A STAR is Born... from Viva Las VegaStamps! and 7 Dots Studio Goodness!

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to share a handmade star book created using 7 Dots Studio Papers and my stash of VLVS!. I love making mini books for gifts and the double sided 12" x 12" cardstock is so beautiful - I knew it would make a perfect gift for my husbands' niece {her birthday is the same as mine}. She's 16 and I just know she will love this. I have to say - my stash of Miracle Tape made this so much easier than using glue stick as I have in the past... so easy and no sticky-gooey fingers.

Since I wanted to get the most mileage out of the 12 x 12 sheets, I used some strips of natural cardstock offcuts from work as my book base {I don't get offcuts of paper often at the printshop where I work, but when I do it comes in handy}. The size of them are 4 1/4" x 23" so I cut 7 sheets at 15" wide and also 13 1/2" wide; then scored to fold in half making long rectangular pages This will be a nice variation from the dozens of square books I've made previously. I cut the 7 Dots Studio Papers to 4 1/4" x 12". I like to make the book have a little more detail so I use the scraps and stitch them into the center of the book base pages. These sections were 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" and 4 1/4" x 2" - each then scored to fold in half. Before I assemble I swipe the edges of all sheets with coordinating colors of Cats Eye Chalk Inks to get rid of the white edges.

I decided my order of colors and patterns and nested the smaller pieces inside the largest base pages and punched two holes for stitching using a pushpin.

For each of the sections, I laced some May Arts natural burlap twine and tied a knot on the inside to secure. Now I have 7 little booklets sections.

I again arranged my sections by color and pattern as I wanted them in order in preparation for adhering the layered nesting pages. These nesting pages float freely and are adhered aligned to the edge of the page using 3/8" Miracle Tape. You can vary the amount of pages and dimensions to add more rays to the star book.

Keeping my sections in order, I used 1" Miracle Tape to adhere the sections together by taping the largest cardstock base pages back-to-back. This makes for a nice sturdy book. There are simpler ways to make a star book - I am just all about the "EXTRA" little details. You can leave out the stitched portion to make it quicker.

Now with my book assembled I added more Miracle Tape {I would have used Miracle Sheets, except I didn't have enough to do the job}. A adhered green crinkle satin May Arts Ribbon loosely around the spine area and layered more miracle tape over the top. I also added a blue sheer organza ribbon around the length to tie the book closed and layered tape over this as well. All this extra taping ensures the book and the ribbon won't pull apart.

 

I cut two sections of scrap chipboard to fit the cover and leaving a slight overhang; then wrapped with the gorgeous blue 7 Dots Studio "Love Is In The Air" patterned paper and my remaining Miracle Sheet cut to size... easy peasy!

Using a couple of the leftover patterned paper scraps, I stamped a quote and collage for the cover and matted onto navy blue cardstock leftover from my November T!m Tag; layering images in blue and black ink for added depth. **A NOTE** I started to stamp directly onto the cover AFTER I assembled and messed it up... yep this is a total "COVER UP". Note to self... stamp your cover art before mounting to book because it's not flat!!!

a STAR is Born...

I finished off with glittery We R Memory Keepers Sticker letters that matched perfectly and a few clear sticky-back bling colored to match with a green permanent marker. VOILA! All I need is a fancy pen and this gift is good to go :)

Would you LOVE to be a part of this Awesome team of Stamp Addicts???

Here's your chance!!! CLICK HERE for all the details... hurry up Nov. 30th is the deadline.

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Viva Las VegaStamps used: Bulls Eye Target Solid #19196; Bulls Eye Target Open #19193; "Be Adorable..." #19038; "Dream" #18886; "Inspire" #18888; "Time Flies" #19008; Large Bird Flying Left #19001; Hot Air Balloon with Flags #19006; Flying Watch #19004; Card Suits #14109; Writing Arrow #19078; Paris Address #17539; Steampunk Heart Small #16010; and Dotted line from the December Daily Plate #1430. Supplies used: Natural Cardstock; scrap chipboard; Stuart Superior Black Memories Ink; Ancient Page Cobalt Blue Waterproof Ink; Miracle Tape 3/8"; Miracle Tape 1"; Miracle Sheets; Clearsnap Cats Eye Chalk Inks; WeR Memory Keepers "Feelin' Groovy" Alphabet Stickers; May Arts fibers and Ribbon; Blue sheer organza ribbon.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Have you entered the monthly challenge - you have a couple days left. Make a creation using the the November inspiration and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER! CLICK HERE for challenge details. 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. 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. I'll be back soon with another stamping adventure!  Sb

Alice in Wonderland Redux

'Alice in Wonderland' was one of my favorite books when I was young, and I count the original illustrator, Sir John Tenniel, as one of my artistic influences.  I thought I'd see if I could bring some new life to one of his drawings.

