From Mary Vogel Lozinak Stamp to Super Chic Circus Rat Earrings

Happy MONDAY!!! Susan here today with my first official post since returning to the VLVS Design Team. YAY!!! My fingers are inky and I have a fun project to share today.

Did you participate in the Mary Vogel Lozinak Link Up last weekend??? It was so much fun and I haven't been able to put my three plates of MVL stamps away!

The inspiration for this project is the Mary Vogel Lozinak "Rat Face #18522" stamp. This stamp just makes me laugh out loud!!! I was rummaging through my craft stash and I came across some shrink plastic...and this stamp SCREAMED "earrings"!!!

Per the instructions of the shrink plastic, you need to gently sand the plastic to rough up the edges. I wiped away the dust with a cloth and then stamped the rat face with Black StazOn ink.

Then I colored the image with my Ranger Distress Markers.

After punching a 1/16" hole in plastic, I placed them on a piece of chipboard in the toaster oven and watched carefully not to let plastic burn. It's magical to watch it shrink right before your eyes!

Here are my shrunken rats in comparison to original stamped size. 

The size is 45% of original size...perfect for earrings.

**A NOTE** The distress markers were not heat set after baking. I lightened the color by gently dabbing with a damp cloth. I also sprayed with a polyurethane to seal afterward.

I used some poly-coated wire to string the rat heads with some beads and closed the wire with a crimp bead. I finished off by wiring these to a pair of standard earring hoops. Voila! Custom earrings : )

Presenting my stamped Circus Rat Earrings!!!

Thanks so much for dropping by and welcoming me back to the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team. This is a new month and you will want to subscribe to the VLVS Blog if you haven't already. The Viva Las Vegastamps! players will be bringing you posts every day! Don't forget to check out the Viva Las Vegastamps! store.

Thanks so much for visiting! If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. Have an inky day! Sb

Steampunk ATCs

Lyneen Jesse hosted a Steampunk ATC swap at the Viva Las Vegastamps! forum last month, and I couldn't resist.

I stamped this funky Steampunk Camel Item 18443 Plate 1390 .and decorated with Zentangle®-inspired patterns, then colored with Tim Holtz Distress markers.  A few beads and some little tubie-things I have--no idea what they are--and my card was done.

We were required to do eight of the same card.  It looked pretty cool with 8 little camels all in a row.  I hated to send them off!

Store Tour - Winners!

Happy Saturday stampers :) Today I've got a list of WINNERS from the Mary Vogel Lozinak blog hop/link up... But first I have a video to show you!!

Our stamps here at Viva Las Vegastamps! are proudly made by hand in America.. actually in Las Vegas, NV! I gather and design stamps from various places (artists, old books, copyright free images) and pile them into (what I hope are) themed boards for your stamping goodness. Then the plates are sent off in digital format to an engraver.. our plates are returned in hard copy. We catalog them in the factory.. which is also where we press them! Then the stamps are mounted and indexed.. and displayed for sale! All in the US.

So we may be starting at the "end" but I think it's really best. Below is a video of about 1/3rd of the store. I thought it best to show in portions as it literally takes hours to see the place. Here is this portion.. in 7 minutes :)

Now for the winners...

Thank you so much for your participation! Some wonderful wonderful pieces were presented and it was such a joy going through all the links and checking out all the pieces.

So here is a list of the WINNERS from the hop!! If your name is on the list keep a lookout on that designer's blog for your coupon collecting information!

For the $10 coupons from the design team members blogs:

(dt member - winner)

Crystal - Katherine Clayton

Sheri - burning rubber

Leslie-Rahye - Vicki

Lyneen - Sheila Rose R

Cheryl - Carly May

Sandra - Barbara Rankin

Susan - Judy Rozema

for the $25 coupons from the VLVS! blog:

One random entry - by belle

one random comment - Robin

Those of you who have won from the VLVS! Blog - please message me @ deedee430@gmail.com to collect your prize :)

 

Hmmmmmm.....

I would like to dedicate this post to my Mama....God rest her soul.

She was a prime example of a woman that could speak her mind and the recipient would thank her afterwards.

I think ladies in the south have a way with words....they can tell you to go to Hell and you'll be looking forward to the trip.

