Hello all and thank you for stopping by today to help celebrate the launch of December My Monthly Hero Kit from Hero Arts (more about the kit and blog hop below).
This month kit was designed to help create unique one of a kind party invitations, Birthday cards and so much more! I fell in love with the kit and thought it was perfect to create invitations for a Happy Hour Cocktail Party that a friend of mine is hosting before New Year.
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VIDEO TUTORIAL
I’ve filmed a video tutorial where I am sharing everything in detail. You can watch it below or on my Youtube channel.
Like this video? Please give it a big thumbs up and share with a crafty friend! Drop me a comment too, I love hearing from you!
INVITATION DETAILS
To create these invitations I pre-cut colored cardstock into 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 ” panels (I later trimmed each panel to 4 x 5 1/4″). I used several colors of cardstock from Simon Says Stamp for these (not all colors are shown on photos) – I like how thick and durable this cardstock is and I just adore the colors. I used: Fog, Smoke, Sea Glass, Audrey Blue and Surf Blue.
I wanted to create a confetti-like background, but I didn’t have a stamp for that, so instead I looked through my stash and found Color Layering Fall Tree stamp set from Hero Arts – I used 2 sets of dots and Versamark ink and stamped my own confetti background on each of my panels.
If you don’t have this stamp set you can make dots using stamps from the Birthday Celebrations stamp set (its an add-on for this month kit) or look for other small dot cluster stamps in your stash.
I wanted to do foiling, so I grabbed my Royal Sovereign Laminator Machine (its been a long time since I used it), silver and gold foil and foiled over my heat embossing. It didn’t turn out perfect, but I think those imperfections added a lot to the handmade look of these invitations.
If you don’t know how to foil over heat embossing check out THIS video tutorial where I add tiny foiled accents to color layering images.
I kept some of my heat embossed backgrounds as is – without foil. I loved that heat embossed look too.
For each of my invitations I die cut word “Cheers” twice out of white cardstock. I added double sided adhesive to one side of my white cardstock before die cutting the words out to be able to adhere them easily onto my project. I went with two layers instead of one as I wanted to add a bit of dimension to my invitations, but I didn’t want to have too much of it at the same time.
I also heat embossed Come For Happy Hour using white embossing powder. The details of the party (time, place etc) were printed onto white cardstock panels cut to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 ” and are available on the back of the invitations.
To finish my invitations and add something special I adhered a dimensional drink to each. I created those by heat embossing a glass outline in gold embossing powder onto white, cutting it out using a coordinating die, coloring using Copic Markers (I used: BG18, BG15 and BG32) and coating with a thick layer of glossy accents. I added a cardstock straw to some glasses for a more realistic look (I simply trimmed gold cardstock into a narrow strip).
I used Simon’s new V-flap envelopes in silver and gold for my invitations:
MY MONTHLY HERO DECEMBER 2016 KIT
The kit is available for a limited time only – once it’s gone, it’s gone. If you love it – better grab it now!
The kit contains: 4″x6″ clear stamp set; set of 8 coordinating Frame Cuts dies that match the stamp set; Two Fancy word dies – “cheers” and “party”; A set of Paper Layering dies for adding a sunburst or sparkler effect; Fun new gold glitter embossing powder; Custom washi tape designed for the kit; A gold Uni-ball Gel Pen; 4 half sheets of gold foil cardstock; 2 half sheets of each metallic cardstock: purple, pink, dark blue and antique gold.
The kit value is $65, and Hero Arts is selling this one for $34.99.
You can now subscribe to receive the kit monthly and never miss one!
KIT & KIT ADD-ONS
There are several optional add-on items:
 Hero Arts Birthday Celebration Stamps Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Cocktail Party Stamp & Cut Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Happy New Year Stamp & Cut Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Party Confetti Fancy Die Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Martini Fancy Die Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Birthday Celebration Frame Cuts Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Celebration Words Stencil Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Pop The Cork Stencil Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Champagne Stencil Shop at: HA |
HOP ALONG WITH US!
The Hero Arts Blog
Yana Smakula – you are here!
Mariana Grigsby
May Park
Amy Tsuruta
Clare Prezzia
Laura Bassen
Wanda Guess
Lydia Fiedler
Ilina Crouse
Julie Ebersole at Ellen Hutson’s CLASSroom
Shari Carroll at Simon Says Stamp
Libby Hickson
GIVEAWAY!
