Specimen

Hello everyone,

For my DT post today I made a card. I love this bunny, he looks so sweet ! I wrote up how I made this card so sit down, have a nice cup of coffee and enjoy !

This is the finished project and here is how I made it :

I painted a piece of white card stock with gesso. 

Next I mixed Primary Elements with soft gel Medium and 

painted my card with that....

I then sprayed some Lindy's spray ink on it and it gave me this mottled effect which I thought was nice.

Then I got my stamps out ! 

The bell jar was stamped straight on the card along with some numbers in the background. I used black Archival ink for the jar and grey for the numbers.

The rest of the images were stamped on separate card stock, I used Memento ink for the bunny and the bee as I was going to colour with Copic Markers. The sentiment words, of which I only used one in the end, were stamped on black card stock using Versamark ink. I then heat embossed them with white embossing powder.

Here is how it looked after colouring...

I then decided to stamp the jar on acetate also; I used StaZon ink for this. I got rid of the back bottom rim with a cotton bud and some StaZon cleaner and cut it out.  Next I glued the bunny on the card.

I then adhered the acetate jar over the top. The bee was glued over the acetate, so was the sentiment. I also drew some doodle lines on the edges of the card panel...

Lastly I adhered the panel to a card blank. 

Here is a view from the side so you can see the shiny acetate. It looks like bunny is really in a glass jar... 

I used the following stamps:

9985 Dumb Bunny

19660 Bell jar

19657 Specimen

19659 Numbers set

19653 Bumble bee 

Thank you so much for stopping by today !

I Steam 4 U

DeeDee here, we're taking a break from Time 2 Stamp, and instead today I'm sharing a card I made that ended up being declined for an ad. No biggie, because it's still super cute and I got to give it to my honey!!

I used the Steam Engine 3x2, stamped in Memento Black ink and embossed with Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder.

The steam for the engine is a cotton swab cut and I've done a tiny bit of doodling with a black pen. The letters are TH Grungeboard and inked with the Memento pad. 

Super easy, but super effective!!

VLVS! @ CHA!

I had the pleasure of sending some projects to CHA Summer for 2012 in Chicago.. and one *or maybe a few* happen to have had Viva Las VegaStamps! in them...

one would be this teapot Globecraft Memories globe I altered... check it out:

The

Mouse Running With Cheese

4x2.5" - $11.00

was stamped in Memento's Tuxedo Black and embossed with Viva Las VegaStamps's Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder on Kromecote cardstock. The cheese was colored in with the Mustard Seed distress marker (we've got the best deal around on these!!) by Tim Holtz. 

Papers used are from Echo Park's Be Mine collection, and the steam for the teapot is the cotton from a q-tip! 

a 2nd journal page..

.. I've had the pleasure of sharing my 2nd journal page on my own blog already, but I haven't shared it here, where it really belongs!!

Because without VLVS!, this page would be incomplete. Here it is:

I used the

 four inch tall Feather,

stamped it in Memento tuxedo black and embossed with the 

VLVS! Ultra High Gloss EP. 

Other products include TH ideology, basic grey brad, glimmer mist in inch worm and charcoal, and an Imaginarium Designs chipboard shape. 

Steampunk ATCs

Wayne (the owner of VLVS!) and I recently go the pleasure to participate in an ATC swap for steampunk ATCs! Lyneen was our fearless leader via the forum and today I'll show you what we turned in!

First up.. Stamping by STAMPO himself!

Wayne used Copic markers, distress ink and a gorgeous rainbow pad to get all the beautiful colors on his ATC. He also Stampo's Steampunk Sprockets which were glued down
with Crystal Lacquer.
Stamps used include:
When Pigs Fly!
Steampunk Piggy
Gear 1x1

Square Edge Gear

I used a foil sheet adhered with Miracle Tape to white cardstock and alcohol ink to get the effect for my background. My Umbrella Man stamp was stamped in Memento Black ink and embossed with Ultra Thick Embossing Powder. I embellished with a little dabbling in the Stampo's Steampunk Sprockets as well. 

What do you think?? 

My first Art Journal Page

I've been working on lots of "new" things lately.. trying new techniques in both scrapbooking and stamping. One of them being scene stamping (which I'll share later) and the other being art journaling!! I'm absolutely falling for the free form open endedness that journaling really DOES have. The page doesn't have to say something to anyone else.. just me. 

Here is my first page (which I'm totally in love with):

I used a Clairefontaine journal which you'll get to see more of later. As well as Distress Stain in Broken China, Distress Ink in Mustard Seed, Broken china, Pine Needles, Vintage Photo and Tumbled Glass. 

