Tag: Glitz Inks

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 | Spring Floral Stenciling & Color Theory: Create with Confidence!

Karen BrownLeave a comment

Welcome back, crafty friends! Today, I’m diving into stenciled floral backgrounds with a focus on color theory and shimmering inks. If you’ve ever struggled with picking colors that pop or wondered how to make your stenciled backgrounds shine, this post (and my video!) is for you!

If you are having difficulty watching the video above, click HERE to watch on YouTube.

Three Ways to Use a Stenciled Floral Background

I’m using the Spring Floral Stencil and Large and Small Floral Layering Dies from the new Hero Arts Friendship Blooms Collection to create three different looks. Each one explores color, contrast, and shimmer, so let’s get into it!

3 bold floral stenciled backgrounds turned into cards with bold die cut focal elements.

Card #1: Byzantine Green Glitz + Bold Plum Congrats

A handmade card with a shimmering Byzantine Green floral stenciled background, featuring a bold Plum die-cut ‘Congrats’ sentiment with a vellum shadow.

For my first card, I wanted a rich, elegant background with plenty of shine. I stenciled with Byzantine Green Glitz Ink, which gives a gorgeous shimmer, and paired it with a bold Plum “Congrats” sentiment. Here’s the magic:

  • The background is a mossy olive hue.
  • The sentiment is red-violet, which is directly opposite on the color wheel—hello, instant contrast!
  • The large vellum shadow behind the sentiment softens everything just enough.

✨ Pro Tip: When in doubt, check your color wheel! Using complementary colors creates high-impact contrast, making your card visually striking.

Card #2: 3. Aqua Gradient for a Fresh Take

A soft and elegant aqua gradient stenciled card featuring a layered white and aqua die-cut bloom, perfect for Mother’s Day.

For the next card, I switched things up with a cool-toned, gradient background using Pool Party, Paradise, and Blue Raspberry inks. The result? A soft, dreamy floral backdrop that’s perfect for spring!

✨ Pro Tip: If you’re unsure which colors to use, swatching your cardstock makes a world of difference! I swatched mine with Spellbinders Color Swatch Petal Dies, and it made choosing my die-cut colors so much easier.

Card #3: Layered Floral Mother’s Day Card

A Mother’s Day card with a rich plum and eggplant stenciled background, adorned with delicate die-cut flowers in shades of plum, eggplant, and white.

Since I was loving that Byzantine Green shine, I stenciled a second background—but this time, I turned it into a Mother’s Day card!

Spring Floral stenciling 3 ways for bold Mother's Day and Congrats cards.

I am so pleased you stopped by today!

cardmaking · Die cutting · Tutorial

Make a Splash: Postage Collage Summer Beach Card

Karen BrownLeave a comment

Nothing says “happy birthday” like a burst of bright colors and a little beachy fun! Fresh off a trip to the shore, I felt inspired to bring the ocean breeze into my craft room—minus the sand in my die-cutting machine. Today’s card features stenciled beach balls, a fun postage stamp collage, and plenty of shimmer and shine. Let’s dive in!

Bringing the Beach to Paper: Creative Ways to Use Layering Stencils

A vibrant beach-themed birthday card featuring stenciled beach balls in yellow, green, and blue with a touch of shimmer.

To set the seaside scene, I stenciled a flurry of yellow, green, and blue beach balls bouncing across the card. But what’s a day at the beach without a little shimmer? I used Glitz Inks to add a splash of shimmery shine.

Key Products Used:

Ink Blending Tips for a Seamless Look

  • Easy to Use 3 Layer Stencil: I started by stenciling my background with the fun Beach Ball Stencil. To keep my paper and stencil in place, I used my Sticky Grip Mat, which worked perfectly.
    • Click HERE to read my review on Sticky Grip Mats.
  • Use a circular motion: This prevents harsh lines and gives a softer, airbrushed effect. I also like to change direction frequently.
  • Let the shimmer do its thing: Glitz Inks add an extra pop. I used two shimmery Glitz Inks + Summer Sky for a really beachy vibe.

Postage Perfection

Nothing elevates a card quite like a postage stamp theme, so I pulled out my Waffle Flower Postage Collage die and stamp set to bring in some postal flair. Here’s what I included:

  • Postage-style die adds a fun and playful focus to your project, allowing pops of the orange mat to peek through the holes.
  • Stamped details like “sending hugs”, “50 cents”, “hugs inside”, and classic cancellation squiggles for that perfect mail-ready touch.
  • A crisp white scripty “Happy Birthday” sentiment with a black shadow, keeping it bold and readable amidst all the beachy goodness.
The Waffle Flower Postage Collage die-cut panel with stamped details like "sending hugs" and cancellation marks, framed by an orange mat. Fun Beach Ball themed Birthday card with blue, yellow and green layered stencil ink blending.

The Final Splash

With the main panel matted in orange, this card bursts with sunny energy—perfect for anyone’s birthday, no matter their age! The beachy vibe, vibrant colors, and postal elements make it a playful, happy way to celebrate.. ☀️📬✨

Shimmery Card Backgrounds 3 different ways. VIDEO: Shimmery Snowflake Backgrounds 3 Ways
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!