VIDEO: The Light From Within + Brussels Sprouts Recipe

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It's kit day! YAY! And the new kit is Hawaii themed and gorgeous! I'd advise speed if you want this one. The reaction to the countdown has been quite something, so check it out here before reading on. Our vacation to Hawaii was my very favorite vacation ever. The temperature there doesn't vary between night and day - there can be such extreme temperatures here - that it was so perfectly relaxing - it was just mid-80s all the time on Oahu. There were these awesome street chickens that hung around by the Starbucks I went to, and the little, ultra casual restaurants were such fun. The hiking was great, the beaches were stunning - and because we didn't go near Honolulu after arrival, there was no crowded tourist feel. I'd live there in a heartbeat.

But I digress. 

There are two AMAZING color layering sets this month that I used together on my first card. The first is this gorgeous waterfall Heroscape, which you can see in its original intended use here. But I used it with the color layering Volcano Heroscape set, and turned the water into lava flows! I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I used Dandelion and Neon Orange ink for the lava portion, and then I die cut the waterfall, stamped and die cut the volcano from the volcano set in the same colors and ink blended the sky and die cut clouds from the volcano set with all the same colors. The beautiful, retro Vintage Paradise set girl was colored with Graph-it markers, die cut and I used the sentiment from a brand new set from their Unity collection from the Spring catalog. (You need to see this catalog - pay special attention to the frogs and the cute Lifestyle collection.)

My project with the main kit is the subject of my video today! It's an adorable set of recipe cards for classic Hawaiian cocktails! The images from the main kit are stamped on each card and colored with Graph-It markers - (coupon code good for the whole site in footer). I paid for a recipe card template here and then just modified it. For the belly band, I created the background as I show in the video with a distressed inking technique with Pool Party and Splash Hero Hues, and cut it and some kraft cardstock with the same Circle Infinity die, and added the colored and die cut images from the main kit and glued that scene to the belly band. Here's the gift set. 

And here are the cards - Rum Runner, Jungle Bird, Zombie, Navy Grog, Hurricane and classic Mai Tai.

Here's the video, then come back for one more card and the giveaway!

Finally, I had to do a "blue Hawaii" card with this stunning Aloha cover plate and the beautiful girl from the Vintage Paradise set. The background is actually just my brayer cleaning sheet from a recent Gel Press live I did in my class group. Dies like this make cardmaking so simple. 

So here's what you get in the main kit this month - remember the sand embossing powder?? IT'S BACK! Along with hibiscus washi tape - eek!

And here are all the add-ons. 

As usual, they'll be giving away a shopping spree, so be sure and leave me a comment - have you been to Hawaii? If so, tell me what you loved. If not, tell me which island you'd visit first!

Here are all the products I used today. Come back for a yummy brussels sprouts recipe!

February Kit [ HA ] Get Them All February Add-Ons [ HA ] Waterfall Heroscape [ HA ] Volcano Heroscape [ HA ] Hero Arts Clear Stamps EMPOWERMENT... [ SSS ] Water Ripples Bold Prints [ HA ] Vintage Paradise [ HA ] Aloha Cover Plate [ HA ] Hibiscus Flowers Bold Prints [ HA ] Island Fruits Bold Prints [ HA ] AF428 Splash Reactive Ink - Hero Arts [ HA ] AF426 Pool Party Reactive Ink - Hero... [ HA ] DI199 Nesting Circle Infinity Dies... [ HA ] Graphit — Marker Universe [ MRK ] 2021 Spring Catalog - Hero Arts [ HA ] My Sweet Petunia [ MSP ] Pre-Cut & Scored Cardstock [ CTC ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White [ GNK ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring... [ SSS ] Storage Envelopes, Medium 25pk,... [ ELH ] CheckOutStore Stamp & Die Clear... [ CHC ] Extra Large -50 pk, Avery Elle Stamp... [ ELH ] Mermaid tidy towel case and glue... [ ETS ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ] Beach Car Fancy Die [ HA ] Hero Lifestyle Luau Accessories [ HA ] HIbiscus Fancy Die [ HA ] Waterfall Heroscape Frame Cuts [ HA ] Volcano Heroscape Frame Cuts [ HA ] Vintage Paradise Frame Cuts [ HA ]

Our most famous chef in town at one of my favorite restaurants - Uchi - was nice enough to share his recipe for brussels sprouts at a social media event I was invited to there. Literally up until the very moment I ate them that night, I LOATHED Brussels sprouts and was committed to never ingesting them, but I trust Tyson Cole completely, and so I tried them. Oh my word are they good. I've made them several times since - and warning - it's a bit of a process, but it is well worth it. If you want to make the sauces ahead of time, that will save you some time. But holy heck are these good. You'll have TONS of sauce left over - particularly the chili sauce, so plan to have egg roll bowl, spring rolls or cold noodles that week as well. HERE is his recipe, with my modifications. You do what you want - you're a free being! :) 

Looking for a happy place to see and share cards? Jennifer McGuire has started an upbeat and happy Facebook community! Come check it out here! 

The rest of the team has some inspiration for you today - here is the list! Be sure and leave comments for your chance to win!

Hero Arts
Channin Pelletier
Dana Joy
Daniel West
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Libby Hickson
Lydia Fiedler
Maria Willis
Michelle Short
Mindy Eggen
Pocono Pam
Seeka

Special Guests: 

Nichol Spohr
Jenn Shurkus
Mitsyana Wright

Loveyameanitbye.

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