I recently put this together for a May Arts project and of course can't NOT show it here.. VLVS! is a constant tool/supply in my craft room and so of course found its way in this fun candy dish! 

 I thought it would be really fun to have all the little trick or treaters reach through a scary opening to get their candy. So I built a frame from kraft paper and got to decorating it.

I've used stamps: 

31 

(stamped straight onto kraft paper in archival ink)

and

 Horned Owl Stamp

(stamped onto Kromecote cardstock and fussy cut)

as well as Miracle tape, scissors, a wet glue, kraft cardstock, vintage buttons, moss, various circle style punches, Archival Ink in black, distress ink in Walnut stain, score board, May Arts Ribbon, Echo Park Paper, an UmWowStudio Gothic Frame, Spellbinders labels four die set.

A quick note about Time2Stamp with VLVS! -- I'm changing it to once a month as I have a TON of stuff going on :) Just keep your eyes out for our fun videos!

Lost & Found - Memories

Have you ever totally forgotten a special memory and then you hear, see or even smell something, and that memory comes flooding back? Had that happen to me just a few months ago.

A very nice gal on a scrapbook forum offered to mail out an envelope of Vintage S & H Green Stamps to whoever wanted them. Within seconds of reading her post it all came back to me - a favorite childhood memory that I had, until that very moment, forgotten all about.

I remember as if it was yesterday how my sisters and I would pour through the S & H catalogue arguing about whose turn it was to pick out their favorite gift item. Selecting that “free” item to redeem was the reward for the hours we spent licking stamps.

I wanted to make something a bit more special than a card with my stamps and when I saw this STAMP from VLVS I knew immediately what I would create.

The box is one from the $1.50 bin at Michael’s and the paper I used is from last years Crate paper line. What made the whole craft come together though was the fabulous stamp from Viva Las Vegas Stamps.

Supplies

Small Balsa Box

Paint

Patterned Paper

Mod Podge

Distress ink

Bling/Flowers

Green Stamps

Washi Tape

Paper

Ink

VLVS Stamp

Directions

Remove the knob and elastic closure from the Balsa Box.

Paint the box inside and out.

Cover the lid, the bottom of the box and the inside bottom with paper.

Ink the box with TH Distress Ink to give it a vintage look.

Using Mod Podge, paint a thin layer over the entire box, both inside and outside.

Stamp one S & H Green Stamp on paper.

Decorate with Washi Tape, Green Stamps, Flowers and your VLVS stamped image.

PS – The very last gift I got with my stamps was a cuckoo clock. Obviously I wassuffering from a bad case of glue poison.

Steampunk Lady in Distress

I used some quick and easy distress techniques on this tags.  It's a good one for those times when time is a factor.

Supplies
Stamp Used: Viva Las Vegastamps! Steampunk Tophat Lady : Item 18829 Plate 1421

#8 Tag (6¼" x 3-1/8") made with Kraft paper
Inkpads: Ranger Archival black, Tim Holtz Distress-Vintage Photo
Pilot FriXion Color-Pencil-Like Erasable Gel Ink Pens: Black, Mountain Yellow, Red, Light Blue, Gray
Pentel White Sunburst Gel Pen
Sponge
Exacto knife or paper distresser

Process:

1. Hold tag up and use exacto knife or paper distresser along the edges of the tag to roughen.
2. Rub sponge across the Vintage Photo inkpad, and apply to tag, starting at the corners and working inward.  Repeat along the edges.  Make some areas darker than others and leave the central area of the tag untouched, so you get a sort of glow.
3. Crumple the tag in your hand and straighten back out.  If you want deep creases, fold at diagonal in 2 or 3 places.
4. Stamp image with Archival black.
5. Color with FriXion pens: Mountain yellow for hair; Red for hat and vest; Light Blue for dress, Gray for gears.
6. Use white sunburst pen to color sleeve and add highlights.  Add white curls to hair and let dry for 10-15 minutes.  Then go over white curls with Mountain Yellow.
7. Use FriXion Black and draw Zentangle-Inspired Art around the stamped image. I used patterns Bales, Knightsbridge, and Hibred.  The rest I just pulled out of my head without reference.

And there you go--a quick and easy tag.

Visit the VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs and the  VLVS! Blog for new projects and news every day. Follow VLVS! as the VLVS! Forum - VLVS! FB - VLVS! Pinterest - VLVS! Twitter.

You Never Forget Your Friends

Blend mixed media to create a card or illustration to express the sentiment of friendship.  As I get older, I might forget small things - but - I never forget my friends!!!!

For this project a matte board is a heavy weight to use as an illustration, although; cardstock folded into a card can be used.  Stamping on acetate and creating a wax background was also used.

