cardmaking · Die cutting · Stamping

It’s a Jungle! | August 2024 Hero Studio Release

Karen Brown13 Comments
3 cards created with Hero Arts August 2024 Jungle Theme Relsease.

I am so excited that it is Launch Day for Hero Studio’s playful August jungle theme release. I can’t wait to show you some of Hero Arts GORGEOUS new products, so kick back and hop along with the Creative Team.

Hero will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, August 11th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week. Links to all the Hop Participants is below.

Create Your Own Jungle | Studio Card Kit of the Month

Colorful playful "have a wild birtthday" homemade card created with Hero Studio August 2024 Card Kit of the Month.

The August Card Kit of the Month is so playful with tons of wonderful elements to incorporate into your papercrafting projects. For my first card, I used the Heroscape stamp set to create a “wild” birthday card. I think the Nesting Postage Stamp Dies give an exotic travel feel to my card.

I masked and ink blended a tiny beach for my elephants to walk along, and then stamped the rest of my scene. I used Fawn (sand), Green Apple Core, Fresh Lawn Core, Pool Party, Deep Ocean, Pale Tomato and Tangerine. I then die cut my scene and a mat and adhered to my card base with craft foam.

What’s Inside the Kit?

Curious about this month’s kit? Let’s take a peek inside the August 2024 Hero Studio Card Kit.

KIT INCLUDES:
• Jungle HeroScape Clear Stamp Set, 6″ x 8″
• 12 Coordinating Dies
• 5 Fancy Dies
• Jungle Scenics Stencil, 6″ x 6″
• Olive Hero Wax
• White Plastic Palette Knife
• 3 Reactive Ink Cubes (Key Lime Fizz, Green Apple, Fruit Punch)
• 2 Reactive Glitz Ink Pads (French Pink, Byzantine Green)
• 5 Printed Sticker Sheets, 6″ x 6″

Kit Cost:

$46 with Subscription + FREE SHIPPING
$49.99 One-Time Purchase
While Supplies Last

5 Wonderful Kit Options:

For this blog post, I created with two kits and 1 Extraordinary Extra, but there there are 5 kits plus 5 Extras available. You can also buy the Whole Studio, which includes all 5 kits at a wonderful savings.

Jungle Serenity | August Extraordinary Extra

Colorful water lily card created with Hero Arts Jungle Serenity stamp and die bundle.

I used my favorite blues and greens for this cool and calm Jungle Serenity card. I stamped my images, colored with alcohol markers and layered my backdrop using my Rounded Rectangle Infinity Dies.

PRO TIP: There is a small die in the lower left corner that is easy to overlook when you are snipping your dies apart. Be sure to separate that piece before die cutting.

Jungle Serenity Stamp and Die Bundle

Colorful thkinkig of you sympathy card that is colored with alcohol markers and die cut.
Hero Studio Layering Stencil of the Month | Monthly Mini
Colorful laering stencil jungle foliage card with die cut accent elements.

If you want a background with loads of impact, then the August Layering Stencil of the Month is definitely for you!

I ink blended my background and then continued the foliage theme by adding die cuts and a sentiment from my August Card Kit of the Month. I love how the kit themes for each month all work together….endless possibilites!

Supplies Used:

Blog Hop Links:


Hero Arts

Seeka

Rosie Lopez

Rachel Kleinman

Natasha Vacca

Natasha Polite

Michelle Short

Lydia Fiedler

Karen Brown You Are Here!

Jennifer Kotas

Jeannie Lieu

Ilina Crouse

Heather Ruwe

Charlene Madrid

Channin Pelletier
I am so happy you stopped by today!

cardmaking

Ideas for Using Pre-Printed Paper in Cardmaking

Karen BrownLeave a comment

Hello crafters! Karen Brown here and I am delighted to be back on the Spellbinders Blog with some ideas for streamlining your creative cardmaking process. Lately, I have been incorporating a lot of pre-printed elements into my cardmaking and I love how this allows me to focus on the joy of designing. Today I have a “sneak peek” of one of my cards, but you can read my entire blog post HERE on the Spellbinders Blog.

