"Love.Repeat" Art Journal Page | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest design team project for you. Today I have a mixed media art journal page to share that I created using a variety of stamps, inks, and assorted collage materials. This piece was inspired by a gorgeous art journal page shared last month by Jenn Engle. (You can see Jenn's page HERE) I really loved the balance between colour and white space on Jenn's page and wanted to create something similar - but with my own twist, of course.

I was working in my 9x6" Jane Davenport journal for this one (it has watercolour paper pages and takes wet media fairly well with no bleed through). I started by putting down multiple layers of Colour Blast Colour Artist Ink; drying between each one with a heat gun to get the "hard" water lines.

Once I had the colour down, I began adding some structure. I started with the Punchinella/Sequin Waste Border; which I stamped vertically using black Staz On ink.

Next, I used the Double Coffee Rings stamp with 'Mowed Lawn' Distress Oxide; stamping it several times over the top. 

I then used the Cross Marks Background with black Staz On to add some marks around the edges of the colour.

Now it was time to add some texture to my page. I used small torn pieces of washi tape and some snippets of punchinella.

I also added a piece of paper doily, some plasterer's tape, and some frayed gauze - all layered in the central focal point of the page.

I then stamped out the focal image for my page using the Squiggle Heart stamp and Staz On ink onto some white cardstock and fussy cut around it. I used a shimmery watercolour paint to colour the heart before sticking it down onto the page.

To finish off, I stamped the sentiment Love.Repeat a few times and then splattered a little bit of blue ink around the edges.

I was really happy with how this page came out - thank you Jenn for the inspiration!

That's all from me today, thanks for stopping by. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used:
- Punchinella/Sequin Waste Border
- Double Coffee Rings
- Cross Marks Background
- Squiggle Heart
- Love.Repeat

Other materials:
- Jane Davenport art journal
- Colour Blast Colour Artist Inks
- Tsukineko Staz On ink
- Ranger Distress Oxide
- Colour Blast Colour Shimmer Cube
- Assorted collage materials (as listed in post above)

Best Selfie Ever | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone! 

Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook layout to share that features an assortment of VLVS stamps; a painted background; and (what I consider) my best selfie EVER!

During my recent trip all the way from Australia to Arizona to attend Creativation, I was lucky enough to also squeeze in a day trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The canyon has been number one on my bucket list of places to visit for as long as I can remember, so to finally tick it off was an absolute dream come true!  (And hence why I have called this my best selfie ever.)

To compliment my photo, I chose to use some stamps from plate #927, which features a number of travel themed phrases and images. I decided to pair the stamps with a painted cardstock background using Dina Wakley acrylic paints by Ranger.

To start my page I began by brushing on some of the blue "Sky" paint using a wide brush, then added some of the deep blue "Marine" over the top using the same brush. Next, "Elephant" grey paint went over the top using a small brayer to apply it. Finally, I added some highlights using "Evergreen" with the tip of my finger.

With all the colour in place, it was then time to turn to my stamps to add some depth to my background. I started with the Stitching Lines and Sawtooth Stitching Lines stamps, which I used to add lots of horizontal lines to my page using StazOn ink. This was to mimic the textures and layers of rock I saw in the canyon walls.

Next, I wanted to add some extra interest in the top section of my page around where my photo was going to be placed. With so many lines already on my page, I wanted to use a more organic shape, so what could be more perfect than trees? 

I used the Leaves Blowing From Tree and Weathered Tree, stamping them both out a number of times using "Faded Jeans" and "Iced Spruce" Distress Oxides. I also added some text to my background using the Wanderlust stamp and StazOn ink.

At this point I also added some small torn pieces of woodgrain and chevron print washi tapes before I moved onto creating a layered mat for my photo to sit on. I used a combination of tissue paper, paper doily, tag, small kraft bag and some frayed gauze, which I secured to the page using staples before adding my photo on top.

I love adding things directly onto my photos on my pages, so I decided to stamp out a couple of things that I could adhere to the photo. I used the You Are Here and one of the Set of 2 Hands Pointing, which I stamped onto white cardstock using "Faded Jeans" Distress Oxide, and then cut around them.

