Find Your Bliss...

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to share a new art journal page using Viva Las VegaStamps! with Sakura of America Cray-Pas® Expressionist® Oil Pastels and Gelly Roll® Stardust® Glitter Pens.

When I visited the VLVS! store back in April, I returned with Two POUNDS of Rubber and more! One of the stamps in my new grab bag was this "Carosel Horse" #3787. I knew that this would be beautiful embossed and hand-colored using the lovely glittery ice cream colors of the Gelly Roll® Stardust® Glitter Pens.

 

I have been a fan of oil pastels since I was in junior high school. Oil pastels give you the texture and feel of paint, but without breaking out all the wet, messy stuff. I was playing around with them to see if I could get a soft blended effect like I've seen by others using PanPastels. As much as I would love a new set of art supplies to use... I really think I could get the effect with supplies on hand. With a little experimenting... I got a nice blended background - very similar to that of PanPastels.

I first tried coloring the cray-pas on freezer paper, then smudging and picking up color with a make-up sponge. It worked in theory, but had a very streaky look and the makeup sponge didn't really hold up to all the rubbing {it was falling apart}. I have this huge box of camp stuff in my kitchen for my Monday afternoon Art Camp, where I spotted a bag of small dense foam blocks I got for stamping with paint on totebags. These turned out to be perfect for smudging and blending the pastels. It worked by applying pastels to paper and blending out - but I got the best blending by applying the pastel right to the block and then rubbing out on paper in a circular fashion. This particular art journal I'm using has drawing paper in it, and it's not super smooth - but I really like the subtle texture from the blending.

Since the Carosel Horse is so bold, I wanted to add a little pattern to my background... yes there's MORE! So I grabbed my 1/8" Miracle Tape, and applied randomly to create a large mosaic pattern. I burnished the tape down with a bone folder before removing backing to ensure good adhesion on top of the pastels. I peeled off the backing then covered the exposed tape with Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder.

 

I heat set the embossing powder and this added the

perfect amount of "oomph" to my blended background. Voila!

I stamped the Carosel Horse onto a manila tag with black Versafine ink and embossed with Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder. Then I hand-colored the horse with the Gelly Roll® Stardust® Glitter Pens. To make a pole, I added some gold ribbon/trim with Helmar Fabric Adhesive. I fussy cut the horse and applied using 3-D foam dots. I finished this journal page off with a quote punched out with my mini "Smash" label maker.

This has such a painted feel
and I've certainly "Found My Bliss"!

•••••••••••

Supplies used: STAMPS - "Carosel Horse" #3787. Other supplies: journal with white drawing paper pages; #8 manila tag; Versafine Black ink; 1/8" Miracle Tape; Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder; Sakura of America Cray-Pas® Expressionist® Oil Pastels; Sakura of America Gelly Roll® Stardust® Glitter Pens; 3-D foam dots; Helmar Fabric Adhesive; mini "Smash" label maker; and gold ribbon/trim.

Thanks so much for dropping by. We have a BRAND NEW Viva Las VegaStamps! Design Team - so you definitely want to subscribe to the blog feed and to the Viva Las VegaStamps! newsletter to be IN THE KNOW of everything going on at the Viva Las Vegastamps! store. There's so much amazing inky inspiration to see!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back soon with another stamping adventure!  Sb

Let's Go Exploring

I'm so happy to be sharing my first project as a Viva Las Vegastamps! design team member. I have been so in love with the "Cute Fox in Coat" stamp (Item 19158 Plate 922) for a while now; and I was excited to ink him up, and add him to a project. I decided to make a fun and quirky card to showcase this fun image. 

