Mixed media card - three wise monkeys

Hey everyone,

February is cold and dull over here, so I thought I'd bring in some bright colors and created this fun mixed media card.

I'm a little addicted to slimline cards right now, so I started on a die cutted piece of paper and cut another slightly larger one from black cardstock. The background looks way more complicated than it is. I just stamped the harlequin background with two shades of Oxide Ink and sprayed it with water until I was happy with the way the colors dissolved. After it was dry, I added some stamped numbers using one of the background colors.

As a focal point I went with the three wise monkeys and Corrie's overlapping squares as I needed something for the chimpanzees to sit on. I stamped everything down, the squares twice, and colored the images with my alcohol markers.

I cut the images and inked the edges with a black marker. From the second image of the squares I cut some clusters. My plan was to have some parts of it raised with foam tape.
 

Then I built up my focal composition and glued everything down. To finifh the card, I just had to add that quote stamp and put my layers together.

Stamps used:
Harlequin Diamond Background (18920)
Numbers Set (19659)
Chimpanzee Set (10202)
Overlapping Squares by Corrie Herriman (19996)
If This Is Reality (19884)

Other material:
- Canson Watercolor paper
- black and white cardstock
- perfect coloring paper
- Spectrum Noir Illustrator alcohol marker
- Distress Oxide Ink (crackling campfire, rusty hinge)
- Crealies slimline die (clcz184)

 

See you soon with a new project!

Mail Art Monday with Susanne

Hi my dear crafty friends!

It's Mail Art monday and I'm sharing a vintage mail art envelope today.

I used the Whimsical Door, Tall Stork and Baby, Elves on a Line as my main images on the homemade envelope from tea dyed paper.

I hope you enjoy my video tutorial:

Thank you for stopping by today.
xx Susanne

Supplies:
Viva Las VegaStamps!:
Wild Mushrooms
Whimsical Door
Tall Stork and Baby
Elves on a Line
Adventure Awaits
harlequin Diamond Background
Leafy Twig
Others:
Distress Oxide: Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint
Colored Pencils

Mail Art Monday

Hi my dear Viva Las VegaStamps! Friends!

It's Mail Art Monday today on our blog and I have a video to share. I used PanPastels together with VersaMark Ink and some of the awesome Viva Las VegaStamps!
Have fun watching the video!

Here are some more detailed images:

I hope you like the video. See you next time and happy stamping!
Susanne.

Stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps!
Dictionary Page
Harlequin Diamond Background
Dream
Escape
Imagine
Caped Lady
Curly Hair Lady 

Other supplies:
PanPastel
VersaMark Ink
Archival Ink

A Place for Creative Ideas...

Hello everyone! Susan here with a special project combining Viva Las VegaStamps! with Art Anthology. All week we have teamed up with Art Anthology to bring you tons of inspirational creations. Have you been checking in each day to see all the artsy goodness?

So you don't miss anything please be sure you check out these links:

For Viva Las VegaStamps!

Website: http://www.vlvstamps.com/index.php/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vlvstamps

Blog: http://vivalas.blogspot.com/

For Art Anthology

Art Anthology's Website: www.artanthologyinc.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-Anthology/392413134139071

Blog: www.artanthologyinc.com/blog

Since Earth Day is this week, I have decided to decorate this journal that came to my husband as a goodie from the car dealership. It's a blank book, with lined pages – perfect for jotting down ideas and things to remember... BUT it's not me. Enter Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Emerald and Flourite and Colorations Spray in Wild Orchid along with my stash of VLVS! to decorate this journal in my favorite color PURPLE and also to disguise it from the hubs {so he doesn't realize I swiped this out of the recycling bin - LOL}.

In the process of creating my monoprinted backgrounds - I discovered the Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint works great for a resist technique. Here's what I did...

I started with my Amazing DIY No-Gelatin Printing Plate and set out to make some monoprinted backgrounds using the Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint. I went with the Emerald first and placed some onto my surface and spread out evenly with a brayer. **A note** When monoprinting you have to work quickly with this paint as it dries quickly. I pressed the "Harlequin Diamond Background #18920" stamp into the wet paint and pulled back making a reverse image. I quickly placed the stamp onto another paper to remove the paint and pressed a paper onto my rubber slab to pick up the design.

This is my first pull from the Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Emerald.

 

There was some leftover paint that dried on the plate, but that's OK. I then sprayed the Art Anthology Colorations Spray in Wild Orchid and swiped the print into the beads of color. I blotted away any excess spray from the green painted areas with a paper towel. 

 

Photo on left is full resist background and on right is an up-close detail.

The texture and color is yummy!

