Who doesn’t love a llama?

Today’s CAS (clean and simple) card features our llama from the whimsical Llama and Giraffe set.  The background and misty mauve paper matting is from one of my very favorite paper pads from ART-C.  The 6 x 6 card stock pad is called “office” with a wonderful assortment of vintage looking office like papers. The neutral tones and subtle textures work well when featuring a hand colored digi stamp.  

The llamas are colored with Copic markers ands mounted on the card with raised glue dots.

Introducing Flip Book; digital image storage solution

Digi stamp collecting can be addicting and fun. Finding your favorite images as they are tucked in file folders can make you forget what you have or where your favorite images are located. Sometimes file names do not indicate what is in the folder!  Printing them all out and creating a catalog can be one solution; but your binder can become bulky and you may not always have it with you.

So I’ve come up with a better solution. And I call this “Flip Book”.   Flip Book is a digital storage solution that parks on your tablet.  It is completely visual and interactive.  Not only can you arrange, catalog and store your images, you can retrieve them and copy into your document for printing.

Flip Book is a PDF file that is imported into an annotation app like GoodNotes. If you are familiar with digital planners, Flip Book operates on the same principles.

Our first release of our “Citrus” Flip Book will be in our Etsy shop Saturday, July 21.   You can see it here in our introduction video.  I know you will love Flip Book - it’s the future in stamping and image storage. Our introduction video will give you a better idea of Flip Book’s versatility and function.

OZ! ( Who doesn't love a good sale?)

Vera Lane Studio's image sets are always sale priced.  Our multi-image sets are bundled to extend your craft dollar and to allow you to increase your image library at tremendous cost savings.  If you are new to digi stamps you will wind the ease of storage and space saved from traditional rubber stamps is an added bonus. Our images are always at your fingertips saved on you r computer or flash drive. The downloads are yours to keep, and you may use them over and over again.

Our Vera Lane Studio Digi Stamp collection is constantly growing.  Sometimes we move sets around and take them off the Etsy shelves.  There is always room for our image inventory to change allowing for seasons and reasons of crafting fun.

I am pleased to announce a tremendous reduction in our Wizard of Oz value bundle sale.  Our OZ characters can be purchased individually with accessory images or bundled in sets of male and female characters; The Ladies and Boys of OZ.  Our bundle sets priced at $9.00 a set for three detailed characters and are reduced to $4.00 for our special seasonal sale. 

If you are a fan of the Wizard of Oz you don't want to miss our seasonal character set sale going on now!  

The Traveler; Our June 5th new release

Our new release this week is a whimsical little traveling gal named Beatrix.  Beatrix is wide-eyed,

ready to seek adventures with her well traveled suitcase, camera, map and postcard.  This value-bundled seven digi stamp set also comes with three sentiments all in jpg and png high resolution files.

Our talented design team has shared their creations this week with more to come.  With so many travelers this summer The Traveler set is a great collection for scrapbooking, planners, journals and bon voyage cards. 




VLS DT Member Carole  opened up our week of fabulous designs with this beautiful dimensional card. Carole reversed the image of Beatrix and used the accessory images in repetition to bring you to the car's focal point.  The delicate light colors are perfect for a summertime traveler.  Isn't her periwinkle coat pretty?  Learn how Carol approached this creation by clicking on her name for her blog.

Stephanie will be blogging later as she was one of our DT travelers this week!  She's back home creating for you but was able to get her beautiful water-colored card up for you to enjoy before she left town. 

Stephanie uses watercolors in many of her creations with depth and vitality.  Her monochrome outfit on Beatrix looks great against her dreamy watercolor backdrop.
Follow Stephanie on Instagram @inkypinkyboo if you'd like to see more of her techniques.

Design Team Member Nikki brought you this adorable journal entry featuring The Traveler along with a row of houses from our Tall Houses collection and one of our Vera Lane car images.  Clever to tuck Beatrix in the vehicle and create a mini road trip!

Nikki changes up her media so you never know what she will use next.  Click on her name to see her blog and learn about her style and techniques.




Mischelle is our designer that likes to show us options.  Often Mischelle will

make variations on a theme.  Her version of The Traveler features Beatrix in a bright red coat against neutral tones.  The text from this set is repeated to create  an effective background for this piece.