 
 Here are the steps I used to create this project:


1. Adhere 1 1/2" strips of patterned paper, one with a decorative border (on the bottom), to a card base, using 1/2 inch Miracle Tape. 
2. Stamp "Cute Fox in Coat"  onto a shipping tag, using Mix'd Media Inx in Leather, by Clearsnap.
3. Cut 16" of  white seam binding, and dye using mists. I used Dylusions in Pure Sunshine, with just a spritz Chocolate, to create a burnt orange color.  Wait until fully dry, or dry with heat gun.
4. Adhere dyed ribbon to card, using miracle tape. Gather into a naturally draped ribbon shape. Adhere spots if necessary.
5. Cut bottom off of tag, and adhere to card using Helmar Foam Zap Dots, for dimension. Add sticker sentiment, and flower that has had the edges dyed with the remaining mists, to match the ribbon.
6. Add chipboard flower. This lovely flower is from Um Wow Studio, and has been adhered behind the ribbon. Add two feathers, behind the ribbon and behind the flower.

The image on this card just makes me smile. I made sure there were feathers on the page, both in the form of patterned paper, and in actual flowers, because foxes really like things with feathers. ;) I know this because I see them running to their den with a "morsel" in their mouth in the evenings behind my house.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my creation today, and I really look forward to sharing future projects with you, as well! If you can't wait until then, visit me at my blog: **www.sparklinggnome.com** Have a wonderful Tuesday!

A New Face..

Good Morning Everyone..

 Karen here with you today, for my very first DT post with VLVS! - I have to say I'm both a little excited and nervous..

Just a few little bits of info about me:  I live in Queensland , Australia with my hubby and our son. I love to create , and have been now for the last 10 years or so.
 

so I'll just jump in feet first, and we'll see how it goes..

 

 My very first project I have to share with you today is a tag.

 

 

 

 

 

I have used four different VLVS! on this tag..

Blowing Dandelion by Susan M. Brown
Don't Follow Your Dreams
Leafless Tree
Dictionary Page

And a here are the steps I used to make my tag..

Step 1 : I inked my tag with my chosen colours and did 2 rows of  machine stitching around the outside of my tag. If you don't have access to a sewing machine this Triple Line stamp would be perfect to stamp around the outside.

 

Step 2: Because I wanted to add in a photo, I chose my photo, and cut a small piece of cardstock to use as a matt for it. I inked and stamped my matting card with the dictionary page stamp, I then stamped just the top half of the leafless tree all the way along the bottom of my tag, and the dandelion seeds randomly on the right hand side of my tag.

 

 

( at this stage you could also machine stitch around your photo and matt if desired, I did this after I had assembled my tag, it would be much easier to do at this stage.)

 

Step 3:  To finish off my tag, I stuck down my matt and photo using miracle tape. Stamped the '"Don't Follow your dreams" image on a piece of card stock , cut it out and inked the edges. I used foam tape to stick it to my tag, to add another layer of dimension My last touch was to add in a piece of seam binding in the hole in the side of the tag.. and I was done.

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed my very first post, Thank you so much for stopping by today, See you again soon.. Happy Stamping 

 

Karen xxx

 

 

 

Take notes

Hi, Hermine here, my first post for the new term.

 

step 1: assemble the little notebooks and take a matching piece of paper to make the cover. Put aside.

step 2: assemble the box, cover the outside with paper, give it a layer of gesso and spray with Dylusions spray ink. Stamp  with Versafine Black the Washi Grid Background 19074 at the top and bottom all the way around. Take the piece of scrappaper you used to spray the box on and stamp with Versafine Black the Film strip 18921 and glue over the top. Stamp Inspire 18888 on the top part. Use Colorbox Chalk ink Charcoal to sponge the edge of the front. Put this aside for a while.

step 3: Take a piece of the scrap paper you also used for the film strip and stamp the butterfly 14159 with Versafine. Mount it on black card stock and cut out. then use Versamark to cover the whole butterfly and emboss with Ultra High Gloss embossing powder, do this 3 times. Glue this on top.

step 4: Take a piece of cardstock and stamp Group of girls 18984 wiht Versafine, do this 3 times. Colour in with colouring pencils and cut out. Two times the whole group and one girl from the second image. Glue on from the side to the back, on the left hand and right hand side. Glue the single girl in the middle at the back.

step 5: take some tiny wooden blocks, cover them with silver sticky back tape ran through the cuttlebug, and glue them underneath the box serving as feet.

