Category Archives: Hero Arts

Season’s Greetings & Precision Two-Step Stamping

Posted on December 3, 2015 | 1 comment

Much of the midwest was iced in over the Thanksgiving holiday, and I had quite a bit of time to bust out a beautiful new My Monthly Hero from Hero Arts of poinsettias and create some Christmas cards.

I send a photo card to the majority of my list because they are friends and family who live in other parts of the country, and I really enjoy watching far away family of friends grow through the years, so I feel like they enjoy that, as well. I do, however, try to get a large handful of handcrafted cards created for a few local and my papercrafting friends. Sometimes I send the same person both! 🙂

As much as I love the look of two-step stamping, I’ve shied away since unmounted or clear stamps became more popular because I had a tendency to mess it up, even with clear stamps and even with my long-haul friend, the Stamp-a-ma-jig. BUT, I think I’ve mentioned that I bought a MISTI (angels are singing everywhere in stamp land!) a while back, and I really can’t convey what a treat it is to do precision stamping again, especially mass production!

If you are unfamiliar, you can read all about the MISTI here in a Splitcoast Product Review or catch a bunch of YouTube video tutorials organized and catalogued here in their Splitcoast forum. The nuts and bolts is setting up your image, two-step process or sentiment once time and creating any number of beautiful stamped images with the same placement on each and every card.

Above I locked my white cardstock into a set corner position in the MISTI, stamped the full floral blossom on white cardstock, and then laid the uninked 2nd step stamp on top of that bloom. Then, close the lid of the MISTI to pick up the stamp, open the lid and ink the 2nd step and close to impress over the first blossom… all while the white cardstock stays tucked into the corner of the tool for precise placement. These poinsettias from Hero Arts are actually three-step stamping… the easy way with the MISTI.

They say the beauty is in the details, and here are two tips for a little extra easy flair!

First, I added glitter to the center of my poinsettia blossoms with an easy application XPress It Fine Glue Pen from Imagination International. I like the ink-pen sized nib because it let me put glue right where I wanted in the center of each poinsettia. Here you see the size of the tip in comparison to the smallest poinsettia stamp. The glue pens are available in three different sized nibs (pen tip, marker and wide). They seem super affordable, especially considering the amount of glue that they each hold.

Second, the gold edging on the white panel was super simple. I used a the same rectangle die that I used to cut my main panel and the Kirarina Wink pen in Metallic Gold. I simply traced around the inside edge of the die and used a straight edge for the outer metallic ring. Clean and easy to use, no drips or mess. Just the right amount of polish.

I’ll be back with more Christmas card ideas tomorrow!

Have a beautiful Thursday!

1 Comment

Posted in Copics, Hero Arts, MISTI

America the Beautiful

Posted on October 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

Seeing the ‘sea to shining sea’ this week and finishing off my travels for the year with some 2014 Copic planning meetings in the Pacific Northwest.

This is a card that I made for Kittie’s Hope You Can Cling To challenge this week, Scene of Serenity. I tore this page from an old, falling apart hymnal that I bought at the thrift store. I’ve enjoyed using up the pages over the last month or two. This single stamp image is from Hero Arts Silhouette Grass, and I bought it from our fabulous sponsor Simon Says Stamp!

Hope you are having a crafty, crafty week! I’ll be back soon with another Hope You Can Cling To card! Thanks for stopping by!

DING! DING! & fun stuff for the Fourth!

Posted on July 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

Here’s a quick card from my Virtual Stamp Night frenzy a few weeks ago. The challenge was Getting There – and showing a form of transportation. Love the Joy Ride bicycles from Hero Arts. Sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company.

And, I’m not too proud to tell you that I recycled the layout from a previous card… I do that from time to time. If I come up with a layout that I like, I’ll make several bases and keep them in a little bin at my desk. When I need a card for a specific purpose at the last minute (how I usually roll – card at the last minute), I’ll grab one of these bases and make a new central image. Easy-Peasy.