Now it was time for the finishing touches. Alongside my photo I added a denim handmade heart from Charms Creations, which I topped with a flair button from Cocoa Vanilla Studio.

For my title, I used a wood veneer word from Corbett Creations and some Cocoa Vanilla Studio alphabet stickers.

I also added a few wood veneer hearts around my page and splattered some copper coloured mist.

The final piece of my page was to add my journalling (although to be honest, I could have written 1000 words about this day and still not come close to expressing how I felt.)

That's all from me today, thanks for stopping by. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used: 
- Stitching Lines
- Sawtooth Stitching Lines
- Leaves Blowing From Tree
- Weathered Tree
- Wanderlust
- You Are Here
- Set of 2 Hands Pointing

Other Materials:
- Miracle tape
- Bazzill cardstock
- Dina Wakley acrylic paints
- Tsukineko StazOn ink
- Tim Holtz Distress Oxides
- washi tapes
- Collage materials (as specified in post above)
- Charms Creations heart
- Cocoa Vanilla Studio flair button and alphabet stickers
- Corbett Creations wood veneer word
- wood veneer hearts
- Colour Blast 'Sienna' Colour Shimmer Spray
- felt pen

"Space Girl" Mail Art | Sue Plumb

Hi VLVS friends!

Sue Plumb here today to share my project for Mail Art Monday. 

I recently held a giveaway on my Sue Plumb Designs Facebook page to celebrate {inter}National Scrapbook Day and needed to post the prize out to the lucky winner. Of course I didn't want to send a boring old box, so I took the opportunity to bust out some mail art and make the package a bit more exciting when it was received.

 I recycled a pizza box I had previously received scrapbooking supplies in so I had some details on the front I had to cover up first; which I did quickly by roughly applying some Colour Blast black heavy gesso with a wide brush. I then cut an 8x8" piece of cardstock to use for my address label and stamped out my design.

I was dying to use one of the Space Girl stamps designed by Katy Paltridge (daughter of Fiona) from the new release plate #1501, and I chose some complimentary stamps to use along with it. I used the word Starbound and also the rows of stars which were both from the astrologically themed new release plate #1500. The final stamp I chose was the Sky of Stars Background, which has been one of my recent favourites on high rotation. 

I then used a selection of Faber-Castell watercolour pencils and a water brush to add some colour to my images. (Using watercolour pencils is one of my favourite colouring methods for stamps - quick, easy, accurate, and I love the look of them.)

Once I had added all the colour, I adhered my label to the box using Miracle Tape and then used a white Sharpie pen to add some detail to give it a "galaxy" type appearance.

Then it was simply a matter of adding the recipient details to my label and sealing over it with clear packaging tape to protect it.

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

Stamps used:

- "Space Girl" from plate #1501
- "Starbound" from plate #1500
- "Rows of stars" from plate #1500

- Sky of Stars Background

Other materials:

- Miracle Tape

- American Crafts white cardstock

- Staz On ink

- Colour Blast black heavy gesso

- Faber-Castell watercolour pencils

 - white Sharpie 

- felt pen

Ray of Sunshine | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest design team project with you. Today I have a 12x12" mixed media scrapbook page I created to share, featuring a stamp-filled background and a photo of my daughter at her sunshiney best! haha

To create my page, I started with some white cardstock (I use Bazzill Card Shoppe cardstock in 'Marshmallow' - I find this best for applying wet media.) I added a wash of grey colour using Colour Blast 'Stormy Weather' Colour Shimmer Spray, which I poured into a cup and applied with a wide brush.

I needed to give my page some structure (and given the theme of this page was about capturing photos) I used the Film Strip stamp to apply some horizontal and vertical lines to draw the eye to the focal area of my page using Staz On ink.

I wanted to add a supporting focal image to compliment my photo, so I chose the Whimsical Horned Boy. I already had this image stamped out on some tissue paper, so I used some matte medium to apply it to my page.

I kept building my background by stamping the Evidence Label stamp near the top of my page (I can see this stamp is going to get a workout from me); and then I added two Deathhead Moths (they matched the death stare my daughter was giving me). I also had these on tissue paper, so I used matte medium again to apply them.

