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.
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!
I also think the duo pictured above would make great Get Well, Thinking of You or Sympathy cards.
Let Your Creativity Soar
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.
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! 🦋✨
Are you ready to let your creativity shine? Today, we’re making a fun project that will have you glowing—literally! We’re going to create a stenciled and die-cut handmade card themed “Shine Bright.” Perfect for birthdays, encouragement, or just because, this card is sure to brighten anyone’s day. And I wanted to mention that the Shine Bright Collection was created by the great Carissa Wiley!
Colorful Analagous Stenciling
This card came together quickly!
I used the Layered Shine Bright Stencils to create my base, and I have to say the stencils lined up perfectly! I used Lemon Drop on layer 1, Creamsicle on #2, Fruit Punch on layer 3 and Taffy with the final stencil. I preplanned my colors and labeled my chosen color on each stencil so I wouldn’t get confused during my stenciling. I used Best Ever Craft Tape to both label my stencils and secure them to my craft mat.
Next I die cut my gorgeous sentiment. I die cut the black shadows three times and glued the layers together for nice dimension. I die cut the letters once from white cardstock. I used my Crystal Katana to pick up and place the letters.
The holiday season is upon us, and that means one thing: it’s time to spread some festive cheer! What better way to do that than by creating your own holiday cards with the NEW Hero Studio October Release.
Plus a Special Promotion!
For just a couple of days, Hero Arts is offering a special 20% off Promo code on past kits: June – September. This includes the 5 kits and the extras that were released during those months.
Helpful Links (Be sure to use the Promo Code: CATCHUP20):
I’ve created two cards with the October Card Kit and I have to say the process released my inner Elf! And those fun Peppermint Candies are included in the kit too! I love all the winter themed stamps and there are also TONS of great sentiment stamps. This is a stand alone kit that contains just about everything you need to craft LOADS of cards!
I stamped, colored with alcohol markers and die cut my elements. For the Christmas Tree card, there is an additional outline die you can use so your tree has loads of dimension. With scissors, I cut three triangles that I stacked and glued behind my die cut tree. Once my card was assembled, I added peppermint candy embellishments, which really “frosted” my card.
KIT INCLUDES: • Clear Stamp Set, 6″ x 8″ • 16 Coordinating Dies • Hole Punch Die • Tree Window Die • Holiday Treats Words Cling Stamp, 6″ x 6″ • Washi Sticker Pack, 22 pieces • Embossing & Watermark Ink Cube • 5 Sheets Each of Kraft, White & Red Cardstock, 5.5″ x 8.5″ • Gold Embossing Powder, 0.5 oz • White Embossing Powder, 0.5 oz • Peppermint Clay Embellishments (love these so much!)
Kit Cost:
$46 with Subscription + FREE SHIPPING!
$49.99 One Time Purchase (while supplies last)
The Whole Studio:
And, I’d also like to recommend THE WHOLE STUDIO, which includes ALL 5 Kits at a wonderful savings. The Whole Studio is $120 with subscription (or $138.95 One Time Purchase). That is $72 off!
I chose 6 vibrant inks and starting with Lemon Drop, I worked my way around the stencil using my XL Blending Brush. I blended a bit at each color change.
I hope you will join us for the Blog Hop! Each blog will feature a Holiday Theme Project (or two or three!). Be sure to leave a comment so that you are in contention for a $50 gift card.
Halloween is creeping around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to brew up some crafty magic with die-cut Halloween scene cards! The September Hero Studio Release is bursting with fun new products + an exciting Blog Hop, so hop along and gather tons of inspiration from some incredibly talented crafters. Let’s dive into the cauldron of creativity and get started!
Witch’s Kitchen | Monthly Mini Clear Stamp and Die Set
Next, I stamped all the stamp elements, colored with alcohol markers and then die cut. Then, I played around with layouts until I liked my spooky little scene. A little magic potion anyone???
I started by ink blending my background with Taffy, Thistle and Purple Galaxy inks. On a different white card panel I stamped my elements using Intense Black ink. I stamped the black several times for a dark silhouette. I stamped the moon with Lemon Drop and Creamsicle, blending a bit on the stamp before stamping. To “light” my windows, I used a yellow and pale orange alcohol marker. After I completed my little scene, I decided my card needed a frame, so I die cut one from Pitch Black cardstock using my Wood Frame Infinity Dies.
$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 two Extraordinary Extras, 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.
The Whole Studio ($120 with subscription or $138.95 one-time purchase price)
Now it’s time for the Blog Hop! What’s a Blog Hop, you ask? It’s a fun, crafty event where you can hop from one blog to another, gathering inspiration, tips, and tricks from different crafters. Each blog in the hop will feature a Halloween project (or two or three!), so you’re sure to leave with your cauldron overflowing with ideas!
Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, September 8th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.
Here’s how to join:
Visit the Next Blog in the Hop: Check out the list of participating blogs (links below), and hop to the next one – Lydia Fiedler – to see what spooky creation she has brewed up!
