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Showing posts with label Viva Las Vegastamps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Viva Las Vegastamps. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Getting Back to my INKY Roots...



Hello creative friends! I hope you all are enjoying the new year. I know I haven't been around too much lately as I have been battling the seasonal green meanies that have been going around.


It's been ages since my rubber stamps have seen the light of day so I applied to rejoin the Viva Las VegaStamps! Design Team and my fingers are happily stained again! Today is my first post over at VLVS!... an ATC that is reflective of my trip home to Chicago at Christmas - and this time it was too warm and rainy for snow. CLICK HERE to jump over!




I got this super cute slouchy winter hat for my birthday and I wore it everyday while traveling {jeesh - I need some practice taking selfies}. Goes perfect with my fresh start for the New Year!

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Supplies From Viva Las VegaStamps: "Face Collage" #18378"Dream" #18886"Happy New Year" #3721alphabet from the December Daily Plate #1430; and Miracle Tape. Other Supplies: Faber-Castell PITT Pens {various nibs/colors}; Faber-Castell Gelatos; cardstock scraps and recycled book page; Tsukineko New Sprout Fireworks spray; waterbrush; and black archival ink.

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Thanks for dropping by! Have a fantastic Day! :) Sb

Friday, September 19, 2014

#Cre8time in a DASH... Quick Makes and My Take on CAS


Happy Friday everyone! It's that time again... time for another one of my "Thoughtful Abstractions" columns at Unruly PaperArts. This month's GOTTA DASH ISSUE at Unruly PaperArts... dedicated to quick and easy makes and Clean and Simple Designs to inspire your Cre8time. This was a particularly interesting challenge for me as my creations usually take on a life of their own {and not usually quick or simple} but I found the CAS style refreshing and inspiring! In looking back at some of my creations, a style I'm quite fond of and visit often.


Please CLICK HERE to view my Thoughtful Abstractions column in the Unruly PaperArts GOTTA DASH ISSUE. I'm just buzzing with tips and ideas for making your Cre8time quick, easy and fun! Below I have rounded up some other CAS makes that I'm quite fond of that have some interesting twists - Enjoy! 


This card features a mosaic pattern of inchie stamps layered with a dimensional butterfly embellishment. These were 6 separate stamps {Inkadinkado} that I grouped on my acrylic block before stamping. You could get the same effect by cutting up a patterned paper, photo or stamped image into squares and spacing in a mosaic fashion.


Recognize these cute little gifts??? They are from a large sheet of patterned paper with these all over the page. Use those busy papers by cutting out the images and making fun and FLAT card embellishments. The center gift is topped with a ribbon bow for that perfect finishing touch!


How about stamp a border to set off that perfect stamped sentiment? I've transformed solid cardstock into my own patterned paper by just lining up and repeating one stamp with my feature image set off with a co-ordinating matte {all stamps from VLVS!}.


The feature of this card is the lovely clutch of hand-colored bunnies {stamp from VLVS!}. I made this card special by adding some pops of color with the flower embellishments and a hand cut fringed/coiled grass matte for a little whimsy.


These quick and easy makes don't keep me limited to just cards... I can apply the same techniques in customizing a plain wicker box into something a little more "PERSONAL" {all stamps from VLVS!}. Even when you are short on time, your imagination can still be front and center!

I hope you are inspired and are ready to go run and make something!


Are you a NITE OWL who loves "The DARK of NIGHT"??? That's the theme for this month's Reader's Art Quest at Unruly PaperArts. This is a perfect prompt for Halloween and blustery fall creations. One lucky creation linked up via inLinkz will be randomly chosen to win a fabulous prize package from our sponsor this month Eyelet Outlet and Brads!CLICK HERE for the details!

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Thanks for visiting. Have a fabulously creative day :) Sb

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Five Sundays in August... brings an Extra Day of #Cre8time!!!




Good Morning Everyone! It's the last weekend in August... and also Labor Day Weekend... the last weekend of summer as kids are heading back-to-school. Today brings an extra special challenge over at Anything But a Card Challenges!

