April WINNER WINNER chicken dinner

I cannot believe how stinkin' cool all the entries for our April Challenge were!

The winner is...

Kristiina! She's so witty in her use of Mary Vogel Lozinak's Zentangle inspired images... definitely stop by for details creating these leaves from a larger graphic stamp!

And our random winner is... SHERI!

Both ladies just email me @ deedee430@gmail.com with your shipping address and we'll get you a grab bag!

A couple days left to enter MAY'S challenge and don't forget about our DESIGN TEAM CALL!

Fly.

Hello!  Mary here with a simple way to mix up your basic stamped background.

I started by stamping the Sheet Music Background onto the smooth side of a sheet of watercolor paper with StazOn ink.  You could use any background or image stamp as long as it's a more solid image that covers a good bit of area.

Then, I punched out several circles from the image with a punch.  Dies would work well for this or you could mix it up with different shapes and sizes!

Finally, I layered the circles onto my background.  Here, I stitched them down and added a splatter of glitter for more texture and a bit of sparkle.

And here's a peek at my finished card all embellished and ready to go!

I LOVE the layered effect this background provides!  The white circles break up all that Distress Ink in the background and really show off the music sheet pattern of the stamp.

And, of course, I've used the 'fly' portion of the Get Cape Wear Cape Fly image, stamped onto vellum, and tucked under the bird embellishment to add my sentiment.

If you'd like to see another project I've used this technique on, check out THIS project.  With this one, I've done the reverse by adding pops of color to the diecuts and left the background white!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

xx Mary

She Was a Dreamer

Hey everyone. Shanna here with a fun take on a mixed media card. 

I wanted to play with some bright colors and some new stamps and I thought I would love to share with you how I created it. 

I used some paint and a stencil for the first layer on watercolor paper.

I then stamped the Squiggle Heart - 19644 with Magenta Archival Ink. 

Then I stamped the image Fed-up Vintage Lady - 19640 on some white cardstock and cut her out. 

I wanted to add a sentiment to the card, therefore I wanted to emboss and add more pop of color. So I grabbed some black cardstock and white embossing powder. I used some Versamark Ink to add the embossing powder. 

After that I wanted to add a little more pop of color. I used Twinkling H20's color Mango Mamba. 

I threw everything together and tucked a little thread behind it using chipboard to give some dimension to everything. 

Items Used:

Fed-up Vintage Lady - 19640

She was a Dreamer

Squiggle Heart - 19644 

It's Time to Cut the CAKE and your Stamps!!!

Hello everyone! Susan here with a tutorial using Viva Las VegaStamps! and some birthday cardmaking fun! There is a great challenge over at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "C is for Cake" and I just couldn't "resist" playing along - LOL!

I've had this "Chicken Crying" stamp for a while now and I've been dying to use him. Today is the day!!! I inked him up with some Versafine black in and embossed him with VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder. Then while the stamp was still wet, I stamped and cut a quick post-it note mask.

With my quickie mask in place, I repeat the process with the "Cake with Candle" stamp. I also make a quick mask of the cake so I can do something with this plain white background. I don't want to cut out and paste these onto something else... I'm going to work around my grouping and it's pretty easy.

On my craft sheet I smooshed out a few colors of Distress Paint spritzed with a bit of water, then blended with my brayer. With my post-it masks in place, I rolled the color over my images. I picked up more color and reapplied until it was to my liking.

Now to add some music to my background! Using some blue dye ink I stamp the "Sheet Music Background" #19557 over my layers.

Before removing masks, I added one more stamp to ground my scene - the "Smear/Smudge" #19573. Now it's Reveal time!! A little paint got under my mask and I'm perfectly fine with that.

Now it's time for some color with Ranger Distress Markers and a little glittery shimmer!

  

I need to make a quick sentiment and I don't want to cut and paste words together in this case... so I give you a TIP – I'm cutting my stamp, "Happy Birthday from One Old Buzzard to Another!". I gently cut "birthday" and "another" apart from the phrase and lined them up on my block. Don't be afraid this is very liberating!!

I stamped onto the edge of my creation so it matches and give it a kiss of embossing powder for some POP! I made the ... by tapping the back end of a paintbrush into the ink using as a stamp.

I trimmed everything, layered with mats and Miracle Tape and I have a fun birthday card ready to go! This is so going to my sister who's birthday is next week... she's cracking the big 4-0.

