Design Team Call---

That's right folks.. it's time for a DESIGN TEAM CALL here @ Viva Las VegaStamps!

We’re looking for all types of artists and welcome anyone who has a passion for rubber stamping to apply! Bring on the Mixed Media Artists, the Card Makers, the Scrapbookers, the Altered Artists, the Scene Stampers… we want you ALL!! International welcome to apply, too!

Our terms last six months. This term will run from January 1^st – June 31^st and has 8 openings.

Design Team requirements during your six month term are as follows:

1) Regularly promote VLVS! through:

a. online galleries

b. your blog

c. social media like facebook, twitter, youtube, flickr and pinterest

d. and by submitting to publications.

2) Complete a minimum of two (2) projects per month to be posted on the VLVS! blog, always using only Viva Las VegaStamps! images. Your posts must include at least one over all finished photo, one detail photo, a product list with appropriate working links to our online store and a short description on how you completed the project. Keep in mind occasionally you may be asked to follow certain criteria, ie; using a given product, following a theme, or creating for the season. We may also request an additional post in which case you would only be asked to share a project as inspiration with working links to the appropriate stamps. No need for tutorials or step by steps on inspiration posts. It is important you possess the necessary skills to photograph your projects well. We want to see them in their full glory; you should be able to provide well lit, focused, center of attention photos.

3) Participate in the online private facebook group for the team. Important information like schedules, future hops, logos, links and contact information are all kept in the group. I run a lot of ideas by the team and value their honest opinions.

4) Participate in blog hops and/or product swaps. (Some may be on a volunteer basis only)

5) Mail two (2) completed projects to the store for display. This is out of your whole six month term. We love having projects posted all around the store for people to ogle as they peruse through our stamps.

In return VLVS! will:

1) Provide you with regular shipments to keep you fully stocked on supplies, including but not limited to VLVS! Stamps, Miracle Tape, Embossing powder, and any product swap goods.

2) Provide you with a detailed schedule at least 2 weeks in advance.

3) Compensate you for extra work outside of the regular schedule. This will be based upon volunteer projects and any extra hops or swaps outside of said schedule.

4) Regularly promote you and your projects through online social medias, as well as display you and your personal blog address on our company blog.

How to apply:

Create a new post on your blog with the title “Viva Las VegaStamps! DT Tryout”. Include in your post three stamped projects that best represent you and your style. I’m open to cards, ATCs, tags, scrapbook pages, etc.! Because I want to see your best work I will not limit the stamped pieces to only Viva Las VegaStamps! stamps, but I’d love to see some if you have them!

Then, in an email to me (with a subject of “VLVS! DT CALL”) please include:

- your name

- a brief bio.. Who are you? Why do you create? That type of stuff!

- the link to your direct blog post titled Viva Las VegaStamps! DT Tryout

- the link to your facebook, twitter, pinterest and/or other accounts

- the link to any and all online galleries you regularly upload to

- any other important links you think I’d like to see

- a list of current and past design teams you have been on. (not necessary to be chosen for VLVS!)

- and last please also include in your post why you want to be on the VLVS! DT.

Email to deedee430@gmail.com with subject line “VLVS! DT CALL” due by 11/30 (November 30th) at midnight pacific standard time.

Applicants joining the team will be notified by December 10^th.

Christmas Grab Bags!! {GIVEAWAY}

You loved our Halloween Grab Bags... 

So we're doing CHRISTMAS Grab Bags, too!!!

Super limited.

SUPER PACKED FULL OF GOODNESS!!! 

Plus... right now... enter coupon code "cyber" to save ANOTHER 10% + FREE SHIPPING!!
(Coupon code expires 12/2/13)

AND : let's give one away!!
Repin THIS PIN HERE to be entered into the giveaway! One random winner gets a grab bag!

7 Dots Studio and Viva Las VegaStamps!

I am in love with the gorgeous paper collections from 7 Dots Studio!! We were lucky enough to have been given some of their fabulous goodies to play with and I used papers and die cuts from both the Messy head collection and the Love is in the air collection as well as the fabulous Wanderlust stamp

and the Don't follow your dreams stamp

to make this layout about my boys

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I used the 7 Dots Studio collections along with the Viva Las VegaStamps! stamps. Until next time,
Glenda

A STAR is Born... from Viva Las VegaStamps! and 7 Dots Studio Goodness!

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to share a handmade star book created using 7 Dots Studio Papers and my stash of VLVS!. I love making mini books for gifts and the double sided 12" x 12" cardstock is so beautiful - I knew it would make a perfect gift for my husbands' niece {her birthday is the same as mine}. She's 16 and I just know she will love this. I have to say - my stash of Miracle Tape made this so much easier than using glue stick as I have in the past... so easy and no sticky-gooey fingers.

