Shoot for the Stars! Kids United!

Hello everybody! I hope you are having a wonderful day! I'm just popping in to share this card made with a super sweet image from the Hero Arts Kids United stamp set. I love this image of two young girls holding hands and looking at each other like they and their dreams are all that matters in this world. I just want to tell them, "Shoot for the Stars kids! You can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do!" I found this sentiment in the You're My Universe stamp set and it was just perfect for what I wanted.

I started by stamping the image in Hero Arts INTENSE-ified black ink so that I could use my copics without my ink smearing. I colored the image in gray scale using my cool gray markers. Then, I added a subtle wash of color with some light pinks and blues. After I was done coloring I used the coordinating dies to cut the image out. I'm so glad I had the dies because I'm sure I would've done some wonky cutting on the ropes. 

Next, I ink blended a background using my Hero Arts Reactive inks in Taffy, Creamsicle and Lemon Drop. I heat embossed the sentiment in black at the top. Then, I splattered the background with water to lift some color... and then I sprayed the whole thing with shimmer spray. I wanted it to look sparkly and celestial and that did the trick. 

I used the Star Confetti Fancy die to cut stars out of some glittery white cardstock. I used the larger stars and some foam tape to hang the swing and girls in the sky. Then I adhered stars in many sizes to the background. I adhered this whole front piece to a white card base using foam tape and that was all!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I know you all are busy and I truly appreciate the visit. If you're interested in checking out any of the supplies I've used today I've got a list for you down below.

Bye for now and I hope you all have the best day!

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST:

Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Sneak Peek

Hey Everybody! This month's My Monthly Hero kit from Hero Arts is almost here and that means the countdown is on! This month the kit is going live on Tuesday, September 8 so mark your calendars (Monday is Labor Day so it's going live a day later than normal)! The kit goes live at 10am Pacific and once it's sold out it's gone for good. If you want to make sure you never miss a kit you can subscribe here-subscribers are guaranteed a kit!

Today I've got a sneak peek of the kit for you. I've used the main image from the kit to create a fun pumpkin patch. I also had fun ink blending the happy sky with what I'm calling a harvest moon (or harvest sun?).

The sentiment is also from the main kit and was the perfect finishing touch for this pumpkin card.

Alright you guys-that's all you get for today! I promise to share more details on how this card was made on Tuesday when the hop goes live! Plus, I have a totally different take on this kit to share with you for the launch as well. I can't wait to share it all with you soon!

Oh! I almost forgot... Hero Arts is doing a giveaway and one lucky winner will be winning the September My Monthly Hero kit. All you have to do to enter is go HERE and leave a comment to win. Good Luck!

Bye guys! Have the best day!

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST:

Hero Arts New Unity Products Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

Hello Everybody! It's so nice to have you back here and I hope you are having a wonderful day. Today I am back as party of a blog hop featuring the new Unity Products from Hero Arts. This is a wonderful collection of products that focuses on inclusion and unity. It is important for people of color to be represented in our stamping/art community not just within the products that we use but in the positive messages that we put out into the world as well. These new Unity products are perfect for doing just that.

For my card I decided to use a new set called Kids United. It has adorable images of children being kind and loving and it has a die set (Kids United Frame Cuts) to go with it too. I chose the image of the two boys. They just look like they are such good buddies and I really wanted to color them. I used my copic markers to color them in and then I cut them out by hand so that there wouldn't be any white space around them. After that, I heat embossed the "Lead With Love," sentiment from the Power to the People stamp set  in white onto black cardstock. This sentiment is my favorite out of the whole set. I think it's such a good reminder of how we can all choose to live. 

I wanted the boys to be on a fun background so I grabbed a gel print from my stash and cut it down to 4"x 5 1/4". I adhered that with foam tape onto a black A2 sized card base. Then, I popped my boys and the sentiment up with foam tape on the gel print background.

That's it for today you guys. If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments below. Also, be sure to check out the giveaway info. All you need to do to enter the giveaway is drop me a comment. I hope you will keep hopping along with us to check out all the inspiration we have to share using the Unity Products. Next up in the hop is my super talented friend, Mindy Eggen. You can head over to her blog or navigate the hop by using the links below. Enjoy!

Have an awesome day!

