Tag: Holiday Cards

Glitter Ball Ornament handmade card for Winter and Christmas holidays Hero Arts October 2025 Release and Blog Hop | Merry Era
Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting

Hero Arts October 2025 Release and Blog Hop | Merry Era

Karen Brown15 Comments
2 bright and colorful handmade holiday cards created with the Hero Arts Studio October 2025 Kits

Hero Arts October 2025 Release | Merry Era

It’s time for the Hero Arts October 2025 Release Blog Hop, and this month’s theme is Merry Era! I had so much fun creating two festive cards that sparkle and shine in very different ways.

Glittery Pink Christmas Ball

Handmade Christmas card featuring a large white glitter ornament on Dahlia pink cardstock with a layered yellow bow, and a navy sentiment reading “Merry & Bright.”

For my first card, I reached for the “Have a Ball” Die Set from the October 2025 Card Kit. I wanted a sparkly look, so I die cut the large Christmas ball twice from white glitter cardstock for extra stability. My card base is Dahlia cardstock (included in the kit) which makes the ornament pop.

The layered bow was cut from Beeswax and Tuscan cardstock, also in the kit, and I finished it off with a BetterPress “Merry & Bright” sentiment stamped on navy cardstock. I love the subtle glitter that catches the light—this card is festive yet elegant.

💡 Design tip: This die set would work beautifully for New Year’s cards too!

What’s Included in the Kit?
October 2025 Hero Arts Card Kit contents

           • Deck the Halls with Disco Balls 6×8 Stamp Set
           • Deck the Halls with Disco Balls Coordinating Dies
           • Have a Ball Die Set
           • Gold Embossing Powder .5 oz
           • 10 Sheets of Cardstock- 1 of each color, 5.5″ x 8.5″   
           • Two Sheets of Gold Matte Paper, 5.5″ x 8.5″ 

Merry & Bright die cut Christmas Ornament card created with Hero Arts Studio October 2025 Card Kit of the Month.

Receive a FREE beautiful Merry Everything Die Set when you purchase The Whole Studio!

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

Twinkling Lights

Handmade holiday card with gold die-cut light strings and colorful cardstock bulbs arranged on teal cardstock, finished with a bold circular sentiment reading “Christmas is Too Sparkly … Said No One Ever.”

For my second card, I used the Twinkle Lights Fancy Dies. I die cut the string of Christmas lights from gold paper (included in the kit) and then added pops of color by cutting the bulbs from colorful cardstock scraps.

Placing the strands artfully across teal cardstock created a playful, modern background. The circular sentiment—“Christmas is Too Sparkly … Said No One Ever”—is also part of the October Card Kit.

💡 Tip for small die cuts: A Ninja Jewel Picker and Bearly Arts Glue are lifesavers when attaching those tiny bulbs!

The combination of shiny gold strings, bright bulbs, and the bold sentiment makes this card full of Christmas cheer.

Hero Arts Twinkle Lights die cut card with strands of colorful Christmas lights strung across a vivid blue background.

>>> Click HERE. to see my other October Card Kit Cards.

GIVEAWAY 

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, October 5th at 11:59pm PT, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week. Leave a comment on all stops for more chances to win!
  

BLOG HOP ORDER


Hero Arts
Nichol Spohr
Seeka
Rosie Lopez
Rachel Kleinman
Natasha Polite
Mindy Eggen
Michelle Short
Michelle Lupton
Lisa Tilson
Karen Brown You Are Here!
Jennifer Kotas
Jeannie Lieu
Charlene Madrid
Channin Pelletier
Anna Mahtani

Christmas Crackers die cut handmade card. 4 Tips for Christmas Cardmaking
cardmaking · Die cutting · Tutorial

4 Tips for Christmas Cardmaking

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Bright, colorful Christmas card with a blue "dimpled" background, purple and orange die cut Christmas Crackers and a folliage accents.

Featuring the Christmas Cracker Die Set + Dimpled Embossing Folder

The holidays are the perfect time to get crafty, and Spellbinders’ new Christmas releases make it so much fun! Today I’m sharing a festive card I created with the Christmas Cracker Die Set from Yana’s Christmas Collection and the Dimpled 3D Embossing Folder from Suzanne Hue’s Texture and Foliage Collection.

Along the way, I’ll walk you through 4 tried-and-true tips that will make your holiday cardmaking easier, more enjoyable, and more beautiful.

Tip 1: Use Quality Cardstock

Handmade Christmas card featuring a colorful die cut Christmas cracker in shades of purple, orange, blue, and green. The background is embossed with a dimpled 3D pattern, and some die cuts are raised on foam for added dimension

The foundation of any good die cut is quality cardstock. Thin or flimsy paper isn’t substantial enough for die cutting. For this project, I used Spellbinders’ Color Wheel Cardstock—which is heavyweight, smooth, and cuts like butter.

