Hi there! It’s Tuesday, but the My Monthly Hero release for September is happening today due to the holiday… and it’s such a great release! You should have arrived here from Debi Adams, and your next stop is Ilina Crouse. This month’s kit is absolutely stunning, featuring one of the most autumnally-iconic flowers: sunflowers.
This month’s kit features: • 4″ x 6″ Clear Stamp Set, • Coordinating Frame Cut, • 2 Fancy Word Dies, • 5 Color Layering Stencils, • 1 Ink Blending Brush, • 4 Ink Cubes (Butter Bar, Caramel, Root Beer, Key Lime Fizz). The kit is valued at $87, but is available for only $34.99! I love the amount of value that you get with these kits. If you love the Hero Arts My Monthly Hero kits, you can always subscribe to ensure that you get your own kit every month. I have two projects to share with you today, so let’s get started with the details!
My first project features some of the main elements of the September kit, including that absolutely stunning sunflower bouquet. I began by cutting a panel of white, Copic-friendly cardstock down to slimline size (3.5″x8.5″). I then stamped the image in a cascade down one side of the card front using Intens-ified Black ink. I used my Copic markers to add lots of and shadows to the beautiful illustration.
Once my coloring was complete, I used Hero Arts Blending Brushes to softly blend Butter Bar and Soft Apricot inks in the opposite corner of the sunflowers. I love how it looks like the sun is shining brightly on the sunflowers and they are turning their faces to it!
In order to highlight the pretty sunflowers and provide a focal point for the greeting, I die cut a black frame using the Slimline Infinity Dies from some Pitch Black cardstock. I didn’t want to cover up the pretty, sunny ombré blending too much, so while the “thanks” sentiment die from the main kit and halo were still attached, I die cut the greeting, reserving the center of the “a” and adhering it in the negative space. This technique allows the pretty, sunshine-y blending to be highlighted in the sentiment! To round out the “rule of threes” for the black accents, I added some black gemstones to add a touch of shine.
My second card features the new Autumn Messages stamp set, paired with the recently released Halloween Icons dies! I die cut the little scene using Papya and Pitch Black cardstocks, as well as the Holiday Sparkle and Basics Glitter Papers.
On a plain white A2 card base, I blended a little textured background using Soft Apricot ink using a stencil that I now realize is retired. (Whoops!) You could achieve a very similar look without the stencil. I just wanted a little halo to give some background to my Halloween scene. I adhered all of my Halloween die cuts to the stenciled area using both liquid and foam adhesive to help add dimension to the flat die cuts. I love how the different textures of the glitter paper and the plain cardstock work together to help keep the die cuts from blending into one another!
I stamped the greeting from Autumn Messages onto a rectangle of white cardstock using Intens-ified Black ink, then added it to the card front using foam adhesive to help it stand out even more. The final touch was to add some clear gemstones, which I think look like bubbles rising from the cauldron! It’s a kinda-cute-kinda-spooky Halloween card, which I am totally down for!
Well, that’s all for me today! To celebrate this month’s release and all of the autumnal goodness it brings, Hero Arts is having a giveaway!
We will give away one $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, September 12th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.
Your next stop on the hop is Ilina Crouse. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!
Your Copic coloring is gorgeous! It really elevates the look of the stamp and shows another way to use it.
What a beautiful slim line card
Love the sunflower card and the Halloween card is really cute. Thanks.
I love the colours! Very beautiful cards!
Love the black border on your sunflower card! What a great idea!
Amazing cards! Love the pop of color on your sunflowers and the simplicity of the Halloween one. Great color in the background of it!
Your halloween card is so cute. Love the sunflower card. very elegant.
Wonderful framing on Sunflower creation. Halloween is around the corner.
Melissa
“Sunshine HoneyBee”
Love your cards!
I’m so loving that Sunflower Bouquet! This is a wonderful kit — those layering stencils look amazing. Wonderful cards (especially that gorgeous slimline!
Love the slim line card. Beautifully created!
Gorgeous sunflowers! I LOVE these cards!
Your cards are wicked good.
So beautiful!
Creative and lovely!
I especially love your slimline sunflower card!
Loving the Halloween icons! Can’t wait to see more Halloween makes! Goodie goodie goodie!
Love the Sunflower Slimline card! beautiful coloring.
The slimline cards is very beautiful!!
Your coloring is stunning, neat idea to frame the sunflowers with smaller black rectangle
The Halloween card is the bomb. Simple, fun and beautiful.
That black border certainly is very striking. It gives me ideas for a slimline card.
An amazing kit and wonderful inspiration!
Your sunflower card is lovely and the Halloween card is so cute! Lovely coloring and layouts. Thanks for sharing your ideas and inspiration.
Dear Emily
Both cards are really elegant and I have a small question for the middle of the sunflowers how did you create it to show there is depth.tc stay safe
Oooh, wonderful bold look on your slimline sunflower card and that Halloween design is adorable!
That black kitty is super adorable!! Love your cards!
Just getting into slimline cards and the sunflower card is a fine example and who does not love something so wicked cool?? Great samples and thanks for sharing.
The sunflower card is beautiful, but oh my – the add-on card is ADORABLE! On my way to browse this month’s add-ons, now!
Wonderful cards Emily! I love the slimline sunflower card. It shows off these stunning sunflowers perfectly! Thanks so much fo the great inspiration. Stay safe! 🙂
Great copic coloring
Dear Emily – Both these cards are spectacular! I love the sunflower one and (IMO) you got the colors exactly the way I would color them. I like less rust and more gold and deep yellow. I also love the shade of green for the leaves and the brown center. Your Halloween card is darling… I don’t usually make Halloween cards, but the things available this year for Halloween are so good that I just might be swayed to do so.
TFS your prodigious talents with all of us!
Lori S in PA
Love those cards you made, beautiful. Love your copic coloring
Gorgeous cards! The slimline card is so beautiful! Wow! I’m always so impressed with your work!
Fantastic cards! I love all the sunflowers on the slimline!
Love the look of the sunflowers on a slimline and the subtle ink blend on that one. That card makes me happy to look at.
Love love your sunflowers card! Gorgeous!
Your Halloween card is just so cute. I LOVE the cat and cauldron.
I just love the slimline sunflower card. So excited to get the kit and make my own.
I love the enhancing black border! Great slim line design. I really like the simplicity of the “spooky” card. Those long process cards can be spooky in their own right. 😄 Thank you for the inspiration.