Index card - Please wait for dial tone

Hey everyone,

I'm still enjoying ICAD - which is the index card a day challenge - and so I wanted to share another inspiration card with you. The theme for this week is mixed media collage. My card features some of the stamps from the latest release. 

I started with collaging some old torn papers in the background. Here I didn't take too much care about having nice straight edges. With my fingers, I added a little black and white paint on top. I just made sure that some of the vintage paper is still showing through. Next I stamped the rotary phone dial with the help of a stamping tool. Due to the slight texture on my card I wanted to stamp it multimple times. I also added the writings and scribbles collage stamp in different spots.

While looking at the new stamps, I thought the vintage man would make a nice focal point for the index card. I just didn't want to have the jars he's looking at, but cutting him without them was easy. I stamped him on some watercolor paper, colored him with watercolor, cut him out and inked the edges with a black marker. 

To finish the card, I glued the man onto the card as well as some found words - I have grown a certain addiction for using text fragments over the last weeks.

Stamps used:
Rotary Phone Dial Grunge (20692)
Writing and Scribbles Collage (20695)
Vintage Man Examining Jars (20683)


Other material:
- index card, 3 x 5 inch
- Canson watercolor paper
- vintage paper
- Lukas acrylic paint (titanium white, iron oxide black)
- Versafine Claire Ink (nocturne)
- ZIG and Arteza watercolor brush pens
- book text fragment(s)

See you soon!

The ocean - art journal page

Hello everyone,

Today's art journal page features some landscape stamping which is not my usual style, but nevertheless I enjoyed the process of making it. So here we go with a little tutorial and some technical tips about how to arrange a landscape composition.

When I started my page, I had a rough image in my mind how this page should look like. I already knew my focal image - this man with his dog - and so stamping and cutting this was the first thing I did. Also, I inked up the edges with a black marker which would help the image blending easily into the scene later. At this stage I wasn't sure if I wanted the image to be colored or not, so I left that decision for later.

Next, I chose some stamps for my background scenery: a rower and a pier. And here's my little tip about arranging your composition: When you are not sure where to place your images, first stamp them on some transparency. I always use a slow drying ink such as Versafine as this can be wiped away from the foil afterwards. You can then move the foil or foil pieces to get a good idea how it looks in different positions. In my case I wasn't sure about how high I wanted to have my horizon line. This technique helped me to figure out where to place the stamps.

Ater I added the two stamped images to my page, I added some texture to the sky. Therefore I used the new plus sign stamp (not only as a whole but also just parts of the stamp) and heatembossed that.

Finally it was time to add color. I diluted some Dylusions ink sprays with water and added them to my previously wetted page. I left a lot of white space on the page which I really liked in the end.

Once I was done with my background, I needed something for my focal characters to sit on. I grabbed a piece of tissue and tore it into pieces and strips. Then I crumpled these up and glued several layers down to the bottom of the page with matte medium, making sure to retain the crinkled texture. After it had dried, I added a few more Dylusions inks with a brush and ended up with the perfect ledge for the man and his dog. I also added a few lighthanded lines to the horizon.

That was the point where I decided that they need a little color and grabbed my watercolors. Then I glued them down with foam tape, added a matching quote sticker and called this project done. Here are some close-up shots of the finished page.

 

 

Stamps used:
Man And Dog Sitting (18968)
Plus Sign Background (20571)
Pier or Dock Silhouette (19716)
Man In Row Boat Silhouette (19712)
Recommendation for creating landscapes: Plate 1460

Other material:
- Art journal (Hahnemuehle DIN A4 watercolor book)
- Versafine ink (nocturne)
- Versamark ink
- Dylusions ink sprays (calypso teal, vibrant turquoise, periwinkle blue, chopped pesto, slate grey, melted chocolate)
- watercolor
- embossing powder (Ranger - frosted crystal)
- tissue paper
- matte medium
- Studio Light Sticker (Jenine's mindful art collection)
- black brush marker and fine tip marker

See you soon!

