Hero Arts 45th Anniversary Blog Hop - Day 2 + BIG Giveaways!

[Links to products used are at the bottom of this post]

45 years and going strong! I think it would be hard to find a card maker who hasn't owned at least one and likely many Hero Arts products. I was so thrilled to be asked to help to celebrate this achievement. Today's blog hop starts on the Hero Arts blog so if you want to start at the beginning click here. And to see all of the new Summer catalog products?  Click here. 

If you know me you know that I have a mild obsession with Fiona the baby hippo at the Cincinnati zoo. So when I saw the From The Vault animals set I knew I had to use the hippo image.

To create the card front background I used Bristol Smooth cardstock with Distress Oxide. I like this paper for ink blending, especially when you are trying to create a streaky look. It sits on top of the paper more than other cardstocks. I used the Picket Fence Studios life changing brushes with Distress Oxide inks (Mermaid Lagoon and Twisted Citron) to create the sky and grass, applying the ink side to side. I spritzed some water on it and dabbed it with a paper towel to get the spots on it. Then I set it aside to dry.

I stamped the hippo and bird on Neenah Cardstock and colored them with Copic markers. I used the coordinating die to cut out the images. There is a second birdie on the card, facing a different direction. To create the mirror image I stamped the image on acetate using black ink. You have to be careful that you go quickly straight up and down so the image doesn't smear. Then I pushed some white cardstock down on it. When I lifted it up I had a soft image and could trace over it  There are better ways to do this for a more perfect image but since it was such a tiny one I didn't mind drawing it in. Then I colored it and fussy cut it.

I wanted to use the new Hero Arts Nesting Wood Frame Dies to add some focus to the card. I added it to the card front using foam tape for dimension. I stamped a greeting from the stamp set on white cardstock and adhered it and the hippo to the card with foam tape. Then I used some Connect Glue to add the 2nd birdie.

The card front was adhered to a white card base. I thought it just needed another little touch so I used a t-ruler and thin black pen to draw lines around the outside edge. And this card is done!

My second card really takes me back. 

This Real Poppy wood mount stamp is like quite a few I had from Hero Arts when I first started stamping. And I remember that Jennifer McGuire taught how to stamp an image and then keep stamping it without applying new ink to get lighter and lighter images. So I did that here. (Truth be told? The green I chose was too light and was basically invisible beyond the first stamping so I reapplied each time). I think it is a beautiful effect and it's also so fast!

All I did was stamp the flowers and then add a greeting from the Hero Arts Acts of Kindness stamp set. A little colored mat to coordinate with the flowers, some foam tape and a white top folding card base and the card is done.

Here is a list of all of the designers on today's hop.

Hero Arts
A Blog Named Hero
Amy Kolling
Cheiron Brandon
Clare Prezzia
Donna Mikasa
Jana Millen
Jenn Shurkus
Kathleen Graumüller
Laurie Willison 
Lisa Spangler
Lydia Fiedler
Nichol Spohr
Scrapbook & Cards Today
Scrapbook.com

 

And giveaways!  Wow:

• Hero Arts: 3 $145 Gift Certificates, 3 $45 Gift Certificates
• Altenew: $50 Gift Certificate
• Art Impressions: $25 Gift Certificate
• Ellen Hutson LLC: $50 Gift Certificate
• Gina K: $100 Gift Certificate
• Jennifer McGuire Ink: $100 Hero Arts Gift Certificate, 5 Share Handmade Kindness goodie bags
• Lawn Fawn: $50 Gift Certificate
• My Sweet Petunia: 1 Prize Bundle (Original MISTI, a set of Creative Corners, a Cut-Align, and a bar magnet)
• Online Card Classes: 5 spots in the Stamp Happy In Good Company: Hero Arts class
• Pink Fresh Studio: $45 Gift Certificate
• Scrapbook & Cards Today: 3 copies of Scrapbook & Cards Today Summer 2019 Issue
• Scrapbook.com: $50 Gift Certificate
• Simon Says Stamp: $50 Gift Certificate

Winners will be drawn from people who leave comments along the blog hop over the three days - comment all three days for more chances to win! Comment by Sunday, June 2 at 11:59pm PST, and we will announce the winners on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

Comments

[Cheri Johnston]

Heehee! I love hippos!!! I just finished mine yesterday (although I should have been packing because I'm moving!) I love him!

[Victoria Banaszak]

What great cards! I love that hippo too!

[Amber Scholtz]

What a great hippo card! The little birdie sitting on top of it is a nice touch.

[Teri Wilson]

Hi Jana! Such sweet cards! I love the hippo with the frames. The 💗Card is just darling! Thanks for the reminder that simple cards can be beautiful!

[Beth Harple]

I agree the baby hippo is very cute, will have to add the stamps and dies to my wish list.

[nancy f]

Cute cards.

[SHARI CZERWINSKI]

Beautiful poppies! Love the hippo too :)

[Julia D.]

Love your cards! The hippo one is adorable and I like the inked background. The flowers are very pretty and clean.

[Jackie Parkins]

That little hippo is adorable and I love the poppies.

[Debbie Rumpza]

Great cards! I love the framed hippo... it's adorable.

[Karthikha Uday]

Fantastic cards! I love the framed design on the first one a lot! :)

[susie sonnier]

Such pretty cards

[Kelsey Thomas]

That hippo card is so cute!

[Mel H]

With our dear Fiona here...I love the hippo card!

[Anushree Vaish]

Adorable cards!!

[Laurie Schlichter]

The vibrant hippo card really appeals to me. I like the wood frame dies, too.

[Renita]

I love the hippo card, it seems like a frame inside a frame. Great idea

[Lynn Hill]

I love the Poppy card! Thanks for sharing.

[Denise Bryant]

Beautiful cards! I love that sweet hippo, and the poppy stamp is so pretty! I had a lot of the wildflower stamps too! Still beautiful designs that I use often!

[Ann]

Love the wood frame; I have one on order and can't wait to use it!

[Debbie Walter]

I'm a Fiona fan as well!! Great card.

[DebSelby]

Cute card with the hippo and I love poppies so I like both cards.

[Sheri D]

I remember and in fact think I still have the balloons shaped in hearts. So pretty

[G. Angelos]

Like both card!

[El Ivens]

Very cute cards, love the flower stamp, colors are gorgeous.