Author: Karen Brown

cardmaking · Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting

Hero Studio January Card Kit Release and Blog Hop: Love is in the Air!

Karen Brown14 Comments
Hero Arts Studio January Release featuring bright colorful die cut handmade Valentine Cards with The Card Kit and Folded Love Notes die set.

Happy New Year, crafty friends! Let’s kick off 2025 with something truly special—Hero Studio’s brand-new January Card Kit is here, and it’s all about spreading love and creativity. This kit invites you to explore a world of vibrant designs that celebrate love in every shade. Plus, we’re celebrating with a Blog Hop full of inspiration and a $50 gift card. You can see the entire January Release HERE.

Colorful Die Cut Hearts: Hero Studio January Card Kit of the Month

Hero Studio January 2025 Card Kit of the Month: 2 die cut heart valentine cards in teals, aquas, and red.

My color palette for the January Kit combines cool teals and aquas with warm pinks, reds, and plums for a luscious duo of cards.

Layered die cut hearts with floral accents for a colorful handmade valentine card made with Hero Arts January 2025 Card Kit of the Month.

Products Used on my Kit Cards:

I used the negative, or leftover die cuts, from Card 1 and added a few more hearts to create a second card (below).

Stacked die cut hearts on a colorful teal and red handmade Valentine Card.

What’s Inside the Kit?

Let’s take a peek inside the January 2025 Kit:
              • Color Layering Typewriter Clear Stamp Set, 6” x 8”, 
              • Typewriter Messages Clear Stamp Set, 4″ x 6″
              • 7 Typewriter Frame Cut Dies
              • 8 Typewriter Fancy Dies
              • Nesting Hearts Cover Plate Die
              • Mini Clay Hearts
              • 8 Sheets of Cardstock, 5.5″ x 8.5

January 2025 The Whole Studio
The Whole Studio includes ALL 5 of the monthly subscriptions in one discounted bundle. Cling of the Month, Clear + Dies of the Month, Layering Stencil of the Month, Fancy Dies of the Month, and the Card Kit of the Month.

Hero Arts has many different Monthly Kits that you can subscribe to including:


Rainbow of Hearts: A Burst of Color | Folded Love Notes Fancy Die Kit

Rainbow Color die cut heart Valentine card created with Hero Arts Folded Love Notes die set.

You can craft a unique card using the “Extraordinary Extra” Folded Love Notes. Layer colorful die-cut hearts on the folds to create a dynamic, interactive design…. This is the idea I started with, but once I began die cutting my concept totally changed! I used a vibrant mix of colors from the rainbow and then stacked them on different sized hearts with a high contrast value. I love the end result. All the hearts were cut with dies from the kit. I used Cardstock in the following colors: Arctic, Paradise, Adriatic, Kiwi, Cranberry, Cherry, Plum, Passion Flower, Amethyst, Peony, Papaya, Azalea.

Bright fun and playful die cut heart Valentine Card.

Join the Blog Hop!

Our Blog Hop is your chance to see this kit in action. Some of your favorite crafters are showcasing their takes on the January Release, and trust us—the inspiration is next-level! Hop along, leave comments on each blog for a chance to win a fabulous prize, and pick up tips and tricks to use in your own projects.

 
Hero Arts
Hero Arts Creative Team:
Anna Mahtani
Channin Pelletier
Charlene Madrid
Jeannie Lieu
Jennifer Kotas
Karen Brown You Are Here!
Lisa Tilson
Michelle Lupton
Mindy Eggen
Natasha Polite
Natasha Vacca
Rachel Kleinman
Rosie Lopez
Seeka
Special Guests:
Nichol Spohr
Kelly Taylor

Don’t Miss Out!

The January Card Kit is available now, but supplies are limited. Be sure to grab yours before they’re gone, and join us on the Blog Hop for a chance to win, get inspired, and start 2025 on a crafty high note!

