Oh la la ATC

I'm in an ATC  one on one swap and for the month of May the theme is pets.I looked through my pet stamps by Viva Las Vegas and picked the poodle with glasses.

 I stamped her in white cardstock. Colored her in pink color pencil, because it is from ME and my fav color is pink! :) I did color the bow in a purple and  even did the rims of the glasses in silver. took a Q-tip and Goo gone and blended my coloring. The base is from a note card that I got. I didn't know what else to do. Then thought if the Eiffel Tower. i first looked at Madison ave.collection by my minds eye, but they thetower wasn't the right size. So I looked the other MME pad I have Union Square and used that one. I've been hording....I mean treasuring these pads. It kinda hurt a little to cut into that paper just to use the Eiffel Tower. lol When I laid the tower in the base, the dots on the base looked too white. So I took Vintage photo and antique linen distress inks over it. I attached the tower to the base and glossy accent it. just to give it some dimension, i use foam mount tape on the poodle. The letters I got at a thrift store. Got a bag full of alphas for $2.50! I got tons of letters in there. Couldn't pass up that deal. I glued them down and used glossy accents on them too.

Hope my swap partner likes the atc!

products used:
recycle note card
Poodle with glasses stamp by VLVS
paper by my minds eye
alphas by making memories
glossy accents
miracle tape
foam tape

Enough is enough......

NEVER!!!!

That's exactly what I say about any and all of my crafting supplies.

Especially my rubber stamps.

The place to shop for rubber stamps is

Viva Las Vegastamps!!!

They have some of the most awesome and unusual you will ever come across.

Click on the link and check them out....

Meanwhile, back at the studio I have created a little masterpiece....

This is like seeing double for me....

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

I had this framed mirror that was a purchase from Ikea.  It was solid black and I wanted to give it more pizzazz.  I painted chevron stripes with acrylic paint.....

Here's a tip on how to get perfect chevron stripes.

while it was drying I stamped the Topsy glasses lady (#4651), bursting through (#3108), and the 'too many stamps' sentiment (#3903) on white cardstock.

I colored them using colored pencils and OMS (odorless mineral spirits) blended with a paper stump. I also added some crystal lacquer to her glasses.

I then cut out the center of the 'bursting through' stamp and placed the topsy glasses lady in  the bottom half to look like she's 'bursting' with craziness for more rubbah!!!!

Matting the sentiment with some black cardstock and placing them catty corner of each other.  I also added a few stick-on jewels. and ta--daaaaaa!!!

These are the colors of my studio....I'll hang this near my rubber stamp shelf.  Well, until I have to make the shelf bigger to add more 'rubbah'.......

Until later, rubbah enthusiasts.......Gotta straighten my glasses split.....TFL!!!!!!

Viva las Vegas May 12th post

I'm so excited to rejoin the Viva las Vegas design team.  I was on their original Design Team and am honored to be asked back by owner Wayne Gartley and Design Team Director DeeDee Catron.

 Today is my first 2012 design team post! I enjoy Comments and questions are welcome.

                                                       Good-Night Ladies!

This card is stamped on a vintage music sheet. (I love the way it takes up the ink.)

I used Momento tuxedo black ink and embossed it using ultra high gloss embossing powder.

(both available at Viva las Vegastamps!)

The actual card is made from Graphic 45's steam-punk series paper.

The Facial features are stamp no. 14326 (another great facial feature stamp is

no.8852)  Next I stamped with a great new stamp "Nesting Gears" no.18077

I stamped it at least 3 times filling in with square gear stamp no. 17502

My favorite part of this card

Vintage Bicycle Built for 2 stamp no. 16480 

You know the saying "working outside the box", well I work outside the envelope.

I hate to be restricted by the envelope size so I make my card and then I make a

 envelope to match:

 First I use a 12 x 12 scrapbook paper laying it diagonally with the card in the center,

 Fold the bottom of the paper up to  the top of the card.

 next fold one side of your paper a little beyond the center of the card...now fold the opposite side the same way.  I now use the wonderful product "Miracle tape" (also available at Vivalasvegastamps!)to secure the sides down one over the other.

Lastly using your card as you guide fold down the top.. As DeeDee would say "Voila!" you have a card with a matching envelope!

Posted by Cheryl Lindsay

cherlin-ink.blogspot.com

Crazy with a side of AWESOME!!!

