ATC Freaky Little Thing by Cheetarah

Hey all, it's Cheetarah here today and I'm sharing an ATC I have made with our wonderful Viva Las VegaStamps! It's based on this month's challenge inspiration board. 

 

The gorgeous blue green colors of the mood board inspired me as well as stamps by Mary Vogel Lozinak! We'd also like to inspire you with words like SPRING! flowers, doodles, buds, whimsical, patterns, checkerboard, stars, wings, Mary Vogel Lozinak, banners, green, teal, white, black... and whatever else you may be inspired from by seeing the mood board.

I've used a fun and easy resist technique for the background with heavy matte medium and ecoline watercolors.

First I took a 6x6 piece of patterned scrap book paper, put a thin layer of gesso over it and then brayered on some Paper Artsy fresco paint Hint of Mint.  You still see a bit of the design of the paper showing through for some muted texture. Then I took a stencil from the Crafter's Workshop and messily applied some heavy gel medium though it with a credit card. After that dried I took some blue and green ecoline water colors and a brush to color the raised aria's. The gel medium will soak up the color and the paint will resist it somewhat. You can take a baby wipe to wipe off excess color around the textured aria. I cut this piece with my ATC die cut to use as my background.


Next I stamped Whimsical Face with horns on ivory paper and colored her in with promarkers. I added some accents with a white gel pen. I find using bold complimentary colors make the image on the foreground pop.



The sentiment She was a freaky little thing was stamped on some left over paper where these wings were stamped on and also had some brick texture on it. I took a black distress crayon to darken the edges of the sentiment as well at the card to give it more dimension. Finally I matted it onto an ivory card stock on which I also darkened the edges with the crayon.

VLVS! Stamps used:
She was a freaky little thing
Whimsical girl with horns
Set of Wings

Others: 
Heavy gel medium
The Crafter's Workshop stencil
Ecoline inks
Letraset promarkers
Paperartsy Fresco paints Hint of Mint
white gelpen
Memento Tuxedo black
Distress crayon in black

Hopefully this will inspire you to play along with this month's challenge as well. 

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful weekend!

A Place for Creative Ideas...

Hello everyone! Susan here with a special project combining Viva Las VegaStamps! with Art Anthology. All week we have teamed up with Art Anthology to bring you tons of inspirational creations. Have you been checking in each day to see all the artsy goodness?

So you don't miss anything please be sure you check out these links:

For Viva Las VegaStamps!

Website: http://www.vlvstamps.com/index.php/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vlvstamps

Blog: http://vivalas.blogspot.com/

For Art Anthology

Art Anthology's Website: www.artanthologyinc.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-Anthology/392413134139071

Blog: www.artanthologyinc.com/blog

Since Earth Day is this week, I have decided to decorate this journal that came to my husband as a goodie from the car dealership. It's a blank book, with lined pages – perfect for jotting down ideas and things to remember... BUT it's not me. Enter Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Emerald and Flourite and Colorations Spray in Wild Orchid along with my stash of VLVS! to decorate this journal in my favorite color PURPLE and also to disguise it from the hubs {so he doesn't realize I swiped this out of the recycling bin - LOL}.

In the process of creating my monoprinted backgrounds - I discovered the Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint works great for a resist technique. Here's what I did...

I started with my Amazing DIY No-Gelatin Printing Plate and set out to make some monoprinted backgrounds using the Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint. I went with the Emerald first and placed some onto my surface and spread out evenly with a brayer. **A note** When monoprinting you have to work quickly with this paint as it dries quickly. I pressed the "Harlequin Diamond Background #18920" stamp into the wet paint and pulled back making a reverse image. I quickly placed the stamp onto another paper to remove the paint and pressed a paper onto my rubber slab to pick up the design.

This is my first pull from the Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Emerald.

 

There was some leftover paint that dried on the plate, but that's OK. I then sprayed the Art Anthology Colorations Spray in Wild Orchid and swiped the print into the beads of color. I blotted away any excess spray from the green painted areas with a paper towel. 

 

Photo on left is full resist background and on right is an up-close detail.

The texture and color is yummy!

