Always Be a Mermaid | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here today to share a sweet little project I created recently for my daughter, and it's in stark contrast to my previous project share which featured my "zombie" cat. This time I opted for a small scale project - working on an index card, which fits perfectly into a small 6x4" frame that can then go into my daughters bedroom.

I started by applying a light coat of gesso all over the card, before using Faber-Castell gelatos to add some colour. I used a moist baby wipe to blend each colour, mixing the 3 colours together, but concentrating on having the darkest tone around the outer edge to border it. Once I was happy with the colour, I set it aside to dry.

I then took the Cat Mermaid stamp, which was to be my focal image, and stamped it onto some white cardstock using Staz On ink. I again used my gelatos to add colour; this time by adding a little to my craft mat and then using a water brush to pick up the colour so I could colour my image.

I then turned my attention back to my index card, using the gorgeous Sky of Stars Background stamp and Ranger Archival ink to add a whimsical touch. I also used the Scribble Heart stamp to add a little love.

Next, I fussy cut around my cat mermaid; before stamping the quote using the Always Be Yourself/Mermaid stamp onto cardstock. I again used a gelato to add some colour, then fussy cut the quote into two pieces.

Now it was time to construct my piece. I started by adding a small paper doily to the centre of the card, topped with some messy cotton thread, then added my cat mermaid on top.

I then added the two pieces of the quote above and below the cat.

For a bit of extra whimsy, I finished my piece with a sprinkle of sequins.

This was a super fun little project to make. I must admit that I wasn't really used to creating pieces on such a small scale when I began working on this team; but my amazing VLVS teamies inspired me to give it a go and now I love creating these delicate little pieces! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used: 

- Cat Mermaid

- Sky of Stars Background

- Scribble Heart

- Always Be Yourself/Mermaid

Other materials: 

- Index card

- Colour Blast White Heavy Gesso

- Cardstock

- Faber-Castell Gelatos

- Tsukineko Staz On ink

- Ranger Archival ink

- Paper doily, cotton thread, sequins

- Miracle Tape

Don't Blink | September Challenge Inspiration | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

It's Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I am sharing a piece I created recently that was inspired by this month's awesome "For the Birds" challenge. It also showcases one of the amazing new release stamps, which I couldn't wait to use!

Here's a look at this month's challenge inspiration...

One of my arty friends has been using index cards a lot lately, and I was inspired by the pieces she has been creating to use an index card for my project. (One of the good things about index cards, is that they are almost exactly the same size as a standard photo, so they fit nicely into 6x4" photo frames!)

Here is my card inspired by the challenge...

To begin my project, I used some gel matt medium to adhere some book paper onto the index card. I then applied heavy white gesso using a brush. I chose to use a brush as I wanted the texture of the brush strokes to show through; but in hindsight, next time I will go a little thinner with the gesso so the text is more visible on the finished piece.

After the background was prepared; I used black Staz On ink and the new Raven Looking Up stamp as the focal image of my piece. I then added some tree branches across the top and bottom of the card using the Branch Antlers stamps. I also inked around the edges of my card.

Next, it was time for some colour! I wanted my piece to have an eerie feel, so I opted for green as the main colour. I used Faber-Castell gelatos to scribble gently onto the card, then used a baby wipe to blend the colour out.

I started with the darkest shade around the edges of the card, moving towards lighter shades in the middle. In the centre of the card I used a yellow, blended with a small amount of green; and along the edge of the raven's silhouette I also added a small amount of orange.

Once the colour was complete, it was time to add some text. I used the recently released That Look of Otherness stamp and combined it with Don't Blink to form my focal quote. I stamped each of them out on some scrap white cardstock, then used the orange gelato and a baby wipe for blending to add a small amount of colour over the top.

I then cut the words out and inked the edges of each piece with black ink. To add some texture to my project, I added some messy white cotton thread before sticking the pieces of the quote down.

To finish off, I used Colour Blast 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink and a small brush to add some fine splatters randomly around the card.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you.
Don't forget to enter this month's challenge for your chance to win some new rubber and a feature spotlight on the Viva Las VegaStamps blog. (Link your entries HERE)
I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used:

- Raven Looking Up

- Branch Antlers

- That Look of Otherness

- Don't Blink 

Other materials:

- Index card

- Book paper

- Mont Marte gel matt medium

- Colour Blast white heavy gesso

- Tsukineko Staz On ink

- Faber-Castell gelatos

- Colour Blast 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink

- Baby wipes (for blending)

- White cotton thread

- Liquid adhesive

I Hope You Know... | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here to share my latest VLVS design team project with you. Following on from my previous post a couple of weeks ago when I shared an art journal page inspired by the June Monthly Challenge; I was inspired to create a full 12x12" scrapbook page that incorporated some of the same design elements. (If you missed it, you can see my art journal page here.)

