Don't Blink | September Challenge Inspiration | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

It's Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I am sharing a piece I created recently that was inspired by this month's awesome "For the Birds" challenge. It also showcases one of the amazing new release stamps, which I couldn't wait to use!

Here's a look at this month's challenge inspiration...

One of my arty friends has been using index cards a lot lately, and I was inspired by the pieces she has been creating to use an index card for my project. (One of the good things about index cards, is that they are almost exactly the same size as a standard photo, so they fit nicely into 6x4" photo frames!)

Here is my card inspired by the challenge...

To begin my project, I used some gel matt medium to adhere some book paper onto the index card. I then applied heavy white gesso using a brush. I chose to use a brush as I wanted the texture of the brush strokes to show through; but in hindsight, next time I will go a little thinner with the gesso so the text is more visible on the finished piece.

After the background was prepared; I used black Staz On ink and the new Raven Looking Up stamp as the focal image of my piece. I then added some tree branches across the top and bottom of the card using the Branch Antlers stamps. I also inked around the edges of my card.

Next, it was time for some colour! I wanted my piece to have an eerie feel, so I opted for green as the main colour. I used Faber-Castell gelatos to scribble gently onto the card, then used a baby wipe to blend the colour out.

I started with the darkest shade around the edges of the card, moving towards lighter shades in the middle. In the centre of the card I used a yellow, blended with a small amount of green; and along the edge of the raven's silhouette I also added a small amount of orange.

Once the colour was complete, it was time to add some text. I used the recently released That Look of Otherness stamp and combined it with Don't Blink to form my focal quote. I stamped each of them out on some scrap white cardstock, then used the orange gelato and a baby wipe for blending to add a small amount of colour over the top.

I then cut the words out and inked the edges of each piece with black ink. To add some texture to my project, I added some messy white cotton thread before sticking the pieces of the quote down.

To finish off, I used Colour Blast 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink and a small brush to add some fine splatters randomly around the card.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you.
Don't forget to enter this month's challenge for your chance to win some new rubber and a feature spotlight on the Viva Las VegaStamps blog. (Link your entries HERE)
I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used:

- Raven Looking Up

- Branch Antlers

- That Look of Otherness

- Don't Blink 

Other materials:

- Index card

- Book paper

- Mont Marte gel matt medium

- Colour Blast white heavy gesso

- Tsukineko Staz On ink

- Faber-Castell gelatos

- Colour Blast 'Soot' Colour Artist Ink

- Baby wipes (for blending)

- White cotton thread

- Liquid adhesive

Find your Dream - Inspiration Art Tile by Cheetarah

Hi everyone, it's Cheetarah here today and I'd like to share with you an inspiration art tile on a 4x4 inch cardboard I made using some great Viva Las VegaStamps! images. These tiles are meant to be hung anywhere you pass daily, to remind/inspire you with a saying or image. I am planning on making more of these, but today I am showing you one and describe the technique. A full list of stamps and supplies are listed at the bottom of the post. 

So I started off with collaging some left over papers from previous projects with matte soft gel. Added some blue decoArts media paint and stamped the woman's face in so that it looks like she is peeking through the layers. I have used a doily tile stencil in the upper right corner and the lower left for some texture. Then covered the dried stencil first with a light coat of black gesso and then a light coat of Paper Artsy hint of mint. I took the postcard ATC stamp for some stamping in the background with Staz-On Midnight blue. The sprinkled some Lindy's magicals in Hi maintance magenta en time travel teal, activated it with water and let the colors work its magic!

The sentence was formed with VLVS! text stamps. These are so versitile and it's fun to create your own saying with them.  The large word dream I have cut out with my Making Memories Slice, and covered it with the same coating (black gesso and hint of mint) as I did the background only darker. Before I adhered the word to the tile, I rubbed some gold fluid acrylic paint (from DecoArtsMedia) with my finger over the texture so the word would stand out more. 

Also dry brushed with the tip of my fingers over the top textures part for more sparkle. The eye and lips are colored with Wink of Stella shimmer pens and I added some white spatters with a fluid acrylic and a fan brush. I lined the tile with a Krink waterproof marker and called it done. 