How about another! I blotted off the remaining mist onto a blank paper {nothing goes to waste} and applied some of the Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Flourite and spread out with my brayer, then repeated my steps. 

 

This one is even better!!! Some of the Emerald that was dried on the plate was picked up in this second pulled print. I love the contrast of the monochromatic resist - this will be for the front of my notebook.

I trimmed each to fit and adhered to my cover using Miracle Sheets - makes altering notebooks quick and easy. Using a small paintbrush I added some of the Flourite around the edges to distress and get rid of the white edges... really I just wanted to get my fingers all purple. Now I'm ready for a little inky embellishing with some fun stamps!

"A Place for Creative Ideas"

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Harlequin Diamond Background" #18920

"Pure Imagination" #19041

"Ferris Wheel" #16038

"Bee Hung Up" #19164

"London Skyline" #10597

"Triangle Banner" #19043

"Chevron Banner" #19042

Miracle Sheets

StazOn Jet Black Ink

From Art Anthology:

Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Emerald and Flourite

Colorations Spray in Wild Orchid

Other Supplies: white cardstock; recycled notebook; scissors; paper trimmer; small paintbrush; Sakura of America Gelly Roll® Stardust® Pen; and pencil.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Thanks so much for dropping by! Don't forget about the April inspiration board... there's still time to join us and play along with the April inspiration challenge {CLICK HERE for details}. Just make a creation using the inspiration above and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. Hope you have a fabulous day!!  Sb

Family Love Vintage Style Collage

Greetings stampers! It's Amy blogging today, to share a vintage style collaged canvas. I have 7 different Viva Las VegaStamps! on this canvas, and I think they all work so well together.

  I started by prepping a 12x12 canvas board with...of all things, a sample of Benjamin Moore blue paint I picked up at the hardware store for $1. I then layered on vintage style papers, layering them on with Mod Podge. When this had dried, I added layers of mists in light browns, and spread them on with a brayer. A layer of white acrylic paint was the final of the canvas layers. 

The fourth layer on this canvas is the background stamping, where I used the checkerboard and cursive writing stamps randomly all over. I kept the harlequin diamond stamping just over the area where my photo cluster would be. 

 After layering on vintage papers and elements, I stamped the Bee Cards, Paintbrushes in Jar, and Pen Tips onto untextured cardstock, and fussy cut them out. Adding them throughout the clustered area of the collage, gave the perfect unique vintage touch.

 The Directional Wheel stamp added a perfect bit of movement on the bottom and top corners of my layered cluster. I love the look and how it blends seamlessly with the style of the piece.

I'm really excited with how this canvas turned out, and I hope you enjoyed seeing it too! I hope you have a creative rest of the week! <3

Supply List:
Viva Las VegaStamps!:
Backgrounds: checkerboard, cursive writing, Harlequin Diamond.
Other: Bee Cards, Paint Brushes in Jar, Pen Tips, Directional Wheel.

Canvas board
Ink: IMAGINE Crafts, Ranger
Paint: Benjamin Moore,Plaid Crafts
Mist: 13 Arts, Tattered Angels
Paper: Tim Holtz, 7 Dots Studio, Vintage
Metals: Prima, Bead Landing, Vintage
Photograph: The Sparkling Gnome

Stamping with Pan Pastels {with technique video}

Our 2nd post today is brought to you by Amy Lassiter and she's stamping with a paste made from her PanPastels -- CHECK IT OUT!

 

Hello stampy friends! It's Amy here today,to share a layout I created using some fun techniques with Pan Pastels AND Viva Las VegaStamps! It was so fun to play with a new medium, and to create something a little bit out of my box in style. :)

I used the Pan Pastels both wet and dry. I had fun finding a few techniques, that were easy and gave a big impact at the same time. The vibrant colors were great to blend and layer, and I used them all over the page, to give the paint splash look, as well as to stamp with!

For the wider sections of the page that are covered in color, I used the sponge wand, and gently blended colors from the inside out. Between each layer I added, I sprayed the page with Fixative to keep the pastels from flaking off. As you can see in my video below, even after using the pastels wet(which makes for a great texture relief), the fixative keeps it all in place. I could even stamp with black and blue ink over the top,as well as draw and blend (using water) with Aquarelle without smudging the pastels.

