Life Simplified

Hello Again!

Today, I'm here with more vintage inspired goodness using a super cute stamp!

Stamp Used:

Upset Boy With Pet Pig

Above you can see all my base layers:

(1 A2 cardm a second layer of distressed black card 1/8 in smaller than base. Tim Holtz sticky back burlap (from his Textured surfaces pack) cut 1/8 in smaller than the black distressed layer.

A piece of corrugated cardboard I had laying around, ripped to add interest and cut to card width.

Stamped image colored and stitched onto black kraftstock 1/8 in larger than the 2.5 x 3.5 in image. 

I used various distress inks to watercolor this image. 

Antique linen, vintage photo, and frayed burlap were used for the general distressing.

Here is a close up of the finished piece with some Tim Holtz hardware heads, metal stars, and a  snipit sticker.

I hope this card sparks your creativity and makes you want to get grungy and inky!

It's Time to Cut the CAKE and your Stamps!!!

Hello everyone! Susan here with a tutorial using Viva Las VegaStamps! and some birthday cardmaking fun! There is a great challenge over at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "C is for Cake" and I just couldn't "resist" playing along - LOL!

I've had this "Chicken Crying" stamp for a while now and I've been dying to use him. Today is the day!!! I inked him up with some Versafine black in and embossed him with VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder. Then while the stamp was still wet, I stamped and cut a quick post-it note mask.

With my quickie mask in place, I repeat the process with the "Cake with Candle" stamp. I also make a quick mask of the cake so I can do something with this plain white background. I don't want to cut out and paste these onto something else... I'm going to work around my grouping and it's pretty easy.

On my craft sheet I smooshed out a few colors of Distress Paint spritzed with a bit of water, then blended with my brayer. With my post-it masks in place, I rolled the color over my images. I picked up more color and reapplied until it was to my liking.

Now to add some music to my background! Using some blue dye ink I stamp the "Sheet Music Background" #19557 over my layers.

Before removing masks, I added one more stamp to ground my scene - the "Smear/Smudge" #19573. Now it's Reveal time!! A little paint got under my mask and I'm perfectly fine with that.

Now it's time for some color with Ranger Distress Markers and a little glittery shimmer!

  

I need to make a quick sentiment and I don't want to cut and paste words together in this case... so I give you a TIP – I'm cutting my stamp, "Happy Birthday from One Old Buzzard to Another!". I gently cut "birthday" and "another" apart from the phrase and lined them up on my block. Don't be afraid this is very liberating!!

I stamped onto the edge of my creation so it matches and give it a kiss of embossing powder for some POP! I made the ... by tapping the back end of a paintbrush into the ink using as a stamp.

I trimmed everything, layered with mats and Miracle Tape and I have a fun birthday card ready to go! This is so going to my sister who's birthday is next week... she's cracking the big 4-0.

"It's My Party and I wanna Cry"

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From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Chicken Crying" #9464

"Cake with Candle" #5161

"Sheet Music Background" #19557

"Smear/Smudge" #19573

VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder

1/4" Miracle Tape

Other Supplies: white, teal and blue cardstocks; Ranger Distress Paint, Ranger Distress Markers; Sakura of America Gelly Roll® Stardust® Pen, paper trimmer; sticky back gems; and May Arts trim.

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Thanks so much for dropping by! It's a holiday weekend and that brings a SALE at the VLVS! store... CLICK HERE for details. Also are you a fellow rubber addict?  Here's your chance to join the design team {CLICK HERE for details} and stamp til your hearts content!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. Hope you have a fabulous day!!  Sb

I'm Late... I'm LATE for March Madness!

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to share a fun ATC that is perfect for the month of March... in Easter pastel colors complete with a racing rabbit!

I needed to make some ATCs for an Alice in Wonderland themed swap "Down the Rabbit Hole" and {of course), I had the perfect stamps in my VLVS! stash for them. It all started with a sheet of painted paper using a handful of Ranger Distress Paint: Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, Evergreen Bough and Picked Raspberry. I modified this T!m Holtz' marbeling technique in painting my background – I added all the colors in a splotchy fashion, and sprayed a lot of water onto the craft sheet to give a more subtle watercolor effect when paper is dragged.

When dry, I cut this down to make my ATC card blanks {3 1/2" x 2 1/2"}, then added a torn strip of  fun harlequin washi tape along the bottom of each and set to work on the stamping and layering of elements. It was interesting doing a horizontal card for a change. I saved a section of the background for stamping the sentiments.

One special stamping trick – combine stamp images by layering two stamps on top of each other. I did this with the girl and a keyhole - placing the keyhole over one of her eyes; then I fussy cut each keyhole out. This gives the perfect eye peering though the keyhole for this Alice in Wonderland themed ATC. 

