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.
Beautiful Cactus background card. Just love how you added the coloring and positioning of the stamps.
Bold and beaufiful…those cacti sure are fun!
The gold embossing pairs really well with your water coloring! Thanks for sharing!
Love the Christmas cactus images!
Cute cactus holiday card.
Love this Merry Cactus stamp set. It’s so much fun. Your card is so cute.
Great cards, love how you made the background and did the watercoloring.
Your video made me giggle. You were very brave to sing…..and you were in tune as well! I love how cheerful the cards turned out.
I love your cards and your backgrounds that you have been making. You have really inspired me. Thanks and keep the great videos coming!
Thank you for sharing. Your cards are always so cute!
Very cool background. I would love some wrapping paper in that print!
such fun cards. . . cactus for Christmas
Those are cute cards!
Your cactus cards are just great. Makes me think of Texas.
What great coloring! Love the mix of color and black and white!
cute card.
I love your cards. That cactus stamp set is a hoot to someone who lives in a northern climate.
cute card!
Very adorable cards. Love the way you created the background to make two cards. The cactus design set is very cute and I’m sure Christmas happens in the desert, too! The musical interlude was nice! 🙂
love the Cacti as backgrounds!
I am like you never seen a cactus decorated for Christmas but hey it works and yours looks super awesome.
How fun, different then the usual Christmas stuff. Your cards get the inspiration juices flowing.
Yana, loved your video, not just for the creativity on the cards, but the playfulness of the process. Card making SHOULD be fun!! Catus for Christmas? Of course!
Great cards and fun singing.
Christmas trees are pretty scarce in the southwest. Why not cactus?
You can sing anytime – I loved it! Your cards are so pretty and it definitely put me in the holiday spirit. 🙂
Such a fun card! Love the look you achieved with the watercolors!
Fabulous coloring! Love these fun cards!
Loving the cactus Christmas card too cute
Love your cactus cards, so much fun!!! I love your video as well and hope for more!!!
Cute card — definitely out of the box
Super cute, super fun!!!
Soooo cute. I love the patterns you create.
cacti, huh? real cute designs
Very cute and colorful card.
Omg!! Super cute!!
Love those watercoloured cactii Yana – they look soooo good!
OMG I so so so loved your cactus card.
love your watercoloring technique! what fun, cute cards for Christmas!!
Nice card – who would have thought Christmas and cactus?!
That is such a humorous Christmas saying stamp set! Lovely, vibrant card.
That card is so fun and you made it beautiful with the embossing!
love those cards! they are so cute and i love the stamp set 🙂
Yana, I love your Christmas Cactus card. Keep creating!
The background you created is wonderful. Detailed, but very simple at the same time; very pleasing to the eye.
You made a beautiful and awesome backgrounds!
I have a cactus stamp set. Maybe I can up with a cute hat. I’ve spent so much lately I’m going to have to refrain from buying for a while but cute video.
That Santa hat is just the cutest!
Love the colorful background with a combo of outline and filled images, perfect balance as neither is overwhelm
Liming. Awesome holiday cards!
LOVE your cards!