Since I wanted to get the most mileage out of the 12 x 12 sheets, I used some strips of natural cardstock offcuts from work as my book base {I don't get offcuts of paper often at the printshop where I work, but when I do it comes in handy}. The size of them are 4 1/4" x 23" so I cut 7 sheets at 15" wide and also 13 1/2" wide; then scored to fold in half making long rectangular pages This will be a nice variation from the dozens of square books I've made previously. I cut the 7 Dots Studio Papers to 4 1/4" x 12". I like to make the book have a little more detail so I use the scraps and stitch them into the center of the book base pages. These sections were 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" and 4 1/4" x 2" - each then scored to fold in half. Before I assemble I swipe the edges of all sheets with coordinating colors of Cats Eye Chalk Inks to get rid of the white edges.

I decided my order of colors and patterns and nested the smaller pieces inside the largest base pages and punched two holes for stitching using a pushpin.

For each of the sections, I laced some May Arts natural burlap twine and tied a knot on the inside to secure. Now I have 7 little booklets sections.

I again arranged my sections by color and pattern as I wanted them in order in preparation for adhering the layered nesting pages. These nesting pages float freely and are adhered aligned to the edge of the page using 3/8" Miracle Tape. You can vary the amount of pages and dimensions to add more rays to the star book.

Keeping my sections in order, I used 1" Miracle Tape to adhere the sections together by taping the largest cardstock base pages back-to-back. This makes for a nice sturdy book. There are simpler ways to make a star book - I am just all about the "EXTRA" little details. You can leave out the stitched portion to make it quicker.

Now with my book assembled I added more Miracle Tape {I would have used Miracle Sheets, except I didn't have enough to do the job}. A adhered green crinkle satin May Arts Ribbon loosely around the spine area and layered more miracle tape over the top. I also added a blue sheer organza ribbon around the length to tie the book closed and layered tape over this as well. All this extra taping ensures the book and the ribbon won't pull apart.

 

I cut two sections of scrap chipboard to fit the cover and leaving a slight overhang; then wrapped with the gorgeous blue 7 Dots Studio "Love Is In The Air" patterned paper and my remaining Miracle Sheet cut to size... easy peasy!

Using a couple of the leftover patterned paper scraps, I stamped a quote and collage for the cover and matted onto navy blue cardstock leftover from my November T!m Tag; layering images in blue and black ink for added depth. **A NOTE** I started to stamp directly onto the cover AFTER I assembled and messed it up... yep this is a total "COVER UP". Note to self... stamp your cover art before mounting to book because it's not flat!!!

a STAR is Born...

I finished off with glittery We R Memory Keepers Sticker letters that matched perfectly and a few clear sticky-back bling colored to match with a green permanent marker. VOILA! All I need is a fancy pen and this gift is good to go :)

Would you LOVE to be a part of this Awesome team of Stamp Addicts???

Here's your chance!!! CLICK HERE for all the details... hurry up Nov. 30th is the deadline.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Viva Las VegaStamps used: Bulls Eye Target Solid #19196; Bulls Eye Target Open #19193; "Be Adorable..." #19038; "Dream" #18886; "Inspire" #18888; "Time Flies" #19008; Large Bird Flying Left #19001; Hot Air Balloon with Flags #19006; Flying Watch #19004; Card Suits #14109; Writing Arrow #19078; Paris Address #17539; Steampunk Heart Small #16010; and Dotted line from the December Daily Plate #1430. Supplies used: Natural Cardstock; scrap chipboard; Stuart Superior Black Memories Ink; Ancient Page Cobalt Blue Waterproof Ink; Miracle Tape 3/8"; Miracle Tape 1"; Miracle Sheets; Clearsnap Cats Eye Chalk Inks; WeR Memory Keepers "Feelin' Groovy" Alphabet Stickers; May Arts fibers and Ribbon; Blue sheer organza ribbon.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Have you entered the monthly challenge - you have a couple days left. Make a creation using the the November inspiration and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER! CLICK HERE for challenge details. Also, you definitely want to subscribe to the blog feed and to the Viva Las VegaStamps! newsletter to be IN THE KNOW of everything going on at the Viva Las Vegastamps! store. There's so much amazing inky inspiration to see!

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

Fan Feature!! (Mail Art & DIY Jewelry)

It's plain and simple.. we LOVE seeing our stamps in use. We love seeing them shared on our facebook page, instagrammed, tweeted and stumbling across them on pinterest.

