Hero Arts | Christmas Cactus Cards. Video + Giveaway (now closed)!
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.
Like this project? Pin it and save for later!
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.
Heather Lynn
September 5, 2015Love how you used the bright colors of Christmas in your cards. Very creative. Thanks for sharing!
Sherry C.
September 5, 2015Like it ! Being from Arizona, decorated cactus seems like a great idea for holiday cards.
Angi M.
September 5, 2015I have to have this stamp set! So creative!
kristinasartcorner
September 5, 2015Georgeus card Yana..I just love evrything on your card! Thanks Hero Art for the amazing Christmas Cactus Stamps set…
Hildy Peterson
September 5, 2015Such a cute card! Thanks for sharing!
Denise Candelaria
September 5, 2015That is so cute, most out west would love that card, its what we would call home
Anne Schellenberg
September 5, 2015really playful cards!!! love them
Bertha
September 5, 2015Cute, fun, ideal
Yvonne
September 5, 2015I like your approach to the background. Your watercoloring is very nice. Thank you.
Candy B.
September 5, 2015What a cute holiday card! Don’t apologize for singing – made your video even more fun!
Nandini
September 5, 2015Really cool cards! And thanks for the great video tut! I am sure this technique will work with many themes!
Barbara
September 5, 2015I love this great background stamping. Merry Cactus to you.
Helen F
September 5, 2015So cute! Such fun cards. Thanks for the ideas!
Helen F
September 5, 2015Such cute cards! Great ideas to use your stamps as a fun background. Thanks
Esther Nieves
September 5, 2015Fantastic cards, thanks for sharing.
sblondin
September 5, 2015the Merry Cactus is stinkin’ cute; thanx for the inspiration and blog candy opp!
Shari
September 5, 2015Beautiful! Thanks so much for the video.
TracyM #6773
September 5, 2015FUN & FABULOUS cards Yana!!!
LOVE your SUMMERY Christmas cacti … PERFECT for our HOT HOT days Down Under 🙂
THANK YOU for sharing your CUTE & CLEVER INSPIRATION!!!
Vinita Jain
September 5, 2015Such stunning creation Yana, love this beautiful background stamped images in colorful variations! Thanks for sharing the video!
Yvonne F
September 5, 2015Love the background!
Bonnie Thrasher
September 5, 2015These cards are so stinking cute. I love them. I just might give them a try this year, no might about it, I will. Thanks for the great idea.
Alinsmajl
September 5, 2015Cheerful and nice!
Bethany Gates
September 5, 2015You’re so creative! These are adorable!
Veronica Morales
September 5, 2015Cute card!
Veronica G
September 5, 2015Cute and fun Christmas card. I like the watercolor and the red makes it stand out.
pcelamaja274
September 5, 2015I like how Christmas cards are now more and more different and how your creations change the way we look upon things such as a simple cactus 🙂
Samantha Coleman
September 5, 2015I am really enjoying the cactus set. They make fun non traditional Christmas cards.
Peggy
September 5, 2015I love the background stamping you did. I have a few southern friends that would love this card.
Jessica Whitcomb
September 5, 2015Such a clever saying!!
Pippa67
September 5, 2015You bring a whole new dimension to our Christmas card and i must say i really really like them.
tsurutadesigns
September 5, 2015This is ADORABLE….love your choice of colors! So fun & Festive!
Marie O
September 5, 2015Love the ‘snow-less’ Christmas card!
Jane Mc|Gill
September 5, 2015cool new twist on a Christmas card
Charlotte C
September 5, 2015These cards made me smile out loud. Adorable. TFS
CraftyShannon
September 5, 2015I really like that new platinum embossing prefer, it was perfect with your cactus scene.
Leslie Brown
September 5, 2015Beautiful and bright.
Maude Beakley
September 5, 2015Really cute cards, Yana. The cactus colors really work for Christmas.
Anja E.
September 5, 2015Your backrounds are always stunning. I really like the colours for Christmas. Thank you for sharing.
Linda F
September 5, 2015Fantastic cards Yana. I love these wonderful and original stamps. Great embossing and watercolouring and your singing wasn’t that bad, lol
Janet Mack
September 5, 2015Love how you colored just a few of the cacti, they really pop. Good tip on making your own background paper.
Becky Smith
September 5, 2015Such a cute card! I like the embossing color you used, and the touches of watercolor.
gordonbl
September 5, 2015Your design is always awesome. Ha! As I say here thinking about how I did not get the cactus theme, I finally got it, Christmas cactus is a variety of plant. Geez, slow today. OK, Hero Arts, I like this stamp set better now.
Judyt28
September 5, 2015Beautifully designed background. Your watercolouring is perfect fir this card!
Megan
September 5, 2015The Christmas cactuses are so fun!
jan metcalf
September 5, 2015Your cheery Christmas cards define jolly!!
vania
September 5, 2015great background
Sue
September 5, 2015Not quite sure about this stamp set, guess it would be perfect for people living in dessert areas lol great card idea it works!
Celeste Goff
September 5, 2015Love these fun and non-traditional Christmas cards Yana! The watercoloring is amazing!
Josette Trunnell
September 5, 2015Very nice
Kathy
September 5, 2015very nice! Creative!