Viva Las VegasStamps Design Team Tryout!

You'll never grow if you don't stretch your inner soul.  To me, that's what applying for this design team is about.  I have gotten great joy from connecting with fellow scrappers around the  globe -- Kari in Koala Lampur, RosalieJB in Australia, and many connections here in the U.S.  DeeDee, or D2 is one of those connections I cherish.  I have watched her artwork not just grow but flourish.  To be even a small part of it has been an honor.  Now, as art director of Viva Las VegasStamps, she is choosing her own design team.  DeeDee has always been a great encouragement to me, so I decided to give her the respect she deserves and apply for her team.  Because you gotta challenge yourself to grow. So, DeeDee, this is for you.  And for me.


I was sent a grab bag of VLVS.  This "Boogie" stamp was one of them.  I knew as soon as I got it inky what I wanted to do with it.  I have an older stamp set from Close To My Heart called, "Be You". Any of the sassy gals would work fine.  I chose one I could paper piece to make her skirt "pop." 

 

I used Echo Park For the Record 2 6x6 papers, baker's twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and some gems from my stash.  Inks are Close To My Heart, as is the cardstock.  The card size is 3.5x9, designed to fit in a business envelope.  I like this size card as it gives me a little bigger canvas to design on.

 

And, here's a closeup of the VLVS sentiment.  Isn't it fun? 

 



 

My second project is a canvas.  I haven't made many of them, but I always feel like such an artist when I make them.  I gave this one to a friend, struggling with some life decisions.  I thought the "listen to your heart" sentiment was perfect for her life situation.

 

 

I used an Ippity (Unity) stamp set,"Listen to it", Tim Holtz distress stains, a Unity chicken wire background stamp, acrylic paint, and Versafine Sienne ink.

 

My third submission piece is a card.  I got my first Copic markers when cropchocolate.com sold a set of them earlier in the summer.  Since then, I have invested in some more.  I've educated myself watching some You Tube videos, and some online tutorials on coloring and shading.  I colored this card with Copic markers.

 

I made this card about 6 weeks ago, but it's still a favorite.  I like how the vases turned out, and how the table they are set on matches the ribbon so well.  The background paper is Echo Park.  Cardstock is Close to My Heart.  I used a Stampendous stamp set for the flowers and vases, and a Unity grab bag for the sentiment.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. A Spellbinders fancy rectangle die was used.

 

And that's it.  Wish me luck!