How about another! I blotted off the remaining mist onto a blank paper {nothing goes to waste} and applied some of the Art Anthology Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Flourite and spread out with my brayer, then repeated my steps. 

 

This one is even better!!! Some of the Emerald that was dried on the plate was picked up in this second pulled print. I love the contrast of the monochromatic resist - this will be for the front of my notebook.

I trimmed each to fit and adhered to my cover using Miracle Sheets - makes altering notebooks quick and easy. Using a small paintbrush I added some of the Flourite around the edges to distress and get rid of the white edges... really I just wanted to get my fingers all purple. Now I'm ready for a little inky embellishing with some fun stamps!

"A Place for Creative Ideas"

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From Viva Las VegaStamps:

"Harlequin Diamond Background" #18920

"Pure Imagination" #19041

"Ferris Wheel" #16038

"Bee Hung Up" #19164

"London Skyline" #10597

"Triangle Banner" #19043

"Chevron Banner" #19042

Miracle Sheets

StazOn Jet Black Ink

From Art Anthology:

Gemstones ~ Dimensional Paint in Emerald and Flourite

Colorations Spray in Wild Orchid

Other Supplies: white cardstock; recycled notebook; scissors; paper trimmer; small paintbrush; Sakura of America Gelly Roll® Stardust® Pen; and pencil.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Thanks so much for dropping by! Don't forget about the April inspiration board... there's still time to join us and play along with the April 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!

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

Forever & ever

Hello all! Nataliya is here :)
Today I will show you another card with stamping background:

In this time I used  resist effect and sprays for create background. For stamping I took fab VLVS! Clockface 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 (and Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder):

And I adding stamping with my fav mini stamps - Design Open Circles 1 3/4 x 1 3/4  & Undulating Lines Background 1 x 1 1/4. These seemingly simple stamps, allow you to add interesting accents in any work. I LOVE them!

And what about you? Do you like to create backgrounds using VLVS! stamps?

Have a stamping day ;)

Welcome to the MIDWAY!!! Taking a Little Field Trip to the Carnival...

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to bring you take you on a trip to the Carnival. I've spent the last couple weeks taking some workshops in my free time and learning some new things and replenishing my inspiration before heading into the busy holiday crafting season. Today's project uses a couple of fun techniques I picked up at the Creative Chemistry 102 classes last week. I'm totally stuck in all things Halloween - but the current "CARNIVAL" challenge #145 at Drunken Stampers Challenges had me running for the bright bold colors and my new plate #949 of carnival stamps.

Firstly - I took an A2 piece of Kromecote Glossy Cardstock and painted with an assortment of Ranger Alcohol inks and Silver Metallic Mixative using Monoprinting technique. Dripping the metallic along with several colors of ink on the craft mat, then add a little blending solution - then swipe the paper into the colors until it's covered as desired. 

It makes a stunning marbled background. I have a very natural colored variation

also from the ink cleanup... no waste of precious ink here!

The final step is to stamp in the scene using Ranger Black Archival Ink and heatset.

I finished the edges with some Seedless Preserves and Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

For this background paper - I applied the stamping resist technique using Antique Linen Distress Paint. I daubed gently the paint across the stamp, then applied to the patterned paper, then set aside to dry.

Then using an ink blending tool, I blended in several colors of Ranger Distress Inks -

including my hands-down favorite... Seedless Preserves!!!

Lastly, using a damp papertowel - I gently swiped the color off of the painted stamp pattern.

Miracle Tape made this card assemble a snap to showcase these awesome results!

Welcome to the MIDWAY!!!

The finishing touch was to add some Diamond Glaze Dimensional adhesive to the Shoes Hanging from Wire #19194 to make them "POP". I overstamped the Circus Strongman #19189; filling in the missing section of barbell using ink blending tool and seedless preserves ink through a matching sized circle on my circle stencil.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Viva Las Vegastamps! used: Stamps from plate 949 - "The Midway" #19201, Zoltar Machine #19191, Bulls Eye Target Open # 19193, Spinning Swing Ride #19203, Circus Strongman #19189, Shoes Hanging from Wire #19194, Bulls Eye Target Solid #19196; also Triangle Banner #19043; Chevron Banner #19042; and Harlequin Diamond Background #18920. Supplies used: Kromecote cardstock; various Ranger Alcohol inks and silver metallic mixative; various Ranger Distress Inks; Ranger Black Archival Ink; Antique Linen Ranger Distress Paint; Miracle Tape, Diamond Glaze Dimensional adhesive; Circle Stencil and Patterned Cardstock Scraps for card base.

