CAS - Right as Rain

Hero Arts | Candy Cane Collection

Hello! I’m sharing two holiday cards created with the new Candy Cane Collection from Hero Arts. This festive collection includes stamp sets with coordinating dies, a stand-alone sentiment die set, and a versatile layering stencil. I used two different approaches with the stencil set—one uses white embossing paste on red cardstock for a bold, dimensional look, and the other layers white and red ink to build a classic candy cane pattern. Both cards feature the cheerful sentiment “Holiday Vibes and Peppermint Skies,” bringing a fresh twist to holiday cardmaking.

- Apply embossing paste through one of the stencils in the Toss Up set on to a Pomegranate cardstock panel. Add to a white card base.
- Stamp the Candy Cane Swag sentiment with black ink on white cardstock and heat-emboss with clear powder. Cut with the coordinating die and add to the card base with foam adhesive.

- Ink a Fawn cardstock panel with white ink using one of the Toss Up layering stencils. Once dry, add red ink through another stencil in the set. Add the stenciled panel to the base.
- Stamp the Candy Cane Swag sentiment with Versamark ink on Wild Berry cardstock and heat emboss with white powder. Cut with the coordinating die and add to the card base with foam adhesive.

A bold sentiment over a stenciled background is a reminder that simple choices can lead to striking results!

Hero Arts | Retro Cassette Hello Card

Hello! I’m taking it back to the days of mixtapes and boomboxes with this retro-inspired thank you card! I used the July 2025 Mix Tape – Hero Studio Die set from Hero Arts to create a die-cut cassette tape, with the tape spelling a playful “hello.” I paired the cassette with patterned paper to complete the vintage theme—perfect for music lovers, ’70s and ’80s fans, or anyone who appreciates a throwback vibe in their paper crafts.

- Cut patterned paper panel and adhere to a brushed silver cardstock base.
- With the Mix Tape die set, cut cassette and sentiment pieces from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble. I doubled up the sentiment to create a drop shadow.
- Add assembly to card base with foam adhesive.

This design is easy to customize—change up the cassette or label colors to match your theme or leave off the tape-written sentiment and add a different message elsewhere on the card.

Hero Arts | Bonsai Hello Card

Hello! Today I’m sharing a CAS card that features a bonsai tree cut with a Hero Arts die set. I paired the focal element with a kraft cardstock background stamped in white pigment ink with the Hero Arts Leafy rubber stamp. I kept the design simple to let the bonsai tree stand out. It’s a calm and thoughtful all-occasion card that combines die cutting and stamping with earthy tones and clean lines.

- Stamp Leafy background on kraft cardstock with white pigment ink.
- Stamp sentiment in black ink on card background.
- Trim panel and add to an A2-size card background.
- Color cardstock with Distress Inks. Cut Bonsai pieces from the inked cardstock. Fussy-cut the bonsai plant. Add greenery to the base with foam adhesive.
- Add bonsai to card base with foam and dot adhesive.

Statement Carnation in a Vase

Hello! Sometimes a single bloom says it all. For this card, I created a dimensional carnation using a Susan Tierney-Cockburn die set and placed it in a vase to let the flower take center stage. Because the carnation has such a strong visual presence, I kept the overall design clean, adding just a touch of patterned paper in the background and a BetterPress sentiment to complete the look.

- Create an A2-size card base and cover with Echo Park – My Favorite Summer patterned paper.
- Cut the Carnation pieces from Susan’s Garden Specialty Cardstock and Fern (leaves) cardstock. Follow the video in the product link to form the carnation.
- Use dies in the Ceramic Vases set to cut the vase.
- Press the You are Everything Sentiments plate in black ink. Cut with the coordinating die set.
- Add assembled carnation, vase, and sentiment to the card with foam adhesive. Glue leaves behind the bloom.

Hello Card with Stenciled Rainbow Birdhouses

Hello! Sometimes, a simple design with a pop of color is all you need to make a cheerful card! Today, I’m sharing a quick and easy hello card featuring a row of stenciled birdhouses inked in a vibrant rainbow of colors. To keep things simple, I used a stamped and die-cut “Hello” sentiment—an effortless way to add dimension to an otherwise single-layer card.

- Add Mowed Lawn ink to the base of a white cardstock panel to create the grass. I used vellum to mask the sky and create the straight line.
- Mask the grass and ink the birdhouse posts with the Newton’s Nook Birdhouse Line Stencil. The stencil includes three rows with etching to aid with alignment.
- Move the stencil and ink the birdhouses. Move the stencil again to ink the birds and birdhouse openings.
- Trim stencil panel and add to a black cardstock base.
- Stamp the I’ve Got You Covered sentiment and cut with the coordinating die. Add to card with foam adhesive.