Hero Arts | Watercolor Paris & London Valentine’s Day Cards. Blog Hop + Giveaway
Hello everyone! Are you ready to start thinking about Valentine’s Day? I am! Truth be told I still need to decorate our apartment for Christmas and put up a Christmas tree (we don’t even have ornaments yet) but I am ready to switch gears a bit and shift from the red, white and green to pink, white and red. How about you?
Today we are celebrating Hero Arts 2017 Valentine’s Day Release – a collection of fun new products to play with and create (more about this below)!
Like this card? Pin it and save for later!
I made quite a few cards using new goodies and I’ll be sharing them here on my blog over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! Today I’d like to share to very simple watercolor cards made using Hero Arts London and Paris destination stamps.
I used Arches watercolor paper (there simply is no better watercolor paper in my book) and stamped my images using versamark ink, next I added white embossing powder and heat set it with my heat tool.
I wanted to create little watercolor prints of Paris and London, but I didn’t have a lot of time to work on these, so instead of carefully painting every single detail I did a simple ombre watercolor wash using Distress inks (I am listing the colors I used below in my supply list).
After my panel was was dry I did come in and accentuated some of the elements on my heat embossed panels to help them pop. I used same colors of inks, they were simply watered down less, so ended up looking a lot more vibrant.
To complete these cards I trimmed my panels to about 3 3/4 x 5″ and foam mounted them onto A2 top folding landscape cards made out of Simon’s Fog cardstock. I also wrapped some May Arts natural twine around the front panels and added a few Sparkling Clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.
Here’s a look at my watercolor London card – same idea, same layout, same technique, just a different stamp.
You could easily turn these into travel greeting cards by adding sentiments like “Bon Voyage”, “Happy Vacation”, “Greetings From” etc.
HERO ARTS VALENTINE’S DAY RELEASE
 Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Hugs Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Smitten Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Heart Pattern Bold Prints Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Romeo and Juliet Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts truly, madly, deeply Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Destination Paris Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Destination London Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Love Tattoos Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Love Swirls Stencil Shop at: HA |
HOP ALONG
The Hero Arts Blog
Jennifer McGuire
Yana Smakula – you are here!
Mariana Grigsby
Amy Tsuruta
Clare Prezzia
Jana Millen
Ilina Crouse
Libby Hickson
GIVEAWAY
Hero Arts is giving away two $25 shopping sprees, drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. Please comment by Thursday, December 15 at 11:59pm PT and Hero Arts will announce the winner 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 Destination Paris H6194 Shop at: HA |
Hero Arts Destination London H6195 Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts White Embossing Powder PW110 Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Hero Arts Heat Embossing Gun PW200 Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Versamark Watermark Emboss Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | HA | AZ |
 Arches Cold Press Watercolor Pad 9×12″ Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Simon Says Stamp Fog Gray Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 White Fun Foam 12 Pack 9 x 12 Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad Spun Sugar Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad Picked Raspberry Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad Abandoned Coral Shop at: SSS |
 Ranger Studio Paint Artist Brushes Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 May Arts IVORY Twine String Burlap Shop at: SSS |
 EZ Runner Grand – Permanent Shop at: SC | AZ |
 EZ Runner Grand – Permanent – Refill Shop at: SC | AZ |
 EK Success Powder Tool Applicator Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins Mix Shop at: SSS |
 Sakura Quickie Glue Pen Shop at: SSS | AZ |
Naama
December 9, 2016I love the ombre look, and these colors make it look like the cities are washed in sunset – so pretty! Plus, as a London girl I was super happy to see this stamp 😉
Deepa Lakshman
December 9, 2016The colors here are so soft and pretty. Love it.
Kit A
December 9, 2016What a pretty card Yana! I still don’t watercolor as much as I would like but you’ve inspired me.
Sabrina Radican
December 9, 2016What a lovely card!!!!
Rosemary D
December 9, 2016gorgeous set of cards!! love the soft watercolor wash!!
Dee Earnshaw
December 9, 2016Fabulous inspiration, Yana. Love Paris and it would be the perfect romantic destination:)
Debbie A.
December 9, 2016Beautiful card, Yana! What a great idea to do a watercolor wash instead of coloring the image! Stunning! Thanks so much for sharing your talents with us. I always enjoy your work and videos.
