Video: 12 Cards, One Kit - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit May, 2017

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday!  I have a very picture heavy post for you today.  I had so much fun working with the mermaid images and coordinating dies from this month's My Monthly Hero Kit from Hero Arts.  These kits are always amazing in my opinion and definitely the best bang for your buck.  This kit has got to be my favorite ever! :)  I had so much fun coloring all the mermaids and creating all the fun backgrounds.  As you can see from my card samples, I created several backgrounds using the Jennifer McGuire inspired magic stencil technique using the wavy stencil that came in the kit.  I then created different cards using these backgrounds.  I also created a video for you today showing you how I did some stencil work with the Hero Arts inks that came in the kit.  I also show you all the cards I made on the video as well.  Unfortunately, for some weird reason, YouTube split my video into two parts so here they are:

And now for the pictures. 

For these cards, I just had to create some shaker cards.  The kit came with lots of acetate and some gorgeous sequins so I immediately went to work to create some shaker cards. I used the Reef Border and Frame Fancy Dies and used the window of the die for my shaker.  For two of the shaker cards, I created my background using Distress Oxide inks in Faded Jeans, Cracked Pistachio, and Wilted Violet and then used the magic stencil technique.  I colored all images for all cards using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Watercolor Markers and a water brush.  I also coated all of my images with my Wink of Stella glitter pen.  I also cut everything out using the coordinating dies that came in the kit.   The sequins I used came from the kit.  For the sentiments (For these and all cards) I either used sentiments that came with the stamp set in the kit, or the add on sentiment set Mermazing Messages.

For my next set of cards, I used the Reef Border and Frame Fancy Dies and then placed some specialty paper that came in the kit.  These papers are so gorgeous, it was actually really hard to cut into them, but so worth it, I love how these came out. 

For my next set of cards, I used the Hero Arts Shell Confetti Fancy Die to create my backgrounds.  For two of the cards, I created my backgrounds first using the magic stencil technique and my distress oxide inks.  I also saved all the "confetti" that came out and you'll see some of the shapes sprinkled on some of my cards.  You could also use these little bits to put in shaker cards.  The third card I kept white on white and just added a strip of a background I created with the magic stencil technique. 

Here are two more, one using another magic stencil technique, the other was the sample I crated for the card I did on video.

Finally, here is the card that I showed how to create on camera in my video.  To do the stenciling, I simply taped the stencil down on top of my Bristol Smooth cardstock panel with some post it note tape, and then used an ink blending tool and the three Hero Arts inks that came in the kit.  I then removed the stencil and continued to create the card.  I think this one is actually one of my favorites, I'm really happy with how it turned out :) 


Here's my video (again I'm so sorry, for some reason YouTube split it into two parts so I'll link Part One and Part Two for you):
Part One:



Part Two:


Well, that's it from me today.  If you made it this far, thanks so much for staying with me :)  I just had so much fun with this kit and I was excited to share these fun cards with you.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow with another post and video :)

Video Tutorial: Creating a Scene with Your Next Stamp and Distress Oxide Inks

Hi everyone and Happy Tuesday!  I'm a bit behind posting this week due to an awful sinus infection, but I'm finally starting to feel better :)  It has been my honor to guest design for Your Next Stamp this month.  I have loved this month's release and I have another card and video to share today.  Here's today's card:

For my card today, I used this adorable image from the Got mud? stamp set from Your Next Stamp.  I stamped the image with Hero Arts Black Dye ink and then colored the image with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I used Red, Gray, Blue Gray, and Peacock Blue as well as a water brush.  I then cut the image out free hand with my scissors (although there are some adorable coordinating dies available HERE).  I created my sky background using Distress Oxide inks and a blending tool and some water.  I used two colors of inks, Faded Jeans and Broken China.  I then spritzed some water and dabbed it with a paper towel to create the distress look.  I created my scene using some dies from Lawn Fawn.  I stamped the sentiment, also from the Got mud? stamp set from Your Next Stamp, and then embossed it with clear embossing powder to give it some shine against the background.  I then added some of the new Frosted Fun Gumdrops for a finishing touch.  Here's my video tutorial showing how I created this card:


Well, that's it from me today.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by.  Make sure to  leave me a comment here by Saturday, May 20 at 9pm EST and I will pick a winner of this fabulous brand new Got Mud? stamp set!!!!  Hugs!