The moon and stars have aligned to give us an EXTRA Sunday this month which messes up our 3 +1 system of challenges. Today is another FIFTH SUNDAY! This is an oddity in the calendar that is happening several times in 2014... SO we have added this fun MINI-Challenge today here at Anything But a Card Challenges!!! Are you ready to play and have some fun??!

ALSO we are adding to our team here at Anything But a Card Challenges... CLICK HERE to view our DT call which closes Sept. 13th. We encourage you to apply! ABAC has no sponsors + no expectations + no having to use particular stuff! No Rules and a variety of themes and possible makes = doing projects you REALLY want to do! We are all about CREATING and SHARING... ABAC is all inclusive – and all levels of expertise are welcome too. If you love to create everything under the sun that is NOT CARDS... throw your hat in and apply!


The Fifth Sunday Challenge... "USE FIVE"!! Use the number 5 or five items, five colors, five words... what ever FIVE represents to you. For those who want to go a little more literal - here's the definition, too! Loads of inspiration could be had over at Wikipedia's page for 5 (number).

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five (faɪv)
n.
1. a cardinal number, four plus one.

2. a symbol for this number, as 5 or V.

3. a set of this many persons or things.

4. a five-dollar bill.

adj.
5. amounting to five in number.

[before 1000; Middle English; Old English fīf; c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon fīf, Old High German fimf, finf, Old Norse fimm, Gothic fimf, Latin quīnque, Greek pénte, Skt pancha]

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Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. Please mention and LINK BACK to the Anything But a Card Challenges Fifth Sunday Challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)


Now to my project. From time to time, I join swaps with different groups I am in. The "FIVE" challenge helps reign things in when you have a broad theme to go with. So here are my five things that I used to create my ATCs:

1. a theme "down the rabbit hole"
2. a leftover sheet of marbelized painted paper {I made a bunch of these one day}
3. some fun rubber stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps!
4. a new fun harlequin washi tape I got at the Dollar Tree
5. ink pads for stamping images and distressing


My painted paper happens to also use five colors of Ranger Distress Paint... imagine that! One day a while back, I painted a bunch of sheets in different colors using this technique - once you get going... it's pretty easy and fun to do a bunch as you wait for paper to dry a bit between adding more layers of color.


This is loosely based on T!m Holtz' marbeling technique where you apply multiple colors of distress paint to your craft sheet, mist with water and drag the paper though the paint. I added all the colors in a splotchy fashion, and sprayed a lot of water which gives a more watercolor effect when paper is dragged.


I drag once, then respray more water to the craft sheet to pick up another layer of color. I repeat this until I've mopped up all the paint from my craft sheet. The colors are more muted, but there is a lot more pattern and texture from the paint floating in beads of water.

With a nice sheet to work with, I cut it down to make my ATC card blanks and set to work on the stamping and layering of elements. One special stamping trick I did was to layer two stamps on top of each other, the girl and a keyhole - placing the keyhole over one of her eyes; then I trimmed 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 from VLVS! and I thought it went perfectly for the quirky white rabbit whose always proclaiming, "I'm Late!" These came together really quickly and they were fun to make.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you will play along in the FIVE challenge at ABAC and consider applying for the DT call and join our team of designers. Happy Sunday! :) Sb

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Countdown to #Doctor Twelve... Blue Police Box in Amazing Clear Cast Resin


Hello Everyone! I'm so excited that the long wait is almost over and the new season of Doctor Who begins in just 5 days. I have a several projects of WHOvian nature just for this week as the excitement builds.

Remember a while back I created a pendant from a rubber stamp using Amazing Mold Putty and Amazing Casting Resin??? Today, I am sharing another mold that I've created to show the AMAZING detail captured by Amazing Mold Rubber... except this is a FANDOM favorite – the Blue Police Box from Doctor Who.

**PLEASE NOTE** I am the illustrator of this stamp and have obtained permission from the manufacturer, Viva Las VegaStamps! in order to do this {and for the pendant done previously}. Before doing a project such as this - please check with each stamp company's ANGEL POLICY to make sure you aren't in violation.