We also LOVE sharing your works with our other fans! And that's just what we're doing today! If you want to be featured in a fan feature, be sure to tag us (#vivalasvegastamps, #vlvstamps) so we stumble across your project!

Today we're sharing one project by Tera:

I think I particularly love this Mail Art piece because of our current swap. It really just invokes so many ideas for mail art!! Give it a go :) Work up a standard sized postcard and pop it in the mail to someone you know. Tera used Explore, Triple Mast Sailing Ship, Carpe the hell, Dictionary page, Diver In Suit and Discover.

P.S. Tera is applying for our Design Team with this project -- did you know we have an open call? Check it out!

and we have one by Kristen:

  Kristen used our Blue Police Box to create these amazing earrings! Might be some inspiration for the upcoming issue of RSM!

Night owl

Hello, Nataliya is here :)
At the end of each year, I have a problem with purchasing a new date book for scrapbooking. This year I decided to make it myself.
And now I have date book, specially for night owls :)

To create the cover I used 7Dots paper (Domestic Gooddes Collection),VLVS! stamps, Sakura of America Micron, gauze, stencil, paint, ink and medium.

Moon - the eternal companion of owls :)

And here is the main character  - owl. I colored it with alcohol ink.

First case has already been done!

My VLVS! for this project:
- Moon Circle 1 3/4 x 1 1/2
- Washi Reverse Grid Background 1 1/4 x 5 1/2
- Washi Grid Background 1 1/4 x 5 1/2
- Stars 2 x 2 1/4

Have a nice owl's night!

scrapbook slash calender with 7 dots studio

Hi Hermine here. This time we teamed up with 7 Dots Studio to work with their gorgeous papers. I had a hard time because the paper is so beautiful as is that you can't enhance it, so I tried to compliment it by using the gorgeous flower stamps and try to match the colours with Lyra crayons. I made a scrapbook slash calender (this is on my wish-list for a long time) so every other spread is a month of the year and every other one is meant to use photo's that reflects that particular month.

 

These are the things I used from 7 Dots Studio

 

Made the cover with grey board covered with paper, put gesso on it and sprayed with Dylussions. Then I used the tickets from 7 Dots Studio, stamped the Fris ChamairisLatifolia 18733 with Lyra crayons and water on a piece of paper. Used the Zutter bind-it-all to turn it into a booklet.

 

I don't know why blogger turns this photo on its side ;o(

 

Spread to put photo's on, stamped the Fris ChamairisLatifolia 18733 with colours matching the paper.

 

I used TH alteration die for the months

 

Calender spread

 

Used the pointed pen tip 18793 to enhance this spread

 

Another spread using  Melanthium Vulgare  18729

Close -up

 

And here I used Halicabus Judicus Arborescens 18737

 

I couldn't help myself, I like to play with my Lyra crayons hahaha. So I made a few cards as well, using the technique from my previous tutorial, but not spraying water but misting it on the stamp. I put some colours on with Lyra crayons, then misted some water above the stamp, then stamped it on a card, only misting water again and stamped a second one, did this a third time on another card, you can see the colour is lighter everytime you stamp but still looking great.

used materials:
Fris ChamairisLatifolia 18733
pointed pen tip 18793
Melanthium Vulgare  18729
Halicabus Judicus Arborescens 18737
7 Dots Studio

Alice in Wonderland Redux

'Alice in Wonderland' was one of my favorite books when I was young, and I count the original illustrator, Sir John Tenniel, as one of my artistic influences.  I thought I'd see if I could bring some new life to one of his drawings.

Supplies
VLVS! Stamps Used:
Alice With Caterpillar - Item 19300 Plate 941
Mushroom - Item 19118 Plate 923
Small Mushroom - Item 19121 Plate 923
Leafless Trees -  Item 15881 Plate 1260
Tall Tree - Item 14917 Plate 1210

7Dots Studio 'Love is in the Air' 6 x 6 Scrapbook Paper
Sakura of America Standard Gellyroll White pen; Stardust: Golden-star, Sky-Star, Green-Star, Copper-Star, Red-Star
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers-BT7, CG7, CT3, DG3, OR1, TB3
Ranger Archival Black ink pad
Distress Vintage Photo ink pad

I often find myself using products in the same way over and over, and it's a shame.  The phrase 'thinking outside the box' is a cliched saying, but only because it is true.  For the month of November, I was challenged to use 7Dots Studio scrapbook paper and Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and it suddenly occurred to me that I could use them together.

