Ordinary School Supplies transformed into an Underwater Seahorse Fantasy Notebook

Happy Monday - Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Susan here with my bottom of the month post. School starts today here in South Florida so I thought I would make something using school supplies...one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Who can't resist a new set of pens, notebooks and HIGHLIGHTERS???

With my new supplies, I feel like a schoolgirl again and I'm off to learn some new things. Today I am sharing a technique I learned from a stamper named Paula Whittaker which is so simple...coloring cardstock with highlighter markers. 

I gathered my new plate of Viva Las Vegastamps! #1268, highlighter pens, a mini composition journal, a sheet of smooth finish creme cardstock, black Staz-On ink, a few distress inks and blending tool, 1/4" Miracle Tape, one Miracle Sheet, and some ribbon and fibers.

From plate #1268, I cut out the Seahorses Facing #16024.

This technique is really easy and this project would be great for kids, too. All you do is color a piece of cardstock with the highlighter marker, completely covering sheet. Instead of just making it plain and solid, I have made wave patterns and bubbles with my strokes. To get variations of color, build up one or two additional strokes of color. This makes a fantastic watery background for my seahorses.

Here's the completed background of just blue highlighter pen.

**A NOTE** I used a smooth natural ivory colored cardstock as my base.

Using my custom stamp handle affixed with blending foam, I applied Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to give some depth. This really made this watery scene come to life!

Using black Staz-On ink, I stamped the Seahorses into their new home. Then I added some shimmer with my Gelly Hologram glitter pen.

    

Now to cover my mini composition book! I cut out a strip 3 1/2" wide from a Miracle Sheet and applied it to the cover of my book. This makes altering one of these babies a SNAP! With the strip of Miracle Sheet trimmed to the width, I peeled off the backing, lined up to the top and side edges and pressed in place. I trimmed with scissors along the bottom edge and I'm ready to decorate -AND- no gluey mess! I remove the backing to expose adhesive and place my stamped background. After trimming the edges, I add some teal satin ribbon with 1/4" Miracle Tape and tie some fuzzy fibers around the cover spine. Easy-Peasy! 

This mini composition book goes from drab...to FAB!!!

Thanks so much for dropping by today! Pop on over to the Viva Las Vegastamps! store - loads of new stamps have just been added - Halloween, Christmas and many more! GUESS WHAT...The VLVS Miracle Tape Sampler is on Sale for $39.99 {regular price $57.00}!!!! The sampler is 6 rolls of Miracle Tape, two M.T. dispensers and three pack of Miracle Sheets - all the tape you'll ever need and more!!!!

Throughout the month of August, twice a week, the VLVS! Design Team is featuring sketch journals by Clairefontaine. You can see their products HERE. As part of this month long event...Viva Las Vegastamps! and Clairefontaine are hosting a contest this month--comment on all the Clairefontaine posts throughout the month to get a chance at a free journal and a $15 coupon to the VLVS! online store! Great prize!! Good luck!! Remember, you can't win if you don't enter!!!

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