Hello everyone and thank you so much for stopping by to help celebrate Hero Arts 2017 Summer Catalog Release! I’ll share more about this release, blog hop and giveaway below.
New catalog features a number of fantastic stamp sets (including some gorgeous Color Layering stamps!). I’ve had the pleasure of working with many of them prior to release as I created several cards for the catalog (and I’ll be sure to share them here over the next few weeks). The Puffer Fish stamp set, however, ended up being a pleasant surprise for me as I somehow overlooked it in the new release. I was immediately drawn to it and decided to use it to create a set of hilarious cards. If you know me, you know I love to make a silly card that is sure to put a smile on the face of its recipient. And the cards I am sharing today are (hopefully) no exception!
Like this project? Pin it and save for later!
If you are visiting my blog for the first time or have not yet subscribed – be sure to do so! I share lots of handmade projects every week delivering them straight to your inbox! I also occasionally share information about crafty sales and new product releases I love. Subscribe here.
CARDS DETAILS
I started working on this project by looking up puffer fish on Pinterest. I’m a bit ashamed to say I knew nothing about puffer fish (I didn’t even know there was this kind of fish) so I was both surprised and amazed! I quickly came up with a few simple scenes for these projects. I’ll explain the “You’re Swell” card in detail as it is the most complex of three. For my scene I went with two funny looking fish floating underwater along with other smaller fish.
Using Hero Arts Intense Black ink I stamped both fish onto a piece of white cardstock, cut out using coordinating dies (I used my Platinum 6 die cutting machine) and colored using Copics. Once again I used my go-to Copic colors (I’ve recently gotten some new markers and I need to update/expand my chart) and I used RV14, RV13, RV11 and R27 for the pink fish and Y19, Y15, Y11 and YR14 for the yellow fish. I also added a green fish to my two other projects and I used YG00, YG03 and YG17 for coloring.
I used a small waves stamp from the Puffer Fish set and stamped a double border – this created a horizon line for my card and separated the water from the sky. I decided to keep the sky white and color the water only. Following the same coloring method I used for this card I colored water using B00 marker. You’ll notice that I just roughly sketched the color and didn’t take any time to create neatly and evenly colored surface.
I wanted to add some additional elements to underwater area so I stamped partial waves and added air bubbles. To add dimension to the latter I went with Nuvo Drops in Sea Breeze. I had to add googly eyes to my fish to make them even funnier so I used new self-adhesive googly eyes from Hero Arts. I used the smaller size, they are a bit oversized, but still are spot on for this project.
For my other cards I added balloon strings to my fish to make them look like birthday balloons and a card to make it appear as if it was a hot air balloon!
Here are some additional photos (click image to view larger):
HOP ALONG WITH US!
Join us for an inspiration filled blog hop! You can start at the beginning at Hero Arts Blog or continue to Lydia Fiedler’s blog, she is the next stop.
GIVEAWAY!
Hero Arts is giving away three $25 shopping sprees, drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. Please comment by Wednesday, 5/24 at 11:59pm PT. Hero Arts will announce the winners the following week.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Hero Arts Clear Stamps I’m a Puffer for You Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Hero Arts Frame Cuts Puffer Die Set Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Hero Arts I’m a Puffer for You Clear Stamp and Die Combo Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Hero Arts Self-adhesive Googly Eyes Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Hero Arts Ink Pad Intense Black Ink Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Versamark Watermark Emboss Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Neenah 80LB Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Neenah 110 Lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Simon Says Stamp Black Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Hero Arts White Embossing Powder PW110 Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Hero Arts Heat Embossing Gun PW200 Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Copic Sketch Marker Y11 Pale Yellow Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker Y15 Cadmium Yellow Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker Y19 Napoli Yellow Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker YR14 Caramel Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker RV11 Pink Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker RV13 Tender Pink Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker RV14 Begonia Pink Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker R27 Cadmium Red Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker B00 Frost Blue Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker YG00 Mimosa Yellow Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker YG03 Yellow Green Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker YG17 Grass Green Bold Shop at: SSS |
 Scrapbook Adhesives Black Foam Tape Shop at: SSS |
 Be Creative Tape 3mm Sookwang Shop at: SSS |
 Scrapbook Adhesives White Foam Squares Shop at: SSS |
 Tonic Sea Breeze Nuvo Jewel Drops Shop at: SSS |
PIN THIS PROJECT
Are you on Pinterest? I’d love for your to pin this project if you like it! Thanks!