Let me know in the comments—what’s your favorite element in this month’s kit? ❤️

Best Of · cardmaking

Best and Favorite Cards of 2024: The Year’s Most-Loved Designs

Karen BrownLeave a comment

As the year comes to a close, I’m taking a moment to reflect on all the creative projects I’ve shared across my Blog, YouTube channel, and Instagram. The journey has been filled with color, craftiness, and, most importantly, connecting with all of you!

Many of these items featured on my “Fan Favorites” list are currently on sale too!

  • Find Hero Arts New Year’s Eve sale items HERE
  • Hero Arts Final Sale items can be found HERE.
  • Shop Hero Arts HERE
  • Shop Spellbinders New Year’s Eve Sale HERE
  • Find Spellbinders Clearance Sale HERE
  • Shop Spellbinders newer collections HERE.

YouTube’s Card Tutorial: Most Watched Video

Best and Most Popular YouTube Cardmaking Video in 2024.

On YouTube, it was all about bringing techniques to life. Here is the tutorial that flew the highest:

Blog Post Link: Shimmery Snowflake Backgrounds 3 Ways

YouTube Link: Shimmery Snowflake Backgrounds

I created this video for HeroArts Blog and YouTube channel but I also posted on my YouTube Channel for my followers as well.

Top Blog Post in 2024

This year on my blog, I focused on techniques that ranged from beginner-friendly to advanced, and your feedback has been the cherry on top! My most read blog post this year was:

9 Tips, Tricks and Insights for Spellbinders BetterPress Machine

I received a BetterPress LetterPress system for Christmas in 2023, and I had lots of fun learning and experimenting with my new crafty toy. You can read my original blog post by clicking on the link above.

Best, Favorite, Most Popular Cardmaking Blog Post of 2024,

Instagram Reels: Quick Crafting, Big Inspiration

Favorite and Most Popular Instagram Reel in 2024.

This year, Instagram Reels became a go-to for sharing bite-sized creativity. These short videos were packed with techniques, tips, and a splash of fun. Here is my most popular 2024 Reel.

Instagram Reel Link: Floral Trove Stenciled Friend Card

Corresponding Blog Post Link: Stunning Stenciling Magic with Rainbow Colors

Instagram Highlights: Most-Liked and Commented on Creations

Instagram brought quick inspiration and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks to your feeds. Here are the top posts.

For Spellbinders, these were the fan favorites. You can find links to the corresponding blog posts below:

Best Handmade Spellbinders Cards in 2024.

And here are my most popular Hero Arts Instagram posts along with links to the correstponding Blog Posts:

Best Hero Arts Handmade Cards in 2024.

I’m so grateful to share this journey with all of you. Your comments, likes, and creations inspire me every day. Here’s to an even brighter, more colorful 2025 filled with new techniques, bold designs, and, of course, plenty of fun! Let me know in the comments—what were your favorite projects this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy crafting, and see you in the new year! ✨☕

Karen

cardmaking · Video

VIDEO: 3 Creative Ways to Stencil Butterfly Cards

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on how to make 3 creative cards using layering stencils.

Hello friends, Karen Brown here with a colorful new video. Butterflies and stencils—can you name a more dynamic duo? The December (Butterfly) Layering Stencil of the Month is SO much fun!

Or you can click HERE to watch the video.

Textured Flights of Fancy

In this post/video, we’re spreading our creative wings and sharing three unique ways to stencil butterflies that’ll make your cards flutter with charm. From bold and dramatic to soft and dreamy, these techniques will have your projects soaring to new heights! 🦋✨

The butterfly outline is layer one and then there are 3 additional detail layers to add on top to customize your projects. I show you how to use all three top layers in the video.

Beautiful butterfly cards created with layering stencils + Hero Wax and Hero Paste.

I thought it would be fun to make some non-traditional Christmas cards featuring butterflies AND pastel colors. I always love to stretch my supplies beyond the predictable!

