Thursday, May 19, 2022

Butterfly Dreams Mixed Media Card with Hero Arts

Hey, everybody! I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today sharing this fun, and easy to make, mixed media card but I wanted to share it here too. Let me know if you decide to make it on your own!

Directions:
1. Make DIY liquid watercolor sprays by adding water and liquid watercolor to water mist bottles. 

2. Spray 4.25” x 5.5” panel of Luxe watercolor cardstock with DIY watercolor sprays in Pink, Dandelion and Indigo. Allow to dry.

3. Use the Taco Stamping technique to stamp the Abstract Ceiling Bold Prints stamp using Watermark and Embossing Ink.

4. Apply White Puff Embossing Powder and use an embossing tool to activate and heat set it.

5. Splatter the background with both White and Gold Glimmer Metallic Ink.



6. Add a 1.5” x 4.25” strip of Woodgrain Vellum about one third of the way up from the bottom of the card using a tape runner. 

7. Use Onyx Pigment Ink and Clear Embossing Powder to heat emboss the “Hello” Sentiment from the Art Journal Messages stamp set onto the right side of a .5” x 4.25” strip of classic layering vellum (it may be easier to cut the strip after heat embossing). Use a tape runner to adhere this on top of the Wood Grain Vellum (centered).

8. Heat emboss the butterfly from the Critter Silhouettes stamp set in Brass Embossing Powder onto Mist cardstock. Fussy cut the butterfly and adhere it to the card on the left side of the vellum strips.

9. Add a few sequins from the Icicles Sequins mix using Precision Glue.

10. Attach finished background to a card base.


And, that is it for today you guys! I hope you like the card and that you all have the most amazing day!

Maria


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Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Hero Arts Summer Catalog and Mixed Media Release: Blog Hop & Giveaways!

Hey everybody! I'm so glad you are stopping by today because is release day for the brand new Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2021! For this release we have a really cool combination of things to share. We've got brand new products, brand new mixed media products (waxes, pearls, paste and a fabulous palette knife!) and we are even putting a mixed media style twist on some products that you may already know and love. Fun! The new catalog is absolutely gorgeous so if you'd like to get a copy for yourself click here.

Today I'll be sharing some of the projects that I made for the catalog as well as a look at the new mixed media products so make sure to stick around until the end of my post (especially if you want to enter the GIVEAWAY). For my first two projects I used exactly the same products to create two very different looks. I used liquid watercolors (as DIY sprays), the Togetherness Flower Bouquet Stamp, the Newspaper Bold Prints, the Diamond Stencil and the Luggage Tag Alphabet Frame Cuts. For my first piece I tore a piece of Strathmore watercolor paper out of a notebook and left the holes on the left side. I cut the piece down and sprayed it DIY sprays made from both liquid water colors and Reactive Ink Inkers. Then, I stamped the floral stamp repeatedly in Onyx Pigment ink and heat embossed it in clear. 
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

On the left side of the piece I added dark shadows behind the flowers using a black watercolor pencil and a sharpie. This made the flowers pop forward more. On the right side of the background I stamped the Newspaper Bold Prints into the background in Splash Reactive Ink. Then I used the Diamond stencil and Unicorn White ink to create more subtle background interest. I heat embossed some of the sentiments from the new Art Journal Messages onto the background in white. 
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

After splattering the background with both gold and white Glimmer Metallic ink I added a black sentiment die cut using the Luggage Tag Alphabet dies. I love the bold font of these dies and the fact that I can make any sentiment I want with them. To finish this piece up I add highlights with a white posca pen and a few black enamel dots for accents.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

This card uses the same products for a totally different look. This time I used the Hero Arts watercolor paper (A2 sized) and sprayed it with Liquid Watercolor sprays (Indigo and Pink). Then I stamped Newspaper Bold Prints onto some deli paper with permanent ink. I glued a strip of this stamped paper to my card base before applying Hero Paste over the background using the Diamond Stencil and the NEW PALETTE KNIFE which I absolutely love! While the paste was still wet I sprinkled it with White Puff Embossing Powder and heat set it. While the embossing powder was still hot I sprinkled it with Sand Embossing Powder and heat set that to add more texture. I splattered the background with with both white and gold Glimmer Metallic Ink as well as black acrylic paint and set it aside to dry.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