VLVS Images:
8674 Quote: I Forget Some Things
12972 Berries and Leaves (Ink up leaf only and stamp)
18378 Face Collage Mary Vogel Lozinak


Acetate Stamping:  Most stamp/scrapbook stores sell sheets of acetate.  If not, an office supply store selling presentation covers can be used.  Use a good permanent ink (not all are created equal) to stamp image.  I used Memento's (which isn't totally a permanent ink but dries permanent). 

Stamp straight down so the stamp doesn't slip around.  Lift straight up.  Let image sit for about 30 seconds to set the ink.  Alcohol ink is used to tint the image.

Use Miracle Tape Sheet to adhere to the back of the image.  Cut out the image and mount on tag.

 

Wax Background:  There are many ways to work with encaustics (wax), this is easy and fun.  If you have wax tools then you know how easy this is.  If you do not have wax tools, a simple Clover iron is available at JoAnn's.  It's a small pressing iron with a triangle iron-shaped tip for pressing seams apart.  It is inexpensive and easy to use. 

 I use wax (available at art stores) however, crayons can be used.  Crayons aren't the best and I do not know what is in them, but very cheap in a pinch!

When the iron is heated, touch the back of the iron onto the wax or put the crayon up to the back and let it melt on to the iron.  Use the iron like a tool and spread the wax around the surface of Kromecote cardstock.  You want a good glossy cardstock so the iron glides across the surface.  Use a couple colors - you can do this one at a time or mix the colors on the iron. 

After creating your wax background, stamp with permanent ink and cut out.

While there are 2 different medias used on this project, I added leaf buttons for dimension as well as May Arts suede ribbon.  This ribbon is sturdy, feels cool, and adds a different finish to the project.

Follow the photo's to see where to mount pieces.  Decorative paper, a decorative paper number piece, and the sentiment is adhered.

Fall and Thanksgiving reminds me of all I am Thankful for.  I count my blessings for all the friends I have.  They are all a treasure to me and I cherish them.  Even my computer friends who always enrich my life and support me in all I do!!!


Cre8tiveLea Yours - Lea

Coming to a blog near you!!!

The Design Team and I (DeeDee here♥) have decided to bring you a week full of numbery goodness!!

We'll be utilizing Plate1430 in a NUMBER of ways (haha.. ha:P) Advent Calendars, December Daily Minis, Day Journals.. I don't want to give away too much, but I strongly advise you to be there or be square! 

 I would normally say "December Daily" goodness, but some of our girls have decided to showcase this gorgeous plate in OTHER uses... I'm telling you.. you'll want to be there!!!

Join us all here on the blog starting November 19th!

November Greetings!

ATC times 3 to mark the 1st of November!  This little tryptich started out as just one ATC, a singleton, but not for long. One really can't just stop with one whimsical being, not when there are other whimsical friends to play along.  Hence, sheep, fish in pants, and shoed bird and worms.  All three are engaged in a dance under the sky.  The 3 ATCs are composed of Basic Gray paper, acrylic paints and are stitched together with silvery thread. 

The stamps used in this project include:  Plate 883, Scowling Moon, Don't Let Anyone Ever Dull Your Sparkle, Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Feather, Clock
Miracle Tape, Kromecote Cardstock

Altered Halloween File Folder Part II

Happy Wednesday everyone! leslierahye here with part two of my altered folder project that I began two weeks ago. Today I am finishing up the labels on the pockets making the base tags for my recipe cards. To catch up on the beginning of this project start here.

For this project :

[list for the 1st part of the post is here]

The base of the tags was formed in the same manner as the base of the file folder--black was "dry-brushed" around the edges. Images were stamped to mimic the images on the folder. Space was left on the middle of the tag to label your recipe and the entire back side was made available for the recipe. May Arts ribbons and trimmed were colored with ink to match.

using the alphabet from the December Daily plate and a ¼" square punch I created letters for my words from a piece of water colored paper. I kept my alpha intact for this express purpose. I love how the words on my pocket turned out with this stamped alphabet!

I hope you enjoy my project! Thank you for looking~leslierahye

Awesome little gift

I love making presents and these sticky back notebooks are perfect for it.