 

Merry & Bright | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest VLVS design team project for you. Given that Christmas is a mere week away (eeeek!) and we have an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" challenge this month (details HERE), I thought it might be timely to share a scrapbook layout featuring some of the recently released Christmas stamps and a photo of my kids with Santa.

As it is summer time here in Australia at Christmas (and partly because I am not a fan), I tend to steer away from the "traditional" red / forest green Christmas colour combination and lean towards brighter colours that more accurately reflect our season.

I began this page with some white Bazzill cardstock and Dina Wakley acrylic paints (turquoise, lime, sky, blushing and ruby), which I applied using a brayer and my fingers to build up some layers of colour. I also splattered some Colour Blast 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink around the page.

I then took an assortment of Christmas-themed stamps and used them to add some interest to my background. I used a combination of black StazOn ink and Paradise Teal Ranger Archival ink. The stamps I used were:

- Christmas Design Background

- Mittens

 - Candy Cane Border

- Christmas Saying Reindeer Head

- Holiday Cheer

I then added a variety of patterned paper pieces from Cocoa Vanilla Studio to form a layered mat for my photo, before adding some frayed gauze and my photo on top.

To embellish my page, I used some cool chipboard Christmas trees from the Yuletide MASH pack by UmWow Studio, which I coloured using a gold paint pen before sticking them down with a liquid adhesive. 

I layered the chipboard trees with some assorted Christmas themed wood veneer pieces; flair button; resin star; enamel dots; and red & white paper flowers from Cocoa Vanilla Studio; plus a few tiny pale blue flowers from D-lish Scraps.

For my page title, I stamped the May Your Days Be Merry stamp a couple of times, then overlaid it with a merry&bright wood veneer piece (also from Cocoa Vanilla Studio and coloured gold with a paint pen). 

To finish off my page I added my handwritten journalling with a Sharpie, and some splatters of Colour Blast 'Bling' Colour Shimmer Spray.

Thanks so much for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to document your precious Christmas memories too or perhaps get an entry in for the December monthly challenge.
I would like to take this opportunity wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year!

Stamps used:
- Christmas Design Background
- Mittens
- Candy Cane Border
- Christmas Saying Reindeer Head
- Holiday Cheer
- May Your Days Be Merry

Other materials:
- Bazzill cardstock
- Dina Wakley acrylic paints
- Tsukineko StazOn ink
- Ranger Archival ink
- Colour Blast Colour Artist Ink and Colour Shimmer Spray
- UmWow chipboard trees
- Cocoa Vanilla Studio patterned papers, wood veneer pieces, enamel dots, flair button, resin star, paper flowers
- D-lish Scraps paper flowers
- gold paint pen
- Sharpie pen
- frayed gauze

Easy ATCs with Jenn Engle

Hey everyone! Today I have some super easy Artist Trading Cards to share with you. All you need is some patterned paper and some of your favorite VLVS stamps!

STAMPS USED:

Mesh Texture

Butterfly Specimens

Cross Marks Background

Row of Numbers

Dreamers Only by Car Kerr

First, I started by cutting some 7 Dots Studio patterned paper into 6 pieces of 2.5" by 3.5 " (the size of an artist trading card). Then, I took some of my favorite Viva Las VegaStamps stamp and randomly stamped around my cards with Staz-On ink in Timber Brown.

Next, I figured out where I wanted each of my Tim Holtz Paper Dolls to sit on each card. I took Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks in "Night" for one set and "Umber" for the other and drew an area for my paper dolls to stand on. I also dissolved some of the pigment from the scribble sticks to use for splatters on my cards. I also used the "Umber" Scribble Stick to outline my cards.

Finally, I glued the Paper Dolls down and stamped "Dreamer" or "Dreamers" from the Dreamers Only Stamp by Car Kerr.

And that is all there is to it! A super quick and easy way to make a bunch of ATCs at a time.

STAMPS USED:

Mesh Texture

Butterfly Specimens

Cross Marks Background

Row of Numbers

Dreamers Only by Car Kerr

Other Products Used:

Patterned Paper - 7 Dots Studio

Staz-On - Timber Brown

Dina Wakley Media Scribble Sticks - Umber & Night

Tim Holtz Paper Dolls

Thanks for looking!

