Friday, September 28, 2012

All Hallow's Eve Party Day #6

One more day after today is all.. there's still plenty of time to fulfill the requirements to be entered to win prizes! Anywhere from commenting on the blog to sharing your favorite stamp with us. Prizes range from grab bags to mounted stamps and more!

Today's prompt is a "do it while you hop" - just collect the letters along the hop and email the spooky Halloween word to me @ deedee430@gmail.com for a chance at a Halloween stamp of your choosing!

(Looks like a couple of letters are missing, so your first few are..."
 "C""R""Y"

Now get to hopping!


And today is THE LAST DAY to get in on the Halloween link up -- tomorrow we'll have a voting contest and the person with the most votes wins!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Halloween Blog Hop Day #5

Day five... DAY FIVE.



How have you liked the inspiration so far this week?? Have you completed the tasks and been entered to win lots of goodies? Are you inspired to get into the swing of Halloween? It's almost time to dress up and get decked out to collect candy and dance the night away!!

Let's see what the design team have cooked up for the festivities shall we?
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And of course I can't forget your prize prompt for the day..  Jump to our forum and say hello on our Halloween Party thread!! 
and don't forget that tomorrow is your last day to link up a Halloween inspired VLVS! project for day 2!


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Halloween Party Day #4

Happy Wednesday and Day #4!
If you thought the first half of the week had some awesome inspiration, wait until you see the 2nd half!!





After seeing today's inspiration can you guess today's prize requirement??? That's right.. Share a picture of YOUR VLVS! stash --- if you happen to be lacking in the Viva Las VegaStamps! stamp area then show us an empty spot where your stash WOULD be if you had one, and make sure it's a sad photo! But really we want to see your piles and piles of VLVS! stamps! Share them on our Facebook Wall!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Halloween Party Day #3

I can't believe it's Day #3 already!!!
First.. make sure and take your daily visit among the designer's blogs. The talent is just superb!



Now that you've seen the eye candy, it's time to do a little WORK! Visit the mother site of VLVS! (Stampo.com) and peruse the links and tabs a bit. Then come on back here and comment with something you learned; whether it's something you found or something you didn't now about VLVS!. Then you'll be entered to win today's prize, a grab bag of random unmounted goodies!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Halloween Party Day #2



Welcome back to our Halloween Party! It's Day #2 and we're super pumped to share with you our Halloween inspiration for the day....


... but even more we're excited for YOU to share YOUR Halloween inspiration with US! We're inviting you to play along with us today! Just create a brand new Halloween project that has at least one VLVS! Stamp in it. It doesn't have to be a Halloween stamp but it must be used in a Halloweenie way. Then create a blog post on your blog and link up below! You have until Friday at midnight Pacific Standard Time to link up. And be ready to rally the votes because on SATURDAY for 24 hours voting will be open!! bum bum buuuummmmmm.

One prize available to a random participant!

Don't forget to hop along with the DT for some extra inspiration:

and now that you're done.. GET TO CREATING!!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Halloween Party Day #1

Welcome to the first official day of our Halloween Party!
 Each day for one full week the VLVS! Design Team will be bringing you some super cool Halloween inspiration, and each day there will be a giveaway!


They've been prompted to create Halloween inspired projects all week long using at least one image from either 

or
Plate 1433

So be sure to come each day, read the rules, hop the blogs and enjoy some fabulous eye candy. Get on with today's hop:




Now that you've had a chance to see all the great projects, can you guys today's prize prompt?? Share with us on our Facebook wall an image of your FAVORITE Viva Las VegaStamps! Halloween image! Easy right? Anyone who posts on our facebook wall with a Halloween stamp from the VLVS! website will be entered to win that mounted stamp! Heck. Yes.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Halloween Party EARLY KICK OFF!!!!

 Are you excited for our Halloween Party starting TOMORROW?!??  

 We'd love your help in spreading the word, and because of that we're offing another prize on top of the already HUGE pile of goodies we have to giveaway!


Share our party flyer and invite all your friends!
Pin it, tweet it, facebook it, blog about it!


Be sure to include a link back to our posts so they can get all the details themselves!


Comment with a link to each place you've shared about the party and be entered for 2 grab bags of stamps!
(for each place you share, leave a separate comment to be entered more than once!)

Friday, September 21, 2012

Sunflowers Bring Two Times the Watercolor Fun!

It's FINALLY Friday!!! Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Susan here with my bottom of the month post. Today I am sharing another quick and easy technique - watercoloring with your Ranger Distress Markers. Both are using supplies you already have on hand AND depending on your color palette, can give you the look and feel of any season.