Leave a Comment: Show some love to your fellow crafters by leaving a comment on their posts. It’s a great way to connect and share the Halloween spirit!
Creating die-cut Halloween scene cards is a fang-tastic way to get into the spooky spirit and share some handmade love with friends and family. Plus, participating in a Blog Hop is the perfect way to find inspiration and connect with the crafting community. So, grab your dies, fire up your die-cutting machine, and let’s make this Halloween a crafty one to remember!
Happy crafting, and don’t forget to join the Blog Hop! 🎃👻
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
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.
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.
The Whole Studio ($120 with subscription or $138.95 one-time purchase price)
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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
I then used Splash, Blue Hawaii and a tiny bit of Indigo for the water. I used my Blending Brush on the stamp to soften the color transitions prior to stamping.
I ink blended Fawn ink for the sand, using a heavier hand along the edges.
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!
The Whole Studio (Includes all 5 kits! $120 with Subscription. $138.95 One-Time Purchase, While Supplies Last)
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.
Today, the Hero Arts Creative Team is thrilled to offer you a sneak peek into their newly re-imagined subscription cardmaking kit called Hero Studio Card Kit of the Month. Each month will have a fresh beautiful collection of handpicked supplies that are sure to ignite your creativity. The kits will go live the first Monday of the month so you can view the entire kit on Monday, June 3rd at 2:00 PM PST. Or, you can pre-order today! Until then, here is your sneak peek….
To celebrate, Hero Arts is hosting a Blog Hop and Giveaway that you can find HERE.
As we countdown to the premiere, I wanted to share two sunset cityscape tags I created with The June 2024 Studio Card Kit. Liquid Watercolors make the MOST vibrant backgrounds, which is what I wanted for this project.
Crafting the Urban Skyline: A Sneak Peek into Hero Arts Studio Card Subscription Kit
My Process:
I started by using Liquid Watercolors to create my sunset background. I put a sheet of Luxe Watercolor Paper on my craft mat, brushed the paper with water and then painted bands of color with Dandelion, Orange and Brights Pink liquid watercolor.
I dried my panel and repeated step one.
I put my sunset panel on my Sticky Mat, attached the cityscape stencil to my background with washi tape and applied Onyx Pigment Ink with a Small Blending Brush to create my building silhouettes.
Using the next stencil, I applied Gold Wax to simulate lighted windows. While the stencil was still in place, I smoothed the wax with an old gift card. Work quickly so the wax doesn’t dry on the stencil. This will give you a good result when you peel back the stencil. I did let the wax set on the stencil while I finished my tags, but I soaked it for a bit and the wax washed right off.
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.
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.
Thanks for stopping by….it was so nice to see you!
There’s something undeniably captivating about a vintage valentine, where every delicate stroke of ink and carefully chosen sentiment carries a timeless charm. This new House Mouse Candy Hearts rubber stamp had a very retro look to me, so I went with an old-timey mixed media vibe.
Easy One Layer Vintage Look Mixed Media Valentine Tutorial:
I started by creating my background. I masked off a border and then used two shades of tan Distress Ink to ink blend my background. (Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap)
With the masking tape still on the cardstock, I then used the same tan inks to stencil and stamp bits and pieces on the background. Most of the stamping was “second generation” where I stamped first on a scrap and then onto my background so that the pattern would be subtle. I also added light stenciling to the background. Cathe Holden has some great stamps and stencils that I added here and there. I also used a bit of stamping with white pigment ink, but it is hard to see in the photograph. To finish I added a touch of Gold Wax to a few places around the border.
Carefully remove your masking tape. I used Post It Tape, which is the best!
After my background was dry, I stamped the Valentine Mouse with Versafine Black Pigment Ink.
PRO TIP: For a crisp look, keep the stamp in your Misti stamping platform and restamp the image after you are done coloring. You won’t believe how much this one step will elevate your project!
I used Faber Castell Polychromo Colored Pencils to color the mouse and candy hearts.
Remember to restamp the image and let dry.
The cute sentiment is included with the stamp set and finishes off my one layer valentine.
Hello! My post today features a favorite new Spellbinders collection from Cathe Holden called Christmas Flea Market Finds. Cathe included stamps, printed die cuts, paper and stickers and they are SO fun to create with!
I created three mixed media tags with a vintage vibe. For all three tags, I created backgrounds using ink sprays. I mixed Ocean Waves aqua, Shimmer Spray for extra sparkle and a little water spray to slightly dilute the color. I dabbed my tag in the mixture, dried and then repeated two more times.
Next, I worked on my layouts. I knew I wanted to stencil grit paste on one card and I wanted all of the tags to be distressed.
I love the texture and interest that the grit paste adds to the tag.
Two of the cards also include stamps. To get the vintage-look inky blue, I combined denim and brown inks. White paint splatters were added to two of the cards and I thought they added a wintry look.
When I create this type of mixed media project, I love to pull out all my supplies and just start playing. I made a huge fun mess!
kennyscards.com 