Stay Cool | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone, happy new year! 

I am so incredibly excited and blessed to have the opportunity to stay on the Viva Las VegaStamps design team for another year and share my love of VLVS rubber stamps with you!

To kick off the new year, I have a 12x12" mixed media scrapbook layout to share with you that features a photo of one of my twin boys that was taken only a couple of weeks ago. I created this page to document how in a very short time he has gone from being terrified of swimming to loving being in the pool.

Here is my layout...

To create my page, I began with a sheet of white Bazzill cardstock and some Ranger Distress Oxides in Mermaid Lagoon; Cracked Pistachio; Twisted Citron; and Faded Jeans. I used the "packaging technique" to apply the inks - swiping the ink onto some plastic packaging, then adding a spritz of water before "smooshing" it down onto the cardstock. 

I started with the Mermaid Lagoon colour and then dried it off before repeating the process with the Cracked Pistachio and Twisted Citron. I love the layered watercolour style effect that it creates - perfect for my water themed page!

Next, I used the Faded Jeans Distress Oxide to add some splatters over the top. To do this, I swiped some ink onto my craft mat, then added water before soaking it up with my paint brush and splattering it over the top.

Then it was time to add some stamping! The first stamp I used was the Bubbles (Large Black), using Ranger Archival Ink in Paradise Teal. I added the bubbles in a vertical line down my page then added an extra group of bubbles where the left edge of my photo would sit. (This gave me the "visual triangle" I was looking for.)

Once I had the bubbles stamped out, I chose the Humpback Whale stamp for a bit of fun and to tie in with the water theme of my layout. I stamped the whale twice with the same teal ink, positioning it so that it was "swimming" through the focal area of the page and helping to draw the viewers eye in.

I also stamped the It's a whale of a tale... sentiment several times around the page, switching to black Staz On ink for that one.

With the majority of my background work done, it was time to switch to adding some papery layers and texture. I created a layered mat for my photo using an assortment of tissue paper, paper doilies, paint sample card, a tag, glitter cardstock, frayed gauze and coloured wire. I also added a few pieces of torn washi tape around the page.

Once the layers were in place I added some scrap cardboard to the back of my photo before mounting it on top. I also added a handmade heart embellishment from Charms Creations, and a flair button from Cocoa Vanilla Studio.

Then it was time to finish my page off. I added my handwritten journalling using a felt pen, then stamped the Let Fear Be quote underneath it using black ink. 

I also used my favourite Doodle Dots stamp to add further depth to the background. (How could you not love how this stamp looks?) 

The finishing touch was a few blue and green sequins from Cocoa Vanilla Studio scattered around the page.

Here's a closer look at some of the finished details...

(I am so in love with that background, and glad that I finally treated myself to some Distress Oxides for Christmas!)

You can see where I used my Tim Holtz tiny attacher to fix the wire to my page. I love the extra texture the metal staples add.

That's all from me today, I hope I have inspired you to get your stamps out and create something too. Until next time, get inky! X

Stamps used: 

- Bubbles (Large Black)

- Humpback Whale

- It's a whale of a tale...

- Let Fear Be

- Doodle Dots

Other materials:

- Miracle tape

- Bazzill cardstock

- Ranger Distress Oxides

- Ranger Archival Ink

- Tsukineko StazOn Ink

- Cocoa Vanilla Studio flair button and sequins

- Charms Creations handmade heart

- Assorted collage materials (as detailed in post above)

- Felt pens

- Staples

Awesome | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

It's Sue Plumb here to share my latest Viva Las VegaStamps design team project with you. Today I have a 12x12" mixed media scrapbook layout to share that features some new release library-themed stamps, as well as a few others from my stash.

I created this page to document some photos of my boys that I captured in a hospital waiting room one day, while they both practised their reading and writing skills.

I began my layout with a sheet of white cardstock, and a couple of pages torn from some old books. I collaged the pieces onto the cardstock, then applied acrylic paint over the top with a brayer to give the page more of an aged paper look. 

Once the paint had dried, I stamped the new Library Return Card stamp multiple times to define the focal area of my page where my photos were going to be placed.

I then used the This Book Belongs To: and the Library Return Dates stamps to add some extra interest and structure to my background. 

(These three stamps are all available together on plate #1508.)