I'm going to show you two variations on Kromecote glossy cardstock and also on a textured cardstock {similar to a watercolor paper}. The process is like this: color, mist with water, stamp...REPEAT.


SUPPLIES: You will need your Ranger Distress Markers, assorted VLVS rubber stamps, mister bottle with water, textured and  Kromecote cardstock, dye ink and an acrylic block.


Begin by selecting some colors and color directly to your stamp. I'm using "Tree Writing Collage" #18914 for my first background. I used four markers ranging from yellow to light brown. I colored entire stamp with markers starting with lightest color to darkest. This doesn't have to be perfect. After coloring, spritz stamp with water.


I know I've shared a watercolor technique before, but with different colors and stamps, you get a totally different look and feel. In the above photo, I have done the step above and stamped first on Kromecote {on left}, then remisted and applied to the textured cardstock {on right}. I did not reink - I just misted again with water before applying to second paper. **A TIP** keep remisting and stamping until all ink is used up - this saves you a step in cleaning off the unused ink...and you get a bunch of pretty backgrounds as a result. I heatset each and this is the result - two subtle watercolor effect backgrounds. On the Kromecote, it is much more muted and flowing, the textured cardstock more distressed from the texture of the paper.

Now for a VARIATION...


Now you want repeat the process - EXCEPT - this time, color directly onto your acrylic block. YES! On the acrylic block. I colored horizontally across the block in stripes using the same four colors, gradating from lightest on top to darkest on the bottom. This also doesn't have to be perfect. If there are areas exposed and/or not colored, this is GREAT, too. Have fun with it!


Before you stamp your paper, spritz with water and then use as a stamp and apply to paper. Above is the results of coloring on the acrylic block directly first to the Kromecote, then remisting with water and then applying to the textured cardstock. I reapplied ink and repeated process to try also on a section of vintage book paper.


I stamped the "Sunflowers" #9918 onto my papers with black dye ink and heatset. I gathered some paper scraps in the same color palette and a parchment card base. I layered everything and adhered with Miracle tape to my card base, popped up my torn textured sunflowers with 3D foam dots and added a Burlap Twine May Arts bow.


To finish off I stamped  "Thanks a Lot" #587 in the bottom corner with black dye ink. I added some subtle color detail to the flowers and leaves with my Ranger Distress Markers applied with a water brush. Quick and easy...and beautiful!

Presenting my Lovely Sunflower Card!!!


Thanks so much for dropping by today! I invite you to hang around and peruse the projects by the fabulous Viva Las Vegastamps! Desgin Team or pop on over to the Viva Las Vegastamps! store - loads of new stamps - SEVEN NEW plates to be EXACT - are on pre-order for 20% off!!! YIPPEE!!

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

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

STAMPO HINGE TAPE ATC!

I love Viva Las Vegastamps! Stampo Tapes, There are for different ones: Hinge, Bolt, O-ring and Strap.  They are fun to use on cards, ATC's and collages.  When I use them I try to  cut the image out with much difficulty, many times tearing into the image I am trying to cut out.  
VLVS! Miracle Tape Sheets to the rescue.  Now I cut an image from the roll of tape. (Today I am using STAMPO's Hinge Tape) lay it onto a sheet of VLVS! Miracle Tape Sheets then I cut it out.  I don't have to worry about tearing the tape as I cut, since there is a paper backing.
NOW I HAVE A STAMPO's HINGE TAPE STICKER! 
When I am ready to use it all I have to do is remove the paper backing!!!!

Today I used my STAMPO's HINGE TAPE STICKERS on an ATC. For this ATC I cut a 3 1/2 in x 5 inch piece of pattern paper. Folded the sides in at 1 1/2 inch. Inked all the edges including folds. Placed the STAMPO's HINGE TAPE STICKERS on the outside folds of the ATC.  With the Two sides folded into the center stamped Fancy Keyhole and embossed with VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder.
 Then I cut a 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch pattern paper and adhered it to the inside of the ATC with VLVS! Miracle Tape. Stamped the Fan Lady on Balloon on tissue paper adhered her inside.  Stamped Art is the Last Form of Magic that Exists and embossed with VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder.

Be sure to check out the ATC SWAP HERE AT Viva Las Vegastamps! Forum.