Maria

GIVEAWAY:

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by leaving a comment between now and Sunday, September 6th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

BLOG HOP LIST: 

Hero Arts
Pocono Pam
Dana Joy
Daniel West
Ilina Crouse
Libby Hickson
Lydia Fiedler
Maria Willis: You are Here.
Mindy Eggen
Seeka
Channin Pelletier

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST:

Crafty Friends: Gina K. Designs and a Discount!

Hey everybody! It's the 20th and if you follow my blog you know that means it's time for another My Crafty Friends Hop! Today we are featuring products from the fabulous Gina K. Designs and she has offered to give our readers a 20% discount at the Gina K. Designs shop when they shop with a Crafty Friend! All you have to do is click this link to shop and use the code CRAFTYFRIENDS20 to receive your discount (more info below).

Now onto my card! Today I decided to use this gorgeous collaboration set from Gina K Designs and Hero Arts. I love that the crafty community comes together to support each other and work together. This stamp, Friendship Blooms, is the result of one of these beautiful efforts. I stamped my image in copic safe black ink on to Hammermill cardstock.

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I used my copic markers in a variety of colors to create a floral rainbow. I have been wanting to do this for some time now I really enjoyed the process.

After I added all of my color I went back in with my cool gray markers and added shading to the flowers. Then, I grabbed a fine tipped copic marker and had some fun adding shadow, lines and dots.

The sentiment on this card is one of my favorites after stamping that some clear sequins were the perfect touch to finish off my card.

That's is all for today folks! You know my Crafty Friends have a ton more Gina K. inspiration for you so I hope you'll continue on with our hop by heading over to Becky's blog. If you prefer to follow the blog list I'm adding that below for you too.

Before you go here's a reminder that if you shop today or tomorrow you will receive a 20% discount if you shop with me at Gina K. Designs and use the code CRAFTYFRIENDS20 at check out. Enjoy!

Bye for now and I hope you all have an amazing day! 

Maria

BLOG ROLL:

Jenny Hall

Tanya Boser

Ilina Crouse

Maria Willis: YOU ARE HERE.

Becky Roberts

Sandi MacIver

Sue Plote

Sara Sherlock

Lydia Fiedler

Jill Hilliard

Light-up Cards Made Easy with HAI supply and Pear Blossom Press

Hello everybody! That's right, I'm back for my second post of the day and all before 7am. Lol. I'm glad to have you back here because now I'm taking part in a collaboration hop between two super fun companies: HAI Supply and Pear Blossom Press. HAI Supply has everything you need for embellishing your cards from sequins and jewels, to clay embellishments (check out the rainbows!), and even washi tape and paper! Pear Blossom Press has the most amazing and easy to use light up units (EZ-LIGHTS) to use with your interactive cards! All you have to do is pop the battery in and the lights work. I've got video showing how easy they are below so make sure to check that out below.

Before I get too far along I want to make sure you know that both of these amazing companies have offered all of you a Discount code for their shops! To get $4.00 off of your order of $25 or more (before tax and shipping) just enter the code EZSHIP4 at checkout at HAI Supply and/or Pear Blossom Press before June 27th, 2020.

On to my first card... HAI Supply and Pear Blossom Press issued us the challenge of using washi paper, embellishments and a light up unit all on one card- Challenge accepted! I used a sheet of washi paper from THIS washi paper pack because it looks like fireworks. I thought it would be really cool to make the fireworks light up. 

The EZ-LIGHTS have three different light bulbs so I picked three fireworks to have light up. I used a craft pick to poke holes in the centers so that the light would shine through more brightly. I glued clear, round embellishments on top of the holes I poked. When the lights shine these embellishments will glow brightly and diffuse the light for a bright glow. 

Next I turned the washi paper over and used tape to adhere the lights right behind the holes I had poked. This will keep the lights where I want them so that the fireworks will glow from the centers.

Here's a pic of what the fireworks look like when they are lit up. In real life its very striking against the black background of the card.

After I had my lights in place and had fixed the battery pack where I wanted it I used a double layer of foam tape to pop up my card face. I used dies from Honeybee Stamps and gorgeous papers from Tonic Studios to add a sentiment. Down at the bottom left of my card I used a Lawn Fawn set to add "push me" so that the recipient will know how to activate the lights. 

