Spruced Up Card Tricks

 Happy Wednesday! Leslie-Rahye here sharing with you a fun technique to do on the Kromecote card stock. We have some beautiful new plates for winter scene building and I couldn't wait to try out some resist and background coloring techniques with them as well! The slick surface of the Kromecote card stock allows Distressed Inks to float on the surface of the card stock when it is spritzed, creating some fun texturey backgrounds!

For this project you will need:

Distress Inks

Archival Black Ink

Versamark Ink

Foam Tape

Kraft Card Stock

I began by layering a background of colors where I would later stamp my Christmas Trees in small and large. After basing in the colors, I spritzed with water and letting colors puddle and then heating then to try. Where I felt I needed more color, I added another layer and heat set again.l Heating between layers keeps you from smearing inks.

Next I layered on Christmas Trees with Black ink. I heat set them so the black would not smear off the Kromecote. Next I stamped with Versamark the three sizes of Snowflakes and dusted them with High Gloss Emboss Powder. While the heat set powder was still warm, I dusted it with Silver mica powder and heat set the embossing powder again so that it would hold the silver mica powder--it remelts just slightly capturing the mica so that it does not rub back off. I then use a soft cloth to wipe the surface of the card before proceeding further.

For the sentiment, I created a background in the same manner as above and stamped my sentiment in Black Archival. The pieces of card stock were edged with black. The sentiment was lifted off the surface of the card with foam tape. The cards were layered onto the Kraft card base.

Thank you for looking I hope you enjoyed my tips! ~leslierahye

Collaged Season's Greetings with a View of the London Skyline

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps!!! I hope you are having a terrific Tuesday. Susan here sharing a stamped Holiday Card with a collage background using some homemade tissue tape.

A Reminder - this month we are having a special "December Daily" week-long event in which the whole design team has been challenged to create with the VLVS! December Daily plate #1430.

For today's project I made homemade stamped tissue tape... YES - I made it myself! It's pretty easy, too. All you need is some tissue, a stamp, ink and your trusty Miracle Tape in whatever width you desire your tissue tape to be.

Using a warm grey ink, I stamped Jingle Bells #10686 repeatedly across a section of recycled tissue {that has already been gently crinkled here and there}. I tore stamped tissue into strips - I might add this really looks like the ready-made store bought stuff, too!

Then I grabbed my Miracle Tape and adhered it to the back of the tissue strips. I varied the thickness of Miracle Tape to the width of my torn musical tissue strips.

I stamped Fancy Border #18951 with Versafine Black Ink onto lower section of my kraft card base. I peeled off the backing and collaged my tissue tape to my card base. Easy peasy! Then I rubbed with a gesso acrylic mixture to mute the color and aged with Old Paper Distress Ink.

Stamps used: London Skyline #10597, Christmas Trees Small #18941, Fancy Border #18951, Jingle Bells #10686, and Season's Greetings #18944.

I masked off the border with post-it notes and began stamping in the scene. Using black Versafine ink, I stamped the Christmas Trees, then overlapped London skyline, and finished off with "Season's Greetings" sentiment. I gently heat set ink to dry and rubbed antique gold dew drop ink around card edges. The card is finished off with May Arts paper raffia and by adding some black gems along the fancy border.

Presenting my collaged "Season's Greetings" 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...and MIRACLE TAPE, too!

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

Stamp eight different ways with Birgit Koopsen!

I know it's been a while but this month I bring back to you the Guest Designer feature.. with a big KAPOW!!! Introducing Birgit Koopsen:

I'll let Birgit take it over from here:
Hi! My name is Birgit Koopsen. I'm married to Erik and mom of 3 beautiful kids. I live in a little village called Winsum in the north of the Netherlands.

