Pre-order Plates - Introducing ZENTANGLES - DOILIES - and More!! (Giveaways, too!)

Check the promotions tab or just head straight to http://vlvstamps.com and check out our new Pre-order plates!! Get them now before they're back from the engravers for 20% off! 

We've got Zentangle, Doilies, New Mary Vogel Lozinak, Steampunk, Vintage, new people and new sayings!! Feast your eyes =)

 Are you following us via Networked Blogs? When that reaches 100 we'll draw from the followers for a FREE POUND O' RUBBER!! That's a lot of stamps!


and find us on Twitter - @VLVStamps

Mary is Blooming in May

Mary Vogel Lozinak is an incredibly talented artist whose images of whimsy and strangeness has become some of my most favorite VLVS images!  Coming up in a few days the VLVS DT and all who have created wonderful art with Mary images will be showcased with the "linked up" blog hop.

In honor of Mary, and the flowers blooming in my yard, here is a fun project using acid-free acetate, mica powder, and Miracle Tape Sheets.

Here is a close-up of the image from VLVS Mary V L sheet # 1401.  The mica powder adheres to the Miracle Tape Sheet.  I backed it in black to make the image pop even more!  I adore this image with its whimsical flowers,  The image isn't just flowers, but the little dots and embellished drawing makes this image perfect to stamp on acetate or paper using whatever media you want.

Here is the full card.  "Wild Thing" is from Mary's sheet #1402.  It is hard to photograph mica powders but I think you can see the beautiful shimmery metallics and how wonderful Mary's image works with this technique.

For the envelope I stamped the image and cut it apart and changed the look of the envelope to match the insert art I made. 

I have something totally strange for the blog hop!  Love Mary's birds and I have them giving some attitude.  Please check out the blog hop, add your own work, and enjoy the talents of Mary Vogel Loinak *

Cre8tivLea Yours as always - Lea

Steampunk Popcorn Tub Pen-holder

So how did this popcorn tub from Dollar Tree transform from red & white stripes to a cool Steampunk ensemblage?  Read on!
Supplies:
Viva Las Vegastamps! :

• Watch Gears Item 15996 Plate 1272
• Watch Parts Item 16007 Plate 1273
• Gear With Legs Item 15983 Plate 1272
• Gear With Legs And Arms Item 15989 Plate 1272
• Gear Duo  Item 16002 Plate 1272
• Quartet of Gears Item 16040 Plate 1267
• Nesting Gears Item 18077 Plate 1373
• Gear Item 18086 Plate 1373
• Compass  Item 16019 Plate 1273
• Steampunk Background/Collage Item 16006 Plate 1273  
• Various Steampunk Critturs from Plate 1389 & 1390 (will be available as individual stamps in the near future)
• (thank you Shirl for so generously giving me some of these stamps in a giveway!)

Plastic Popcorn Tub
12x12 sheet Tim Holtz Grunge Paper 
Ranger Archival Inkpad Black
Tim Holtz Distress Markers:Black Soot, Rusty Hinge, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Tumbled Glass, Scattered Straw and Shabby Shutters
Miracle Tape 1 inch
Miracle Sheet
Scissors 
Black Sharpie pen

Recently, I watched a live-show with Leslierahye and she did an awesome cover-up on aluminum cans.  It inspired me to eye these plastic popcorn tubs that come 2-for-$1 at Dollar Tree. 


I'd been wanting to try out the Ideaology Grunge Paper.  It's strange stuff.  It looks like cardboard, and feels like leather.  It's flexible the way a piece of leather would be.  I was curious to see how well it would work using stamps and Tim Holtz Distress Markers.  


Ideas collided, and my steampunk ex-popcorn tub was reborn as a pen-holder!

The steps:

1. Trace the side of the tub four times and cut out the pieces.

2. Stamp the images, choosing a crittur and an assortment of steampunk gears for each side.  

3. Color each piece with Distress markers, blending the colors with a waterbrush. (Note: I think the grunge paper is too rough for a fabric tip, so I used the hard plastic tip.)

4. Add tangles using the Black Soot Distress Marker.  Pick out details on the stamped images with the black marker so they'll be more 3D, and so the black of the inkpad and the black of the pens will work together.

