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Sixth Street Sundries

Emily Midgett

my monthly hero

December 2018 My Monthly Hero Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Happy Monday! It’s the first Monday of the new month (how in the world is it already December?! Gah!), so that means a new My Monthly Hero kit is now available for purchase, and the Creative Team and some special guests are celebrating with a blog hop! I know many people are still creating all things Christmas, but the folks at Hero Arts created an absolutely gorgeous fairy kit that is sure to get your mind off of the red and green for a bit! You should have arrived from Caly Person’s blog and your next stop is Ilina Crouse’s blog.

Here’s the main kit and all of the extras included:
The kit includes: A 6×8 stamp set and coordinating dies, 4-5.5×8.5″ sheets of beautiful shimmer card stock, Moonlight confetti, and sparkly gel pen. The value of this kit is $65, but you can purchase for the price of $34.99! These kits frequently sell out, and once they’re gone, they’re gone… so don’t wait and miss out! You can also subscribe to make sure that you get first dibs every month. The kits will begin shipping from the warehouse on Friday, December 7th.

I have two projects today, one using the main kit and one with a couple of the add-ons, so let’s get started with the details!

For my first project today, I chose to create a little meadow scene with that darling mouse from the main kit! (Isn’t he just the cutest?!) I began by stamping some mushrooms, dandelions, and the little mouse on some hot press watercolor card stock using Intense Black ink. I then used the Hero Arts Liquid Watercolors in shades of Dandelion, Orange, Moss, Strawberry, Black, and Cocoa to watercolor the images. I also watercolored a pale blue sky using very diluted Indigo watercolor.

After I’d watercolored everything, I die cut the images using their coordinating frame cuts (included in the kit). I also die cut a gold frame using some of the beautiful shimmer card stock included in the kit using the Infinity Rectangles Frame Cuts. I arranged my die cuts approximately where I wanted them, then used my Misti to get perfect placement for my sentiment and the little floating dandelion seeds on the blue sky background. I popped the frame up around the outer edge of the blue sky with foam tape, then added the rest of the die cuts with more foam tape to create a little scene with lots of dimension!

For my second project today, I absolutely couldn’t resist using the beautiful Fairy Window Fancy Die paired with the Star Light Star Bright Bold Print background stamp. I began by stamping the background using three different colors. To achieve this, I used my MISTI. I first stamped the Dark Indigo on the top third, blotting the edge of the inked area with a paper towel before closing the lid on my MISTI to soften the line of the ink and make a smoother fade. I added Indigo ink to the middle section, again dabbing the top and bottom with a paper towel to decrease the harsh lines and create a smoother blend, then finished it off with Orchid ink and a little more paper towel action. I spritzed it with some Iridescent White shimmer spray and set it aside to dry.

I die cut the Fairy Window Fancy Die from some black card stock and adhered it to the (now dried) starry panel using liquid adhesive. So much detail on this cover plate! I absolutely love it! I added a greeting from the main kit’s stamp set on a strip of white card stock and popped it up with some foam tape.

Well, that’s all for me today! Such a fun release, right? The kit, the add-ons… everything!

Now, for some fun giveaway information! Hero Arts is giving away one kit to a lucky commenter (and if you’ve already purchased one, they will reimburse you!). All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment on each stop on the blog hop. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win! Here’s the full lineup in case you got lost:

The Hero Arts Blog
Caly Person
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Michelle Short
Nichol Spohr
Yana Smakula
Jennifer McGuire
Kathy Racoosin
Debi Adams
Lydia Fiedler
Julee Tilman
Emily Loggan
Libby Hickson

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous week!


November My Monthly Hero Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Good morning! Today is the day! The November My Monthly Hero kit is finally available for purchase, and we have a fantastic blog hop to help provide you with even more inspiration for this month’s kit! You should have arrived from Debi Adam’s blog, and your next stop is Ilina Crouse’s blog. This month’s kit is super unique and oh so much fun… the stamps and dies included in the kit help you create a miniature Advent calendar. Here’s what’s included:


4″ x 6″ Clear Stamp Set
4.25″ x 5.5″ Ornament Flap Fancy Die
4.25″ x 5.5″ Ornament Background Cling Stamp
Green-gold Embossing Powder 0.5 oz.
Gold Embossing Powder 0.5 oz.

This kit is valued at $60, but it’s available for purchase at only $34.99! Great value, right? And if you’ve been checking out the Hero Arts Blog, you’ve seen just how many different ways this kit can be used. These kits frequently sell out, and once they’re gone, they’re gone… so don’t wait and miss out! You can also subscribe to make sure that you get first dibs every month. The kits will begin shipping from the warehouse on Friday, November 9th. In case you missed it, this was my project for the Hero Arts Blog countdown:

I combined the main Advent calendar components with Clarice, our Elf on the Shelf to create a fun, interactive “scavenger hunt” for my kiddos! Fun for them to search for Clarice (and bonus, it helps them learn their numbers)! You can check out the full blog post here.

