22 May 2019

Hero Arts 45th Anniversary Blog Hop Day One

Hello there, today we are celebrating both Hero Arts 45th Birthday and also the release of the 2019 Summer Catalogue. If you haven't already seen, for the summer release, Hero Arts have recreated images that they have had throughout the years and re released them for this special occasion. As well as the stamps, there are also new inks. These are reactive inks and are so fun to use.


My first project uses the new From The Vault Beach And Sea Stamp Set. This is one of my favourite sets from this release, I was drawn towards the beautiful dolphins. I have actually made two cards using this set already and you can see those here. For my card today, I decided to use them with a fun background using the new inks. I first stamped the dolphins on to white cardstock with Intense Black Ink. I then simply coloured them using Copic Markers and fussy cut them out with scissors.

 
I took four of the new Reactive Inks that I thought would work together to create a nice sea. I first took Splash Reactive Ink and smooshed this on to my glass mat. I misted it with water and then pounced a piece of Alcohol Ink Cardstock in to it. I dried this with a heat tool and then continued to do this with the other colours - Blue Hawaii, Pool Party and Blue Raspberry. I dried the layers in between and then once I had completed my final layer, I took some Distress Glaze on an Ink Blending Tool and blended this on top. This brings out the beautiful colours of the inks and shows all the different layers.
 

I die cut this piece using one of the Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies. I took a Dove White Top Folding Card Base and cut this down so that it was 4" wide. I ran this through my die cutting machine to emboss the next size up of the Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies. I adhered the inked piece on top with tape runner and then added the dolphins using foam tape. I took the sentiments from the Mix & Match Compliments Stamp Set and stamped these on to Pitch Black Cardstock using the new Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink Pad. I applied Detail White Embossing Powder and heat set. These were cut in to strips and added to the card with foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Raindrops with Precision Glue.


My next card uses the adorable From the Vault Cute Animals Stamp Set, as well as the Reactive Inks. I took the hippo and bird image from the set and stamped this on to white cardstock with Intense Black Ink. I coloured them with Copic Markers and fussy cut out (but there are dies available). I set this aside while I worked on my background.

 
I took a panel of watercolour paper and masked off the bottom. Using a blending brush, I first applied Pool Party at the top of the panel. I then blended on Blue Hawaii in the middle, followed by Grape Slush at the bottom. I then splattered on some water to create the reaction and set aside to dry. Once dry, I stamped the sentiment in the top left hand corner. I took a thin strip of Pitch Black Cardstock and adhered this below the inked line.
 
 
The panel was added to a white Top Folding Card Base with tape runner and then I added the hippo and bird image on top with foam tape. I added black glaze pen to the hippos eyes and then added Crystal Clear Lacquer on the bird.

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

Copic Markers: Dolphins - N5, N3, N2, N1, B41. Hippo - W7, E5, W4, W3, W2, W1. Bird - B06, B04, B02, B00.


BLOG HOP:

 
For the Blog Hop, you should have arrived here from the wonderful May Sukyong Park. Next in the hop is the amazing Yana Smakula. If you get lost along the way, you can find all the links over on the Hero Arts Blog.


GIVEAWAY:

There are some amazing prizes up for grabs during this hop, along with Hero Arts, there are some fantastic sponsors giving away prizes for the hop too:


All you need to do to enter is to leave a comment on the stops in the hop over the three days. The more you comment, the more chances to win! The giveaway closes on Sunday 2nd June at 11.59pm PST. The winners will be announced on the Hero Arts Blog the following week. Good Luck!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today, have a great day!

285 comments:

  1. Happy anniversary Hero Arts! Beautiful cards Michelle, love those reactive inks

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  2. gorgeous inky backgrounds ... love the heart-off-the-edge

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  3. 45 years is quite the milestone in this industry congratulations HA! This card is beautiful🐋

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  4. These are so adorable. :) Love the simple design of each card.

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  5. Your ink blending is so pretty, and both of your cards turned out great.

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  6. Simple, elegant cards. So hard for me to do. Thanks for the examples to follow!

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  7. The dolphin is awesome. Love your coloring!
    Happy 45 anniversary to Hero Arts - a favorite company with a great product line!

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  8. Just love your crisp and clean creations with those lovely blue tones.

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  9. Fantastic CAS cards! I love the blue :)

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  10. beautiful cards, love that background you created - I think I may need those reactive inks

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  11. Such gorgeous inked backgrounds! I love the heart shape and the way you colored the dolphins!

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  12. Such nice cards. Loving the new inks!! The little bird on the hippos back cracks me up!

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  13. love the designs of your sweet cards - the ink blending is awesome:)

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  14. Love these dolphins! Your use of the reactive inks is great! I need to try these!