Here are some of the gorgeous shades I pulled:

  • 🌊 Cascade
  • 💜 Fairy Tale
  • 🌸 Lavender & Lilac
  • 🌞 Beeswax
  • 🍊 Carrot
  • 🍎 Pomegranate
  • 🌿 Peridot & Rainforest

Together these created a vibrant, cheerful, and slightly unexpected holiday palette.

Tip 2: Swatch Your Cardstock

Handmade die cut Christmas card using Spellbinders Yana's Christmas Cracker set with the Dimpled 3D Embossing folder.

Having your cardstock organized and swatched makes choosing colors so much faster. I’ll link HERE to a post where I go into detail on how I keep my swatches handy and easy to use.

For this project, I flipped through my swatches until I landed on the perfect non-traditional holiday mix. Seeing them side by side helped me visualize how the colors would work layered on the Christmas cracker.

Products Used:

Tip 3: Use Color Inspiration

Handmade die cut Christmas Card created with the non-traditional colors of blue, purple, orange, red and green.

When in doubt, let a color system do the heavy lifting! For this card, I turned to Color Cubes Volume 2, specifically palette card #252, which inspired the purple, red, orange, yellow, blue color mix. I also own Volume 1. You can find the Color Cubes Bundle HERE.

I’ll also link to a previous blog post that features Spellbinders’ Color Deck System, another fabulous way to spark ideas when you feel stuck or want to try something different.

Click HERE if you’d like to see another Christmas Card using the same #252 Color Cubes palette card.

Tip 4: Add Texture and Dimension

Die Cut Christmas cracker card with loads of texture, dimension and vivid colors.

Flat die cuts are nice, but texture and lift make a card pop. For this background, I embossed a panel with the new Dimpled 3D Embossing Folder—a subtle yet impactful pattern that catches the light beautifully.

I also used foam squares behind some of the cracker die cuts to add depth and shadow. Craft foam also works great, especially on larger die cuts. The best glue for smaller die cuts is Bearly Glue. I love the fine nozzle! Simple details like these can make your handmade card feel polished and professional.

Die cutting · Stamping · Stenciling

Christmas in July | Candy Canes, Color and Confections

Karen BrownLeave a comment

It may be mid-summer, but it’s never too early to get a head start on your holiday cardmaking! I’m kicking off Christmas in July with two cheerful and candy-colored designs using the brand new Candy Cane Season Collection from Hero Arts.

This sweet collection is full of playful holiday charm—peppermints, bows, and bold candy cane graphics that are perfect for building quick but eye-catching holiday cards.

Card 1: Peppermint Skies & Holiday Vibes

My first card is all about peppermint joy! I started by creating a playful red and white background using the Candy Cane Toss Up Stencils and two Hero Arts inks:

  • Peony
  • Cherry

This creates the scattered look of candy canes tossed in the air—fun, festive, and full of movement. The sentiment, “Peppermint Skies and Holiday Vibes,” is stamped in black for a bold pop, centered over the background.

To bring in contrast and dimension, I added green candy canes from the Candy Cane Swag set. I stamped them in Pine ink on Mint ColorWheel Cardstock and die cut them multiple times—then did a little crafty engineering to extend the candy canes behind the sentiment strip. By layering extra pieces below the visible canes, they peek out above and below the sentiment, adding height and whimsy to the design.

This card’s theme is peppermint playfulness—and it’s a sweet way to start your stash of holiday greetings!

Card 2: Sweet but Twisted

For my second card, I kept the focus on a clean graphic layout featuring crossed candy canes as the main design element.

I used the Candy Cane Swag stamps again, stamping two canes in Pine ink on Mint ColorWheel Cardstock, then crossing them in an “X” shape at the center of the card. I added a red and white bow (stamped in Cotton Candy ink and die cut) to the center, tying the two canes together like a festive wreath.

Behind the candy canes, I layered three coordinating ColorWheel cardstock panels, trimmed using my Rounded Rectangle Infinity Dies:

  • Base Layer: Fern
  • Middle Layer: Mint
  • Top Layer: Bellini

These colors echo the classic red-and-green palette but with a soft, contemporary twist—perfect for a fun and modern holiday card.

The sentiment “Sweet but Twisted” is from the A Little Merri-Mint Stamp & Die Set, and I think it pairs perfectly with this cheeky little cane design!

Both cards feature cardstock from the ColorWheel Collection, which makes it so easy to mix and match hues while keeping your palette coordinated. And while they use some of the same elements, each card has its own unique personality—one playful and layered, the other bold and graphic.

It’s never too early to dive into the holiday spirit, especially with sweet designs like these. Whether you love traditional candy cane colors or like to mix things up, Candy Cane Season has something merry for everyone!