Maya's Garden Paper + Spellbinders Skateboarking Terry handmade card

Supplies Used:

Please head over to the Spellbinders Blog for all the details.

Karen

cardmaking

Hero Studio Countdown Peek | Colorful Tropical Layering Stencil Kit | August 2024

Karen Brown3 Comments
Hero Arts "Hero Studio" August 2024 Tropical Layering Stencil Kit handmade card in colorful blues and greens.

Get ready to unleash your creativity with the soon to be released August 2024 Layering Stencil Monthly Mini Card Making Kit! Dive into a lush paradise of tropical foliage as you create stunning, multi-dimensional cards that burst with vibrant blues and greens. All of Hero Arts August kits release on Monday, so stay tuned!

Today, Hero Arts is hosting their Day 2 Countdown Blog Hop and Giveaway that you can find HERE. The Day 1 Countdown Hop is HERE.

Colorful tropical jungle theme birthday card: Have a Wild Birthday

I love bright fun colors and this layering stencil background was perfect for aqua blues and greens. I used a few items from my August Card Kit to embellish my card and continue with the jungle foliage theme.

Colorful layering stencil birthday card with a jungle theme

Products Used:

Be sure to come back Monday for the August Release and Blog Hop!

Cardmaking Kit · Rainbow Colors · stitching

Colorful Rainbow Stitching | Spellbinders August 2024 Stitching Kit

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Rainbow colors for this stunning hand stitched greeting card created with Spellbinders August 2024 Stitching Kit of the Month.

This may be my favorite Spellbinders kit of 2024! The August 2024 Stitching Kit of the Month is perfect for cardmakers, artists or anyone that loves a colorful card. I truly love rainbow cardstock and floss….put them together and you have a real keepsake.

Spellbinders has 9 great Club Options that you might want to check out + their Deluxe Caboodle, which includes all 9 kits + a bonus gift, all at a 60% savings.

Rainbow Craft Theme Card Kit:

Handmade paint palette card created with Spellbinders August 2024 Stitching Card Kit of the Month.

Tips and Tricks for Stunning Stitched Cards:

  • I started by die cutting my Stitching Kit pieces with my Platinum 6 die cutting machine. When I got to the smaller pieces, I found it easiest to use my desktop cutter: Scout. I used leftover colorful cardstock scraps for my paint palette. Since it was long and thin, I die cut the paintbrush twice and then glued it together for a substantial base. I die cut the other pieces once.
  • Spellbinders has a nice selection of stitching accessories in their shop that you can find HERE. Today, I used used DMC 776, 725, 745, 772, 504, 800, 211, 828, 646 and metallic gold floss. I have been buying and collecting floss for decades, so some of these are vintage.
  • When I started stitching, I took two strands of floss, separated them one at a time, brought them together and then stroked and lengthened them until they seemed tame and ready to use.
  • 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 my card with Bearly Glue.

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.
  • NEW for 2024: 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

Cardmaking Kit · stitching

A Gift Inspired Delight | Spellbinders July 2024 Stitching Die of the Month Kit

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Spellbinders July 2024 Stitching Card of the Month tutorial: a beautiful blue die cut bow for Christmas or birthday cards.

This month, Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month Kit allows us to create a very eye-catching gift bow. The kit is perfect for creating Christmas cards and decor or you can also use it all-year-round for birthdays and other celebrations. I chose to make a birthday card as I have a lot of friends with summer birthdays.

I think bows are so eye-catching on cards and if you’d like to see another I card I created featuring a die cut bow, click HERE.

A handmade card with a beautiful stitched die cut blue gift bow for Birthday Cards and Christmas Cards.

Stitching On-The-Go

Stitching kits are great when you want a crafting project “on-the-go”. I am on vacation in Colorado and I really loved stitching on the patio while I enjoyed the view of the mountains. I included a photo of my al fresco stitching below. I die cut my components before I left home and then packed my supplies in a zipper bag. My stitching went quickly and took about 30 minutes to complete.