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  15. I have that Hippo which was originally on wood block. He is just as adorable today as he was when I purchased him. Hero Arts knows what they're doing!

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  16. Love how you used the reactive inks

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  17. Amazing cards. Love the backgrounds you created with the new inks.
    Thanks so much for sharing...

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  18. The happy hippo is the best!! Love your backgrounds :)

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  19. Your cards are soo cool !!

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  20. Great card! I thought I loved the dolphins... and then I saw the hippo! They are both great!

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  21. what a cute hippo!.. love it.. thanks!!

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  22. Such pretty cards, love the simplicity and wonderful colors!

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  23. Such great use of white space. Your cards really pop

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  24. Adorable clean and simple cards!

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  25. What sweet cards, Michelle, I am in love with the hippo one - simply darling!

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  26. That hippo is so cute. Simple cards but very pretty. Love the ink blending.

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  27. I just love the dolphins! That card would be just great for my 27 year old son---he kiteboards with dolphins!

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  28. Happy Anniversary!
    Such lovely cards.. thanks so much for sharing.

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  29. Got a chuckle with bird on hippo, actually saw one at the zoo once. Cute cards

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  30. Delightful dolphins, playing in the water shaped heart. Like that cute hippo card.

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  31. Love this hippo card! It is one of my favorite style of cards.

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  32. I love these cards! So much fun! Thank you for your wonderful inspiration!

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  33. Hi Michelle, I love your cards!! So cute! Your ink blending and backgeounds are so pretty. I'm definitely looking forward to giving the new Hero Arts reactive inks a try. The colors are gorgeous!

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  34. Both of your cards are fabulous! I love the new reactive inks because they are so bright but react to water like the Distress Oxide Inks. There are times that I just have to have vibrant blends. Happy 45th Birthday!

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  35. Simple but beautiful cards. I love the simple look, but for some reason when I try to do simple I feel like I need more. LOL

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  36. Your cards are beautiful. I love the look of these new inks.

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  37. Your cards are beautiful and I love how you work those blue inks! Thanks for sharing your talent!

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  38. Aww Love the off the card heart

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  39. Such simple, beautiful cards, love your backgrounds~

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  40. I love the heart off the edge of the card...so pretty.

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  41. I love that Hippo :0) So cute. What great cards. Hero Arts is one of my favorite companies.

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  42. Great cards, may have to try more of the reactive inks

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  43. Your cards are so Beautiful and Sweet!!!

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  44. Fun idea to have the heart and tail
    of the whale reach over the side of
    the card. The hippo card is
    simple and so cute. thanks for
    sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  45. Love your "oceany" card. I love the water, and anything like this enchants me. Your coloring is gorgeous and I love the hippo, too! So cute. You did a nice job on both of them. Clean and defined. Thanks so much.

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  46. I love both crds, but the hippo with the bird just wins my heart. What a cute image! I think you really did it justice with you simple card design.

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  47. The hippo card -- I just love it!

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  48. Your cards are so darling! I love the dolphins! And the little
    birdie sitting on the hippo is so sweet. Great backgrounds!

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  49. Two beautiful cards !
    I like the effect of the heart & dolphings passing the right side of the card.
    The hippo-card is a cute and happy one !

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  50. Cute rods & these new inks look like so much fun!

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  51. Beautiful cards! Love what you are doing with the new inks.

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  52. Pretty cards! Love the backgrounds you created - those inks look amazing!

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  53. Such a fun card, love the background.

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  54. Love your use of color. Such sweet, whimsical cards! Thank you.

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  55. Your cards are so sweet! They bring a smile!

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  56. Your cards are so sweet! They bring a smile!

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  57. Wonderful cards -- love them both. The style of the first one is so unique and the coloring on the heart is gorgeous.

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  58. So pretty! I love the way those inks react! Both cards are amazing - love the heart ocean! Happy 45th Hero Arts!

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  59. The cards are so pretty. The dolphin card is my favorite. Live background you created for all of them, though.

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  60. They look easy to do and are just adorable!

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  61. Beautiful ! I'm in love with dolphins ! And your blue shades are gorgeous ! Beautiful cards :)

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  62. I like be your clean style! Such cute cards!

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  63. I like the heart hanging off the edge of the card and the hippo is adorable!

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  64. Pretty backgrounds for the hippo and dolphins.

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  65. Beautiful cards!! The background colors are amazing!!

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  66. Happy Anniversary Hero Arts! 🎉

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  67. My2 favorite stamp sets from vault and love how you used the reactive inks for vibrant backgrounds! Love these cards!