I started scrapbooking officially when my youngest child was one year old, in 2003, but actually I've been doing it since I was a teenager. I always enjoyed photography and "pimped" my photo albums, just didn't know there was a name for it and special products. I love how scrapbooking keeps all the beautiful memories of special events and everyday life alive. Especially for my children! But I also love the creative outlet it gives me! I just love to get my hands dirty! Be creative, play, experiment! I love color! Bright, happy and bold colors are my favorites to work with. Lime Green, turquoise, pink, orange, yellow and red. My style goes from clean and geometric to “busy” layouts with lots of details and colors, I  love to play with paints and inks and use non-scrapbooking products! In the last few years I fell in love with mixed media and I very much enjoy creating “off-the-page” projects like canvasses and Art Journal style mini albums.In the last 8 years scrapbooking slowly turned into a job. I teach and demonstrate in my own studio at home as well as in scrapbook stores and at (international) scrapbook events, shows and conventions. Also I do freelance work for magazines. I was given the privilege to work on a couple of wonderful DT’s like in the past for Infocrea, MyStampBOX and until last year Prima. Currently I’m a DT-member for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, a certified Tattered Angels Designer, an endorsed educator for WOW! Embossing Powders and designing for Sizzix.

You can find more of my work on my blog: www.birgitkoopsen.nl, on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Birgit.Koopsen, on Twitter: @BirgitKoopsen and on Instagram: birgitkoopsen. I would love to see you there!

And here is the project I would like to share with you today a mini art journal:

1 stamp – 8 techniques

I  took 1 stamp and used it with 8 different techniques. You can find the stamp I used here!

To create the cover I stamped the image with Versamark and added WOW! Bonding Powder. When you heat the powder it turns into a hot glue and you can add Fab Foil (also from WOW!). Rub it, let it cool down and then carefully remove the foil. You now have a shiny stamped image. I colored in the open spaces using Faber Castel Gelatos and a water brush.

I didn’t throw away the negative left over piece of foil but covered a tag completely with Versmark and bonding powder. Then I added the left over foil.

To create the black and white shipping tag I just stamped with black Stazon and colored the flowers with a white pen.

The next page was stamped with Versamark and colored with PanPastel. The PanPastel gets a darker color in the places where the Versamark is.

For this page I stamped with Versmark and then embossed the image with white embossing powder. The embossed image creates a resist for water based spray paints. The image was spray painted with several colors of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.

For this colorful page I colored directly on the stamp with Faber Castel Gelatos, sprayed it with water and then stamped on white cardstock.

To create this page I first colored a piece of white cardstock with Ecoline (water color ink). I covered the stamp with a very thin layer of blue Ecoline using a brush and then stamped it on the colored cardstock.

This little tag was also created using Ecoline, only this time there is a layer of gesso underneath the pink. If you now stamp with another color of Ecoline the original color will be “pushed away” and leaf you with a water colored look.

I hope you like my little project and that you got inspired to get out one stamp, a lot of different mediums and experiment on all the different looks you can accomplish with only that one image!

Thank you for stopping by today and a big thank you to DeeDee for inviting me to guest design for VivaLasVegaStamps!

Wishing you all a wonderful day! Happy Stamping!

Love, 

Birgit 

Stamped and Embossed Tag

 Judy here, using VLVS images with emboss background and die cuts is always fun when making tags.

This fabulous image is from plate #893.  

Girl with wings 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"
item #19005
and
Just dropping in to say... 1" x 3"
Item #178

VLVS supplies:
Miracle Tape
Ultra High Gloss Clear Embossing Powder
Kromecote
VLVS stamps

Other Supplies:
May Arts
Ranger Distress markers
Ranger Distress inks
Ranger ink blending Applicator
Dlyusions spray inks
Ranger Archival black ink
Sizzix die
Sizzix embossing folder
Ranger Glue n' seal
Quickutz die
Vagabond tool

To make this tag, die cut a #8 tag with manila file folder. Apply color using foam applicator with broken china, tumbled glass and weathered wood distress inks and then embossed using an embossing folder. To give the vintage look I used walnut distress ink over the tag.

The girl with wings was inked with black ink on Kromecote glossy cardstock. Heat set to dry. The image was then colored with light shades of distress markers. The piece was torn to fit the tag and then broken china distress ink was used over the edges. Miracle Tape was added to back and applied to tag.

Just dropping in to say…quote was inked with black archival on Kromecote document die cut, place the die cut on scrap paper and pour ultrahigh gloss clear embossing powder over the word and heat set. Edges were inked with broken china distress inks. Ends were folded and applied to tag using Miracle Tape.