For my first two cards, I stenciled a panel of Deluxe Smooth Cardstock with a gradient of 3 colors and then added White Hero Wax (card on the left) and Hero Glitter Paste (card on the right). I used Thistle, Taffy and Creamsicle for the card on the left. For the card on the right, I wanted a frosty, icy, wintry blend so I used Amethyst, Thistle and Splash.

The mats are Amethyst with a Granite base.

I also think the duo pictured above would make great Get Well, Thinking of You or Sympathy cards.

Let Your Creativity Soar

Stenciled and Ink blended non-traditional butterfly Christmas card.

And, I had to make at least one traditional green and red Christmas butterfly card. I stenciled with Fresh Lawn and Cherry Ink, matted with Crimson cardstock and added a sentiment from the Swirly Christmas Tree Bundle.

Other Supplies Used in the Video:

Hero Studio December Layering Stencil of the Month - 3 handmade butterfly cards.

The Final Flutter

With just a stencil and a splash of creativity, you can bring butterflies to life in endless, colorful ways. So, go ahead—spread your crafting wings, experiment with colors, and let your cards shine as bright and beautiful as a butterfly in full flight. Happy stenciling! 🦋✨

cardmaking · papercrafting

Help Me Craft an Amazing 2025—Your Ideas Wanted!

Karen BrownLeave a comment

Hey there, crafty friends! 👋

Can you believe 2025 is just around the corner? I’m over here surrounded by paper scraps, embellishments, and a ton of ideas—but I want your input to make next year truly magical.

What types of blog posts, techniques, and projects do you want to see in 2025? Whether you’re a beginner still figuring out how to not glue your fingers together (been there) or a seasoned pro with a stash that could rival a craft store, I want to know what inspires you.

Here are a few questions to get those creative juices flowing:

  • Are there any papercrafting techniques you’ve been itching to learn?
  • What’s your favorite type of project—cards, scrapbook pages, 3D crafts, or something totally out of the box (literally)?
  • What is your favorite technique?
  • Would you like to see more tips, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes peeks into my crafting chaos?
  • What is your favorite: Blog Posts, Videos, Reels, Instagram Post?
  • Are there themes or occasions you want more ideas for—birthdays, holidays, just-because days?
  • Any products or tools you’re curious about that I could spotlight?

Drop your comments and let me know what would make 2025 your best crafting year yet. Your ideas help shape this space, and I can’t wait to hear them! Or, if you prefer, leave a comment on my coordinating post on Instagram: karens_mini

Let’s dream big, get messy, and make this our most creative year ever! 💖

Thanks for your input!

Karen

BetterPress · cardmaking · Tutorial

Quick and Easy BetterPress Notecards | Spellbinders

Karen BrownLeave a comment
BetterPress Tutorial detailing how to create easy and elegant letterpress notecards using Spellbinders Florals Through the Year Collection.

Nothing says thoughtful elegance like a handcrafted notecard. I really enjoy the letterpress process and I wanted to create some notecards to have on hand for the coming year. Spellbinders recently released their Florals Through the Year Collection and I think it is quite beautiful. There are 12 plates…one for each month.

I have a detailed tutorial below.

Products Used:

A Year in Bloom

Handmade BetterPress letter press floral Morning Glory card.

May Morning Glory: Symbolizes love and affection.

BetterPress takes the art of letterpress and makes it accessible for all. Its crisp impressions and sophisticated designs bring timeless beauty to your cards. Plus, the ease of use means you can create a dozen cards in a single sitting—perfect for stocking up or gifting!