Stamps used:

Whimsical Lady's face with tears 

Find your tribe 

Have the courage

Postcard ATC size 

Others:

Gel medium

Black Gesso

Paper Artsy Hint of Mint 

DecoArts Media fluid acrylics, blue gold and white

Doily tile stencil

wink of stella shimmer pens

staz on stamping ink

Lindy's magicals

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Courageous Mother Nature - Mixed Media card by Cheetarah

Hey everyone, I'm back this week to show you a Mixed Media card I made inspired by this month's Challenge Inspiration Board.

Beautiful isn't it? I got inspired by the nature elements and the green and purple colors.

To start off I went on building layers to get the background texture you see in the card.

The base of this card is a 6x6 scrapbook paper on which I applied light a coating of gesso and then glued on all the paper scraps I keep on collecting at the edge of my desk into a square / diamond shape. I glued it all with modge podge so it's also sealed well. When I was satisfied with the basic shapes I went on to add more texture with a stencil and modeling paste.

I chose dots for a nice contrast with the square shapes and applied messily and let dry and adding more in various places over the card. It's going to be covered up with paint so it doesn't matter if some paste seeps though or is uneven, because it's about the texture! You can see the process of the base HERE. When I was done with the modeling paste I sealed it with Modge Podge shimmer varnish to smooth it out and have a secure base to get the paint to run.

Then comes the fun part, dabbing distress paint on your textured background and get it all colored up! I started off with lighter colors first, chose the left edge, dabbed ink and sprayed water on to get it to run to the right. Dried each layer with a heating tool to set the colors and to get them to stay crisp. I went on until I was satisfied with the color blend and saturation. 

I chose the whimsical tree lady to be my focal point and I stamped and colored her on tissue paper. Adhered it with soft matte gel medium. Did the same with the "she was courageous" sentiment. Before I adhered these to the card I stamped some more nature themes stamps on the card with Staz-on inks in corresponding colors. 

Mother nature was written with Zig wink of Luna in purple and green. And then with a faber castell pitt artist marker. Also doodled around the edges with these colors. I like how it pops from the card. 

Oh by the way, the sun I made on the top left is done with stamping Doodle Circle stamp inked with mustard seed and carved pumpkin distress paints. I just used a brayer to adhere the ink and stamped until the color was opaque enough. I adhered the piece to a turquoise color double card, rounded the edges and called it done.

Stamps used:

Whimsical Tree Lady Nude 

She was courageous 

Doodle circle 

Doodle flower garden 

Others: 

Modeling paste

Modge Posdge Matte Medium and shimmer varnish 

Distress paints 

Zig Wink of Luna brush pens
Faber Castell pitt artist markers 

Staz-on Inks 

Memento Inks 

Alcohol markers 

Tissue paper
Carabelle Studio and the Crafter's workshop Stencils

Hope this inspired you to play along with this month's challenge :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

February Challenge

Welcome to our February Challenge!

We're inspiring you with words like bold, patterns, zentangle, rays, stripes, circles, distressed, grungy, purple, black and white, splash of, Mary Vogel Lozinak, characters, checkerboard, whimsical and more!

Don't forget the rules:

-Create a new project based on our inspiration board (it has to be posted this month, but you can certainly link up to other challenges as well!)

-Use at least one (but certainly more if you want) Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps

(We are now allowing competitors stamps to be on your work, but please make VLVS! the focus of the project, thank you.)

-Post it to your blog with a link back to us

-Upload to our linky using your direct blog post link (You may also upload via facebook, flickr or other gallery)

You could win a Project Spotlight post on our blog + some new rubber of course.

And visit us back here for inspiration! 

An InLinkz Link-up

VLVS! & Die-Namites Dies Day 2

Welcome to day TWO of the Christmas Blog Hop between Viva Las VegaStamps! and Die-Namites Dies.

All week long our Design Team is hopping with the Die-Namites Dies Design Team to bring you tons of Christmas inspiration just in time for the holiday! Be sure to visit each day and leave comments on all the posts involved, because there ARE Prizes to be won! Two big prizes full valued at $50 full of DIES and STAMPS!

Today we are being joined by GLENDA TKALAC.

