Thursday, March 15, 2012

Looks Can Be Deceiving....

She's a beautiful woman...but wait, see the whole picture.  Do you still think she is beautiful?


Well, we might like a woman who isn't "well behaved", but one who blames everything on men, blah!  Use VLVS and quotes to put together your own scenerio!  Tons of picture images and quotes.

VLVS Images:
Well Behaved Woman
I Never Met A Man
Beautiful Retro Woman

New crop of DT on its way in.  Show them some love and check back to this blog for more great stamping ideas. 

Lea

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Hello - a whimsical colored stamp

Hello everybody!! Our term is coming to a quick end here @ VLVS! and it sure has been fun!! Today I'm going to share my "tryout" piece in case I don't make it this go round -- because it was inspired my lovely teammates!!! They really do some fabulous work and I always catch myself saying "GOSH! I wanna try that"

So I did! I grabbed a not-my-typical type of whimsical stamp:

and stamped him on 


Kromecote cardstock which Wayne recently stocked in the store! it creates such a CRISP CLEAN image -- there's no messing this up, folks! I am IN LOVE with this paper! It has a shiny side and a matte side, so it has endless possibilities! For this application I used the matte side and stamped with  Memento tuxedo black ink

After stamping him I colored him with Prismacolor markers in Deco Blue, Cool Gray 60% and Yellowed orange. 

I then adhered some Basic Grey paper to a recycled kraft base with Miracle Tape, gave it a little distress ink.. and glued my man down! Add a bit of doodling with a white pen and VIOLA. A fun scene, simple yet graphic and fun card to send to a close friend! 


Thanks everybody!!! -DeeDee

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Happy Birthday Terri Sproul








The challenge this month was to create a birthday card for our intrepid design team leader, Terri Sproul. I won January's challenge, so I'm not really entering this time around--but I had to join in on the fun didn't I? Didn't I? Lol!

Monday, March 12, 2012

March Madness... Save 20%!

Read our latest Newsletter at http://ymlp.com/zPfCZA

Just enter
March20
as your Coupon Code
when you view/edit your cart
and save 20% on everything
EXCEPT rubber, Miracle Tape,
Wood and Gift Certificates.
This includes Other Companies' Stamps,
Bargain Basement, Dollar Deals,
Grab Bags, Terri Sproul's Mixers, etc.
so you can stock up on lots of great deals!
Sale runs through Midnight PDT,
Monday, March 19th.
Card by Darlene Mullins for March Birthday Challenge.
 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Cats Dancing in the Moonlight




For this weeks post, I wanted to use this stamp of four Victorian looking cats dancing in a circle. As soon as I saw it in the Viva Las Vegastamps! online store, I thought of this idea right away. The stamp is called Cat Dance and can be found by clicking here. For the moon, I used a circle that I punched from pearlescent cardstock. For the Moon’s face, I used the Handsome Man stamp by masking the side of his face with tape before inking and then peeling off the tape before stamping.

For the sentiment, I made up my own and printed it directly onto my cardstock. I used a piece of pattern paper from The Robin’s Nest to make it look like they were in the woods at night. I assembled as you see in the picture, and I put the cats on pop dots to make them stand out as the highlight of the card.


Please stop by the Viva Las Vegastamps! blog often to see what rest of the team is up to. There will be an all new team in April, so be sure to visit often! Also, feel free to stop by my blog by to see my other Viva Las Vegastamps! projects by clicking here.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Pre-Order Tim Holtz Distress Markers and SAVE!

Full set of 37 Distress Markers in a convenient storage tube




Pre-Order Note Mid March expected release...

Designer Tim Holtz



Tim Holtz® Distress™ Markers

Tim Holtz Distress Markers are water-based inks for coloring, journaling, stamping and more. The dual tip markers are ideal for many coloring techniques.



Distress Markers are available to match the Distress palette of 36 color and White Picket Fence.



• Acid free, non-toxic

• Available in Distress 37 color palette

• Use brush tip for coloring, stamping and shading



Regular Price $119.60

VLVS! Price $89.60

http://www.vlvstamps.com/pre-order-set-of-37-tim-holtz-distress-markers-and-save.html

Friday, March 09, 2012

March is Happy Birthday Month! AND, Let's have a tutorial!!