VLVS! Miracle Tape Sheets
VLVS! Miracle Tape
STAMPO's Hinge Tape
VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

VLVS! STAMPS:
Art is the last
Fancy Keyhole
Fan Lady on Balloon

Other Supplies:
Pattern Paper
Tissue Paper
Clock Face Brad
Black & Brown Inks

I got caught in Crystals

Next week from Sept 23-29 Some members of the VLVS! Design team are doing a Halloween blog hop using the awesome new Halloween stamps! To get your feet wet for the hop here are 2 cards I made with an awesome background technique-caught in crystals. And not using glassy accents which can be expensive to use.

So one night I was chatting with some friends, and one of them, Julia showed up how to do the caught in crystals technique. It was really cool. I've been wanting to do this for the Design team when I saw to do it. I didnt have the right stuff to do it at the time. I still don't really. but I will tell you how I did it and why I used and also tell you what you really have to use instead. I first made a whole bunch and this was the result. I will say I did have a hard time trying to get good pictures of these, due to them being transparencies.

Then I forgot to take step by step pictures! so I did it again. :)

What I used (what you really need with be in parentheses)

transparency film-if you want to stamp and emboss it needs to be heat resistant
Stamps
Versafine black inkpad(You really need a stazon ink pad. I do not have one so I made do with what I have)
Embossing powder
Glitter -I used Art Institute glitter
Shimmer spray-I used Lindy's stamp gang
Pledge Floor car clean and shine (you really need pledge floor care with future shine in the US. This is really hard to fine. but try Wal mart.) I thought the one I got will work as it is clear. and it did, but I had to do an extra step.
Tissue or napkins that are pulled apart for one layer of tissue or napkins
Gel medium (this you do not need if you find the one with future shine, but this in my extra step)

Stamps I used 

Other items used
Graphic 45 Happy Hauntings
Black cardstock card bases by recollection
Fall seasonal distress inks pads
spider die cut
Black Memento ink pad
Halloween paper by GCD Studios
foam tape
Embossing buddy


Now all that is out of the way. now the step by step.

If you want to stamp and emboss the image, first take the embossing buddy and go over the transparency film. Then stamp your image and pour embossing powder over it. Heat to emboss. It will warp a bit. and using Versafine instead of the Stazon the image did bead up and separate a bit, but nothing horrible. And it could be covered up. 

Next,turn it over embossing side down.Spray on your sprays. I used these three by Linday's stamp Gang. and sprinkled some glitter. 

Next pour a pit of the floor care onto the transparency. move it around with your finger. This is what once the spray and floor care is put on. Spread it around with your finger (this is a messy project).

Next, Take a tissue and pull the layers of paper apart, so you have 2 sheets. crimple it up a bit and put it down on the transparacy. pat it down, letting it soak the liquids. this should hold the transparancy to the tissue. let it dry. overnight is nest. This is what it looks like.

and this is what it looks like when dried.

Here is another way to do this. This time I didn't stamp before. This will just be a background.

Instead of spraying I put some of the floor care onto the transparency first. I then sprinkled glitter and sprayed some lindy's sprays. gt get this. This was was really moving around on me., when i was trying to take the picture.


I then put the tissue on. you can also use napkins, just remember to pull the layers of the napkin apart and use the single ply of it. Let it dry.

Now I do have to say When I first was doing this and the first one I did was drying, I noticed that the backing was not sticking to all of the transparency. and some if came off. To try and save the other ones I did I took the gel  medium and very carefully, so it didn't tear the tissue or napkins brushed it on. then let that dried and that did the trick.Like I said in the beginning if I had found the one with Future shine it probably wouldn't have happened.

Now You have all these backgrounds (I will do a video showing all the ones I did, as this post is getting kinda long. LOL) now what. Well now you can make a card!



I trimmed the Transparency to get rid of the access. I used recollection black card bases that were 5 x 6 1/2.  I matted two of the papers of the Graphic 45 Happy Haunting paper line trimed one to 4 3/4 x 6 1/4 and the other 4 1/2 by 6. Used Mircale tape to attached the papers to the card base. Also used it attached the transparency to the card. I stamped the "happy Haunting" with black Memento ink pad, on a piece of scrap. used some of the Seedless Preserves and Ripe Persimmon on it. Mounted it on the card using foam tape.



This other card I trimmed the extra transparency around the image. Used the same Recollection black card base. Attached the spider paper by GCD Studio with Miracle tape. stamped the "all Hallow's eve on white cardstock. Mounted that and the spider die cut with foam tape.

Hope you try this. Its really fun and addicting to do. I'm still on the look out for pledge with future shine. :)


Hope you all will come to the party and see what we all cooked up for you! :):