I stamped the flowers in Onyx Pigment Ink and heat embossed them in clear embossing powder before cutting them out with the coordinating die. Then I watercolored them with liquid watercolors (Pink, Orange, Dandelion, Leaf and Jungle Mist). I added extra detail and shadows with black sharpie and gray copic markers before adhering them to my card with foam adhesive.  
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

To finish the card off I added a "HEY" sentiment cut using the Luggage Tag Alphabet dies. I adhered the letters using foam tape and then added some black enamel dots.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting


My next three projects again use the same products but combine them in different ways for different outcomes. For these projects I am using the Bug Collections Bold Prints Stamp, the Novel Prose Bold Prints Stamp, and, the Love Stamp & Cut. For this card I started out with an A2 sized piece of Paradise cardstock. I used a MISTI to stamp the Bug Collections BP in Canary Pigment ink and heat embossed it in clear. Then, I ink-blended around the edges of the card using Blue Hawaii Reactive Ink and a blending brush. This darkened up the edges and gave the center of the card a glow. Next, I stamped around the edges again using Versamark ink and the Novel Prose BP stamp. I heat embossed that in gold. To finish the background off I added splatters of black acrylic paint.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

Next, I stamped the Bug Collection Bold Prints stamp onto watercolor cardstock in Onyx Pigment ink and heat set it with clear embossing powder. Then, I cut out a little piece for the top, left of my card and a butterfly for the bottom right. I also cut out a couple specimen labels to add to the background. I watercolored the butterfly with liquid watercolors and outlined the other pieces in black sharpie. I layered the butterfly onto a black banner from the Love Stamp & Cut set. I also created my sentiment from this set. I placed all of my pieces onto the background and when I was happy with the layout I glued them all done and that was all she wrote!
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

For my next two projects I used playing cards. There were two extra cards in the deck so I just grabbed those and I added a layer of both white and black acrylic paint as a backdrop to get started. On this first card I stamped Novel Prose randomly into the background using black ink.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

I added circles using bubble wrap and Aquamarine Pigment Ink that I heat embossed in clear. Then, I stamped Novel Prose again, this time using Versamark ink and I heat embossed that in Sand Embossing Powder. I splattered the background with white acrylic paint and Gold Glimmer Metallic Ink before smearing more gold and black acrylic paint around the edges. At some point in this process I also stamped some "XOXO" sentiments into the background.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

To finish this playing card up I added cuttings from the Bug Collections stamp and Love Stamp & Cut that I watercolored and outlined in black. I also added some gold string behind them and some enamel dots to add a little extra texture. 
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

For this Love Bug playing card I basically applied the same techniques as on the butterfly playing card. I heat embossed Novel Prose in white and then again with Sand Embossing Powder. 
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

I wanted to add more color to the background so I smeared some Leaf and Jungle Mist Liquid Watercolor on with my finger. It worked better than I thought it would and I think it looks really cool.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

When I added the "Love" die cut I covered it in Clear Lacquer so that it would be shiny. I also added Clear Lacquer to the beetle so he looked three dimensional and to the "Bug" sentiment. I did the the "Bug" sentiment by hand since there wasn't one in the set. The final step was to add some white enamel dots.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

Ok! Now let's move on and check out some of the new and super awesome mixed media products that are launching today! We've got two brand new mediums and an addition to one existing product line. Here's what we've got:
   
        -Gold
        -Black
        -White (Pearlescent finish)
        -Buy them in a Bundle!

        -Gold
        -Silver
        -Pewter
        -White (Pearlescent finish)
        -Buy them in a Bundle!

        -Pearl
        -Buy them in a Bundle!