Hello, all!

It's almost spring! YAHOO!!!

And, Terri's birthday is this month, so we're celebrating all month long!

I've got two tags for you today- 
one is a Birthday tag, one is an artsy fartsy tag.
I hope you enjoy them!!


Let's do the birthday tag first!

On with the show....

Supplies:
Manilla tag
Distress Inks (I used Mustard Seed, Broken China, Iced Spruce)
Handle with blending foam
Black ink (I used Memories ink from Steward Superior)
Feathers
Flowers
Bling
Crystal Lacquer
Terri Sproul Mixer
Itty bitty paint brush
Cup to mix in 
Heat gun
Scissors
Ribbons
Memories Mist from Stewart Superior (Iridescent)
Mini mister with water
Bling
Dangly beaded tim
Scrap of patterned paper
Mini Xyron

So, what do ya think?
I love the way this turned out!!

 Ok, first things first....Create a background using the Distress inks and handle with foam.
Start with the Mustard Seed, then add Iced Spruce. 
Add a little more Mustard Seed if ya want.

Next, swipe the Broken China and Iced Spruce over your craft sheet.
Spritz ink with memories Mist, and continue on using the 
Wrinkle Free Distress technique.
Be sure to dry well with your heat gun!
 Once your back ground is done and dry,
stamp paisley bunch  along top and bottom of tag using Iced Spruce Distress Ink.
Stamp Happy Birthday down the left side in black ink.
Stamp funky birdy in black ink.
 Stamp the funky birdy in black ink on patterned paper.
Color and cut out the body/neck/head.
 Run the cut out birdy through the Xyron, and adhere over birdy stamped on tag.
 Stamp birdy in black on pattern paper again.
Color just the body portion, and cut out.

 Flip the cut out body over and put Miracle Tape on the back.
Add a cupel of feathers over the Miracle Tape, pressing the feathers onto the tape.
 Add a pop dot, and place body over birdy on tag.
 Squirt a little Crystal Lacquer into a cup.
Mix in a little Terri Sproul Mixer.
Paint this concoction onto the birdy's beak and shoes, and the dots on his body.
 Ink the ribbon of the beaded trim using Distress Inks and handle.
Dry with heat gun.

 Adhere trim to bottom edge of tag using Miracle Tape.
Trim ends.
 Add ribbons through the hole in the tag.
 Add feathers along the bottom of the tag using Crystal Lacquer.
Add flowers and bling using Crystal Lacquer.





And, here's your second tag, 
complete with a tutorial how to make this back ground.
It's SUPER EASY, and makes stunning results!

Supplies:
Manilla tag
Tissue Tapes (Tim Holtz) and/or Washi tapes
Heavy twine
Tim Holtz trinkets
White cord
Distress Stains
Crystal Lacquer
Miracle Tape
Espresso alcohol ink
Mixing cup
Paint brush
Permanent black ink pad (I used Memories by Stewart Superior)
Grungeboard letters
Grungeboard bird
Memories Mist, Iridescent
Mini Mister of water
Heat gun
Scissors



 Create your back ground with tapes and Distress Stains (tutorial at the end).
Dry well with heat gun.
Stamp Bird on a Wire twice across the tag using permanent black ink.
Dry well with heat gun.
Add two strands of twine above and below the birds by running a bead of
Crystal Lacquer across the tag and pressing the twine into it.
Let sit for a minute and trim off the ends.

Press your Distress Ink pad directly onto the Grunge letters, use a couple of different colors.
Spritz with Memories Mist, and dry with heat gun.
Press black ink pad to letters, dry with heat gun.

