Category: Cardmaking Video

cardmaking · Cardmaking Video

Join Me LIVE with Hero Arts! | Craft Lounge LIVE #4

Karen BrownLeave a comment

I have exciting news to share — I’ll be joining Hero Arts for Craft Lounge LIVE #4! 🎉

This is my second time hanging out in the Craft Lounge, and I had such a great time last summer that I’m thrilled to be back again. If you love crafty inspiration, laughs, and a creative party atmosphere… mark your calendar!

Get all the details and RSVP HERE!

🗓️ Event Details

Craft Lounge LIVE #4
📅 Saturday, November 8, 2025
⏰ 12:00 PM PT
🎥 Streaming LIVE with The Hero Arts FaceBook Group: Hero Arts Collective

Who’s Crafting With Me?

I’ll be creating alongside some fabulous Hero Arts teammates:

  • Natasha
  • Michelle
  • Karen (that’s me!)
  • Channin

We’ll be crafting with The Best Gift Ever Collection, sharing projects, festive inspiration, and plenty of crafty cheer. This collection is so versatile and works year round!

Oh — and did I mention…
🎄 We’ll be wearing ugly sweaters! We hope you’ll wear your ugly sweater too! 🤣
So come ready for creative fun, holiday spirit, and at least one questionable sweater choice.

…..and there is a giveway too!

🎁 Join the Fun!

Bring your coffee, cocoa, or holiday mocktail, settle into your craft lounge, and come chat LIVE with us. I can’t wait to hang out and make some holiday magic together! ✨

👉 Hope to see you there — and be sure to say hi in the chat!

Layering Stencil handmade card and video. Video: Easy Fun Card Idea
Cardmaking Video · Stenciling

Video: Easy Fun Card Idea

Karen Brown1 Comment

Watch above OR click HERE to watch video on YouTube.

Looking for an easy, beginner-friendly card idea that makes a big impact? Today I’m sharing a project using the Hero Studio July 2025 “Just Keep Going” Layering Stencils—a bold, three-layered sentiment that I paired with a coordinating ink smooshed background for a clean, summery design.

Handmade card with bold “Just Keep Going” encouraging sentiment in green, teal, and blue ink, layered over a watercolor-style ink smooshed background.

Supplies & Theme

The “Just Keep Going” stenciled sentiment is built up with three perfectly aligned stencil layers. For the sentiment and the coordinating background, I used the following Reactive Inks:

These bright, analogous colors are side-by-side on the color wheel and blend beautifully together for a unified, harmonious look.

July 2025 Layering Stencil of the Month "Just Keep Going" kit card in analgous green, aqua and blue inks.

The Background: Ink Smooshing

To complement the stenciled panel, I created an ink smooshed background using the exact same three ink colors. Ink smooshing is one of my favorite techniques—just dab ink onto a 6 x 6″ acrylic block, spritz with water, and press your watercolor paper onto the color. I flip my block and weight down with a book for 5 minutes. If there is a puddle, I dab it with a paper towel. The result? A gorgeous, watercolor-style background that’s one of a kind.

This technique is fantastic for beginners and gives your cards a fun, organic texture. It’s also a great way to bring all the color elements of your project together.

Creating an "ink smoosh" background that coordinates with your stenciled focal point

Finishing Touches

I die cut my stenciled sentiment panel using a nesting postage stamp die for extra polish. As a playful embellishment, I added a pair of sunglasses from the Hero Studio July 2025 Card Kit. The frames are cut from leftover inked cardstock, and the lenses from another panel inked with Blue Hawaii—just another way to tie everything together!

Custom coordinated ink smoosh background and bold stenciled sentiment card.

Why It Works

This card’s cohesive look comes from intentionally choosing analogous colors and using them across both the background and focal elements. Whether you’re just starting out or want a quick, cheerful design, this is a project anyone can enjoy!

Cardmaking Video

Video Hop | Easy, Fun & Festive Birthday Cardmaking: Color, Shine, Celebrate!

Karen Brown1 Comment

Can you ever have too many birthday cards? I think not! Today, I’m sharing a fun, modern, and eye-catching birthday card featuring the Hero Arts Celebrate Stamp & Stencil Set—perfect for anyone on your list!

Click link to see the Hero Arts Spring Collection.

You can watch the video above, or you can click the link HERE to watch on YouTube.

Plus, this video is part of a Video Hop, so be sure to check out the other fabulous creators linked below.

A vibrant handmade birthday card featuring four colorful stenciled banners with flowers, created using the Hero Arts Celebrate Stamp & Coloring Stencil Set and Glitz Inks.

Bold Colors & Easy Techniques

For this card, I started with a large focal stamp of four birthday banners—such a fun and festive design! Instead of traditional coloring, I brought in Glitz Inks and Color Layering Stencils to add French Pink, Naples Yellow, Byzantine Green and Egyptian Blue to the banners. These inks add beautiful shimmer that makes the design pop without needing extra embellishments (but you know I couldn’t resist a few black enamel dots in the flower centers!). This is totally optional, but I used my Rounded Rectangle Infinity Dies to round the corners and trim down my panel.

Pro Tip: Glitz Inks are not only stunning, but they’re also super easy to clean up! A quick rinse, and your brushes are good as new.