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

This beauty is what I imagine my mama sorta looked like when

 she was a young girl in the 40's.  We have no pictures to prove it.  Our house burned down when I was 8 yrs. old and we lost everything.  The only pics I have are the ones that we have gotten from relatives over the years.

But I have had many people tell me that she was very beautiful when she was younger but she truly didn't know how beautiful she was. 

But that didn't stop her from being who she was and she was "special".

Her older sister, my Aunt Janetta, told me a few years ago that my Mama was different;

 but in a good way....

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

This 'lovely lady' is from Viva Las Vegastamps!

You can get her HERE!!! 

The sentiment you can get here......

You know what bitch stand for don't ya.....

Babe In Total Control of Herself

Here's a close-up of the crystal lacquer I applied after I colored the image.

Until later, fellow B.I.T.C.H. members.....Gotta bitch split.....TFL!!!!

Facebook Fan!!

Here is a project shared on our facebook by fan Michele Kosciolek!! 

She used our Washi Tape video to make her own customized tape!!

Thanks so much for sharing Michele!!

Sew Much Fun Scrapbook Layout

 Each summer, for the last 3 summers, my son and I have attended the annual 4H sewing camp. Even though he is often the only boy at the camp, this is something he looks forward to doing every year with me. He takes to camp the 1930s Singer Featherweight that my mother took with her to college to sew and that I learned to sew on! It's a fabulous machine and Will has sewn award winning projects on it!  I knew immediately these Viva Las Vegastamps! were perfect for this layout! I hope you enjoy!

For this project you will need:

Distress ink pads 

[Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen & Old Paper]

Versamark
Bazzill white cardstock

dry soft brush and stipple brush

ribbon & hardware

The background of the layout was constructed on a piece of white card stock. I stippled on layers of the lighter Distress inks and then stamped the entire background with the machine and notions stamps with the Versamark pad. I dusted the stamped watermarks with Viva Las Vegastamps! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder and heat embossed the images. I then stipple over the tops of the images focusing attention on the edges with the darker ink. I spritzed the entire page with water to subdue the color and wiped the tops of the embosses images. I then dried the entire page with my heat tool--re-warming the embossed places so that they would "hold on" to dry mica powders. I then dusted the images with Terri Sproul Mixers and wiped off the excess residue.

Next I created a simple background my rubbing the Antique Linen directly onto a page. I swirled a bit of Walnut stain into the background creating a marbled look. After drying that piece completely, I stamped with the walnut ink the tape measure stamp on the skinnier strip and the spools and tape measure on the journal box. Both stamped pieces were immediately dusted with embossing powder and heat set. 

Finally I heavily edged the journal square with my ink and dusted it with embossing powder as well to give that extra aged look.

The matte behind the photo was created by simply adding Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap directly to the paper and Stippling some Walnut Stain around the edge for emphasis. The ribbon was colored with the distress inks and a ribbon slide was added to the top ribbon to highlight the word sewn.

Thank you for looking at my scrapbook page! I hope you enjoy it. For more scrapbooking ideas, visit my blog!

~leslierahye

Get a Grab Bag of VLVS! rubber for FREE

If you use the image code below to link back to VLVS! (www.vlvstamps.com) on your blog or website we will send you a free grab bag of unmounted rubber (15 Images and Sayings) as a thank you! To qualify, it must be a permanent link on your blog sidebar or website homepage. Send us an email (stampo@lvcoxmail.com) with your blog/website after you've linked us to claim your free grab bag... be sure to give us your name and address so we can send out your FREE Grab Bag! THE CODE IS BELOW! Highlight the text, then click Ctrl C to copy it. Then paste to your blog by adding an HTML gadget or upload to your Website!

Code to Add VLVS! Button!

<a href="http://www.vlvstamps.com"><img src="http://www.vivalasvegastamps.com/images/VLVS-sign-fixed.gif" /></a>

Save the date

Here's a small card I made for a really close friend. 

It's small with the perfect space on the back for a quick note. 

"Save the date, we've got plans"

I stamped the

Rubber Stamp - 2.75x2.75

in Memento ink on kraft cardstock and embossed it with Ultra High Gloss EP by VLVS!

Add a little black cardstock for a border, and some distressing with vintage photo distress stain and ink and you've got a nice little addition to a package for a friend. 

For extra oomph I popped the stamped image off the background with a few pop dots. 

Hello Again!