 Adhere letters to bottom of tag using Crystal Lacquer.
 Flip the Grunge bird over, to work on the BACK side.
Press Mustard Seed ink pad onto the bird. Dry with heat gun.
Press ink pad to bird again, and spritz with Memories Mist.
Dry with heat gun.
 Rub black ink pad onto bird.
 Adhere bird to center of tag using Miracle Tape.
Put some Crystal Lacquer into a cup, and add a couple drops of
Espresso Alcohol Ink.
Paint onto bird, allowing it to pool on the bird's belly.
Give him an eye with some bling.
 Rub Distress ink pad on cord. Dry with heat gun.
Add dyed cord and twine to hole in tag.
Place trinkets on a Trinket Pin, and put pin through the knot.
Add a gear to the right of the bird.






BACKGROUND 
TECHNIQUE 
TUTORIAL
Are you ready?

You need:
Paper
Tissue tapes/Washi tapes
Distress Stains and/or ink pads
Mini Mister with water
Memories Mist/Glimmer Mist/Home made mist
Scissors
Paper towel or cloth for blotting

Step 1:
Get your paper/tag/whatever, and cover with strips of tape.


Step 2:
Apply Distress Stains and/or Distress Inks directly to the tape.
Yes, it will pool up, but that's OK!
In this photo: Fired Brick, Spun Sugar, Faded Jeans, Mustard Seed, Vintage Photo


 Step 3:
Dry partially with heat gun, then blot with towel.


Step 4:
Spritz with the glimmer mist, and Dry with heat gun.


Step 5:
Trim edges if needed, and make something cool with your back ground paper!!


Here's another one, done on a tag.
In this photo: Faded Jeans, Broken China, Vintage Photo



Here's your wiener!
Cooper taking a little snooze.
He's sooo cute, and goes back home tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Viva Las Vegastamps! is looking for a few good Artists

Viva Las Vegastamps! DT call – 2012


Requirements:
1)      6 month contract Starting: April 1, 2012  ending Sept 31,  2012
2)      Post two projects per month on both TheViva Las Vegastamps! Blog and your blog with link to the The Viva Las Vegastamps! Website and blog.  You will receive dates that your will be required to post.  Project submissions must include quality images of the project in .jpeg format along with instructions and links for making the project.  Post your blog and Viva Las Vegastamps! blog link on your Facebook, twitter page to advertise both yourself and The Viva Las Vegastamps! .  MUST be active on our facebook page. 
3)      Join in on One Blog hop during the 6 month contract.  Date to be sent later
4)      The Viva Las Vegastamps!  Design team member grants permission The Viva Las Vegastamps!  to use those projects for display on Viva Las Vegastamps! Website, Facebook Page, and blog.
5)      In the event that you do not complete any of the above requirements Viva Las Vegastamps! has the right to remove you from the design team and fill the position with another candidate on the wait list.
6)      Post our logo on your blog with a link to the website and blog.  You will receive this at a later date.
7)      Open to US and Canda residence only
8)      Post your Projects on other site – like Split Coast Stamps, etc… 
9)      Send two projects to Viva Las Vegastamps store to display

What we will do:
1)      Send product once a month for the six month contract period. Total of 6  shipments. 
2)      Viva Las Vegastamps! will promote your blog on our blog and/or website.



Design Team Overview:
The Purpose of being a Design Team member is to promote The Viva Las Vegastamps!  by using Viva Las Vegastamps! products in projects that maybe posted to The Viva Las Vegastamps!  website, blog and your own personal blogs.   




Viva Las Vegastamps! is looking for a few awesome PaperCraft Artists who can showcase the Viva Las Vegastamps! products! If you LOVE PaperCrafts, are able to utilize the unique line of stamps from Viva Las Vegastamps! on scrapbook layouts, cards & projects then show us what you love to do!!

We are looking for talented artists who inspire others to create using Viva Las Vegastamps! stamps and supplies.

What’s expected of a Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team Member?
* The ability to showcase our products
* Take good photos or scans of projects
* Interact with our members on Facebook and our Blog at http://vivalas.blogspot.com/ (you can see creations from our current Design Team here)

The Details –

*The Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team is for six months from April 1, 2012 – Sept 31, 2012.
* Create a minimum of two layouts/projects per month posting on both your Blog and The Viva Las Vegastamps! Blog – dates will be given when team in picked... projects must be hand stamped and not digitally created. Only stamps from Viva Las Vegastamps! can be used in your DT projects.
* Participation and promotion of Viva Las Vegastamps! on Facebook is a MUST... promotion on other Online Rubber Stamping Groups is an asset... promoting Viva Las Vegastamps! in your signature, posting VLVS! artwork to Online Galleries, etc.
* Submit work for publication and to the store for display.
* Be a part of one Blog Hop during the 6 months. Date given at a later date
* Promote Viva Las Vegastamps! by posting the above layouts/projects on other Online Galleries and Blogs with working links to the Online VLVS! Store and Blog.

The Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team will receive -

* Viva Las Vegastamps! products for your term, shipped in six shipments
* Your bio and picture featured on our Blog.

How to Apply –
Send your bio, Blog address and Facebook info to Terri@ultimatescrapbookretreat.com with “DT applications” in the regards (this way you don’t get deleted – I get lots of spam mail)

Submit/Post one project on your Blog on March 7th by 12AM EST to be viewed. This post must have our logo (you will be sent logo when you send you bio to Terri Sproul) and step by step directions on how you made this project with links to The Viva Las Vegastamps! blog and website. (http://www.stampo.com/, and blog is http://www.vivalas.blogspot.com/
Project – can be anything you love to make, Scrapbook, Cards, Mixed Media, Altered Art… Just Think out of the box and impress me…

Joining our Facebook Page and Blog is a MUST and is very important to the success of our team!


All entries MUST utilize a Stamping Technique... if you can use our stamps, even better!! Work submitted must be recent and can't be previously published or displayed on blogs or online galleries.

Deadline to enter March 6th (12PM PST)

Here’s what to include with your emailed submission –

* We want to know all about you! – Your bio
* What’s your style?
* Why would you like to be on our team?
* Are you frugal, organized, have marketing ideas etc.. if so share with us what you can bring to our team.
* Link to your active Blog?
* Are you active on any Forums or Message Boards? (Please List)
* Can you post your projects in other Online Galleries? (Please List)
* Give an example of a class or technique you would like to share with others. If it is one you have done previously, please link to it.
* Details of any other manufactures or store/kit DT’s you are on Do you have a scrapbook resume, or a link to a gallery? If so, please share with us.


Final decisions will be made on March 15th’sh and the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team will be announced shortly there after!!

Good Luck!!!!!

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

March is Birthday Month at Viva Las Vegastamps!!!

MARCH is BIRTHDAY MONTH
and this month holds a very special birthday
Terri Sproul (the Design Team Lead) is 29 again!!!
Be sure to stop by
 and wish her Happy Birthday 
with a card in the MONTHLY CHALLENGE!!!

For this card gather supplies listed at the end of this post.  All stamps used are from Viva Las Vegastamps! the Basset Hound Dog Rocketeer, "May the Steam be with you!", Happy Birthday, Nesting Gears, Fancy Key-Vintage and a Swirl from Swirls Plate 1333. All images were embossed with Viva Las Vegastamps! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder.
First stamp Happy Birthday on a strip of paper and adhered with VLVS! Miracle Tape to the bottom of the panel. Next stamp the Basset Hound Dog Rocketeer, masking the dog stamp the Fancy Key-VIntage to make it look like the Basset was a wind up.  Stamp the Swirl from plate 1333, and "May the Steam be with you!"  Mask all stamped images and the flags on the pattern paper and stamp the Nesting Gears with Versafine Olympia Green ink. Once all images are stamped and embossed. Using COPICs add a little color to the rocket with gray and brown to the Basset.
Mix Sakura Crystal Lacquer with Terri Sproul Mixers Gold.  Paint thickly on the rocket and lightly on the Basset.  Set aside to dry 
After the panel has dried attach it to the card base with Viva Las Vegastamps! Miracle Tape. Add locking washers! 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRI!!!
Supplies
Stewart Superior Memories Madonna Blue Ink
Stewart Superior Memories Black Ink
Versafine Olympia Green Ink
Pattern Paper - My Minds Eye
Locking Washers


Remember to enter the Monthly Challenge 
The theme this month is Birthday!
You could win $25 to the VLVS! on-line store 
To read more about the challenge click HERE!