Use several spray inks to color a small piece of manila card stock, heat set to dry and then die cut with a mini flourish die, apply glue and adhere to tag.
MayArts ribbon was applied to tag to finish.

Thank you for viewing my tutorial!

Judy Cantrell



Follow the red brick road

Back in Sept. I was in a Tag/ATC swap on the VLVS! forums. the theme was open, we could do anything we wanted. We just had to make sure the atc's and Tags go with one and another.

One thing I wanted to do flopped. so went another route. I was inspired by this one picture I saw on pintest. It was from the movie Wizard of Oz where Dorthy landed in Oz and she was going to start her journey down the yellow brick road and the caption of the picture was "Where do the red bricks go to?" And that got me thinking "What if Dorthy went down the red brick road."

I don't have the #8 tag die, but last year when I was visiting a friend, she had the tag die and i die cut a few. I also took the negatives from the die cuts. I traced the negative on manila file folders. I cut them out and then Gessoed them. I then did a layer of water downed craft paint in Magenta. I then painted it Raspberry craft paint that is a glossy craft paint.  I used a brick stencil that another friend made me and sprayed some Hottie pottie Hot Pink Starbust spray by Lindy's stamp Gang. With the same brick stencil and with Molding paste(In this Tag/ATC project I used Golden soft molding paste that was in the starter pack of mediums and the Blick's brand when I ran out of the golden stuff in the little jar.) With A pallet knife I scraped some of the molding paste on the stencil in various places on the tag. used the heat gun to dry it. After it was dried I spritzed some Golden yellow Tumble Dye spray on the craft mat and painted (yes painted!) all the bricks.  I put some water down black and white craft paints on a paint pallet and with a brush made some drips and splats. The background looks likes this.

I backed the tags on lightweight chipboard and painted the edges with black craft paint.

On white cardstock I stamped the Fat Fish in High Heels, Many armed clock person, and Wheeled man in black Memento ink pad. I painted them with Distress ink pads in Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Wild Honey, and antique Linen. The Silver in the wheel is Pearlesnt watercolor. Fussy cut them out. The fish and the man I used foam tape, the clock guy I used Miracle Tape and Glossy Accents. 

The sentiment on the tag I typed it up in Word. I tried to pick a good font to fit the Oz theme.  I then took some pink ribbon I had gotten at a thrift store and cut small pieces and out then trough the top of the tags and stapled them.

Next are the ATC's

They are also are on Manila folders and Gessoed. I wanted to use the opposite colors on the ATC's that I used on the Tags. So instead of the Pink in the background color I wanted the Yellow. I sprayed the Golden Yellow Tumble dye spray on the atc. Didn't like it. So after it dried. I painted the atcs with yellow craft paint. I then took a tire tread stencil that the same friend who made the brick stencil made me. (thanks Jean!) and molding paste. scraped some of that with the pallet  knife on the atc. Once that was dried, I painted them (call me crazy!) with the water down  magenta craft paint. I then made drips and splatters with the water down black, white and the magenta craft paints. (to have a bottle of water down craft paint. When the bottle of color craft paint is almost empty, just take it and fill it with water. and shake it a bit.) I backed the atc's in lightweight chipboard and painted the edges with black craft paint.

On white cardstock I stamped the Braids Lady and Sitting Bird. Colored them with distress ink pads in Picked Raspberry, and Salty ocean. I used peach water color for the girl's face. I used Glossy accents to the girl (the glossy accents help stick the girl more to the parts of the atc that had the molding paste on it) and foam tap for the bird. Again i typed the sentiment on Word with another font that I thought was OZ like. Glued the words on to the ATC. 

We had to put a pocket or envelope on the back of the tag, I had some atc sleeves that i had gotten from other swaps I was in. I used Miracle tape on one side of the sleeve and taped them to the back of the tag and slipped the atc in there..