Hope you like my little box.

Used materials
Washi Grid Background 19074
Film strip 18021
Inspire 18888
Butterfly 14159
Group of girls 18984
Ultra High Gloss embossing

One of These Is Not Like the Others

Have you ever played those games where you have to pick out the object that is different than the other objects?

VLVS! Stamps used: 
Sitting Elephant - 19157
Whimsical Elephant - 19219
Whimsical Sheep - 18979

Sakura of America: 

  Gelly Roll Standard  -White,  

  Gelly Roll 1.0 Metallic: - Gold, Silver, Blue, Emerald and Purple

  Galaxy Gelly Roll Stardust Pens - Rose, Sky Blue, Lime Green, Purple, Gold, Red

   Pigma Micron Pen .08

Strathmore Toned Tan Art Journal

StazOn Inkpad - Jet Black

Pencil

This journal page was fun! The toned paper of the Strathmore journal makes everything POP, and gellyrolls are one of my favorite ways to color Zentangle-Inspired Art.

The steps are few:

1. Stamp the elephants and sheep. I put the sheep in the middle...'cause its the 'Not Like the Other' one, if you hadn't guessed, lol!
2. Write out the wording in pencil, to get the placement you want.
3. Outline the words with the Micron pen.
4. Draw strings (lines to create sections on the page).
5. Fill the string sections with tangle patterns.
6. Use the Gellyroll pens to color, color, color!

Some tips with using Gellyrolls:

Draw on some scrap paper to get your pen flowing well if you haven't used it in a while.  You'll see ink forming on the tip.

Make sure you've done most of your Micron Linework before using the Gellyrolls, or else wait until the gellyroll ink is completely dry before using Micron over it.  Otherwise, you risk clogging your Micron.

The slower you draw, the more even coverage you'll get.

The color that beads up on the tip is a mixed blessing.  It means you'll get a lovely flow, and fantastic coverage.  But that bead will dry, and then prevent flow.  So when you stop using the pen, wipe the tip.  If your flow gets thin, wipe the tip.  If you want a thinner line, wipe the tip before drawing it.

If you want to add a second layer of color, let the first layer dry or you'll just move the ink around.

If you want to lighten the intensity of the color, scribble a line or two and smear it with your finger (yep.  You'll get your fingers smudged).  You can also let the color dry and add white gellyroll pen over top.  Different effects, but both lighten.

You can find tangle patterns online.  Some of my favorite sites are Zentangle.com, Tanglepatterns.com and you can search for Tangle Patterns at my Life Imitates Doodles blog.

Check out the VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs and the  VLVS! Blog for new projects. VLVS! FB - VLVS! Pinterest - VLVS! Twitter

For more of my work with Viva Las VegaStamps!, Amazing Mold Putty, zentangle-inspired art, and daily links to tangles, tutorials, and giveaways please visit my "Life Imitates Doodles" blog.   ~ Sandra Strait

Proud To Be An American

 

 

Happy 4th of July - Let Freedom Ring ! 

Mary Vogel Lozinak has images put out by Viva Las Vegastamps that can morph into whatever theme you are doing.  This lovely lady reminded me of the Statue of Liberty.  She was perfect for my design!
 
VLVS Images:
Star in Solid Circle - 18998
Alphabets
Chevron Banner - 19042
Spikes on Head/ Mary Vogel Lozinak - 18507

VLVS Partners:
Sakura of America:  Expressionist Cray Pas/Oil Pastels, Gelly Roll Standard, Souffle Pen
UMWow Studios:  Chipboard arrow cut to fit theme
May Arts Ribbon

Below you will find photos that take you through the progression of how I worked with the oil pastels.  These oil pastels are richly pigmented and creamy and move with the oils of your fingers.  I do two blending techniques, this is one.