The sentiment I've had for ages and I thought it went perfectly for the quirky white rabbit whose always proclaiming, "I'm Late!" Everything is edged with coordinating chalk inks for an extra "POP" of color and adhered with miracle tape. These came together really quickly and they were fun to make!

"Down the Rabbit Hole" ATC

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From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Pensive Girl" #16033

"Keyhole Shading" #9498

"Wheely Rabbit" #18377

"I Try Not to Limit..." #15414

Miracle Tape 1/8"

StazOn Jet Black Ink

Other Supplies: white cardstock and metallic purple stationary for keyholes; variety of colors of Ranger Distress Paints; brayer; water misting bottle; StazOn Royal Purple Ink; harlequin washi tape from Dollar Tree; and detail scissors.

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Thanks so much for dropping by! What are you stamping with your stash of VLVS!? Join us and play along with the March inspiration challenge {CLICK HERE for details}. Just make a creation using the inspiration above and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER! Take some time to browse around the blog here and the amazing creations from the entire VLVS! Team... 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. Hope you have a fabulous day!!  Sb

WOW... It's Chilly Outside!

Welcome to Viva Las VegaStamps! Susan here today and I'm so overwhelmed by my ever growing stash of VLVS! stamps – I can't decide what to stamp or create. So what's a gal to do??? Scroll through the hundreds of emails in my yahoo box from blogs I subscribe and see what's shakin'!

I found a winner... a cool challenge over at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers. SOSS #25 - W is for WOW it's Cold. Winner winner chicken dinner! I'm off and running and I know exactly what I'm going to use to make a couple ATC's to enter in the challenge.

I started out with a leftover section of marbelized paper using T!m's technique with Ranger Distress Paint Daubers, in wintery colors. Then I made some quick trimming to get my ATC blanks ready to stamp. I stamped my images using black waterproof ink and created a quickie mask of each with post-it notes so that I can layer in some scenery.

After stamping, I hand colored with my waterbrush and Sakura Color of America Gelly Roll Starburst and Soufflé Pens – this really gave the characters a fun "POP" of shimmery color. I added some layers of torn handmade paper at the bottom of each for snowbanks using Miracle Tape. EASY PEASY! I finished off with labelmaker stamped words and a smudging with Tsukineko Antique Gold Dewdrop ink around the edges. Totally chilly and fun!

WOW it's COLD!!!

Snow Much Fun!

From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Flamingo Skiing" #5090

"Chicken/Rooster in Winter Parka" #10983

"Barb Wire Fence" #14021

"Christmas Trees Large" #18942

"Christmas Trees Small" #18941

Miracle Tape

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Thanks so much for dropping by. Don't forget about the January inspiration challenge. Just make a creation using the inspiration above and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win more RUBBER! CLICK HERE for challenge details. Also, 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. Hope you have a fabulous day!!  Sb

She IS The Key

Hello stampy friends! It's Amy  here, to share a layered and oversized ATC.  I'm not sure if that is something that has existed with a different name until now, but if not....I'm coining the term. ;)

I began with a regular ATC card, and layered on some copper and green paints. When those had dried, I stamped using the Waybill/Invoice Background, using Delicata Ink from IMAGINE Crafts in gold. I attached a couple of little banner die cut pieces from 7 Dots, using a stapler.
A few fibers were pretty easy to adhere to the back, using miracle tape.

When all of that was complete, I added the ATC to a vintage library card. I stamped the Flying Face Key on a piece of cream cardstock, using Memento Ink in tuxedo black. I fussy cut her out, and added her to the card using foam tape.
I finished my layered oversized ATC by adding plenty of chipboard, metal embellishments (including an old house key I had back in college), other fun bits, and a piece of lace from a vintage doily. When I stood back and had a look, I was quite pleased with my lady...who doesn't just hold the key..she IS the key. I think that's a nice metaphor in life. BE the key to your dreams. Have a lovely day, and go stamp up something wonderful. ~Amy

 Supply List: Viva Las VegaStamps!: Waybill/Invoice Background, Flying Face
Adhesive: Miracle Tape (from VLVS!), Helmar, Tombow
Chipboard: UmWowStudio
 Paint: Folkart, Luminarte Silks
Ink: IMAGINE Crafts-Tsukineko
Paper/Stickers/Die cuts: 7 Dots Studio, Fab Scraps
Flower: Prima
Metal Clip: 7 Gypsies Metal Tab: Tim Holtz
Fibers: Vintage (Fab Scraps paper and Flower from Scraps of Darkness Kits)

Four Vintage-Style Chunky ATC's

Hello all, it's Amy sharing a project today, that's just a little bit south of the average ATC....what I'm going to call "chunky ATC's!"