First I splattered some of my favorite distress colors on the page. Then I cut a Spellbinders floral silhouette die out of corrugated cardboard and inked it up with vintage photo. After I had it glued down I decided I needed a bit more color, so I created a mask out of white cardstock and dabbed on the same colors of distress I had already used. 

I stamped the 

 Bird In Flight

1.75x1.75 - 7.50 

on Kromecote with Memento ink and fussy cut him out. Then I sponged a little vintage photo on his outside and glued him down. I added some twine and floral beads to finish off this page!! 

I'm back and forth on adding a title.. but basically I'd call it "Inspiration" - as it's something new I'm trying inspired by all those that do do it. 

Steam-monger

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a steampunk swap put on my DT member Lyneen. So I've sort of been stuck on steampunk goodies.. thought I won't say I'm the best at representing them ;)

The card I'm showing today is a result of the "stuck on steampunk" -- and I'm now wishing I had made my ATC based more around this piece.

oh well, right? Enjoy!

I stamped the 

Steampunk Flying Machine 3x4.25

in Memento tuxedo black ink on kraft cardstock, and embossed it with VLVS!'s Ultra High Gloss EP. 
I then gave it a bit of life with a coloring of vintage photo distress ink by ranger. Just water down a bit of it and use a paintbrush to paint it on like a beautiful watercolor.

Then I stamped the

Long Banner 1.5x3.75

on a scrap piece of kraft with the same ink and EP. I wrote steam monger on it, fussy cut it out, and popped up with foam squares.

Here you can see the 3Dness of the card and some of the distressing around the edges.

Save the date

Here's a small card I made for a really close friend. 

It's small with the perfect space on the back for a quick note. 

"Save the date, we've got plans"

I stamped the

Rubber Stamp - 2.75x2.75

in Memento ink on kraft cardstock and embossed it with Ultra High Gloss EP by VLVS!

Add a little black cardstock for a border, and some distressing with vintage photo distress stain and ink and you've got a nice little addition to a package for a friend. 

For extra oomph I popped the stamped image off the background with a few pop dots. 

A script in use..

This is a project I did for the Basically Bare Design Team.. but I can't not show it here, as it uses one of my FAVORITE all time VLVS! Stamps.. 

The Writing Background (4x4) $15.50 Mounted

I used it to stamp on chipboard in black memento ink, and also on canvas in memento which I embossed with Ultra High Embossing Powder. 

-DeeDee

New TAPE!!!

Have you guys seen the new tape that VLVS! is carrying.. EXCLUSIVELY?!

it's pretty amazing stuff.. they have four kinds..

The HINGE tape

The O-RING tape

The STRAP tape

and...

The TOWER BOLT tape

I have the pleasure of owning ALL FOUR tapes -- and get to show you today a project I made with the Strap tape!!!

I also used a selection of VLVS! Rubber stamps from the POSTAL section of rubber including the:

Lindberg Postage Stamp 1 3/4 x 1 3/4

and the:

Panama Postoid 1 1/2 x 1 3/4

among others... I also used Memento Tuxedo black ink for my stamps and Miracle tape to secure my Echo Park paper down. 

It's a great little piece to give someone going away or to someone who travels a lot! Be on the lookout for more examples of this fab tape from the DT (and I'll be back with more, too!) -DeeDee

A sad farewell.. but a bright beginning!

You've probably noticed a setting trend on the VLVS! Blog the last couple of weeks -- it is with a heavy heart that most of the team is retiring and new kids are here to show you their goods. So it's a sad farewell... AND a bright beginning :) 

It's also quite the bright beginning for me as I've just (last week) Started as an EMPLOYEE of VLVS! -- I'll be working behind the scenes setting up the fabulous stamps that you all purchase :) I'll also be dabbling in pressing the rubber! 

Its' quite fun and I can't wait to show you how things work behind the magical curtain :) 

But here is my last post as a Design Team member.. I will forever be a VLVS! stamp addict -- I enjoy the plethora of images as well as the amazing quality of rubber. Today I've brought you a piece that I have not shown on the VLVS! blog..  a "Brave the storm" style tag --

Using my absolute favorite stamp by VLVS! 

Vintage Umbrella Man Against the Wind

2 1/4 x 3

$9.75 mounted 

(don't forget you can get just cushioned or unmounted rubber, too!)

I stamped my trusty umbrella man on white cardstock with Memento Ink. 

The back of the tag is embossed with a TH die and distressed with distress stain. The clouds are hand drawn, and the raindrops and puddle are made with 3D Crystal Lacquer .. after the lacquer was dry I dabbed it with alcohol ink. 