With all that text in place, it was time to add a few images to my page. I used a series of dragon images (all with a book theme) designed by Brian Kesinger - Aagar the Emotional; Telkyn the Learned; and Vornii the Bookish. (These three stamps are all available together on plate #1499.)

I stamped the three dragons around my page to form a "visual triangle" around my photos. 

With all my background in place, it was time to add some papery layers to form a mat for my photos. Naturally, I turned again to book paper (a logical choice for this page, right?) 

I layered some torn pieces of paper, along with some brown paper, small white tags, and a large kraft tag that I had also stamped with the Library Return Card stamp. 

I stapled all the papers in place along with some frayed gauze, and then added my photos on top before turning my attention to adding some embellishments to finish off my page and tie it all together. 

In keeping with the reading theme of my page, I chose a handmade book paper star from Charms Creations, and tucked it under the right edge of my photo.

I added three wood veneer stars from Cocoa Vanilla Studio, layering one on top of the book paper star and using the other two to again form a "visual triangle". 

To the left of my photo I added a wood veneer arrow, and then below my photos the large awesome wood veneer piece for my page title (all from Cocoa Vanilla Studio). 

I added some simple handwritten journalling below my title using a felt pen, and my page was complete.

Thanks so much for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used:

- Library Return Card

- This Book Belongs To:

- Library Return Dates

- Aagar the Emotional

- Telkyn the Learned

- Vornii the Bookish

Other materials:

- Bazzill cardstock

- Mont Marte acrylic paints

- Book paper, brown paper, gauze, tags

- Miracle Tape

- Tsukineko Staz On ink

- Cocoa Vanilla Studio wood veneer pieces

- Charms Creations handmade book paper star

- Felt pen

Trick or Treat | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest design team project for you. Today I have a Halloween themed mixed media scrapbook layout to share featuring some of the recently released Halloween stamps. Halloween isn't as big here in Australia as it is the US, but it is steadily growing in popularity each year. (My kids think any occasion where you get to collect candy from the neighbours is a great idea, and I am happy to hand out treats to kids who have made an effort to dress up.)

I started this page with a sheet of Bazzill Marshmallow cardstock and some Dina Wakley acrylic paints. I used the colours Lime, Sedona, Tangerine, Lemon and Cheddar. I used several methods of applying my paint - starting with a brush, then a brayer and finally, my fingers! Once I had all the colours down, I went back over it with some white acrylic and my brayer where I wanted to place my photos.

Once my background was dry it was time to pull out my stamps. I started with the awesome Spider Web in Tree Branches and stamped it several times on my page. I followed that with the Bats Over Moon at the top of my page. (I repeated the smallest bat a few times to increase the "battiness".)

I then added the Jack O'Lantern on the right side of my page, before adding the Beware Of: list in the bottom left corner. 

I love the way the black images pop against the warm colours of the paint!

With all the stamps in place, the main structure of my page was all mapped out and it was simply a matter of filling the blanks between them. 

I wanted to add an extra layer behind my photos, and reached for one of my favourite items - some paint sample cards from the hardware store. I love using these! Not only are they easy to coordinate with whatever colours you are using, but they are also free! I stamped them with the Evidence Label for some extra detail before adding them to my page.

Now it was time for some texture! I added some pieces of torn printed tissue paper; a paper doily; some small pieces of punchinella; and frayed gauze to my page and then secured it with staples.

Next, I added some small red ink splatters randomly around my page using Colour Blast 'Sunburnt' Colour Artist Ink and a small brush.

To finish off, I added some cardboard to the back of my photos to mount them up, before sticking them down on the page.

I then added some handwritten journaling with a felt pen and my page was done!

I was really happy with how this page turned out and can't wait to take some more Halloween photos this year to use these stamps again. (First I need to convince my kids to dress a little creepier this year!)

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too! 

Stamps used:

- Spider Web in Tree Branches

- Bats Over Moon

- Jack O'Lantern

- Beware Of:

- Evidence Label

Other materials:

- Bazzill cardstock

- Dina Wakley acrylic paints

- Tsukineko Staz On ink

- Paint sample cards

- Collage materials (tissue paper, paper doily, punchinella, gauze)

- Colour Blast Colour Artist Ink

- Felt pen, staples

Be a Mermaid | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I am sharing simple a 12x12" scrapbook page I created using one of my favourite stamps as a focus. I have recently been sick in hospital and unable to sit up and create; so a simple yet effective technique was just what I need to get my hands dirty again.