Mail Art Monday Card Collection

Hello Again Everyone! 

Welcome back for another mail art Monday! 

today I wanted to share something a little different than my usual envelopes... Today I want to share a set of 3 cards that I made using my new circle stamp designs.

 The base idea for these cards was to use these circles as flowers. 

I hope you like these :D

Stamps Used:

Heart Pattern Circle by Tera Callihan 2 1/4 x 2 1/4

Circle Pattern Circle by Tera Callihan 2 1/2 x 2 1/2

Striped Pattern Circle by Tera Callihan 2 x 2

Doodle Leaf 1 1/2 x 2 1/2

Numbers Set 2 1/2 x 2

Mousey Monthly Challenge inspiration

Hello Every one!! 

Tera here today with a little something to inspire you for this months 

monthly inspiration challenge!!! 

(Click HERE to Enter)

The words that inspired me were: weird, different, grey, tan, black, white, neutrals, mice, rays, critters, cheese, numbers, splatters, light bulb, bright ideas, light bulb moment, spritz, distressed and grungy

(Stamps used at bottom of post)

To start I used plain card stock to cut out a tag measuring 2 3/4" x 4 3/4"

Next I stamped my mouse/rat and the set of 3 triangles so that I would have the placement of my focal images.. 

(if you want to make masks this is the time to mask them off... this time I just glued cut outs on top of each of these after I did the background).

now I stamped all of my background images in a kind of randomness... The coffee ring was stamped in distress ink- pumice stone, I also used this to sponge ink onto the entire background. all of the other images were stamped in black ink. (archival and versafine were on my desk today).  I also used the black ink to distress the edges of my tag

(same thing for the back of the tag)

(to make the light bulb Pop and look 3D I edged it in black pan pastels)

For the crinkle ribbon I used vintage photo, pumice stone, and black distress ink on my craft mat with a little water. 

I hope this inspired you to join in our challenge! 

I can't wait to see everyone's creations!!! 

Stamps Used: 

Creepy Rat With Cheese 2 x 2 1/4

Spoiler Alert 3/4 x 1 1/2

You Won't Believe 1 x 3/4

Dictionary Page 4 x 2 1/2

Doodle Dots 2 3/4 x 2 3/4

Numbers Set 2 1/2 x 2

Large Lightbulb 2 x 3

 Writing Triangles 1 1/4 x 3 1.4

Tape X 1 3/4 x 1 3/4

Double Coffee Rings 3 x 3

Six Staples 3/4 x 1 1/2

Plate 1455 (the last 4 above are all from this plate... Honestly this is my must have all time fave plate... so here is the link to it too) 

Mail Art Monday with Jenn

Hey! It is thrill to be sharing my very first Design Team project with you today.
 "Mail Art Monday" is right up my alley because I love decorating envelopes to send out goodies to my crafty friends. My envelope today combines some of my fave colors and some of my fave stamps. Be sure to check out the process video at the end of this post!

STAMPS I USED:

 Writing Circles Background

Writing Triangles

Numbers

Paperclip

 

Here is a start to finish video of my process for creating this "Mail Art Monday" project.

Thanks so much for joining me!

~Jenn

We have a winner...and more Mail Art!

Hello again! 

Tera here to share some mail art and announce the lucky winner who will be getting the hand made mail art...

I decided to create one more in the northern lights style to show you the variety that can be used with this technique. 

(Tutorial HERE)

Stamps Used:

Straggly Pine Trees 2 1/2 x 4 1/2

Crane Silhouette 1 x 1 1/2

Man In Row Boat Silhouette 1 1/2 x 1

Clump of Rocks/Pebbles 1 1/4 x 2 3/4

Line of Rocks/Pebbles 3/4 x 2 1/2

Plate 1460

Thank you to all who commented on and shared my video tutorial ...

OK the wait is Over... 

The winner is...

(Thank you so much for joining us, I hope you get to see them in real life! I know I would love to also!)

Please Email me your address at Tera.callihan22@gmail.com so I can get your envelope in the mail to you soon :D 

Thank you everyone for stopping, by and I hope you feel inspired to get inky too!!!