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I was a child who believed in monsters.
It's so funny to see all the memes about Gen X kids and the coronavirus. All of us who spent 18 hours a day outside, drinking hot hose water and exploring dangerous territories unsupervised are amused at the renewed attention to our childhoods. We lived on our imaginations - no TV at my house, and none of my friends, like me, were allowed inside the house during the day. We thrive on our own, and seem to be built for this crisis. We are never happier than when left to our own devices, and because we grew up media-free - we developed passions (aka hobbies and interests) that we just want to focus on to the exclusion of everything else. It was the "rub some dirt on it" generation, and that's what we find ourselves doing now - rubbing some dirt on it.
My friend David and I had pretty vivid imaginations, and probably because of those generational quirks and the terrors of the time - nuclear war, etc. - many of our stories we concocted revolved around supernatural threats of some kind, fueled by the only movie that was ever on TV - Jason and the Argonauts.
There was a small patch of woods within walking distance with a pond. We spent a lot of time there, and I was 100% convinced a witch lived there. On our summer driving vacations, I would frequently scream out that there were bears all around us. We never saw a bear.
Our house was a two-story, and at the top of the stairs, there was a tiny, very hot linen closet with a stack of blankets in it that went nearly to the sloped ceiling. If it was raining, I would climb up to the top of the stack, close the door and read Nancy Drew books for hours, and hear our creaky stairs creak, and wonder what was coming up to get me. If you haven't read THIS story, you need to see why it wasn't just my imagination that made me believe in monsters! They were REAL. (This tiny closet by the way, is probably part of the reason I fall asleep in MRI tubes - they don't bother me at all.)
This all informs my love of all things monster. Some of my earliest blog posts were monster stamps - and I still own every monster stamp I've ever bought. I just love them.
Has there ever been a better time for an activity like this, I ask all you parents turned teachers? I think not!
As a former teacher, what I love about this kit is it's an imagination exercise - not just something to do, like coloring. There are a big stack of coloring sheets in the kit, but the kiddies can then customize those sheet with the coordinating tub of stamps - this month - MONSTERS! So every child will have a completely difference scene for each sheet that they create. That is absolutely the best!
I had SO much fun creating my spooky bedroom scene, which you will see in my video below! I love these little creatures so, so much.
There are three add-ons this month (add-ons will stay in the store) - the coordinating cling background that I show in my video:
Here is the video, (click here to watch in HD on YouTube) and come back below for the full kit and a giveaway!
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Here's what comes in the full kit - the ink & stamp tub of monsters (this can also be purchased separately here), the 12 coloring pages, googly eyes, super washable markers and ink cubes and ten of these sweet die cut monsters with the little eyes stamp! Like the adult kits, these are while supplies last and will sell out, so pre-order yours!
Then these two clear sets - I LOVE THE WILD RUMPUS SENTIMENT in this one.
And then this little bedroom monster set.What a sweet little style these have.
Giveaway: We will give away one $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, September 27th at 11:59pm pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.
Hero Arts & team:
With special guests:
And extremely special guest:
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
Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE
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
Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE
Lydia, I'm smiling :) I read your blog post - twice! Mainly because your story is my own - growing up in times that were carefree and innocent - riding our bikes and playing outdoors all day from sunup to sundown ... the rule was stick with your brother and be home before dark! Now, I wouldn't DARE with my 4 kids! YOUR CARD ,,,,,, you are a master with color! I love the nod to blue (smile!) and the adorable pops of color. Just delightful!
ReplyDeleteOh how adorable is this!!! My 6 year old would LOVE this soooo much!!! I love your scene also!!! Came together super quick!!! Thanks for sharing!! Big Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! Way too cute for words!
ReplyDeleteI love your monsters highlighted in the dark!
ReplyDeleteOMG Lydia—you lived my life! My daddy had to walk my elementary school friend home (about five houses) because we were afraid little green men from Mars would get her! I could never sleep with a closet door opened because monsters lived in there! I played outside from dawn to dusk (without my shoes that I hid in a hollow in a tree). On cold rainy days, I read Nancy Drew or worked on my crafts. Thank you SO for reliving my childhood with me.BTW—that kit is adorable. I would have loved it as a child!
ReplyDeleteSandye
I was right there with you walking down memory lane. Your words evoked many memories of childhood days. I love this monster kit too and your creation. At night can be scary and you portrayed it so well.
ReplyDeleteVery cute!
ReplyDeleteI love your take on this card kit! Very cute what you did with the blue & pops of color! I love this kit, it’s perfect for my little niece! She called me from a video app just so I could “teach” her how to make cards & envelops, after I sent her one of my handmade cards. Since living hours apart she & I have been having so much fun sending each other happy mail! I will have to order this & have it sent to her!💜
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with the kit!! So super cute! Might need to get this kit to play with next time I see my nephew he loves monsters!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! And so much fun...
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute idea, love the monster under the bed!
ReplyDeleteCute scene with easy coloring.
ReplyDeleteGreat card! And I always love your stories! We didn't have TV until I was 12, so I grew up spending days outside and reading books at night with a flashlight. Stephen King was one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your story. Your card is just amazing, love the spooky scene.
ReplyDeleteIt definitively was a better time growing up as a kid when I was younger - life was not so complicated - we developed our own imagination by being sparked by reading books - such as Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and oh the outdoor fun- bikes, trikes, neighbor outside activities, climbing trees, making forts, I could go on and on---- this is a fun monster kid for kids of all ages - going to make-believe land and enjoying the ride with coloring and google eyes - glow in the dark ink - TFS your story and art! Have a blessed day!
ReplyDeleteIf monsters can be lovely, then your scene truly is! Love that blue. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteAHHHH how cool! LOVE THE GLOW EFFECT!
ReplyDeleteI love how you made the monsters glow in the dark.
ReplyDeleteI love how you made the monsters glow in the dark.
ReplyDeletewhat a fun card- love it
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!
ReplyDeleteAwesome creation, just a little spooky. Great kit!
ReplyDeleteYou are so inventive and creative. GREAT idea to make the monsters GLOW
ReplyDeleteYour glee about monsters and spooky things worries me maybe just a little ;) Fun project!
ReplyDeleteSo much fun!
ReplyDeleteNice look at an idea for the kit.
ReplyDeleteA great set with so many uses! I just love the wonderful glow your room scene has!! So cool! Thanks for the great inspiration! Take care! :)
ReplyDeleteFun post and I love your blue monster bedroom. So cool from one lover of blue to another. Hugz
ReplyDeleteHey lil red dude! Cute cute glowing cute! Still smiling. Thanks. I love the add ons do much. Fun! 🦀🦖🐛🐦
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing the whole kit on your video- it’s so cute! I love the glow on your monsters!
ReplyDeleteKudos to hero Arts for coming up
ReplyDeletewith a kit for the kids. Stuck
away from friends, this will be
a fun way to while away the hours.
Love your card. thanks for
sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Fun scene. this kit is great for the imagination.
ReplyDelete