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  68. These are fantastic! Love the ink cards and the cute animals are the best!

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  69. The colors of reactive inks you used and your technique are really beautiful Thanks for sharing your ideas.

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  70. Aw, so cute. I loved the backgrounds too. Thank you for sharing. Brenda West

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  71. I love your hippo card. I'm all about beach/ocean, but the hippo just made me smile! And again, I can't wait to try to reactive inks. I just know they are going to take over my table!

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  72. Oh, I am loving the "from the vault" stamps. These animals are so cute on your card.

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  73. Love your cards and the Reactive Inks!

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  74. Hero Arts has so many great selections tfs your beautiful card

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  75. Those inks and your hard work are amazing.

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  76. How fun.. I love how the simple change up create these beautiful cards!

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  77. What lovely projects, thanks for the inspirational idea! Hero Arts products are always so fun to use.

    Carol B

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  78. Those dolphins are so cute and I love the look of water you created!

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  79. Such sweet cards and the backgrounds are awesome!

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  80. Love the cute little animals! The dolphins are adorable and I love the sweet little hippo as well!

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  81. Love those stamps from the vault! Your cards are very fun, Michelle!

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  82. I love your cards - especially the dolphins! I can't wait to try the new reactive inks; they look like such fun (and gorgeous colours too).

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  83. Michelle, love your cards! That hippo is so cute! I must have all the reactive inks!!! Thank you for sharing!

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  84. I just love how you use color behind your focal points and then leave some white for the other space. Crisp, clean looking cards, very nice

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  85. great cards, Michelle! Love them.

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  86. Lovely card. Your ocean scenes are so peaceful.

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  87. Love the cards. Thanks for sharing your talents with us. Can hardly wait to get my hands on the inks.

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  88. New reactive inks look great. Lovely cards

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  89. These cards are a fresh take on simple layouts, and they makes such a statement! Thanks for sharing your creativity.

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  90. What fabulous cards. Love how you created the watery heart and the gorgeous inked sky for the hippo card.

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  91. Lovely colour choices. I really like how the heart hangs over the edge on your dolphin card.

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  92. Super cute cards Michelle. Love the blue hues and the cool 'backgrounds'.. especially that heart hanging off the card. So creative!

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  93. Beautiful cards! Happy Anniversary Hero Arts!

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  94. such a pretty cards hippo is so cute . happy 45th anniversary hero arts .. such great products heres me hoping to win missing my older stamps since your vaults stamps are so cute

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  95. Those reactive inks look like so much fun! Your cards are super cool!

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  96. Great cards. I love those new inks.

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  97. Love under the sea cards. Your card is gorgeous. I just love sea creatures !!!

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  98. I love the hippo! So cute!

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  99. Love your card! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  100. Such beautiful blending with those reactive inks. Love those colors! That hippo and bird card is the cutest!

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  101. Love,love the little hippo

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  102. Beautiful cards! Love the color combinations. Happy 45th anniversary Hero Arts!

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  103. That dolphin card would be a wonderful mother's day card! Loved it. Happy 45th Hero Arts. You are our hero!!

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  104. Darling cards and stamps. Thanks...

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  105. Your cards are so cute. Love the colors you used.

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  106. Awesome anniversary and
    love how your elements
    hang off the cards.
    Carla from Utah

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  107. Such wonderfully CAS cards! Love how the heart goes off the edge on the first one and that hippo image is so cute!

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  108. Your simple cards are simply lovely. Love the dolphins and the hippo made me smile

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  109. Such happy cards. Love the colors

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  110. those inks look like fun! you certainly made some fun cards with them!

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  111. I love these two cards - the blues & the use of these beautiful products. Thanks!

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  112. Lovely cards....clean and simple, yet so effective ��

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  113. Just wonderful cards. I love the dolphins. And that hippo background is amazing. Great coloring and designs. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  114. I love the reactive inks! I liked both of your cards but my favorite is the one with the dolphins!

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  115. I especially love your Happy Hello card--beautiful background and adorable hippo!

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  116. Love the cards/ideas and love HA! So happy it's stayed in the family for so long - and many more years I hope!

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  117. The hippo and bird are so cute! These inks look wonderful!

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  118. Love the wonderful effects you got with the reactive inks. Thanks for the great tips!

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  119. Awesome cards! Love the dolphins and the hippo! Gorgeous backgrounds!

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  120. Wow.. such a cute card.. Happy anniversary Hero arts..

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  121. I love the backgrounds. WOW

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  122. Beautiful card. Love your fun stamps and backgrounds.

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  123. I love the dolphin card... And I saw the hippo! Oh my gosh... Adorable! And I have to get me some of those nesting heart dies. Thank you for sharing.