Hero Arts is giving away one kit as a prize to one blog reader – selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop so be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win!
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!
 My Monthly Hero December’16 Kit Shop at: HA |
Hero Arts Cocktail Party Stamp & Cut Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees Stamps Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees Bundle SB115 Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Hero Arts White Embossing Powder Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Hero Arts Heat Embossing Gun Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Hero Arts Silver Embossing Powder Shop at: SSS | HA | AZ |
 Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SC | AZ |
 Mini MISTI Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Neenah 80 Solar White Paper Pack 250 Sheets Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Simon Says Stamp Sea Glass Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Fog Gray Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Surf Blue Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Audrey Blue Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Slate Gray Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Envelopes V Flap Metallic Silver Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Envelopes V Flap Metallic Gold Shop at: SSS |
 Versamark Watermark Emboss Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | HA | AZ |
 Scrapbook Adhesives Adhesive Sheets Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Ranger Glossy Accents Glue Dimensional Adhesive Shop at: SSS | SC | PPP | AZ |
 3L Scrapbook Adhesives – EZ Runner Grand – Permanent Shop at: SC | AZ |
 3L Scrapbook Adhesives – EZ Runner Grand – Permanent – Refill Shop at: SC | AZ |
 Royal Sovereign Laminator Machine Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Heidi Swapp Gold Foil Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Heidi Swapp Silver and Gold Foil Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 EK Success Powder Tool Applicator Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Copic Sketch Marker BG15 Aqua Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Copic Sketch Marker BG18 Teal Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Copic Sketch Marker BG32 Aqua Mint Shop at: SSS |
These invitations look fabulous!! The cocktail glass with the straw is so cute!
Gorgeous. I like your style b
These are beautiful! Amazing background, I can’t wait to try this technique. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful invitations, Yana. Thanks for the video tips.
A NEW YEAR already? This kit has it ‘goin’ on’! Beautiful work!!
You make it all look so easy, but I know it takes talent even with all the goodies. Just lovely.
Lovely Cheers cards! I love the color combos!!
GOR-GEOUS! What a delightful set of card invites – so full of color and brightness! LOVELY work ♥
Very fun invitations. Love the use of foil for the fizies
Awesome invites!
Very pretty invitations. Judging by the invitations, I would say it would be a great party! 🙂
Pretty
Love the sparkle and shine!
This would be a great New Year card.
Your cards are beautiful. I loved your tutorial.
WOW your cards are amazing and so is this kit!!!
Beautiful cheer cards.
Love your cards.
Hana you never disappoint. Love your party invitations?
Thanks for sharing with video! Fun set.
Love, Love, Love these! I will be making my invitations soon for my New Years party, these are great idea. Thank you for sharing
Love that foiling with those cards!! Looks like it was fun to make those❤ Excellent job
Wonderful invitations–so classy! It was great to hear of your work-around for confetti. I’m not sure I would have thought of leaves…
Bright and happy cards – wonderful! Thanks so much for your video too!
Wow! So elegant and beautiful! Love that foiled dotty background beyond words!
Love your confetti background and the depth of your die cuts!
pretty invitations! I love the Happy New Year stamp and cut set and the Confetti die in this release.
Fun cards.
Love the great design & that adorable cocktail glass! The foiling is such a great touch!
Gorgeous cards#
I love the festive glitz of these cards! My favourite is the blue background,but they are all elegant and glamorous!
Love your creativity! Beautiful invitations and clever way to use the monthly kit.
Gorgeous! Love the foiling!
Love the sparkles on the card!!
The gold foil looks great. Nice colors. I think the gold straw is very classy! Thanks for sharing!
cheers. . . .fun invitations. . . .love the confetti
So very lovely! TFS
Super fun … love this kit. Great for celebration cards of any kind.
What lovely and sophisticated cards! Great color combo too. Thanks for sharing the how-tos. I really need to try out the foiling technique.
Another beautiful work of creativeness – as can only be expected from you! Love it
Your invitations look fabulous! Awesome job as usual Yana! TFS
Just lovely! I love the foil accents.
Love your xard trio.. very lovely and elegent
Beautiful cards, i am loving your gold confetti!
What great cards! Great idea using tree tops as a confetti stamp.
Gorgeous invites Yana~
Fabulous invitations. Love the foiling.
GOR. GEE. US.
Love these invitations, so sparkly and pretty. This is a great monthly kit set.
Wish I were getting one of these beautiful invitations in my mailbox! Looks like a fun, sparkly party