March: The Return of the Garden Fairies

 My daughter told me this morning that she knows spring is coming because when the cat comes in from spending the day outside, he smells like dirt. Pretty observant for a little kid. Maybe it's even a little like the dirt I've tried to create here for my spring card, the type of dirt that shelters and anchors daffodil bulbs.  At any rate, here's my garden fairy - the one you don't want to cross.  All images stamped on Kromecote cardstock and embossed with Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder.  Stamps used include:  Garden Fairy from Plate 880, Daffodil and Don't Piss Off the Garden Fairies.  I used Copic markers to add color and adhered the card front to a piece of patterned paper.  Happy Spring!

It's Time to Be Kind

The inspiration for my tag today came from the Be Adorable stamp. I had purchased this stamp along with a plate and never had really read it. It didn't dawn on me for several weeks that it had wisdom in the form of simple commands from a to z : Be adorable, be brilliant, be crazy, be daring be excellent, be FUN....be kind... . Upon realizing the true extent of this stamp I felt that it embodied things I believe and have tried to instill in my children. It embodied feelings I have recently expressed about current events in the world. I needed to incorporate this stamp and remind people that NOW is the time-- the time to be caring, to be thankful to be wise to be kind and among others, to be NICE. I hope you enjoy my project!

The base of the tag is painted with acrylic paints and then distressed. The Adorable stamp and the grid stamp were stamped  and then the whole base was misted with Copper Maya Mist. 

The pieces of the Worn Clock Face and the Watch Movement were created on misted Kromecoat with embossed stamping.

All layers were adhered to the tag and metal embellishments were added to represent hardware in the gears of the clock faces and on the dry embossed piece. Trim and Misted May Arts Ribbon were added to the top and bottom of the tag to complete the look!
I hope you enjoyed my tag! ~leslierahye

For this project you will need:

shipping tag

brads, trims, metal embellishments, gold paper scrap

May Arts Ribbon

acrylic paint, Maya Road Mists, Smooch Spritz

Ranger EP and Mix'd Media Inx

Come Sail Away to Some Stamped Deserted Islands...

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! - it's finally FRIDAY and the weekend is almost here! Susan here today bringing a beautiful card made from leftovers and stamped images that are not "perfect". If you are like me, there's really no such thing as a "PERFECT" stamped image. It's the best out of several (or 10) stamped images, then you have a pile that are sent to the "Island of Misfit" images to the scrap box.

Remember the hurricane card I made a while back on shaving cream painted papers... well - the leftovers made their way into my project due to my "ONE TOUCH" rule this week. What is my "one touch" rule? Simple - if I pick something up in effort to find something for a project... it goes in the project, too. I started doing this to help me use up the leftover stuff sitting around that's usable and too good to throw away.

What do you do with leftovers and stamped images that aren't totally perfect... I make MOSAICS. Cut them up and piece them back together. The interesting design of the mosaic pattern adds interest and nobody will notice the stamping faux pas. And a nice fine point black pen for touch ups doesn't hurt, either. Before assembling into a border, I inked all edges with chalk ink to give a aged and weathered feel. I completed this mosaic border with some coordinating May Arts burlap twines that really add to the weathered nautical feel. Miracle Tape makes assembly quick and easy!

That ship in the bottom section of the border did bother me - it was slightly blurred and not completely clear. Another quick and easy fix... just add a layer! I stamped the larger ship onto another scrap of the shaving cream paper, torn around the edges and chalked with Clearsnap creamy brown cats eye chalk ink. Another mishap occurred when I came back a few days later to assemble my finished piece...the black StazOn ink reacted in a couple spots with my shaving cream paper and it blurred out around the masts. It looked like an oil stain and I was compelled to repair this also. So I used a white Signo Uniball pen to color over stained area and smudged out the edges. Then I used a fine point EK Millenium black pen to repair the mast and rope lines. I repeated the white in a few places to complete the look and looks like it was meant to be.

I layered this onto a brown paper bag envelope that I gently took apart to have a piece large enough to layer my mosaic border on. I had a fold at each edge of this paper... hmmm - it's such a perfect match, but that won't do. No worries! To camouflage the folds...I added more folds spaced equally apart - leaving an interesting and textural element to the paper. Another near miss. I mounted the completed piece on top of a plain wicker box. The aged nautical look is completed and my plain box will make a perfect Father's Day gift now.

Supplies used: STAMPS - Nautical Collage #19016, and Triple Mast Sailing Ship #19026, Also used matte natural finish cardstock, and brown paper bag envelope; Miracle Tape; 3-D foam mounting squares; Various May Arts Ribbons/trim; Black StazOn Ink; Ranger Weathered Wood and Peeled Paint Distress Ink for shaving cream painted paper; and Clearsnap Creamy Brown Chalk ink.

ALSO - here's a sneek peek of my Altered Paint Brush for the latest VLVS! Swap. Join me tomorrow at the Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto to see how I made this. QUESTION everything creative in sbartist : daylight musings room this weekend's Saturday Crafts Fair. Look for the question mark to join in!