Have a look at the quick video I created to show the stamping technique I used with the Pan Pastels:

 If you'd like to see how I created a chalky type texture "paint splatter....." head over HERE to watch that video.
Thanks so much for having a look today....and give Pan Pastels a try, you may find a new medium you love (like I did!)  
Supply List: Viva Las VegaStamps!: Harlequin Diamond Background, adventure awaits, color wheel lines,, waybill/invoice background
Paper: 7 Dots Studio- Nature Walk, Prima, Glitz Design, Graphic 45
Ink: IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko, Liquitex, Lindy's Stamp Gang, Heidi Swapp Color Shine
watercolor pencil: Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Aquarelles
 Fibers: May Arts (twine), vintage Chipboard: UmWowStudio, Pink Paislee
Embellishments: 7 Gypsies, Bead Landing, Gauche Alchemy (yellow color kit), vintage
Pan Pastels: Violet, Permanent Red, Orange

Making Backgrounds!

It is always fun to try new techniques using what is around the house, shop/garage or in our creative supply stash.  Today's post is about making backgrounds. 

Faux Wood Background

This is an ATC from a SWAP... The theme of the swap was "FROM THE SHOP." My shop items are masking tape and locking washers! over lapping layers of Masking Tape on the base card stock (2 1/2 x 3 1/2), swipe with Chocolate Brown. Stamp VLVS! Harlequin Diamond Background with Barn Red after stamping off. Note: stamping off is inking the stamp then stamping on another sheet of paper before on the actual project.  Next stamp the VLVS! Easy Dog Rider and Route 66 Road Sign with Black. Cover the entire card with VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder, heat the embossing powder until clear, this gives the card a nice finish. Add locking washers (available at the hardware store) for embellishment and a touch of color with COPICS.

Supplies:
VLVS! Stamp Harlequin Diamond Background
VLVS! Easy Dog Rider
VLVS! Route 66 Road Sign
VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder
Masking Tape (shop)

Card stock
Inks: Chocolate Brown, Barn Red and Black
Heat Emboss Gun
Locking Washers(shop)

COPICS

RESIST With

VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

Stamp the VLVS! Nike Statue and VLVS! Two Columns in the back ground with white ink (one statue with violet ink), using masks to keep from stamping over previously stamped images. Heat emboss with VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder.  Spritz with mists, wipe the mist from the embossed images. Randomly stamp VLVS! Swirls to create borders with violet ink. Ink May Arts Lace with chocolate ink and adhere with VLVS! Miracle Tape. What a great background!!!

Supplies:

VLVS! Lady with Arms

VLVS! Nike Statue

VLVS! Two Columns

VLVS! Swirl 2 x 3 3/4

VLVS! Swirl 2 3/4 x4 1/2

VLVS! Swirl 1 x 2 1/4

VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

VLVS! Miracle Tape

May Arts Lace

Kromecote Cardstock

Journal Clairfontaine

Ink White - Violet - Chocolate

Mist - Winter Grass Stewart Superior

Mist - Sandalwood 

Add VLVS! Lady with Arms stamped on Kromecote Cardstock, fuzzy cut and add her in the foreground.  

Washi Tape Background

To see step by step instuctions on making your own Washi Tape check out Dee Dee's Washi Tape Tutorial posted earlier this week. It is well worth watching!!!

For this card place VLVS! Miracle Tape 1 inch on white tissue. Use an dauber or sponge to apply brown ink directly to the white tissue. 

Randomly stamp images of VLVS! stamps Draw,Pen Tips, Pointed Pen Tip, A Drawing Is and This is where I draw the line on the tissue. Note: the images are partially stamped on the tape. Now you have beautiful one of a kind Washi Tape.   

For this card the Washi Tape was cut to fit the card stock panel and used as a background. A few pen nibs were added in the lower left.  Stamp the VLVS! Feather Pen Collage on coordinating card stock and mount with foam tape.

Supplies:

VLVS! Miracle Tape 1 inch

VLVS! Draw

VLVS! Pen Tips

VLVS! Pointed Pen Tip

VLVS! A Drawing Is

VLVS! This is where I draw the line

VLVS! Feather Pen Collage

VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

White Tissue (dollar store)

Pen Nibs (thrift store)

Card stock

Ink Brown & Black

Curtains

Another background can be done using VLVS! Stage Curtains stamps to create a mini stage. This is a background I used last weekend when the VLVS! Design Team had their fantastic blog hop BLAST FROM THE PAST using VLVS! Oldie But Goodies Stamps! My stamp was the VLVS! MAN WITH HOOP! Here I created an altered tin with a stage.

Supplies:

VLVS! MAN WITH HOOP
VLVS! Chevron Banner
VLVS! Stage Curtains
VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder
May Arts Ribbon & Fibers
Altoid Tin
Transparency
Cream card stock
Pink Card stock
Black ink
Red ink
Stickles
Sakura Crystal Lacquer
Hearts Made from Creative Paperclay®
Be Mine - Sticker
Foam Tape
Small blocks

Now is the time to stock up on your Viva Las VegaStamps! 

They are now  47% OFF!!!