Better Press Tutorial:

  • I started by using Best Ever Craft Tape to attach my BetterPress card panel to the top plate of my BetterPress System.
  • I tried several types of paper (BetterPress, Watercolor and Cardstock) and they all worked with the BetterPress. I liked cottony paper the best. My preferred paper would be the BetterPress cotton paper or a handmade watercolor paper. 
  • The magnetic lower plate works really well to hold the BetterPress impressing plate in place. 
  • I was careful to ink the impressing plate really well. I did a “Tap and Twist” technique where I tapped the ink on the plate and then twisted the ink pad a few degrees. Don’t smash and smoosh or you will wind up with little pieces of ink pad on your plate and project. I ink well because I only like to roll through the press once for each panel.
  • For smaller sentiment plates, I tapped but didn’t twist. When I twisted smaller plates they tended to move out of alignment. If the plate moves it is easy to reposition with a pair of tweezers.
  • Roll your sandwich slowly through the die cutting machine. I think “Super Slo-Mo” while doing this to help me remember to go VERY slowly. 
  • You will want a good stamp cleaner for the BetterPress and plates. I’ve used Hero Arts Ultra Clean for years and it works great.
  • Waterproof or Hybrid inks well. I used the specially formulated BetterPress Inks. Pigment ink is not recommended. You want a faster drying ink. 
  • I found that my guillotine paper trimmer worked better than my Fiskar’s SureCut on cotton paper.
Handmade BetterPress letterpress Florals Through The Year Violet (Feburary) hand crafted notecard using Spellbinders plates.

February Violets: Elegant and full of love for Valentine’s Day

Spellbinders BetterPress letterpress Floral Through the Year handmade card: Lily of the Valley for May.

Lily of the Valley: A nod to nature’s beauty in full bloom.

With a unique card for every month, you’ll always have the perfect notecard ready for any occasion. Which month’s design are you most excited to try?

Karen

cardmaking · Die cutting · papercrafting

Opening My Crafty Advent Calendar | Week 1 | Spellbinders

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Opening Week 1 and creating with Spellbinders 2024 Crafty Advent Calendar.

I recently opened my Spellbinders Crafty Advent Calendar and, oh my, I can already tell this is going to be an exciting month filled with DIY fun! For those who might not be familiar, a Crafty Advent Calendar contains 24 days of creative supplies and surprises, all designed to inspire your crafting. This week, I dove into the first few projects, and I can’t wait to share the magic of it all with you.

Opening the Advent Calendar: Day 1 to Day 7

Creating an adorable die cut handmade bumblebee Hello Friend with dancing flowers.

The anticipation of opening each little door in the calendar is half the fun! Each day has revealed a mix of supplies and cute embellishments. I could feel my creativity bubbling the moment I opened Day 1.

If you missed it, you can read my Day 1 post HERE.

Here’s a quick peek at what I found:

  • Day 1: Hot Air Balloon: Read my post HERE
  • Day 2: Hello Friend Stamp
  • Day 3: 6 Flower Dies
  • Day 4: Sentiment with Banners
  • Day 5: 2 Squiggle Dies
  • Day 6: Bee Dies
  • Day 7: 3 Darling Floral Stencils

The adorable bee (day 6) captured my heart and I used those dies along with days 3, 4 and 5 to create this cute Hello Friend scene card. The clouds from the Fly Away die set were the only things I added that were not included in the Crafty Advent Calendar.

My Scout desktop die cutting machine was perfect for cutting my die cuts.

I wanted a little more vertical room for my scene, so my white panel is 4″ x 6″.

I loved the inspiration that came with each day’s reveal. I’m excited to continue opening the calendar and discovering what new projects await in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more fun holiday crafts—I’ll be sharing new projects each week!

Have you opened a Crafty Advent Calendar this season? What are you making with yours? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to see your creations!

Happy crafting! 🎄✨

Karen

Cardmaking Kit · stitching

Handstitched Love | Spellbinders December 2024 Stitching Club of the Month

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Handstitched Valentine "Love You" card in lovely pinks and gold created with Spellbinders December 2024 Stitching Die of the Month kit.

This Valentine’s Day, why not make something that’s truly one-of-a-kind? Spellbinders December 2024 Stitching Die of the Month is a truly lovely kit.