Hello Viva las Vegas fans!

I'm back, with my wieners!

Are you excited?

I sure am!!!!!

For my first post, I have two projects to share with you.

One is a quick ATC, the other an art journal page.

I am SOOOO digging Mary Vogel's designs for my art journals!

Are ya ready?

First up, ATC

Here's what you need:

Black ATC (2.5 x 3.5")

Slightly smaller piece of patterned paper

Butterfly

Black ink (I used Memories Ink)

Markers

Scissors

Scrap of white card stock

Miracle Tape

Stamps from plate 1451

Cut your patterned paper slightly smaller than your ATC base.

Ink edges, and adhere to ATC using Miracle Tape, at an angle.

Stamp the girls on the ATC.

Stamp the girls, minus their legs, on white card stock. Color and cut out.

See?

Use Miracle Tape to adhere your cut out girls over the girls on the ATC.

Slightly bend the wings of the butterfly, and adhere to card.

Stamp words on card.

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Art Journal Page

Here's what you'll need:

Journal (mine is a Moleskine watercolor book)

Washi/tissue/masking tapes

Itty bitty hole punch

Scrap paper

Paint pens- white & black

Flower die cut

Stickles

Colored pencils

Thickers (foam letter stickers)

Scrap paper

White card stock

Watercolor paints/water/brush

Black ink (I used Memories Ink)

Miracle Tape

Stamps from plates 1383 & 1401

Cover page with strips of various tapes.

Burnish down well!

Paint page using watercolor paints.

I used green & yellow.

Dry.

 Once dry, draw a border around the entire page using a black paint pen.

Color in entire design with the black pen. Dry.

Once the border is dry, use the white paint pen to add dots and a white 

edge to the border. Dry.

Punch circles from scrap paper with itty bitty punch (I used glitter paper), 

and place them around the page.

 Add die cut flower in corner. 

Draw a swirl in the center of the flower using black paint pen.

Add STICKLES!!!

 On a scrap pice of paper, stamp a back ground stamp using watercolor paint. Dry.

Ink edges of paper with black ink.

Stamp three figures using black ink. Set aside.

Stamp the three figures again on white card stock.

Color with colored pencils and cut out just the bodies.

Adhere the bodies over the stamped images on the larger piece of paper.

Finish coloring as desired.

Add Stickles where desired.

Add letter stickers, and you're done!!

Here's your wiener!

Little miss Daisy Dog, waiting for mom to throw the toy!

How many languages do you speak???

Apparently I speak two..... 

1. Southern.....I was born and raised in Georgia. 

 I have been told that my accent is very pronounced.

2. Love...... according to the sentiment on this card. 

{giggle}

I have a new found love of flowers.  I remember a time when this wasn't true.  Though I have always loved Daisies {hence the name of my blog}.

I've always picked plants for the yard and house that are mostly green...{ie: ivy's, pothos, spider plants, etc....}.

Not anymore, now I want flowers and flowers and flowers. 

 Any and all flowers.

Funny though, I still have yet to grow daisies.....LOL They require a lot of sun and our yard is mostly shade....but one day!!!!!!!

OK, now to the real reason you are here.

Some Viva Las Vegastamps! LOVE!!!!!

Basic card with basic layering. 

I stamped the flower images with one of the images from

Plate #1403.....you can get it HERE. 

I loaded the stamp with ink and stamped several times before re-inking to get a lighter printing.....to get the illusion of a field of flowers.  I stamped with a brown ink and a yellow ink. 

The sentiment was stamped with a coral ink. 

Added some matching ribbon and you have a finished card. 

Until later, blossoms.........Gotta split.....TFL!!!!!!

Mary Vogel Lozinak Link Up Party!

Welcome to our Mary Vogel Lozinak Blog Hop/Link Up Party!!

We are inviting all of you, our readers/subscribers/customers, to create a project using any Mary Vogel Lozinak image from Viva Las Vegastamps! for a chance to win one of NINE coupons to Viva Las Vegastamps! We ask that you post the project to your own blog/facebook/flickr etc.. Make sure Viva Las Vegastamps is mentioned somewhere in your post/description.. and then come link up here! (In the link list at the bottom of the post)

Be sure to visit every link as there are some prizes hidden on certain blogs!

Prizes up for grabs :

7 - $10 coupons to be given away to random comments on seven different blogs.