My background was really starting to take shape now, so it was time to add some finer details. I reached for my Sky of Stars Background stamp to add some visual interest around the page. My page also needed a title and I knew EXACTLY which stamp I wanted to use for it - I Am A Ray. I stamped it out multiple times around my page (just to make sure I got the message across!)

Now it was time to add a splash of colour to my page. I used a Faber-Castell watercolour pencil to add some red around the edges of my moths, as well as to the cheek and lips of my horned boy before blending it out with a water brush.

I also added a couple of scribbles that I didn't blend.

Now it was time to work on the focal area of my page and add some texture. I used a mini paper doily; torn tissue paper; some tiny gold star punchinella and frayed gauze to create a mat for my photo. 

I cut around my daughter in the photo to get rid of the background and added some cardboard to the back to pop it up before adding it on top of my layers using Miracle Tape. I also added some extra gold touches to my page using torn pieces of washi tape and gold sequins. 

I added some small splatters of Colour Blast 'Sunburnt' Colour Artist Ink and then my handwritten journalling. I complimented my journalling with the What We Have Here stamp. (A perfect finishing touch!)

The final addition to my page was a handmade chevron embellishment from Charms Creations, to help draw the eye to my photo.

Here's a closer look at the completed page...

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

Stamps used:

- Film Strip

- Whimsical Horned Boy

- Evidence Label

- Deathhead Moth

- Sky of Stars Background

- I Am A Ray

- What We Have Here

Other materials:

- Miracle Tape

- Bazzill 'Marshmallow' Card Shoppe cardstock

- Staz On ink

- Colour Blast 'Stormy Weather' Colour Shimmer Spray

- tissue paper

- matte medium

- Faber-Castell watercolour pencil

- collage materials (paper doily; tissue paper; punchinella; frayed gauze)

 - washi tape

- gold sequins

- Colour Blast 'Sunburnt' Colour Artist Inks

- Charms Creations chevron

- felt pen

"I Wish You Were Here" scrapbook layout | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone! 

Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook layout to share that features lots of delicious painty layers, and (of course) plenty of fabulous stamps! It also features a fun photo that was taken on dress up night at a scrapbook retreat I went to last year.

I took lots of process photos while I created this page so you can see exactly how I put it all together - and perhaps even try creating your own version?

I started with my cardstock and a selection of Flutter Colour acrylic paints. I didn't have any plan when I applied them, I just followed my instinct.

I started applying the paints using a wide brush, allowing each colour to dry before adding the next; then moved on to using my fingers. (Fingers make the best brushes!)

Once all the paint was in place, it was time to pull out my stamps to give my page some structure and depth.

The stamps I used for my background were:

- Stitching Lines

- Sawtooth Stitching Lines

- Row of Scribble Squares

- Doodle Circle 

After I had stamped out my background marks, I decided I needed a little colour contrast; so I used my finger to rub a little pink paint into the centre of each circle.

With my background complete, it was time to start adding some focal images to my page that were going to help compliment my photo. I looked through the images I already had stamped onto tissue paper to see what would work with the theme of my page. 

The images I chose were:

- Butterfly Spotted

- Magic Maker Paintbrush

The butterfly was to represent the fact that it was the Flutterby retreat, and the paintbrush was to represent creativity and tie in with the painted background I had created. I adhered my images using an acrylic matte medium.

Once I had the focal images in place, I wanted to add some words to my page. I used the following stamps:

- Art is Anything-Andy Warhol

- I Wish You Were Here

It was then time to add some texture to my page, so I collaged a few bits and pieces onto my page (torn tissue paper; plasterer's tape; paper doily; cotton thread).

I then added my photo on top, which I mounted onto some scrap cardboard first using Miracle Tape. 

With my photo in place, I then added my handwritten journalling before adding a few random sequins to my page to finish it off.

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

- Sawtooth Stitching Lines

- Row of Scribble Squares

- Doodle Circle

- Butterfly Spotted

- Magic Maker Paintbrush

- Art is Anything-Andy Warhol

- I Wish You Were Here

Other materials:
cardstock
Staz On ink
Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paint
Miracle Tape
tissue paper
plasterer's tape
paper doily
cotton thread
sequins
felt pen