A hand-stitched Valentine card is a beautiful way to show you care. Whether you’re creating it for a friend, family member, or your special someone, adding a touch of stitching makes it both heartfelt and stylish.

Here’s how to make this charming Valentine from scratch! I shot a quick reel that you can watch HERE, or if you prefer, I also included written notes.



Create a Charming Hand-Stitched Valentine in Pink and Gold

  • I started by die cutting my Stitching Kit pieces with my Platinum 6 die cutting machine. I die cut the pink stitched background twice and glued them together for easier stitching. I used Pink Sand and Dahlia cardstock from the Happy Day Sampler. The mat was die cut from Brushed Gold, which is a real staple in my craft room.
  • I frequently use Sarah Renae Clarks Color Cubes Volume 1 and Volume 2 for color inspiration. I received mine for my birthday and they are a great gift!
  • The Love You dies are included in this month’s kit.
  • Spellbinders has a nice selection of stitching accessories in their shop that you can find HERE. I stitched the tree and base with DMC Gold and 948 threads. I hope you can see the shimmer!
  • I usually stitch with size 22 Tapestry needles.
  • I used thin double sided tape to secure my floss to the die cuts. I like that this tape is easy to hide behind the die cuts and I don’t even bother to take the top release paper off the tape.
  • Remember to keep your floss taught as you stitch.
  • When I move from one area to the next, I run the floss through the just finished stitched area to keep the thread secure. This gives a nice look on the finished project.
  • Don’t stitch with threads that are too long or they are likely to knot. 
  • When I was done, I added a bit of Bearly Glue to the ends so that they would stay in place.
  • I assembled with Bearly Glue and a bit of  Craft Foam.
Handstitched Valentine "Love You" card in lovely pinks and gold created with Spellbinders December 2024 Stitching Die of the Month kit.

Helpful Links:

Spellbinders Club Info:

  • Clubs Preview on the 1st of each month.
  • Club members can cancel, upgrade or change clubs from the 1st-5th of each month. Popular Clubs frequently sell out during this period so club members get first dibs on everything.
  • Club Members get EARLY access to new releases on the 6th!
  • On the 6th, Clubs become available to non-members.
  • On the 27th, Club registration closes for the current month.
  • If a club did not sell out, you can buy under “Shop Past Clubs”. Past kits are available on the 10th of the FOLLOWING month.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

stitching

Let’s Decorate the Tree! Hand Crafted Stitched Felt Ornaments

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Spellbinders Nichol Spohr Felt Stitch and Create hand-crafted stitched Christmas ornaments with a darling star shaped snowman and an adorable Gingerbread Girl.

There’s something about handmade ornaments that makes a Christmas tree feel extra special—like it’s dressed in memories and love. This year, why not add a touch of cozy charm to your tree with hand-stitched felt ornaments? Today, I’m sharing how to create two adorable characters: a Snowman Star and a Gingerbread Girl using Spellbinders/Nichol Spohr’s Felt Stitch and Create Kits. These cuties are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face!

Hand-Stitched Christmas Cheer: Felt Ornaments for Your Tree

Creating a handmade felt Snowman Christmas ornament with Spellbinders and Nichol Spohr's Stitch and Create Ornament Die Kit.

Nothing says winter wonderland like a snowman! This star-shaped snowman brings the frosty fun with its dapper hat and a cheery scarf.

My Process:

  • I die cut my felt using my Platinum 6 Machine and a regular die cutting sandwich. I used Spellbinders Merino Wool Felt Holiday Collection Sampler but there are other Felt Samplers as well.
  • I used my Pokey Tool to pop out any remaining felt chads for easier stitching.
  • I stuffed my ornaments with felt for dimension.
  • I used the running stitch and three strands of thread for my stitching. Using the running stitch, I went around my felt twice to have continous stitching.
  • I used a mini hot glue gun to adhere the pieces and accessories that were not stitched on.
  • To make my hangar, I ran a needle with floss through the back layer of felt and then knotted the floss at the top.
Creating a handmade felt Gingerbread Girl Christmas ornament with Spellbinders and Nichol Spohr's Stitch and Create Ornament Die Kit.