NOTE:  In order to be successful in stamping on top of the blended oil pastel, use mica powder in a sheer gold.  That sticks to the pastels and leaves a substrate you can stamp on.  Permanent ink works best, and letting wetness disapate in the air for a few minutes will allow coloring enhancement.

 

 

 

Brush with sheer gold mica powder so you can stamp on it.



Red stars with Gelly Roll Standard - Red.  White Stars with Souffle Pen - white.

Alphabet, chipboard, and stamped banner accent.

 

In addition to celebrating our country, the 4th of July is my Anniversary!!!  I have been married to my honey 38 years!!!  Yep, I was 19 and he was 18 when we were married.  No shotguns needed but fireworks indeed ;-D

For more information on working with oil pastels, pastels, mica powders, and other media, check out my book:  Creative Art Concepts for Papercrafts put out by C&T Publishing. 

Have a great 4th!!!

Cre8tively Yours - Lea

A Walk Down Memory Lane for the 4th of July

Have you ever come across something that brings back memories from your childhood?

For years my father had one of those free promotional calendars posted on his workshop cork board.  It was open to a 4th of July spread, and he never flipped the pages, presumably because he referenced the phone numbers or notes that had been scrawled on the page.  Or he just got so used to the calendar being there, he didn't even see it anymore.

When I found this fabulous Eagle and Flag stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps! I immediately flashed back to that calendar.  The details of the page were fuzzy, but the image of my father, standing in the garage, sorting his tools was very strong.  Dad's been gone some 30 years now, and I cherish every memory of him. I decided to recreate the calendar as closely as I could . 

VLVS! Stamps Used: 

Eagle And Flag

Other Supplies:
Kromecote A2 Cardstock
Miracle Tape
Molding Paste
Clairefontaine Cold Pressed 300 lb Watercolor Paper
Faber-Castell Gelatos-Red, White & Blue
Star-shaped Punchinella
StazOn Jet Black Inkpad
Distress Inkpads-Old Paper, Tea Dye
Marvy Brush Marker-Navy Blue
AD Marker Bleu Cobalt
Brush, water and Scissors
2B Pencil

I started by stamping my eagle image on Kromecote paper with StazOn and cutting it out, rounding off the corners.  I ran the Tea Dye distress pad over the surface to age it.

Setting the eagle aside, I  lightly traced the punchinella circles and measured off the stripes onto the watercolor paper.  I dipped my gelatos in water and painted the circles blue, and the alternate stripes in red.  I remembered those circles on that calender, but couldn't for the life of me remember what was in them.  I  finally decided to add stars.

I cut my circles from a strip of punchinella stars (you can buy it at Gauche Alchemy), and held each one down, firmly, with one hand while I used a finger from my other hand to cover the circle with molding paste.  I gave it a few seconds to set, just a little, and pulled the punchinella away.  I repeated this for each blue circle, and then did the same thing in random spots over the page.

Miracle tape was used to adhere the eagle to the page, and I used the Old Paper and Tea Dye around the edges of the watercolor paper to distress it.  Something still seemed missing, and I remembered there were lines of some kind on my calendar page.  I also needed something to tie the eagle into the layout, so I added the lines with Marvy and AD Marker.   I ran the Navy Blue marker around the edges as well and scribbled in some fake phone numbers (we were a Mohawk 5 phone number in those days), and a few notes in pencil.

Overall, I'm very happy with this piece--it brings back lovely memories each time I look at it.  The plan is to add matting, and a year-at-a-glance calender at the bottom.  Then I'll put it up in the garage, and I'll celebrate the 4th of July with my father for years to come.

