Trim the Tree

Merry Christmas Groupies!!!
Michele here with my last post for 2018 and I am sharing a couple of Viva Las VegaStamps! style ornament to trim my tree!!

First we have Santa of course!

And he is comin' to town!!!

Have you been good??

And of course Santa can't get anywhere without his reindeer!

Is that Comet wearing Santa's hat?

These plastic DIY ornaments hold a round piece of cardstock PERFECTLY and are stamped the same on both sides.  Distress Oxide ink for the background and May Arts silk top the ornament of with a floppy bow.

Stamps used:  Santa Claus, Here Comes Santa Claus, Deer Head by Cat Kerr, Santa Hat, Jingle Bells

The images are colored with Prisma Colored Pencils and blended with Gamsol.

Merry Christmas friends!  And a HAPPY and HEALTHY New Year!

Until next time...get inky!

Weathered Wood Background

Who doesn't love a weathered wood background???
Michele here to share a quick and easy way to create one.

Start with a piece of cardstock.

I used gel medium and painted randomly on the cardstock using a brush in vertical strokes.

After the gel is completely dry use your scoreboard and with the gel side down score every 1/4 inch.

I used Antique Linen Distress ink, the ink pad directly on the paper, for the first layer of color.

Then with a blender and Vintage Photo Distress Ink I blended the next layer of color.

I added Barn Door DIstress Ink and some stamped caution signs,  Radioactive and Caution Safety Glasses stamped with Staz On.

Here is the complete card.

Banksy Gas Mask Flower Girl is watercolored with Distress Markers adn she is holding a Prima flower.  ALong the bottom is the Wildflower Silhouette with some UmWow Studio flower confetti painted with Distress Paint. The sentiment is created with my Dymo Label Maker.

I was on a roll with my backgrounds so I also created this fun boy card.

This one has a bit less gel and some white drips on the 'fence'
Chevron Banner is stamped in Staz On directly on the fence.  I also used Boy and Dog Looking Up, Wildflower Silhouette and Boys Just Want.

A little watercoloring with Distress Markers.

UmWow Studio flower confetti painted with Distress Paint.

And a tiny bit of May Arts burlap string.

Don't forget about our monthly inspiration challenge and of course join us on our Facebook Fan Page.

Until next time...get inky!!

Seek Paradise

Hiya folks!!
Michele here today and if you are anything like me you struggle with Clean and Simple (CAS).  I always want to keep going...and going...and going.
I have been practicing and today I am sharing a CAS card combining stamping and chipboard!

I love the bold stamped image, feather silhouette (Item 19126 Plate 923), and the delicate shape of the chipboard feather from Um Wow Studio.  

I stamped in archival ink.

And popped up the sentiment, seek paradise (Item 19546 Plate 1449).

The card base is Carta Bella and watercolor paper.  I also used Distress Spray (crushed pistashio), Distress Ink (walnut stain), May Arts burlap string and sequins.

So glad you stopped by!!!  See you back again SOON!!

Live Like There's No Midnight

Happy 2015!!  I am so happy to be sharing with you as a Viva Las VegaStamps! design team member for the first time today!!
Since we were all just ringing in the new year I selected some stamps for just such an occasion.
But first I would like to show you a super awesome bokeh technique using watercolor paint and gesso.

You will need watercolor paper, watercolor paint, a paint brush, gesso, washi tape, circle stencil, water, your stamp and archival ink to get started.

I used my heat gun to speed up the drying!  I am NOT a very patient person...  :)

This is the clockface stamp (item 19468 plate 1444).

I used a Prima stencil and clear Wink of Stella pen.

I framed the bokeh image with black cardstock from my stash, tied some pretty May Arts ribbon around and stamped the Live like there's no Midnight (Item 18966 Plate 880) image directly on the ribbon.  The card base is Bazzill and the finishing touch was a couple of sequins.

Thanks for spending a bit of your day with us here and joining me for my very first design team post!!

                                                      

Oh and let me mention...I took some inspiration from this month's challenge, color combination and circles. 

This inspiration board is a great start to ANY project.  I hope to see what you create linked up for your chance to win some GORGEOUS pink rubbah!

Stamps on ATCs

Hey stampers, DeeDee here :)

Recently I've been joining in on a few ATC swaps. It helps me hone some of my skills to work on a small space. Today I've got two ATCs to share. 