All are invited to join me live at 4:00pm EST {1pm PST} in the Daylight Musings room at the Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto! I demo live every Saturday and I share my projects, how-to's, tips and tricks and more. Tomorrow, I will be showing how to altered a 3" paintbrush - just like the ones I made for the Viva Las Vegastamps! Paintbrush SWAP.

https://apps.facebook.com/mylinqto/saturdaycraftsfair

Thanks so much for dropping by. Stick around a while and check out what the rest of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team has been creating -OR- drop by the Viva Las Vegastamps! store and browse the rubber vault. If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back in 2 weeks with another stamping adventure! Hope you have an inky day - and a fabulous weekend! Sb

Butterfly Princess

                                                                     Butterfly Princess

                                                   

 Supplies:  Viva las Vegastamps!

                                                     

Sad Baby                                     flowered corner joints                      Butterfly wing set

 item no. 10617                            item no.2406                                     item no. 18630                                                                   

                                                                                                         

Clear Snap supplies

Smooch inks:                             Clear snap ink pads:

Pearlized accent inks                 Raspberry (premium dye inkpad)

Taffy                                            Chestnut Roan (chalk ink)

Banana                                        Sprits: Vanilla

Luscious lime

mocha

                                                                                          

other supplies:

White Paper doily          

Silver foil doily

Double stick foam tape

Water

Small crown                  

Small paint brushes

Scrapbook papers for background

dry adhesive                            

                I used several different watercolor techniques for this card.

               Play with them and have a Great time...I sure did!

Desk Caddy

Hi there ~ Judy here, when I saw Mary Vogel Lozinak images from Viva Las VegaStamps! I knew they would be perfect for this project.
 These caddies are perfect for pens, pencils and markers.

VLVS Stamps and Supplies:

Wheeley Monocle Face

Wheeley Cat

Wheeley Rabbit

Elephant on Ball

Blowing Dandelion and extra seeds by Susan M Brown

Miracle Tape

This project was made with an empty commercial tissue roll measuring 3 1/2" x 3 1/2." These can vary in length and height. Don’t forget the cylinders or tubes that documents come in. These can be cut into projects using the same directions I have here. 

Directions:

Make a 4 1/2" circle with Kraft paper or 1” larger than the roll.  Place the empty tissue roll in the center of the circle, draw around the outside of tissue roll with a pencil.

Cut ½” slits to pencil mark around the perimeter of the circle, fold slits up and fit around bottom opening, press the slits to fit over the base of roll.

Add Helmar acid free glue to a few slits at a time to make a good fit over bottom of roll. When you get all tabs glued, add a few rubber bands around the glued tabs, set aside to dry. Remove rubber bands when dry.

Basic covering technique was used to completely cover the tube with one sheet of 12" x 12" designer paper. Circle cutter was used to cut black card stock for bottom of desk caddy to coordinate with the finished project and designer paper for inside of tissue roll. 

Stamp images on smooth off-white artist paper with Memento black. Leave 1” space between each image. You will need this space to cut and matte. Heat set to dry. Each stamped image was painted with Copic markers. 
Use masking paper to stamp each image, cut-out just inside of image, place the mask over the finished image and then stamp blowing dandelion image with shattered straw distress ink. Remove mask. Trim and matte each image the same size on black card stock using Miracle Tape. Adhere each piece to desk caddy with Miracle Tape. 

Elephant on Ball

Wheeley Rabbit

Wheeley Cat

Wheeley Monocle Face

Adhere one little clear gem to Wheeley Monocle with Glossy Accents.

I've made several of these caddies to hold my Copic Markers! Each caddy holds approximately 28 markers. 

plate1401.jpg

 Other supplies:

Memento Black ink

Ranger Shattered Straw distress ink

Helmar Glue

Copic Markers

Glossy Accents

Eclipse art masking tape

Paper Trimmer

Black card stock

Designer paper

Artist paper (smooth finish)
Kraft paper

Clear gem 

Designer Team Member~ Judy Cantrell 

I hope no one sees me in this dress

Last year I submitted a couple of things to RSM for their Spring 2013 issue with the Green theme. But sadly neither item made the cut. Today I'm showing you the tag I submitted.

The tag is 8 inches tall and 4 inches wide. I did lots of layers of green and some yellow paints. I also used some punchenilla with some green paint. I then stamped with vintage photo distress ink pad the Specialita Orologi. 

Then on a separate piece of paper. I did almost the same thing but no stamping.. and used the Dress maker mask from Hampton Art Graphic 45. I stamped the lady with scallop hat. colored her with prisima pencils. Cut her out and glued her to the dress form. I then used Miracle tape to put her on to the tag. One white cardstock I stamped Gee I hope no one sees me and the A new Body for $1.87. With a water brush and Black soot distress ink pad I colored in the white. Cut them out and attached them with Miracle tape.

When I got the tag back from RSM I added the lace trim from May Arts with Miracle tape and then tied the black cording through the hole of the tag.

