But I wish that French had come easier to me, because I love the IMAGERY of France, and would love to be able to go and feel like I could converse. I love all French cooking shows that had as their background the beauty of southern France, or Paris. I love Jacques Pepin to the moon and back.
My friend Dana and I together probably have the world's largest collection of Eiffel Tower stamps in North America. I simply cannot resist buying anything with Parisian imagery, as you will soon see. Everything about it speaks to me - the little poodles, the glamorous women, the bakeries and cafes, the nighttime city scenes - it makes for great, fun and uplifting cards. You can see why so much incredible art came out of, and into France.
So what you are about to see (and I know I say this all the time, but dang it people keep coming out with my favorite things!) is my favorite Hero kit EVER. I squealed so loudly when I saw it that I'm pretty sure they could hear me at Hero HQ.
Not only is it a French set, which I'd have to have, but it's a FASHION PLATES SET!! You can interchange heads, bodies, legs, outfits of the girls to build the scene you want - OH EM GEE.
Remember my Fashion Plates card? Those things will always have a place in my life. I bonded so hard with that particular art supply as a kid that we will never be separated! So I felt like a kid again when I got this kit.
Here's the first card I made with it.
Then I stamped the sentiment from one of the addons (with Audrey Hepburn builder stamps in it - squee! and a cat! squee!) onto the background. This is cold press watercolor paper so both the girl and the sentiment had to be stamped multiple times in the MISTI.
I had so much fun doing this it was ridiculous. I love stamp sets that I play with the second I get them in the mail. This was most definitely one of them.
So speaking of France and art, this paper layering ballerina add-on just screamed Degas to me!
I colored it with Luminance pencils after die cutting it - with paper layering dies, you can leave the shape as part of the card front, and then just pop up the dimensional parts - so much fun.
I did it on pastel paper and just kept it simple with no sentiment. It will just be a thinking of you card.
I enjoyed that process so, so much. You can buy these pencils in open stock (link above) if you want to slowly buy them - they are AMAZING. So buttery and pretty. The colors I used on this are: Middle Cobalt Blue, Turquoise Blue, White (I always layer the colors on top of white), Anthraquinoid Pink, Golden Bismuth Yellow, Apricot, Burnt Ochre 50%, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Ochre 10%, Sepia, Genuine Cobalt Blue.
Jana was nice enough to let me in their kit hop today, and of course they're giving away a kit as well. They do have a subscription option now, so you don't have to worry you'll miss one anymore.
Here's what comes in the kit - everything else is add-ons which means they will be available after the kit sells out.
I'm excited to see what everyone has done with this. I've deliberately avoided peeking before today because I wanted to be surprised. So I'll be hopping with you. Be sure and leave comments for your chance to win! These are all incredible artists.
The Hero Arts Blog
Jennifer McGuire
Wanda Guess
May Park
Yana Smakula
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Amy Tsuruta
Lydia Fiedler
Ilina Crouse
Heather Ruwe
Libby Hickson
Michelle Short
Jennifer McGuire
Wanda Guess
May Park
Yana Smakula
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Amy Tsuruta
Lydia Fiedler
Ilina Crouse
Heather Ruwe
Libby Hickson
Michelle Short
Loveyameanitbye.
Both of your cards are fabulous.. but the ballerina one! Oh my!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Love the ballerina. So elegant!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are beautiful. What an awesome kit.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!! Love these pretty feminine images :) thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteLove the detail on these die cuts! 😍
ReplyDeleteBoth Cards are fabulous!!! I may need to get that ballerina die!
ReplyDeleteWonderful job, as always!
ReplyDeleteGoodness that ballerina is just beautiful. Love the tower too. Nice techniques. Thanks for sharing and inspiring
ReplyDeleteI loved the fashion plates when I was a little girl, and you are right, it reminds me of this, beautiful cards! I can not wait to receive my kit.
ReplyDeleteLove the cards you have made with this kit!
ReplyDeleteMagnifique!
ReplyDeleteHaha! You can't enable me on those pencils because I already have them (thanks to last year's enabling on those adorable cup coloring you did)! But this set oui! Love what you did and now I need this Hero Arts set! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove this kit, looking forward to trying it. Thank you for sharing your beautiful ideas with us.
ReplyDeleteTake care
Tracy
Absolutely stunning designs. Your use of the kit contents is so creative, love!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat cards! Love how you used the new kit!
ReplyDeleteLove your cards. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your cards and this amazing new kit!!!
ReplyDeleteOH WOW!! Fabulous cards! Love the first with the girl standing next to that awesome tower. Then I scrolled down & saw your ballerina card...so beautiful & exquisite...I'm blown away!!
