Artsy tile - She was a dreamer

Hi everyone,

hope you all had a good and creative start into 2021. I'm happy to continue working in the VLVS design team for another year to share more stamped art with you. Let's start with the first project for this year.

 I started creating "artsy tiles", which is just watercolor paper cut to a size of 4 x 4 inch and with rounded edges - a little detail that really makes a difference for me. I'm a fan of quick projects (not always, but sometimes you just want to get something creative done without investing much time, right?) and this format sparks my creativity.

When I started working on the tile, I already knew the focal image I wanted to use. So stamping the woman, coloring her and cutting her out was my first step. I used ZIG brush pens for the coloring just because it's one of the easiest methods for me.

As my background highlight I stamped and heat embossed the twilight zone swirl in white. Then I sprayed some Lindy's Gang starburst sprays on top and used the resistance effect I got from the embossing I did before. I went with some complimentary colors to the womans dress to create a harmonious contrast. During the last few weeks I started using my color wheel a lot for inspiration and although I never thought that this is a necessary tool I'm finding it really helpful now.

I added a quote as well as some stars to my tile. They blend nicely into the background. Do you like such subtle details as much as I do? Also, I inked the edges with the same ink pad that I used for the stars.
All that was left to do now was glueing the woman to the background and then I called this project done.

Stamps used:
Beautiful Lady Retro Looking Up (8280)
Twilight Zone Swirl (20506)
Stars (19291)
She Was A Dreamer (19635)

Other material:
- Canson watercolor paper
- Versaclaire ink (nocturne)
- Versamark ink
- Archival ink (paradise teal)
- Starburst sprays (tibetan poppy teal, shabby turbine teal)
- ZIG real brush pens
- WOW! embossing powder (white, ultrafine)

See you soon with another project.

Monocle Mail Art Monday!

Hello Again Crafty Friends!

Happy Labor Day to all of you in the USA or just anyone wanting to celebrate!

Today, I will be sharing one of my favorite things...

Yep, Mail Art!!!

( And not just Mail Art... but Halloween Mail Art!)

Stamps used:
Monocle cat and pumpkin
Typeset scallop
Stitching
Stars

Starting with an A2 Envelope I stamped my "monocle cat" in archival - jet black ink. However if you are going to color with alcohol base markers like I am you may want to use Memento for this. My Memento needs refilled and I wanted the cat to be very crisp which is why I was okay with a little bit of smearing of my colors.

With the leftover ink I stamps the cat a second time on scrap paper to create a mask. I cut the cat out and masked him off.

Next using memento ink I stamped my scallop along the edge.

(And of course many of you know this is one of my favorites so it would have to be a prominent stamp on this envelope.

Next remove the mask from the cat and shows to color at the border and Cat with various alcohol-based markers. I wanted to see how they look before picking out my background color. Following traditional Halloween colors..  I went with of course: purples, oranges,yellows, and greens.

With my main images colored I am ready to create the background. I re masked off the cat and scallops.

The background was Inked with distress oxide in mustard seed and ripe persimmon. While everything is still masked off, I added my star details to the background (also using ripe persimmon distress oxide ink).

Of course the fun part is always removing the masks and seeing all your colors pop together.

Now for the finishing touches...

I added a Avery address label, used a black marker to trace the inner Edge oh, then finished everything off with my stitching stamp.

Thank you for visiting!

Mail Art Monday

Hello Crafty Friends!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
Happy Mail Art Monday!

Today I want to share a super fun postcard I created for a friend.

I wanted something fun and bright, so I went with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Stamps Used:

Plate 1508

This book belongs to

Library Return Dates

Library Return Card

Mad Hatter

Stars

I started with a 4x6 base for my postcard. I started by stamping the Mad Hatter in memento ink and masked it off. 

Next, I stamped return library card in watering can archival ink.  To add extra detail, I stamped library return dates, and "this book belongs to". 

Next, used my distress ink to add a gradient for my background colors. 

After removing my mask, I stamped my stars in cornflower blue. 

I used various markers and colored pencils to color my Mad Hatter. 

I also used a few flicks of black dylusions ink, and perfect pearls sprays to add a bit of grunge.

I hope you all like this postcard as much as I do. 

June Challenge -- Tree of Life!

Well well well... WELCOME TO JUNE! 1/2 way through the year... man oh MAN! 2018 is flying by. I seriously think the years go by quicker the more they come.

Let's play with LIFE. Be inspired by nature, the tree of life, trees & roots, stars, star charts, the heavens & earth, above & below. Think tandem but opposite. Yin & Yang.

Oh MAN I cannot WAIT to see what you guys create for this challenge!

Meet us back here shortly for inspiration & our last challenge's winner!

Don't forget the rules:

-Create a new project based on our inspiration board (it has to be posted this month, but you can certainly link up to other challenges as well!)

-Use at least one (but certainly more if you want) Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps

(We are now allowing competitors stamps to be on your work, but please make VLVS! the focus of the project, thank you.)

-Post it to your blog with a link back to us

-Upload to our linky using your direct blog post link (You may also upload via facebook, flickr or other gallery)

You could win a Project Spotlight post on our blog + some new rubber of course.

And visit us back here for inspiration!

An InLinkz Link-up

"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

Mail Art Monday with Majo

Good morning, Peeps!

Another Monday and some new Mail Art.

I'd like to show you an envelope with many of my favorite stamps, which I used on a master board I created with Distress Inks and stamps.

I prefer to use heavy paper or card stock adhered to the envelopes when I apply lots of colors or layers. Plain envelopes tend to coil up, I like mine to look tidy when I send them to my friends.

I started with Distress ink in four different colors:

 

I swiped the pads alternately over my panel until it had the color richness I desired. To soften this up a bit I spritzed some water on the panel.

I stamped different images randomly with the colors I had used before.

I cut the panel to my envelope size and stamped my main images: The little child, the stitches, the world map, the sentiment and the word. I adhered the panel to my envelope with Miracle Tape.

I added a piece of self adhesive paper for the address label and stamped the stitches on the edges.

These are the stamps I used:

Heart Pattern Circle

Striped Pattern Circle

Star

 Stars

Map of the World 

Banksy Child sitting 

Sawtooth Stitching lines

Six Staples

Special delivery

It's bigger on the inside

Miracle tape

 I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial! 

I wish you a happy week and happy crafting ♥

Tarot Pen-/Brush Holder by Majo

Hi all, it's Majo here with my first tutorial as a member of the Design Team.

The first creation I will share with you is a pen-/ or brush holder.

You can use it for many other items as well and it makes a great gift filled up with candy, tea bags, cosmetics etc. :)

 

 I used to cut and fold the chipboard myself, but since I can buy the plain holders at the “Swedish Store”, I use them instead. They’re very sturdy! 

  I started by spraying a piece of cardstock with Distress Spray Stain and cut it into pieces.

 I stamped the four Tarot cards and also some stars in the background, I added the word “mysterious”.

  I applied acrylic paint on the edges of the box. 

 After adhering the panels with strips of Miracle Tape to the box I used bleach to lighten up the images … and a little distress ink to soften them again. I added Washi Tape on the inside of the pen holder.

   The following pictures all sides of the pen-/brush holder ….

 .... and a little close up of the background:

 I used the following stamps:

Tarot La Forza  - Strength

Tarot XVIII - The Moon

Tarot XVII - The Star

Tarot XIX - The Sun

Stars

mysterious

Miracle Sheet

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial, happy crafting ♥