 

The first is a Harvest Moon ATC. I started by coloring some watercolor paper with Clearsnap Smooch Spritz. After it had dried completely I spritzed a StencilGirl stencil with the same spritz an dstamped in the top left corner. My harvest moon is the Full Moon 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 in archival black ink. I finished off the ATC with chipboard bats, some ribbon, and a hand drawn border.

The second ATC was button themed. The base for this card is watercolor paper as well. It has been distressed with Distress Ink and water. I stamped the Weathered Tree in Archival ink black and Be True in Versafine smoky gray. The leaf has been covered in gesso and layered with a metal flower, Amazing Crafting Products resin, Clearsnap glitter, May Arts Ribbon and UmWowStudio chipboard buttons.

I'm much happier with the 2nd than the 1st, but was happy to send both out :)

She Who Wears The Bigger Crown {Inspiration by DeeDee}

Hi hi hi folks!!

DeeDee here today to INSPIRE you for the February Challenge.

I have a lot of fun putting together these boards to inspire you each month, and now I'm excited to create a project based on one, too. I've put together the following Tag: 

The pink circles in the background are from the brand new Solid Color Wheel stamped in Design Memory Craft's melon gelato. I've layered on top of them the Large Doily and the Medium Doily. Our Man and Woman Symbol make the perfect non specific couple, and she got HER crown, and he got HIS. ;)

All black ink is Archival Ink by Ranger. The checker pattern is from the UmWowStudio Checker Board Mask, and has been drawn in with Sakura of America Micron. I finished off the tag with a little dymo label maker, May Arts ribbon and vintage measuring tape.

Now that I've INSPIRED YOU >>> Head over and join in on the challenge yourself! Some rubber and a spotlight on our blog is up for grabs♥

Challenge Inspiration -- POSTCARD

Hi Folks! :)

DeeDee here today bringing you a little inspiration for our Monthly Challenge!

I'm a big fan of our nature related stamps, as well as the water color background in the challenge bit. I brought both together in preparation for inspiring you today. I put together this postcard for a swap we recently hosted through our facebook group! Find us @ Viva Las VegaStamps! Groupies and join in our swaps, share all your VLVS! goods, and participate in contests!

The postcard base is Canson watercolor paper. I created the background using Distress Paint by Ranger and water. Just put some paint down on a kraft mat, spritz with water, and run your paper through it. Dry once with a heat gun, and repeat for an even more mottled effect. I have found the paint a bit hard to stamp on, especially when water is added, because there are different concentrates of paint spread around the paper. TIP : After you're done working in the background, spritz it with a fixative and you'll have an easier time getting a nice even dark stamp on top! 

The stamp along the bottom is the Tree Background, giving the illusion our bird is flying high above the trees. To embellish this area I've used some gesso through an UmWowStudio Mask, some silks acrylic glaze, a little May Arts Ribbon (447 series, 363 series, BY series,) some Gaffer Tape, a Prima Marketing Finding, paper clip, staples, and a sewing machine.

And here you can see the gorgeous Large Bird Flying, stamped in Archival Ink by Ranger. I also punched some random holes in the card for a bit of contrast using my crop-o-dile.

So! Be inspired and join the Monthly Challenge to win some goodies!

Favorite Fall Jacket {12x12 by DeeDee}

Hi everyone! DeeDee here today sharing a 12x12 layout that was featured in Paper Haus eMag recently.

 

Even here in Vegas we get to wear jackets in the fall, it does get pretty chilly when the sun goes down during the coldest parts of the year! My kidzilla got to pick out his own jacket last fall, and it quickly became his favorite one. So here's "Favorite Fall Jacket" in layout form! The paper base is Echo Park's chalkboard paper, and the wood grain is by My Mind's Eye.

You can see really well in this photograph the Large Light bulb stamp in Archival ink by Ranger The buttons are also My Mind's Eye, the stars are from an UmWowStudio mask (Star Confetti) using Sakura Of America Microns, and the black drops are Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Charcoal.

I've paired the Sakura of America Microns (Through the UmWowStudio Star Confetti Mask) with the Star Pin stamp and I'm really digging it! Super stark contrast between the pen doodle and the stamped image. The washi tape is from Gauche Alchemy, the chip from UmWowStudio, the black alphas are from Michaels and the wood alphas are American Crafts. Other supplies seen above : May Arts twine, Dymo label maker.

Sunday's Tag Demo catch up!

