Fan Feature!

Join us today in celebrating fans around the web!!

It's plain and simple.. we LOVE seeing our stamps in use. We love seeing them shared on our facebook page, instagrammed, tweeted and stumbling across them on pinterest.

We also LOVE sharing your works with our other fans! And that's just what we're doing today! If you want to be featured in a fan feature, be sure to tag us (#vivalasvegastamps, #vlvstamps) so we stumble across your project!

First up today is Tera:

She's used:
Victorian Cameraman 1 3/4 x 3 1/4
I'd Rather Be In Paris 1 x 1 1/2
Carpe The Hell 1 x 3 1/4
Parisien 1 x 2 1/4

Next up is Czekoczyna:

 She's used:

Swirl Background 2 3/4 x 5 3/4

And finally Louise Nelson:

She's used:

Flying Bird Trio 3/4 x 1

Tropical Dream Journal

Hello stampers! It's Amy here today, to share a journal I created to contain all of my hopes, dreams, and future plans. Because I hope beyond hope that my future means living in Hawaii, I created the cover of this book with tropical flair.

I started by taking an old paperback children's book and covering it with a thick layer of gesso. When it was dry, I put little drips of acrylic paints in tropical colors all along the book, and went over them with a brayer.

When the paint was dry, I stamped the background using the Map Background 4 1/2 x 4 3/4 using Momento Ink in Tuxedo Black . I then layered up some scrap papers (7 Dots Studio and vintage book pages) to create a palm tree trunk (using miracle tape), and a bit for layers along the side.

I colored on the Fancy Grass/Weeds stamp, using Copic markers in mistletoe and burnt sienna, stamped them onto a library card, and fussy cut them out. I then layered them onto the base of the "tree trunk." When that was complete, I stamped the Anchor 1 1/2x2 with the black Momento ink, and fussy cut it out as well.

I created the palm fronds, by cutting cheesecloth, and spraying it with Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Mint until it was saturated. When it was try, I arranged it to create the top of the tree, and added two brown buttons from my stash, as coconuts!
Adding the adventure awaits sentiment (stamped onto a library card), a few stamped Stars, and 7 Dots Studio alpha stickers spelling out "Dream"; as well as some UmWowStudio chipboard, completed my book cover.

This was a fun, quick, and exciting project to create, and it gives me a place to journal my dreams......which is an added bonus!

Thanks so much for joining me today, and I hope I inspired you to get inky!

Supplies Used:
Viva Las VegaStamps!: Map Background, Stars, Adventure Awaits, Anchor, Fancy Grass/Weeds.
Ink: Tsukeinko Momento, Tuxedo Black; Copic Marker, burnt sienna, mistletoe
Paper: 7 Dots Studio
Chipboard: UmWowStudio

Paper Haus Release - Winter Frolic - GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the Viva Las VegaStamps! stop on the Winter Frolic 12 Days Of Christmas Blog Hop!

We are celebrating the release of the Winter Issue of PaperHaus Magazine but also inspiring you each day with wonderful holiday projects, giveaways and inspiration! The blog hop will run from December 1st to December 12th! Be sure to stop each day and leave a comment each day to win some fabulous prizes by all the lovely sponsors! Don't forget to check out the Winter Issue for additional inspiration, holiday cheer and some amazing projects from our contributing team!

The wonderful blogs on our hop today are...

• PaperHaus Magazine www.thepaperhaus.com
• Jodi Baune http://dancingintherainjb.blogspot.com/
• Lori Hairston www.lorihairston.blogspot.com
• Viva Las VegaStamps! : http://vivalas.blogspot.com

A little introduction about us.. We are Viva Las VegaStamps! -- America's Rubber Stamp Paradise. We manufacture deeply etched pink rubber stamps that come wood mounted, cushion clinged, and just as plain ol' rubber! We have over NINETEEN THOUSAND different rubber stamps available in all sorts of categories like Vintage, Steampunk, People, Holidays, Postal, Animals, Bugs and what seems like a million more.

Now we have some beautiful inspiration for you! These glorious Christmas cards come from DT member Hermine Koster

She's used the following of our deeply etched pink rubber stamps:

• Xmas Silhouette Collage 19317
• Bring on the twinkle 19313
• Set of three ornaments 19309
• With love 19302

All these stamps can also been found on plate 1411 -- which happens to be OUR GIVEAWAY TODAY!

Just comment on the blogs today and be sure to READ the beautiful magazine full of goodness! 

Christmas Card in Black #VLVS #VivaLasVegaStamps #VLVS #ChristmasCard

Black isn't a color you usually associate with the holidays but it works surprisingly well as a base when using metallic or glittery gel pens.