You’re My Cup of Tea – The challenge on this VSN card was Pack Your Bag. I searched high and low for a bag stamp…odd since I’m kind of a bag junkie. This was the best I could do. Again, stamps from Unity Stamp Company – a kit of the month from my collection. 🙂

And, this one…The challenge for this card was Journey Through the Ages…basically, you were to pick an era. This one was easy peasy with no-stamping. I like that from time-to-time. All of the papers and sticker elements are from Simple Stories. I love that line…I buy mine from Taylored Expressions.

Going for the last visit to the orthopedic’s office with my daughter and her broken arm, ironically (considering the first card in this post) from a bike accident back in April. Looking forward to getting the ‘all clear’ for her. 🙂 Then, I’ll be getting ready for a fun Fourth with friends tomorrow! It’s so hot and dry here in Missouri that fireworks have been banned in our county, but lucky for us we have some favorite traditions that don’t involve fireworks. Here are a few favorite photos from last year’s neighborhood parade to put you in the spirit.

Everyone wears a silly hat or rides their own ‘float’ or carries a fun trinket. My youngest daughter usually rides her bike or the 4-wheeler in the parade, and last year my mom and dad carried ‘Uncle Sam on a Stick’ (windsock & PVC pipe). Cute and easy.

Hubby and I in silly hats because that’s just about as ‘costume’ as I get.

Yummy themed snacks… You can find the recipe for these yummy Edible Eagles right here.

One of my running girlfriends has a Firecracker Baby! Her daughter turned 16 last year, so she brought this beauty to our parade. Isn’t that pretty?

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s ~~photo-ops~~ celebrations. Hope you have a wonderful Fourth! See you soon!

Time to Celebrate

Posted on March 4, 2011 | 6 comments

A hard refresh (COMMAND-R for Mac lovers or CTRL-F5 on PC) will ensure you are seeing the latest post on this blog.

Yesterday’s Ways to Use It Challenge at Splitcoaststampers was polka dots…hello? That is easy. My polka dots come compliments of Cosmo Cricket.

Today is my trainer’s birthday. I’ve been working out with her for exactly a year this week. One year. WOW. There is a lot of emotion in saying that, but I will have to discuss it in another post. I’ve learned so much about myself, but for today… I’ll leave it at this: it’s been a great relationship, and I’m so appreciative of the support and encouragement that she’s offered me. I thought I’d send her a little polka-dotted love, and actually since it’s today, I’ll be dropping this off at the gym. LOL. Hey, I can’t believe I’m going to be on time with this one. (I missed a whole slew of birthdays already this year…so if you are one of my January or February friends…I’m going to surprise you one day. Post it up!)

This is another card with that cute Cuckoo set from Hero Arts. I loved putting it together. The Take Note Die 3 is from Taylored Expressions. The Perfect Bracket Edge die – THAT I LOVE – is from MFT Stamps. The background stamp on cream is from Unity Stamp Company. (I went to get the link, but I think it’s retired…so sad. My favorite background stamp ever.) One hint about the swirled rhinestones. This is one set of about 2 1/2″swirls that I’ve cut apart twice to make them flow across the card front. Easy to do and it helps pull the card together.

Lots of fun family activities this weekend, including a visit from my parents. I’m so looking forward to it. I’ll be back in the morning with another fun card, but in case I miss you, I hope your weekend is filled with special moments, enough rest to see you through and a lot of laughter. Hugs!

Stamps: Cuckoo – Hero Arts, Victorian Backgrounder – Unity Stamp Co.
Ink: Real Red – Stampin’ Up! and Chestnut Chalk
Cardstock: Choice Cream – Taylored Expressions, Kraft (of course) and Polka Dots – Cosmo Cricket
Accs: mini rose buds, rhinestone swirl – Zva, label die – Taylored Expressions, card edge die – MFT Stamps

6 Comments

Posted in Hero Arts

I’m still here…and headed to St. Louis

Posted on February 23, 2011 | 11 comments

A hard refresh (COMMAND-R for Mac lovers or CTRL-F5 on PC) will ensure you are seeing the latest post on this blog.

I’d say that it’s February’s fault, but really it’s a lost camera card reader. I’m pretty sure it’s in a hotel lost and found along with my beloved Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Parfum. <insert a sad face here> So, not only am I resorting to iPhone photos, I stink, to boot!

