January My Monthly Hero Countdown: Idea #1 + Giveaway!

Hello and welcome as we begin the countdown to the release of the January My Monthly Hero Kit! Release day is Monday, January 7th at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific. We will be here throughout the weekend, sharing ideas for using both the main kit, as well as the new optional add-on products that will also be available on Monday. Stay tuned for more inspiration all weekend long! Now let's join Jess for the first look at this sweet kit.

When I first saw this kit I immediately thought of a cute date for Valentine's Day...perhaps at a little cafe in a quaint little main street in a small town! In addition to the coordinating dies that come with the kit there is a fabulous stand alone die that creates this adorable easel. I decided to use it just as is to create a fun shaped card in the style of an outdoor menu board!

First I die-cut the outline of the easel two times from white cardstock and the chalkboard once with black cardstock. I scored a line about 3/4s of an inch down from the the top of the second outline and then added adhesive above the scoreline. I adhered it to the back of the first outline to create a standing card. Next I stamped the sentiment onto the black cardstock with Versamark and heat-embossed it with white embossing powder. Then I used a sponge dauber to sponge a little Unicorn White Pigment Ink around the edges to mimic a chalkboard. While it was still a little wet I sprinkled the pigment ink with White Embossing Powder and heat-embossed it for even more contrast.

Next I stamped the flowers, vases, and balloons with Intense Black Ink and colored them with Copic markers. I die-cut them with the coordinating dies and then die-cut an extra of each vase. I adhered the bottom of the flowers to the vases. Then I adhered the flowers to the chalkboard with regular adhesive. I applied a square of foam mounting tape to the back of the vases and adhered the extra die-cut vases behind them for a little extra stability. Finally I tucked the balloon through the top of the easel and added a little liquid adhesive to the bottom of the strings to hold it in place.

Obviously this doesn't look like a card that you'd send through the mail (though if you removed the balloons, or tucked them behind the flowers, it would totally work). Personally I envision it as a card I could set on my husband's plate on Valentine's Day (perhaps with a note inside making a date for our favorite little cafe!)

Win a kit before you can buy it! Just leave a comment on this (and every) Countdown to Creativity post! We’ll randomly draw one lucky winner from all the comments left across all countdown posts, and announce the winner first thing Monday morning, January 7th, before the kit launches at 10am Pacific. The more you comment, the more chances to win!

Thanks so much for stopping by and make sure to check back all weekend for even more My Monthly Hero inspiration!!