Video Tutorial: No Line Watercolor Technique using Kindred Stamps and Zig Markers

Hi everyone!  I have a second video and two more card samples to share with you today.  I decided after devouring YouTube videos (specifically Kristina Werner who is fabulous!) to try my hand at no line water coloring. I loved the technique and the outcome so much that I decided to make a video tutorial on it just in case some of you might find it helpful.  First, I'll link to the video, then show you pictures of the cards. I apologize ,the video isn't the greatest.  There are a couple times I'm off camera and the zoom makes things a bit fuzzy at times, but I hope it is still helpful.  Please know, I do not in any way claim to be an expert at water coloring and I certainly am not an artist.  I taught myself this technique and I'm simply showing you guys the way I do it in the hopes that it might help or inspire some of you. 





Now for some close up pictures of the cards themselves.  Here's a picture of both cards together:

I will be coming back in a day or two with a video on how to create the backgrounds to these cards.  Today's video tutorial focuses only on the no line watercolor technique. 


Here's Rapunzel:

And here's Ariel:

I will list here for you all the supplies I used to do the no line watercolor technique.  I'll post the rest of the supplies when I post the tutorial on creating the backgrounds.  For the no-line coloring for Rapunzel, I used Antique Linen Distress Ink, a water brush, and the following Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers: Yellow, Light Violet, Purple, Flesh Color, Blush, Almond Pink.  For Ariel, I used the following Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers: Wine Red, Light Violet, Marine Green, Flesh Color, Blush, and Almond Pink.  For Flounder, I used Yellow and Light Blue.  For Sebastian, I used Red.  I used a Black Gelly Roll Fine pen (I got mine at Michael's) to draw in the eyes and smile.  What do you think?

Video Tutorial: Layer Stamping with Stampin' Up's Watercolor Wings

Hi everyone and Happy Thursday! Today I have a super simple but elegant and fun card to share with you along with a video tutorial on how to make this card. Here's my card:

To create this card, I used the Watercolor Wings stamp set from Stampin' Up!  I first stamped in Flirty Flamingo, then Early Espresso, then Melon Mambo.  I also used the coordinating dies to cut out the butterflies on the card.  I stamped the sentiment and the dots border in Flirty Flamingo innk.  I then added some rhinestones.  Here's my video tutorial:

I hope you enjoyed today's card. That's all from me today. Thanks so much as always for stopping by. If you are interested in any of the products used on today's card, please Click HERE.  Thanks so much everyone and I'll catch you in the next video :)


Hugs, Christine

Two Step Stampin with Stampin' Up!'s Cool Treats Stamp Set

Hi everyone!  I'm super late with this post today, YouTube took forever to download my video tutorial :)  Today I'm sharing three card samples using Stampin' Up!'s Cool Treats and Swirly Bird stamp sets and coordinating dies.  The Cool Treats set is a layering, or "two step" stamping set and I will demonstrate this technique for you in my video tutorial.  Here are all my card samples together:

For all cards, I used the same color scheme: Peekaboo Peach, Flirty Flamingo, and Whisper White (thick Whisper White for the card bases).  I also used the SU stitched circle, oval, and square dies.  Here's a close up of my first card (I did a video tutorial on this card as well).

Here is a link to my video tutorial:





Here's a close up of my second card:

And finally, my third card:

Thanks so much as always for stopping by.  If you are interested in any of the products I used to create these cards, please go HERE.  Huge hugs!

Shaker Card Samples and Video Tutorial using Hero Arts stamp set and Distress Oxide Inks

Hi everyone and Happy Monday!  I hope your week is off to a great start.  I decided to try my hand at creating some cute shaker cards using this gorgeous new stamp set from Hero Arts called You're So Fabulous (you can purchase this set HERE at Simon Says Stamp) and a distress oxide ink background technique.  I have also prepared a video tutorial to show how I created the distress oxide ink background and the shaker card.  I have a couple samples to show as well as a simple, non-shaker card sample so you can see a simple way you could put a card together using this set.  Here are my cards:

For my first I created a fully loaded fun shaker card :)  I first created my background using Work Lipstick and Broken China Distress Oxide inks.  I then spritzed some water and let it dry.  Then I stamped the image onto the background. I then created my shaker card using acetate and scalloped and stitched rectangle dies from Lawn Fawn.  I added sequins (from Craft Medley. . . I got mine on Amazon) and then I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder.  I added some silver metallic thread behind the sentiment.  I then glued some sequins to the outside of the acetate and also added some pink, blue, and silver nuvo drops to the card. 