You don't generally think of using alcohol markers on colored paper and, truthfully, I don't know why not!  Most of the colors are translucent so you can't use them on black or dark colors, but why not lighter paperstock?

I started with a sheet of 6x6 scrapbook paper in bright yellows and oranges.  I laid out the VLVS! stamps I'd chosen until I was satisfied with the layout, and I stamped Alice and the Caterpillar, and the mushrooms in black.  The trees I stamped in brown, so there would be a feeling of distance.  (NOTE: It is important that you do NOT use StazOn ink for stamping when you will color with alcohol markers.  The solvent-based StazOn will react and smear.)

Even without color, the scene almost looks finished with the 7Dots Studio background!  

I chose my Spectrum Noir colors based not only on color, but on opacity.  Rule of thumber-darker colors tend to be opaque, not allowing the background to show through at all.  Lighter colors tend to be more translucent, letting some background show through.  There are exceptions so I do recommend testing first.  Your colors might look entirely different based on the background behind it.

I had a scrap of the same 7Dots Studio paper and I tested several colors on it.  Most collections do have more than sheet of the same color.  If you don't have a scrap, then do some abstract images--lots of circles or stripes, and use your test sheet for another project.

I used a mix of Citrus and Dull Greens in the foreground.  The Citrus allowed a little of the background color through, but the Dull Green didn't. I used Citrus in the midground.  Both True Blue and Turquoise Blue were used on Alice's dress and for a touch of shadowing on the mushrooms.  Orange was used to color the mushrooms and the Caterpillar.  I used True Blue to border the entire page, but left the background uncolored for a mottled yellow sky.  Citrus Green was used for the tree's foliage, and I added some Dull Green shadows in the midground.

The biggest issue with using colored paper now presented itself.  Everything was too dark.  I had expected this, and had my gellyrolls ready to go.  I used white for highlights, and to tone down the Caterpillar and mushrooms.  I used the green Stardust all over the grassy areas to tie everything together.  The yellow Stardust was used for Alice's hair, and the center grass of the midground. I blue Stardust was used to even out Alice's dress.  Alice's skin tones were created with copper Stardust overlaid with white.

As usual, it was difficult to get to get a scan or photo that shows the sparkle from the Stardust pens.  They added a glitter that made the scene other-wordly and defined the magic that is Wonderland!

I hoped you enjoyed my Adventure in Wonderland!  

Viva Las VegaStamps! is having a swap with 7Dots Studio for the whole month of November!   and don't forget to check out the VLVS! November Challenge for a chance to win (plus it's fun!).

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Wonderland!For more of my work with Viva Las VegaStamps!, Amazing Mold Putty, zentangle-inspired art, and daily links to tangles, tutorials, and giveaways please visit my "Life Imitates Doodles" blog.   ~ Sandra Strait

Helpful Links: VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs; the  VLVS! Blog for new projects; VLVS! on  FaceBook,  Pinterest and Twitter

We Can't All Be Saints

When I first saw the Nun Licking Gun stamp I giggled a lot, and then immediately thought of a way to incorporate this stamp into a silly project, using a lot of up-cycled materials and ephemera I have hanging around my studio.  

   I started with a large shipping tag, and used some old book pages from a religious text, that had been thrown into a bin outside the library that I work at. I tore the pages into strips, and added them to the tag horizontally, adhering with a craft and hobby glue. When the glue had dried, I added splashes and flicks of aqua and Caribbean blue paint, and dried it with my craft dryer. I took Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Teal, and sprayed it twice onto my craft mat. I then used a paintbrush to paint the ink onto the edges of the tag, and to add a few splashes cross the tag.

   

  Before adding my ephemera, I stamped with Momento ink in Tuxedo Black , using the cracked background and Stars 2 x 2 1/4 stamps, to add a little pizazz. 

 

                                            

When the stamping was finished, I cut the beautiful saint ephemera from a book, and layered it along the right side of the tag, embellishing with wing, upcycled jewelry piece, and feathers on top of a strip of text that has been pleated and sprayed with color shine in teal.

Finally, I added the image that changed the whole tone of the project, the nun with a gun, which was stamped using black ink, and embossed, using ultra high gloss embossing powder. To draw attention to the image, I elevated it using foam adhesive, and added a strip of trim, and a stamped and cut star pin image, along with a hanging coin.

In the end, I have a project that's not meant to offend, but certainly has a lot of sass, to counter the lovely and saintly ephemera art.  

Thanks for having a look today, and grab your tag, and get to stamping! 