This fun little guy is part of a plate of Mary Vogel Lozinak stamps that I recently purchased from Viva Las Vegastamps! I love how interesting this particular image is...I immediately stamped it and tried to decipher what it was....I could see several possibilities in the stamps. I hope you enjoy my project and click on the link below to learn how you can be a part of a Blog Hop featuring Mary Vogel Lozinak's stamps!! 

For these ATCs:

cardstock

Perfect Pearls

Distressed Ink in Frayed Burlap

Crayola Watercolors

Archival Ink

saying printed on paper

White Gelly Roll

By coloring just part of the image the "critter"
resembles a one-eyed, one-horned fledgling.

By coloring the whole "critter" green, he
resembles a toad or a prehistoric iguana! 

 

Happy Mother's day

Mother's day is around the corner...like this Sunday. I made my mom a Mother's day card. I made my own background paper for the card.I used scraps, tissue paper, paint, stencils and of course stamps! After I made 2 sheets of background paper I cut them up into atc size (2 1/2 x 3 3 1/2) and postcard size (4x6) to use as starters. Then I realized I forgot to take pictures of what they look like BEFORE I cut them up. Opps! :P I made another collage sheet to give you an idea of what it looks like before you cut it up.

Here I used a peice of 8 1/2 by 11 white card stock, glued all the papers and tissue paper with matte medium. Then I used craft paint and if some of the paint got onto the paper too much, I just took a baby wipe ( or a moist paper towel if you don't have or ran out of baby wipes) and wiped up some of the paint. After it dried I used some stencils in craft paint. Last step Is I stamped some images lover the papers. The purple one I used the grape leaves, eye and brow, and poodle with glasses stamps.  The green ones I used Frog in flowers and Greetings Frog stamps. After I cut everything up I went around the edges with black craft paint.

Now for the card! Bet you think I was never going to show it! ;)

I When I cut down the purple sheet I cut a couple in 4 x6 size. I used this one for the card. I used a Kraft card stock for the card base. I used miracle tape To attach the light purple scrapbook paper to the card base. I then attached my background paper to that using the miracle tape. My mom LOVES Las Vegas! Well my dad does too. They have gone there at least once a year for like forever. When I was looking at the stamps I saw this Slot machine winner, I thought of my mom and had to get it and use it on something for her, either for mothers day or birthday (or both!) Colored the image with Prisma color pencils. Edged the sides with Black soot distress ink. Mounted it with the Miracle tape. It needed something, so added 3 little pearl drops on 2 of the corners.  

Also May 26 is the Link up Blog hop Featearing the stamp images by Mary Vogel Lozinak! Check the blog for details and come play with us!  some fun stuff happening! 

And  Happy Mother's day! :)

products used for the card

kraft cardstock
white cardstock
prisma color pencils
black menento ink pad
miracle tape
craft paints
stencils
pearl bling
collage material

stamps used
Slot machine winner
grape leaves

Kraken Attacks Airship and prevents boredom at the Doctor's Office

 I thought I'd share this background I did in my Mead Dayrunner.  It's both my daily planner and my on-the-go art journal.  I prime the pages in various ways, coloring over any past entries and then draw in it when I'm in long lines or waiting at Doctors and Dentists.

This time around I primed over my notes in past pages with metallic blue acrylic paint, then loaded up my Viva Las Vegastamps! Optical Background stamp with gesso.  I stamped on both pages.  (Note: gesso usually washes off, especially if you wash with soap and water immediately after stamping.  But you may need to pick out dried bits of gesso from the stamp afterward). 


When the gesso dried, I colored over with the white with colored markers (the pink and yellow colors).  Then I inked up my Balloon Airship stamp using a Staz-on Midnight Blue stamp pad.  I stamped on the right page, and the used up the rest of the ink by stamping on the left page.   

I had to take my mother to a Doctor's appointment (and at Kaiser you have to wait for the longest time) so I ended up finishing these pages.  I used a Preppy Fountain Pen with Noodler's Heart of Darkness ink.  I had to be careful not to smear, but the ink dried faster than I thought it would.  To finish, I used a Pentel Sunburst white gel pen to add a few highlights.

Obviously, in this picture, a giant Kraken (sort of a giant squid) has reached out from the oceans and pulled down this poor air balloon!  Now isn't that a cool thing to be drawing during a time that would otherwise be boring as all get out?

