Hero Arts - Right as Rain

Spellbinders | Susan’s Azaleas

Hello! Today, I’m excited to share a card that captures the beauty of azaleas nestled in a charming garden pot. Following Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s step-by-step video, I was able to assemble the azaleas and pot, available as a set at Spellbinders. This project was a delightful learning experience.

- As explained in the video, with dies in the Azalea and Garden Pot set, cut the leaves from watercolor cardstock. To color the leaves, I used Copics E27, YG63, and YG67. Form the leaves with Susan’s tools and then paint on glaze. Set aside to dry. I don’t know what brand glaze Susan used on hers; I used JudiKins Diamond Glaze.
- With dies in the Azalea and Garden Pot set, cut the petals and stamens from Susan’s Garden Specialty Cardstock and color. To color, I used Copics RV23, RV25, and R39. Following Susan’s directions, I cut the stamens, glued them, and added pollen. I formed the flowers with tools in the kit and then glued the petals and stamens.
- With dies in the Azalea and Garden Pot set, cut the pot from Classic White cardstock and color by heat-embossing Fired Brick Distress Embossing Glaze. I added several coats. Assemble pot.
- Dry-emboss a 5 1/2″ square panel of Seaside cardstock with the Flowers and Foliage folder and add to a card base.
- Stamp the sentiment on Classic White cardstock and cut with a die in the Assorted Tags set, masking the “there” so that only “hello” is stamped.
- Add the pot, leaves, and flowers to the prepared card base. Tuck the sentiment tag into the finished arrangement.

While there are numerous steps involved in creating this card, Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s tutorial breaks down the process into manageable parts, making it achievable even for beginners like me.

Adorable Crocodile Birthday Card

Hello! Why use just one die set when you can mix and match for even more creative fun? This charming birthday card features a crocodile carrying a bundle of balloons, brought to life with dies from two different Spellbinders kit clubs.

- Create an A2-size card base from textured white cardstock.
- Cut patterned paper with the largest die in the Essential Stylish Ovals set. Create the ground by cutting patterned paper with the same die and trimming. Add patterned pieces together and to the card case.
- Cut crocodile, balloons, and clouds with dies in the Hooray! It’s Your Birthday and Birthday Bliss sets. Assemble.
- Heat-emboss the Message Strips sentiment on black cardstock and cut with the coordinating die.
- Add assembled elements to the card base with dot and foam adhesive.

The Hooray! It’s Your Birthday and Birthday Bliss, as well as other past kit clubs, are on sale through April 8, 2025!

Spellbinders Timeless Painted Daisies

Hello! Today, I am sharing a flower-themed card created with Spellbinders products in the Through the Meadow Collection by Susan Tierney-Cockburn. I paired the realistic painted daisies with a floral-themed, dry-embossed background. The result is a refined, vintage-inspired design that feels both classic and enduring.

- Cut a 5″ square panel of soft blue cardstock and dry-emboss with the Wildly Beautiful folder. Add to card base.
- Cut the Painted Daisy petals and leaves from Susan’s Garden Specialty Cardstock and color. I followed the video on the product page for coloring and shaping instructions, using Pan Pastels to color. Painted daisies come in a variety of colors —I recommend finding a visual reference to explore the many beautiful possibilities! I cut the flower centers from dark gray cardstock to match Power Outage Prills. Once assembled, glue the flowers and leaves to the card front.
- Stamp the Message Strips sentiment on off-white cardstock with dark gray ink and cut with the coordinating die. Add to card front with foam adhesive.

The Sweetheart Sale is available now at Spellbinders through February 16, 2025 at 11:59 MST.

Paint Resist Technique

Hello! Today, I am sharing a CAS encouragement/friendship card that uses the paint resist technique.

I applied Picket Fence paint to an older Hero Arts stamp – Leaf and Floral Background – and stamped the image on white cardstock. Once the paint was dry, I applied Peacock Feathers and Faded Jeans inks. I then wiped away the painted areas with a slightly damp paper towel. This technique gives a subtler resist than heat-embossing the image.

I cut the panel with a die from a retired MFT Blueprints set. I stamped the sentiment, from the Simon Says Stamp You Got This set, with Mama Elephant Smoke ink.