Greeting cards with a little surprise by Josefine Fouarge

Hi everyone, there is a snarky theme over in the Viva Las VegaStamps! Facebook group and I couldn't resist. So, I made a few greeting cards with a twist - and I'll show you that at the end of the blog ;)

I recently had a surgery (no worries, nothing major) that kept me tied to the bed and I didn't have much energy for a couple of days. But I still wanted to craft and get a bit messy. So, I thought about a few techniques that require breaks in between anyway, to spread the energy over a couple of days.

I started by heat embossing my focal point onto a piece of watercolor paper using clear embossing powder.

Then I added just a bit of spray paint on top and let that sit over night. The next day, I also added a few extra splatters that also had to dry for a bit.

All together, I stamped three different images, heat embossed all three of them and then added a variety of sprays.

For the fourth card, I played with the clear embossing a bit by adding different colors of embossing powder on top. I kept the clear embossing powder all heated up and then sprinkled the other colors on top, melting them into the clear powder.

I then cut out the shape, stamped the Scribble Circle onto a new piece of card stock and adhered the woman on top.

At the end, I picked a few pieces of colored card stock and adhered all of it together. The main piece is 4x4 1/4; the colored card stock is 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 and the card base 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

For the inside of the cards, I picked a variety of sentiments that hopefully create a smile on the recipients face.

Check out all the cards in close up:

All the stamps I used:

Scribble Circle

Ethos Woman

Ethos Owl

Ethos Sunrise

Art is Anything

I am a Ray

Tired of Trying

She was a Dreamer

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my greeting cards with a little surprise inside :)

See you soon!

She Was An Artist | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

It's Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I am sharing a mixed media scrapbook layout that I created to document some photos from a recent kids art class that I taught. It was so much fun teaching the kids - they are so free in their approach and have no reservations when asked to do something.

I started my page by creating the background, which was inspired by the piece I had taught in the class. I used the beautiful bright Ranger Dylusions paints, which I applied to my cardstock using a silicone spatula.

Once the paint was dry, it was time to add some stamping. The first stamp I chose was the Whimsical Leaf, which I stamped out over the green paint on my page using StazOn black ink.

I then used the Leaves and Three Extra Leaves stamp to add more foliage over the green paint. This essentially provided a "frame" for my page.

Next, I wanted to add an "arty" quote to my page so I chose the Art is Anything quote by Andy Warhol, which I also stamped using the black StazOn.

Now it was time to add some papery background layers. I wanted to incorporate some art themed things, so I used some Jane Davenport collage paper that featured a paint palette print. I also used a paint sample card from my local hardware store; as well as a doily and some folded tissue paper.

Once I had those layers in place I then collaged on the Magic Maker Paintbrush that I had stamped onto some tissue paper before adding some frayed gauze for texture, then my photos on top.

With most of the main elements in place for my layout it was time to go and add some of the smaller details. I found two more art themed quotes I wanted to add - handmade with he{ART} and then I combined she was and an artist (which I ended up deciding to use as my page title).

I then added some embellishments to finish off my page. First, a handmade heart from Charms Creations, which I placed near the handmade quote. I also added some pieces of twisted coloured wire for extra interest.

Next, I added the Cocoa Vanilla Studio yay flair button and some wood veneer hearts that I painted white.

I also added a black wood veneer arrow that I coloured black using a Sharpie.

To finish off, I stamped the Scribble Heart, then added a few enamel dots dotted around the page and a splatter of white Dylusions mist.

That's all from me today, I hope I have inspired you to get inky too. Until next time, happy stamping! 

Stamps used:

- Whimsical Leaf

- Leaves and Three Extra Leaves

- Art is Anything

- Magic Maker Paintbrush

- handmade with he{ART}

- she was

- an artist

- Scribble Heart

Other materials:

- Miracle Tape

- Bazzill cardstock

- Ranger Dylusions paints and mist

- Tsukineko StazOn ink

- Jane Davenport collage papers

- paint sample card, doily, tissue paper

- Charms Creations handmade heart

- Cocoa Vanilla Studio flair button

- wood veneer pieces

- coloured wire

- enamel dots

Guest Inspiration Team : Preeti D.

Hi folks :)

Hope you are doing well.

Dutt Preety (Preeti D.) here from the Guest Inspiration Team. 

I'm happy & excited to share my first project for Viva Las VegaStamps! 

I've created a Grungy Art Journal Spread- "Art Is..." using some gorgeous VLVS! rubber stamps. 

