November Challenge

It's time for November's Challenge to be announced! :O 

Use anything fall, harvest, fruit, crops, eating, silverware, food... you name it! 

Don't forget the rules:

-Create a new project based on our inspiration board (it has to be posted this month, but you can certainly link up to other challenges as well!)

-Use at least one (but certainly more if you want) Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps

(We are now allowing competitors stamps to be on your work, but please make VLVS! the focus of the project, thank you.)

-Post it to your blog with a link back to us

-Upload to our linky using your direct blog post link (You may also upload via facebook, flickr or other gallery)

You could win a Project Spotlight post on our blog + some new rubber of course.

And visit us back here for inspiration!

An InLinkz Link-up

Mail Art Monday: You're Awesome! - by Cheetarah

Hey everyone, it's Cheetarah here and I've got a fun make to share with you for this MAM! 

I got inspired by our beautiful fall challenge board, the colors and the whimsical fox... I just had to do something with that :) A full list of materials and stamps used is at the bottom of the post. 

So I started off  by taking out an envelope, stamped the fox in the center left and blocked a part for the address with post it tape. Smudged some distress oxides in lovely fall colors on my craft sheet, spritzed some water and created a background base color. 

I added splashes of color and dried in between layers until I was satisfied with the blend. Then took out some lovely VLVS! mixed media and mail art related stamps to add more interest and texture. 

I used my Kaleidacolor autumn leaves pad for this as it fits the color theme. I created a border around the masked off aria and the fox with the punichella waste stamp. Some crosses and squiggly lines and added postage and stamps in the top right corner from the ATC size postcard stamp. You can see I cut my cross marks back ground in 1//2 because I found that more manageable for me. That is the beauty of buying unmounted, it's very flexible in use!

Now on to the focal image. I stamped the fox on sticker paper and colored with alcohol markers and fussy cut it out and adhered it to the envelope. 

Adhered some washitape to ground him, stamped "you're awesome" at the bottom of the address section and doodled around the white edges and called it done!

Stamps used: 

Cute Fox in Coat 

Cross Marks background 

Punichella Sequin waste border 

Postcards ATC size 

You're Awesome 

Stitching 

Hopefully this has inspired you to join in the september challenge. 

Have a great day!

September Challenge - Thoughts of Fall

September has arrived... the month we're all waiting for! Fall is around the corner... cool crisp air... pumpkin spice EVERYthing... and comfy sweaters.

So let's bring out the Fall themed challenges! Like this beautiful fox! Be inspired by Jewel & Earth tones like mossy greens, warm oranges, pale pinks n blues. Draw inspiration from the browns and grays. Use any woodland creatures like deer, foxes, squirrels, birds and more. Trees, branches, pines, mountains... all are appropriate! Also feel free to use lots of marks & textures in your background. GOOD LUCK guys!

Don't forget the rules:

-Create a new project based on our inspiration board (it has to be posted this month, but you can certainly link up to other challenges as well!)

-Use at least one (but certainly more if you want) Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps

(We are now allowing competitors stamps to be on your work, but please make VLVS! the focus of the project, thank you.)

-Post it to your blog with a link back to us

-Upload to our linky using your direct blog post link (You may also upload via facebook, flickr or other gallery)

You could win a Project Spotlight post on our blog + some new rubber of course.

And visit us back here for inspiration!

An InLinkz Link-up

VLVS! Swaps

Did You Know?

Viva Las VegaStamps! hosts swaps in a sweet little facebook group dedicated solely to VLVS! projects. We sure do! In today's post we have the results from our last swap for your viewing pleasure. The last theme was a Fall Harvest Postcard and my oh my the results are GREAT! 

We have also started a brand new swap -- Art themed ATCs. If you are interested please join our group and or read this file to learn more. It's easy to sign up, and we keep the rules pretty basic to accommodate most! Now - onto the postcards:

Skull | She was a Freaky Little Thing | Cemetery | Bell Jar

Mesh Texture | Numbers Set | Have Students Will Scream

Invoice Waybill Background | Numbers Set

Witch Holding Broom

Be Afraid | Lady In Curlers

Bubble Wrap Texture | Gnome in Hammock 
Dream Big | Stitching

Old House | Redwood Trees | Flock of Geese

Futuristic Circuit Board | Weeping Statue of Liberty

Two Gnomes with Grasshopper | Free the Garden Gnomes

Skeleton Family | Flock of Bats | All Day Sucker | Raven

In The Pale Moonlight | Mesh Texture | Witch Holding Broom

Moon Circle | Jack o' Lanterns Along Fence

Pumpkin Flavored Inspiration.

Hello, Mary here, with a bit of inspiration for this month's challenge.  If you haven't seen the inspiration board, hop on over and CHECK IT OUT!