A bit from Glenda "Hellooooo! We over at Viva Las VegaStamps! have teamed up with Die-Namites for a blog hop!!!!!! Yes, that's right! How exciting is that?? I was super excited to do my project and without further adieu here is an ATC I made:

Does that look like one happy nun or what??? Just looking at this card makes me smile and feel the joy of the upcoming Christmas season!! I used the fabulous Deck the tree die as well as the Nun with hands up stamp, the Waybill invoice background, the Chevron banner AND the Bring on the twinkle stamp. That's right, 4 stamps on this little itty bitty ATC!! Stop by my blog  to see some step by step pictures and I hope you enjoyed my project!"

Leave her some love and be sure to stop by the Die-Namites blog to see what those girls are up to today!

August Challenge

Hello hello hello!! It's sweltering hot here in the desert and our August Prompt kind of speaks to that!

First please visit back to our July Challenge and check out what the talented entries have linked up.

Now for our challenge this month :

Please feel free to enter any type of project; altered art, ATCs, cards, layouts, journal pages and more! Also, be inspired by whatever you want; the rays, orange, grunge, black, bombs, Banksy, rats, chains, girls on swings, splatters, drips and drops. Just go for it :) Visit us this time next week for July's winner!


Don't forget the rules:
-Create a new project based on our inspiration board
-Use at least one (but certainly more if you want) Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps
(We are now allowing competitors stamps to be on your work, but please make VLVS! the focus of the project, thank you.)
-Post it to your blog with a link back to us
-Upload to our linky using your direct blog post link (You may also upload via facebook, flickr or other gallery)

You could win a Project Spotlight post on our blog + some new rubber of course.

And visit us back here tomorrow for some inspiration from Amy Lassiter.

An InLinkz Link-up

IMAGINE Crafts & Viva Las VegaStamps! Day 7

 

Welcome to the IMAGINE Crafts and Viva Las VegaStamps! Blog Hop. For the next week, our two design teams will be featuring some amazing projects featuring products from both our companies. Amazing stamps require amazing ink, right?

Mixed Media Prize Package

We're proud to announce your chance to win one of three different Mixed Media Prize Packages from IMAGINE Crafts and Viva Las VegaStamps! You have until midnight PST on Sunday, May 31st 2014 to comment on as many of the Design Team Blog Posts from this week as possible. On Monday, June 1st we’ll draw three random blog posts and one comment from each of those posts will win a prize package!

Ready for some inspiration from our artists?

Here's today's posts from IMAGINE Crafts:

Sylvia Blum

Nancy Hawes

And from Viva Las VegaStamps!:

Mell Pell Mell

IMAGINE Crafts used:
Radiant Neon, VersaFine, Memento Luxe, Fireworks!, Walnut Ink, Creative Medium, GooseBumps, Sponge Daubers.

Viva Las VegaStamps! used:
Be An Adventurer, One Way, One Way Small, Children Playing on Toy Car, Map Background, Washi Grid Background.


Mellpellmell says "As you remember I've shared simple card I've made for my friend who is the avid traveler. So now I'll show you picture-motivator made for her too))) Of course It's about traveling too))) At first I made ​​the background with structural pastes and mask. Then I added color and depth for background using Fireworks!, Walnut Ink, and the stamps. Then I added different paper scraps a little, rub-ons and stamp (Children Playing on Toy Car ), painted with watercolor. At the very end I added an incredibly (!) beautiful splashes using the GooseBumps and some pen lines." Get full details on her blog.

If you're just joining us on the Mixed Media Blog Hop, here' the links to the previous days posts: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

***Blog Hop Hint – if you click on a link that takes you to a page saying something like, “Sorry this page cannot be found” just click on the header at the top of the blog (usually a picture or the blog’s name) and it will take you to that blog’s most recent post. That post *should* be our hop. If not, you can probably scroll down a short way to find the hop post.

ALSO >> We're having a DESIGN TEAM CALL. Stop by and check it out :) 

Box through the looking glass {Inspiration by mellpellmell}

Hi))

It's me Maria Potapovich (mellpellmell) here today. 

This is my inspiration for the March Challenge.