Tips and Tricks for Stunning Stitched Cards:

  • I started by die cutting all my Stitching Kit pieces with my Platinum 6 die cutting machine. I used Arctic cardstock for my bow. I die cut the elements I was going to stitch 2 times and then glued them together for a substantial base.
  • Spellbinders has a nice selection of stitching accessories in their shop that you can find HERE. I used used a buttery yellow (DMC #745) today.
  • When I started stitching, I took two strands of floss, separated them one at a time, brought them together and then stroked and lengthened them until they seemed tame and ready to use.
  • I usually stitch with size 22 Tapestry needles.
  • I changed things up this month and used good ol’ Scotch tape to attach my floss to the die cut.
  • 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.
  • To make my bow a little more stable, I added one vertical and two horizontal braces (3/8″ wide) on the back of my bow.
  • To finish my project I found some old printed paper to act as my gift wrap which I glued to an A2 Top Fold Card Base.
  • I adhered my bow to the background with Bearly Glue and Foam Squares.
  • The sentiment is a Chipboard Sticker from the Serenade of Autumn set.

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.
  • NEW for 2024: 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

cardmaking · Die cutting

Most Adorable Die Cut Dog Card | Spellbinders

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Most Adorable handmade die cut dog card: Spellbinders Big Pug Etched Dies.

Do you have a dog lover in your life? There’s nothing more delightful than receiving a card that perfectly captures the charm and whimsy of an adorable dog. Enter the cutest die cut handmade dog card— Big Pug Etched Dies – a perfect blend of creativity and cuteness that is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. And, there is a super fun accessory set so you can dress up your little creatures! The scarf and bow are in the accessory kit. I used Rainbow Wood Designer Paper for my background, scarf and bow.

Bibi Cameron and Spellbinders just released a fun Cats and Pugs Collection that is going to be a longtime favorite in the Brown family. I really enjoyed creating this darling card. I added an easy but fun puffy sticker sentiment to finish my card.

I created an extra special big showy 5″ x 7″ (A7) card. Isn’t the expression on the Pug just precious?

Key Products Used:

Cutest Pug Dog card ever!

The Joy of Giving and Receiving

Handmade die cut cards are more than just greeting cards; they are keepsakes that recipients will cherish. The thought and effort put into creating such a card make it a meaningful gesture, perfect for any occasion.

In a world filled with digital messages and mass-produced cards, a handmade card stands out as a unique and personal way to connect with others. So, why not try your hand at crafting one? Spread a little Pug love and make someone’s day with the cutest die cut Pug dog card!

Karen

cardmaking

Fast, Easy and Elegant Embossed Sympathy Card | Spellbinders

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Creating a fast, easy elegant sympathy card with 3D Emboss and Cut folders: Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me to You 3D Emboss and Cut folder.

Creating a handmade sympathy card is a thoughtful way to express your condolences, showing the recipient that you care enough to make something special. An embossed card is particularly elegant, yet it can be surprisingly quick and simple to create. Here’s a guide to making a beautiful embossed sympathy card that’s both fast and easy.

Timesaving Tips for Cardmakers:

I started with the new Mushrooms From Me To You 3D Emboss and Cut Folder from Spellbinders that has several great attributes:

  • The first is that the folder embosses and die cuts with just one pass through the machine. This is a real timesaver!
  • The second, is that there are 3 templates on the folder so you create 3 components each time! YAY for 3 Fers!

How I created this card:

  • Using my paper trimmer, I cut a white card panel that was 8 3/4″ x 5 3/4″. I think white on white is always lovely for a sympathy card.
  • I wanted to tape my dies to the embossing folder to ensure there would be no shifting during the die-cutting. Using my Best Tape Ever, I tacked the 3 dies to the inside front cover with the cutting edge toward the interior of the sandwich. Then I added my pre-cut paper panel. I also taped the folder closed at the bottom to ensure everything stayed in place.
  • I ran the sandwich through my machine and viola, 3 cut and embossed elements with one pass through my machine!
  • I wanted to keep the card simple so I mounted the largest embossed die cut on an A2 top folding card with Bearly Glue and Craft Foam.
  • I added a simple premade Thinking of You Chipboard sentiment and the card was done. I wish I timed the process, because it was VERY quick!