For my blog hop project today, I chose to use the lovely Ornament Background included in the main kit. I began by heat embossing it onto plain white card stock using silver embossing powder. I then used my foam blending tools to blend Indigo, Orchid, and Rose Madder Hybrid inks.

Once my colorful background was complete, I die cut a Christmas word die from plain white card stock. I also stamped the rest of the greeting from Christmas Trimmings on white strips of card stock using Indigo ink. I adhered them in the center of my blended panel using liquid adhesive (makes this the perfect, flat card for mailing!), then added some Crystal Lacquer to the Christmas die cut to add some textural interest to the card front.

The final step was to add some shiny, sparkly sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. I know this color combination isn’t really “traditional” for Christmas, but I think it looks so magical with the ornaments and the snowflakes and the silver… it’s just plain pretty!

Now, for some fun giveaway information! Hero Arts is giving away one kit to a lucky commenter (and if you’ve already purchased one, they will reimburse you!). All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment on each stop on the blog hop. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win! Here’s the full lineup in case you got lost:

The Hero Arts Blog
Amy Kolling
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Julee Tilman
Laurie Willison
Lydia Fiedler
Michelle Short
Nichol Spohr
Yana Smakula

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous week!


October 2018 My Monthly Hero Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Good morning! Today is the monthly Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Blog Hop celebrating the fabulous new My Monthly Hero kit! This month, we are featuring a beautiful holiday kit, chock full of gorgeous vintage-y holiday images! For today’s hop, you should have arrived from Debi Adam’s blog, and your next stop is Ilina Crouse’s blog! The My Monthly Hero kits are always an excellent value, and this month is no exception. Here’s a sneak peek at the full kit:

Absolutely fabulous, right?! The full 6×8 stamp set with gorgeous snowy images… the beautiful sparkly paper… and can we just talk about the iridescent shimmer watercolor?! A fantastic value that is worth over $70 retail is available for purchase now for only $34.99! These kits frequently sell out, so it’s always a good idea to subscribe if you want to ensure that you’ll get your hands on one! The kit & add-ons go live in the Hero Arts store on Monday, October 1 at 1pm eastern/10am pacific. The main kit is available for a limited time only – once it’s gone, it’s gone. Kits begin shipping from Hero Arts on Friday, October 5, 2018.

I have a couple of projects for you today, featuring both the kit and a few of the add-ons available for purchase today, as well. First up: A wintry, romantic shaker made using the sweet skating pair from the kit, some mistletoe, and some gorgeous chunky glitter. Let’s get started with the details!

To start, I stamped the skating pair, mistletoe, and frozen pond from this month’s My Monthly Hero kit onto some white, Copic-friendly card stock using Intense Black ink, then die cut the individual pieces with the coordinating dies included in the kit. I colored them with my Copic markers in coordinating color combination, also adding some sparkle pen to the frozen pond to make it really icy.

To create the shaker, I die cut a circle using the Circle Infinity Dies from another piece of white card stock, then backed it with acetate. I stamped the greeting from the main kit at the bottom, again using Intense Black Ink. After my sentiment had been stamped, I added some foam tape to the the back of my window panel, filled my shaker with some Snowfall Glitter, die cuts from the Snowfall Confetti Cuts cover plate, and some white sequins from Hero Arts. I added the frozen pond to the card front first, then added the ice skating couple and mistletoe to complete my snowy little scene. Wouldn’t this card be just perfect for newlyweds to send for their first Christmas together?

For my second project today, I wanted to whip up some quick little tags to get started on my tag stash for this holiday season. We have some fantastic new tag dies as add-ons this month, and you don’t need to add a whole lot to them to create a cute little gift topper. For the new Ornament Tag, I simply die cut it from white card stock, then added a background using the new Delicate Snowflakes Bold Print background using light gray ink and a sentiment using the new Merry and Bright Messages in dark gray, finishing it off with some black twine. For the tree, I used the new Tree Tags Fancy die cut from some more white card stock, then heat embossed a greeting from the new Peace, Love, and Joy stamp set using silver embossing powder. To add some color, I blended some Aegean ink over the top to create a vibrant green Christmas tree. Some twine at the top finished it off. Simple and quick enough that I won’t be saddened when they are casually thrown in the trash along with the wrapping paper at Christmas haha!

Well, that’s all for me today! The holidays are in full swing in my craft room, even if it is 80* outside haha!