Stamps used

Fat Fish in High Heels

Many armed clock person

Wheeled man

Braids lady

Sitting Bird

Items used

Manila folders

Gesso

Craft paints

stencils

Molding paste

pallet knife

tumble dye stray

Lindy's stamp gang Starburst spray

water down craft paints

foam tape

Miracle tape

glossy accents

white cardstock

Black Memento ink pad

picked raspberry distress ink pad

salted ocean distress ink pad

 mowed lawn distress ink pad

Wild Honey distress ink pad
water brush

peach watercolor

pearlesent watercolor

light weight chipboard

Aileen's tacky glue 

Thanksgiving Greetings!

Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks and I sure have a lot to be thankful for!  Today I have two projects made with the VLVS! Cornucopia or horn of plenty is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container shaped overflowing with produce. See more here at Wikipedia 

First a card for the holiday.  Here I stamped the VLVS! Cornucopia directly on a piece of pattern paper with Versamark Ink.  Heat embossed with Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder and colored with Tim Holtz Distress Markers. 

The image was layered on several pieces of card stock adhered with VLVS! Miracle Tape. Now write a note inside and send out in the mail!

Dress up your dining table on Thanksgiving with my second project, a napkin ring. Stamp the VLVS! Cornucopia on Kromecote Cardstock with Versamark Ink.  Heat emboss with Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder and color with Tim Holtz Distress Markers. 

Fussy cut the image and attach to a piece of paper that will fit around your napkins. Wait to attach the ends until you are ready to wrap the napkins and adhere with VLVS! Miracle Tape!

Supplies from VLVS!
VLVS! Cornucopia
Kromecote Cardstock
VLVS! Miracle Tape
Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

Happy Thanksgiving 

to all of you that Celebrate!!!

Elegance

Good Morning all my artsy stamping friend!

I have an awesome, gorgeous, pretty card to show you.

Pretty eh?
I used the Flower Elegant Bird 2.

Here is the link and a picture of it heat embossed using black pigment ink and
Ultra High Embossing Powder.

FLOWER ELEGANT BIRD 2
EMBOSSING POWDER

Its a pretty easy card.

1. Heat emboss the flower on clear acetate.

2. On the opposite site put some glitter glue and while still wet sprinkle glitter into the glue. Let it dry.

3. In the meantime, select some pretty paper to compliment the image.

4. Cut the stamped image out and adhere to the paper.

5. Add a pretty ribbon.

FIVE steps. Thats it. Art does not have to complicated to be beautiful.
This stamp is beautiful. I can imagine a whole set as a gift.

One final thing, I used MIRACLE TAPE to adhere the image to the card.
I really love this tape as its repositional. Then it becomes quite strong and permanent.

take care,
ANg

Get Weird...it's OK!

Hey there VLVS fans! 

Pinky here today with a message to everyone...."Get Weird...it's OK".

I am kidding but you know in this day and age we all need a break from the stress and what better way than to make your friend a totally beautiful, but completely off the wall weird card?!

You know just because they are weird doesn't mean they cannot be beautiful. 

I have a wonderful family and 3 boys, I am the minivan mom and avid baker and all that, but I have a full head of PINK hair too...it's fun to be a little crazy in life, it keep you happy.

This is why I am totally making these cards for all my friends. 

 It's fun to use girly fun colors for the card (you know just to throw them off a little!). 

This VLVS stamp was perfect!

http://www.vlvstamps.com/one-minute-were-spanking-1-x-3-1-4.html

 Oh and the Miracle Tape is PERFECT for ribbon! Love this tacky wonder.

Why not get a little crazy today, have some fun and make somebody you love smile!

Until next time!

Pinky-

Viva Las Vegastamps Design Team

Products Used:

VLVS Stamp One Minute We're Spanking 1X 3 1/4

Miracle Tape 1/4"

Creative Imaginations Paper-Samantha Walker

Martha Stewart Border Punch

Misc...brads

Vintage lace & ribbon

A VLVS! Inspired Class!!!

Hello all you stampin' fools!! 

I just wanted to take a quick minute this morning and let you know that no, I have not stopped Time2Stamp - I've just been really busy getting together all the information for a CLASS!!! I know it's been a really long time since classes or demos were offered from Viva Las VegaStamps!, and I really wanted to jump right in and give it my all (with videos AND classes).