1 - $25 coupon given randomly to one person who links a project up!

and 1 - $25 coupon to a random comment on the VLVS! blog (This post right here with the link list) 

Just enter below! Can't wait to see all your creations linked up :) 

-please link to the DIRECT post and not your general blog-

Unplaining a Mini-book cover with Mary Vogel Lozinak stamps

Don't forget!  Tomorrow the Viva Las Vegastamps! blog hop featuring Mary Vogel Lozinak stamps begins!  If you've done any projects with her stamps, you are invited to post it on your blog, and join in!  

After you've viewed my little project, head on over to the blog post with the details.  We want to see your work!

I found this cute little mini-book at a thrift store for a dollar.  It's a 3x4 inch hardbound book and, of course, I had to have it.  Had to!

The covers seemed a bit plain to me so I pulled out a few of my Mary Vogel Lozinak stamps and made them unplain  (not a word? It is now, lol).

Stamps used:

Odd -Item 18329 Plate 1384

Weird-Item 18318 Plate 1384

Has anybody seen my head?-Item 18317 Plate 1384

Headless Unicycle Juggler-Item 18303 Plate 1384

Plumed Bird On Box-Item 18307 Plate 1384

Don't ever loose your sparkle.

Tomorrow is the Viva Las Vegastamps! Link Up! Blog Up! at Viva Las Vegastamps! blog, featuring the images by Mary Vogel Lozinak. I have been having so much fun using her images! Here is a little taste of what is to come for the blog hop!

Today My project is a canvas. Its 5 x 7 flat board canvas, That I got at Blick's. The first layer is a napkin. Napkins are so fun to play with and come in so many fun designs! I took the plain white layer off revealing the pattern. Most cases napkins come in 2 ply but some times they are 3 ply. So be sure to check before gluing down, otherwise the top layer,the pattern, will not be glued down to what ever you are gluing to. I glued the napkin using matte medium. "or you can use modge podge in matte.

After that dried I took some Alcohol inks in Watermelon, Sail boat Blue, and Citrus and dripped some of each color along the top edge of the canvas. Then I took a little spritz bottle that had some 91% rubbing alcohol in it. Then spritz some of that on the canvas causing the inks to run down and dripped. I moved the canvas around and added some more and did the same thing, til I was happy with what I saw. I learned this technique from one of my online friends, Barb. the I let the canvas dry.

I took a tree mask that was given on a RAK. I Sponged some gesso around the tree. i placed the ask in a couple of places, but I didn't like it. so, i put the mask back to where I first placed it and put gesso around the whole thing. That's what fun about playing with canvas. If you don't like something, or you mess up, you just paint or gesso over it. :) I kept the mask on where it was and did a layer of yellow craft paint. After that dried I used a little bit of yellow StarBright paint with a pallet knife and then wiped it around the canvas. It left a nice glittery effect. Of course its a pain to photograph with the glitter. :/ but it looks great in person! Here it is when the background is all done!

No matter how many times I took pictures of this I could never capture what it looked like in real life. but this shot is the closest I got! You can see the napkin I used in the tree. and some of the alcohol inks I used too.  

Now time to add the focal point to the canvas. I chose the peacock from plate 1398. I stamped him on tissue paper with Black Versafine ink pad. stamping with Versafine shows the fine details in this fab stamp!I glued it to the canvas using matte medium, careful not to tear the tissue. I then stamped on white cardstock the sentiment that is also on the same plate "Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle." I thought it went great with the all the sparkle from the glitter paint. I cut apart the sentiment and glued the pieces down with Glossy Accents.  

I LOVE how this canvas turned out. I did take a little dab of craft paint and watered it down and with my finger painted over the image so that the white of the tissue didn't stand out so much. I know the pictures can not show the sparkle or the colors too well. I've been taking tons of picture of this piece in both day light and        

well...not night light. lol but more when the sun goes down and all is on is a bedroom light. And playing with the camera settings. Its been driving me insane! I really need to make a light box. :P 

Products used:

5x7 canvas

stencil

napkin

craft paint

alcohol inks

tissue paper

Stamps by Mary Vogel Lozinak plate 1389

So if you like this project using Mary Vogel Lozinak be sure to join us for the Link Up! Blog Hop! This weekend! At Viva Las Vegastamps! blog