5. Place the scalloped edge of each piece onto the sticky side of a Miracle sheet and cut the tape to fit the scallops.

6. Place strips of the 1-inch Miracle tape on the other three sides of each piece.

7. Pull the backing off the Miracle tape and stick the pieces onto the popcorn tub.

8. Black out any gaps at the corners using the black Sharpie on both the inside and the outside of the tub. 

 

Okay.  I admit it!  I grabbed the wrong stamp for this side, and ended up stamping a steampunk pig upside down.  Lol!  You just can't go wrong with steampunk pigs!

Tangle Pattern DuBloop


Note: For those unfamiliar with Zentangle or Steampunk, please check out this post for more information.


I created steps to a tangle pattern for use with this project.  The names for tangle patterns are meant for reference, and aren't supposed to bring an image to mind.  I thought this looked a bit like a doubled up loop, so DuBloop it is!

Patterns Used

My patterns: Woggle, Background #2,

Official tangle patterns: Beeline, Bales, Knightsbridge, Striping

Tangles by others: Sandra Steen Bartholmew's “Coop” pattern, from her book, “Yoga for Your Brain-steps not available online.

If you like tangle patterns that are loopy and swirly, check out Sue's Tangle trips and see what Certified Zentangle® Teacher, Sue Jacobs has come up with.

Be sure to to visit the Viva Las Vegastamps! blog for more projects, promotions and monthly challenges.  They change often, so keep an eye out for something new.  And if you haven't already received your free grab bag of rubber stamps, consider posting the Viva Las Vegastamps! widget on your sidebar.  The code and instructions can be found on the left sidebar of the blog.

Let the good times ROLL!!!!

 I love big chunky jewelry.......

I believe you need to make a statement no matter the occasion.

I think this one will do the trick.

Speaking of tricks, I would like to see this one in real life. 

Elephant on roller skates of sorts. 

Bwahahahahahahahaa!!!!

Here's a close up of the stamped image.  It's from the Mary Vogel Lozinak series

 (plate #1399) that is available at here Viva Las Vegastamps!!!

I stamped it using Black Stazon onto white cardstock.  Then colored with Bic Markers. 

I used some crackle finish on the entire surface and let it dry, then I rubbed it with a sponge with ink to emphasize the cracks.  Modge podged the crackled image to a wooden disk. Wrapped the edges with leather cording and left the ends rather long to create the necklace part. Added a wooden wheel and bead; tied off the ends. Adhered a faux flower like kinda reminded me of a gear.  

Tied the ends together and now its ready to wear!!!

Until later, holy rollers.......Gotta split......TFL!!!!!

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

Route 66

I have been wanting to use my VivaLasVegaStamps! Roue 66 stamp for the LONGEST time and since the Swimsuit Lady looked like she was ready for a summer road trip, I thought it was a great combination.

 I have this great book of maps from Turkey so I cut out a page and attached it to the front of an upcycled card with gel medium. Next I stamped my Swimsuit lady onto a piece of watercolor paper using Distress Ink in Black Soot and cut her out with an Xactto. I painted my lady with Neocolor II water color crayons and Prismacolor Colored Pencils. I colored all of her accessories using glitter gel pens, then finished off her lips and eyes with Prismacolor markers.

 

 I stamped my Route 66 stamp onto watercolor paper using Fired Brick Distress Ink, cut it out, then colored in the sign with blue and silver glitter gel pen. I printed my quote then aged the paper with Distress Ink in Tea Dye. I attached my text and images to the map using gel medium. Even though I now have a great card to use whenever I need it, I like it so much I may just glue it closed and attach a ribbon to the back and hang it up as a reminder to myself :D

See more of my work on my blog.

Steampunk Fan Mail!!

This week here @ VLVS! we got the coolest little steampunk book in the mail.. From Mrs. Carol A Thomas to Mr. Stampo and I just HAD to share it!!

 

 Even the envelope was stamped!!!

Check this baby out...

The inside pages have tons of stamps and wonder photos. 

VLVS! Products used:

Steam Queen

May the steam be with you

Got steampunk?
Steam Diva
Stick a gear in it and call it steampunk
Yeah, right

Steampunk Background
Stampo's Steampunk Sprockets and Gears and stuff

Four Gears Rotating

Isn't it just awesome?