So I've spent the last few weeks putting together a class from my personal company UmWowStudio with a  HUGE FOCUS on Viva Las VegaStamps! With that being said... the first class you've seen VLVS! in in a very long time is... A DECEMBER DAILY CLASS! It's Big. It's Beautiful. It's Full.

This December Daily mini album has 31 pages, pockets and tags for you to record all your favorite little things that happen each day during December. I will be teaching this class @ The Crafting Place here in Las Vegas on the 30th 4-8pm, and if you can make it.. GREAT!!! However, if you can't and are still interested, I'm also offering an online version! Here is the break down:

The Main Kit:
$55

This includes all the bits n pieces needed to build the book, including any flat paper pieces (cut to size), die cuts, flat paper embellishments, ribbons, twines and fibers, paper clips, vintage buttons, binder clips, floral beads and the binding. It does not include basic supplies like inks, paints or tools. If you purchase the main kit, you will also receive (free of charge!) a PDF + Links to a few video tutorials showing you how to build the album page by page. :) 

 (As fans of VLVS! Many you of may have this, and if so.. AWESOME! But if not.. there's this option available ONLY with the purchase of the main kit.)

The Stamp Kit:
$24

This includes the WHOLE December Daily stamp set I designed earlier this year. You will receive 65 individually CUSHIONED, deeply etched, PINK RUBBER stamps ready to cling to your acrylic block! They're stamp ready so you can use them to get right to work building your album!

I also offer a monthly handmade embellishment kit club @ UmWowStudio.com - get the details there!

The UmWowStudio Embellishment Kit:
$18

This kit will be the same normal price as always before (Yet to be revealed!) But will coordinate beautifully with this December Daily Mini. This kit will be similar to the previous UmWowStudio embellishment kits you've seen; banners, flowers, hat pins, paper piecings, scatters, silhouettes.. that type of thing!

Shipping:
The Embellishment Kit Ships on its own for $3 like always.
The Main Kit Ships for $6.. add anything to that box and the shipping stays the same :)

Sign Ups:
I will accept any and all purchases through the 12th. I will need time to then order the appropriate amount of supplies to put the kits together and get them back out to you in time to build your album! The PDF is not yet complete, if you order the main kit, it will be sent to your email the same day your kit ships. If you do NOT order the main kit, expect it in the next 2-3 weeks. 

Any questions? I tried to be thorough but realize I probably missed something, lol. 

If you're ready to purchase or need some answers email me @ deedee430@gmail.com 
PayPal and credit card accepted! 

Tools that would be helpful for you to have of own would be a heat tool, distress ink in either walnut stain or vintage photo, archival ink in black, an ink applicator with foam pads, any wet glue or double sided tape they prefer, their favorite edge punch, paper trimmer, hole punch, scissors, a black pen and paper distressing tools.  If you're coming to the local class.. I'll have all my own, and some of it I'll have extra of, but it'll be easier the more we have :)

We'll be going over techniques like aging paper with ink and water, distressing paper to be torn and ripped, using Gesso in two different ways to create some wonderful texture, layering paper, stamping, and how to bind a book! I'll have my zutter bind it all, and everyone will get binding in their kit :)

P.S. -- this class is NOT live (Unless you're here in LV!), it is in tutorial form via a PDF and some videos on techniques, but I really hope to be ready to make the next class a live one where we can interact more!! That being said.. I am ALWAYS here to help you on something you don't understand, or may just need a little extra help with!!!

I will also be posting throughout December sharing how I finish each page with pictures, journaling, doodling and maybe some extra bits n bobs :)

Thanks so much!!!

The pointing lady

Hi everyone Glenda here! I just love this VLVS Pointing Lady stamp

and used her to make an ATC. She is the perfect size for an ATC and I love how you can make her point to whatever you choose. In this case I had her point to a quote but I look forward to having her point to many different things! haha

I used alot of layers in this card as well as the supplies listed below:

Supplies used:

VLVS Pointing Lady stamp

Miracle Tape

May Arts trim

Black cardstock

Various patterned papers

Hambly transparancy

Sticker

Watercolor pencils

Versafine Ink

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I used the pointing lady stamp and have a great day!

Until next time,

Glenda