So Brave the storm new kids comin' in! This is a wonderful company to work for, both DT wise and as an employee supplying you with your wildest stampy dreams! Also.. Brave the storm outgoing folks.. the ride was amazing and now we can relax and think fondly of our VLVS! DT days. Take on new adventures! Try new things! BRANCH OUT! I will miss you all!  ♥♥♥

-DeeDee

Everything, everything.

Hello again! For today’s post, which is also my last post (for now), I wanted to use this great “Running Lady” stamp that reminds me of Marilyn Monroe. I stamped her on white cardstock, and then colored her with Copic markers. After that, I went over her with a Versamark pen, and then covered her with Viva Las Vegastamps! own Ultra High Gloss Embossing powder. I didn’t cover the shadow, only the lady. Then I used a couple of colors of Distress Ink to color the cardstock as you see in the picture.

I hope you have enjoyed all of my projects. You can see them all at anytime by clicking here. Take care and please be sure to come back to the Viva Las Vegastamps! blog where new projects will be posted every Monday, Wednesday & Friday. There's an all new design team starting in April and it will nice to see what new ideas they come up with! Good luck everyone.

Hello - a whimsical colored stamp

Hello everybody!! Our term is coming to a quick end here @ VLVS! and it sure has been fun!! Today I'm going to share my "tryout" piece in case I don't make it this go round -- because it was inspired my lovely teammates!!! They really do some fabulous work and I always catch myself saying "GOSH! I wanna try that"

So I did! I grabbed a not-my-typical type of whimsical stamp:

Umbrella Man (2.5x3.5)

and stamped him on 

Kromecote cardstock which Wayne recently stocked in the store! it creates such a CRISP CLEAN image -- there's no messing this up, folks! I am IN LOVE with this paper! It has a shiny side and a matte side, so it has endless possibilities! For this application I used the matte side and stamped with  Memento tuxedo black ink. 

After stamping him I colored him with Prismacolor markers in Deco Blue, Cool Gray 60% and Yellowed orange. 

I then adhered some Basic Grey paper to a recycled kraft base with Miracle Tape, gave it a little distress ink.. and glued my man down! Add a bit of doodling with a white pen and VIOLA. A fun scene, simple yet graphic and fun card to send to a close friend! 

Thanks everybody!!! -DeeDee

DIY Washi Tape!!!

Hi Everyone!! DeeDee here for an extra post this month!!

I kind of stole the opportunity of doing a DIY video for VLVS! on how to make your own Washi Tape with VLVS! Supplies!!!

I used :

Tissue paper

Memento black ink

Miracle Tape

Birds on a Wire

Scissors

Please please.. tell me what you think!!!!

I'll show you a project using this tape on Wednesday so come back!!!! -DeeDee

Celebrate the Every Day

If you haven't heard or haven't been paying attention... VLVS! is hosting a monthly challenge where a selected winner receives a gift certificate to the online store! Very generous of our fearless leader, Wayne! 

This month's theme is "CELEBRATION"

and I made my first piece for January based off the idea.. but with a twist.. I'm a big fan of "the small things" and so I went with "Celebrate the Every Day"

I recently got my little grubbers on two fabulous stamps that are going right in the front of my stash.. 

The Chicken Wire 3 3/4" x 4 1/2"

and the Birds on Wire 1 1/2" x 6 1/2"

I used the chicken wire as a background.. I stamped it in clear embossing ink and then doused it Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder by VLVS! I then smeared, sprayed and spritzed a combination of Broken China distress stain and water all over my tag. Once that was dry I laid newsprint over my tag and ironed out the embossing ink. Then I grabbed the bird stamp, my Memento Ink and a clear block.. some creative placement and VIOLA! the "Sing" "Chatter" and "Spread Joy" were written by hand in black ink on manila to match the rest of the tag. Swipe the edges of the tag with the same ink as the stamp and some creative doodling... And we get....

Thanks for coming by again this week!! Don't forget to enter your own piece into the competition!

-DeeDee

Just around the corner..

is Christmas! and I'm having fun doing "creative" Christmas cards this year... 

I picked up some of the Library Pockets from VLVS! and got to work distressing with a walnut stain distress ink. I then cut a tag from some dictionary paper and distressed with peeled paint distress ink.

I love the cream color that manila comes.. so I seriously stock up on manila folders and use them as a regular stamping surface.. I grabbed a folder and this beautiful new stamp from VLVS!:

Jolly Ol' St. Nick 3 1/4 x 3 - $11.75

I stamped him in Memento Tuxedo and embossed with VLVS!'s Ultra High Gloss EP. 

I then did a little embellishing (I love to deconstruct decorative picks and use bits n bobs as embellishmetns) some extra inking.. ribbon snipping and tying.. and of course adhering everything down with VLVS! Miralce Tape...

and...

VIOLA!

thanks so much for checking out my VLVS! project again this week!! -DeeDee