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

Countdown to Christmas

Happy December everyone!!
Michele here today sharing some tags I created for my nieces countdown to Christmas gifts.  This year we are trying something new and they are getting a new book each day.  One of them is loving it and the other not so much...oh well at least the packages look great!!!

I used different colored ink on the numbers to distinguish whose presents were whose.

Stamps used: Christmas Saying Reindeer Head, Grunge Numbers

Of course I did some simple masking to make sure the ink colors didn't blend and overlap.

Everything is stamped in Archival ink, my go to for EVERYTHING!!

Simple but oh so effective!!
Until next time, get inky!!

Find Your Tribe

Hi Groupies!!!  Michele here today sharing a tag I created with more of the fantabulous stamps designed by Tina Walker!!

I started by cutting my own tage shapre out of a piece of mixed media paper I had painted up with Dina Wakley paints; Olive, Cheddar, Sedona, Blushing.

Stamps used:  Ethos Woman (Tina Walker), Ethos Sunrise(Tina Walker) , Ethos Flower (Tina Walker), Find Your Tribe  (Cat Kerr).

Masking is one of my favorite techniques and this stamp is pefect for that!

A little fussy cutting and doodling, of course, with posca paint pens and my stabilo!

A little Sari ribbon to top it off and viola!!!

See you soon, until then...get inky!!

People Are People

Michele here today with an art journal spread...I know, can you believe it?!!!

I started with a background I created with Dina Wakely paints and a stencil.  Stamping and doodling and this is what the final pages look like.

Stamps used:  Whimsical Boarder, Whimsical Lettered Man,  Whimsical Face with Horns, Whimsical Horned Boy, Numbers Set, Kids in Futuristic Hats, Cross Marks Background, Carved X's

I had so much fun coloring all of these characters on my page with my Prisma color pencils.

And this background...the stamping with the doodling...ahhhh.  I just LOVE it!

I had so much fun with this page!  Thanks for stopping by to see it.

Until next time...get inky!

Beautiful Souls

This year is zipping right by!!!  Can you believe it is already March??!
Michele here today with an art journal page...
Are you surprised??  I suddenly decided I wanted to do journal pages again so here we go.

This Sun Background stamp is the newest addition to my Viva Las VegaStamps! ever growing collection.  Perfect for art journaling!

After I stamped the image in Archival Ink I colored with Distress Crayons.

Lots of doodling with my Fudeball, Sharpie, Motolo and Signo pens.  Then a little background stamping with Cross Marks Background and Carved X's.

I finished up with Distress Ink around the edges.
So much fun, I am glad to be journaling again!!
Until next time...get inky!

Holiday Thank You!

Happy New Year Viva Las VegaStamps! fans!!
Michele here with you today and boy am I excited to have been asked back for another term on this fabulous team!!!

So, it is just a bit after the holidays and I had plenty of thank yous to hand out this year!  I still and always will prefer to send a hand written thank you for a gift or an act of kindness.  This Christmas I had plenty to be thankful for!

Viva Las VegaStamps! used:  Thank You, Trumpet, Sheet Music Background.

This card was fairly easy to create!  I stamped the sheet music background on white cardstock, trimmed to size and then stamped the trumpet in Ranger's new Letter It embossing ink and heat embossed with the marigold Letter It embossing powder.  The sentiment is stamped in archival ink which is my go to for stamping!!

I was unexpectedly happy with how translucent the trumpet ended up.  It seems to be floating on the music.

These went together so fast that I was able to get my notes mailed out already.

Thanks for spending some time with me today...I look forward to inspiring for another term!

Until next time...get inky!

Sneak Peek at My Christmas Cards

Hey Groupies!!
Michele here today with more holiday crafting! 
Today I am sharing my 2017 Christmas card design with you.  I am so excited about this stamped scene...oh these Viva Las VegaStamps! images make me SO happy!

So here is the card...then I will share the process with you.

 

Just a couple of images but  OHHHH do they pack a punch!
STAMPS USED:  Christmas Tree in a Car, Christmas Trees Large, Christmas Wishes.

I started by stamping my focal point in archival ink.

I stamped and cut a mask.

Then stamped the next image.

Then stamped and cut another mask.

The I inked around both images with Distress Oxide inks.

Then peeled off the masks...

I finished up with some water spritzing and splattering of Distress Stain (Picket Fence).  The images are colored with Prisma Colored pencils.

The white space creates the PERFECT snow!

I have been thinking about adding some sparkle with my Wink of Stella pen, what do you think?

I am so happy with the color combination and how the images POP. 
Now I better get busy because I have another 24 to make!  I limited myself to 25 of this design...how many cards do you make for the holidays???

Until next time...get inky!!

Possabilitarian

How about a little challenge inspiration??!!!

Michele here with a masculine card to inspire you.  Ou rinspiration board this month called out to me and it was saying, 'Manly'.  I was inspired by the stripes, the branchlers, the color combo and the vest of the fox.

Stamps used:  Branch Antlers Set, Possibilitarian, Fabrique De Cravates, Row of Numbers, Row of Distresses Lines, Cross Marks Background.

I did a little coloring with my Stabilo pencils.

My stripes were created with old dictionary pages.

Distress Spray in Antique Linen and Distress Ink in Vintage Photo for the background and several colors of Archival ink for the stamping.

And there you have it...a fun masculine card for any occassion.

I hope you will join our challenge this month for you chance to win some awesome red rubber!!

Until next time...get inky!!

Whimsical Bird ATC

We have our August inspiration challenge

 AND our August swap still going on.  The August swap is for ATC's and the theme is: colors of the sunset.

If you have been watching the challenges and swaps lately you might have npticed that we have been picking themes for the swaps that go with our inspiration challenges.  That way you get more bang for your buck!  You get to swap art and link up for a chance to win!

So now that you have the insider information...on to the project I am sharing today...  I created ATC's for our swap inspired by the colores from the inspiration challenge that just HAPPENED to be colors of the sunset or at least my interpretation.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper, my gelli plate and Dina Wakley acrylic paints.  Oh and stencils too, one from Um Wow Studio.

I cut my two ATC bases from one of my prints.

I built up my layers by first stamping on a piece of tissue paper, fussy cutting and adhereing to my background.  Then I did another of the same layer and adhered only on one edge.

This is the Typeset Scallop stamp, one of my favorites from the latest release.

I love the texture.

The Whimsical Long Beaked Bird is stamped on all of the layers and then the body is stamped fussy cut, colored and popped up.

This bird is SO cute!

Here is a close up of the background...glorious colors!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are inspired to join us in either our swap or our challenge.  You can find the swap deatils in the events page of The Viva LasVegaStamps Groupies Facebook Page and the challenge info our our blog.

Until next time...get inky!