Category Archives: Hero Arts

Imagine Paris Chalkboard Tag

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Julia Stainton| Leave a comment

I’m a big fan of the chalkboard trend. It’s been around awhile now. I first noticed it three years ago on the home decor and DIY blogs. I made my out chalkboard for our kitchen with some paint and an old frame I had in the basement. It still hangs there and I smile thinking about all the messages, menus and love notes that have graced its surface.

I’m seeing chalkboard more and more these days in advertising and it has finally hit the paper crafting circles.

Today I have a tag version of chalkboard style paper crafting. It has a yummy vintage Paris flavour and I hope you’ll join me today in the CLASSroom for more photos and all the details.

Have a fabulous weekend!

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Posted in Ellen Hutson LLC projects, Hero Arts, Maya Road, Papercraft projects

Simply Saturday…Easter Wreath

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Julia Stainton| 1 Comment

It’s the Saturday of Easter weekend so here’s a simple spring wreath for you.

Just simple stamping and a few colored pencils. I love colored pencils on Kraft.

Quick Tip: Don’t be afraid to stamp off the cardstock for a partial image.

Supplies:

InLinkz.com

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Posted in Hero Arts

An Art Journaling Mini

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Julia Stainton| Leave a comment

So this is it.

My favorite project in a very long time.

Messy.

Inky.

Bright & fun.

Having stained fingers just makes me happy. Bizarre, I know!

I created this tag mini art journal for my daughter. She loves to journal and I hope the beautiful colors will inspire her and also remind her of how much she is loved.

Today I’m sharing all the inky details of this mini in the CLASSroom. I hope you’ll join me!

Happy Good Friday!

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Posted in Ellen Hutson LLC projects, Hero Arts, Maya Road, Papercraft projects, Tutorials & Techniques

inspiration everywhere

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Julia Stainton| 10 Comments

Art and inspiration are all around you. From the clothes you wear, to fabrics in your home, to the ceramics in your kitchen. Everything that has been manufactured has design to it. Assuming that you purchased an item because there was something you loved about it, you can probably find some inspiration in it to use in your own designs.

Today’s card design is inspired by a beautiful teacup I found at Home Sense. There was only one and one doesn’t usually buy just one teacup but it was so pretty that I just couldn’t resist. My favorite colors and it reminds me of the Bahamas. I pictured myself enjoying it’s beauty with a nice cup of tea or cappuccino after the kids get on the school bus each morning. And I was right. It IS a great way to start the day!

This design uses the Bazzill Card Shoppe Robin’s Egg cardstock again. I’ve stamped the image panel in Versamark Ink and then embossed it with white embossing powder. It gives the same effect as the glazing on the teacup. It love coloring in embossed designs as the raised edges make it so easy to stay within the lines and keep color from bleeding out. Dye based markers work best for coloring in. You want the color to bead off the embossing so that it doesn’t stain it. I used Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Broken China and Crushed Olive and then blotted the excess ink up with a tissue.

Just to add a little more to my teacup story… I did manage to find another matching cup a couple months later. I wasn’t long in snatching it up! Now I can have tea for two with a tropical flair.

Have an inspiring day!

Supplies:

InLinkz.com

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Posted in Card Designs, Hero Arts

Just Around the Corner

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Julia Stainton| 2 Comments

Spring is just around the corner. While last week was pretty wintery, this week we’re headed for a big thaw. I’m getting a little excited thinking of nature coming to life again. What a beautiful time of year…full of hope and promise.

Lately I’ve been inspired by the thought of Spring and created this stamped card design featuring stamping and Liquid Applique Blossoms.

I’ve created a tutorial with step outs to share in the CLASSroom so please feel free to join me here for all the details.

Have a beautiful day!

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Posted in Card Designs, Hero Arts, Tutorials & Techniques

a paper pieced valentine

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Julia Stainton| 1 Comment

We’re in the home stretch. Counting down the days until Valentine’s and more importantly in our house, my son’s wedding. I’ve been busy finalizing wedding programs and thank you’s and a few other details. I did manage to take time out to create today’s card for the CLASSroom.

It features a paper pieced background technique. I hope you’ll join me here.

Have a fabulous weekend!

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Posted in Card Designs, Ellen Hutson LLC projects, Hero Arts

Julie’s Birthday Surprise

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Julia Stainton| 15 Comments

Surprise Julie!

A very happy birthday 50th goes out to Julie Ebersole today. As long as I’ve been stamping, Julie Ebersole has been inspiring me. I love Julie’s superb design skills, her fabulous sense of humour, her kindness and her leadership in the crafting industry. I first got to know Julie through splitcoaststampers.com and was thrilled to hear from my stamping hero wayyyy back in 2006 asking me to be part of the Dirty Dozen Design Team. Wow! Can it really be that long ago?!

While I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Julie in person, I’m thrilled to be a fellow designer in the CLASSroom with her and be part of a few of her online classes. Julie’s designs are clean and simple in style but always have that great pop of spectacular that makes me smack my head and think…”why did I not think of that?!” If you’ve never stopped by her blog, you REALLY need to.

Paper Tufflez

Julie, I hope this is an extra special birthday for you. Wishing you everything wonderful! Thanks for all the inspiration. I wish I had half the creativity you do!

My style can be quite a bit different from Julie’s but for her birthday card, I tried to keep things a little more clean and simple in honor of Julie. One thing Julie and I do share is a love of aqua and so I just had to incorporate that color into this design.

I also know that Julie is quite partial to polka dots, just like myself and so I’ve pulled out a dotted background stamp and dabbed it with Distress Stains to create the background.

Most of the embellishments in this design have been altered. The Thickers number stickers have been colored in with a Copic marker to match the rest of the design. The little epoxy button sticker has a cupcake rub-on added to it and the chipboard butterfly has been color with a Silver Leafing pen.

I’m excited to be just one of many crafters taking part in today’s surprise blog hop for Julie. Next on the list is the very talented…

Cheiron Brandon: My Crafty Life – Cheiron Brandon

You can also find the entire list in the CLASSroom here.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll take the time to wish Julie a very happy 50th birthday.