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Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Hero Arts Winter Catalog Blog Hop + Hurricane Laura

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I was all ready for Christmas cards today until I saw our storm is now supposed to be a cat 4! What the heck? That escalated quickly! Never a dull moment in 2020! 

But I am in the mood for winter and Christmas cards. Based on Maddie's fur and what our birds are doing, I feel like we are in for an early and cold winter here. Maddie put on her undercoat earlier this month, which has never happened this early. Really strange. And we are expecting temperatures in the low 90s this week which is also quite odd for this time of year. So who knows - we may be hip deep in snow soon!

So pull a chair up to the fire because I have some pretty stuff for you to look at.

I've been waiting months to show you this first card because I'm constantly on the hunt for perfect Christmas angel stamps, and I have never had the perfect angel die before now. I cut out several of this - I started with white cardstock, but it had so much more impact in black on my crazy background. I created that with a credit card and Golden Open acrylics - just scraping it on white cardstock. One of my fave, simple mixed media techniques.

After I die cut the angel, I used my circle infinity dies to cut a circle of gold glitter paper out to put in the opening of her little aura. Then I used the same glitter paper to cut out the Joy ornament, and I snipped the sentiment out of it. This would be the PERFECT mass production holiday card - so simple - you could quickly create full sheets of the background and cut it down.



Dies just make holiday cards better. For the next one, I did a liquid watercolor background to put this beautiful wreath die on. Then I used a handheld punch and the same glitter paper to add glittery berries. The sentiment is from Comfort & Joy Messages.


For the next card, I thought I'd start with orange cardstock and do ink blending with a darker orange for the sky for something different. Then I paper pieced the village die cut with white and green - this is a cool die because you can make a layering tri-fold edge card with the town! So neat. 



Are you noticing a die theme? I TOLD you dies make quick work of Christmas cards - especially if you have a large UFO pile filled with backgrounds like I do. 

At the beginning of the pandemic I started doing daily lives, and one day I did Marabu ink backgrounds with their rainbow additive, which is sparkly and makes an iridescent rainbow, and Libby said - save that for winter cards - so I did! I used the snowflake die to cut an opening in my card front and put it over the background. The sentiment is from Gift Peek-a-boo Infinity Parts.


Last, but not least - I did a New Mexico Christmas card - I thought these Cozy Town dies looked like buildings in the desert so I added warm oranges and yellows and some Ombre Sunshine sequins. The sentiment is from the set that matches the dies



Trumpeting Angel Fancy Die
[ HA ]
Joy Ornament Fancy die
[ HA ]
Greenery Medallion Fancy Die
[ HA ]
Comfort and Joy Messages
[ HA ]
Tri-Fold Edge Village Fancy Die
[ HA ]
Snowflake Medallion Fancy Die
[ HA ]
Cozy Town
[ HA ]
Cozy Town Frame Cuts
[ HA ]
Gift Peek-A-Boo Infinity Parts
[ HA ]
Watercolor - Hero Arts
[ HA ]
Golden Open Acrylic Sets - BLICK art...
[ BLIC ]
Marabu Alcohol Inks - Set Of 14 June...
[ JGG ]
Neutrals Glitter Paper Pack - Concord...
[ C&9 ]
CH304 Ombré Sunshine Sequins
[ HA ]
My Sweet Petunia
[ MSP ]
Pre-Cut & Scored Cardstock
[ CTC ]
Sakura CLASSIC WHITE Fine Line 05...
[ SSS ]
Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473
[ SSS ]
Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White
[ GNK ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for...
[ BRG ]
Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding...
[ AMZUS ]
Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675
[ SSS | ART | AMZUS ]
Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC
[ ELH | SSS ]
Crafter's Companion GEMINI...
[ SSS ]
Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring...
[ SSS ]
Essentials by Ellen Storage...
[ ELH ]
Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets...
[ CHC ]
XL Stamp Storage Pockets
[ ELH ]
Mermaid tidy towel case and glue...
[ ETS ]
Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045
[ SSS | CST ]
Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies
[ ART ]



Want more inspiration from this beautiful catalog? Stop by and see my friends! And - if you leave me a comment you'll be entered in their giveaway of 3 $50 gift cards! Leave a comment by Sunday, September 6th, and it will be announced over HERE the following week.






Loveyameanitbye.