"It's My Party and I wanna Cry"

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Chicken Crying" #9464

"Cake with Candle" #5161

"Sheet Music Background" #19557

"Smear/Smudge" #19573

VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

1/4" Miracle Tape

Other Supplies: white, teal and blue cardstocks; Ranger Distress Paint, Ranger Distress Markers; Sakura of America Gelly Roll® Stardust® Pen, paper trimmer; sticky back gems; and May Arts trim.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Thanks so much for dropping by! It's a holiday weekend and that brings a SALE at the VLVS! store... CLICK HERE for details. Also are you a fellow rubber addict?  Here's your chance to join the design team {CLICK HERE for details} and stamp til your hearts content!

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

Bloom

May 21st already, can you BELIEVE it?!!  Michele here today with a quick technique for a fun background.

Viva Las VegaStamps! ultra high gloss embossing powder is PERFECT for this resist technique!!

The sprays are by Art Anthology, Colorations.  I used watercolor paper.

This is such an easy technique but it sure packs a big punch!!

Viva Las VegaStamps! used:  Wildflower Silhoutte and Bloom where you are planted
Other items used:  Um Wow Studio Bluebell chip piece, Prima glass glitter, thread, Distress Ink and coffee.

I hope you enjoyed these beautiful May flowers and I hope they are blooming where you are too!!

Don't forget our monthly challenge, check it out here.

WE NEED YOU!! {Design Team Call}

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 applicants welcome to apply, too.

 

 

Our terms last six months. This term will run from July 1^st – December 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) Participate in our public VLVS! dedicated Facebook group.

 

3) Complete a minimum of two (2) projects per month to be posted on the VLVS! blog, always using only Viva Las VegaStamps! images. Details for projects provided to team members.

 

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:

Please email me the following information:

- your name

- a brief bio.. Who are you? Why do you create? That type of stuff!
- attachments including three (3) of your best stamped pieces. (could be cards, layouts, tags, jewelry, anything using rubber stamps -- VLVS! not required but appreciated)

- 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. (no previous experience necessary)

- 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 -YOUR NAME-” due by 6/5 (June 5th) at midnight pacific standard time.

Applicants joining the team will be notified by July 1st.

A trio of ATC's..

Hello everyone,

Today for my DT post I have created a little triptych of ATC's. I had so much fun making these....

I started by putting some sticky tape on the back of three ATC's so they stayed together. Next I painted them with Dylusions paints and my fingers... Such fun !
I then stamped the background with various stamps. ( A complete list of all the stamps I used is at the bottom of this post). I then stamped the main images on tissue paper and clear embossed it. I cut them out and adhered them to the ATC's with gel medium. The sentiments were stamped direct on the ATC's.
Here are some close up photo's:

I used the following stamps:

19569 - Mesh Texture

19575 - Stitching

19140 - Jagged Chain Link Fence

19424 - Where is my mind

19402 - Banksy Painter

19487 - Banksy Sweeping under Lady

19493 - Banksy Unhappy Boy 

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

Corrie x

got the power

Hi Hermine here, this time I made a tutorial on a art journal page.

step 1: take a piece of grungeboard with circles, but still leave the circles in the background.

step 2: take a round sponge, put on 3 colours acryllic paint and drag along the grungeboard, leave it to dry by air.

step 3: push the circles out the background (don't throw away the background, it may will be put in good use in another project)

step 4: layer the circles and play around with the direction, because of the stripes on the grungeboard its fun to turn some of them to add more interest in the look of it.

step 5: take your blank art journal page and the round sponge and drag the colours from top to bottom on the richt hand side, do the same in the middle from right to left. Take several stamps from plate 1455 and stamp with Stazon Black. Stamp the Tape X 19572 and  stitching 19575 wit Memento Luxe pink

step 6: take a stencil from Donna Downey Studios and sponge with white gesso.

step 7: glue the circles onto your page.

step 8: stamp girl with wings 19005 on a seperate piece of paper, cut out but cut the wings off  also. Colour with Lyra crayons. Glue the girl on the page. Stamp with Stazon black the text You had the power all along my dear 19464.

Hope you like to see how I build up an art journal page, Always hard to make a step by step because with art journal pages I always go with the flow.

Warmly Hermine

Used materials

plate 1455

tape X 19572

stitching 19575

girl with wings 19005

You had the power all along my dear 19464