Cardmaking Kit

Hero Studio Countdown Peek | October 2024

Karen Brown15 Comments
Handmade winter holiday card featruing Hero Arts Octobe 2024 Card Kit of the Month stamped and die cut Christams Tree decorated with peppermint candy embellishments.

Fa la la la la….are your ready for Christmas??? I am popping by with a quick peek at the wonderful Hero Studio October 2024 Card Kit of the Month. I can’t give too much away, but here is a bright fun card I created with the kit. The October Kit, Monthly Minis and Extraordinary Extras release on Monday! But, you don’t need to wait because you can subscribe today.

Bright cheery handmade Christmas Tree Card created with Hero Arts October 2024 Card Kit.

I’ll be back on Monday with two more Hero Studio cards + the Hero Arts Blog Hop. Be sure to come hop with us!

Meanwhile, Hero Arts has TONS of great items in their SHOP so go take a peek!

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

Adding a Personal Touch to Your Holiday Greetings | Hero Arts Holiday Catalog

Karen Brown45 Comments
Adorable Hero Arts "Peeking Bear" "Confetti Swirls" Holiday Card.

Who is ready to start creating for the holidays? Hero Arts Holiday Catalog is just full of wonderfulness and I am so excited to share cards I created with these new products.

Handmade card with adorable white polar bear in hat and scarf peeking around the edge with a die cut swirl background,

Adorable Peeking Winter Bear Die

I LOVE this adorable little peeking bear! I die cut him three times and then glued the layers together. I lightly ink blended the edges for some contrast and then added a Cranberry scarf and hat. I used Neutral Heros enamel dots for the nose and mouth. The background is die cut from Arctic cardstock with the new Confetti Swirls Die and then backed with a panel of Mist cardstock. The sentiment is from Cozy Study Stamps.

Supplies Used:

Celebrate Autumn

Handmade card with a fall foliage cover plate and liquid waterccolor leaves.

Autumn is a season of breathtaking beauty, with its vibrant foliage and crisp air. It’s the perfect time to channel that inspiration into crafting handmade cards. A die cut card featuring fall leaves is a wonderful way to capture the essence of the season and share it with your loved ones.

My Process for Creating This Autum Foliage Die Cut Card:

Hero Arts Fall Pattern leaf foliage cover plate die handmade card in yellows, greens, oranges and kraft.

Winter Mail Critters: The Definition of Cuteness!

I really love my third card! The Winter Mail Critter stamps are the cutest! I have a few pics + directions on how I created this card below, so keep scrolling…..

Handmade Holiday card with Hero Arts Winter Mail Critters, White Holiday Collage Hero Transfers, Wax Seals.

Key Products Used:

Handmade Christmas Card featuring a Hero Arts bear and fox each holding a letter with a Rub On Transfer background.

Hero Arts Christmas Card Tutorial:

I started by die cutting two frames and two “tapes” from the Journaling Photo Frame Infinity Dies Set. I then very lightly blended Paradise Core Ink along the edges of the photo background (using the sticky mat in my Stamp Wheel), stamped the bear and fox with my Stamping Tool and Copic colored the images (colors listed below). I also rubbed on a transfer Merry & Bright sentiment.

The background was so easy! I rubbed on the fun Twas the Night Before lettering from the White Holiday Collage Hero Transfers (RT121) with a bone folder and all the writing transfered to the paper perfectly on the first try. The card background is Paradise cardstock.

I wanted a pop of red, so I stamped and die cut a Merry Christmas Wax Seal using Crimson Core Ink. I also put a dab of Hero Wax Gold to add a little depth and shine to the “photo tape”

I assembled my card with foam tape and it is ready to send.

Copic Colors Used:

  • Browns: E27, E15, E13, E11, E5
  • Reds: R27, R39
  • Pink: RV11
  • Blue: B00
Cute holiday card with critters featured in Hero Arts Journaling Photo Frame Infinity Dies DF125

Blog Hop Info:

Hero Arts will give away TWO $50 gift cards, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Wednesday, August 28th at 11:59pm PT. The winners will be announced on the Hero Arts blog.

Hero Arts Creative Team:

Channin Pelletier

Charlene Madrid

Heather Ruwe

Ilina Crouse

Jeannie Lieu

Jennifer Kotas

Kailash Naidoo

Karen Brown

Michelle Short

Natasha Polite

Natasha Vacca

Pocono Pam

Rachel Kleinman

Rosie Lopez

Seeka

Special Guests:

Cathy Zielske

Laura Bassen

Mindy Eggen

Final Thoughts

Today I used a bunch of lovely new products from Hero Arts 2024 Holiday Catalog but there are so many other great additions that I know you will love. Thanks for stopping by today and “hopping” with Hero Arts.