Now for some fun giveaway information! Hero Arts is giving away an October My Monthly Hero kit to one lucky winner (and if you purchase a kit and then win, they will reimburse you!). All you have to do to enter is comment on the blog hop posts. The more comments you leave, the more chances to you have to win! Here’s the full lineup in case you get lost:

The Hero Arts Blog
Caly Person
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Jennifer McGuire
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Julee Tilman
Kelly Latevola
Laurie Willison
Libby Hickson
Lydia Fiedler
Michelle Short
Nichol Spohr
Yana Smakula

Thanks so much for dropping by today! Happy hopping!


More fun with the My Monthly Hero kit!

Good morning! I have another project using the September My Monthly Hero kit. The kit has SO many gorgeous images, including several vases for creating your own floral arrangements, as well as many different options for foliage and branches. The options are really endless! Today, I combined the images from the kit with some of the beautiful add-ons, so let’s get started with the details!

I started by die cutting and stamping the vase and some of the foliage from the main kit onto some watercolor paper using Intense Black ink. Next, I used the Hero Arts watercolors to add color to the images. I also stamped and die cut some of the gourds from Autumn Bounty and watercolored them, as well.

For the background, I embossed the beautiful new Patterned Lanterns Bold Prints background using Gold Sparkle embossing powder. I arranged the die cuts in a cluster and adhered them using both liquid and dimensional adhesive. I added a greeting: a heat embossed thankful from the main kit on a strip of red card stock.

Well, what do you think? I love this September My Monthly Hero kit… it’s got so many fun bits and pieces. There are still a few kits left, so if you’re on the fence about purchasing this month’s kit, be sure to head over to Hero Arts and get your kit on! These kits are limited edition, so once it’s sold out, it’s gone for good!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a marvelous day!


September My Monthly Hero Blog Hop+ Giveaway!

Good morning! Today is the monthly Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Blog Hop celebrating the fabulous new My Monthly Hero kit! This month, we are featuring a beautiful autumnal kit, chock full of gorgeous botanical images with a bit of Asian influence! For today’s hop, you should have arrived from Jennifer McGuire‘s blog, and your next stop is Caly Person‘s blog! The My Monthly Hero kits are always an excellent value, and this month is no exception.

This kit, including a large 6×8 stamp set, coordinating dies, beautiful fancy oval frame die, and accessories is valued at over $70, but is available for purchase now for $34.99! These kits frequently sell out, so it’s always a good idea to subscribe if you want to ensure that you’ll get your hands on one! The kit & add-ons go live in the Hero Arts store on Tuesday, September 4th at 1pm eastern/10am pacific. The main kit is available for a limited time only – once it’s gone, it’s gone. Kits begin shipping from Hero Arts on Friday, September 7th.

I combined the gorgeous autumnal fancy frame die with the new Glimmer Metallic Inks in my countdown post here, but today I wanted to show some of the beautiful botanical images included in the main stamp set. There are some stunning florals included, which the ever-knowledgeable Jessica Frost-Ballas informed me are Chinese lanterns. These plants have a bright red bulb-like flower that drip off of the main stems so gracefully… I knew I needed to do some watercoloring with these gorgeous flowers.

I began by stamping and die cutting several of the Chinese lantern images from the kit using Hero Arts’s Intense Black ink,  a waterproof ink that stays nice and crisp even on watercolor paper. I then watercolored the images using the new add-on Orange Liquid Watercolor, followed by some shadows created with the Red Glimmer Metallic Ink. I used the Glimmer Ink instead of just using Strawberry Liquid Watercolor because the Glimmer Inks are a bit more bold and slightly more intensely pigmented than the regular liquid watercolors…. plus, they’re metallic, so yay! They react similarly to the watercolors in that, when you lay down the concentrated color, you can create a nice fade with a clean, damp paintbrush. I added touches of the Red Glimmer Metallic Ink over the top of the orange, then pulled the color out with my wet paintbrush to create almost a glaze of metallic shimmer. I added some Moss Liquid Watercolor to the foliage, as well.

For the background, I used the new Patterned Leaves Bold Prints, stamped in Red Royal on some red card stock. I love the subtle texture that the tone-on-tone background provides for the floral bouquet. It’s just enough to add interest to the background without distracting from the beautiful floral images. I adhered my bouquet of exotic flowers to the card front using liquid adhesive, then added a stamped sentiment strip to the bottom of the card front using dimensional foam adhesive.

Now for some fun giveaway information! Hero Arts is giving away a September My Monthly Hero kit to one lucky winner (and if you purchase a kit and then win, they will reimburse you!). All you have to do to enter is comment on the blog hop posts. The more comments you leave, the more chances to you have to win! Here’s the full lineup in case you get lost:

The Hero Arts Blog
Ilina Crouse
Lydia Fiedler
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Libby Hickson
Janette Kausen
Amy Kolling
Kelly Latevola
Jennifer McGuire
Emily Midgett<— you are here!
Caly Person
Michelle Short
Jenn Shurkus
Yana Smakula
Nichol Spohr
Julee Tilman

Well, that’s all for me today! Happy hopping, and good luck!