Here entereth my favorite Monday of the month - HERO ARTS KIT DAY! Those people AMAZE me over and over.
I love that about crafting - even after decades and decades of papercrafting, I still feel like a five year old at Christmas every time I see a new stamp set. It just never gets old. I hope there's something similar in the lives of non-crafters, because it's very fun.
So today the December kit gets released, and I'm guest hopping with their incredible team again with this gorgeous kit - it speaks to my desert-loving heart in a big way.
I'm using both the kit and the add-ons - so remember - the kit can sell out, but the add-ons will not. I will tell you which is which for each project today because I went completely crazy with this one.
You can see the full kit and the add-ons under every card. So let's go to the desert!
Card #1 popped into my head the second I saw the kit. It is just all of my favorite things - the colors and imagery of the desert. Be still my heart!! I used the dunes image from the kit and stamped them in Butter Bar. Then I masked that image off with masking paper and stamped it again, repeating masking and stamping a few times. I watercolored the image with Daniel Smith watercolor - Hematite Burnt Scarlet, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Monte Amiata Natural Sienna and a homemade mix of Phthalo Green Blue Shade and Buff Titanium for the sky. I used that same mix to create rough shadows on the City Skyline Fancy Die die cut that I used to cut the image out of watercolor paper. I cannot lie - I love this card. It's my favorite of today.
I matted it with black and put it on a white card base. The sentiment kills me! (It's from the kit as well - the die is an add-on so it will not sell out.)
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The flying carpet images in the kit cried out for a galaxy background. I did a lot of masking on this scene. First I stamped the two people, and masked them with masking paper. Then I stamped the rug over them. Then I used masking fluid on all three, and painted the background. I sprayed the whole panel with water so the colors would run and bleed. I started with the yellow and then dropped in greys and purples and blues and burgundy - all Daniel Smith. I splattered Dr. Ph Martin's Pen white ink for stars, and then added details with a white gel pen to the larger stars. Then I removed the masking fluid and watercolored the people and the rug. I love what a good listener that guy is :D. The sentiment is from the Dream Big stamp set. (You can see more samples with that set here.)
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Next I decided to make a companion piece to the first card, using the beautiful City Skyline Die. (This is an add-on, so it won't sell out. See the end of this post to see how you can get all the add-ons for a discount!) The sentiment is from the kit. I die cut the skyline from watercolor paper, and then used the negative for a mask, and sponged Cornflower and Soft Pool ink in the background to make those buildings look like they were receding, and also to provide a complementary color for the warm stucco of the watercolored die cut. I used Hematite Burnt Scarlet and Quinacridone Burnt Orange again for that. Then I agonized for like three days over whether to leave the die cut openings showing the background, or make them black - I finally settled on white, so I cut a second piece, and pieced the little bits back in.
Speaking of skylines!! EEK!!! I used the negative space left by the die cut when I cut it out of black for a card below to create a colorful city with the illusion of sunlight falling on it on the left side, by putting a second, white negative cut behind it and a little offset. I used a panel that I had done wrinkle-free distress on with Distress Oxide inks (listed below). The sentiment is from the add-on bundle Make a Wish.
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Then, in an ode to the best television show ever made, outside of Breaking Bad, I had to do an I Dream of Jeannie card.
I sponged Picked Raspberry Oxide Ink into a cloud, and colored my sweet Jeannie as true to the show as I could, even though I strayed a bit on her bottle.
This stamp and die are from the add-on bundle Make a Wish. She and the bottle are colored with the Copics listed below - the last three are the skin combo.
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I had to even it up with the boy version - I kept this one simple - Twisted Citron for the smoke, and just black and white. I love how the Oxides blend into the paper so smoothly. And just a tip - these dies come attached to each other and you normally snip them apart and use them separately. But I saw a great tip from Chris Dayton that I thought I'd share. Only snip apart the ones that are nested inside another shape - in the Make a Wish Frame Cuts, you'd only snip out the lamp that I'm using on this card. Then put the dies face down into your MISTI. place each of the stamp images into the matching die. Pick up all the stamps at once with the lid of the MISTI. Stamp the images, and BOOM - just put the connected dies down in place and die cut them all at once! This blew my mind, and I now regret cutting apart hundreds of dies! What an easy way to use your bundles! Put extra die cuts in with the stamp set. These are the wire snips I use.
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Since I had the Oxides out, I did some wrinkle free Distress backgrounds for the last three cards to highlight the three new beautiful coordinating add-on dies.
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Finally, the images that made me squee when I saw the kit - I put three of them together into a little scene, where it would look like the crazy sky I made was reflected in the water. I wanted this, like the one above to look like you are looking out of an ornate building to something in the distance, and the scale of the images are perfect for that. The die is the Filigree Border Fancy Die, cut from Basic Black.
