March My Monthly Hero release blog hop!

Hello! Today another fabulous kit is releasing over in the Hero Arts store. You should have landed here from the blog of one of my favorite people, Mariana Grigsby! If you didn't, be sure to head back to the Hero Arts blog and learn more about this awesome kit!

This month's kit was a collaboration with Marianne Walker! If you don't know Marianne, she is the queen of Copic markers! Her coloring is amazing. She's a super talented artist. And she's incredibly nice. I'm so thrilled I got to work with her on this kit!!

The main kit contains some coloring cards drawn by Marianne. They are so much fun to color!! I colored a couple of them, they are on the homepage slider and kit landing page over on the Hero Arts website. Another cool thing about the kit is that there are stamps & dies included - and the stamp images match some of the images in the coloring cards! So if you want, you can color the card, and then stamp an additional image, color it in, die cut it out, and add it to your card! FUN!! Or, you can just do what I did on these cards, and use the stamps on their own, without the coloring cards.

This first card reminds me of two things. First, the azaleas that grow all over the place here in Georgia. I love them!! This card kind of looks like a bush with azaleas popping out. Or... it also looks a bit like poinsettias! But I made this a sympathy card, not Christmas - so we're going with azaleas! (Even though that's not really an azalea bloom... but work with me here, people!) :-)

I stamped and white embossed the flowers all over a piece of watercolor paper. Then I just quickly added paint to the card. Nothing perfect here - just quick paint on the card. I love this look! I also wanted to show you that you don't have to ONLY use this kit with Copics! Although I do adore my Copics. I used them for the next card...

This is another little blossom stamp in the kit. I drew in the long stems by hand, then stamped the cute little leaf that's in the stamp set. So who still has their corrugator? I am determined to make that tool have a crafty comeback - I love the look of corrugation!

I'm in the launch blog hop with some of my favorite coloring professionals on the planet. Seriously, they are my stamping idols, and I'm kind of freaking out a little. In fact, I almost want to run and hide somewhere because I really cannot hang with these ladies. But alas, here I am. HA! So why don't you visit their blogs, leave some love - and while you're at it, you'll be entered into the drawing for one of two awesome prizes - either an MMH kit, or a prize pack put together by Marianne herself.

The Hero Arts Blog
Marianne Walker
Sharon Harnist
Cindy Lawrence
Lori Craig
Debbie Olson
Michelle Houghton
Mariana Grigsby
Libby Hickson (me!)

Before I go, I have to share one more thing. When I was in Anaheim for the big Craft & Hobby Association tradeshow in January, I got to get my photo snapped with a few of these amazing ladies. Yes, I am the stampy paparazzi. It was such a thrill to see all of them!!

Here I am with Cindy and Debbie. I was trying to get their coloring skills to rub off on me. No such luck.

This is with Lori (yikes I look exhausted!).

And here I am with the kit artist herself - Marianne. YAY!!! It was so much fun to say hi to all of them.

Now be sure to head on over to the Hero Arts store and pick up your kit HERE!!