It seems the whole word goes pumpkin crazy this time of year---and I'm no exception!  I've been jonesin' for pumpkin flavored treats of all kinds.  Well, today, I bring you a little something sweet and pumpkin that won't add to your waistline...

The challenge this month has inspired a new tradition for me.  With the creation of this pumpkin, I now want to grow a nice handmade pumpkin patch of my own to spruce up my fall home decor.

I began by cutting out circles in three sizes from a lovely, smooth cotton fabric.  I then stamped stars onto the circles with the Field Of Stars and the Stars images.

I then stitched them to a length of cream colored corduroy with some messy machine stitching with black thread.  I simply sewed the side of the fabric together to make a tube, and gathered each end with a running stitch and stuffed it with filling to create my basic pumpkin shape.

I added a few lengths of May Arts twine to give it a more pumpkin-like shape, and embellished with buttons, beads and sequins along with adding a few leaves and an old spool for a stem.

All in all, I'm in love with my new pumpkin!  And I think with words like---fall oranges, cream, pumpkin orange, black, heritage, home, polka dots, Harvest, farm and pumpkin patch, you can say I was completely inspired by this month's challenge.

Now, go grab your favorite VLVS! rubber, and get your craft on!!

xx Mary

October Challenge ---

Woohooo -- we are onto the October Challenge now. The year is almost over... have you started your Christmas cards?! Well.. no worries.. we aren't banking on Christmas yet.

We are still focused on Fall and Halloween!

We'd like to inspire you with warm tones like fall oranges and browns, cream, pumpkin orange, dark brown, black and other colors, along with fences, trees, heritage, houses, home, mansion, boys, swings, sweater weather, polka dots, Harvest, farm, orchard, hay, pumpkin patch, fields, corn mazes, chilly weather and more.

Don't forget the rules:

-Create a new project based on our inspiration board (it has to be posted this month, but you can certainly link up to other challenges as well!)

-Use at least one (but certainly more if you want) Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps

(We are now allowing competitors stamps to be on your work, but please make VLVS! the focus of the project, thank you.)

-Post it to your blog with a link back to us

-Upload to our linky using your direct blog post link (You may also upload via facebook, flickr or other gallery)

You could win a Project Spotlight post on our blog + some new rubber of course.

And visit us back here for inspiration! 

An InLinkz Link-up

You Never Forget Your Friends

Blend mixed media to create a card or illustration to express the sentiment of friendship.  As I get older, I might forget small things - but - I never forget my friends!!!!

For this project a matte board is a heavy weight to use as an illustration, although; cardstock folded into a card can be used.  Stamping on acetate and creating a wax background was also used.

VLVS Images:
8674 Quote: I Forget Some Things
12972 Berries and Leaves (Ink up leaf only and stamp)
18378 Face Collage Mary Vogel Lozinak


Acetate Stamping:  Most stamp/scrapbook stores sell sheets of acetate.  If not, an office supply store selling presentation covers can be used.  Use a good permanent ink (not all are created equal) to stamp image.  I used Memento's (which isn't totally a permanent ink but dries permanent). 

Stamp straight down so the stamp doesn't slip around.  Lift straight up.  Let image sit for about 30 seconds to set the ink.  Alcohol ink is used to tint the image.

Use Miracle Tape Sheet to adhere to the back of the image.  Cut out the image and mount on tag.

 

Wax Background:  There are many ways to work with encaustics (wax), this is easy and fun.  If you have wax tools then you know how easy this is.  If you do not have wax tools, a simple Clover iron is available at JoAnn's.  It's a small pressing iron with a triangle iron-shaped tip for pressing seams apart.  It is inexpensive and easy to use. 

 I use wax (available at art stores) however, crayons can be used.  Crayons aren't the best and I do not know what is in them, but very cheap in a pinch!

When the iron is heated, touch the back of the iron onto the wax or put the crayon up to the back and let it melt on to the iron.  Use the iron like a tool and spread the wax around the surface of Kromecote cardstock.  You want a good glossy cardstock so the iron glides across the surface.  Use a couple colors - you can do this one at a time or mix the colors on the iron. 

After creating your wax background, stamp with permanent ink and cut out.

While there are 2 different medias used on this project, I added leaf buttons for dimension as well as May Arts suede ribbon.  This ribbon is sturdy, feels cool, and adds a different finish to the project.

Follow the photo's to see where to mount pieces.  Decorative paper, a decorative paper number piece, and the sentiment is adhered.

Fall and Thanksgiving reminds me of all I am Thankful for.  I count my blessings for all the friends I have.  They are all a treasure to me and I cherish them.  Even my computer friends who always enrich my life and support me in all I do!!!


Cre8tiveLea Yours - Lea