Time Saving Tip #1: Use premade sentiment Chipboard Stickers like the one I used on this card. I also love the Bayfair Chipboard and Puffy Stickers. Here is one of my posts that uses the Bayfair Chipboard sentiments on my kite card and I used the puffy stickers on this stitched card.

Time Saving Tip #2: Use premade card bases like these A2 Top Fold or A2 side fold.

TIP FOR SUCCESS: Keep it Simple – Elegance often comes from simplicity. Stick to a few well-chosen elements rather than overloading the card with decorations.

Helpful Links:

Time Saving Tips for Cardmakers with Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me to You 3D Emboss and Cut folder hndmade sympathy card

Creating a handmade embossed sympathy card is a meaningful way to show your compassion and support. With a few simple steps and materials, you can craft a card that is not only fast and easy to make but also elegant and deeply personal.

See you next time!

Karen

Cardmaking Kit

Sunny Beach Theme Cards | July 2024 Hero Studio Release

Karen Brown22 Comments
Colorful aquatic under-water theme Heroscape card created with Hero Arts Tropical Fishes stamps and die + Pebbles and Stones stencil.

Welcome to the July Hero Studio release, where we are bringing a summery beach theme in Hero Arts signature style and quality! Get ready to ignite your creativity and elevate your crafting experience with the brand new lineup of the July Hero Studio cardmaking kits. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your crafting journey, these 5 cardmaking kits offer something for everyone.

Summer is here, and there’s no better way to celebrate the sunny season than with a couple of beach-themed handmade cards. Today I’ve created two delightful designs that I hope will help inspire your crafting adventures.

Tropical Underwater Scene Card | Extraordinary Extra

Today, we’ll dive into making a vibrant, underwater-themed card featuring a stenciled background and beautifully Copic colored die-cut tropical fish. This project is perfect for celebrating summer or simply brightening someone’s day with a splash of color.

How to create a water/ocean/lake background with Hero Arts Pebbles and Stones stencil.

This aquatic card was fun to create!

  • I tried a new trick for stamping and it worked great! I put the acetate sheet with the Tropical Fishes (SB406) stamps on the sticky mat in my StampWheel and taped my cardstock to the lid and stamped away. This was a real timesaver. So much faster than peeling each stamp off and positioning it.
  • For my background, I took a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ panel of Arctic cardstock and stenciled the Pebbles and Stones (SA276) with Pool Party ink and my XL Blending Brush.
  • I Copic colored my fish with blues, corals, aquas and tans and then die cut the elements.
Key Products Used:

Create Your Own Beach | Studio Kit of the Month

Heroscape Beach Scene handmade card with silhouette stamped fence, grass, cabanas and birds.

The July Studio Card Kit of the Month has SO many wonderful elements to create Heroscape Victornian beach themed cards. There are endless combinations and possibilities!

Watch a quick reel on how I created a second beach scene card.

What’s Inside the Kit?

Curious about this month’s kit? Let’s take a quick peek inside The July Hero Studio Kit:

KIT INCLUDES:
• Victorian Seaside Clear Stamp Set, 6″ x 8″
• 22 Coordinating Dies
• Sand Castle Fancy Dies
• Rock Cling Stamp, 6″ x 6″
• Victorian Seaside Reactive Palette Ink Pad
• 2 Sheets Map Hero Transfers (Rub-ons), 6″ x 8″
• 2 Sheets Each of Blue, Purple, Green Vellum, 5.5″ x 8.5″
• 2 Sheets Each of White Lava Holographic, White Rainbow Holographic Cardstock, 5.5″ x 8.5″

Kit Cost:

$46 with Subscription + FREE SHIPPING
$49.99 One-Time Purchase
While Supplies Last

My Process for This Easy Heroscape Scene Card:
Hero Arts July 2024 Studio Card Kit of the Month Beach Theme Handmade Card.

5 Wonderful Kit Options:

I created with three new Hero Studio kits and Extras in this blog post, but there are 5 kits and 6 Extraordinary Extras altogether. You can also buy The Whole Studio!

