Monocle Mail Art Monday!

Hello Again Crafty Friends!

Happy Labor Day to all of you in the USA or just anyone wanting to celebrate!

Today, I will be sharing one of my favorite things...

Yep, Mail Art!!!

( And not just Mail Art... but Halloween Mail Art!)

Stamps used:
Monocle cat and pumpkin
Typeset scallop
Stitching
Stars

Starting with an A2 Envelope I stamped my "monocle cat" in archival - jet black ink. However if you are going to color with alcohol base markers like I am you may want to use Memento for this. My Memento needs refilled and I wanted the cat to be very crisp which is why I was okay with a little bit of smearing of my colors.

With the leftover ink I stamps the cat a second time on scrap paper to create a mask. I cut the cat out and masked him off.

Next using memento ink I stamped my scallop along the edge.

(And of course many of you know this is one of my favorites so it would have to be a prominent stamp on this envelope.

Next remove the mask from the cat and shows to color at the border and Cat with various alcohol-based markers. I wanted to see how they look before picking out my background color. Following traditional Halloween colors..  I went with of course: purples, oranges,yellows, and greens.

With my main images colored I am ready to create the background. I re masked off the cat and scallops.

The background was Inked with distress oxide in mustard seed and ripe persimmon. While everything is still masked off, I added my star details to the background (also using ripe persimmon distress oxide ink).

Of course the fun part is always removing the masks and seeing all your colors pop together.

Now for the finishing touches...

I added a Avery address label, used a black marker to trace the inner Edge oh, then finished everything off with my stitching stamp.

Thank you for visiting!

Nevermore-my last Design Team post for Viva Las Vegastamps!

This is my last post as a member of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team.  I've decided not to re-apply at this time to due various things happening in my life.  I'm hoping things will be settled enough that I might try again the term after this one. 

So it is with some sadness I present my Nevermore card.

Supplies
Kromecote A2Cardstock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 

Viva Las Vegastamps! images used.
Monocle Cat & Pumpkin 3 x 3-Item 18279 Plate 1365
Faded Crow or Raven 2 3/4 x 2 1/4-Item 18912 Plate 1429
Nevermore 1 x 2 1/4-Item 18913 Plate 1429
Full Moon 2 3/4 x 1 3/4-Item 18911 Plate 1429
Spiked Fence 1 3/4 x 3 1/2-Item 18919 Plate 1429

Inks
Ranger Archival inkpad-black
Powder Puff chalking ink-Very Berry
Colorbox inkpad-Banana Custard
Donna Salazer Mixed Media Inx-Patina
Studio G inkpad-Orange

Scrap paper for masks
Scissors
Sponges
Ranger Brushtip sponges

Steps
I chose Kromecote cardstock for it's bright, glossy finish.  I wanted to get the feeling of an eerie October's moon gleaming through a peasoup fog.

To start with I stamped all my images on scrap paper and cut them out to as masks, so I could stamp image over image..

Then I stamped the word 'Nevermore' and the moon image.  Since the Kromecote has a slick surface you need to be careful not to move your stamp when you apply the ink.  The images come out beautifully-every detail just pops!

I stamped the image of the Raven, and set the card aside to let the ink dry completely to the touch.

After the ink was dry, I placed the Raven mask over the Raven image, and stamped the Cat with the Monocle and Pumpkin.  Again, I set the card aside.

Once dry, I placed both the Raven and the Cat masks over their images, and stamped the Fence.  I barely touched the stamp to the page because I wanted the fence to seem as though it were in the distance.

I let the card sit overnight.  I probably wouldn't have had to wait that long, but I wanted to be certain there would be no smearing when I applied the color.

I rubbed one of the brushtip sponges across the Banana Custard inkpad and colored in the moon, the cat's eyes, and the pumpkin.  Then I rubbed on some of the orange around the edges of both, then mixed Banana Custard and Orange on sponge and colored some of the sky.

I used another brushtip to apply Very Berry and Patina to the Cat..  I switched the brushtip for a larger sponge, and apllied Very Berry all around the card.  I lightly applied the color over the Fence and part of the Raven to increase the feel of fog swirling around, but I took care not to add too much.

Then I applied the Patina blending it into the Very Berry, until the whole card was covered.

Then I took a brushtip, and ran it along the side of each fence spike so that the Very Berry shone through--like reflections of light on metal.

Chalking inks take a while to dry, especially on glossy stock, so I sat the card where it wouldn't get smeared, waiting until it was fully cured before scanning it in.

Despite the sentiment of Nevermore, I'll be back with more Viva Las Vegastamps! project, Design Team or not!  Meanwhile, check out the VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs and the  VLVS! Blog for new projects and news every day. Follow VLVS! as the VLVS! Forum - VLVS! FB - VLVS! Pinterest - VLVS! Twitter.