The first Sunday of each month we meet up @ The Crafting Place locally on Russel and I do a two hour tag demo. It's very mixed media based -- focusing on paints, ink, stamps, chipboard, and other materials.

For September I shared with the group the post-it-note masking technique for layering and scene stamping.

This was the base tag for the demo that everyone based their creations from. I did bring a few different bottles, plant type stamps, bugs and celestial bits for some variety and ease of use. The base tag includess the Bottle, Sunflowers, Dandelion with extra seed, Don't Let Anyone and Moon Circle stamps. The tag also has Distress Ink in Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, and Walnut Stain, UmWowStudio Chipboard Daisy and Light bulb mask, Archival ink in black, Sakura of America Micron and May Arts Burlap String.

Here are some photos from the class as they worked on building up their scenes :

We had 10 or 11 people stop by to do tags, and they all turned out SO AWESOME!  You can see my demo area here, using the kraft mat. It works out pretty well with these nice big long tables provided by The Crafting Place, we can pass around lots of supplies easily. Here are some attendees inking up stamps, stamping post its and tags! They're fussy cutting and layering. It's pure awesome.

And here you can see some closeups of the girls at work :

You can see the postits working as a mask really well in these shots. Each month we explore a different technique and or medium (sometimes several!) -- we'd love to have you down :) Get all the info HERE and stop by the Meetup HERE (Look for Free Demonstration of Mixed Media) if you'd like to register and or need a reminder. They're completely FREE!

Time 2 Stamp {Fussy Cut + Cray-pas}

DeeDee here today with a Time 2 Stamp video!

You'll notice we've been doing a lot of work with Sakura of America products lately on the VLVS! blog. That's because they were kind enough to donate some beautiful supplies to the design team in return for some stamping samples with them. Check out this pinterest board for a complete collection of all we've done.

Today I'm sharing another technique: laying down cray-pas, stamping on top, and then fussy cutting to create this tag:

For the technique I used Dancing Lady and Don't Let Anyone stamps with the Expressionist set of Cray-pas from Sakura of America. Watch the details in the video here for info on laying down Cray-pas, blending them and stamping on top!

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After I did the fussy cutting and had my girl ready in the background I finished the tag with some UmWowStudio supplies (Circle Confetti mask, Star Confetti chipboard, Layered clouds) Prima Flowers, May Arts eyelet lace, seed beads, Sakura of America Micron Pigma Pen, white cardstock, gesso and a pearl brad. The paper is from 7 Dots Studio.

Home Sweet Home - 12x12 by DeeDee - GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

Hey everybody!! DeeDee here popping in to fill a quick opening!

First off we have a WINNER to announce from last week's shenanigans with the beautiful people over @ Scor Pal!

From Day three lucky commenter..

marylouh said...

The Halloween box looks so real. You can almost feel the heat coming from the flames. 2:07 PM  

 

is our winner!! Email me @ deedee430@gmail.com and we'll get you your prize!
 

 

And second I'm sharing a layout I've created in celebration of our new home!!

I used Viva Las VegaStamps! stamps (Star Pin, Grid Background, Striped Border Arrow, Coffee Ring,) to create the background for this baby.

I layered up some gorgeous May Arts ribbons ( 447-1-01 | 336-38-14 | SM08 ) to embellish this layout. I clipped and layered my ribbons, along with 7 Dots Studio (Domestic Goddess paper and alphas,) Gauche Alchemy (Washi Tape,) UmWowStudio (Layered confetti chip, Black and Blue Flair, Chevron Lines Mask,) Pink Paislee (Luxe Alphas,) Prima (flower and leaf,) Tattered Angels (Charcoal Chalkboard,) My Mind's Eye (Epoxy brads,) Archival Ink by ranger in black, Stazon ink in red, a black pen.

The great ATC swap!

April 11th I went to an Art Retreat with some crafty friends I've met on line over the years from Ustream. Its was a blast!  One of the things we did was an ATC swap. It didn't take me long to make 25 ATC's. And no there not 25 people going, its just how many I made. I had the backgrounds done for a while and sitting in my stash, so all I had to do was cut them to ATC size and stamp and decorate away.

I used 3 different sentiments stamps and 4 Mary Vogal Lozinak images. The 4 images I used were Bird head on stick, Flamingo, sitting bird, One eye monster, and jump rope girl. The 3 sentiments I used were If you have crazy friends you have everything, I'm not insane, and I'm not weird.The background are all different  But I am surprise on how many stamps I used for this project. lol I stamped them all on white cardstock in black Versafine ink pad and embossed with Ultra high gloss clear embossing powder. I colored them with watercolor by Artist loft. The Jump rope girl I added some stickles to the circles of her dress. I stuck them down with Miracle tape.The sentiments I cut in to pieces and glued them on the ATC's Glossy Accents.