I began my page with a sheet of white cardstock and stamped out my background design using Staz On ink. The first stamp I used was the Tree of Life - Tree with Roots (which is also the main inspiration image from this month's challenge). I added some variety to my "forest" by also using the Weathered Tree stamp. Besides stamping the full image, I used the very tops of the branches in various places to add depth.

For my foreground I used the Smear/Smudge stamp and repeated the image several times. Then it was time to add some colour. 

I wanted to keep the colour soft and subtle, so I used Faber-Castell Gelatos and applied the colour by scribbling onto my messy mat and then I picked the colour up with the tip of a water brush and applied it to my page, blending as I went. I started in the centre of my page and worked my way out towards the edges.

After I had the colour completed, it was time to add some more details to my page. I used the new release I Hope You Know quote stamp in the bottom left corner of my page and balanced it out by adding the Flock of Geese in the top right corner. 

I also added the Tiny Moon from the new release Plate #1500 to the sky.

I added a little more detail to my foreground by lightly stamping with my fave Doodle Dots stamp.

With all of my page background complete; I then added the photo of my children, which I mounted up on some cardboard to help it pop and then adhered to the page using Miracle Tape.

To finish my page I wanted to add a little touch of magic, so I took a sweet image I had pre-stamped onto some tissue paper using the Fairy stamp. I applied the image to some cardstock using gel matte medium, then brushed on a little colour using the Gelatos again. I then trimmed the fairy and adhered the top part of her so that she appeared to be hiding behind the log in the photo, bending her wings up from the page to add a little dimension. I also added some messy white cotton thread for a little texture. 

Don't forget to enter this month's challenge, you can link up your entry via this post HERE before the end of the month. You could win a spotlight on the blog AND some new rubber! 

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

Stamps used:

- Tree of Life - Tree with Roots

- Weathered Tree

- Smear/Smudge

- I Hope You Know

- Flock of Geese

- Tiny Moon

- Doodle Dots

- Fairy

Other materials:

- American Crafts cardstock

- Miracle Tape

- Staz On ink

- Faber-Castell Gelatos

- tissue paper

- gel matte medium

Dangerous Halloween Treat Box

Hi my dear Viva Las VegaStamps! Friends.

Three Days left until Halloween and I'd like to share a spooky treat box today. It's perfect for some goodies and it can be used as a little lantern where you add a LED light.
The box is cut with the Silhouette Cameo. I used kraft cardstock and covered it with gesso. I used the Gelatos on top together with the Tim Holtz Shatter stencil.

I removed the Gelatos color through the stencil using a wet baby wipe.

 
I added a little tag on which I stamped the "Danger Skeleton" and the "Row of Jack-O-Lanterns Silhouette". The edges are distressed with Distress Ink black soot. I used the Jack-O-Lanterns on the front of the bag, too.

I added the "Danger Skeleton" also to the vellum on the backside.

I stamped the "Frightful Fun and Folly", the "Halloween Tree Silhouette" and the "Row of Jack-O-Lanterns Silhouette" on the sides of the gift bag.

Stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps!
Row of Jack-O-Lanterns Silhouette
Halloween Tree Silhouette
Frightful Fun and Folly
Danger Skeleton
You'll find them also all on plate 951

Other supplies:
Pumpkin Patch (use code: susanne15 to save 15% in the Die-Namites dies online store)
Hanging Grapes
Archival Ink jet black
Faber-Castell Gelatos

I wish you all a Happy Halloween

Dare to Dream... and Let your Heart Soar!

Hello everyone! Susan here my take on the Viva Las VegaStamps! June Challenge Inspiration Board. Luscious blues and greens... wings and words... I LOVE it!!! Challenges are a fun way to push yourself to try new things and new styles – and to be perfectly honest – this was way out of my creative box.