Need a reminder about the blog hop?

We've created a facebook event to keep you in the loop!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/290568131029766/

CLICK HERE!!

Sew Many Ways...to show someone you care

When looking for stamps for my next project from Viva Las Vegastamps! I spotted these fantastic vintage photo-image stamps. They are stunning. I could not stop at just one or two, I needed the entire plate! They are the perfect size for Artist Trading Cards [ATCs], and the sentiments on the plate lend themselves not only to artjournaling and cardmaking, but also to memory keeping. With Mother's Day is just around the corner, I thought I would share a quick technique and a few cards that could be used for sending to Mom or a special someone in your life. 

For this technique you will need:

Versamark Watermark Pad

a loose brush

foam squares

Hem Tape and Heat Gun

Buttons and Embroidery floss

Trim

Ranger Archival Ink

Card Stock [I used Basic Grey Wisteria for my samples]

Create a collage with the notions stamps from the plate.
Ink up the stamps with the versamark and stamp image onto card stock.

With a brush, brush on Terri Sproul's mixers in your favorite
color--I liked the bronze. Swipe back over the stamped image
to remove the excess powder. The versamark ink "holds"
onto the mica powder creating a subtle imprint on your card.

For this card I stamped the image on a piece of 3½×2½"
white card stock base with Ranger Archival ink. I double
matted the photo with Basic Grey card stock and Paper.
I lightly touched the edge of the outer matte to the black
ink to visually frame the photo stamp. This was then added
to a card base that I had stamped with the above
technique. A piece of woven trim was attache to the card
with a strip of Miracle Tape. Buttons with tied floss knots
were added to the trim. The sentiment from the plate was
stamped onto of the Mixer-brushed stamped image.

This image was also stamped on white card stock. The horizontal
image is perfect for cards. The edge of the stamped image was pierced
to imitate stitching and the edges were distresses. This was matted onto
a piece of Basic Grey patterned paper stamped on the edge with the
tape measure image on the plate. I piece of Hem Tape was attached to
the front with Miracle Tape before being matted to the final card layers.
The tape was heated to make it "melt" and curl. The sentiment was
stamped in black on the bottom of the base layer.

I could not share this plate with you without making at least
one ATC to share. The photo-image was stamped with black
onto an ATC base. The measuring tape image and the sewing
machine image were layered over the top of the card with
Versamark and dusted with bronze Mixers in the manner above.
This sentiment was stamped on a thin strip of patterned paper
which was then backed with 1" Miracle Tape.  The words were
then trimmed out and easily adheres to the front
of the card by removing the back strip. The card was
edged with black to give it definition. A piece of crinkled
hem tape and a knotted button were added for fun!

Thank you for looking at my fun projects with these beautiful vintage photo-stamps.
~leslierahye

For you........ Deer!!!

I hope this one conveys the scene I was trying to create.

Calm, serene, quiet........

Here in Georgia, we have a lot of avid hunters.  

Yes,  I know a lot and most of my family are hunters.

Myself, not so much. 

The only thing I hunt for is more crafting supplies.....

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Supply list:

All the following stamps were from Viva Las Vegastamps! 

May you have...Sentiment #6922

Deer looking  #6176

Mountain range  #6926

I first stamped all the images on white card stock.  

When stamping the mountain range I slipped just a bit, so I turned

the paper around and stamped again. 

Much to my surprise {with a deer in the headlight look}....

I had created a scene with a lake......

I then started chalking the colors onto the mountains, lake and sky. 

White gel pen was used to make a few water lines. 

Grass was created by using a grass border punch and inked on the edges.

Then,  I colored the deer using my color pencils, OMS and a stump.

Fussy cut him out and used dimensionals to make him stand out.

Layered the sentiment onto a label punch I cut to just outline the 4 sides. 

Punched a yellow moon and adhered everything together using miracle tape. 

Until later, doe.......Gotta split.......TFL!!!!!

Titanic in 3D with Viva Las Vegastamps!

For my third Viva Las Vegastamps! design team post, I had decided to do a *steampunk-influenced, zentangle-inspired creation of the Titanic on the ocean floor.  I looked up blueprints of the Titanic for inspiration and even created a new tangle pattern to use. But then I saw some photos of it taken shortly after it was found, and was struck with the idea to make my painting 3D.  I thought I could incorporate all of these elements, but to get the 3D effect the ship had to be drawn larger than I originally planned.  It also meant I had to go so dark that tangle patterns wouldn't show up.