Supplies

VLVS! Stamps Used:

Santa Smoking - Item 19314 Plate 1411

Sakura of America Gellyroll Pens
     Stardust: Red-Star, Lime-Star, Green-Star, Sky-Star, Golden-Star
     Metallic: Green, Gold, Blue, Red
     Standard: White

Tim Holtz Distress Markers: Barn Door, Peeled Paint

Elmer's Paint Pens: White, Black

Kromecote A2 Cardstock
Strathmore 140 lb cold-press watercolor paper 8 x 10
Golden Black Gesso
Miracle Tape
A finger or blending tool

Fold the sheet of watercolor paper in half so the more textured side is on the front.

Paint the front with black gesso, leaving a white border around it.  Don't worry about crisp  or even edges.

Stamp the Santa on a piece of Kromecote and color him with the Distress Markers.  
Place enough Miracle tape to cover the Santa.  Leave the strip on the back side of the tape for now.

Cut him out.

Remove the back strip from the Miracle Tape, and place the Santa so he is flush with the bottom of the card and outside the black area.

Add some blue metallic around the Santa and smudge it with your finger or blending tool (I really find the finger does a better job.  The oils I think).  Smudging must be done immediately while the ink is still wet.

Use the Gold Metallic pen to draw a border around the black, but keep a black border around the gold.

Continuing with the gold pen, outline a simple christmas tree, each section a triangular shape with three loops on the bottom.  Keep a line of black between each section.

Add the gold ornaments.  Simple again--just round and oval blobs.

Outline the packages, still using the gold pen..  Don't worry about perspective.  This is a primitive-style drawing so simplicity is what counts.  Make one large package next to Santa, and then draw 2 small packages behind him and the tree.  If you can fit another small one between the large package and tree do so, but don't sweat it.  

Fill in a stripe around the boxes for ribbon, and draw loops for the bow.

Color the area around tree, packages and Santa with the Red-star pen. Throughout, while you are coloring, leave a thick, black line between your color and the gold lines.  The black does not have to be an even thickness. It's more interesting if it isn't.

Use the red metallic to place stripes that run from the edge of the card toward the tree.  They won't show much, but will add a little depth.

Switch to the green metallic pen and color each section of the tree completely.

Switch to the Green-star pen and draw stripes from the bottom of each section to the top (same reason as with the red stripes)

Now switch to the lime-star and add similar stripes.

Switch to the Golden-star and make dots along the center stripes.

Use the blue metallic to draw the strings for the lights. Use the Red-star to color the lights (simple ovals), then use the Elmer's paint pen for white highlights.

For the rest of the black (except the border on the outside of the gold) color it with blue metallic.  Rather than making it solid blue, color a section about the size of your fingertip, and then smudge it as far as you can.  Keep doing this until the black is covered, but hints of it show through in places.

In the white border, on the left edge, color a dot of blue metallic about the twice the size of the pen's tip, and smear it in a fan shape.  Go down 1/2 and inch or so, and repeat this on the right edge.  Continue doing this around the entire border. Just skip over Santa and continue on the other side of him.

Use the black Elmer's painter pen to adjust your black lines.  If you have places without a black line around objects, add one.  If you have an area where it's just too, too uneven, even it out a bit (don't get to fussy about this.  It's a primitive-style, remember?).

In the white border, where you created the blue smudging, draw a line or two and smudge.

Finish by using the black Elmer's to thicken the Santa's outline on one side.


I hope you've enjoyed creating a Christmas Card in black!

Don't forget to check out the VLVS! November Challenge for a chance to win (plus it's fun!).

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Wonderland!For more of my work with Viva Las VegaStamps!, Amazing Mold Putty, zentangle-inspired art, and daily links to tangles, tutorials, and giveaways please visit my "Life Imitates Doodles" blog.   ~ Sandra Strait

Helpful Links: VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs; the  VLVS! Blog for new projects; VLVS! on  FaceBook,  Pinterest and Twitter

December Inspiration from Natasha

Hello! Nataliya is here :)
I congratulate everybody with the beginning of winter!
And today I will show you New Year Inspiration Book. I made it for our December challenge.

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!

As delimiters, I used clothespins:

In this book, I'll write Christmas recipes, text songs for my daughter, glued beautiful foto.

This envelopes for a wish list:

And I even make the envelope for CD with holiday music.

I created cover using texture paste, stencil, VLVS! stamps (Washi Lines Background 1 1/4 x 5 1/2) and cheesecloth.