Thanks so much for dropping by. I invite you to play along with the monthly challenge - make a creation using the inspiration and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win! 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. I'll be back soon with another stamping adventure!  Sb

Tag ARTifact from the Pyramids... 12 Tags of 2013 for August Viva Las VegaStamps! Style!!!

Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps! Susan here today to share my take on T!m Holtz' 12 tags of 2013 for August... but done totally Viva Las VegaStamps! Style. Grab your shades... were heading to the Egyptian Pyramids to find some creative treasure.

First on a sheet of freezer paper {because my teflon sheet is currently handling a resin project}, I applied side by side three Ranger Distress Stains - Brushed Pewter, Old Paper, and Antique Linen. I misted my #8 manila tag with a light amount of water then dragged the tag through the puddle of ink. I tapped off the excess liquid and then heat set to dry. 

  

I built up the layers of color with three applications using the same technique above and heat set to dry between layers. The brushed pewter gave a subtle metallic shimmer over the tag that looks like aged sandstone. I overstamped the "Basket Egyptian Goddess" #6101, "Mummy Case/Female" #5806 and "Stylized Dog Border" #9827 using Staz-On Black ink. I also stamped each on acetate and a scrap paper to create masks for layering and scene building.

I prepared my masks, two on acetate and the others on paper and adhered to my tag with some removable adhesive runner. The colored image will not appear where the masked areas are. This process of building scenes is a bit time consuming with fussy cutting - but the end results are AMAZING!

   

I mounted the "Nile Flower Background" #1657 stamp and then began coloring with Ranger Distress Markers adding different colors directly onto the stamp. This is a detailed pattern, so I had to concentrate coloring similar sections. This was quite fun and relaxing coloring this large background. I remoistened the marker applied to the background stamp by breathing on it then stamped onto the tag. 

The "Mummy Case/Female" #5806 was not as clear as I liked on the painted tag, though I did stamp clearly - so I stamped it again onto a brushed gold cardstock, fussy cut and adhered with my Miracle Tape right over the top. This did the trick! The gold gave the pop and extra bling that I desired. I went around the edge with a distressing tool for a frayed effect and rubbed edge with a couple colors of Distress Markers. To finish off - I added a pink pearl gem, some additional hand coloring and some ribbon to the top and bottom and this tag looks like it's an artifact straight from the Egypt.

Tag ARTifact from the Pyramids...

•••••••••••

Supplies used: STAMPS - "Basket Egyptian Goddess" #6101, "Mummy Case/Female" #5806, "Nile Flower Background" #1657, and "Stylized Dog Border" #9827. Other supplies: #8 manila tag; Staz-On Black ink; Miracle Tape; Ranger Distress Markers; Ranger Distress Stains - Brushed Pewter, Old Paper, and Antique Linen; water brush; brushed gold cardstock; pink pearl gem; and ribbon/trim.

Thanks so much for dropping by. I invite you to play along with the monthly challenge - make a creation using the inspiration and your stash of VLVS! stamps... you could win! 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. I'll be back soon with another stamping adventure!  Sb

Taking a Bite out of Art Journaling in my Clairefontaine Journal!

Happy Monday - Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Susan here with my top of the month post. Throughout the month of August, twice a week, the VLVS! Design Team is featuring sketch journals by Clairefontaine. You can see their products HERE.

You can check up on all things journal related at the Rhodia Drive blog: http://rhodiadrive.com/ and also on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rhodia-Drive/98458096197.

As part of this month long event...Viva Las Vegastamps! and Clairefontaine are hosting a contest this month--comment on all the Clairefontaine posts throughout the month to get a chance at a free journal and a $15 coupon to the VLVS! online store! Great prize!! Good luck!! Remember, you can't win if you don't enter!!!