Sweet as can be, this Gingerbread Girl brings a dash of whimsy to your tree. Her hat and bow gives her a festive flair, perfect for the holiday season.

Key Products Used:

Creating handmade felt Christmas ornaments with Spellbinders and Nichol Spohr's Stitch and Create Ornament Die Kits.

These felt ornaments are keepsakes that I will hang on my tree year after year. They would also make wonderful gifts for family and friends. Happy Holiday!

Karen

cardmaking · Die cutting · papercrafting

Opening Day 1 of the Crafty Advent Calendar | Spellbinders

Karen Brown1 Comment
Opening Day 1 of Spellbinders Crafty Advent Calendar and making a handmade card with the included dies.

December is finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited to kick off the festive season with my Spellbinders Paper Arts Crafty Advent Calendar! If you’re anything like me, the thought of crafting something new each day leading up to Christmas brings so much joy—and this year, the fun starts with a surprise die inside Day 1. Let’s open it together and make a holiday card!

Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar Options:

What’s Behind Door #1?

The anticipation is real. As I carefully peel open Day 1, I reveal… a beautiful hot air balloon die! It’s intricate yet versatile, perfect for adding that extra touch of winter magic to any holiday card.

Spellbinders trio of colorful die cut hot air balloons on a handmade card.

This balloon die is just adorable with tons of detail! So here is a quick tutorial on how I created this bright happy card:

  • I started by die cutting my balloon 3 times in the following combinations: orange and hot pink, aqua and lime, lavendar and purple. This project is perfect for my compact desk top Scout Die Cutting Machine.
  • I used Brushed Gold cardstock for the sentiment and accents.
  • The only die I added is the cloud from the Fly Away die set. I use this cloud on a lot of projects and find it is a great accent to have in my craft room.
  • My background panel is 4 1/4″ x 6″. I little longer than an A2 card but I like the layout better with a bit more vertical space.
  • I adhered my elements with Craft Foam and Bearly Glue.
  • My card base is charcoal grey for a bit of lovely contrast.

And There You Have It!

I can’t wait to see what’s behind the other doors! Stay tuned for more crafty inspiration as we count down to Christmas together. I will be back in a few days with more Crafty Advent Inspiration.

Happy crafting! ❄️🎄

Karen

Cardmaking Kit · papercrafting

Hero Studio December 2024 Release and Hop

Karen Brown13 Comments
Hero Arts Hero Studio December 2024 Release and Card Inspiration

If you’re already dreaming of decking your craft room with fresh supplies, Hero Arts December Release is about to paint your world with inspiration! This month’s theme is color, and it’s bursting with playful possibilities. Imagine stamps that bring your designs to life, a fancy circle-shaped die perfect for creating a BOLD striking focal point, and a die-cut box of crayons that’s as whimsical as it is nostalgic. And let’s not forget the butterflies—because no colorful creation is complete without a touch of fluttery elegance. It’s everything you need to make your cards shine brighter.

A Kaleidoscope of Creativity: December’s Theme is “Color”!
Bold, colorful and bright sun and floral die cut card with created with the Inlay die cutting technique for a stained glass look.
A Colorful Recipe for Success: Hero Studio December Card Kit of the Month

I wanted a bold color palette with variations in shade so I grabbed the new Sky Ombres Hero Transfers for die cutting my Floral Circle Fancy Die (part of the December Card Kit). I used the Inlay Die Cutting Technique which produces a beautiful “stained glass window” look.