And painted everything with a spray, add some stars - pearls & VLVS! stamps (Stars 2 x 2 1/4).

Have a festive day!

December Challenge

1st of all.. I can't believe it's DECEMBER already. JEEZ. SOARing right along to 2014. Thanks to all the beautiful entries from November's Challenge!

 It's now time to delve into Christmas and all the wintery goodness that comes at that time! This month's inspiration is all about green and red, trees, washi tape, and silhouettes!
See you this time next week for December's winner.

Don't forget the rules:

-Create a new project based on our inspiration board

-Use at least one (but certainly more if you want) Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps (please no competitor stamps on your entries)

-Post it to your blog with a link back to us

-Upload to our linky using your direct blog post link (You may also upload via facebook, flickr or other gallery)

You could win a Project Spotlight post on our blog + some new rubber of course!

You are welcome to draw inspiration from any portion of the board, as well as create any type of project. Cards, layouts, tags, altered bits n bobs. Draw inspiration from the color, the stamps, the FEEL, the images.. whatever! You do it, we wanna see it!

Visit tomorrow for inspiration from NATASHA!

-

Design Team Call---

That's right folks.. it's time for a DESIGN TEAM CALL here @ Viva Las VegaStamps!

We’re looking for all types of artists and welcome anyone who has a passion for rubber stamping to apply! Bring on the Mixed Media Artists, the Card Makers, the Scrapbookers, the Altered Artists, the Scene Stampers… we want you ALL!! International welcome to apply, too!

Our terms last six months. This term will run from January 1^st – June 31^st and has 8 openings.

Design Team requirements during your six month term are as follows:

1) Regularly promote VLVS! through:

a. online galleries

b. your blog

c. social media like facebook, twitter, youtube, flickr and pinterest

d. and by submitting to publications.

2) Complete a minimum of two (2) projects per month to be posted on the VLVS! blog, always using only Viva Las VegaStamps! images. Your posts must include at least one over all finished photo, one detail photo, a product list with appropriate working links to our online store and a short description on how you completed the project. Keep in mind occasionally you may be asked to follow certain criteria, ie; using a given product, following a theme, or creating for the season. We may also request an additional post in which case you would only be asked to share a project as inspiration with working links to the appropriate stamps. No need for tutorials or step by steps on inspiration posts. It is important you possess the necessary skills to photograph your projects well. We want to see them in their full glory; you should be able to provide well lit, focused, center of attention photos.

3) Participate in the online private facebook group for the team. Important information like schedules, future hops, logos, links and contact information are all kept in the group. I run a lot of ideas by the team and value their honest opinions.

4) Participate in blog hops and/or product swaps. (Some may be on a volunteer basis only)

5) Mail two (2) completed projects to the store for display. This is out of your whole six month term. We love having projects posted all around the store for people to ogle as they peruse through our stamps.

In return VLVS! will:

1) Provide you with regular shipments to keep you fully stocked on supplies, including but not limited to VLVS! Stamps, Miracle Tape, Embossing powder, and any product swap goods.

2) Provide you with a detailed schedule at least 2 weeks in advance.

3) Compensate you for extra work outside of the regular schedule. This will be based upon volunteer projects and any extra hops or swaps outside of said schedule.

4) Regularly promote you and your projects through online social medias, as well as display you and your personal blog address on our company blog.

How to apply:

Create a new post on your blog with the title “Viva Las VegaStamps! DT Tryout”. Include in your post three stamped projects that best represent you and your style. I’m open to cards, ATCs, tags, scrapbook pages, etc.! Because I want to see your best work I will not limit the stamped pieces to only Viva Las VegaStamps! stamps, but I’d love to see some if you have them!

Then, in an email to me (with a subject of “VLVS! DT CALL”) please include:

- your name

- a brief bio.. Who are you? Why do you create? That type of stuff!

- the link to your direct blog post titled Viva Las VegaStamps! DT Tryout

- the link to your facebook, twitter, pinterest and/or other accounts

- the link to any and all online galleries you regularly upload to

- any other important links you think I’d like to see

- a list of current and past design teams you have been on. (not necessary to be chosen for VLVS!)

- and last please also include in your post why you want to be on the VLVS! DT.

Email to deedee430@gmail.com with subject line “VLVS! DT CALL” due by 11/30 (November 30th) at midnight pacific standard time.

Applicants joining the team will be notified by December 10^th.

Christmas Grab Bags!! {GIVEAWAY}

You loved our Halloween Grab Bags... 

So we're doing CHRISTMAS Grab Bags, too!!!