For more of my work with Viva Las VegaStamps!, Amazing Mold Putty, zentangle-inspired art, and daily links to tangles, tutorials, and giveaways please visit my "Life Imitates Doodles" blog.   ~ Sandra Strait

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Check out the VLVS! Store for all your stamping needs and the  VLVS! Blog for new projects and news every day. Follow VLVS! as the VLVS! Forum - VLVS! FB - VLVS! Pinterest - VLVS! Twitter.

Anyone Have a Quarter??? Having Some Hot Summer Fun at Viva Las VegaStamps!!!

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! It's July and it's time to turn up the heat for some summertime fun! Susan here today with a hot little number just in time for the 4th of July... this is one of those times that a stamped image is worth a thousand words - and a good belly laugh, too! Did you know that among the over 20,000 stamps in the Viva Las VegaStamps! catalogue... there's a section of "NAUGHTY" stamps, too. 

 

I recently received this "Nudie" girl in a grab bag from VLVS! and I knew exactly how I wanted to use her. She's like a 50s pinup girl and goes perfectly with my coin-operated "Space Ship" – I fondly remember these outside so many stores when we were kids.

I have always wanted to try some stepped folded cards and this project is perfectly showcased with a specialty folded card. I used my paper trimmer and Scor-Pal to easily form a "Center Step Card" base to mount some patterned paper scraps received from my scrap swap group {we gather up our scraps and trade for a new stash of scraps}.

I stamped "Space Ship" #9191 on plain white cardstock, masked with sticky notes and then stamped "Nudie" #748 using Staz-On Black ink for a waterproof image to hold up to my hand-coloring.

 

I just returned from a crafty road trip to attend the StampFest in Orlando this past weekend with my sister and Mom where I came across an interesting little gadget called an "action wobble". I never heard of these before - and they are so GREAT!!! Action Wobbles are a one-of-a-kind self-adhesive collapsible spring that adds motion and dimension to flat objects for a unique 3D effect. They add FUN to anything creative and are my newest addition to my supply arsenal.

I hand-colored the image with Ranger Distress Markers and my water brush. For the space ship, I applied Brushed Pewter Ranger Distress Stain on my craft sheet and picked up color with my water brush to apply to my image. I fussy cut out the image and cut apart space ship from the stand. I adhered the stand to card base with Miracle Tape, then layered the ship with the Action Wobble. 

She's ready for another ride... Anybody have a quarter???

•••••••••••

Supplies used: STAMPS - "Nudie" #748, and "Space Ship" #9191. Other supplies: white cardstock; Staz-On Black ink; Miracle Tape; Diamond Glaze; Ranger Distress Markers; Water Brush; Brushed Pewter Ranger Distress Stain; Star gem stickers; patterned paper scraps; paper trimmer; Scor-Pal and an Action Wobble disk.

Thanks so much for dropping by. We have a BRAND NEW Viva Las VegaStamps! Design Team - so you definitely want to subscribe to the blog feed and to the Viva Las VegaStamps! newsletter to be IN THE KNOW of everything going on at the Viva Las Vegastamps! store. There's so much amazing inky inspiration to see!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back soon with another stamping adventure...and my round 5 projects I made to play along with the Gallery Idol Competition. Did you take the challenge???  Sb

Rock on!!

My husband and I have been going to a lot of concerts lately and one of the biggest ones we went to was Alice Cooper. Yep, Alice!! We had a blast and I made a 2 page layout of the event using 4 different Viva Las VegaStamps! stamps. I wanted the stamps to be quirky and edgy, just like Alice, so I used the snake lady

and the man in gas mask

and the vampire

and last but not least the danger skeleton

to make this rockin layout

 and here are some close ups of a few of the fabulous stamps!

Materials used:

snake lady stamp
man in gas mask stamp
vampire
danger skeleton
miracle tape
cardstock
chipboard embellies
washi tape
journal spot
letter stickers
rhinestones
watercolor pencils
versafine ink
wing stickers

I hope you all enjoyed seeing the rockin layout!