Anything goes and Skull-a-Day Blog hop

Are you sitting comfy - this is one very long post!!! If you're looking for my Haunted Design House post - it's the next one down.
I have decided to combine my post here for Smudgy Antics June Anything Goes challenge and the Skull-a-Day blog hop sponsored by Smeared and Smudged.  Both projects are skulls but both have there own unique twists. The skull for the Smudgy Antics challenge has, of course Smeared Ink stamps used on it. To be precise, stamps from the Quoth the Raven rubber stamp set.

The images were all stamped onto orange tissue paper and heat embossed with black with added touches of copper and purple. Both the copper and the purple seemed to overcome the black but it did darken. There's the ravens on the teeth and the forehead from the holy city range as well. All coated with matt mod podge to seal.

A hole cut in the top to take a candle. I used an old pie dish, that was sprinkled with black alcohol ink to take that silver glare down and camouflage, to both protect the inside and hole area from any over heated wax.

My second skull

Both these skulls have had the same basic paint treatment. First painted with black acrylic paint after sealing with watered down pva glue. When thoroughly dry they were dry brushed with burnt umber then some bits were highlighted with burnt sienna acrylic paints. This gives them that old leathered look I was after. 

This one is my steam punk one. The stamps used are by Andy Skinner at Personal Impressions and the die cuts are TH gadget gears. Some old real watch parts used as well. All the bits apart from the tissue paper stuck on before painting.

Some texturizing medium used on the teeth and bits of the cogs to give the rusty look. the little "rivets" are just blobs of glossy accents and the cog centres are brads with the feet removed.

the blog list is a long one. So many people joining in this year which is wonderful news. There are lots of spot-prizes along the way from our fabulous sponsors as well 

for more information on Skull Appreciation Day, please visit here

for a list of the sponsors please pop over to Tori's blog

It has been decided that for the main prizes - the hop has to be completed, leaving comments on each blog, by midnight PST Wednesday 6/6/12 

and the list should you get lost - 

Terra
Tori
Black Dragon
Monique
Helen
Lady Brayton
Fiona
Christine
Jane
Judy
Alison
Susan
Andrea
Smudger Challenge
Laura
Lisa
Kristy
Steph
Glittery Katie
Lisa
Kapree
Ms. Ruin
Kathi
Bombshell Stamps Blog
Dianne
Donna
Nydia
Lady Coral
Suzi
Julia
Patti
Miko
Renee
Wendy
Christina
Hazel
Skye
Wenchkin
Betsy
Scrapbook Stamp Society


A challenge or 2 that I'd like to enter

Great Impressions challenge #4 - Die cuts/punches
Smudger challenge Blog - Skulls