I WISH MY LIFE HAD BACKGROUND MUSIC by FRAN CHALMERS

Hi everyone!

Today I have made a card for you - I hope you like it.

I used a background which I had made on a gel plate ages ago, and added some more colour to brighten it up.  

I then added lots of background stamps to make it more interesting.

I stamped the main image, coloured and fussy cut it out, then added  to the card, along with the sentiment. 

I went round the mat with a thick black pen before mounting onto the card.

Stamps Used:

Fed Up Vintage Lady 19640

Writing and Scribbles Collage 20695

Typeset Scallop 20163

Sky of Stars background 19819

Writing circles background 19567

Dictionary page 19015

Other Items Used:

Distress inks in Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries and Spiced Marmalade

Versafine Clair ink in Nocturn and Red Tulip

Black pen

Kuretake colouring pens

We all Eff Up sometimes...

Hi VLVS! fans! It's Cheetarah here today and I wanted to share a postcard with you I made inspired by a recent mishap. It does contain sensitive language but as you all know VLVS! does have a wonderful array of stamps to be very expressive in your artwork with. All the stamps I used are listed at the bottom of the post. 

My base is a 6x4 inch heavy stock watercolor paper by Winsor and Newton. I used ranger archival ink to stamp the Fed up Vintage Lady with because that works well with the watercolors I am going to use. The ink stays put and doesn't contaminate my brushes. I did choose to stamp the image lighter so that I can add in details with a fine liner after coloring as you can see below. 

I really love the process of watercolor, esp choosing the colors that play well together and create an effect of their own. Like the turquoise and violet blends in the background. 

In the background I wanted to convey a certain contained aura around the Fed up Lady - like she is in her own thought bubble. Like we usually tend to do when things consume us... Also wanted to give you a view of how my desk looks when I am at work with watercolors. I sorta have an addiction when it comes to them, meaning I have several sets. Like stamps, they multiply. 

After I finished coloring I stamped texture in the background with Memento inks in corresponding colors. Trimmed and rounded off the edges then lined it with Tuxedo black which I also used to stamp in the word Fuck. Poor girl, I hope she gets out of her thought loop soon and realize we all eff up sometimes... it's what we learn from it and continue on that matters most. 

Stamps used: 

Fed-Up Vintage Lady 

Fuck Head  

Waybill/Invoice background 

Rows of Numbers 

Hope this inspired you to create and see you all next time. Also be sure to check out the new releases this month! Have a lovely day!

"Failure to give a shit" art journal spread | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here today to share a spread I created in my altered book art journal recently. I use this journal not only as a creative outlet, but also as a way of expressing my thoughts and feelings. This spread was created on one of "those days" - you know, the ones when you are just over worrying about all the insignificant things in life? 

I felt like working with acrylic paints for this project, so I pulled out my Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paints. I used a medium sized brush and randomly spread some paint across the pages.

Once I had the colour down and dry; I decided to tone down the remaining print a bit, so I used some Colour Blast white heavy gesso over the text, which I applied simply with a brush.

After I was happy with the colour, it was time to add some depth and structure to my background with stamps. 

I used Staz On ink and the following stamps:

- Stitching Lines

- Stitching

- Measuring Tape Section

- Coffee Ring Stain

I then used some purple acrylic paint (applied with my finger) to add some colour to the centre of my coffee ring stains.

For my focal image I used the Fed Up Vintage Lady stamp. I smeared some ink acrylic pant onto some cardstock and then stamped the image over the top before cutting it out. (Confession time: after stamping and cutting the image I decided I wanted less colour, so I re-did it.)
I also stamped out a few copies of the quote I was using with the What We Have Here stamp; which I cut into small strips.

I decided my page need some more contrast, so I added a few areas of contrast using Colour Blast black heavy gesso; and a few smears of the pink paint where my quotes were going to be placed. I also added a little bit of light stamping with my favourite Doodle Dots stamp.
I then stuck down my quotes and feature image.

To finish my spread, I added a few highlights using a Flutterby Designs stencil; white paint pens (Posca and Sharpie); and also a black Sharpie.

Here's a closer look at the finished details...

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

Stamps used:
- Stitching Lines
- Stitching
- Measuring Tape Section
- Coffee Ring Stain
- Fed Up Vintage Lady
- What We Have Here
- Doodle Dots

Other materials:
- Miracle Tape
- Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paints
- Color Blast white and black heavy gesso
- Staz On ink
- Flutterby Designs 'Bubble O'Fun' stencil
- Sharpie pens
- Posca pen

Art Journal Page by Jenn Engle

Hey everyone! Today I have a double page spread in my mini art journal.

STAMPS USED:

Tired of Trying to Cram

Fed-Up Vintage Lady

Mesh Texture

I started out with spraying Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray in Tibetan Poppy Teal all over my pages. When that was dry, I used a small circle stencil and texture paste randomly around the edge.

While that was drying, I stamp my Fed-Up Lady and colored her with Copic Markers. I also stamped Tired of Trying to Cram and took the time to cut out each line as well as the words in black. 

I added some background stamping with the Mesh Texture stamp. This one one of my fave stamps to add a little subtle sumthin' sumthin' to the background.

Finally, I adhered everything down. The lady is sitting on some washi tape and a strip of painted deli paper. And that's it. Super simple, but super fun to make!

Thanks for looking!

~Jenn