Super limited.

SUPER PACKED FULL OF GOODNESS!!! 

Plus... right now... enter coupon code "cyber" to save ANOTHER 10% + FREE SHIPPING!!
(Coupon code expires 12/2/13)

AND : let's give one away!!
Repin THIS PIN HERE to be entered into the giveaway! One random winner gets a grab bag!

7 Dots Studio and Viva Las VegaStamps!

I am in love with the gorgeous paper collections from 7 Dots Studio!! We were lucky enough to have been given some of their fabulous goodies to play with and I used papers and die cuts from both the Messy head collection and the Love is in the air collection as well as the fabulous Wanderlust stamp

and the Don't follow your dreams stamp

to make this layout about my boys

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I used the 7 Dots Studio collections along with the Viva Las VegaStamps! stamps. Until next time,
Glenda

A STAR is Born... from Viva Las VegaStamps! and 7 Dots Studio Goodness!

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to share a handmade star book created using 7 Dots Studio Papers and my stash of VLVS!. I love making mini books for gifts and the double sided 12" x 12" cardstock is so beautiful - I knew it would make a perfect gift for my husbands' niece {her birthday is the same as mine}. She's 16 and I just know she will love this. I have to say - my stash of Miracle Tape made this so much easier than using glue stick as I have in the past... so easy and no sticky-gooey fingers.

Since I wanted to get the most mileage out of the 12 x 12 sheets, I used some strips of natural cardstock offcuts from work as my book base {I don't get offcuts of paper often at the printshop where I work, but when I do it comes in handy}. The size of them are 4 1/4" x 23" so I cut 7 sheets at 15" wide and also 13 1/2" wide; then scored to fold in half making long rectangular pages This will be a nice variation from the dozens of square books I've made previously. I cut the 7 Dots Studio Papers to 4 1/4" x 12". I like to make the book have a little more detail so I use the scraps and stitch them into the center of the book base pages. These sections were 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" and 4 1/4" x 2" - each then scored to fold in half. Before I assemble I swipe the edges of all sheets with coordinating colors of Cats Eye Chalk Inks to get rid of the white edges.

I decided my order of colors and patterns and nested the smaller pieces inside the largest base pages and punched two holes for stitching using a pushpin.

For each of the sections, I laced some May Arts natural burlap twine and tied a knot on the inside to secure. Now I have 7 little booklets sections.

I again arranged my sections by color and pattern as I wanted them in order in preparation for adhering the layered nesting pages. These nesting pages float freely and are adhered aligned to the edge of the page using 3/8" Miracle Tape. You can vary the amount of pages and dimensions to add more rays to the star book.

Keeping my sections in order, I used 1" Miracle Tape to adhere the sections together by taping the largest cardstock base pages back-to-back. This makes for a nice sturdy book. There are simpler ways to make a star book - I am just all about the "EXTRA" little details. You can leave out the stitched portion to make it quicker.

Now with my book assembled I added more Miracle Tape {I would have used Miracle Sheets, except I didn't have enough to do the job}. A adhered green crinkle satin May Arts Ribbon loosely around the spine area and layered more miracle tape over the top. I also added a blue sheer organza ribbon around the length to tie the book closed and layered tape over this as well. All this extra taping ensures the book and the ribbon won't pull apart.

 

I cut two sections of scrap chipboard to fit the cover and leaving a slight overhang; then wrapped with the gorgeous blue 7 Dots Studio "Love Is In The Air" patterned paper and my remaining Miracle Sheet cut to size... easy peasy!

Using a couple of the leftover patterned paper scraps, I stamped a quote and collage for the cover and matted onto navy blue cardstock leftover from my November T!m Tag; layering images in blue and black ink for added depth. **A NOTE** I started to stamp directly onto the cover AFTER I assembled and messed it up... yep this is a total "COVER UP". Note to self... stamp your cover art before mounting to book because it's not flat!!!

a STAR is Born...

I finished off with glittery We R Memory Keepers Sticker letters that matched perfectly and a few clear sticky-back bling colored to match with a green permanent marker. VOILA! All I need is a fancy pen and this gift is good to go :)

Would you LOVE to be a part of this Awesome team of Stamp Addicts???