Items used

May Arts trim

Miracle tape

Manila tag

craft paints

punchinella

dress form mask

Black memeto ink pag

Black Soot Distress ink pad

Vintage photo distress ink pad

sharpie marker

Prisma Color pencils

water brush

Stamps used

A new body for $1.87

Gee I hope no one sees me

Lady with Scalloped Hat

Specialita Orologi

Enchanted

I think like everyone, I am ready for spring. I am ready for the gorgeous flowers that smile at me everyday.

I am one of those goddess women who believe in fairies and sparkles and smiles.

So when i came across this most awesome stamp I went literally all warm and fuzzy.

Yummy eh?

I created a couple of pretty cards.

My favorite this one.

And its super simple to make. The butterfly is an outline sticker. Place the outline sticker on a piece of watercolour paper.

Get out your favorite watercolours; twinkling H20's, Peerless Watercolour, Pencils etc.

Choose your favorite colours, using a brush wet the paper, and then start adding the colours, they will mix and blend together. Let it dry and then i used Prisma pencils to accent the butterfly.

Then i stamped "Enchanted"with a black dye ink, on a small piece of watercolour paper, and painted it to compliment the larger area.

Attach to a card and you have a lovely card.

Take care my art friends

L.

ANg

Plate 1412...It's A GOOD Thing! Birthday Card by Pinky!

Good morning VLVS friends!

Pinky here today with a fun project using Plate 1412 from

Viva Las VegaStamps. You know when I went to order this 

plate I know I would find 100 uses for it and this is just the first!

There is so much sass and fun on this plate and if you think you

can't create mainstream cards with it, let me tell you...YOU CAN!

My friends WAIT for me to make a snarky card and they 

enjoy seeing what I come up with next. You start using VLVS 

sassiness for your projects and people will definitely notice.

I began with the Hands On Face 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 image. I hand cut it 

out and applied it to the card base. 

After that I used the same vintage cardstock to stamp the 

My Mind Says 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 image hand cutting into a bunting shape. 

 I used my Miracle Tape to adhere it to the frame.

 Then applied the frame to a vintage style card base I created from Glitz paper. 

 I used some vintage Glitz alphas to say "Happy Birthday" and there is 

a sassy and FUN card any friend would ADORE! Not only

because it is handmade from you but also because it's sassy and carries some fun. 

 DON'T forget your Miracle Tape, the adhesive that makes your project stick. 

I use it on all my VLVS projects. 

Ok I am off to create my next Viva Las VegaStamps project! Hope to

see you next time. Until then- Keep on creating. 

Pinky Hobbs- Viva Las VegaStamps Design Team

I'm ready for summer!!

Hi everyone Glenda here! I don't know about you but I am tired of the snow and winter and am sooo ready for summer!! I made an ATC celebrating summer and whenever I look at it I can almost feel the sun shining on my face and hear the sound of a lawnmower in the distance. Sigh.

I used 2 different stamps to make this, the Leaning Palm Island

and the fabulous Bird pulling strap

The first thing I did was to make a background using alcohol inks. Then I stamped the Leaning palm island onto that and colored it in with paints. Then I stamped the Bird pulling strap stamp onto white cardstock, colored it in with watercolor pencils and then cut it out and glued it onto the alcohol inked background. I had a piece of patterned paper saying "travel" which I glued on as well making this ATC:

I hope you enjoyed my ATC and can almost feel the sun shining upon your face as well! Until next time,

Glenda

Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

When I was around nine or ten my best friend Rita and I decided to hold a contest. Who could make the largest gum foil ball? Back then gum sticks came in a pack of five and each stick of gum was wrapped in a thin piece of paper stuck to an aluminum sheet. It took some patience but after stuffing each piece of gum into our mouth, we would carefully separate the foil from the paper and then roll the foil into a ball.

I honestly can’t recall how long our contest lasted, or who won, but I distinctly remember a huge argument over the accusation of cheating with Reynolds aluminum foil!
 

I decided to do a bit of research and found that our idea wasn’t exactly unique. Recently on eBay a vintage six pound gum foil ball sold for $299.99! I never received any money or notoriety from my ball, but am now having a bit of regret that I didn’t save it.
 

When I saw the adorable Tinfoil man stamp on the VLVS website I knew I just had to try my hand at making a real foil card. It was easier than I thought and I love the way it turned out.

Supplies



Miracle Tape



VLVS – Tinfoil Hat Man and Cat and Tinfoil it's not just for hats anymore.



Cardstock – white and gray



Silver Stickles



Black/White Patterned Paper



Aluminum Foil



Embossing Folder
 

I just made a simple greeting card and layered black cardstock on the cover. To emboss the tinfoil I used Miracle Tape to tape down the foil to a piece of cardstock. I then ran it through my Vagabond, cut the embossed piece to the desired size and glued it to the card. I added Silver Stickles to the stamped hats and then glued it to the card.

Have you ever made a tinfoil chewing gum ball? Or a tinfoil hat? The closest thing to a tinfoil hat that I ever wore was using a frozen orange juice can as a hair roller. Can you top that??