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So here's what all comes in the kit: 6 x 8" Clear Stamp Set, 12 Coordinating Frame Cuts Dies, 1 Fancy Window Die, 5 ink cubes (Exclusive colors only available in this kit - Sapphire, Teal Topaz, Pink Tourmaline, Ruby, Tiger's Eye), 5.25" x 6.5" Stencil, Assortment of glitter stickers. It's an $80 collection for $34.99. They'll give away a kit to one person who comments on all the blogs in the hop - if you are already a subscriber, or you've bought one so you don't miss it, they'll refund you.
All the add-ons can be bought in a bundle for a discount (10.7% off) - they have some fun Henna Ink pads this month that use can use one of the add-on sets for skin-safe henna designs without all the work!
So I hope you enjoyed those - here is the rest of the hop today - be sure and leave comments for your chance to win this kit!
Yana Smakula
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Wanda Guess
Lydia Fiedler
Amy Tsuruta
Janette Kausen
May Park
Michelle Short
Clare Prezzia
Libby Hickson
Ilina Crouse
Kelly Latevola
Loveyameanitbye.
wow your cards are amazing!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are all fabulous Lydia ... love the city line multi-coloured birthday one the best of all ... then the rest come in second ....hahaha
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing set of creations!! Each one is awesome in its own way! The night sky is something I just cant take my eyes off! Love your work! :)
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with this kit. So many great cards!
ReplyDeleteLive it! Can't wait to get mine as this is my first kit! I also bought some add-ons!
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards! Really impressed with your gorgeous oxide backgrounds. I'll have to purchase the cityscape die now that I've seen what you've done with it. Not a kit subscriber so I've learned to make a quick kit purchase and decide on add-ons later!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, the first card was my favorite, but then they kept going and getting better and better. I am definitely going to get my watercolors out when working with this kit. Thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI think these cards are better than visiting Morocco. They are
ReplyDeletebeautiful and not a street vendor in sight!
Oh my gosh, these are all so beautiful! I think my favorite is the starry background with the good listener, but they are all stunning!! Thanks for the tip on the dies, I'll have to try that with my MISTI.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing so many cards! Love those skyline cards.
ReplyDeleteYou have been busy and it is a magnificent busy. I agree with you, the first card is my favourite, but they are all fabulous.
ReplyDeleteFantastic cards.
ReplyDeleteLove the use of the silhouettes so often.
thanks for sharing.
Wow, Lydia, quite a beautiful collection. Your backgrounds are spectacular. Love the flying carpet card the best.
ReplyDeleteso many ideas - love both cards you used the sentiment 'life is an adventure' - great work
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Unique, Colorful,Intersting, Magical, Mystical, Creative Backgrounds! Barbara Eden of I Dream of Jeane TV program, Aladdin, Arabian Nights would be proud of this kit. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteWow, someone has been busy, love your backgrounds on the first two cards, stunning!
ReplyDeleteWOWZA! Just stunning! All of them! I Love your colors, patterns, designs, and an amazing kit. Love it! You out did yourself. Bravo! Just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI just love your cards. All the colors are amazing
ReplyDeleteWow! just Wow! While I think the card I prefer is the very top one, I must say that all those with the skyline blew my mind. I am seeing this kit with new eyes. Thank for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLydia, what can I say but WOW! I looked at your first design loved it and read through the description of how you put this together. Then BAM you hit me with the next design and I could not choose between them. By the end of your Blog Hop you had me completely in a tizzy I cannot choose a favourite from your selection of beautifully designed cards using the new Hero Arts kit and add ons. I am glad you did use the add ons because I will be able to get these at a later date too. You are amazing! :O)
ReplyDeleteLydia, what can I say but WOW! I looked at your first design loved it and read through the description of how you put this together. Then BAM you hit me with the next design and I could not choose between them. By the end of your Blog Hop you had me completely in a tizzy I cannot choose a favourite from your selection of beautifully designed cards using the new Hero Arts kit and add ons. I am glad you did use the add ons because I will be able to get these at a later date too. You are amazing! :O)
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous and soo amazing and creative!!
ReplyDeleteLove your cards and colors! This kit is awesome! Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe colors are STUNNING! I feel like I just went on a trip to Morocco with you. Thanks for the ride!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of amazing cards, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, your cards are stunning! I now have to add to my order....
ReplyDeleteMAgical and different! Love these!
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards!
ReplyDeleteGoodness did you have fun with this release! Such amazing and wonderfully beautiful cards. You are such a natural
ReplyDeleteI love the variety of backgrounds you created. Each was so beautiful and different.