1. Cut a piece of Kromecote cardstock size 8,9 cm x 8,9 cm. Drag a stripe with you ink pad direct onto a craftsheet, do so with 3 different colours, then spray some water onto your craftsheet. Layer your piece of cardstock onto the craftsheet. Stamp with Stazon Black the Whimsical Peacock onto the cardstock. Make some accents with a white gelpen. Stamp with Stazon Black on a scrap piece of cardstock the text birds of a feather and cut out in two parts. Glue that beneath the bird. Make some lines around it with a black fineliner.
2. Stick the stamped cardstock onto the notebook and finish it off with some washi tape at the top and the back.
3. Use the leftover Kromcote carstock and cut it into a tag. Stamp the Bird head on Stick with Stazon Black. And stamp the text Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle above the head. Then sponge the background with 3 different colours, the same as you used for the notebook. Take a brush and use some water and take some colours directly from the inkpad to colour the face and the shades. use some washi tape to glue over it.
4. Gift wrap it in transparant foil, take some matching ribbon and fasten the tag to the present.

All stamps used are also on plate 1398.

Enjoy

HERMINE

Bye...Bye...Bye... Hurricane Season! Well, Almost!

Happy Monday - Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Susan here with my bottom of the month post and Halloween is just TWO DAYS AWAY!!! EEEK! Guess what - today's how-to has nothing to do with Halloween. Living in South Florida, I am in Hurricane alley and over the past week, we have been dealing with the mess of Hurricane Sandy - which is now moving up the eastern seaboard. I hope everyone in the path of this rainy mess stays safe. There is a silver lining - storms are a perfect time to get crafty!

For today's project I am sharing a shaving cream technique to make a swirly background to go with my Hurricane Blowing Trees #18145 stamp. This is so much FUN! I can't believe I've never tried it before.

I sprayed some shaving cream into a paper plate, spread around with a plastic knife, then dripped in three colors of Distress Ink re-inkers {peeled paint, old paper, and iced spruce}.

I dragged the knife through the shaving cream to swirl colors around in patterns. If you do this too much, you will complete blend ink into shaving cream.

Then you place your piece of cardstock into the shaving cream mixture and press flat to make sure entire paper has made contact. **A NOTE** I used a smooth natural ivory colored cardstock as my base.

I gently removed the paper from the shaving cream and then scraped off shaving cream with the plastic knife. I placed paper onto a paper towel and wiped the remaining shaving cream off using a soft towel. I gave papers a zap with the heat gun to dry and to set color.

This technique is really easy and this project would be great for kids, too. I colored several pieces of paper using the shaving cream mixture. When the color became too solid, I added a spray of fresh shaving cream and swirled it in. The white areas of shaving cream result in a color resist.

I inked up my Hurricane Blowing Trees #18145 stamp with Versafine Black Ink and stamped onto the background. **PLEASE NOTE** The shaving cream leaves a film on the paper that makes the stamped image slightly distressed. I also stamped with dye ink on another paper and the image was blurred and resisted in areas. The Versafine ink came out the best and I heat set to dry.

Now for assembly! I tore the edges away on each side of my stamped image. A SECRET... I layered this onto the unusable stamped image torn in the same fashion, leaving a larger border. Card base is section of distressed corrugated mounted onto a Kraft card base using Miracle Tape. I adhered the base painted paper, then mounted a strip of burlap, and overlayed the stamped image on top all using Miracle Tape. I finished off with two sea glass nuggets for a little bling.

Presenting my windblown Hurricane Card!!!

Thanks so much for dropping by today! Hang around a little while and check out what the rest of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team has been up to. Don't forget to visit the Viva Las Vegastamps! store - for all your stamping needs and for every occasion...even a hurricane!

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

Don't Follow your Dreams; Chase Them!

 Hello Everyone, Judy here! This is my second tutorial as design team member.
I'm so excited to be here to share this tutorial with you using these stamps from VLVS! 

Stamps:

Time Flies

Men in Balloon Basket

Nesting Gears

Camera Collage

Don't follow your Dreams

Supplies:

Kromecote

Miracle Tape

Sizzix pop 'n cut die
Sizzix strip die; vintage lace

Kraft resist paper

Ranger distress inks

Ranger archival black

Scissors

Foam dots

Vagabond die cutter

The fabulous stamps from plate #893 and nesting gears stamp were used on a kraft resist pop-up card. A strip from vintage lace die was applied to each end on inside card. 

Distress inks were used to color the card.

The men in balloon basket stamp was inked on Kromecote and cutout. A little bit of blue distress ink was applied to the white area of balloon. I used foam dots to adhere the balloon to the pop-up portion of card.

The quote, don’t follow your dreams, chase them; was inked on Kromecote with black ink and cut up. Miracle Tape was used to apply the words.

You might not be able to tell from the photo but camera collage was inked and placed behind the pop-up cut out.

The outside of the card was inked with distress inks and then inked and stamped with Time Flies and the clock collage.

Thank you for stopping by and have a nice day!
Judy Cantrell