Now, here's a look at what we've got. These are swatches of all three colors of the new HERO WAXES. The waxes are a wax based product that dries permanent on most surfaces. They are great for doing a variety of techniques with. On these swatches I show that they can be applied smoothly with a palette knife (top left), textured (bottom left), heated with a heat tool to bubble them (top right), and applied with a dry brush to add texture (bottom right). They are amazing to burnish over texture on your projects, for use with stencils and for many other techniques. You can buy these waxes individually or as a bundle.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

Next up we have the new HERO PEARLS in four gorgeous colors! All four of these of a striking, metallic finish that is very eyecatching. As you can see from the swatches they can be applied in a variety of ways-here, I've used my finger, used the tip to draw a squiggle, and then made some pearls as embellishments. The colors all look stunning on both dark and light cardstock and are easy to make beautiful "pearls" with (no hershey's kiss look with these drops as they are self-leveling). You can buy these individually or as a bundle.
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

Finally, we have the newest addition to our Hero Paste line with this gorgeous, new HERO PEARL PASTE. This paste is similar to others in our line (currently we have our original paste, glitter paste and now Pearl paste). It is white with a pearlescent finish and had great coverage on both light and dark cardstocks. You can add color this paste by adding a few drops of either liquid watercolor or Inkers. If you already have the two existing pastes you can pick up the Pearl paste by itself, or, if you want all three pastes you can grab the bundle. 
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

Here's a look at all of the swatches for the new mediums together... Aren't they fun?!
Cardbomb, Maria Willis, Hero Arts, Hero Arts Summer Catalog 2022,mixed media,stamps, stamping, cards, cardmaking, art, color, handmade, craft,watercolor,Hero Paste,heat emboss,texture,technique,dies,die cutting

Before I go there are two new tools that I have to tell you about because you are going to need them!

First we've got the new stamp Scrubbing Block! This is a block that is easy to hold in your hand and allows you scrub your stamps clean while they are in your MISTI! This tool makes it easy to clean your Bold Print stamps too! Check it out HERE!

We've also got a brand new Palette Knife! I absolutely love because it's made out of metal and wood. I love tools made of natural materials so much more than plastic tools. This palette knife is also really great because of the shape of the knife. It is shaped like an elongated diamond and has a narrow tip that is easy to dip into your product containers to pick up your product. Check out this awesome, new Palette Knife HERE!

Ok, you guys! That is it for today so I hope you'll keep hopping along with us to check out the new goodies and tons of creative inspiration from the Hero Arts Creative Team. Remember to enter our giveaway too (details below)!

Have an awesome day!
Maria


GIVEAWAY:



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Monday, May 2, 2022

Hero Arts My Monthly Hero May 2022: Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Hey everybody! The wait is over! It's time for the Hero Arts May 2022 My Monthly Hero release and this month's kit is a kitchen-loving dream! It's got a gorgeous fancy die, coordinating  small dies, a sentiment stamp set and a fun background stamp (affiliate links may be used at no extra cost to you)! It's also got a bunch of other fun supplies like cardstock, ink, embossing powder, and baker's twine!

Before I get to my cards, if you aren't familiar with the My Monthly Hero kit, it's a kit that is released by Hero Arts on the first Monday of every month. It always has a fun, themed, collection of stamps, dies and other goodies. The cost is just $34.99/month and the value is always much greater! This month's kit is valued at $70!

You have the option to subscribe (subscribing now means your first kit will be the June release), or, to buy your favorite kits as one-off purchases. Be aware that once these kits sell out they are gone for good. If you see a kit you like make sure to snatch it up quickly! There are also a ton of amazing add-on products! You can buy the add-ons as a bundle at a discounted rate or just pick up your favorite products. 