Blog Hop:

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, July 7th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

Hero Arts
Hero Arts Creative Team:
Channin Pelletier
Charlene Madrid
Heather Ruwe
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:
Jenn Shurkus

Nichol Spohr

Emily Midgett
Kelly Taylor

Happy crafting!

cardmaking · Die cutting

Fun Summery “2-Fer” Die Cut Scene Cards | Spellbinders Tunnel Scapes Collection

Karen Brown3 Comments
"2-Fer" backgrounds with Spellbinders Tunnel Scape Collection.

What better way to celebrate the summer season than by creating charming die cut scene cards? These delightful creations bring a touch of whimsy and cheer, perfect for sending a bit of sunshine to friends and loved ones. Today, I used Vicky Papaioannou’s lovely new Spellbinder’s collection called Tunnel Scapes.

Let’s dive into crafting our two designs: one featuring a kite soaring amid fluffy clouds, and another with two birds perched on blooming branches.

Tunnel Clouds Die Kit

Hnadmade die cut scene card with Spellbinders "Perched Bird" die set. 2 birds perched on branches with a happy sun shining down.

I always love a good scene card, so I was so excited to create with the Perched Birds die set. To really add interest and dimension, I set the stage with Vicky’s delightful Tunnel Clouds background dies which include three unique stacking backgrounds dies + the adorable sun and other celestial elements. This entire collection is so fun and creative! And, the die cuts have so much lovely detail. I used a bunch of my favorite cardstock colors for these two companion cards.

2-Fer Backgrounds

Handmade card with Spellbinders "Fly Away" kit die kit and Bayfair Chipboard "Oh Happy Day" Bayfair chipboard sentiment.

Another wonderful benefit of the Tunnel Clouds die set is that you get “2-Fer backgrounds” each time you die cut! I created my second scene with The Fly Away kite die set. They work great with the Tunnel Clouds dies or you can use them by themself. The die set also includes a plane that would be perfect for a masculine card. I thought the “oh happy day” chipboard sentiment was perfect for this card.

Happy Crafting!

Karen

cardmaking · Video

Video: Crafting with Color | Selecting Fabulous Color Combinations for Ink Blending

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Hero Arts Color Layering Tile Stencil handmade cards in 2 Analogous color palettes (yellow, orange and coral) and (aquas, blues and greens).

Hello fellow crafters, Karen Brown here with a new How-To Video!  I am excited to dive into the world of layering stencils, specifically focusing on how to select analogous colors that will bring harmony to your designs.  Do you struggle selecting colors?  Taking a quick peek at your color wheel can assist in making cardmaking projects that are both visually pleasing and polished.  So let’s get started!

If you are having trouble viewing the video, please click HERE.

Today we will be using Hero Arts beautiful new Color Layering Tile Stencils.  This set comes with 4 stencils that are extremely easy to line up.  I thought it would be fun to use two different analogous color palettes and I added in some Hero Paste for added interest.  

Layering stencil tutorial with Hero Arts new Color Layering Tile Stencils + Gold Hero Paste.

I started with a 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ panel of Deluxe Smooth Cardstock.  For Card #1 I used Lemon Drop, Creamsicle and Taffy inks. For my top layer, I applied Hero Gold Paste for a pop of shine and shimmer. 

Handmade birthday layering stencil card in aquas, blues and greens + a custom blended Hero Paste accent layer.

On Card #2, I selected Pool Party, Splash and Blue Hawaii. For my top layer, I custom blended White Hero Paste with a combination of Blue Hawaii and Pool Party.

Both cards are perfect for summer!  Card 1 is bright and festive and Card 2 is calm and serene. It’s interesting how color selection can change the tone of your cards.  To see all my tips and process details, please watch the video.

My sentiments were die cut using two sentiment strips from the Hooray Birthday Cover Plate.  I used Nautical and Coral cardstock.

Other helpful supplies were my Palette Knife, Blending Brushes, Compact Cutter, Precision Glue  and Magnetic Storage Envelops. 

Happy crafting everyone!