Check out this video to see how I made this card and to see the lights in action...

The combination of the Pear Blossom Press EZ-LIGHTS and HAI Supply embellishments is so awesome that I had to make a second card. This time around I used the Super Hero Scrubs stamp from Erin Lee Creative. I've been wanting to send a nurse friend a card and this stamp works perfectly with the HAI supply Heart Drops. 

I stamped and colored my image with copic markers and then cut it out. I used my craft pick to poke a hole in the center of the tiny heart. Then I glued a small, red heart embellishment on top of the hole. I added my lights behind the hole and taped them in place. The wires and battery pack are hidden behind the ink blended panel which is popped up with a double layer of foam tape. 

Here's a look at what it looks like when it's lit up. In real life there's a warm, red glow. 

I used the same Lawn Fawn set to add the "Push Here" at the bottom of the card.

Ok you guys that is it for now. These EZ-LIGHTS are so darn easy to use and I hope my cards have inspired you to check them out for yourselves. They come in 2, 3, 5 and 20 packs so there's really something for everybody. If you go shopping don't forget to use the discount code: EZSHIP4 at both HAI Supply and/or Pear Blossom Press!

In addition to the discount code we have an awesome giveaway today too! Details are below (hint: all you have to do to enter is comment here and on youtube). 

Thanks so much for joining the hop today. To continue on being inspired head on over to Rachel's blog!

Bye and have an awesome day you guys!

Maria

GIVEAWAY!
- Four random commenters are going to get lucky and be awarded a fabulous prize ($25 gift codes to HAI Supply or Pear Blossom Press)!
-No purchase necessary. Just comment here or on YouTube by June 27, 2020 PST to enter. One comment per platform but you will get extra entries for commenting on multiple stops in the hop.
-Contest is open internationally to participants who are over 18 years of age.
-Winners will be announced on Pear Blossom Press on July 6, 2020. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of announcement.


BLOG ROLL:

Thank you for hopping along on the HAI Supply & Pear Blossom Press Collab Hop! For more inspiration, check out all of the stops in the hop...

Angela Myhre for Pear Blossom Press
Maria Willis YOU ARE HERE.
Rachel WinnJulie Ebersole
Seeka
Lauren Lovato
Niccole Kulig
Pat Johnson
Ann Corbiere-Scott
Tessa Reed
Ali Farmer
Lindsay Ostrom
Adelina Starace
Cassie Trask

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST:

Pinkfresh Studios April Release and a Giveaway!

Hi Everybody! How are you all doing? I am hanging in there (so much going on)... luckily I have the happy distraction of joining Pinkfresh Studio for their April Stamp and Die Release! This is such a great release and I'm excited to share four cards with you today.

For my first card I used a stamp set called Take Pride (main floral image),  another called, Simply Sentiments Hello (sentiement), and the Believe in Yourself die (Believe). I started out by stamping the floral image in black ink and watercoloring it with my Daniel Smith watercolor paints. Then I cut the image out with the coordinating die. 

Next, I grabbed a piece of watercolor paper and taped off the background. I ink blended the background with Distress Oxide ink. Then, I splattered the background with water, a shimmer pen  from Tonic Studios, and white metallic ink from Hero Arts. I heat embossed the sentiment onto the bottom of this sheet.

I die cut the word, "Believe," four times out of black cardstock. I glued each layer together to create dimension. I wanted the sentiment to really pop so I used a white gel pen to write, "Believe," on the die cut. 

I glued my floral piece to my card front and added, "Believe" on top of that. The final touch was to add some white rhinestones (Hai Supply).

For my second card I used the same stamp set but went for a one layer card and used my Copic Markers. This card has a much softer look than the first one does. 

After coloring the main image I used my Cool Gray markers to color the inside of the circle to make it pop. I used two different stamps to create the sentiment which I absolutely love (yes, I did stamp surgery and cut one of the stamps in half).

It's pretty rare that I create a one layer card but I was determined to keep this one simple. I finished it off by splattering a little bit of gray ink onto the background and adding some subtle rhinestones.

