It’s a beautiful day because it is release day for Hero Arts! And this month’s My Monthly Hero kit does not disappoint with its gorgeous scenery. Let’s take a look at the kit.

Adventure lies ahead with our August My Monthly Hero kit. The desert southwest is your destination as you create beautiful landscapes with the kit’s layering stencils. We’ve included four ink colors to get you started, but a rainbow of possibilities await. Add some glistening shimmer with PearlEx powder. There are dies to cut out the desert elements, and a message set with greetings that are great for cardmaking and journaling alike. Be wild and free as you enjoy the creative journey!
Kit Contents: | • 3″ x 4″ Clear Stamp Set |
• 4 Color Layering Stencils (5.25″ x 6.5″) | |
• 6 Coordinating Frame Cuts | |
• 4 Ink Cubes (Caramel, Sand, Tangerine, Pine) | |
• 5 Sheets Luxe White Watercolor Paper (5.5″ x 8.5″) | |
• Bronze PearlEx (0.11 oz.) |
Kit Value: $70
Kit Cost: $34.99
For my first card, I used the stencils in a pretty traditional way. I did add a bit of fine details to give it a different look. Let’s get to it!

Hero Arts did a fantastic job of labeling these stencils in order but in reality, there isn’t a wrong way to do it. I didn’t follow the order for this card and I’m very happy with the final result. Starting with some white cardstock, I used the stencils to ink blend all the colors. When the panel was finished, I used the blending brushes to add a bit more color to the areas I thought were too white (sky and part of the ground) for a soft look. On a separate piece of white cardstock, I ink blended a cactus and smaller plant. Cacti have some beautiful flowers and I thought the smaller plant would work for a flower. These were die cut and set aside.

For some extra definition, I used a black fine liner to add details to the rock with help from the stencil. It really defines it just a bit more. I also added a some white gel pen to areas. The panel was cut down and a matte was added. I also stamped the sentiment on Sand cardstock and trimmed to size. The sentiment and cactus were added with some extra scrap pieces glued behind for dimension. I cut birds from black cardstock to add in the sky. If you don’t have any dies for this, it would be very simple to add them with a black pen/marker. The finished panel was added to an A2 top folding card base.
Supply List:
- My Monthly Hero August 2022
- Dove White Cardstock
- Sand Cardstock
- Black Fine Liner Pen
- White Gel Pen
- Reactive Inks: Green Apple, Key Lime Fizz, Creamsicle, Lemon Drop, Splash, Rootbeer.
- Inks: Just Rust, Raspberry Jam, Rose Madder (Azalea), Green Hills, Intensified Black.
- Sky Scene Dies (Birds)
My second card for today uses just part of the stencil for a simple/cleaner look.

I started with a 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inch white panel and masked off a portion of it. I used the area of the stencil with the cacti for my focal point of the card. I ink blended through the stencils for the ground/background. I then ink blended the cacti and “flowers” on a separate piece of cardstock and die cut. Extra die cut pieces were cut for added dimension behind the cacti and glued together. I really love that parts of the scene go into the white space of the card.

The sentiment would have been obscured by the cactus in front so a bit of stamp surgery had to be done. Have no fear though… it goes back together quite easily! I cut the stamp apart in order to lengthen it and stamped it in black ink. The cacti were adhered to the panel with some of the extra “flowers”. I added a few clear drops because an Oasis needs water right?! The panel was cut down on the top and bottom with a small strip of sand cardstock added for a matte. It was then adhered to a top folding white card base.
Supply List:
- Same as above but includes Reactive inks in: Grape Slush and Purple Galaxy
- Clear Drops
GIVEAWAY: | We will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, August 7th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week. |
Thanks so much for joining me today! Have fun and stay crafty with this kit!

Wonderful scenic detail and making me think back to when I travelled along Route 66 yearrs ago.
Melissa
“Sunshine HoneyBee”
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Yes!!! The clean and simple look makes the stencils even more versatile. Use in whole or part. Either way is a fantastic outcome. Love your makes.
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Great idea to use the aloe type cacti for flowers! and I love your oasis card!
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Just so awesome
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What a beautiful card. The addition of the flowers and birds made the scene jump from the card. Thank you for sharing.
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Beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing.
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Oh, the flowers make me happy. I have never seen flowers on cactuses out in the desert. Maybe in the spring…
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I love the detail you added with the fineliner and the adorable cactus flowers you created. Love the look of your second card too!
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Stunning cactus! LOVE these scenes!
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Love your creative and appealing cards! Your color palettes are fantastic, and I really like the sentiments you used on both of these. And LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this kit!
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Beautiful cards! I love the bright flowers!
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Love the colors on both.
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Great cards! I love how you used the smallest cactus as flowers on the large cactus! Thanks for sharing.
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Beautiful cards! Great colors and details!
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So beautiful!
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Great job showing the versatility of this set.
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These are so beautiful!! I love the colors you used. I can’t wait to have this kit as I live in Southern Arizona and this is perfect.
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Love the cactus garden. thanks for
sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
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I definitely like your take on a spring day in the desert with the beautiful blooms popping out. Its a happy card and the colors are fresh and sunny.
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