Art journal page: Currently

Hey everyone,

Natalie here with an art journal page that I want to share with you, along with an easy background technique. For this technique you just need a stencil and some spray inks. I'm sure it would work with a water reactive ink pad, too.

I picked three earthy and greenish color sprays from Lindy's Gang and started with the lightest one which was Opal Sea Oats. I sprayed my stencil with the spray and then pressed it onto the paper. Then I repeated the process on another spot of my page and let it dry. This is important if you don't want the colors to bleed into another.

The next color I used was My Mojito Green. Again, I sprayed ink on the stencil, but this time a little less, and pressed it onto the page. It was quite easy to align it right over the last imprint.

I did the same with the last color, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green, and a very light spritz of color.

On the following pictures you can see how I built up the layers.

While my page was drying, I decided that I want to use the bearded man as my focal image. And while browsing through my stamps I found a mushroom with the perfect size for him to sit on. I stamped both with Archival Ink, first in Coffee, then in Watering can. The two colors mixed to a grey tone with a little vintage touch. Using a stamping tool makes it easier to do this.

I cut out both images and added a little watercolor to them as well as I inked up the edges with a black marker.

Back on my page I stamped some flowers and a few other mushrooms to the bottom left corner of the background. I used Oxide Inks for all this stamping, just because they work well and I had some matching colors.

All I had left to do was placing my focal point on the page, backed with some thread for a little more contrast and texture, and adding a quote. Well, I didn't used a whole phrase, this word stamp "currently" was just saying everything that this page needed.

And because the top right corner looked a little too empty I grabbed the waybill stamp and added some stamping there, too.

Hope that my little tutorial inspired you. Here are some more photos of the completed page:

Stamps used:
Wild Flowers (18819)
Wildflowers Silhouette (19666)
Waybill/Invoice Background (19416)
Bearded Man Cross Legged (20087)
Mushroom (20046)
Mushroom (19118)
Tall Mushroom (19117)
Currently (20285)

Other material:
Art Journal (my page was cut from Canson watercolor paper)
Archival Ink (Watering Can, Coffee)
Lindy's Gang Starburst Sprays (Opal Sea Oats, My Mojito Green, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green)
Distress Oxide Inks (Forest Moss, Peeled Paint)
Stencil (TCW - Foral Radar)

Watercolor

Pitt Brush Pen (black)

See you soon!

Mail Art Monday with Susanne

Hi my dear crafty friends.

Susanne writing today! It's Mail Art Monday here and I am sharing a mixed media envelope today.

I have a process video for you! So sit back and enjoy!

Here are some close-ups:

Thank you for stopping by today!
xx Susanne.

Supplies:
Viva Las VegaStamps!:
Stars
Victorian Ornamental Flourish
Lace Background
Dream Big
Unicorn
French Writing Background
Waybill/ Invoice Background 
Others:
Acrylic Paints
Gel Medium
Gesso
Archival Ink
STAMPlorations stencils
Neocolor II Crayons

She Spread Her Wings with Cracked Glass Technique

Hello everyone. Shanna here and I am so excited to be back sharing my Viva Las VegaStamps creations with you! I decided I wanted to play along with the brand new challenge. Have you seen it yet? If not check it out and play with us!

Now I have a video here so you can check out the process off how I made this card. 

I really love the dark tones in this challenge and I went for it. I started with the stamp Nature Collage by Cat Kerr - 20036 with StazOn black ink on some mixed media paper.  Then I stamped the image Waybill Invoice Background - 19416  with some Old Paper Distress Ink. Then I went around the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then some Hickory Smoke Distress Ink around the outer edges. That way the center really pops.

I sprinkled the cardstock with water droplets to remove some of the ink and dabbed it dry with a paper towel. Then I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink with the stamp Numbers Set - 19659 around the edges. I let it dry fast and then I went to town covering the whole thing with Versamark Ink and then thick embossing powder. I used a heat gun to melt it down. I did this twice maybe even three time for good measure. Once your done melting it all with your heat gun pop it in the freezer for 3-5 minutes. YES THE FREEZER! When you pull it out bend it and watch the magic happen but do this GENTLY. Sometimes pieces can come off and you don't want that. If you don't like the way it cracks you can reheat it down and refreeze it. 

