Hero Arts | Oriental Cards – Background Ideas. Video. December My Monthly Hero Blog Hop + Giveaway
Hello everyone and thanks so much for stopping by to help celebrate the launch of Hero Arts December My Monthly Hero Kit (more about the kit, blog hop and giveaway below).
I have to say I love Hero Arts kits for how unpredictable they are. You never know what theme is going to be featured in the next month kit or what colors/images will dominate. I was pleasantly surprised and very excited when I saw the kit for December. The background stamps as well as the stencil inspired me the most and thus I made several cards featuring a few background ideas.
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VIDEO TUTORIAL
As always, I filmed a video tutorial showing how to create this project from start to finish. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it. Watch it below or on my Youtube channel.
Like this video? Please give it a big thumbs up (you can do this on Youtube video page right under the video) and share with a crafty friend! Leave me a comment too, I love hearing from you!
CARDS & BACKGROUNDS DETAILS
To create a background for my first card, Another Day In Paradise, I heat embossed Mandala Background in Brass embossing powder (I used this powder for all of my heat embossing today) onto Arches Hot Pressed watercolor paper and colored it using my Daniel Smith watercolors in Indigo and Ultramarine Turquoise.
Once my background was dry I cut it out right up to the edge of the image forming a semicircle. I trimmed it to 4 1/4″ wide and foam mounted onto a black A2 side folding card. I also heat embossed a tent, star and a sentiment from my kit onto a black panel and foam mounted it on top of the background.
To create a background for my second card, You Light Up The Night, I heat embossed Floral Tile Bold Prints background onto same Arches Hot Pressed watercolor paper and watercolored it using Aqua Flow Pens from Tonic Studios. I used Azure Blue, Aqua Splash and Indigo Dawn colors and added a generous amount of shimmer using Tonic’s shimmer pen.
My background was trimmed to 3 3/4 x 5″ and foam mounted onto an A2 side folding card base. I also stamped two palm trees, heat heat embossed lanterns and sentiment and used those images to complete this card.
My third card, I’d Cross The Sahara For You, features a glitter paste background. I used the stencil included in this month kit with Black and Purple glitter pastes from Tonic to create a rich and bold background on white cardstock.
I adhered my background onto an A2 top folding card base, added several die cut palm trees, two oriental rugs and a sentiment.
MY MONTHLY HERO DECEMBER 2017 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! Kits begin shipping from Hero Arts on Friday December 7th.
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 Magical Nights Kit Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts White Modeling Paste Shop at: HA |
 Hero Arts Onyx Henna Ink Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Lapis Henna Ink Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Scarab Henna Ink Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Amber Henna Ink Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Filigree Pattern Bold Prints CG724 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Floral Tile Bold Prints CG725 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Mandala Bold Prints CG726 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Make A Wish CM220 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Ornate Henna Patterns CM221 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Magical Nights Messages CM222 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Make A Wish Frame Cut DI460 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Henna Flower Pattern K6268 Shop at: HA | SSS |
HOP ALONG WITH US!
The Hero Arts Blog
Yana Smakula – you are here
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Wanda Guess
Lydia Fiedler
Amy Tsuruta
Janette Kausen
May Park
Michelle Short
Clare Prezzia
Libby Hickson
Ilina Crouse
Kelly Latevola
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! Giveaway closes Sunday, December 10th at 11:59pm, and the winner will be announced 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 Magical Nights Kit December 2017 Kit MH1217 Shop at: HA |
Hero Arts Floral Tile Bold Prints CG725 Shop at: HA | SSS |
Hero Arts Mandala Bold Prints CG726 Shop at: HA | SSS |
 Hero Arts Brass Embossing Powder Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Hero Arts Snow Layering Papers Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Simon Says Stamp Black Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Pad 9×12″ Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Hero Arts Heat Embossing Gun PW200 Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Hero Arts Hybrid Ink Pad Orchid Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Hero Arts Grape Juice Ink Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 ScraPerfect Crafting Pouch Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Tonic Summer Holiday Nuvo Aqua Flow Pens Shop at: SSS | SC |
 Tonic Winter Skies Nuvo Aqua Flow Pens Shop at: SSS | SC |
 Tim Holtz Tonic Craft Stamp Platform Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Versamark Watermark Emboss Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | HA | AZ |
 Daniel Smith Indigo 5ml Shop at: SSS | AZ | BL |
 Daniel Smith Ultramarine Turquoise Shop at: SSS | AZ | BL |
 Silver Black Velvet Brush Size 8 Round Shop at: SSS |
 Ranger Studio Paint Artist Brushes Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Jack Richeson 9 X 12 Inch Hardboard Panel Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Scor-tape 2 1/2 Inch Crafting Tape Shop at: SSS |
 White Fun Foam 12 Pack 9 x 12 Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Tonic Aqua Shimmer Pen Nuvo 2 Pack 888n Shop at: SSS | SC |
 Tonic Black Diamond Nuvo Glimmer Paste Shop at: SSS | SC |
 Tonic Amethyst Purple Nuvo Glimmer Paste Shop at: SSS | SC |
Karthikha Uday
December 4, 2017Oh my!! Gorgeous backgrounds!! The glass effect is awesome and I’m totally in love with your creations!! <3 The background stamps are too beautiful and really magical!!
Z Sullivan
December 4, 2017Stunning backgrounds. Love the jewel tones that work so well with this kit. You just enabled my background stamp addiction! I can’t wait to play with my kit. TFS.
Anne Sturgeon
December 4, 2017Yana these are spectacular! I love your beautiful carpets. Such brilliant colors. This kit is pretty awesome. Lots of bang for your buck…..
Isabelle
December 4, 2017Beautiful cards ! Thank you for all the tips.