ReplyDeleteWow, I don’t know which card to comment and which not to, they r all so fabulous and love the vibrant colors.
ReplyDeletelove all the uses for those beautiful backgrounds
ReplyDeleteWow. Fantastic cards. Love your sand dunes and the distress oxide bacgrounds against those beautiful diecuts. Great colors. I love the patterns in this kit.
ReplyDeleteI always love your work Lydia, but you have outdone yourself with these gorgeous cards! And I do love that he is such a great listener... I giggle with every one of your posts.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, love
ReplyDeleteyour gorgeous cards!
This kit is awesome
and love what you
did with it.
Carla from Utah
Lydia, you did an absolutely stunning job with this month's kit. I love your cards!
ReplyDeleteWow! Oh Wow each sample of what can be done with this kit and the add ons is totally amazing. Just beautiful thank your for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat brilliant ideas you come up with this new kit!
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards thanks
ReplyDeleteLove the colorin your cards. So pretty
ReplyDeleteWow!I'm gobsmacked! Kept scrolling and kept being amazed. Beautiful cards. Thanks so much for sharing💖
ReplyDeleteum WOW!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are amazing, as always.
Wow you have been busy creating all these clever and colorful cards.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!! I love all the backgrounds!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and creative cards!Loved how you did the multi-colored skyline one. I also love how you used the negative space for another card, clever. Love the black on the other card as well, very dramatic. Thanks for sharing. ~Gin K,~
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! I can't get over the variety of looks! I love the desert scene especially!
ReplyDeleteLove this kit! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteWow your cards are amazing. I love all of them. Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing collection of cards. Every card is a small work of art. Thanks for sharing all of these with us.
ReplyDeleteWow as always, Lydia. Your work is always stunning. I love all the unique backdrops you created. Such beautiful colors and movement of color!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to get my kit!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many options with this set! thank you for the ideas!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful, fun cards. Your skyline with distress inks is breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteSo many awesome cards!
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous, fun cards Lydia! Wow! I am blown away by this kit! You have showcased it wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteWOW..you have created some fantastic cards!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing amazing amazing. Im loving how you used the oxide inks for backgrounds and they just made the images pop. Wonderful
ReplyDeleteSomeone loves this kit and add ons as much as I do! You have been busy...and your cards are stunning.
ReplyDeleteWow! Clearly you were inspired by this kit! I love me some fun bold oxide backgrounds, but the ones that really take my breath away are the ones you did with the Daniel Smith watercolors. I love how they blend to make such natural and gorgeous-looking backgrounds (even when there are magic carpets in front of a galaxy!). I love how you stamped and masked the dunes; you really nailed how to make them look lifelike. Thank you for sharing so many ideas! This post was a small masterclass for this kit!
ReplyDeleteWow you went to town! You always make such interesting cards with interesting colors. There are many really colorful ones but that first brown card is a great color scheme for this set.
ReplyDeleteWow, so many gorgeous cards! Thanks for all that inspiration
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm totally in love for your breathless cards!!! Colors are amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteLove how you used this kit! Gorgeous backgrounds!
ReplyDeleteLydia, all your cards were amazing however I still love the first one for the magic of each dune. What a beautiful job. love the I love Jennie card as well. All of them.
ReplyDeleteWow oh WOW! What a fabulous batch of exotically gorgeous cards! That negative space skyline is swoon worthy!!
ReplyDeleteI am blown away at how beautiful your cards are! I would never have thought to use the negative space like that.
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards! Love this kit!
ReplyDeleteSo many cards! This is such a unique new stamp set from Hero Arts.
ReplyDeleteYour cards are fabulous! Fun and beautiful. I love that cityscape die. TFS.
ReplyDeleteWow ! That’s such a wonderful variety of card styles you gave us here ! Thank for it. margessw@icloud.com
ReplyDeleteWooow absolutely stunning cards and colouring! I love the 2nd from last card!
ReplyDeleteYour work is always a joy to behold. I never know what to expect when I click on your name, yet I'm never disappointed.
ReplyDeleteGreat cards - such great colors!
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful cards to choose from. I loved them in the sneak preview. The skyline can create such dramatic backgrounds. I like the way you used it in the "Life is an adventure" card.
ReplyDeleteI believe what you published made a lot of sense. But, what about this?
ReplyDeletesuppose you typed a catchier post title? I mean, I don't want
to tell you how to run your blog, but suppose you added a headline
that grabbed a person's attention? I mean "December Hero Arts Kit & Giveaway!" is
kinda boring. You ought to glance at Yahoo's front page and watch how they write article
headlines to grab viewers interested. You might add a video or a related picture or two
to grab readers interested about everything've got to say.
Just my opinion, it could bring your posts a little
bit more interesting.