Please be sure to check out Mischelle's beautiful blog "Mischelle Makes"

Speaking of traveling, our Designer Teresa has been enjoying a sunny vacation.  Teresa was sure to have her sample ready for you with today's post.  Beatrix is featured with a lovely hue of pink hair, lime green lashes and a sweet light aqua coat.  She looks stunning on the creamy background with the photos that bring pops of color with images from some of our other sets.  You can learn more about Teresa's approach to this set on her blog The Fat Cactus.  Teresa's use of color and balance of design elements is ever so inspiring.


We have two more designers to show off their makes this week as well as customers showing off their version of Beatrix and her travels.  Our sentiments and accessories are so versatile that you can see your own vision to create with this set with such great team inspiration!

Simple prompt Sunday; Rotate, flip!

Today I have a teaching moment for Simple Prompt Sunday. 
Digi newbies are just learning how versatile digi stamps can be.  With the ability to resize to customize for your projects, ease of storage, economic sense, digis are becoming more popular.
But today I challenge you to have a little more fun.  Here is a link to my YouTube station where you will see how I rotate and flip images.

For today's image (again please excuse phone quality pic that is degraded by emailing to myself) I am using a 'morning doodle' that is a freebie located in the file section of the Vera Lane Studio FaceBook group.
I duplicated the image, rotated and added scraps and pen to create an address frame for an envelope.

Simple Prompt:
I am challenging you to change up any VLS image with a rotation or flip!  Feel free to use the digi provide in my file section on FB or any other VLS digi.
Happy Sunday.

Simple prompt Sunday; Put a hat on it

Hat from #Realmen , Cat from #Girlandcatwithpartyhats
cloud from #allthings  (house is inactive)

This is our third Simple Prompt Sunday and I hope more of you will be playing along.  It wonderful to see how Vera Lane Studio sets are mixed and matched to create new scenes.  I love seeing your unique vision, style, coloring and techniques.  From newbies to advanced designers, the learning and sharing that is taking place is really quite lovely.


Simple Prompt: 
Put a hat on it! 
Be creative.  Pick a VLS character or your choice and add a hat, a headpiece, a crown or a bow.  Have FUN and don't forget to post!




 

Just playing with some scraps along with Girl and cat with party hats.  Happy Sunday.  Go make something.  :-)

Wearing hats

Much of my inspiration comes from my years working with children.
One of my favorite lessons for my fifth graders were Modigliani portraits.  Students learned to exaggerate proportions with elongated necks and faces, often giving a lyrical tilt.  The digi stamp set, "Ladies who lunch"  come right from my lesson plan journal. 

The digi ladies are designed to wear their own personal hats.  With a little resizing, the hats can be customized to swap with any of the ladies in the set.  While none of these digi hats have the couture look a  Phillip Treacy , I found some of his quotes appropriate for some simple card and tag designs.

Fast Art Doll:  The image on the left is a quick art doll.  I painted some canvas, cut into a rectangle and sewed in an oval base.  It sewed quickly on machine but you can use hand stitching as well.  The body is filled with rice and the digi image (sized, colored and trimmed) is tucked in the opening and stapled shut.  Obscure staple with fabric, a ribbon or button.  How fun to create a set of tall and short ladies?

Reverse image, different hat:  The image on the right shows the same figure.  One is in reverse and pulled slightly to create a wider face.  Hats are adjusted to fit.  Their dress tops are paper pieced.  Just another way to play with this versatile digital stamp set.  Use the ladies with or without hats, swap them out, use the ladies together or alone,

This set and other images are available in my Etsy shop for instant download.  The six digi stamps are downloaded in 300dpi png format and will be clear of watermarks.  They are designed for unlimited personal use.
So make some cards and tags for the ladies and perhaps try some fast art dolls.

Thanks for taking a look!

Image release Monday

Happy Monday!
Vera Lane Studio Digi Stamps just released two new image sets. 

"Hope and Honey" is a set of five files, three images and two quotes.  Hope is a sweet little clown that would be perfect for a good cheer card, children's birthday, invites, or a thank you.  She is versatile with her little pup Honey.  He comes with a hat too!