How many stamps does it take to make a card???

Guess What!!! Great NEWS!!! Susan here today as a special guest - and - beginning next month I will be returning to the VLVS Design Team. YAY!!! My stamps may have seen a short-lived vacation but my heart is never far away from stamping.

What do you get when you cross the Pig Store #3164 stamp, Plate #1273 full of mostly Steampunk images...and a couple other Steampunk images from VLVS??? 

You GET A STEAMPUNK PIG!!!

There's too many stamped images to count...there are at least sixteen and several are stamped multiple times. Can you pick them all out??? You may have seen this in the current issue of RubberStampMadness in the Viva Las Vegastamps! Ad on page 47...yep - that's my winged pig! I am so overjoyed to be in print and to also be invited to return to the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team. To see what I've been up to please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. 

There's still time to enter VLVS Theme Challenge for May! May is all about Flowers. CLICK HERE for info on submissions. inLinkz your "MAY FLOWERS" creations using Viva Las Vegastamps! for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate at the VLVS online store. Don't forget to check out the Viva Las Vegastamps! store.

Have an inky day! Sb

Free Pound of Rubber!!

Want to win one? It's easy!! Help us beef up our Networked blog followers.. make sure you follow us on Networked Blogs (Check the sidebar) and make sure your stampy friends follow us, too! When we reach 100 we'll give away a free pound of rubber to one random follower. 

If we can KEEP pushing it - every 100th follower we'll draw another name :)

Prepping for the VLVS! Link Up BLog Hop!!!

This is just a little tease... I have something big planned for the LINK UP BLOG HOP!

The Viva Las Vegastamps! "Link Up Blog Hop" is May 26th & 27th, featuring Mary Vogel Lozniak's awesome VLVS! images.  There is still time to think about LINKING UP! See details HERE!

Today I am using Mary Vogel Lozniak's Headless Unicycle Juggler. With the Viva Las Vegastamps! sentiment "Anything I can imagine I can do." 

Supplies: 

Stewart Superiors Memories Black Ink

Mary Vogel Lozniak VLVS! Headless Unicycle Juggler 

Sentiment VLVS! "Anything I can imagine I can do"

VLVS! Miracle Tape

Tim Holtz Distress Markers 

White Card Stock

Black Card Stock

Yellow Card Base

Robins Nest Dew Drops

Terri Sproul Glitter Glitz

Sakura Crystal Lacquer

Stamp the Headless Unicycle Juggler on white cardstock, color dress with Tim Holtz Distress Marker - Rusty Hinge and fussy cut. 

Stamp the Headless Unicycle Juggler directly on the card, with Tim Holtz Distress Markers color the arms Tattered Rose and Pumice Stone on the unicycle. Note: The border was made ahead of time... instructions later in the post!  

Adhere the fussy cut dress to the stamped image on the card. Stamp the sentiment "Anything I can imagine I can do" on white card stock and layer on black, adhere to the card. Adhere three Robins Nest's Dew Drops as juggling balls with Sakura Crystal Lacquer!

A LITTLE BONUS POST!!!! 

Creating Textured Borders on Cards 

with VLVS! Miracle Tape & Sakura Crystal Lacquer 

and what ever trinkets you want!  

Attach Viva Las Vegastamps! Miracle Tape to the card.  Remove the protective covering, add trinkets (locking washers) and fill with seed beads. Cover with Sakura Crystal Lacquer, set aside to dry 24 hours. 

Using the same technique here are two variations. On the left, are locking washers with Robins Nest Dew Drops. The trim on the right is the one used on the Headless Unicycle Juggler card above. It is made with Robins Nest Dew Drops and Terri Sproul's Gold Glitter Glitz! Covered with Sakura Crystal Lacquer and set aside to dry 24 hours.

Be sure to join the design team 

and "Link Up" on May 26th & 27th!

We plan to have tons of fun with 

Mary Vogel Lozniak's VLVS!

MONTHLY CHALLENGE 

Don't forget the VLVS! Monthly Challenge!

The theme is May Flowers.

One random winner has a chance to win $25 Gift Certificate the the Viva Las Vegastamps! online store.

Visit my blog Dreaming of Castles

I'll meet you at the "LINK UP BLOG HOP"

~Lyneen