I’ve actually been pretty crafty the last few weeks all things considered. This is just the only thing I snapped a photo of before it left the house. I love this little Cuckoo set from Hero Arts. LOVE. I’ve paired it here with Copics and Cosmo.

Speaking of Copic – I’m taking the Copic show on the road for Standard Certification to St. Louis. I’ll be in St. Louis on Saturday, March 19th, and the class is now open to the public with just a few spots left. Information and applications are available here. Other upcoming spots are Edmonton, Alberta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. You can always be ‘in the know’ for Copic classes in your area by signing up here on the Copic site.

I’ll be back tomorrow with another project that is almost finished. Hope you have a fabulous day!

11 Comments

Posted in Copics, Hero Arts

JiFFy: Thanksgiving

Posted on October 8, 2010 | 8 comments

It’s past time for a fun September challenge with my Just for Fun friends. We’re a little late. But, we’re having fun. LOL

Alli Miles, Carole Burrage, Julie Campbell, Kim Hughes, Michele Boyer and myself, and joining us this month, the fabulous and fellow Show-Me girl, Lisa Silver, have all got some fun stuff to show you.

Here’s how it works! Every month one person picks some random paper and another picks a stamped image. It all happens in a secret, unknown location in North America, and random envelopes start showing up at the players individual homes. When your envelopes arrive, you get crafty. Or in my case, you wait until after your daughter’s volleyball games the night before, and you get crafty.

Carole was the paper picker this month, and she sent us the darling red pattern from Jillibean Soup, the Chicken Noodle line. I believe the pattern is Dried Egg Noodle. Julie was the image picker, and she selected this darling little pilgram girl from Hero Arts’ So Thankful set. I can’t really believe that it’s going to be November soon. I mean seriously, the JiFFY Girls are still stuck in September! Where has the year gone?

My girl is colored with Copic Marker and cut with Nestabilities Lables Nine. I put the whole thing together with this week’s Sketch 301 at Splitcoaststampers. I thought it worked perfectly.

I hope you’ll check out the other JiFFy Girls! (linked above) I know they’ll have some adorable cards to share. They always do.

In case you didn’t know, there is a month of challenges to support breast cancer awareness going on at Splitcoast. It’s our Hope You Can Cling To campaign in support of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Lots and lots of great prizes things like Copic Marker sets, Xyron X Ribbon Create a Stickers, Nestabilities, gift certificates, stamps! Make sure you check it out, still plenty of time to play, enter and win. Just click on the blinkie above!

8 Comments

Posted in Copics, Hero Arts, Splitcoast Challenges

Cutie Pie & some Copic News

Posted on April 2, 2010 | 12 comments

I’ve had this cutie colored and put together for weeks. Not sure why I didn’t post her yet. 🙂 I’m sure I was channeling Jenn with the colors. The image is from Hero Arts and the paper from my favorite October Afternoon. These 2 pieces from their Thrift Shop line – still coming soon – released at CHA.

So, Copic news? I’ve got some. 🙂

April 23rd – I’ll be in South Indianapolis for a certification class. I’m really looking forward to it. Several Splitcoaststampers on the roster, so far, and I’m still twisting arms <insert grin here>. It’s going to be a good time. If you are interested in attending make sure you sign up for information by clicking the green box on the right had side of Marianne’s blog. Nancy (our sweet certification coordinator, and I do mean sweet!) will get the info you need out to you. The next day, April 24th, I’ll be teaching 2 card classes at Sharon’s Crop Studio in Greenwood, IN. Click on that link for class and registration info.

As soon as I return from Indy, I’ll need to be packing bags because Marianne and I are headed to the land down under. I still can’t believe it! We’ll be attending the Scrapbook Industry Australia trade show (their CHA) on Wednesday, May 5th and demoing in the X-press Graph-x booth. Then teaching certification classes in Sydney on May 6th and Melbourne on May 8th. If you are interested in attending, please email [email protected] for more info – the classes are filling quickly!

This is such a special weekend for Christians everywhere. As you go about your way, may you glory in the cross and the Good News! Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!

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