"Thinking of You" is also a five file set.  Colette comes holding a flower with a sun and cloud image for layering or using alone.  Two quotes are in the set for your designing options.  The expression on Colette's face makes her suitable for so many difference uses.  The simple sun and cloud images enhance the mood, use together or alone, change the layering to create the feeling tone of your choice.

I hope you enjoy Vera Lane's newest additions.

Spring is sure to follow

Welcome March.
It's a gorgeous day here in Arizona. We've had a rather mild winter, and after a well-needed downpour yesterday the sun is shining and the air is crisp. 

While friends and family are still experiencing storms and snow, nature's promise, spring is sure to follow.

Spring is not here yet, but "April" is patiently waiting for you  my Etsy digi stamp shop.  She comes to you un-colored along with some accent flowers and the text;

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."       

April can be resized for your paper craft needs. She's perfect for birthday, get well, thinking of you cards, and invites.  Print, color, and cut for art journals or tag art. 

Check out April and her growing group of friends. April and other images are available for instant download. You can find April and my other quirky images at: www.etsy.com/shop/VeraLaneStudio
 

For the birds...

Today I have two bird images to share with you, one is a digi stamp, and one is in rubber! Both images will give you a smile.

Meet Magnolia.

Magnolia is a very versitile digi stamp, she comes with two additional images for you to manipulate in your card and paper crafts.  This image can be stretched for a tall card or pulled to create a shorter and chubby bird.  Magnolia's pusre can be small or stretched to create more of a shopping or oversized bag.

If you enjoy using digi images, please stop by Vera Lane Studio's Etsy shop.

If you prefer stamping in rubber, you may want to check out two sizes offered of "Bird Legs" from Stampotique.  She has lots of character, with a little more serious feel than Magnolia.
Stamp or print - today is for the birds.

 
Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Friday.

Where the rubber meets the digi...

I’m procrastinating a bit this morning.  I should have gone to the gym but I found myself in my studio, imagine that?  I came up with this fast little card, combining a digi stamp and two rubber stamps.

I rarely know what I’m going to do once I get here.   I have cigar boxes with card starts, random scraps glued to a surface, painted borders, partially stamped images, etc.  These are things I would put out for my students in free time, and it was amazing to watch what the children would come up with.  My advice to the kids, was to let the paper choice guide you to your coloring.

So today, I found this embossed white cardstock with a scrap glued in the center. This was going to be my base.  I had one of my ‘Les Chats” digi images already cut.  Using Copics, I pulled some pink form the scrap and added a little accent of green.  I love how the white stays so crisp so I left the cat’s body white.  I decided on a landscape format and attached the cat asymmetrically.  

 There were a handful of green and pink flowers I must have cut long ago. “Play with both,” I would tell the kids. I preferred the green, although I did not care that it would be so close to the green above the act's eye, so I added the white circle, accented with some pink Prismacolor pencil to enhance the edge.  Now it needs a  sentiment – so I stamped “Happy Birthday.”

At this point I am floating the flower element and it is unbalanced. It needs a stem, and for my eyes, it needed color with some black contrast to pull over the cat image.  Does that make sense?  Since the cat is outlined in the black I need to visually balance the composition.  The perfect stem is the Ribbon Border #3 from Stampotique. No need to introduce anymore colors, just repeat the colors in the cat image. 

To begin with boxes of scraps, it is a fast way to create a spontaneous card or little work of art.  This approach is really great fun for the kids. Creating that composition, using balancing skills and making choices about shape, texture, and color, taps into those thinking skills. 

While my specialty has been working with children, I hope some of the process will inspire you too.

Tip:  When printing your digi image, create an entire page and use the sizing handles to alter the sizes.  Rotate the images so you can fit as many as possible on your sheet -- then print on cardstock.  Cut them out and set them aside for later use. 

Happy Friday.

La Petit Boulanger

"La Petit Boulanger" has arrived in my Etsy shop!  She's been on the drawing table for some time, but I have finally managed to make a sample.  She's really pretty cute in a funky sort of way.

The little cake slice plant is a fun image in itself.  I've have made birthday gift tags with that little image alone and it works quite nicely! 

The background is a watercolor wet on wet technique, when dried it was then embossed.  The text image and other decorative elements will arrive in my shop soon.

Thanks for looking!