One set of backgrounds I did was using water down craft paints and sprays on some glossy paper or Kromecote and then placing the plastic wrap over it. Let it dry. Once its dried you get some cool texture background.

The other background I did was a left over piece of white cardstock that I had dragged some sprays  through to get some cool effects. These I added the six hexagon background and brick background and made some washi tape with the washi tape backgrounds stamps using the Chevron, grid and reverse grid.

The 3rd set of background I did was bubble background using dish soap. You can also use kids bubbles. I poured some dish soap in a small dish and a straw I blew some bubbles and then sprayed some sprays like Lindy's stamp gang, or S.E.I. Tumble dyes, or Color wash. Then I took some glossy cardstock and Kromecote and dragged them trough the bubbles. After that To add more color to it I added some drips with the sprays.

The last background is an old school technique with wax paper resist technique on glossy paper or in this case Kromecote. Instead of crumpling the wax paper for texture I used a embossing folder by Sizzix with the wax paper. After I ran the folders through my big shot. I tool a piece of Kromecote and put the wax paper on top if it then placed a piece of copy paper on top of that. That's so the wax doesn't mess up your iron. I used my craft iron to melt the wax on to the Kromecote. Then I took my brayer and an ink pad and put some color on it to get the resit from the wax paper. 

This one I used one of the retro texture fades by Tim Holtz and Mowed Lawn Distress ink pad.

The ATC's from that paper

This one I used a diamond embossing folder and Black Soot distress ink pad and then for more fun I  dragged this piece through some bubbles.

The results of that.

 After I cut all the backgrounds to size I glued them on to light-wight cereal box chipboard. I edge the edges with black craft paint.

And what to put the ATC's in after I get them all....in a little book of course! 

The "pages" of the book are 12 x12 papers from Crowded Attic, Lost and Found and Destination by Tim Holtz. I scored  them at 1/2" 2 1/2",6",9 1/2 ans 11 1/2. Then turn it and scored at 3,6, and 9. then folded all the score lines. The book cover  is made out of chipboard that I covered in scrapbook paper.I used Miracle tape to attach the papers to the chipboard along with Aleen's tacky to insure it sticks. I used rubber bands (you can also use hair bands or those shaped band bracelets the kids wear)to attached the pages to the book at the first crease. This way you pull the page out.

The spine where you see the brightly color bands, I dyed some May Arts trim with Espresso Color wash. The one trim was a cream with tan check squares on it. It took the color awesome. I also dyed some of the Raffia by May Arts which turned out great. I also used some brown twain too. I tied them to the rubber bands.

The cover I cut out the one sheet of the Destination paper where it has the alphabet ala license plates. I spelled out Austin ATC. I attached those pieces with Miracle tape. I punched a hole on the front and back cover. The front I put a hitch post, the back I put an eyelet. I made my closure with a swivel clap with some charms in my stash. I put the clasp through the eyelet and one of the charms around the hitch post. On white cardstock I stamped the Texas Barbecue and Woot! with black Memento ink pad. I then distressed them with Vintage photo and Walnut stain distress ink pads. Attached them with Miracle tape.


Stamps used

Bird Head on stick
Flamingo
Sitting Bird
Jump rope girl
One eye monster
If you have crazy
I'm not insane
I'm not weird
Washi chevron background
Washi grid background
Washi reverse grind background
Six hexagon background
brick background
Woot!
Texas Barbecue

Items used
Miracle tape
Kromecote
May Arts
photo paper
various sprays
kids bubbles or dish washing soap
wax paper
plastic wrap
water down craft paints
glossy card stock
craft iron
embossing folders
watercolors
water brush
stickles
lightweight chipboard
Brayer
Mowed Lawn Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo distress ink pads
Black graft paint
Aileen's tacky
Tim Holtz Scrapbook paper
Tim Holtz Hitch post
Tim Holtz swivel claps
Charms
Scrapbook papers
rubber bands


Don't forget Viva Las VegaStamps! is having free shipping until April 25! Great way to stock up on Miracle tape and  to get the new rubber stamps that are now out! :) Code is "freeshipping"