ReplyDeleteOK, Lydia...did you intend to make me drool? Both of your cards are so lovely...and I'm craving a croissant right now! Seriously...I L💗VE what you did with this gorgeous HA Kit. TY!👏🏻
ReplyDeleteOMGGGGGGSQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! Enabler!!!!!! ****going to buy now!!!!
ReplyDeleteAdding shading with a white pencil was a brilliant idea! It makes the tower really pop. And I really like that you used the ballerina!
ReplyDeleteHahaha, you made me laugh so hard while reading your post, people around me were giving me odd looks! Is it wrong that I also feel giddy just thinking of playing with all the fashion pieces of this set?
ReplyDeleteLovely cards. TFS.
ReplyDeleteLove your projects! The coloring is great and I like the background of the Eiffel Tower card. Thank you for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteLove your card Lydia. I adore this kit and I was excited like you when I saw it. (Don't tell the other kits but I think this one is the best so far.)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous cards! Love your coloring.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome kit!!!
Ooo The ballerina die cut is lovely!
ReplyDeleteThe little blue dress reminds me of one I had in elementary school!
ReplyDeleteYou're so talented!!!! The ballerina card is so simple, yet beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking cards,
ReplyDeletelovely colors and
stamping.
Carla from Utah
this set reminds me of when i was a kid and designed clothes for my paper dolls - so fun!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Your ballerina is a work of art! Love her!
ReplyDeleteI love your ballerina cards. Nice colors.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, as always, Lydia! Thanks for sharing your talents and giving inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful - I especially love the shadow-y background you created. So fun to see these lovely colored pencils in use. Definitely on my "wish" list for sure!
ReplyDeleteLove your cards! This set is darling!
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards. Great colouring on the ballerina. I'm in love with the April My Monthly Hero Kit.
ReplyDeleteWow both stunning!! Love the visual dimension you've created on the first one!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I love this kit so much, each card I see on this hop, I get more excited to get started with all of the stamps and dies, ohhhhhhh!
ReplyDeleteLove these cards...so wonderful. Thank you for inspiring me to create, too.
ReplyDeleteLove these! Super cute!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards, oh la la! Love the white Prismacolor pencil technique for coloring - the Eiffel Tower is stunning, awesome watercoloring!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh!!! I love those fashion plate toys. I might have to get them too. i"m supposed to be saving money, but what could i do??? I went to gary and showed this to him, reminded him how much i love paris, how i speak french, and how i much i was influenced by the french fashions (made so many paper dolls as a child) I have totally blamed this purchase on you lol. I had to order that wonderful eifel tower die and yes almost all of the other add ons (in the spirit of saving money, i didn't order the stencil, i know i'll be sorry later, you can say i told you so. lol) I cannot wait for this set to get here! I'll be a kid again. and on top of that, I am getting bariactric surgery in 2 days, so i will be thin again, and now instead of looking up recipes, i have been looking at what is in style in clothes. lol can this be any more perfect? I really love love love the cards you made and the blue card with the fashion plates. gosh, i wish i could figure out a way to stamp with them too. any ideas, thought? lol hugs, treen
ReplyDeleteAmazing job on the ballerina
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny that you love it so much. I must see if you'll draw my name, so I too, can squeal with delight😂
ReplyDeleteYOU are fabulous! I love these cards!
ReplyDeleteJust stunning, Lydia!! The white shading on the Eiffel Tower diecut is so striking!
ReplyDeleteI can't even tell you how much I enjoy getting your blog posts, it's like you are in my head!! So I was so happy to see you on this hop and literally laughed out loud at the saying... tell then in German because life is also terrifying... I am dying!!
ReplyDeleteI too love all things France and after the hop, plan to go make my purchase! Your cards are gorgeous, as always. ☺
Hi Lydia, I absolutely love your cards! The watercoloring was done so spot on, so pretty and loved your colored pencil card too - beautiful! I'm glad you used Luminance I have been wondering about those pencils! Thanks for the share!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love your card, it's watercolored so beautifully! The ballerina is lovely as well! So excited to get my kit! Wonderful job, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove, love love that ballerina card! I can't wait to make one for my little granddaughter in ballet!
ReplyDeleteLove your cards. Can't wait to get this kit.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! I love your ballerina card. The coloring is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWow Lydia your Parisian card is beautiful but the ballerina took my breath away. I debated purchasing the die as an add on and I think you sealed my decision. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYour cards are FABULOUS, Lydia!! I ordered this kit and several add-ons right at 10am when the link went live. I think this may be my most favorite Hero kit yet, too!!