Process:

1. Applied Heavy white gesso to the pages to prepare them for mixed media work

2. Sprinkled on Lindy's Gang Magicals on the pages & spritzed them with water to get an organic looking background

3. To create interest & texture in the background, did background stamping using multiple VLVS! stamps & archival ink

4. Prepared a masterboard using alcohol inks & then stamped over top with some more VLVS! stamps to create texture, then cut it into strips & distressed the edges of the strips

5. Stamped the quote and focal image onto watercolour paper, lightly coloured it with Zig markers, fussy cut these & distressed their edges

6. Created the focal clusters on both pages by layering die cuts, stamped strips, images & twine. Adhered the elements using soft matte gel

7. Darkened the edges of the pages with black archival ink & created white splatter using watered down gesso. 

 

VLVS! Supplies: 

Ethos Flower by Tina Walker

Heart by Tera CallihanTypeset Scallop 

Doodle Frame

Row of Chevrons

Art Is Anything You Can Get Away With

Row of Numbers

Ranger Archival Inkpad- Jet Black

Other Supplies:

Lindy's Gang Magicals: Sassy Sapphire, Merry-Go-Round Green, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green, Ocean Breeze Blue & Bling-y Blonde

Kuretake: Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

Ranger Distress Inkpad- Black Soot

Ranger Alcohol Inks 

Scrapman Dies

Canson XL Watercolour Paper

Prima- Heavy White Gesso, Black Gesso & Soft Matte Gel

Thanks a lot for your precious time :)

Stay Blessed!

Preeti  

"I Wish You Were Here" scrapbook layout | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone! 

Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook layout to share that features lots of delicious painty layers, and (of course) plenty of fabulous stamps! It also features a fun photo that was taken on dress up night at a scrapbook retreat I went to last year.

I took lots of process photos while I created this page so you can see exactly how I put it all together - and perhaps even try creating your own version?

I started with my cardstock and a selection of Flutter Colour acrylic paints. I didn't have any plan when I applied them, I just followed my instinct.

I started applying the paints using a wide brush, allowing each colour to dry before adding the next; then moved on to using my fingers. (Fingers make the best brushes!)

Once all the paint was in place, it was time to pull out my stamps to give my page some structure and depth.

The stamps I used for my background were:

- Stitching Lines

- Sawtooth Stitching Lines

- Row of Scribble Squares

- Doodle Circle 

After I had stamped out my background marks, I decided I needed a little colour contrast; so I used my finger to rub a little pink paint into the centre of each circle.

With my background complete, it was time to start adding some focal images to my page that were going to help compliment my photo. I looked through the images I already had stamped onto tissue paper to see what would work with the theme of my page. 

The images I chose were:

- Butterfly Spotted

- Magic Maker Paintbrush

The butterfly was to represent the fact that it was the Flutterby retreat, and the paintbrush was to represent creativity and tie in with the painted background I had created. I adhered my images using an acrylic matte medium.

Once I had the focal images in place, I wanted to add some words to my page. I used the following stamps:

- Art is Anything-Andy Warhol

- I Wish You Were Here

It was then time to add some texture to my page, so I collaged a few bits and pieces onto my page (torn tissue paper; plasterer's tape; paper doily; cotton thread).

I then added my photo on top, which I mounted onto some scrap cardboard first using Miracle Tape. 

With my photo in place, I then added my handwritten journalling before adding a few random sequins to my page to finish it off.

Here's a closer look at the finished details...

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used:

- Stitching Lines

- Sawtooth Stitching Lines

- Row of Scribble Squares

- Doodle Circle

- Butterfly Spotted

- Magic Maker Paintbrush

- Art is Anything-Andy Warhol

- I Wish You Were Here

Other materials:
cardstock
Staz On ink
Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paint
Miracle Tape
tissue paper
plasterer's tape
paper doily
cotton thread
sequins
felt pen

Mini Art Journal Cover by Jenn Engle

Hey everyone! Lately, I have been making a whole bunch of mini art journals. It can get a little tedious but my favorite part is decorating the covers. For this cover, I used a few of my favorite mark making stamps.

STAMPS USED:

Cross Marks Background

Carved Xs

Art is Anything Andy Warhol

Single Star

The cover for my journal is just a sheet of cardstock that had a very light gelli print on it. There was barely any color on the page, so the first thing I did was apply quite a few colors of acrylic paint with a brayer. I just added layer after layer until I was happy. I applied my paint without drying in between layers. If you do that, you have to be careful of your paint choices so you don't mix the wrong colors and end up with mud. I mainly used magenta, yellow, and light blue. All those colors mix well together, so I wasn't worried. 

Next, I added a number stencil with blue acrylic paint. Then, I started my stamping. I used a dark green and grey ink for my Single Star, a pink ink for my Cross Marks Background, and black ink with my Carved Xs .

I wanted to push back some of that stamping, so I brayered some more paint onto my page. I made sure I kept my layers very thin and sheer so you can still see the stamping.  

My last step was to add my main stamp, Art is Anything Andy Warhol. Also, I added some black splatters.  

My cover has a flower button and rainbow ribbon for a closure. It is stitched to a piece of canvas for the spine.  

And that is it for my journal cover! If you have an questions at all, please let me know in the comments and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. 

STAMPS USED:

Cross Marks Background

Carved Xs

Art is Anything Andy Warhol

Single Star

Other Products Used:

Acrylic Paint

Brayer

Archival Ink

Number Stencil

India Ink

Mini Art Journal

Thanks for looking,

Jenn