I did the same technique as described above on this card except I used Broken China and Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide inks.  I created a video tutorial on how I created this card.  You can see the video here:



Finally, I wanted to show a simple card that could easily be reproduced so you had another idea of a project you could make using this stamp set.  You could recreate this card in different colors and create a super cute notecard set for a friend. 

That's it from me today.  Thank you so much as always for stopping by and I'll be back tomorrow with another project :)

Your Next Stamp May 2017 Release - Distress Ink Techniques and Zig Markers with Four Card Samples!!!

Hi everyone and happy Saturday!!! :)  I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend.  Today is my birthday (the big thirty-six :) ) and I have had a wonderful day.  To top my day off, I was honored to be asked to participate in a blog hop celebrating Your Next Stamp's May 2017 release.  It is fabulous!  I have created four card samples using the amazing products I was provided and I also created a video showing how to make one of the cards using a distress ink technique as well as coloring with Zig Clean Brush markers.  I think my absolute favorite set has got to be "Got Mud."  I have 2 boys (one is 4, the other is almost 1) and my four year old is in love with this set and has already claimed the two cards I made for this blog post :)  I could see using this set for boy birthday party invites, scrapbook pages, all sorts of things!  I love it! 

This will be a photo heavy post since I have four cards to share so I'll get right to it.  Here's my first card using the brand new Got Mud stamp set:

For this card, I used the brand new Got Mud stamp set from Your Next Stamp.  To create the hills, I used the stitched Rolling Hills dies from Lawn Fawn and then used Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain distress inks and some water to create the distressed effect.  I did the same thing on the top with Salty Ocean distress ink.  I then colored the cute trucks with my Zig Clean Color markers and a water brush.  I added Glossy Accents to the windows and then cut them out and popped them up using foam tape.  The sentiment was embossed using white embossing powder from Stampin' Up.  The gorgeous accents are from the newly released Gumdrops enamel dots.  I love them, the pictures don't do them justice.

For my next card, I used two new stamp sets, Got Mud and Mud Splatter.  I stamped the background image from the Mud Splatter stamp set to create my background pattern on my Neenah Desert Storm cardstock.  I then cut out two circles using the stitched circle dies from Stampin' Up!  I used Salty Ocean and the same brown distress inks as used above to create the background on the first circle.  I then adhered it to another circle cut out with Stampin' Up's Chocolate Chip cardstock.  I then colored the adorable truck from the God Mud stamp set with my Zig Clean Color markers, added Glossy Accents to the window, and then cut it out and popped it up with some foam tape.  I added some bakers twine for interest and then heat embossed the image using white embossing powder.

For my third card, I used images from the adorable brand new stamp set, Waddles - Fortune Teller.  How adorable is this stamp set?!?!  I created the background using distress inks (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Picked Raspberry and then spritzed some water to get the distress look.  I then cut out a circle using my stitched circle dies and then added my images, which were colored with my Zig Clean Color markers.  I added some clear Wink of Stella to the curtains for some shimmer.  I then added some Baker's Twine and then embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder.  The gorgeous accents are from the newly released Gumdrops enamel dots. 

For my fourth and final card for today, I again used the Waddles - Fortune Teller stamp set.  I colored the images using my Zig markers.  I created my background using Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry distress inks and some water. I added some Baker's Twine and then stamped the sentiment in black ink.  The gorgeous accents are from the newly released Gumdrops enamel dots. 

I also created a video tutorial on how I created this last card. I'd love for you to check it out:

Phew, thanks so much for making it this far! :)  For following the hop, you have a chance to win one $25 gift certificate to Your Next Stamp.  The more blogs you visit and comment on, the greater your odds of winning, but you do not have to comment on every to be qualified to win. 

Also, don't forget to use the above coupon code on your purchase to save 20% off your entire purchase! 

Okay, I think that's it from me.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'd love it if you left me a comment and/or had a chance to watch my video.  I hope it is helpful to you.  Have a wonderful day and make sure to stop by Your Next Stamp and check out this awesome release.  Also, below is the hop order, so make sure to check out all the amazing projects by the design team and guests!

An InLinkz Link-up