ReplyDeleteLove the shading snd depth you added to the Eiffel Tower. Two very pretty cards!
ReplyDeleteI really like what you did with April's kit! Your coloring is wonderful too!
ReplyDeleteLove the card !!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!! And techniques with pencil and watercolor.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work
ReplyDeleteLove these cards! I absolutely adore the first card especially, and how realistic the setting and the eiffel tower looks!
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards. Love your background ideas.
ReplyDeleteLove your ideas! This kit and the add-ons are fabulous. Thanks for sharing on the blog hop!!
ReplyDeleteLydia your card is sooooo very gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOH I adore your beautiful Eiffel tower and french girl. They looks so fabulous!! I had to look twice at the ballerina die because you are right-it does scream Degas!! Wonderful creations!!
ReplyDeleteLovely cards. The ballerina is really sweet. Great job..
ReplyDeleteI love the ballerina! Your style is unique.
ReplyDeleteI love these artsy, creative cards. The ballerina is so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS enjoy reading your posts and your projects are absolutely AWESOME. Love today's cards...TONS.
ReplyDeleteLove what you've done with it,can't wait to play!
ReplyDeleteI like the coloring on the jeans. It certainly looks like a fun kit to play with
ReplyDeleteFantastic card! I ordered the kit. Now I can't wait to get it.
ReplyDeleteThese are so awesome! Love the ballerina!
ReplyDeleteLove your card and the new kit!
ReplyDeleteWow Lydia! Both of these cards are gorgeous! I never had the fashion plate but I loved playing with my friends and I have loved paper dolls for as long as I can remember and I collect them. I LOVE this kit and the add-ons are just as amazing! I thought I could live without the ballerina but after seeing your simple card on pastel paper, I think I might have been wrong. Thanks for sharing your creative genius!
ReplyDeleteWow, those are beautiful cards! Well done. I like the new kit :) Thanks for the post!!
ReplyDeleteI just love your cards! I love the attitude of the girl in the first one and the ballerina is just beautiful. This set is so fun!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards! I especially love how you colored the Eiffel Tower!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning cards Lydia! Not only are the images just too fabulous, you showcased them to perfection. Then I went and followed your link to the fashion plate card. OMG, you noted all of my very favorites fashion plates, Lite Brite, the Spirograph and Super Elastic Bubble Plastic. I think I squealed out loud (I don't squeal)! Leaving your blog with a big smile - thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe ballerina is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteLove the coloring. This is
a unique stamp and will be
welcome by many.
The Eiffel Tower die is
fantastic. Can't wait to get
it.
thanks for
sharing.
Very lovely cards! I enjoyed your post about learning languages and collecting Eiffel Tower stamps - partial to them too and ordered the die from the add ons to the kit.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your excitement for this set - I feel the same way!! Crossing my fingers I get picked.. I want it so badly!! Love your beautiful cards, especially love your watercoloring work on the first one :)
ReplyDeletelove the layering!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are GORGEOUS!!! The ballerina especially is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteLove both your cards! (And the story that accompanied them!) ;)
ReplyDeleteVery well done,Lydia, and as usual I like your sense of humour!
ReplyDeleteYou always create the most amazing art!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful. Thank you. I love the kit.
ReplyDeleteGreat cards. I just love the ballerina cards.
ReplyDeleteI love today's cards, I especially like the colouring you added, i thought you used pastels! And I read back a few posts and the fashion plates post. Yes I had them over 30 years ago as a 14 year old and loved them! I wish I had kept them lol . My daughter is studying fashion and costume design so I guess it "rubbed" of, pun not originally intended, but I left it in :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!!! Both your cards are really glamorous!!! I'm definitely in love for your Ballerina!!!
ReplyDeleteHow do you use your study of languages day to day these day? Just curious. I'm in awe of anyone who is able to learn languages so easily. I took French as an undergrad and today can probably count to 10 or maybe on good days can say the names of the months.
ReplyDeletelove the scene welcome to Paris. love the colors it makes you want to be there right now
ReplyDeleteLove the Eiffel Tower. Great card.
ReplyDeleteI am so glade I ordered the ballerina die wasn't sure what to do when I got it but now I do your card is fabulous!
ReplyDeletebeautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! Love the perspective on the first card!
ReplyDeletewell dang, when I seen some of the other peeks in my email I kind of skimmed them thinking, I do not need more people stamps. and you got me with the remember your fashion plates... I did not look close enough to see that it had possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if I'm gonna thank you for sharing that cool-ness or not yet lol
I really love what you did here!
