Two Toned Backgrounds + Giveaway + Sale

At my retreat on Memorial Day, I taught a super duper fun Distress Oxide technique, inspired by Jennifer McGuire's micro-glaze technique on glossy cardstock.

Photo paper does fun things too with just baby wipes, and so that's what we did in my class. It's a very easy technique to do with your favorite stencils, and I have a quick video on it at the end of this post. Oxides are such magical inks. What's hilarious is the day we were having this class, my friend Chris Dayton actually did a similar technique! It goes to show you that everything Elizabeth Gilbert says in Big Magic is true - those creative ideas swirl around people who are engaged in creative pursuits, and people just grab them when the time is right. I HIGHLY recommend that book.

On this first card, I used this stunning stencil (nearly everything I'm using is 20% off this weekend, so I'll include all that info below) and this gorgeous hello die on top of the background, along with the magic sequins. You could crank out 100 of these in no time, and each one would be unique - it's perfect for holiday cards. This type of technique is my go to - splashy backgrounds that you can just add a quick sentiment to for a real wow.

It works with larger openings in stencils too - so on this nextcard I used this scrollwork stencil for a looser pattern, and added this gorgeous cityscape die cut, and the sentiment from this floral stamp set. I used the new StazOn pigment ink for the sentiment because the photo paper was both slick and chalky, so that's definitely the ink for that job! I added the same sequins for a little sparkle.

It's such a fun textural contrast and so easy to do. My five minute video proves it! :)

Stay tuned below for a big sale, a giveaway and tons of inspiration!

Hello Message Fancy Die [ HA ] Hero Arts Clear Stamps, Little... [ ELH ] City Skyline Fancy Die [ HA ] Glorious Petal Stencil [ HA ] Hero Arts Stencils, Scrollwork -... [ ELH ] Jungle Frame, Hero Arts Dies - Ellen... [ ELH ] Hero Arts | Ellen Hutson [ ELH ] Amazon.com: CanonInk Glossy Photo... [ AMZUS ] Piano Black, StazOn Pigment Ink Pad -... [ ELH ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Fired... [ ELH ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Wild... [ ELH ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad,... [ ELH ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Spiced... [ ELH ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Worn... [ ELH ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad,... [ ELH ] Like Magic Sequin Mix [ N&T ] Sakura CLASSIC WHITE Fine Line 05... [ SSS ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Crafter's Companion Gemini Junior -... [ ELH ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH ] MISTI Stamping Tool [ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Essentials by Ellen Storage... [ ELH ] Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets... [ CHC ] XL Stamp Storage Pockets [ ELH ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ] Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond... [ AMZUS ]

So there's an awesome blog hop today, combined with a big sale on Hero Arts products and a giveaway from my friend Ellen Hutson. If you haven't met her, I hope you get the chance to do so at a stamping event - she's a doll. She has the best laugh and I've never seen her not smiling, which is pretty much my favorite. She's that type of girl who laughs all the time but will tear up instantly if she empathizes with someone.

Anyway, here's the deal. She will give you 20% off Hero Arts this weekend if you shop here and use her code below. Click the graphic to go right to the sale.

But, there's more! A lot of amazing designers and my friends are giving you inspiration for that Hero Arts shopping cart, and if you leave comments, you'll be entered to win one of three $25 gift certificates to her store. You have to leave your comment by June 28th to be entered, and winners will be announced on her blog!

Enjoy the art, and I hope your weekend is peaceful and filled with joy.

Loveyameanitbye.

Adelina Starace  https://estudio206.com/

Caly Person  https://calyperson.com/

Ardyth Percy-Robb  https://ardythpr.blogspot.com/

Janette Kausen  https://janettekausen.com/blog/

Carly Tee Minner  http://www.carlytee.com/

Ilina Crouse  https://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/

Emily Midgett  https://emilymidgett.com/

Libby Hickson  http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/

Kelly Griglione  http://notablenest.blogspot.com/

Julee Tilman  https://poeticartistry.blogspot.com/

Lisa Spangler  https://sideoatsandscribbles.wumple.com/

Debi Adams  https://debi-adams.com/

Michele Ferguson  http://icardeveryone.blogspot.com/

Laurie Willison  http://soapboxcreations.blogspot.com/

Sandy Allnock  http://sandyallnock.com/blog/

Amy Kolling  http://stamp-n-paradise.blogspot.com/

Therese Calvird  https://lostinpaper.com/

Lydia Fiedler  https://understandblue.blogspot.com/

Julie Ebersole  https://julieebersole.com/blog