Seeing in this challenge an excellent opportunity to make a "strange little box", I took up the stamps and cardboard.

This box is made ​​of cardboard and covered with scrapbooking paper.

The filling of bottles - seed beads, thread and colored  felting wool.

I've used the Flying Eye Insect , Window Fish, Whimsical Owl in Clothes and Through The Looking Glass stamps.

Of course, I added a bit of embossing powder, watercolor, gesso and acrylic ink.

Well, now it's your turn to show how you  "have read" our inspirational challenge!

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♥

Clearsnap + VLVS! Day #1

Hello Friends!!

Welcome to the first day of our inspiration week between Clearsnap and Viva Las VegaStamps!

First up today we have miss Aimee Fleck with this gloriously bright journal page :

 

Aimee used the following VLVS! stamps:

Harlequin diamond background #18920

Share Your Sparkle #18409

Washi Grid back Ground #19074

Bird on Elephant #18485

She used Candleglow smooch spritz by Clearsnap to color the trim as well as Sea kiss spritz, Splash spritz, and Cherry Ice spritz, Sassy Pink smooch, Siren, Azure smoch, Pumpkin smoch, Gold Lame smooch, and Green Apple smooch on the rest of her page.  

Other: Watercolor paper or canvas paper, Nested dies & die cut machine, or elecgtronic die cut machine, White card stock, Black card stock, Bling, Embossing ink, VLVS Super Gloss clear embossing powder, Stapler/Tiny Attacher

Tulle trim, Heat gun, Scissors, Washi tape, Craft Glue.

Second we have the fabulous EllenBee:

 VLVS! used:

Earth #15264 

With Enough Coffee  #15917

Miracle Tape
Clearsnap used:  Bronze Ink and Copper Smooch. Ellen colored her rhinestones with smooch!
Other: mini coffee notebook, May Arts ribbon, various papers.

Don't forget to hop over to the Clearsnap Blog and see what they have to share today!!
(P.S. don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win the plate o' rubber of your choice!) 

Inspiration Week!!

Join us Monday to celebrate a week long festival of inspiration.

What goes better with stamps than INK? Nothing of course!! (except maybe more beautiful stamps)

Welcome to the table.. CLEARSNAP INC!

Starting Monday both VLVS! and Clearsnap will be sharing a surplus of beautiful projects showcasing both stamps and ink! 

Join us and be inspired, plus stick around for a chance to win some prizes!

DD Inspiration Day #2

Hello!! Welcome to our week full of inspiration using Plate1430! Stay tuned all week for some amazing works in which the Viva Las VegaStamps! Design Team has utilized our "December Daily" plate.

Today I have two stunning posts for you!!
The first is by Aimee, a long time DT member for VLVS! and a lover of all things wiener dogs! Check out her super fun and FULL album:

Besides the December Daily plate, Aimee used stamps:Lighted Christmas Tree 12813

Santa With Candy Cane 17830

Santa Reading List 17832

Harlequin Diamond Background 18920

Dachshund with Antlers 10991

Santa's Face 17828

Pine Branch 4526

Miracle Tape 1/4"

and Ultra High Gloss EP

Other supplies: Tiny Attacher, tag punch, Graphic 45 chip board album, Glitz designs papers, Zip Dry glue, bling, ribbons, trims, Glitz embellishments, Prima wood buttons, Distress Inks, Memento inks, Adirondack inks, card stock, scissors, heat gun, colored pencils, Stickles, craft knife & glass mat (to trim card stock around the fancy edge), dies & die cut machine, letter stickers.

Next up we have Ellen!! Ellen has taken the December Daily plate and used in a Birthday Month Meandering Mini!!!

Besides the Plate1430 Ellen used:Miracle Tape - 1/8" and 1"

Practice Random Acts of Kindness

and May Arts Black Leather Ribbon

Other supplies : 12" x 12" Kraft paper, 7 Gypsies Paddington paper, Index cards, Vintage Photo Distress Ink

 Directions

Using the Kraft paper make  a 3" square Meandering Mini Album. (There are lots of YouTube Tutorial videos with great directions.) You will need to use the 1/8" Miracle Tape to attach the pages together.  

