Hero Arts ShopBox - Take One

Welcome!  Today I'm sharing two cards made with advance release Hero Arts products only available through their ShopBox Spring 2023 program. At the link, you'll find a video of these products and which brick & mortar stores carry them prior to release at online retailers. 

I typically shop at Anchor Paper Express in Plymouth MN. If I leave home early enough, I can get there to shop before they close at 4p on a Monday, then grab dinner and head to chorus rehearsal. That's just what I did this week! Such fun!!

Here's my first card using a Spring 2023 ShopBox item:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; 

Poptone Black Licorice; Bazzill A2 card

Dies - Hero Arts Bee Florals Window & Friend Words 

Stencils - Hero Arts Color Layering Bee Florals

Other - Various inks and Copic Markers; Hero Arts sparkle lacquer;

Simon Says Stamp sentiment strip; white gel pen; foam tape

I can't provide links to new Hero Arts yet; items will be available, though, on popular online sites like Simon Says Stamp & Scrapbook.com starting January 19th.

Process: Die cut Bee Floral Window and snip the spots around the outside where it's held to the paper (intended to remain in place with just the center and a few details cut out). Color the die cut using the layering stencils, inks and foam brushes. Add shading if desired with Copics, a few white gel details, and glitter lacquer to wings. Adhere to card with foam tape. Die cut hello from black and adhere into center; add friend strip. It's hard to see in the photo but I inked the corners of the card in Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide.

I struggled a bit lining up the 5 stencils since I die cut first. I recommend stenciling before diecutting! The stencils have little line-up squares to help get the perfect position. I used them on this next card and it went much better. I chose not to die cut using the frame though; just used a stitched rectangle  die, then inked the edges a bit.

For the "thank you" portion of the sentiment I used another ShopBox item - Friendly Messages Bundle. Hero Arts now bundles the stamps and dies so you can't buy dies separately. You typically can buy the stamps as a stand-alone item but I prefer to bundle. I cut 3 extra white ones to stack behind the stamped 'thank you". The "for everything" was stamped using the Sunny Studio Words of Gratitude set. I'm still using the little words I stamped and cut with this set back in September (go HERE for more details, if desired).

I'm adding card one to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge since my die and coordinating stencils are new. Card two has the new sentiment but anyone who pops over from NBUS can check it out :)

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!