Here's your chance!!! CLICK HERE for all the details... hurry up Nov. 30th is the deadline.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Viva Las VegaStamps used: Bulls Eye Target Solid #19196; Bulls Eye Target Open #19193; "Be Adorable..." #19038; "Dream" #18886; "Inspire" #18888; "Time Flies" #19008; Large Bird Flying Left #19001; Hot Air Balloon with Flags #19006; Flying Watch #19004; Card Suits #14109; Writing Arrow #19078; Paris Address #17539; Steampunk Heart Small #16010; and Dotted line from the December Daily Plate #1430. Supplies used: Natural Cardstock; scrap chipboard; Stuart Superior Black Memories Ink; Ancient Page Cobalt Blue Waterproof Ink; Miracle Tape 3/8"; Miracle Tape 1"; Miracle Sheets; Clearsnap Cats Eye Chalk Inks; WeR Memory Keepers "Feelin' Groovy" Alphabet Stickers; May Arts fibers and Ribbon; Blue sheer organza ribbon.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Have you entered the monthly challenge - you have a couple days left. Make a creation using the the November inspiration and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER! CLICK HERE for challenge details. Also, you definitely want to subscribe to the blog feed and to the Viva Las VegaStamps! newsletter to be IN THE KNOW of everything going on at the Viva Las Vegastamps! store. There's so much amazing inky inspiration to see!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back soon with another stamping adventure!  Sb

Fan Feature!! (Mail Art & DIY Jewelry)

It's plain and simple.. we LOVE seeing our stamps in use. We love seeing them shared on our facebook page, instagrammed, tweeted and stumbling across them on pinterest.

We also LOVE sharing your works with our other fans! And that's just what we're doing today! If you want to be featured in a fan feature, be sure to tag us (#vivalasvegastamps, #vlvstamps) so we stumble across your project!

Today we're sharing one project by Tera:

I think I particularly love this Mail Art piece because of our current swap. It really just invokes so many ideas for mail art!! Give it a go :) Work up a standard sized postcard and pop it in the mail to someone you know. Tera used Explore, Triple Mast Sailing Ship, Carpe the hell, Dictionary page, Diver In Suit and Discover.

P.S. Tera is applying for our Design Team with this project -- did you know we have an open call? Check it out!

and we have one by Kristen:

  Kristen used our Blue Police Box to create these amazing earrings! Might be some inspiration for the upcoming issue of RSM!

Night owl

Hello, Nataliya is here :)
At the end of each year, I have a problem with purchasing a new date book for scrapbooking. This year I decided to make it myself.
And now I have date book, specially for night owls :)

To create the cover I used 7Dots paper (Domestic Gooddes Collection),VLVS! stamps, Sakura of America Micron, gauze, stencil, paint, ink and medium.

Moon - the eternal companion of owls :)

And here is the main character  - owl. I colored it with alcohol ink.

First case has already been done!

My VLVS! for this project:
- Moon Circle 1 3/4 x 1 1/2
- Washi Reverse Grid Background 1 1/4 x 5 1/2
- Washi Grid Background 1 1/4 x 5 1/2
- Stars 2 x 2 1/4

Have a nice owl's night!

scrapbook slash calender with 7 dots studio

Hi Hermine here. This time we teamed up with 7 Dots Studio to work with their gorgeous papers. I had a hard time because the paper is so beautiful as is that you can't enhance it, so I tried to compliment it by using the gorgeous flower stamps and try to match the colours with Lyra crayons. I made a scrapbook slash calender (this is on my wish-list for a long time) so every other spread is a month of the year and every other one is meant to use photo's that reflects that particular month.

 

These are the things I used from 7 Dots Studio

 

Made the cover with grey board covered with paper, put gesso on it and sprayed with Dylussions. Then I used the tickets from 7 Dots Studio, stamped the Fris ChamairisLatifolia 18733 with Lyra crayons and water on a piece of paper. Used the Zutter bind-it-all to turn it into a booklet.

 

I don't know why blogger turns this photo on its side ;o(

 

Spread to put photo's on, stamped the Fris ChamairisLatifolia 18733 with colours matching the paper.

 

I used TH alteration die for the months

 

Calender spread

 

Used the pointed pen tip 18793 to enhance this spread

 

Another spread using  Melanthium Vulgare  18729

Close -up

 

And here I used Halicabus Judicus Arborescens 18737

 

I couldn't help myself, I like to play with my Lyra crayons hahaha. So I made a few cards as well, using the technique from my previous tutorial, but not spraying water but misting it on the stamp. I put some colours on with Lyra crayons, then misted some water above the stamp, then stamped it on a card, only misting water again and stamped a second one, did this a third time on another card, you can see the colour is lighter everytime you stamp but still looking great.

used materials:
Fris ChamairisLatifolia 18733
pointed pen tip 18793
Melanthium Vulgare  18729
Halicabus Judicus Arborescens 18737
7 Dots Studio