Cut  sixteen 2  3/4" squares of Paddington paper. Attach using 1" Miracle Tape to Kraft pages.

Stamp out numbers from the December Daily Plate onto plain paper. Cut and attach to Index cards. Add your Random Acts of Kindness.

For the cover cut two pieces of 3 1/2" square cardboard. Cover both front and back with paper and attach to Meandering Mini using the 1" Miracle Tape.

Decorate the cover and tie with leather ribbon from May Arts.

Enjoy giving gifts to strangers in celebration of your Birthday!

See!! Each day - new ways to use the plate! Leave a comment for your chance to own the whole plate! Come back tomorrow :) 

DD Inspiration Day #1

Hello!! Welcome to our week full of inspiration using Plate1430! Stay tuned all week for some amazing works in which the Viva Las VegaStamps! Design Team has utilized our "December Daily" plate.

I love giving the team a theme, or certain stamp to use and seeing how each project turns out completely unique and wonderful.

First up we have Kersten!! She's put together this lovely Soltice Shrine for us to feast our eyes upon. The color palate is to die for, and the whole piece makes my mouth water:

Here are the steps used to create this beauty:

1.  Wash and dry tin.  Pry apart and set the top aside for a future project.

2.  Gesso the tin so as to cover all images, etc.  I used white, but black could be used just as effectively.

3.  Paint with acrylics using two shades of blue, teal and turquoise.  I was hoping for a northern lights effect.

4.  When completely dry, stamp back and sides with December Daily images. I used all images associated with December 21st, the date of Winter Solstice.

5.  Layer two pieces of patterned, snowflake card stock inside the tin.  Adhere with Miracle Tape.

6.  Stamp snowflakes on top of patterned paper and inside tin.  Apply glue to all areas around snowflakes.  Shake Stampendous Shaved Ice Glitter on top of glue.  Shake away loose glitter when finished.

7.  Stamp goddess on Kromecote Cardstock.  Color in with Copics and Distressed Ink markers.  Layer goddess into tin so that she rests higher than the Shaved Ice Glitter.  Add punched snowflake with star embellishment.

8.  Add quote to goddess.

9. Glue in small tinsel wrap around inside of tin.

10. Cut "Winter Solstice" letters and add to front of tin.

11.  Add embellishments at the top:  beads and sun button.

12.  Finally, clear emboss snowflakes on back of tin and add silver stars.

Along with Plate1430, Kersten used Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle, large snowflake, medium snowflake and small snowflake. She also used the Lady with arms up stamp which was stamped on Kromecote cardstock.

Second for today is this piece by Lea. She's put together this beautiful altered tray for us! Lea really has a huge passion for stamping and never fails to impress with her skills:

Lea purchased the shadowbox and added wire (drill screw 1/2 way, wrap wire around screw and then finish drilling all the way in)

Large rectangle:  decorative paper spruced up with rub ons to add more contrast.  add green paper, then the library date due paper. Had an old fashion date stamp- stamped Dec. 25 Rec'd on it.  Distressed a bit, added rub on as a "bridge" to tie all papers together. Santa was colored with Copics.  Gel pen, white, used on beard for different texture - Copic gray added for shadows.Christmas tree I used Plaid's Papier Metallic Pearl White paper paint.  Adds dimension for more real snow look - sprinkled USAQ Crystal Effects (the smallest glitter possible). Christmas sentiment rub on.  Glue Dots pulls Santa forward.

Top Square:  Stamp Daily 25 in Grape Memento ink.  Studio G gold paint brush to paint numbers and half the stripes.  Green Copic for the rest of stripes.  "Joy" from Daily plate alphabet  - put letters on block and stamp on white cardstock, edge.  Add bulb.  Rub on on top to add an extra pattern.

Other 2 Squares:  Rub on to match rectangle, tiny bit of Crystal Effects added.  Bottle Cap adhered.  Bottom square, rub on on bottom (top square has same rub on, on top ) to add a pattern, pointsettia adhered. Shadowbox can be set on a shelf or table, hung by wire, hung on a tree or door of a room, etc.

Now leave these ladies some love (it enters you into a giveaway for plate1430, also!) and come back every day this week for new ways to use our December Daily plate!