Hero Arts Blog

Hello and happy Monday! Most of the time I make birthday cards with a specific recipient in mind. I like to personalize the card with certain colors or images that I think they might like. But sometimes those birthdays sneak up on me and I just don't have the time. In that case I like to have a stash of generic birthday cards on hand that would work for almost anyone, and I think today's card is a great option just for that.

I started out by stamping the [hero_product_link sku="H6149" text="Birthday Balloons stamp"] with [hero_product_link sku="AF345" text="Intense Black Ink"] onto watercolor paper and clear heat embossed the image. I did the same thing with the birthday message that is from the [hero_product_link sku="CL954" text="Many Everyday Messages"] set.

I used Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers to color the balloons in a variety of bright and cheery colors. I just put a dab of color into each balloon and then used a water brush to blend out the colors. You could also certainly choose colors to make the card more masculine or feminine.

I created a light wash of blue color around the balloons and finished off the card with some tiny iridescent star sequins all over the background.

Thanks for stopping by today!

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Our friend Ilina Crouse is back again today, sharing more inspiration using the March My Monthly Hero kit. Ilina purchased her kit as soon as it was available, and has already enjoyed creating a bunch of cards. She's shared several here on our blog this weekend - but also visit Ilina's blog to watch a video where she shows you all of the kit contents! There are still a few kits available - get yours before they are gone! Now let's enjoy more of Ilina's beautiful work...

You can never have too many butterflies, so I made another card using the butterfly from the My Monthly Hero Kit. I stamped and die cut the butterfly, then colored it with Chameleon pens.

Next, I "chopped" off one of the corners of my white card base and adhered some patterned paper to make "full" corner again. Then I stamped the sentiment from and popped the butterfly up with mounting tape onto the card.

Last but not the least, for this card I again used some water coloring, just as I did on one of yesterday's cards. Today I stamped the flowers and leaves onto watercolor paper and embossed with, then watercolored the images.

Next, I stamped the sentiment from, cut the panel and adhered it to a notecard that was included in the kit. I finished the card with some sequins and beads.

Thanks so much for sharing your talents with us this weekend, Ilina!! A few of the still remain - grab yours today!

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This weekend we are joined by special guest Ilina Crouse, with ideas for using the March My Monthly Hero kit! The kit and add-ons are still available, but quantities are very limited. Add them to your stamping collection before they are gone forever!

For my first card I was inspired by the current trend of adult coloring books, and this flower reminded me of them. I repetitively stamped a flower from the kit on a panel of white card stock and trimmed it. I trimmed the same size of vellum card stock and adhered it on top of the panel so the stamped flowers have a little softer look.

I stamped another flower and die cut it, then colored it with Chameleon pens. I added the little strip with the sentiment and adhered to the panel. I, then, adhered the panel onto a Sunshine folded card included in the kit.

For my second card, I used [hero_product_link sku="PS640" text="pool layering paper"] to cut a panel, then using [hero_product_link sku="VC250" text="VersaMark ink"] I stamped some of the flowers and leaves from the kit, and added a sentiment from [hero_product_link sku="CL949" text="You're So Lovely"]. I embossed them all with [hero_product_link sku="PW110" text="white embossing powder"].

I, then, added some pool gems from the kit, and adhered my panel onto a white card base.

I did a little watercoloring for my final card today. First I did very faint blue watercolor wash onto a watercolor paper panel and sprinkled it with some blue and pink, then with some diluted white acrylic paint and clear Wink of Stella glitter.

While my background was drying, I stamped the butterfly onto watercolor paper, embossed it in white embossing powder and die cut it. Then I colored it with Zig Clean Color brush pens. I adhered it to my watercolor panel and added some gold thread and sequins. To finish it, I adhered it to white card base.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful cards, Ilina! Ilina will be back again tomorrow with even more ideas!

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