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

"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

Find Your Tribe | Fiona Paltridge

Hello VLVS! peeps Fiona here with you again to share a little card tutorial.

I want to show you how I got this Whimsical Fairy Lady to look like she's poking out from behind the tree.

First I made a mask of the stamp and placed it in my embossing folder where I wanted to stamp her later on. Then using some Distress ink I stamped the Brick Background stamp directly onto the inside of the embossing folder. You have to stamp on the non raised side (the side the writing in on in this case).

Next I stamped the Fairy lady. This time I used archival ink as I wanted it to be really black and permanent so I could do some Distress Ink blending later on and it wouldn't be disturbed.

I also got a wet wipe and removed any excess ink from inside the tree embossing part so it wouldn't transfer onto my card when I ran it through the machine. Seeing that it is Archival ink I did use a little bit of Stazon remover to help with this part.

After running it through my Big Shot I used a brayer and some more Distress Ink to add some ink onto the front of the tree. Later on I blended some ink over the top of it very carefully as well.

I have to be honest, I was worried ..... I was very worried when it first came out of the machine but after some additional Distress Ink blending and the addition of the Stitching stamps (everything looks better with a stitch stamp) plus a title, I was much happier with the results in the end.

Viva Las Vegastamps! used:

Brick Background

Whimsical Fairy Lady

Plate 1478

Find Your Tribe by Cat Kerr

Stitching

Stitching Lines

Sawtooth Stitching Lines

Thanks for popping by xo

December Challenge Inspiration | Fiona Paltridge

Hello my VLVS lovelies! Fiona here with you today to share a little tag I have created for the December challenge.

We'd like to inspire you with frames, scallops, doodles, vintage tones, teal, gray, tan, white, black,Christmas, trees, WINTER, snowmen, squirrels, snow angels, Victorian, house, scenery, road, snowbanks, family & more! Just be inspired ^_^

 Brown and teal together is one of my most favourite colour combinations! So I was very keen to create a background that would represent the mood.

Seeing that it's December I also wanted to give my tag a little Christmas theme so I popped the Santa and Reindeer stamp on it too.

Viva las Vegastamps! Used:

Santa and Reindeer

Doodle Frame

Sawtooth Stitching Lines

Stitching

Stitching Lines

Girl in Bonnet

I hope you will join us. The link to take you to the monthly challenge is HERE! 

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!

Good Luck!

A Little Art Journal Cover

Hello VLVS peeps!! Fiona here to share with you a little bit of inspiration using the wonderful Viva Las Vegastamps!!

This is a little art journal that I have created from an old book. I keep all my special little notes and cards that people send me in it.

I decorated the cover using some VLVS Stamps. I drew the heart but if you wanted to you could use the Squiggle Heart also. Doodle frame down the spine side and then some stitching stamps around the gesso block in the middle to frame it.

A little title to finish it all off. This one is almost full already. I think I'll have to start a new one!

VLVS STAMPS USED:

 Handmade with Art

Doodle Frame

Stitching

Stitching lines

Sawtooth Stitching Lines

The Stitching stamps can be found on 

Plate 1459

I hope you've liked my little bit of inspiration.

I'll be back again soon xx

Arist Trading Card Duo - "Frida Kahlo" by Jenn Engle

Today I have an ATC duo to share featuring a really cool new Banksy stamp, Frida Kahlo. Make sure you check out the process video at the end of the post!

STAMPS USED:

Wildflowers Silhouette

Stitching Line

Sawtooth Stitching Line

Numbers Set

Banksy Frida Kahlo

Thanks for Looking!

~Jenn

PLACES TO FIND ME:

Instagram @mixedmediajenn

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MixMediaJenn/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniferengleart

Blog: www.mixedmediajenn.blogspot.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/users/jenniferengle22

Email is the easiest way to get a quick response from me:

Gmail: jenniferengle22@gmail.com

"Blame My Gypsy Soul" An Art Journal Spread by Fiona

Hello my lovely Viva Las Vegastamps friends. Fiona here with you today to share a little journal spread I created using the gorgeous rubber from VLVS.

Lots and lots of layers went into this one!

And then I decided I needed a little feature piece so I created this little boy from the "Striped Leggings" stamp, the "Crown" stamp and the "Horned Boy" stamp. I think together they make a very cool Elizabethan style boy!

Right down to the red tights!!

You can see some of the layers I created in this close up photo below.

I love just playing and creating freely on pages. No commitment to an art journal. If I like it I'll stick it in, if I don't I'll chop it up and use it on another art journal page!

Viva Las Vegastamps used:

Whimsical Horned Boy

Crown

Striped leggings

Clock Face

Freud Writing Background

Sawtooth Stitching Lines

Stitching Lines

Stitching

Doodle Frame

I hope you like my little creation. I'll see you all again very soon.