I then used Walnut Stain Distress Ink to blend over the cracks so you can see them better. I stamped She Spread Her Wings - 19634 and Dragonfly Wings - 11042 on white cardstock and cut them out. Then I adhered it to my card with some black thread in the background for more texture and pop.

  

 

I really hope you like my take on the current Viva Las VegaStamps challenge and my cracked glass technique. It is really fun and I hope you give it a try and share it with us in the Viva LasVegaStamps! Groupies Page. 

Also don't forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel for all the amazing videos the team will be sharing.

VLVS Stamps Used:

Waybill Invoice Background - 19416  from Plate 1440

She Spread Her Wings - 19634 from Plate 1459

Nature Collage by Cat Kerr - 20036  Plate 1487

Numbers Set - 19659  Plate 1456

Dragonfly Wings - 11042 Plate 1124

Others

Canson Mixed Media Paper

Distress Inks in Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Hickory Smoke, and Walnut Stain

Staz On Jet Black 

VersaMark Watermark Ink

Thick Embossing Powder

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Celebrate Everything - Art Journal Page

Hi everyone!

My name is Susanne and today it's the first time for me to give you some inspiration with the awesome Viva Las Vegastamps. It's such a honor for me to be part of this talented design team. Today, I'd like to share an art journal page.

Here are the step by step instructions:

Step 1: I started with a gelli printed background, added some Gesso with a scraper and some Neocolor II watercolor pastels.

 

Step 2: I blended the Neocolors with some water and a brush and added color until I was happy.

Step 3: I removed some of the Neocolor with a wet baby wipe by using a stencil. The result is a nice texture.

Step 4: Before stamping the main image I covered the area, where it would be placed, with gesso.

Step 5: I stamped the main image, the Dancing Lady and the You Are Here  sentiment with Jet Black Archival Ink. I also used the Waybill/Invoice Background to add some interest to the background.

Step 6: Now it was time to drew the mason jar arround the Dancing Lady. I sketched it first and traced the lines with a black uniPOSCA marker. I colored the Dancing Lady as well as the jar with the Neocolors II.

Step 7:  I adhered the Until Further Notice (stamped on white paper) to my page. I colored it also with Neocolor II. Now I took the black and white uniPOSCA marker to add some doodling and to highlight the You Are Here. Finally I added some interest with the Dictionary Page stamp and the Toy Airplane stamp (in the right upper corner). The black paint splatters give the page it's final touch.

Here are some more detailed images:

Thanks for stopping by today!
Susanne.

Viva Las Vegastamps:
Dancing Lady
Until Further Notice
You Are Here 
Waybill/ Invoice
Dictionary Page
Toy Airplane 

Other supplies:
Archival Ink Jet Black
Neocolor II
uniPOSCA marker black and white
Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate
Acrylic colors
Gesso
ARTPlorations Stencil "Bubbles"

XO Valentines Day Tag

Happy HUGS day all!  It's Michele here today...

and I was wondering...what images come to mind when you think about Valentines Day??  Is it weird that I go right to the Eiffel Tower??  AND of course all the other basics like hearts and cupid but for me, Eiffel Tower = Love.
With Valentines Day right around the corner I created a mixed media tag that I would like to share with you.

After I sprayed and spackled my tag base I used the Waybill/Invoice Background (Item 19416 Plate 1440), Double Coffee Rings (Item 19568 Plate 1455), and of course Eiffel Tower (Item 1558 Plates 422 & 938 Page 134) to build up some layers.

Other stamps:  Cupid with Bow (Item 3813 Plate 402 Valentine Page 305), Checkerboard Heart (Item 10350 Plate 1045 Valentine Page 614) and XO (Item 19462 Plate 1444).

I also used Um Wow Studio love confetti, heart confetti and heart confetti stencil, May Arts ribbon, Heidi Swapp Color Shine, Distress Ink Walnut Stain, Archival Ink, thread.

While you're here today make sure to check out this months inspiration challenge, it's a GOOD one full of beautiful color inspiration!!