I love this stamp these little puffer fish are just to cute, thanks for sharing
I adore the bright colors you used! What a sweet fish and those googly eyes are perfect! I love the variety in this release! Thank you for the inspiration!
I love these cards. The puffer fish are adorable. Love the colors.
What adorable little fish. Such happy and bright cards. Thanks for the ideas.
I adore your puffer fish. I did not know anything about them, either, but love how you featured them on your card.
These are adorable cards. Love them
Love the bright coloring on the puffer fish and the googly eyes sticker are the perfect addition!
I love all your bright, colorful puffer fish!
Love these cute and colorful puffer fish and their googly eyes.
Your cards are adorable. I really love what you did with those puffer fish and those crazy eyes. So creative.
Love your cute colorful puffer fish!
I was so hoping someone would use the puffer fish. Thank you for such great cards.
I just love these cards! The puffer fish are just so cute!
Love these fun puffer fish cards! Such pretty colors too!
These are just gorgeous! Love the bright colours you’ve used and the googly eyes! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I need those puffer fish in my life
Adore your puffer fish cards. They are cutie fish and they make you smile.
SUPER CUTE!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! THANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)
Your silly cards are awesome! I like the bright colors you used for the fishes too.
So clever. I love your work
Such fun and bright cards! Love your work!!
OMGosh these are so sweet! Love the colors, Nuvo Drops for air bubbles and design on both 🙂
You are so talented…I love everything you do!
This is stinking cute!
These are really funny and lovely. Great puffer fish cards! Love the addition of the eyes and the bright happy colors!
Oh my goodness Yana! These are a stitch! Made me smile the whole time I was reading your post…thank you for the inspiration! My favorite cards yet!
Love this card. Love at first sight.
Soooo fun ! And beautiful colors !
I love the playful colors on the fish and the googly eyes that take the fun over the top! I couldn’t help but smile when I saw them.
So cute. Thanks for sharing.
Super cute and adorable puffer fish and I love the way you used them on your cards too.
Oh my stars, Yana! I live in the mountains, so puffer fish are certainly not ‘local inhabitants’ of the region (bears, yes….and elk…). When I first saw this set, I thought I didn’t need them; after seeing your showcases, however, I’ve changed my mind 100%! Your cards are outstanding…vibrant, innovative and just pure fun! Thank you, again, for sharing your abundant creativity with us!
~carol
Adorable cards! So colorful.
The fish are darling.
Love how you made one into a hot air balloon.
thanks for sharing.
Liked it so I pinned it. Your puffer cards are dog-eared cute!
So fun and cute. Love how you did the colors and all. I love this summer collection. Thanks for sharing.
I have been drawn to these cute puffer fish since the sneak peak of the catalog. Such fun little critters. Love the googly eyes and funny sentiments. Now I’m gonna have to add this to my wish list. I need a craft supply fairy!
The cards are great. This is one of my favorite stamp sets.
Oh these Puffer Fish are awesome! Love the colors you choose! TFS Yana!
These are the cutest cards! This new release has a lot of FUN possibilities!
I am loving the cute little puffer fish! So great.
I like the colors you chose for your awesome card.
I always love seeing what cards you are going to great and you never disappoint. These are just gorgeous. I love your colour combinations (I’m assuming it is your go-to colour combos). The googly eyes just makes these simple cards pop. Thank you for being so inspirational. I just love them (and want to buy the stamps even more now!)!
So so cute!
Love love love your cards and this one is no different. The colours are amazing. Thinking I have to add this stamp set to my list!
LOVE the puffers!!!
Those puffer fish are adorable with bright colors and googley eyes!
I am in love with your cards!
You did a fabulous job on these puffer fish cards…love how you made the m into balloons.