I decided to create this layout to document my daughter's achievements at her school swimming carnival last year, and what better feature shape than with a star? The Squiggly Star Collage is one of my absolute fave pieces of VLVS rubber, so I decided to use it multiple times.

I started by painting some scrap pieces of cardstock using Ranger Dylusions paints. I then stamped out my stars using black StazOn ink, then cut them out and set them aside.

Next, I got a fresh sheet of white cardstock, and used the Row of Distressed Lines stamp to add some structure to my page to begin working from. I kept the background to simple black on white as I wanted the colours of the stars to pop.

I used a small piece of Miracle Tape on the back of each star to adhere them around my page. Once in place, I used the Grunge 2 to stamp a number two onto each of the red stars, and the Grunge 3 to stamp a three onto the green ones to represent the second and third ribbons she won.

I then arranged my photos together, added some cardboard to the back and stuck them onto my page. I used the She Spread Her Wings stamp several times around my page, along with the Star Sliding stamp to reinforce the star theme. 

To finish off, I used the Always Be Yourself/Mermaid stamp to provide a focal quote and title; before splattering some Colour Blast 'Citrus' Colour Artist Ink around my page.

I then added my journalling using a Sharpie pen and stamped the date.

I was really happy with how this page came out with the bright splashes of colour against the white background. 

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used: 

- Squiggly Star Collage

- Row of Distressed Lines

- Grunge 2

- Grunge 3

- She Spread Her Wings

- Star Sliding

- Always Be Yourself/Mermaid

Other materials:

 - Miracle Tape

- White Cardstock

- StazOn ink

- Ranger Dylusions acrylic paints

- Colour Blast Colour Artist Ink

- Sharpie pen

Feeling the Love | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here with my latest design team project for you. Today I have a mixed media scrapbook layout to share that features an abstract painted & stamped background and a photo of one of my most treasured scrappy friends taken at a retreat last year.

I began this page with some heavy weight white cardstock and a few Dylusions acrylic paints. I used a brush to apply the paint randomly in a few different directions; simply following my instinct and a rough idea of where I was going to put my photo.

Once I had the paint in place and it had dried, it was time to add some stamping to the background. I started with a few stamps from one of my very favourite plates, #1495. I used the Rows of Numbers and the Typeset Scallop to add some vertical and horizontal structure to my page using black Staz On ink. I then used the Cross Marks Background stamp with Ranger Archival Ink (Paradise Teal) to add some extra depth. 

Next, I added my photo to the page using Miracle Tape and then began building layers around it. I started with a few Jane Davenport patterned papers, which featured gorgeous painted style backgrounds. I used the Large Butterfly Gossamer and stamped out a couple, then fussy cut them and set them aside. I then repeated the process with the Whimsical Leaf and the Leaves stamps. I then began assembling my page.

I used the fussy cut leaves and placed them along the horizontal line created by the scallop stamp, tucking the ends in under the photo. I layered the whimsical leaves and tucked them in beneath the photo.

The two butterflies were adhered along the body only, allowing the wings to be bent up away from the page. I then took some white cotton thread and added some on top of each one, wrapping a few strands around the wings.

My page still need more though, so I took the opportunity to use up a few old Heidi Swapp acetate ephemera pieces that I had in my stash. These were perfect for layering over the painted and stamped background as they allowed the colours and patterns underneath to still be visible, while adding an extra layer over the top.

To finish off my page I stamped some Scribble Hearts with Vivid Chartreuse Archival Ink. I also added some scribbles with a Stabilo All Pencil; and some tiny splatters of Colour Blast 'Mermaid' Colour Artist Ink.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used:

- Rows of Numbers

- Typeset Scallop

- Cross Marks Background

- Large Butterfly Gossamer

- Whimsical Leaf

- Leaves

- Scribble Heart

Other materials:

- Bazzill cardstock

- Ranger Dylusions acrylic paints

- Ranger Archival Inks

- Staz On 

- Miracle Tape

- Jane Davenport Mixed Media Paper Pad

- white cotton thread

- Heidi Swapp acetate ephemera pieces

- Stabilo All Pencil

- Colour Blast Colour Artist Ink