For my third card I used the new Ornate Floral Die. I cut it out three times in black cardstock, glued the layers together and set it aside. While that dried, I ink blended the background with Distress Oxides. I also splattered the background with Glitter Gloss from Tonic Studios.

I heat embossed the "hello" from Simply Sentiments Hello in turquoise. I heat embossed the rest of the sentiment in white. I adhered the die cut onto the background and added my sentiment to the top. A variety of sequins and embellishments added a little texture and shine to this card.

For my last card I used a sentiment from the Simply Sentiments Hello set (this set is seriously so good). I ink blended the background to create a cloud scene. Then I added a rainbow embellishment from Hai supply and the heat embossed sentiment. they go perfectly together and this card came together in minutes.

Here's a closer look at the rainbow. It's so fun and that little heart on the cloud is such a sweet touch. 

Ok, you guys, that is it for me today but before I go I wanted to let you know that Pinkfresh Studio has some giveaways! First, you can enter to win a $25 gift certificate just by leaving a comment here on my blog. Pinkfresh will also be giving away this entire release on their blog, IG and YouTube channel. Good luck to all of you! The winners will be announced on May 8th over on the Pinkfresh Studio Giveaway Page. Winners must claim their prize within two weeks so be sure to check to see if you've won.

Pinkfresh Studio is also offering FREE SHIPPING  to US addresses when your order is $35 or more. International shipping is also discounted for orders over $35. Happy shopping!

I hope you all have an amazing day today! Keep on hopping along with all of the amazing Pinkfresh Studio inspiration by following the blog roll below.

Bye for now!

Maria Willis

BLOG ROLL:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST:

Picket Fence Studios: One Stamp, Three Cards!

Hi Everybody! I hope you all are having a great day so far. I am because today I get to share some of Picket Fence Studio's newest release with you. I decided to pick one gorgeous stamp set called, Face the Sun and create three different cards with it using the same layout. 

My first card features the large, gorgeous sunflower from this set. I used my copic markers to color this.

After coloring with my copics I added some extra details as well as shadows and highlights to my card.

 The final touch was to add color to the background with my Distress Crayons. I smeared the color around with my finger until I had the look that I wanted. I love the sentiment on this card, "Turn your face towards the sun and the shadows will fall behind you."

For my next card I decided to do some watercoloring with my Arteza brush pens. I started with a sheet of Arches watercolor paper and heat embossed my image in white. 

Then, I watercolored using a paintbrush to pick up the ink off my media mat ( I scribbled it on with my brush pens).

The last things I did were to add a fantastic sentiment and some embellishements. I think that this is a little advice that we can all take to heart right now as our days are so drastically different from a month ago.

For my third card I decided to watercolor again but this time I used my Daniel Smith paints. Again I heat embossed the image in white onto Arches Coldpressed Watercolor paper.

Then selected a rainbow of colors from my Daniel Smith watercolor palette and washed the colors over the image allowing the colors to blend. After that I dried I cut the image out with my scissors.

 I used a black card base and created a shimmering, spattered background using a shimmer spray and Hero Arts white metallic paint. Then, I popped the flower up on foam adhesive to give the card some dimension and added some sequins. 

Here is a quick look at what all three of my cards look like side by side...

I hope you guys liked my cards today. This stamp from Picket Fence Studios is so beautiful and I had so much fun playing with it. Remember that this is not the only goodness PFS has to share today-they have an entire release launching today and it is incredible! If you'd like to check out the products that I used for today's cards I'm adding links for you below.

Have an awesome day you guys! See you back here soon,

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST:

Something pretty and just for fun: Simon Says Stamp!

Hi everybody! I'm just popping in today to share a card I made using the Simon Says Stamp Botanical Heart set. This set is so gorgeous!

I colored the image using my Arteza brush tip markers and a paint brush. 

Then, I added some shadowing and extra details using my Copic Markers and a sharpie.

I watercolored the background using my Nuvo Aqua Flow pens from Tonic Studios.

To finish the card off I added an "I Love You" die and sequins in Moonshine-both are from Simon Says Stamp.

Now, I have 't had time to play in a challenge for a really long time. I'm happy to join in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which has inspiration from their Spring Mood Board. Click HERE to check out the challenge.

Ok, I'm outta here. Have an awesome day you guys!
Maria