😊😊😊
ReplyDeleteLove the ballerina card,totally gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!! Love the sky and the ground of your first card! It totally makes the card!! That Eiffel Tower just pops. Love it!!! First ballerina I've seen on the hop and she is gorgeous!! You've convinced me that I must have it (I've been debating with myself)
ReplyDeleteWow! Amazing coloring on that Eiffer Tower. It really looks as if it had light shining on the side.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your write up as much as your beautiful card. Thank you for making me laugh.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this kit! I love it when games I played with as a kid are turned into an adult games ;) Thanks for sharing your elegant French lady and ballerina, SUPER design! xx
ReplyDeleteI love these cards they are gorgeous and this months card kit is amazing.
ReplyDeleteBoth of your cards are stunning. I am also a lover of all things France, and you did a great job of showcasing it.
ReplyDeleteAwesome cards. I like how you added the highlights to the tower.
ReplyDeleteI love your Eiffel Tower card - this kit looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI always thought French was a romance language of course I've been wrong about a shit ton of stuff before so I could be wrong. Love your cards. The woman standing in front of the Eiffel tower with her arms akimbo reminds me of a story - my mom thinks that's called sass and when I explained what akimbo meant she asked what language that was.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
Fantastic, like mini pieces of art! Creative Blessings, Tracy x
ReplyDeleteOh beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE your cards! Love that Eiffel Tower! You are amazingly talented! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome project. The sentiment is perfect
ReplyDeleteWow! I love the ballerina card, and you made it look just like a Degas painting. I love your style
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tower card and such an elegant ballerina for your second card!
ReplyDeleteLove your cards ! And love what you have to say always !
ReplyDeleteTres beau mon ami (very beautiful my friend). I used be fluent in French when I was in high school (2 years of high school french and one year in college). For me, I was able to pick French up and ended up being teacher's pet in high school! Your cards are gorgeous and I just love this kit. Kim in Austin.
ReplyDeleteGreat cards with a Parisian influence. I've got several Eiffel Tower stamps, too, but probably no where near your collection.
ReplyDeleteLove your coloring on both cards, but the ballerina is so life-like. Beautiful designs. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you...this kit blew me away! I paused for about 10 seconds before snapping it up! And I too love all things French...even though I'm mostly Irish! LOL
ReplyDeleteLove them!
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful - love your cards and love the new kit.
ReplyDeleteWhat you've done for both cards is gorgeous but I especially love the ballerina. So very artsy! And I also loved fashion plates too and was so excited to see them again!
ReplyDeleteLove your cards, especially your Degas Ballerina! Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. what a neat monthly kit!
ReplyDelete~Gin K.~
these are stunning. you are very talented!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards!
ReplyDeleteAnd hello from a Czech reader, oh well, living in "unnatural" Germany, hehe)
Beautiful backgrounds !!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card! I love the creativity of this release! Thank you so much for the inspiration!
ReplyDelete-Miranda
TheCraftyCritter.com
As always, you totally cracked me up as well as blew my socks off, Lydia! I absolutely adore both of your cards (hesitant to call them simply cards since I'd immediately be framing them if I was lucky enough to receive one LOL), but I have never seen anyone use a paper layering die like this ballerina! Seriously...cannot choose a favorite! 😍
ReplyDeleteLove the artistic look of these, and the shading on that Eiffel Tower looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteboth cards are super, super beautiful, but your second card is stunning! is my favorite on this hop!
ReplyDeleteLol it is your fault after ordering most of the kit I did not order the eiffek tower and the ballerina. i had a couple of stamp sets. Then I saw your ballerina. Had to put another order in. Its sll your faukt. LOL. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI wanna be you when I grow up!!! A-MAZ-ING!!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome coloring on your beautiful cards! Love this fabulous kit! The ballerina is amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe fun you had making these cards shines through so clearly! They're just lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo fun!
ReplyDeleteI love the colors and such lovely cards. Great job and this kit is worth the price I love it.
ReplyDeleteLove both your cards! Ooh la la!
ReplyDeleteWonderful new kit! Great cards, I especially love your Eiffel Tower card!
ReplyDeleteLovely cards - your ballerina is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLovely cards! I am interested in the pencils you used.
ReplyDeletebeautiful layout. i can't wait to start with my kit. but of course i have to visit all the blogs for inspiration before diving in.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, the new kit is full of fun and versatile images that can be mixed and matched. Great cards!
ReplyDeleteSuper chic creations! Love the elegant ballerina!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your post...made me laugh. Beautiful cards. I love the details and techniques you put into them.
ReplyDeleteLove the ballerina in this release! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous cards!
ReplyDeleteYour coloring is spectacular...love what you did with the Eiffel Tower, makes it POP!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing
ReplyDelete