I started with a watercolor paper that I monoprinted with a blend of blue and green metallic Ranger Adirondack acrylics. Then I scribbled and smooshed on some blues and green Faber-Castell Gelatos to my liking. Using gel medium I fused a ghost monoprint on deli paper, which glues the layers together while giving translucency to colors below.

I wanted to have a scribbly heart so I made a dribbly heart mask by melting/drizzling Amazing Remelt onto my non-stick craft mat. I waited a few minutes for it to cool and solidify. Then I placed onto my background then sprayed with black Ditto glimmer spray.

I let the spray mostly dry before removing my handmade mask. Look at all the glorious blue and green exposed! I brushed some water at the top where the spray was still a bit wet and let the black color drip down. This was fun and a bit scary... I'm a total newb to the dripping technique.

I gave a blast with the heat gun to dry everything and added a few strokes of Gelatos to the heart. I stamp the butterfly onto a matching painted cardstock using black Versafine ink, then embossed with VLVS! ultra high gloss EP... and BAM!!! Wings that POP! I fussy cut and cut in half. To finish this mini masterpiece, I overstamp the bubble wrap texture and spell out "dare to dream" with Hero Arts Unicorn white pigment ink {this is the white of all white inks} and heat set.

I gently slide the collage into a Deflecto Acrylic Craft Frame and tucked the wings off each edge giving me a new georgeous piece free-standing art in an instant.

"Let Your Heart Soar..."

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From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Distressed Alphabet from December Daily Plate #1430"

"Bubble Wrap Texture" #19566

"Butterfly Spotted" #9459

Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

Other Supplies: watercolor paper, white cardstock detail scissors, black Versafine pigment Ink; Hero Arts "Hero Hues" Unicorn {white} pigment ink; various blues/greens Faber-Castell Gelatos; detail scissors; Faber-Castell Gel Medium; drizzle heart mask made with Amazing Remelt; Ditto black shimmer spray; and a Deflecto 3" x 4" Acrylic Craft Frame.

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Thanks so much for dropping by! Have you seen the JUNE inspiration board... its AMAZING!  I invite you to join us and play along with the June inspiration challenge {CLICK HERE for details}. Just make a creation using the inspiration above and your stash of VLVS! stamps... linkup and you could win more RUBBER!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. Have a fabulous day!!  Sb

My Mind's Eye... February Challenge Inspiration

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to share with you my creation based on the new February Challenge inspiration. January flew by in like a minute... so since I'm trying to "SIMPLIFY" my life in 2015... I've created a creative calendar, by mounting into an acrylic craft frame that I can change for each month with some fun wet-erase markers.

Starting with a blank sheet of white letter size uncoated cardstock, I used clear embossing fluid to stamp images onto sheet, then applying embossing powder and heat embossing to create an emboss resist. This technique is worth the time invested to build a background. I have so many stamped images here to create my "mind's eye" scene... too many to count {all are listed below}. I colored over the top with gelatos and blended out with my finger. Some of the stamped images blend into the background becoming more muted adding depth and interest. To expose the resist areas, I gently rubbed the color away from the embossed areas - repeating layering color and rubbing away until coloring was to my liking. I mounted my final creation into a frame embellished with a washi tape grid for a monthly calendar; topped off with sari ribbon and hemp twine for hanging. My calendar can be changed easily each month with wet erase markers. 

"Time for February"

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From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Eye and Brow" #4487

"Stars" #19291

"Washi Lines Background" #19073

"Creative Minds are Rarely Tidy" #1501

"Question Everything" #18824

"Paris Address" #17539

"Writing Triangles" #19571

"Double Coffee Rings" #19568

"Measuring Tape Section" #19565

"Mesh Texture" #19569

"Bubble Wrap Texture" #19566

"Texture Background" #19570

"Writing Circles Background" #19567

"Color Wheel Lines" #19338

"Solid Color Wheel" #19339

Miracle Tape

Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

Other Supplies: White Cardstock; Deflecto hanging 8 1/2" x 11" Craft Frame #68201CR; Deflecto Wet Erase Markers; rainbow colors of Faber-Castell Gelatos; Globecraft Embossing Ink Dauber; labelmaker; washi tape; sari ribbon and hemp cord.

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Thanks so much for dropping by and I hope you will join us and play along with the February inspiration challenge {CLICK HERE for details}. Just make a creation using the inspiration above and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER! 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... like the annual SUPERSTAMP SALE. 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. Hope you have a fabulous day!!  Sb