For my first project I made a bright and happy, "Bun in the Oven" card. This card would be such a fun way to announce that a baby is on the way. The oven door opens so it would be easy to add a due date or a gender to the inside. I started out with an A2 sized piece of white cardstock and I masked off the window panes from the Open Windows Fancy die using masking paper. Then, I stamped the background stamp from the kit in Soft Granite Shadow Ink. Then I lightly ink blended the whole background with Soft Granite Ink to give it a little color. After that, I peeled the masking paper away and that left me with clean white, windows. I added some blue color using my copic markers to make it look like their was an outdoor view.

Cardbomb, Maria WIllis,Hero Arts,My Monthly Hero May 2022, cards, cardmaking, stamps, stamping, dies,diecutting, handmade, art, color,inkblending,mixed media, watercolor

To finish off the window scene I adhered the Open Window Fancy die cut out of white cardstock. It perfectly framed out the windows that I had colored in blue. Once I had the window frame glued down I decided to make the windows look glossy and I filled them with a layer of Crystal Clear Lacquer Pen. You may want to do this step last, or, be very careful not to smear the lacquer before it dries properly.
Cardbomb, Maria WIllis,Hero Arts,My Monthly Hero May 2022, cards, cardmaking, stamps, stamping, dies,diecutting, handmade, art, color,inkblending,mixed media, watercolor
Next, I cut the fancy die from the kit out of Paradise cardstock. I cut off the sides and top of the die cut leaving only the fruit bowl sitting on top of the counter. I added detail to the oven and fruit using a gold gel pen and some posca paint pens. I also stamped the sentiment onto the oven door using Onyx Pigment ink and then heat embossed it in clear embossing powder. Once that was done I glued the whole thing down using tape runner (I didn't want liquid adhesive to ooze through the gorgeous details of the die) except for the oven door which I propped slightly open with glue dots.
Cardbomb, Maria WIllis,Hero Arts,My Monthly Hero May 2022, cards, cardmaking, stamps, stamping, dies,diecutting, handmade, art, color,inkblending,mixed media, watercolor

For my next card I used the gorgeous new Olive Branch stamp and die set. I heat embossed the large olive branch in gold and watercolored it using my Hero Arts Liquid Watercolors (Leaf, Jungle Mist, Purple, Art Print, Black). Then, I used the coordinating dies to cut out the image.
Cardbomb, Maria WIllis,Hero Arts,My Monthly Hero May 2022, cards, cardmaking, stamps, stamping, dies,diecutting, handmade, art, color,inkblending,mixed media, watercolor

I used Jungle Mist Liquid Watercolor to quickly watercolor a background onto some handmade watercolor paper. Then I roughed up the edges with my fingernail and added some Gold Glimmer Metallic ink by rubbing it on with my fingers as well as splattering it with a paintbrush.
Cardbomb, Maria WIllis,Hero Arts,My Monthly Hero May 2022, cards, cardmaking, stamps, stamping, dies,diecutting, handmade, art, color,inkblending,mixed media, watercolor

I created a gold circle frame with my Circle Infinity Dies by stacking three layers of white cardstock behind one layer of gold metallic cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment in Onyx Pigment ink and clear embossing powder and then cut the sentiment strip out and flagged it with scissors. I glued all of the pieces to my card front using liquid adhesive and foam tape. Then I finished the card off by adding gold drops.
Cardbomb, Maria WIllis,Hero Arts,My Monthly Hero May 2022, cards, cardmaking, stamps, stamping, dies,diecutting, handmade, art, color,inkblending,mixed media, watercolor

Here's a quick look at a card that I shared on Friday as a sneak peek for this kit. You can see more pictures and check out all of the details HERE.
Cardbomb, Maria WIllis,Hero Arts,My Monthly Hero May 2022, cards, cardmaking, stamps, stamping, dies,diecutting, handmade, art, color,inkblending,mixed media, watercolor

Ok, you guys, that is it for today! I hope you all love this kit and will continue hopping along with us for even more inspiration. The full blog hop list is below and make sure to leave a comment here to get yourself entered into our giveaway!

Have an awesome day!
Maria


GIVEAWAY:
We will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, May 8th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

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