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  124. I love the reactive ink background you made for your dolphins and hippo. The cards are darling. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us

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  125. Love your cards hero arts is one of the best in the industry.

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  126. Terrific cards! Really loving the cute animal stamp.

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  127. Cute cards! Thanks for the chance to win and sharing.

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  128. The Hippo is so cute! Happy Anniversary Hero Arts!

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  129. Such sweet cards, the hippo and bird stamp gave me a good chuckle!

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  130. Ohhhh, your caards are so fun and playful. Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration. Kind regards from stempelfrida
    http://stempelfrida.blogspot.de

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  131. Yaay two of my favorite animals 😂 beautiful cards!

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  132. What sweet cards! I love the new inks so much. They are tops on my list.

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  133. I love all of the new ideas!

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  134. Love the gorgeous backgrounds! The colors...oh my. I really like the first card with the hearts.

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  135. Both of these cards are so cute. I love the layout and colors.

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  136. Gorgeous cards. I love the dolphins! I’m loving the yummy backgrounds from these inks. I can’t wait to try them myself.

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  137. I am absolutely IN LOVE with that adorable hippo card! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  138. Thank you for the lovely inspiration! Congrats to Hero Arts!

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  139. Your hippo card is cute. Those inks are amazing! Thanks for sharing your wonderful cards!

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  140. Adorable cards. Who doesn't love dolphins and hippos? The reactive inks look like a must have.

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  141. Love these inks..You have shared beautiful cards,Thanks!!

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  142. Your CAS cards are so much fun and so cute, Michelle! Your backgrounds are super pretty! Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring us all!

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  143. I love the mix of inks to give that water look. It has movement. Lovely cards

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  144. Very darling cards. Say Summer for sure.

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  145. What sweet cards!! I love the bird on the hippo!

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  146. wonderful cards - love your backgrounds!

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  147. I wish I could get my hands on some of those new reactive inks. Your backgrounds are beautiful.

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  148. I LOVE the simple layout! Fantastic. What a beautiful card!

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  149. Can't beat Hero Arts for adorable stamps! Wonderful cards!

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  150. I love Hero Arts and blog hops because they inspire me to create--thank you!

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  151. Lovely cards. Happy 45th Hero Arts.

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  152. Sweet cards. Pretty backgrounds.

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  153. wonderful cards- I really love the dolphins!

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  154. Happy Anniversary Hero Arts! I'm Happy after looking at your cards. Thanks for sharing this great new release.

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  155. Beautiful cards! Love those cute animals you used along with the fabulous blending you did!

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  156. These are so beautiful and fun!

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  157. Cute cards. Love both the dolphins and hippo. Nice coloring.

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  158. Simple Cards and oh so beautiful though. I have to learn to do simple. Love how the heart extends over, love those dolphins! Thanks sooo much for your inspoiration!

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  159. Fantastic cards. Love the backgrounds you created. Thanks for sharing.

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  160. I just love your CAS style cards! That new water-reactive ink is fabulous. I NEED to try it. Thanks for the inspiration. :D

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  161. Your cards are so clean, simple and beautiful!

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  162. Aww.. so adorable...Love both the cards.. cuteness overloaded..

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  163. Fabulous card! Love the dolphins!

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  164. Beautiful cards and I also love these from the vault images - very cool!

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  165. I love how you used the new inks and the colors too!! The little critters are adorable too!!

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  166. Such sweet cards. Love your clean and simple style. Great designs.

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  167. Love those beautiful backgrounds and the dolphins are sweet as can be! Both those stamp sets are on my list (it keeps growing longer and longer)

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  168. Love these. The hippo card might just be my favourite but I like the dolphin too. Great combination.

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  169. These reactive inks make such beautiful water scenes. Love the dolphins too.

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  170. Fun designs! The hippo is adorable.

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  171. Those reactive inks make super backgrounds! Love your cards - so fun! Thanks for sharing!

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  172. Pretty cards with.beautiful backgrounds ❤️

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  173. The hippo makes me giggle. I truly like the white space in both of the cards.

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  174. Lovely cards and pretty colours!

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  175. It is quite exciting to find a crafting company that is older than me! hahaha! I love the simplicity of all your cards and especially the blue backgrounds. The reactive ink looks really interesting! xx

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  176. Super cute cards! Love the backgrounds!

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  177. Great cards. I love the off the card design with the whales.

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  178. sweet and fun cards, Michelle!

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  179. Beautiful work, Michelle. That combination of blues is simply DEVINE! You have used those 'From the Vault' stamps so perfectly it's like you've given them a new lease of life. Well done you :)

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  180. the simplicity and beauty of your cards is inspiring

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