CURRENT COUPON CODES
15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.
10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10
5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5
10% off sitewide at Arteza here with code Understandblue6 through 7.31.2020
Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

102 comments:

  1. I really liked how you did your village in black! Thanks!

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  2. Oh, man! Love that snowflake medallion. :)

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  3. I love the selection of dies in this new winter release! Perfect for your beautiful backgrounds, Lydia :)

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  4. Those background color combinations are stunning!! Thank you so much for sharing.

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  5. The village card, it would work as a Halloween card, just change the sentiment!

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  6. Beautiful cards. Really love the house with the festive reds. Thanks so much for more creative ideas
    Hope you and yours survive this Laura with little damage. Stay safe.

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  7. Beautiful cards. Love you house skyline with the bright Fall sky. Hope Laura leaves you with little damage. Stay safe.

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  8. These are lovely! I can't pick a favorite Lydia...but the village is in my cart. ;)

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  9. Adore each of your cards {duh!} and best of luck with the hurricane!!

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  10. Absolutely STUNNING cards, girl!

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  11. The snowflake medallion creates amazing cards. Love it!

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  12. I love that background on the Joy card! (I mean I love all your backgrounds, but that one is sticking out to me today.) Stay safe!!!

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  13. Wow! That orange sky ❤️! These are beautiful and I remember the backgrounds from your lives.

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  14. Glad to see you in in the hop. Love your work and these cards are just sweet. Always a very artsy style. Always awesome layouts. My wish list is growing. Praying for my Houston friends & Texas during the unpredictable storm approaching.

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  15. Wow! They are all amazing! Vibrant colors on all of them and they make me swoon! The orange and black is a show stopper. So clever to just add a bit of ink blending to colored cardstock for more drama. I forget to do that. Your Mexican Christmas is a wow! What is happening to me, this is the first year that I am totally about Fall colors.

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  16. What amazing cards. I love the angel. Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration.

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  17. Love your cards! I hope you are all safe from this storm.

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  18. All of your cards are just gorgeous!

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  19. Gorgeous backgrounds! I LOVE the yellow one!

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  20. Gorgeous backgrounds!Your mixed media techniques create such a vibrant and beautiful backdrop for the dies you used. Just stunning!

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  21. I love the angel card! So bold and striking.

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  22. Wow, I really enjoyed your backgrounds. And the solid colored dies make the background the star. I love your New Mexico Christmas card.

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  23. All of your cards are amazing. Love the backgrounds! Thank you for sharing. Stay safe!!!

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  24. Wonderful cards. Love the variety.

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  25. You have been wonderfully busy with variety of cards with your wonderful colors, inking & more.
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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  26. Saw hurricane Laura had 125mph winds, saw eye & development on tv news, I'm in N TX. Where r u? Be safe.
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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  27. Love all your different backgrounds!

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  28. I love the card that says “Merry Christmas “ the best. Nice colors

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  29. Awesome cards!!! Love the variety of designs...and the ink blending!!!

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  30. My favorite is your last card. My brother lives in Arizona and this would be perfect. Thanks.

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  31. Beautiful cards! Love this release.

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  32. Your designs are always so amazing. I am in love with everything about your angel card, and you’re right: that trumpeting angel die is unique. Thank you for the wealth of inspiration in this post. Stay safe from Laura.

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  33. Pretty cards!!! I really like your last one, the colors are gorgeous!!

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  34. Lovely cards, the little gold touches on your first two cards are amazing!

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  35. This catalogue has so many interesting images and I love your organic imagination!

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  36. love how those UFO backgrounds get to shine

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  37. Very creative & colorful! Awesome cards.

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  38. These are all great - and I love all your backgrounds. Beautiful blending

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  39. Amazing backgrounds you make these cards look so simple and easy to do

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  40. Beautiful cards, Lydia. I agree that the angel is a really great die.

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  41. These are fabulous card designs, love the colors too!

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  42. These are such beautiful cards.😍😍

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  43. Loving all the beautiful background colors!

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  44. Such a fun and festive release. Thanks for all the inspiration!

    Carol B

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  45. Such a great cards.
    Hugs, Chantal S

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  46. Incredible projects! Wow...Absolutely stuffed with creative inspiration!!