Teresa Godines
December 9, 2016Beautiful water coloring technique. TFS
Kris in Alaska
December 9, 2016Lovely! So soft and pretty!
Barbara Green
December 9, 2016This is a lovely card. Very light hearted.
ALICIA HARTFIELD
December 9, 2016I love your card, you have to love London!
Sue LD
December 9, 2016Very pretty with the embossing and water coloring.
Larissa Heskett
December 9, 2016THANKS for sharing!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the FUN New Release and your AMAZING Cards!! Have a FABULOUS WEEKEND!! =)
Nancy Frusco
December 9, 2016Such a sweet card! Yes I am ready for a little bit of those pinks too!
maria f.
December 10, 2016Just love those darker spots of color on the Louvre pyramid. What a Gorgeous card, Yana. Enjoy your holidays.
Nandini Karmarkar
December 10, 2016Great release and I love the inspiration cards. The colors are so soft and beautiful!
Michele K. Henderson
December 10, 2016These city skyline cards are my very favorite ever! I LOVE the beautiful look you have created!
DebSelby
December 10, 2016I love travel stamps and these ones of Paris and London look so fresh especially with your great backgrounds.
Brenda
December 10, 2016Love your watercolor background. Inspiring.
Farida
December 10, 2016Beautiful card! Love the colors!
Denise Bryant
December 10, 2016Love the pretty, ombre look to this card!
Angie
December 10, 2016Love your card, esp the colors!
Teresa
December 10, 2016Beautiful and doable-looking for normal crafters–yay!
Jacqueline
December 10, 2016Beautiful card and watercolor washed background.
Hildy
December 11, 2016A sweet set of cards, Yana!
super stick chick
December 11, 2016Beautiful cards, love the resist.
Attard Judie
December 11, 2016This card is so romantic! Love the soft hues of pink and red!
Renee Thompson
December 11, 2016So subtle and pretty! I never would’ve thought to use those colors but they look fantastic.
Ashley Wells
December 11, 2016Yana, another fantastic project. You’re one of my favorites and always look forward to your videos 😉
SueB of Blondin Blogs
December 11, 2016loving the cityscape cards and your t’riffic watercoloring technique; thanx for the inspiration and blog candy opp!
Jean Bullock
December 11, 2016I keep telling myself I want to try inking and painting over embossed stamping but I haven’t done it yet. The cityscape card is wonderful. Well done.
Arlene McClung
December 11, 2016I love the Paris stamp. It is shipping to my house for sure! Love how you turned it into a Valentine image with your colors.
D.Ann C
December 11, 2016I really love these fabulous watercolor cards… what a great gift set they would make!
Melody W.
December 11, 2016I like your cards with all kinds of city scenes, houses and buildings. They are all beautiful ! The London and Paris stamps are on my wishing list now. TFS.
Lee
December 11, 2016Wow — lovely card.
nadine illingworth
December 11, 2016wow that card looks brill
Mary L.
December 12, 2016So lovely! 🙂
Maye M.L
December 12, 2016Awhhhh, these cards are astonishing, Yana. Fantastic stamps. Very inspiring to pack our bags and go places. And, of course, to take some HA supplies to make cards and record travel memories! Cheers!
Janet Trapp
December 12, 2016Love how simple!
~God bless!
Jasmine Vizuete
December 12, 2016I would have never thought to use a landscape for a Valentine’s Day card! So cute and romantic
Annette Reed
December 12, 2016Love that color wash background. Nicely done.
Linda E
December 13, 2016I love the soft water color effect you gave to these cards, Yana! They are simply beautiful!
Tammy B
December 14, 2016Really pretty cards!
Laurie
December 14, 2016Beautiful cards!! Love the destination stamps. Love the colors you used. So pretty and elegant!
Jan O
December 14, 2016Love these cards! As a Valentine’s card, it’s unique yet simple but holds the possibility of future travel plans!
Jane S.
December 15, 2016Very nice! Makes me want to take a trip.
White embossing is so striking…
fragkopouloukhotmailcom
December 15, 2016Very pretty card!thank you
Daria Z.
December 15, 2016This is simply stunning, Yana!
Kate B
December 15, 2016I love these cards! So soft & pretty with the watercolor wash.
Susan R k
December 15, 2016Love the city stamps and the pink and orange watercolor. Cards as beautiful as their cities!