  1. Cut the circle frame from Pitch Black Cardstock
  2. Select the colors you want from the Sky Ombres Hero Transfers and rub on white cardstock. I enjoy using Rub-On Transfers and I love the beautiful gradients in this sampler.
  3. With the Floral Circle Fancy Die, cut a circle in a 5″ x 5″ white cardstock panel and stamp the sentiment (included in the kit).
  4. Glue the white panel created in step 3 to a second 5″ x 5″ panel of white cardstock.
  5. Insert your black frame in the round window.
  6. Die cut your colors using the panels you created in step 2. Inset these into the black frame. I kept all the die cut pieces in a small bowl until I was sure I had all the pieces I needed to create my stained glass. I placed each piece prior to gluing to make sure they were all in the correct spot. Once I was happy with my placement, I put glue in the “well” and then placed and glued the die cut components.
  7. This techinque is great for mass-producing cards. You can see two of the leftovoer frames in the top right corner of the photo. These would be beautiful just glued to a card for a bright clean and simple look.
Bright happy circle die cut card featuring a sun and two happy flower blooms with a "You Color My World" sentiment.

What’s Inside the Kit?

Curious about this month’s kit? Let’s take a peek inside the December Kit:

• Clear Stamp Set, 6” x 8” • 15 Coordinating Dies • Floral Circle Fancy Die • 5 Reinkers, 1/2 oz. (Purple Galaxy, Blue Hawaii, Green Apple, Lemon Drop, Fruit Punch) • Plastic Watercolor Palette

5 Wonderful Kit Options:

For this blog post, I created with the December Kit, The Clear Stamp and Dies Kit and two Extraordinary Extras, but there are 5 kits plus 6 Extras available. You can also buy the Whole Studio, which includes all 5 kits at a wonderful savings.

Hero Arts has many different Monthly Kits that you can subscribe to including:

Clear Stamp and Die of the Month: Floral Butterfly

Stamped, colored and die cut Floral Butterfly card on an ombre background created with Hero Rub-On Transfers.

For a card that truly takes flight, try stamping the gorgeous Floral Butterfly as your centerpiece. Use alcohol markers to bring it to life with vibrant shades—blend rich oranges, sunny yellows, and lush greens to make those petals pop. Once your butterfly is a kaleidoscope of color, grab your coordinating die and cut it out. Adhere it to an ombre blue sky background, fading from light to dark, for a dreamy effect. I created my background panel by “rubbing” on the Sky Ombres Hero Transfer onto cardstock. So easy and beautiful! It’s like sending a little piece of summer to your favorite person, no sunscreen required! 🦋✨

Key Products Used:

Bright fluttery stamped and die cut butterfly handmade card created with Hero Arts December Cling of the Month Stamp and Die kit called Floral Butterfly. Hero Arts: CD1224, RT138

Box of Crayons Fancy Dies

Hero Arts Box of Crayons Fancy Dies inspirational die cut handmade card. Hero Arts DF229

Make their birthday extra colorful with a slimline card that’s all about the crayons! I used Box of Crayons Fancy Dies and started by die-cutting a cheerful box of crayons and filling it with every shade imaginable—this is your chance to go full rainbow mode. Hero Arts recently introduced a limited edition sampler of Rainbow Cardstock that is perfect for your favorite colorful die cutting.

I die cut each crayon in two shades of each color and then trimmed the top of the lighter toned “label” with scissors to make for a more realistic crayon look.

Key Products Used:

Rainbow die cut crayon handmade birthday card created with Hero Arts Box of Crayons die kit

Blog Hop:

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

Hero Arts

Hero Arts Creative Team:
Channin Pelletier
Charlene Madrid
Ilina Crouse
Jeannie Lieu
Jennifer Kotas
Kailash Naidoo
Karen Brown You Are Here!
Lydia Fiedler
Michelle Short
Natasha Polite
Natasha Vacca
Rachel Kleinman
Rosie Lopez
Seeka
Special Guests:
Mindy Eggen
Nichol Spohr
Kelly Taylor

Happy Crafting! And be sure to let your creativity shine bright and colorful.