XL DC282) to cut a window in the panel.  Pop up the stamped/diecut panel and lay over the ink-blended panel…then add to your card base.  (Don’t forget the centers of the “A” and “P”). 

Optional:  Add a small “birthday” sentiment white heat embossed on black cardstock to complete your card. 

Don’t forget to enter this month’s challenge at over at www.ablognamedhero.com for a chance to win a gift certificate from Hero Arts.

I hope you use my idea to mass produce some birthday cards for your next busy birthday month. 

Tag me on Instagram @katedeignancards when you do!

Under Maintenance

Hi crafting friends,

We’re having some technical issues with the ‘back end’ of A Blog Named Hero and are doing some maintenance.

Until this is fixed, we will be posting our projects on our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/ablognamedhero/.

Please bare with us while we do our best to get back to our regular programming!

Thanks for your understanding!

A Blog Named Hero

Rectangle Repetition

This month’s challenge might just be my favorite.  Nothing says a clean and simple card like a repeated image. 

I was looking through my Instagram feed and was inspired by a hexagon card with rainbow colors.  But, alas, I do not own a hexagon die, but I do own the Infinity Rectangles Dies (D1198).  And I figured I’d put that little center rectangle to some use!

I cut that little rectangle out of Mustard (PS307) Paradise (PS312) Kiwi (PS308) and Adriatic (PS313) cardstock.  I lined the rectangles up, alternating the heights and glued them down to a white card base.  I then topped them with a stacked die from the Happy Thanks Stamp and Cut (DC282) and added a Hero Greetings Mini Messages (CM351) “you rock” in the little space provided by the alignment.


BUT…then I figured I could step up this “repetition” a bit more! 

I cut that little rectangle out of white cardstock, and created a subway tile effect on my card base.  I had some of the same colorful rectangles left over from the first card so I lined them up on some thin scrap paper, and diecut the “thanks”  from the colorful rectangles.   I stacked that colorful thanks on 3 more white diecuts to give it some dimension.  And, done! 

Hope you like my take on “repetition”.  Tag me on Instagram @katedeignancards with your take on my card!  And don’t forget to enter the challenge!

Rainbow Repeat Stamping

Hello crafty friends! Its Teri here posting for our July Challenge Repeat Yourself on A Blog Named Hero.  I hope you are finding lots of inspiration and ideas on Repeat Stamping Techniques. I have three different cards using the You Lift Me Up Stamp Set.

Check out the fun colors used on this curved front card! I selected a rainbow of colors for the hot air balloons. Reactive Inks in Creamsicle, Fruit Punch, Green Apple, Pool Party, Grape Slush and Lemon Drop made this a bright and cheerful card!

Use a Curved Die to cut the shape on the top of a Hotdog card allowing room for the rainbow striped piece and a sentiment. Lining these images up without a Misti Stamping Tool would be a challenge. Start with the purple balloon and move the card front to the right and up by 1/4 inch. This will allow the balloons to overlap.  After stamping the Pool and Green balloons, return to the center position and repeat on the left.

 

The rainbow striped piece was created by using the Direct to Paper Technique on 1/4 inch strips of paper. After I had created  five strips with different colors, I glued them on a piece of paper that had been cut with the same curved die. Once the strips were attached, I trimmed the piece to allow the colors to pop under the stamped piece!  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

 

This one is similar in concept, starting with the purple balloon and moving the card base up and to the left, stamping the next balloon and then moving it up and to the right to stamp another balloon.

 

Once the line of balloons was complete, I trimmed 1/4 inch off the left side and added an orange strip.  The sentiment is from the Acts of Kindness Stamp Set.

 

The third card was created using the same technique as the prior card except the stamping was done on the right side of the card. Once the images were stamped, the balloons were fussy cut on the right side to allow a piece of light blue cardstock to show. The sentiment is from the same set.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my post and will consider entering your own creation in our monthly challenge. There are gift cards to be won sponsored by Hero Arts. Go to the bottom of the post on A Blog Named Hero to enter. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I’d love to have you follow/subscribe on my social media sites Instagram, Facebook, Blogger and You Tube.  Be well. Be creative!

Let’s Get the Paw-ty Started!

Hi everyone!! We are mid-way thru our challenge for this month and it’s all about repeating elements on your projects.

 

These little critters are getting ready for an awesome “paw-ty” – hanging birthday banners with a little pup getting all tangled up in them!

I used Pool Party, Blue Hawaii and Purple Galaxy reactive inks for the background of my slimline card. I swiped the inks onto a glass mat and picked up the pigment with a wet brush and brushed it on an already damp piece of watercolor paper.  I started with the lightest color at the top, then added the darker color, Purple Galaxy towards the bottom.  I made sure to saturate the paper with color as this was important for the next technique.  I took the Presents Background Cling Stamp, spritzed it generously with water, then stamped it onto the water colored panel.  I left it there for a few seconds before lifting it up.  Then I took a dry paper towel and dabbed off the water.  The water on the stamp picked up the pigment and left behind a ghost impression.

 

Then I repeated the same on the bottom half of the slimline panel. After the paper was dry, I cut it down to 8.75″X3.75″ and adhered it to a Dove White card base of the same size.

Then I took another piece of Dove White cardstock and cut a panel measuring 8.5″X3.5″ with a stitched slimline rectangle die. I used the same Presents Background Cling Stamp to stamp a very subtle image with Soft Granite Shadow Ink. Then I took three different sizes of circles from the Circle Infinity Nesting Die set and cut three holes on the cardstock. I temporarily adhered it to the card panel so I could layout my elements.

I stamped, die-cut and colored the critters with Zig Clean color Brush markers. I also die-cut the words “Happy Happy Birthday” using the Birthday Banner Letterset Die out of Dove White cardstock then colored them also with Zigs in gradient rainbow colors. I also die cut the same letters out of Pitch Black Cardstock and inlaid them on the rainbow banner letters. 

I then took some black sewing thread, double it up and pasted the banners using liquid Precision Glue.

I colored the critters from the My Monthly Hero June 2021 kit also with Zig clean color brush markers. Before I adhered the little critters on the card, I used an craft knife to cut little notches between their paws to insert the thread thru each side. I used washi tape at the back of each critter to hold the thread in place.

For the little pup at the bottom. I wound the thread several times to make it look like he got all tangled up on the banner strings. I didn’t adhere the letter B to the string, instead I tucked it under his paws. Then I finished off the card by embellishing it with clay sprinkles from the kit. The MMH June 2021 kit is still available as of this writing. 

I hope you were inspired to create cards with a repeating element.

Thank you for dropping by our challenge! You can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and my Blog.

Stay safe and stay crafty!