Supplies
VLVS! Stamps Used:
Alice With Caterpillar - Item 19300 Plate 941
Mushroom - Item 19118 Plate 923
Small Mushroom - Item 19121 Plate 923
Leafless Trees -  Item 15881 Plate 1260
Tall Tree - Item 14917 Plate 1210

7Dots Studio 'Love is in the Air' 6 x 6 Scrapbook Paper
Sakura of America Standard Gellyroll White pen; Stardust: Golden-star, Sky-Star, Green-Star, Copper-Star, Red-Star
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers-BT7, CG7, CT3, DG3, OR1, TB3
Ranger Archival Black ink pad
Distress Vintage Photo ink pad

I often find myself using products in the same way over and over, and it's a shame.  The phrase 'thinking outside the box' is a cliched saying, but only because it is true.  For the month of November, I was challenged to use 7Dots Studio scrapbook paper and Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and it suddenly occurred to me that I could use them together.

You don't generally think of using alcohol markers on colored paper and, truthfully, I don't know why not!  Most of the colors are translucent so you can't use them on black or dark colors, but why not lighter paperstock?

I started with a sheet of 6x6 scrapbook paper in bright yellows and oranges.  I laid out the VLVS! stamps I'd chosen until I was satisfied with the layout, and I stamped Alice and the Caterpillar, and the mushrooms in black.  The trees I stamped in brown, so there would be a feeling of distance.  (NOTE: It is important that you do NOT use StazOn ink for stamping when you will color with alcohol markers.  The solvent-based StazOn will react and smear.)

Even without color, the scene almost looks finished with the 7Dots Studio background!  

I chose my Spectrum Noir colors based not only on color, but on opacity.  Rule of thumber-darker colors tend to be opaque, not allowing the background to show through at all.  Lighter colors tend to be more translucent, letting some background show through.  There are exceptions so I do recommend testing first.  Your colors might look entirely different based on the background behind it.

I had a scrap of the same 7Dots Studio paper and I tested several colors on it.  Most collections do have more than sheet of the same color.  If you don't have a scrap, then do some abstract images--lots of circles or stripes, and use your test sheet for another project.

I used a mix of Citrus and Dull Greens in the foreground.  The Citrus allowed a little of the background color through, but the Dull Green didn't. I used Citrus in the midground.  Both True Blue and Turquoise Blue were used on Alice's dress and for a touch of shadowing on the mushrooms.  Orange was used to color the mushrooms and the Caterpillar.  I used True Blue to border the entire page, but left the background uncolored for a mottled yellow sky.  Citrus Green was used for the tree's foliage, and I added some Dull Green shadows in the midground.

The biggest issue with using colored paper now presented itself.  Everything was too dark.  I had expected this, and had my gellyrolls ready to go.  I used white for highlights, and to tone down the Caterpillar and mushrooms.  I used the green Stardust all over the grassy areas to tie everything together.  The yellow Stardust was used for Alice's hair, and the center grass of the midground. I blue Stardust was used to even out Alice's dress.  Alice's skin tones were created with copper Stardust overlaid with white.

As usual, it was difficult to get to get a scan or photo that shows the sparkle from the Stardust pens.  They added a glitter that made the scene other-wordly and defined the magic that is Wonderland!

I hoped you enjoyed my Adventure in Wonderland!  

Viva Las VegaStamps! is having a swap with 7Dots Studio for the whole month of November!   and don't forget to check out the VLVS! November Challenge for a chance to win (plus it's fun!).

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Wonderland!For more of my work with Viva Las VegaStamps!, Amazing Mold Putty, zentangle-inspired art, and daily links to tangles, tutorials, and giveaways please visit my "Life Imitates Doodles" blog.   ~ Sandra Strait

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