This mold I created along with several others prepared when mixing an entire container of Amazing Mold Rubber {please CLICK HERE to view mixing/preparation}. When the mold was cured, I painted a variety of blue, gold and pearl Alumidust directly to the mold using a fine paintbrush, and poured a layer of Amazing Clear Cast Resin. I could have used this "AS IS" but I wanted it to have the glowing bright blue color of a proper vessel for time travel.


This is easily remedied! I placed resin piece back into mold and I prepared a small batch of Amazing Clear Cast Resin by mixing equal parts of "A" and "B" {CLICK HERE to view preparation}. To that I added a couple dabs of Blue Alumidust using a recycled coffee stir stick from Starbucks. I just picked a bit up on the end of the stick about 3 times.


I stirred completely, then poured
on top of the cured resin piece.


I used the stick to spread evenly
and fill the remaining space in the mold.


After curing overnight – my Blue Police Box is truly GLOWING! I trimmed off the flashing with scissors and gently filed the edges with an emory board. Now I have a companion embellishment to go with my "Ode to the Raggety Man {Doctor 11}" Mini Book. CLICK HERE to jump over see my "Companion" Doctor WHO Mini Book.


A glowing BLUE BOX
for my Time Traveler!

I need to make a little trip to the hardware store... an then I have some special plans for my resin blue box.

Stay tuned... I will be sharing more WHOvian creations throughout the week! :) Sb

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Gone #Cre8time Fishin' for Anything But a Card Challenges No. 37



Good Morning! I'm traveling this weekend... but I still manage to squeeze in a little creative time here and there. Today for the current Anything But a Card Challenge No. 37, I have a fun Summertime tag to share that I made for a tag swap at Viva Las VegaStamps! Please CLICK HERE to jump over to see the other creations by our fantastic design team at ABAC.


The current Challenge... Anything But a Card Challenge #37 - "ANYTHING GOES"!! With the summer season in full swing full of vacations, days at the beach and summer camp – we thought we'd go with an OPEN THEME!!! Feel free to break out some supplies you haven't used in a while, try something new or create whatever your muse desires... as long as it's anything but a card!


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Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. Please mention and LINK BACK to this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight July 26th giving you one week to play along and ENJOY the creative process! Look forward to another Artist Spotlight + Mini Challenge next Sunday to keep you inspired.


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Now for a little more about my tag...

I'm sharing some creative magic today combining stamping with Amazing Mold Rubber along with my favorite new friends... my Faber-Castell Gelatos®

I joined a summer themed tag swap at Viva Las VegaStamps! and I wanted to have a painterly background to showcase my stamped images. Faber-Castell Gelatos® are my current favorite go with me everywhere tool and this was a perfect occasion to do a little Cre8time experimentation with monoprinting on my AMAZING No-Gelatin Rubber Plate

**To view mixing and preparation of Amazing Mold Rubber and how I created my AMAZING No-Gelatin Rubber Plate CLICK HERE! To view a second video which is a test run on my faux gelatin plate... and my FIRST TRY at Gellin' – CLICK HERE.



Using an assortment of yellow, green and blue Gelatos®, I colored directly to my AMAZING No-Gelatin Rubber Plate. I added a few spritzes of water and then pressed a natural color cardstock onto the top, rubbed and pulled off the monoprint.


The yellow is pretty strong and still has some color left after the first print. I added a little more blue and green, spritzed again and repeated to create a half dozen prints with similar color... each with it's own painterly personality.


Here's what two of my collection of Gelatos®
monoprints looked like before stamping.


The completed tag comes to life after adding some stamped and inky goodness! I trimmed my papers to tag shape, added some VLVS! stamp images and added touches of color with Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens applied like watercolors using a water brush. I added some shimmer the airstream using my Gelly Stardust Hologram pen and topped off with some colorful ribbons and fibers. It's total summer fun!!!


Now it's time for project cleanup {boo-hoo}. Despite my best efforts, the Gelatos stained my AMAZING No-Gelatin Rubber Plate and wouldn't wash off very easily {they do have a bit of a waxy composition to them}. No worries! I have a crafty fix-it... pour resin on it and peel it off! I rubbed a sheet of blank cardstock over to make sure it was completely DRY and FREE of water/moisture before proceeding with resin.

