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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Spending a Rainy Day Trying Out a New
Technique using Viva Las Vegas Stamps


I received a Chinese Takeout box of really cool stamps for adding the Viva Las Vegas Stamps web blinky on the left. This was like Christmas day! I have plans for many of these in upcoming projects. After perusing their website, with extensive collections of stamps for any and every occasion, I realized that I had already had some of their stamps in my collection.

These two stamps came to my stash from two ladies in my local altered book club. After referring to my cluttered computer desktop of weblinks "for a rainy day", I knew exactly what image I wanted to compose.



I am trying out the "Black Magic" technique using two Viva Las Vegas Stamps: Skeleton Flashing and Ballerina Dancer. The Black Magic technique creates a dramatic look by stamping on dark cardstock with light ink and coloring it with colored pencils, then adding high contrast with a white gel pen.

I stamped both images to create a scene using Colorbox white pigment ink onto black cardstock then heatset.
Using Berol Prismacolor pencils, I gradually build up layers of color from light to dark over the images. Berol pencils are great for this technique and blend well. Except for a handful of basic colors, I haven't used these much since art school, and I miss my old friends.
A dramatic effect is created with the lighter edges toward the outside blending to darker in the center of the objects. As I layer colors, the Ballerina begins to pop off the page. The dimension in the curtains really have a velvety feel. I continued to add more layers of color to increase contrast and achieve more depth.

At this point, the skelton has become lost in the image, and was reversed in the image when stamped in white. So to repair this, I am stamped him again with Black Onyx Versafine on white coated cardstock.


I heat set, greyed him a bit with Weathered Wood and Pumice Stone distress ink and cut his hands out to place in front of the curtains. I cut the curtains to fit him into the image then add a little more colored pencil to blend in with background seamlessly. I added back some details with a black pigment ink marker and pops of white and gold with gel pens. I added some pale pink gem accents to finish her off. Here are details of each:

HERE IS THE FINISHED MASTERPIECE!

I'm not sure if I'll put this on a card, or perhaps I'll make a faux theatre shadow box..."The Bonecracker Suite". I have so many more stamps from VLVS that I have yet to play with. I encourage you to check out Viva Las Vegas Stamps website, and plan to get lost there for while. Don't forget to visit their blog page, too. There are lots of cool stamping ideas, there, too.

Have a crafty day! Sb

Simply Elegant Card Using Sketch #121
from Unscripted Sketches

Here is my latest creation using Sketch it Saturday's sketch #121 over at Unscripted Sketches.

This is a simply beautiful sketch. I'm actually making a set of 4 coordinating cards with this color palette and I will use three other vintage Unscipted Sketches designs to complete the set.

This paper is My Minds Eye and are scraps that are from my jumbo bag of scraps from the local scrapbooking store. It is a treasure trove of beautiful papers that are perfect for small projects and I'm getting a lot of milage out of . This design is simple, and this patterned paper is subtle and sophisticated with a mosaic pattern. The dragonfly is part of the patterned paper. I colored with a red pencil to tie it in with the circle in the center.

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!
Hope you all have a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend. There's only 2 days until Sketch it Saturday - and only 10 days to go until Sept. 11th "Art Sunny Side Up" craft show. I'm in full crazy mode, getting prepared for the big event.
: ) Sb

Saturday, August 20, 2011

It's all A-Flutter for Sketch it Saturday!!!
Sketch 119 Butterfly "Just Because"

I knew exactly what to use for this week's Sketch it Saturday's sketch #120 from Unscripted Sketches! Butterflies and tons of them. I have all of the Martha Stewart butterfly punches (except the border - it's too busy) and this was the perfect occasion to use them. "Just Because".

Venturing back to my BOTTOMLESS bag-o-scraps, I selected some pretty purple & teal pieces that are My Minds Eye, and some coordinating solids. The round stamped image on the vellum window is Inkadinkado and is really pretty and versatile for different themes. After chalking everybody, my fingers were purple most of the day. I embellished with some gems and my favorite gelly glitter pen...and off we go!
What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

I'm busy making lots of ornaments and other goodies for my big upcoming craft show, "Art Sunny Side Up" on September 11th. I am making a special something for the SWAG goodie bags that are given to the first 100 visitors. Have a great weekend...and kids, don't forget...Monday school starts here in South Florida : ) Sb

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Altered Composition "Think Book"
Unscripted Sketches #119 Reveal


This week's creation using Sketch it Saturday's sketch #119 over at Unscripted Sketches is an altered 8" x 10" composition book - a larger version of the mini book I did a few weeks back...

and just in time for Back-to-School!

I have this seemingly BOTTOMLESS bag-o-scraps that I got at my local SB store which is chock full of coordinating papers that are leftovers from class projects. I'm referring to this bag a lot lately, yet it seems to be getting fuller. Anyway, these papers are Bo-Bunny, not sure which school theme line, but they fit the bill for this week's project. The things to do page is out of a day-timer that has gone unused and ended up in the craft pile. I finished it off with some twill, burgundy colored twine and a teal game piece {the perpetual found object}. Hope you like it : )

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

Wishing you all a great remainder of the week...only two days until Sketch it Saturday -YAY!!!
: ) Sb

Saturday, August 6, 2011

"Boo" says Hooty the Owl
Sketch 118 reveal for Unscripted Sketches

Here is my latest creation using Sketch it Saturday's sketch #118 over at Unscripted Sketches.

A refreshing change of pace from Christmas in July...Halloween!

The vintage Owl is from the blog "The Graphics Fairy". I recently learned of this web-gem...there are loads of vintage freebie personal use digis there...I could spend days viewing all the images, but this one seemed to scream "BOO"! Please show the Graphics Fairy some bloggy love. The BOO is an Inkadinkado stamp embellished with black Gelly Glaze pen and of course, googlie eyes. The green glittler paper has been punched with an EK paper shapers wide border punch {note to self: punch through foil and wax paper before using a new one of these. I had to finish a lot of these diamonds with scissors}.

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

Wishing you all a great week - two craft shows down...one to go on Sept. 11th "Art Sunny Side Up". Best part - it's INDOORS, so if you are in South Florida...come & check it out.
: ) Sb

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Last Christmas in July...arriving in August
Unscripted Sketches #117 Reveal

It's July 30th - and one final Merry Christmas in July! The heatwave continues pretty much everywhere and last week I was down with a cold that my DH brought back from Los Angeles, where it was in the 60s. I guess it's not too hot to get sick. I hope you enjoy this weeks creation.

I used one of my favorite doodled lady stamps with Sketch #117 at Unscripted Sketches. I have handcolored her with marvy markers diluted with a water brush pen.

I have the Dada Bazaar in Delray Beach tonight - and I hope "Emily" stays away for the night.
: ) Sb