Sandy Dasai
December 4, 2017These are simply gorgeous! I am so excited about this kit!
Gretchen N
December 4, 2017Love the cards! Heat embossing and watercoloring is such a powerful and wonderful technique! Love the ideas!
Rosa M. Vasquez
December 4, 2017Gorgeous cards! Inspires me try new techniques.
Sue LD
December 4, 2017The embossing and colors really make these cards stand out.
Leanne in Cali
December 4, 2017Beautiful backgrounds and cards! Thanks for your awesome video showing products with this fun new Hero Arts release!!
DebSelby
December 4, 2017Your cards are simply amazing as is this wonderful kit. Another grand slam home run for Hero Arts.
NWFlamingo
December 4, 2017Lovely. This kit is a winner!
Abby
December 4, 2017Great colors!
Kateri Burnett
December 4, 2017Such beautiful cards, I really enjoy watching you make these awesome cards. Someday I’ll win one of these awesome stamps but for now I’ll buy them. Merry Christmas
,Mary Holshouser
December 4, 2017Now that I’ve placed my order for the kit,
I’m loving the ideas I’m getting on the hop.
thanks for sharing some fantastic cards.
Peege04
December 4, 2017Yana, these are all gorgeous! Such creativity with this kit! The tent card is my favorite!
Karen Hale
December 4, 2017Gorgeous cards, rich colorful backgrounds. Love the theme.
Debbie Fricke
December 4, 2017Love the backgrounds you created! And the mandala stamp looks really beautiful. Some the elements of the kit have a Moroccan feel to me and I love the colors of the Moroccan culture. Very different theme. Thanks for the video, Yana, as well as the tips you shared in it!
KarenHTK
December 4, 2017Beautiful, Colorful, Mystical, Magical, Elegant, Gorgeous Watercolor, Glitter Paste backgrounds! Love your Creative Works of Art! So Inspiring! Grand Kit to close 2017 with a Bang! Great Job Hero Arts Team! Well Done! Looking forward to what IS to come in 2018!
Daniela May
December 4, 2017Wow Yana – beautiful backgrounds
Sharon Brand
December 4, 2017Stunning cards! Love the theme!
Lori Ritchie
December 4, 2017Beautiful cards Yana, love the mandala stamp, just gorgeous!
Vilhelmina Eva Vilhjalmsdottir
December 4, 2017Can’t wait to get my kit so I can try all the elements out. Way out of my comfort zone thought, which is great.
Lorraine Turner
December 4, 2017Yana, you are sooooo busy at the moment with all your Blog Hops, but we as your crafty followers are soooooo lucky that we get to see lots more of your unique designs. I love these different background techniques. I have just invested in some stencils for my stash and need to start to use these for my backgrounds. I want to try out these with different media such as watercolours, inks, chalks and embossing paste. I still need to get my embossing paste, I think I am going to get white and then colour it rather than get lots of other colours. What do you think Yana? :O)
Ang
December 4, 2017Your cards are gorgeous.
Gail O
December 4, 2017All three cards are wonderful! Thanks for the inspiration!
Denise Kasbohm
December 4, 2017These are gorgeous. The colors in this kit are absolutely amazing!!! I love how you used the background stamps.
Marie
December 4, 2017Wow, great use of the kit for amazing backgrounds. Very inspiring. Thank you!
Jen
December 4, 2017These are beautiful and sophisticated! i LOVE how you colored and cut the background for “Another Day in paradise”, and mounting it on black is striking. I also like how you used embossing powder on the “magic carpets”. They really do look magical! TFS these amazing creations.
Teresa Selby
December 4, 2017Love these colors you did on your cards. Thanks for showing us how you did your cards. Have a great week!
Amy Wazwaz
December 4, 2017You did an amazing job with these card samples. So Beautiful!
cyndi morris
December 4, 2017Beautiful cards, Yana. I love those new background stamps — they’re definitely on my wish list!
Margery C
December 4, 2017Love your cards. Great video.
Sheri K
December 4, 2017What beautiful cards you have made from this kit–the backgrounds are amazing! Thanks for sharing your talent with us.
Rebecca Ednie
December 4, 2017I’m so excited for my kit to arrive! I think I’m sold on the mandala background!
Marsha Guskey
December 4, 2017Very beautiful cards! Thanks so much!
Janet Ingraham
December 4, 2017The colors, images, and shapes are so beautiful and exotic. WOW
Becky Reeder
December 4, 2017Love your cards, they are so inspiring!
FD91354
December 4, 2017Such a lovely kit and fabulous add ons! Sweet..
Dawn Jones
December 4, 2017I love the new backgrounds, they have so many possibilities. Thanks for sharing a few!
Luana Stark
December 4, 2017Beautiful work
Mary D
December 4, 2017What beauty!
Victoria Banaszak
December 4, 2017Your cards are gorgeous!
Bertha
December 4, 2017Beautiful backgrounds! Thanks for sharing. This new oasis stamp set is really versatile.
Zehra
December 4, 2017This kit has my heart, the beautiful carpets and gorgeous backgrounds. Love it.
mary ann
December 4, 2017such beautiful color combos with that brass embossing.
Kathy S
December 4, 2017Beautiful backgrounds and beautiful cards.
Carla Hundley
December 4, 2017Fabulous kit! I love
your cards, so pretty
and elegant.
Carla from Utah
Maria B
December 4, 2017Oh Yana, lovely, as always. You are on a roll with these beautiful backgrounds. Thanks for sharing your creative ideas and your talent.
Farida
December 4, 2017Yana, You did an amazing job with this kit. It is by far my favorite.
Christy Borfitz
December 4, 2017Stunning cards! I especially love the Mandela background!