I have made an Art Journal page in my Clairefontaine Journal - using Viva Las Vegastamps! and a technique using my little "happy accidental invention"...MIXERS MIST!

Today I am sharing some in-depth instruction as to how to make your own mists using Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer with Terri Sproul Mixers. I have been loving the bronze mist I made and am so excited to make more colors to play with.

This was my HAPPY ACCIDENT...Terri Sproul MIXERS MIST!!!!

My DISCOVERY: I took the contents of my water cup containing the glittery goodness leftover from washing my brushes while painting with Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers and I poured this into an empty spray bottle. This is a lovely, sheer shimmery spray - very subtle on light paper. I now have a large spray bottle of this and I am using this mixture as a base to make a whole family of mixer mists!

 

To do this I have rummaged my house and reclaimed every spray bottle I can get my hands on. I have here an assortment of recycled travel size hair/body sprays, some Ranger Mini Misters, and some small mini sprayers from Sky Blue Pink.

**PLEASE NOTE** The wash water is directly from the cup. I'm not sure how much Crystal Lacquer is actually in it. But the bronze mixer - I made from scratch. I filled about 1/2 bottle with water {one of those 1 oz. travel size sprayers}, a few scoops on a toothpick of bronze & copper penny mixers and a squirt of CL. Not so much that it's sticky - just enough so the shimmer will stick to the paper you spray it on. The mini mister tubes don't hold very much liquid {maybe a dozen sprays or so}, this is why I started with the wash water mix as a base. There is nothing else in my wash water except for Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers.

Below are the tester papers I made for the colors I've mixed so far. I added a swatch of black paper to each so I could see how these worked on dark papers. The bronze, gold, silver and interference colors worked best on the black paper. An unexpected result: the colored mists really didn't show up at all - they just leave a white splatter. On white - all of the colors worked beautifully - even the interference violet. The scanner and photographs can't capture all the shimmer reflections - but I promise, the glittery goodness is there!

  

  

I labeled each card with the color combinations. I'm so excited to play with these!

With my MIXERS MISTS in hand - I got out my stamps, resist ink and black ink, some sea salt granules and punchinella to make a fun background in my art journal. I sprayed several colors on first layer then let dry and then heat set to make sure it was entirely dry.

This art journal page feature these VLVS stamps: Shark Head Large #4018, "Some Days I Feel Like..." #891 quote bubble, Sailboat Harbor #9863, Design/Tight Curlyques #9795, and Texture/Yarn Balls #9731. I love to use the stamps to build scenes, and use stamps to give detail or texture.

The lovely Clairefontaine Journal features an 83lb pH neutral, acid-free drawing paper with a smooth satin finish, solid hardboard covers and a flexible plexi protective front cover. I was so happy to have a shiny new book in which to art journal in and this book has a nice large spiral to allow my pages room to grow  with my chunky mixed media creations.

I stamped my images with black Memories Ink by Stuart Superior and masked areas I wanted to protect from colored mists. I also used Ranger Resist Ink pad to stamp texture with "Texture/Yarn Balls" to simulate splashed water.

I sprayed several layers and colors of my mixers mists. I also sprinkled sea salt granules around shark base and fins - this will repel color as it drys and give a nice bleach texture.

Detail of salt granules as misted colors dry.

Page when dry and salt granules and masks removed. I really love the variegation of the color mists. To add color and detail, I drew and colored on top with Ranger Distress Markers and the paper texture was perfect {no pilling or fiber breakdown}. I also took care in not over-wetting or rubbing the damp paper too much. I finished off by dry brushing water splash with ice blue acrylic paint and white gesso. I stamped along the bottom with the curlyques and hand drew in some waves with Black Soot Distress Marker.

I have to say the paper in the Clairefontaine Journal has a wonderful smooth texture and held up nicely to the misting with limited warping. I have made a couple other pages that applied several layers of colors using stencils and I was really impressed with the durability of the paper.

Thanks so much for dropping by today! Pop on over to the Viva Las Vegastamps! store - loads of new stamps have just been added - Halloween, Christmas and many more! Check your latest newsletter - there is a free shipping coupon code that is good through August 8th!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back with another stamping adventure on August 12th. Hope you have an inky day! Sb