~Amy

www.sparklinggnome.com

Supply List:
Viva Las VegaStamps! Stamps:
Nun Licking Gun, Star Pin, Cracked Background,  Stars 2 x 2 1/4
Ink and Embossing Powder, found in the Viva Las VegaStamps! store: Momento Ink in Tuxedo Black, High Gloss Embossing Powder
Tag: Uline
Metal Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology, Bead Landing, vintage
Lace Trim: Gauche Alchemy
Ribbon, Gold Cord, feathers: from my stash

Wedded bliss

Hi there, Glenda here with some ATC's! For some reason when I make ATC's I have alot of different ideas come to me when I'm thinking about a particular subject. When I saw the Bride stamp I got the idea to make a series of humerous ATC's about wedded bliss and here you have them:

 (how true right??)

 (oh yay!!)

(this one is my fave!) haha

To make these ATC's I used the fabulous Bride stamp

and the Whispering secret stamp

and last but not least the Young couple kissing stamp

I hope you enjoyed these ATC's and it made you laugh!

GO AWAY!!! Unless You are Taking Stamping to a Whole New Dimension...

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today with a twist on stamping. I love to stamp, but I am a total addict of molding and shaping things using Amazing Crafting Products. Today's project welcomes you to the wide world of dimension and a new kitschy jewelry piece using the "Unwelcome Mat Large #14973" image from Viva Las VegaStamps!

I have had this Unwelcome Mat stamp for quite some time and I did attempt to make a pendant with shrink plastic... but it came out very dark after the shrinking process. So that was a fail. With my molding adventures with last month's T!m Tags, a lightbulb went off and I thought, "what if I cast of mold of this stamp with the new Amazing Mold Rubber?"

 

I quickly and easily formed a mold box by wrapping and burnishing a couple layers scotch tape around the edge of the stamp to contain the liquid silicone poured on top. I prepared stamp by rubbing with vegetable oil to act as resist.

 

The detail of the Amazing Mold Rubber is so awesome and I couldn't wait to cast my new mold. I got out my Ranger Perfect Pearls, and with a dry brush applied the colors directly to the mold. I mixed up a small batch of Amazing Casting Resin {an opaque white 10 minute cure resin}, and poured into my mold. Like a kid on Christmas morning I couldn't wait to see the results...

A glorious and wonderfully colored FAIL!!! The type is backwards... YIKES!!!

So what's a girl to do??? Reverse the mold using Amazing Mold Putty {thanks DeeDee for the quick solution <3}. I will do this again using Amazing Mold Rubber {except due to the extended curing time and that I need to get more Amazing Mold Rubber... I opted to go with a quick 1/2 hour fix with the mold putty}. I mixed up a batch of Amazing Mold Putty and pressed into the silicone mold. Doing this makes the curing time take about twice as long, since the silicone cools the mold putty extending the curing process.

When fully cured I gently peeled the mold putty reverse from the silicone mold. It's not quite as detailed as the silicone Amazing Mold Rubber mold, but it's pretty good. I had to mix another batch of mold putty to add a border to hold the resin - yep the amazing mold putty sticks to itself so you can build all sorts of shaped molds... and make repairs and adjustments, too!

 

Now after a second curing of about 20 minutes... I'm back to coloring.  I again added various colors of Ranger Perfect Pearls applied with a dry paintbrush.

 

 I mixed up another small batch of Amazing Casting Resin and poured into this new mold.

Winner... Winner... Chicken Dinner!!! I wasn't going to rest until I resolved this issue. I drilled two small holes to hold wire wrapped gold loops and added lime green fun fur and satin ribbon to finish.

Welcoming a Kitschy Necklace...

Here's both versions side-by-side so that you can see the difference in detail between the two molding products. For extreme detail, the Amazing Mold Rubber wins hands down. I will finish the backwards version and wear out to survey how many people really get the joke. So I hope you are inspired to take your stamping to a new dimension...

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Viva Las VegaStamps used: Unwelcome Mat Large #14973. Supplies used: Amazing Mold Rubber,  Amazing Casting Resin, and Amazing Mold Putty by Amazing Crafting Products; Ranger Perfect Pearls; Gold 20 gauge wire; lime green satin ribbon and fun fur fiber; patience and a kwirky sense of humor.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Have you entered the monthly challenge? Make a creation using the the November inspiration and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER! CLICK HERE for challenge details. Also, you definitely want to subscribe to the blog feed and to the Viva Las VegaStamps! newsletter to be IN THE KNOW of everything going on at the Viva Las Vegastamps! store. There's so much amazing inky inspiration to see!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. To follow Sandra, DeeDee and myself over at the Amazing Mold Putty Blog CLICK HERE. I'll be back soon with another stamping adventure!  Sb