I debated about starting over, but then my husband saw this and fell in love with the 3D effect.  He doesn't fall in love with that many of my projects, so I decided to forget both the steampunk and zentangle-inspired work  (note: when doing crafts & art for the guys, 3D will probably be a popular choice, lol).

The stamps I used are steampunk--but then there are odd little fishies down there on the ocean floor, and I think they just added an eerie element to the painting.  I have another design team post on 5/16--I promise I'll introduce the new tangle pattern then.

Meanwhile--The sunken Titanic in 3D.

Supplies:
Canson Bristol paper 9x12
Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder
Stampendous Aged Copper Embossing Powder
Terri Sproul Mixer-Orange Pearl & Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer
Staz-on Midnight Blue InkPad
Versamark
Tim Holtz Distress Markers:
    Scattered Straw
    Mustard Seed
    Shabby Shutters
    Crushed Olives
    Dusty Concord
    Tumbled Glass
    Broken China
Letraset Promarker-Black
Gesso & Sponge
Viva Las Vegastamps!
    Steampunk Fish, Steampunk Squid & Steampunk Octopus from Plate 1389
    Steampunk Dolphin from Plate 1390.
Picture of the Titanic for reference
 
The 3D effect was actually pretty simple.  I used four elements to achieve it.

First, I ignored one of the basics of design, and put the focal point of my  painting (the ship) in the exact center of the page.  The eye is more likely to interpret an object in this position as coming toward it.

The second element was to frame the painting, and have the ship jut out of the frame.  Cheap, but strangely effective.  This was the rough template I used for the start of the painting.

The third element is the creation of depth using increasing dark values as you get to back of the ship.  The idea is to try and make it look as though the Titanic is coming out of the dark into the light.

I printed out a picture of the ship for reference.  I didn't intend to add much detail but needed an idea of the general shapes.

Using both clear and colored stamp-pad ink I stamped up the bow of the ship and covered it with embossing powder.  I heated it until I had a distressed metal plate look.  When the embossed section cooled, I started coloring with the Distress markers (sorry, I meant to take a scan after embossing, and got so caught up that I forgot).

I swept across the marker color with a very wet papertowel, pulling the color downward, and letting it run.  This was to establish the lightest values and get a watery, ripply effect.  Using my reference photo, I picked out darker areas to suggest the rigging and broken pieces of the ship.

The Distress Markers wouldn't adhere to the embossed surface, so I used a black Promarker to color in sections of the hull.

I hadn't decided exactly which stamps I was going to use.  Both plates Plate 1389 and 1390 are chock full of fantastic steampunk critturs, several of which are aquatic.  I picked out the ocean animals and laid them around until I found four that I felt framed the ship the best.

I used Staz-on Midnight Blue ink.  I still thought I might draw patterns at this point, and I don't like to mix blacks, so I went with the dark blue.  Staz-on is waterproof, and I knew I'd be adding more water.

I kept adding layers of Distress marker, black Promarker and water.  I used Mustard Seed and Scattered Straw to color the stamps, and the Promarker to add shadows around them.

The correct shape for the ship and where to use the darkest values eluded me so I held the  painting up to a mirror, and actually finished the shadows while staring at the reverse image.  Sometimes, a different perspective is all you need!

The fourth element of the 3D effect was to have streams of water that seemed to float above the ship.  For this I stirrued up some Terri Sproul mixer in Orange Pearl with Sakura 3D Lacquer.  I painted a thin triad of waves-one above and two to the side, aiming at the center again.  I also added a touch to each of the stamped images to give them a little more drama.

Neither the orange pearl or the embossed color show up well in the scans, and I had to photograph the painting lying flat and slightly tilted up at the top to catch them.  The picture changes according to the light, and the 3D effect becomes stronger when viewed at an angle.  

This photo catches the metallic and glimmery colors a little better.

The last step was to go around the 'frame' with white gesso and cover up the mess.  Intelligent crafters usually lay down a mask to protect the white surface, but I wanted to be free to step out as it were, so I didn't this time.  I left a little color underneath the bow of the ship for shadow.

Thank you for touring the Titanic with me!  While you are here be sure check the other blog tabs for Promotions, and Challenges .  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.