Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by! We are having a Launch Party Blog Hop for Hero Arts to help celebrate the launch of their new website and Holiday 2015 collection!
I have been in a holiday mood for that past couple of days or I should probably say weeks and I been dying to make a card using a new stamp set by Hero Arts called Merry Cactus To You.
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We always have Christmas trees, ornaments, reindeer, Santa but rarely or probably never have a cactus on a holiday card. So today I’m using a cactus stamp set to create 2 simple heat embossed watercolor background holiday cards.
I’ve shared a video recently where I used rather large images to stamp a background pattern on a full letter sheet and create 4 cards, today I’m going to follow the same concept and use large images, well not as large as I used in that video, but still slightly larger than the images I usually use to stamp a full background. I’m going to be working on a half of a letter sheet piece of paper, so its going to be enough to make 2 background for standard A2 cards.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Please watch my video below or on my Youtube channel for more tips and tricks and a detailed tutorial. Thanks!
Like this video? Please give it a thumbs up and share with friends, thanks!
I’ve used Hero Arts new Platinum embossing powder for my heat embossing (had to change things up a bit from the usual gold). I mixed and matched solid and also outline images for my cards because I wanted to add a little bit of watercolor to these. I intentionally did not use just solid or just outline images.
If I were to use just outline images and would have water colored all of them I would have had a background that is a little bit too busy. And if I were to use just solid images I wouldn’t have had any room for water color.
HOP ALONG
- Jennifer McGuire
- Kelly Rasmussen
- Laura Bassen
- Debby Hughes
- Amy Tsuruta
- Kristina Werner
- Yana Smakula – you are here
- Suzanne Dahlberg – next stop on the hop
- Nichol Magouirk
- Clare Prezzia
- Lucy Abrams
- Mariana Grigsby
- Libby Hickson
GIVEAWAY (NOW CLOSED)
Hero Arts will be giving away one GRAND PRIZE $100 Hero Arts shopping spree. The winner will be randomly chosen from all of the blog hop comments received by 11:59pm PST on Tuesday, September 8th. Check the Hero Arts blog for the announcement of the winner.
SUPPLIES
 Hero Arts Red Royal Ink AF225 Shop at: SSS | SC | HA |
 Hero Arts Blush Mixed Layering Papers PS620 Shop at: SSS |
 ScraPerfect Perfect Crafting Pouch Multi-Purpose Craft Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Versamark Watermark Emboss Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Spellbinders Artisan X-plorer Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS | SC |
 Simon Says Stamp Big Momma Foam Tape Roll Shop at: SSS |
 Strathmore WATERCOLOR PAPER 5.5×7 Ready Cut Sheets 140205 Shop at: SSS |
 Hero Arts Heat Embossing Gun PW200 Shop at: SSS | HA |
 Hero Arts Clear Stamps MERRY CACTUS TO YOU CL909 Shop at: SSS | SC | HA |
 Hero Arts Frame Cuts Dies MERRY CACTUS DI146 Shop at: SSS | SC | HA |
 Hero Arts Platinum Embossing Powder PW117 Shop at: SSS | HA |
This post was updated on July 5th 2016.
This is so cute! Love how you designed the background! 🙂
Great card–Neat how you made this background. Love your videos—-Thanks!!!!!!
I’ve not done stitching on a card before. Did you use a sewing machine? A separate/special needle? I only ask because I am very careful not to mix my fabric scissors with my paper scissors… Thanks.
Cute card! I have some family that live in the warmer winter climates and this would be cute to make them a card and a few extras for them to send to their friends. Thank you for sharing what you created!
I always love your cards! Good job:-)
Such a fun stamp set..great for making cards for all the ‘Canadian’ snowbirds!
Really enjoyed your video. What great ideas!
I always love your DIY backgrounds, Yana!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! So cute!!
Very fun stamp set!
I like your singing… but your cards..i love… what a great idea to get two cards out of one panel.. thanks so much for sharing… and the chance to win:)
Wow, great colorful cards! Love them. Thanks for sharing.
So so so CUTE! Loved your singing.. you brightened my day.
Such unusual cards! Love them and the cactus stamps!
So happy! Love all the cacti going every which way 🙂
Terrific cards! Love the idea of sewing them together!
Your cards are fabulous! Love the embossed cactus stamps!
Love the colors used to make the card.
What a different kind of card but yet so fun and cool. I know anyone would be happy to get a card like that. I love taking things that have nothing really to do with the holidays and using them to make holiday cards.. Great video can’t wait to see more!!!!
I love how playful the cards are. The Santa hat is a nice touch.
Love these cards! The background is such a great idea!
So cute!!!
Cute card, very creative!
Absolutely LOVE the way you did the cacti Yana, it looks fantastic! And your singing made me smile. 🙂
I love how colorful your card is! Those bright greens and reds just stand out against the white background.
Love the use of watercolors
your singing is cute, its true, you can sing any time. this card is delightful! I love the stamp set that you chose, the colors are wonderful. I really loved that you used the same paper and embossing powder for everything. it really kept the card from looking all disjointed. such a happy and joyful card. thanks for sharing!
I just LOVE these cards!
What cute cards for people who live in desert climates! Love how you made them with an all over design:)
I hope this doesn’t post twice. my computer lost the first one lol. this was so worth waiting for! I like your singing also. it helps add whimsy to your video. I love to watch your videos. I can really tell you love what you are doing. this card is delightful! I loved it that you used same paper and embossing powder on everything so it didn’t seem disjointed. the colors were wonderful. the little santa hat was genius. it really added the finishing touch and helped to tie the whole card together. such a precious card! thanks so much!
I love that stamp set – it’s so much fun
I love your card! your singing was so cute. I enjoyed it. the card was delightful! it was so pulled together because you used the same paper and embossing powder on everything. the cute little santa hat really put a wonderful last touch. the card was precious
OMG I love the cactus Christmas stamp set. I live in AZ and need to own this one. Cute use on this card, too.
Wonderful stamps and great use of them! It is always fun to see “non traditional” ideas for Christmas cards.
What fun cards and stamp set! Very creative!
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
too cute, love this card
too cute, just love this card
Fun, fun, fun Thanks for sharing!
Although Cactus are not my cup of tea for Christmas, I have to say that these cards are adorable and I love the playful look to them……….well done!
This card is awesome!! I love how you watercolored some of the cacti and left others that taupe color!
OOOH man I so want this cactus set. Wait I soooo need this cactus set. So great!!
Very cute!!! Love the technique!
Awesome cards. Love the Christmas catrus.
WOW these are BEAUTIFUL!
Such festive cards, love the cool background!!!
Love the cactus set!
Super fun for Christmas, thank you for your videos!!
That’s one fabulous stamped background you made there!
Love the little hat 🙂
Beautiful card!!