My eye doctor has always marveled at the length of my eyelashes - they actually get in the way of those little "this is better or this is better" lens things you have to do when getting your annual vision check and I have to get glasses set that don't touch my eyelashes.
Well it turns out that the gene for long eyelashes is shared with the gene for allergies! Not even kidding a little bit. Read about that here. Do you have allergies and extra long eyelashes? This is also one of the genes that people with celiac disease have too. We are complicated creatures.
Anyway, I have a super lazy technique video for you today with this month's Hero Arts kit which is adorable. It has a sweet, sort of French/Valentine's feel, but is good for the whole year.
I spend a lot of time in my allergy doctor's office (I have to sit there for 20 minutes after I get my shots) looking up inspiration for cards, and one of my favorite things to search for is styles of art. Sometimes I search "styles of modern art" or "historical styles of art" and I just have 20 minutes of pure bliss with cubism and impressionism and who knows what.
One style I love is street art sketching. People who can plein air sketch scenes amaze me - I'm really not good at drawing - but there are a few ways to capture that feeling with stamped images, and this kit image is perfect for recreating that style, so I have a video for you for my first card with that simple technique.
I always love changing up the way a stamp looks - you know that about me. Here's the video.
But they also have a few add-ons that spoke to my brunch loving heart.
My sister and I used to go to this amazing brunch place called Olivia that sadly is now closed. It was a local farm to table spot that had its own chickens, grew its own veggies and was packed every weekend. The restaurant business is hard. Tip generously and patronize those places you love - we miss this place. It was especially special because I had a lovely brunch with my Splitcoast peeps - Lori and Jenn and her husband Israel there.
Were you the kind of kid that really believed that fairies and witches live in our forests?
I most DEFINITELY was, and my friends and I spent a lot of time in the woods, indulging our imaginations. At the end of the street, there was a little wooded area with a pond, and I imagined all sorts of things inhabited that place. It created just the right amount of mystery for my mystery loving mind. Also, my favorite books were not the dark, Germanic horror stories CALLED fairy tales, but stories with more benevolent characters like actual fairies.
So it should come as no surprise to you that this month's Hero Kit has my name written all over it! It reminds me of the earlier midsummer's night kit which I also loved. This type of imagery is just my favorite.
After I stamped her in Acorn, masked her and created the background, I removed the masks and watercolored her. You can't see here, but I used Pearlescent Shimmer, Iridescent Gold and Duochrome Saguaro watercolor on her wings, hair and dress and she's super sparkly. You can see that below.
So she is from the main kit, which looks like this. Isn't it gorgeous? You get the stamps, the dies, these shimmery papers, Moonshine Confetti and a Sakura Clear Glitter Pen. But get it fast - the kit is while supplies last. Look at the little dandelion dress on the top left fairy.
BUT WAIT - there's a stunning fairy frame die. I LOVE these frame dies - they make beautiful cards so easy. I used a Gel Press Print from this video and just glued the die cut to it and stamped the sentiment from the main kit. What a WOW. Love the dragonfly, bird and butterfly tucked in there.
Then - I saw something in one of the stamp from this stamp set. The set was upside down on my desk, and I looked over and saw a mountain range in the upside down branch image. So I stamped that and the moon in embossing ink, embossed them with clear embossing powder, and watercolored over them with Daniel Smith watercolor. The sentiment is from the main kit.
Now back to dandelions! I created a background like the one above, and this time I stamped the little girl from this sweet new Stamp & Cut in Nocturne on top of it. The sentiment is from the same set.
And last but not least - the SWEETEST add-on. I love all space-themed sets, as you know - and Hero has my favorite ones in all the land. I created a galaxy background with Daniel Smith Watercolor, and stamped the Big and Little Dipper images in Unicorn ink, and then die cut that with the Oval Infinity Dies. I used my white gel pen to add other stars. I stamped the cat and dog in Intense Black and cut them out with the matching dies.I cut a second piece of watercolor paper with the same dies, and then cut that piece again to form the little patch of earth they are sitting on, which I then watercolored with Green Apatite Daniel Smith Watercolor. Then I stamped the sentiment from this set in Unicorn.
And as usual, Hero is giving away this month's kit or a refund if you're a subscriber. Just leave me a comment with your favorites from this release to be entered to win!
And now - the video for my background! Enjoy & thanks for stopping by! Be sure and check out my sweet friend Julee's blog for more inspiration.