My apologies I didn't get a photo of the resin mixing/pouring step {CLICK HERE for mixing/preparation of Amazing Casting Resin}. I prepared a small batch of Amazing Casting Resin and poured directly on top of Gelatos – spreading around with stir stick evenly to edges. For added stability and to help speed up curing of thin layer of Amazing Casting Resin, I gently pressed a crumpled sheet of deli paper into the liquid resin – careful not to press so hard to squeeze the resin out off the edges of the rubber plate. Just enough to get a bond of resin to paper.


When cured after about 20 minutes, I gently peeled the resin back from the rubber plate which completely removes all of the Gelatos®. It's so AMAZING!


Side-by-side the clean rubber plate and my paper-backed resin pull.


My plate is clean now and I also have a wonderful painted resin base for other mixed-media arting on another day.

I hope you find some time to have some creative play today and I look forward to seeing what you create. Happy Sunday! Sb :)

Monday, July 7, 2014

WHOvian #Cre8time Celebration... for the Designer Crafts Connection July Bloghop



Welcome! It's the first Monday of July which marks the monthly Designer Crafts Connection Bloghop. This is my first time participating... and I'm so very excited to be a part of this wonderful group! This month's theme is "Party Décor" and I have a special project I'm working on... I'm making a handmade WHOvian themed party for the premiere of the new Doctor Who season on August 23rd. There are so many things I want to make, I will be sharing several of them throughout the week. I will share food related goodies closer to the event next month.


Using a handful of supplies, I have created some fun WHOvian themed cutlery pockets. Supplies used: bowtie stamp; burgundy pigment ink and embossing powder; red cardstock; heat gun; scissors; buttons; grey marker; cutlery and napkins from Dollar Tree; Herma Dotto adhesive; color copies of plaid fabric; and mini kraft treat bags.


To start, I glued the bag flaps closed using
my Herma Dotto adhesive runner.


I cut up sections of a recycled security tint envelope into four equal sections to mimick a shirt fabric. The patterns and colors of security tint envelopes are wonderful and I love using them for crafty projects. This blue one is perfect for the Raggety Man's dress shirt.


Using mini guillotine cutter, I trimmed three sides squared to match edges of bag - and cut the inside edge slightly curved with scissors for a natural shape.


I layered two more shapes {eyeballed size/shape to fit} to create a faux lapel and complete the jacket look. I rubbed all the white paper edges with chalk ink to blend with the kraft treat bag.


Any overhang off the top of the bag was trimmed
flush after everything was adhered.


I ran the Herma Dotto adhesive to seal up the sides of the bags to make a pocket and give a snug fit to hold the napkin and cutlery.


I have a set of WHOvian themed stamps {from Viva Las VegaStamps!}, one being a bow-tie. The size of the tie is the perfect size/scale for my handmade WHOvian cutlery pockets.


Using a Royal Burgundy Memories Pigment Ink,
I stamped the bow-tie onto red cardstock. 


While still wet, I poured over Ultra High Gloss Clear Embossing Powder {from Viva Las VegaStamps!} and then heat set to see the magic happen. I repeated this to make four bowties - one for each set of cutlery.


The deep red ink on the bright red cardstock
is the perfect contrast and just 'POPs'.


I fussy cut the ties out for application on my suited cutlery pockets. The finishing touch is a couple real buttons from my stash and a some hand drawn details with a grey marker.


I have so many items to prepare for my premiere party on August 23rd. Please drop by  often this week to see additional projects with WHOvian flair!

Be sure to come back on the July 13th for a blog hop promoting Burlap Fabric. Burlap is so popular in crafts and decorating and we will be sharing some wonderful ideas and projects using it... there will also be a giveaway too!

Thanks for visiting. Continue on the Designer Crafts Connection "Party Décor" Bloghop by selecting hop back/forward on the logo below.
Sb :)



Designer Craft Connection