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  47. OMGosh each of your cards are SPECTACULAR!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!! I have never thought to use acrylics in that way, and your liquid watercolors are so vibrant, I will DEFINITELY have to put those on my wish list now. Thanks for the much needed inspiration :)

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  48. Wow! Your color choices!! Love them all. Well done1

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  49. Love the silhouettes.
    Make a striking card.
    thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  50. Fabulous cards! Super cool backgrounds and wonderful designs.

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  51. I was having a hard time picking a favorite until I saw the blue background snowflake window card. Gorgeous mix of blues!

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  52. Gorgeous cards! I LOVE that village die cut and the Snowflake Medallion dies--fabulous cards!

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  53. Beautiful cards! Your backgrounds are awesome!

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  54. Your backgrounds are stunning! All of your cards are gorgeous!

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  55. Wonderful cards! I just enjoyed seeing all your fantastic backgrounds. I really like the 1st one with the angel the best.

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  56. Wow! Such bold, bright, happy colors!!! I really love the snowflake medallion card! Hope you weathered the storm well. Stay safe!

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  57. Lovely cards! :) I really like that fun background on the first card.

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  58. Oh, my. What a lovely selection of cards.

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  59. WOWZA! Absolutely beautiful creations! So much imagination & inspiration! Thanks!

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  60. Your cards are gorgeous. Those backgrounds are stunning.

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  61. I love the backgrounds are your very artistic cards! Great new release from Hero Arts!!

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  62. The street has to be my favourite.

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  63. Ooooh, I'm going to try your credit card background this weekend, that looks so cool! Your New Mexico card is so simple, and brilliant. All of your cards rock, actually.

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  64. Wow Lydia you have us so many examples which means loads of inspiration for me. Thank you sooo much! Well done and I hope the weather doesn’t get too extreme for you. 💗

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  65. Love how you used those backgrounds

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  66. Wonderful bunch of cards. I like that you did some rather, 'non-traditional" colors for your cards. The dies are quite fun.

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  67. LOL Lydia! I have a lot of UFO’s too! But none like your first card with the paint, I’m going to have to try that. Love all your cards! ♥️

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  68. Very nice cards! I like those multi color backgrounds! Those Medallion dies are pretty darn nice and on my list.

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  69. I love the houses with the little Christmas trees.

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  70. I am really like the wreath cards. So simple yet elegant

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  71. I'm just loving these amazing new dies! Your cards showcase them wonderfully!! Love all your cards!! Thanks for sharing this great inspiration! Take care! :)

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  72. These cards are amazing Love the colors you used.

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  73. Your backgrounds are amazing, just love all the color combinations.

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  74. Wow! What a gorgeous variety of cards! I love the colorful backgrounds on your first two cards!

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  75. Wonderful assortment of Christmas cards! i really like that angel!

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  76. Such beautiful Christmas cards! Wonderful colors...
    Thanks so much for sharing.

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  77. Nice examples on how to add color to the designs. Good share.

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  78. I wanted to also say that I just love your colors and layers ~ and I have to try out that rainbow additive!! It looks amazing and amazingly fun!!!

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  79. I'm praying you weathered the storm all right-- crazy stuff! Your cards are beautiful-- hard to pick a favorite, but I have to say your backgrounds do beautiful justice to these spectacular dies. Thanks so much!

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  80. Darling cards! Such a wonderful release!

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  81. Love all the backgrounds on your cards.

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  82. My favorite is your orange background with village die-cut. You made me rethink of how to use dies for quick cards. As for the hurricane, we got lucky here that it veered away from the town but we still had tornado warnings. Definitely a challenging 2020!

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  83. My favorite is your orange background with village die-cut. You made me rethink of how to use dies for quick cards. As for the hurricane, we got lucky here that it veered away from the town but we still had tornado warnings. Definitely a challenging 2020!

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  84. Who knows what the weather might bring. At least you’ll have fun making cards. I really liked the wreath card. Great colors!

    Thanks!

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  85. I love what you did with the village die.

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  86. Hi Lydia :) I hope you weathered Laura okay. Great idea on those dies and a great tip to keep in mind!!! I just bought two more! Terrific cards! Thanks for inspiring me :)

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  87. Thanks for all the wonderful background tips and techniques. It all looks so easy when you create these amazing cards! The die cuts do help to make the creative process go much faster! Thanks for sharing!

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