A Blog Named Hero

Happy Birthday with Emboss Resist Ink Blending

Hello, I hope you’re having a wonderful day!  Seeka here and today I’m sharing a card the fun Presents Background Stamp. This is the same stamp set that I used to create a card for this month’s Stretch Your Stamps challenge.

I started by using Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink and white embossing powder to heat emboss the background stamp onto watercolor paper.  Then I got out ink blending tools and blended four colors of Distress inks onto the background.  I started at the top with Picked Raspberry and then blended my way downwards through Worn Lipstick, Ripe Persimmon, and Carved Pumpkin.

While the background was drying, I stamped the sentiment from the Birthday Hugs and Kisses stamp set in black pigment ink onto heavyweight vellum.  Then I used Ultra Fine clear embossing powder to emboss the sentiment.  

To assemble the card, I added small dots of glue behind the letters in the sentiment and then adhered the sentiment strip onto the background.  Finally, I adhered the background onto a card base.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Thinking Of You | Foiling With Dies

Hi there, it’s Seeka here and today I’m sharing a tropical card featuring a foil-pressed background.  Before we get started with how I made this card, don’t forget that the July challenge is going on. This month’s theme is Christmas in July!

For my card today I got out my Gemini Foilpress machine which uses a combination of heat and pressure to transfer foil onto cardstock.  This machine is specifically made to be used with the Gemini Junior die cutting machine, but there are other foiling machines available that don’t require having a Gemini Junior.  The GoPress and Foil machine is the other option I’m aware of.

With the Foilpress plugged in and prepped at the Medium setting, I centered the Leaves & Vines Fancy Die over an A2-sized piece of navy cardstock.  Holding the die and cardstock together, I flipped them over and paced them onto the heating plate, making sure to place them aligned to the grid.  Note that the cutting side of the die was facing UP.  Then I removed the cardstock, set the timer for 15 seconds, pressed the start button, and waited for the beep.  At the beep, I placed a piece of Gemini Rose Gold Papercraft Foil over the die, dull finish facing up.  Then I used the grid as a guide to replace the cardstock in the exact same location it started in.  I placed the top plate over the cardstock and ran the sandwhich through my Gemini Junior.

When I removed the foil, the beautiful pattern of the die was pressed and foiled into the cardstock.  It’s so fun to peel away the foil and see the magic revealed!

I used a Misti to stamp a toucan from the Hello Toucan stamp set in Unicorn pigment ink onto a scrap piece of the same navy cardstock. I used this white ink simply so I could see the lines on the navy cardstock while I colored. Using  Polychromos colored pencils, I colored in the bird.  The colors I used were White, Chrome Yellow, Naples Yellow, Orange Glaze, Scarlet Red, and Black.

I replaced the toucan back into the Misti and stamped it again in embossing ink.  I poured a rose gold embossing powder over the bird, tapped off the excess, and hit it with a heat gun.  The heat embossing completely hid the white pigment ink. Then I backed the bird with foam tape.

For the sentiment, which is from the same stamp set, I used the same embossing process and cardstock.

To assemble the card, I adhered the background to an A2-sized card base, adhered the sentiment flush to the card, and then adhered the toucan partially over the sentiment.

There are so many other Hero Arts background and Paper Layering dies that I plan to foil with, I can’t wait!

Thank you so much for visiting!

Love And Thanks

Hi there, I hope you’re having a lovely day! Seeka here and today I have a thank you card featuring some items from the latest Hero Arts release. But before talk about the card, don’t forget that this month’s challenge has just started and there’s still plenty of time to submit your entry!

For my card today, I started by stamping several images from the Tropical Flowers stamp set in Intense Black ink onto Neenah Solar White cardstock. Then I used Copics to color them in. I used BG45, BG15, and BG49 for the leaves, and R30, R32, and R35 for the flower. I also stamped the sentiment onto a strip of Neenah and then cut all of the pieces out and set them aside.

For the background, I inked up the Jungle Bold Prints background stamp in Soft Pool onto an A2-sized piece of Neenah which I trimmed to 4″ x 5.25″. I also stamped in Ocean ink onto a A2-sized piece of Adriatic cardstock for a tone-on-tone look.

To assemble the card, I adhered the three palm leaves onto the white background and then adhered the sentiment strip over them. I added the flower with foam tape and then backed the whole panel with foam tape before adhering it to the Adriatic piece. Finally, I adhered the card front to an A2-sized card base and added a small dot of Diamond Stickles to the center of the flower.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Hey Succa!

Happy Friday, friends! Seeka here and I hope you’ve had a good week. I don’t know about you but I am really looking forward to a long weekend of getting inky! Today I’m sharing a card using a stamp set I’ve had my eye on for a while, especially for this punny sentiment!

I started by stamping one of the potted succulents from the Succulent Stamp & Cut in Copic-friendly Intense Black ink. Then I used YG0000, YG11, G14, and G05 to color the succulent, and B32, B34, and B37 to color the pot. I used the coordinating die to cut out the image and then set it aside.

For the background, I used Hero Hues Premium Cardstock in Pebble. I die cut it with the Abstract Graphic Texture die and then adhered the panel to an A2-sized card base. I really like this die for tone-on-tone texture and I thought its angles and spikes would be a good match for a succulent-themed card.

For the sentiment, I used the same black ink to stamp “Hey Succa!” onto a strip of white cardstock, and then layered that strip over a strip of black cardstock.

To assemble the card, I adhered the sentiment strip to the card front, and then used foam tape to adhere the potted succulent.

Thank you so much for visiting us!

You Blow Me Away

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Hi there, it’s Seeka here with my solo post for the blog.  I’m so excited to be a part of this  talented team and to get to share some projects with you!

54522010_10156057749191156_3697575342702067712_nToday I’m using the cute I’m A Puffer For You stamp set which captured my heart at first sight.  I used to have a puffer fish back when I had an aquarium and that cutie would swim to whatever part of the tank was closest to me, following me around as I moved around the room.  He was like a  little underwater puppy!

I’m also sticking with this month’s challenge theme: Clean and Simple.  If you’re familiar with my grid over on Instagram, you know that clean and simple is my jam.

I started by stamping the puffer fish in Copic-friendly Hero Arts Intense Black ink onto Neenah Solar White 80# Classic Crest cardstock.  Then I colored him up with Y000, Y11, Y15, and Y17.  I started with a solid base of Y000, the lightest color, and then gradually added darker colors, blending as I went.  Then I cut him out and set him aside to work on the background.

For the background I used an A2-sized piece of Neenah Solar White onto which I stamped the sentiment in the bottom right corner.  I also stamped three bubbles from the stamp set, temporarily placing the puffer to get an idea of where to put the bubbles.  Then I backed the puffer with foam tape and adhered him permanently to the panel.

On another A2-sized piece of Neenah Solar White, I stamped an older Hero Arts woodblock stamp that has a lovely pattern of dots.  I don’t think that particular stamp is available any more, but Hero Arts does have some other backgrounds that are similar.  I trimmed a half inch-wide strip to use for the card.

To assemble the card, I trimmed off half an inch from the left side of the panel with the fish and then adhered the panel to the right side an A2-sized card base.  Then I adhered the patterned strip to the left side.  The result is an almost seamless card front without the worry of trying to stamp a straight strip along one edge of the card!

Be sure to visit the challenge post for more inspiration for this month’s challenge and to join in on the chance to win one of two gift cards!

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you have a lovely day ☀️💛

Seeka Signature

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