To start my 4 piece set of vintage images and their layers, I cut a 8x6 vintage book cover into fourths. I used the side that had a layer of paper, and painted over it with Viva Decor Ferro paint in Graphite. This gives lots of sparkle and texture.
Next, I grabbed a vintage printed paper bag I received from a local store, and upcycled it...it has some really fun images on it. I tore four pieces, and adhered using my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher mini stapler. On top of this, I added a strip of paper, from the 6x6 Nature Walk collection by 7 Dots Studio, adhering with Miracle Tape. 
Prior to adding my stamped images, I added bits of burlap and cheesecloth....for even more yummy texture. Adding little splash of walnut inks here and there, gave a little flash of color, as well.
Finally, I stamped my images onto a library card. For each of the images, I used gorgeous Tsukineko inks in copper, silver and gold.....and stamped them as a gradient for interest. I cut these out, and added with foam tape. After adding bits of chipboard, metal, flowers and more.......I had four cards done. I believe I will frame these in a vintage style shadowbox frame. I think that will add a touch of quirky vintage to my living room!
Thanks so much for having a look today!
Loves,
Amy

Supply List:
Viva Las VegaStamps!: Bee Cards, Russian Cyrillic, Pen Tips, Paint Brushes in Jar
Paper: Upcycled, 7 Dots Studio-Nature Walk
Ink: Tsukineko- Delicata Silver, Copper, Gold; Momento- Tuxedo Black; walnut inks- eucalyptus, java, terra cotta
Chipboard- UmWowStudio
Flowers- Prima Marketing
Metal Bits- Bead landing, Tim Holtz, 7 Gypsies

Pretty Little Houses & Pink Flamingos

Hello my fine feathered friends!

 

Aimee here with not one, not two, but

THREE

projects for you!!!

 

When I saw the house half plate,

I just KNEW I had to have it!

These little houses are so sweet and adorable

and I have so many ideas for them.

 

Want to make these projects?

 

Well, alllllrighty then!

 

What you need:

Recycled cheese container

(this is a Laughing Cow cheese container)

Acrylic paints

Smooch inks

Sandy stuff from Mud Puddles

Foam tape or pop dots

Black ink (I used Pitch Black pigment ink from Ranger)

Other ink colors of your choice

Super Gloss EP from Viva Las Vegastamps!

Scissors

Miracle Tape

Heat gun

A toothpick

Scraps of paper- white, blue, green, patterned papers

Pink Flamingos (the ones we get with our Viva Las Vegastamps orders)

Craft Bond or other stinky glue

Stickles

Stamps

 

 

First things first-

paint the cheese container inside and out...

I painted the outside purple and the  inside blue.

Once the blue was dry, I stippled a lighter blut over it,

then painted some blue Stickles over it.

Stamp houses with black pigment ink and emboss using Super Goss EP.

I did 6 houses.

Repeat with trees.

Stamp some trees in other ink colors.

Stamp the clouds on blue patterened paper using blue ink

(I used Denim Adirondack ink from Ranger)

Color houses and trees with Smooch colors.

Color in clouds with white Smooch.

While the Smooch is drying, start tearing up some green card stock for 'grass'.

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Once everything is dry, start layering.

Use Miracle Tape to adhere everything...

I started with a couple of clouds, and then added a house.

Add some torn paper 'grass'.

Then add a tree or two.

Add more 'grass' using pop dots or foam tape,

and keep going until you fill the container and like the way it looks.

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Once your container is layered to your liking,

put some of the Mud Puddles sandy stuff inside.



For your pink flamingos, snip the base off of each one,

put a little stinky glue on the back of each one,

and stick their legs down into the sandy stuff.

 

For the 'whimsy' flag, simply stamp the words onto a scrap of card stock.

Trim with scissors into a flag, put some Miracle Tape on the back and stick the tooth pick to it.

Put a pop dot or some foam tape behind the flag and stick it down,

tucking the toothpick ("flag pole") down in behnd some grass.

I am going to get little clear acrylic easels for these cuties!

 

 

And, here we have an art journal page.

This back ground was already done-

watercolor paints, Gelatos, and some stencils....

Sometimes I just play around in my books making backgrounds.

You'll follow the same process with this as you did

 with the container, minus the pop dots.

Place some clouds, then a house and a tree.

Layer some 'grass', and add another house and tree.

I also added the cool funky fence to the 2nd house.

Layer some more and add the third house.

 

 

I hope you enjoy these projects!

Have a lovely day!!