Festive Birthday card perfect for men, women and children. The card features 4 birthday banners stamped and colored with layering stencils in pink, yellow, aqua and green.

Organizing My Stamps & Dies

I also wanted to share a quick tip on storing stamps and dies. I use Hero Arts Magnetic Sheets and Storage Sleeves, which help keep my dies neat, tidy, and easy to find. No more hunting for that one missing die—it’s all in one place and ready for my next crafting session! I also love their Stamp Storage Sleeves. More details in the video.

Key Products Used:

Join the Celebration! Blog Hop Order:

This card was a joy to make, and I hope it inspires you to break out your Glitz Inks and stencils! Be sure to check out the Video Hop and leave a comment on my video—I’d love to hear what you think! And tell me… do you think it’s possible to have too many birthday cards? (Spoiler: I don’t!) 🎉

Cardmaking Video

VIDEO: Shimmery Snowflake Backgrounds 3 Ways

Karen Brown1 Comment

Are you ready to add a touch of winter magic to your card-making? In today’s video, I will guide you step-by-step through the enchanting process of creating shimmery snowflake backgrounds that will leave everyone in awe!

If you are having trouble viewing the video, click HERE to watch on YouTube.

Today, we will be creating two cards and one tag using Hero Arts NEW Reactive Glitz Inks and the Kaleidoscope Snowflake Bold Print Stamp.

Adorable bright Christmas Holiday card with a "peeking penguin", shimmery background and heat embossed snowflakes.

For Card #1, My background was created with French Pink and African Violet Glitz Inks and the Kaleidoscope Snowflake Bold Print Stamp. I added a white Wood Frame and an adorable Peeking Penguin die cut to “ice” my card.

Shimmery Hero Arts Glitz Reactive Ink Christmas Holiday Card.

Look at the gorgeous shimmer from the Glitz Inks!

Snowflake Chirstmas Holiday card with heat embossed snowflakes and die cut snowflakes over a ink blended pink and purple background.

For Card #2, I did my ink blending on Peony Cardstock with French Pink and African Violet. Next, I heat embossed the Kaleidoscope Snowflake Bold Print Stamp. Then, I added Snowflakes die cut from Glitter Cardstock using the Snowflake Pattern Cover Die. Such an easy way to die cut LOADS of snowflakes!

Mixed Media Snowflake Christmas Winter Holiday Tag.

I also created a Mixed Media Tag that features Glitter die cut Snowflakes, Mini Clay Snowflake Embellishments and a Holiday Message Strips Hero Transfer Sentiment.

My background was created with Egyptian Blue and Naples Yellow Reactive Glitz inks and the Kaleidoscope Snowflake Stamp. I added a bit of Purple Galaxy around the edges.

Multiple Christmas Holiday cards and tags with Hero Arts Glitz Ink and the Kaleidoscope Snowflake Bold Print background stamp.

Other Supplies Used:

Video showing how to make Shimmery Snowflake card backgrounds for the Holidays and Christmas.

I had “Snow Much Fun” creating this trio and I hope you enjoyed the VIDEO!

Cardmaking Video · Rainbow Colors

Hero Arts Video | Coloring With Stencils 4 Ways

Karen Brown1 Comment
3 Bright Colorful cards using Hero Arts Mandala Flower Pattern Stamp and coordinating color layering stencils,

Welcome friends, Karen Brown here to share some bright fun cards using coloring stencils. Today, I used Hero Arts beautiful Mandala Flower Pattern stamp and the coordinating color layering stencils.

For a Step-By-Step Visual Tutorial, you can watch my video below:

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click HERE to watch on YouTube.

I was so inspired by this mandala that I created 4 different cards. I love the versatility and endless possibilities!

Monochromatic Coloring

Monochromatic stamped and ink blended Mandala in blues, greens and aquas.

With a small blending brush, I started by coloring a monochromatic panel in blues, greens and aquas. I used Splash, Blue Raspberry, Blue Hawaii and Aegean inks for this card. I then die cut my panel and a Peacock mat using Pointed Arches Infinity Dies. I added a rub-on sentiment from the Birthday Party Hero Transfer set. I really LOVE Hero Transfers!

I used a StampWheel for both my stamping and stenciling.

Stenciling with Rainbow Colors

Next, I decided to add rainbow colors to my mandala. I did this two ways….first using the outline stamp and the second using only the stencil. I love both cards but I think the “stencil only” card is a bit more casual.

Hero Arts Color Pattern Flower Mandala: 2 Ways. With and without the outline stamp.

For both cards, I used Splash, Taffy, Pool Party and Creamsicle inks. For the card on the left, I used one of my favorite die-cut sentiments: Smile Friend Stamp and Cut XL.

For the “stencil only” card I also trimmed my Mandala with a Rounded Rectangle Infinity Die and used a sentiment included with the stamp set.

Stenciling with Glitter Paste

For my 4th card, I stenciled a layer of Hero Glitter Paste on my mandala and I love the result.

I recently purchased a GlassBoard Studio craft mat that was the worksurface in my video. I am very pleased with it and I have a 20% coupon code – KENNY20 – for anyone interested in upgrading their craft mat.

Hero Arts Flower Pattern Mandala Stamp and Coloring Stencils 4 Ways.

Thanks for stopping by….it was so nice to see you!