Fat Book

I'm in the process of compiling a Fat Book. A page 4" x 4" with 1/2" for the binding.
These are 2 of the pages that I have done this week.
They just so happen to fit into a couple of challenges as well :)

The first features that little known poem by the Literary Master of the Macabre, Mr. Poe himself.


The poem is "Eldorado". For those that don't know it...

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old-
This knight so bold-
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be-
This land of Eldorado?"

"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied-
"If you seek for Eldorado!"

Edgar Allan Poe

The paper is from Joanna Sheen. Slightly charred around the edges as a lot of old maps are. The image is from the "As Death" set from Smeared Ink. Coloured with promarkers and the chain was heat embossed to give it that extra volume. Then all mounted onto a pearlised gold piece of cardstock.

The second page features stamps from Smeared Ink and Cherry Pie. It was for the Rock 'n' Rolla challenge over at the Smeared and Smudged Forum. This month we were challenged to make a piece of artwork inspired by the song and video, The Lonely by Christina Perry.

This is the outcome from my craft area

So much masking done here. Most of it stamped using black memento ink. The "mesh" background (Quoth the Raven set) was stamped using weathered wood DI.

The challenges I am entering into are
The top fatbook page
Haunted Design House - Get Lost (Use a map)

The bottom fatbook page
Smeared and Smudged - Rock n Rolla Challenge

Quoth The Raven - Use a Likeness of the Master (I was hoping to doo another, but time cannot be bought)

Tall, Dark and.......

Gruesome! Yep, that's the brief over at Smudgy Antics challenge blog this week. I've been on a bit of a roll there the last few weeks, yayyy, but I know this can't last forever. I do enjoy a challenge that has me thinking outside the box. This one certainly had me stumped for a couple of hours. Which image have I got that I can turn gruesome, and that hasn't been done before?
This is what I came up with.

A page for a fatbook that I am compiling. Using the background "Deep inside my heart" (a freebie for entering the monthly Smeared Ink forum challenges a short while ago) from Smeared Ink and an image and some text from the "As Death" rubber set.
So what's so gruesome about this? you may ask. See that deckled edge? (I couldn't get it to lay down perfectly flat again with out my fingers getting in the way) Behind there lies another image.
This time from the Anatomy 101 digi set.


You reckon this fits the brief?
Now for the boring bits. What did I use to make this?
The background was digitally coloured from the original black. The images were all coloured with promarkers. On the back of the opening I used pencil so that it wouldn't seep through. The text was heat embossed with black powder and the death angel's wings were touched up with black flocking powder. This was all layered onto some black coredinations card.

I am entering this into the challenges
Smudgy Antics - Tall, Dark and gruesome
Lollipop Crafts - Wing it

A simple card??

The reason for the question marks is the colour I've worked with. Why do I have this mental block when it comes to working in pink. It should be easy enough. I've done a few now in recent months but I still feel a sense of dread when picking up pink papers to work with. I had loads of choices with the new card kit from Duck Pond Crafts, but pink was on top of the pile.
I used the sketch from Sketches by Carly. I was too late with last weeks entry by just a couple of hours. I'd used the last sketch for my Delicious Doodles DT card.



The piece of paper had some vintage looking details and chose to use just that corner as my main image. Matting it onto some of the card in the kit and used a co-ordinating piece of pale green behind. All pieces have been distressed both with coarse sandpaper and some ink. The main backing is pale cream card which, cut to size, was first stamped and heat embossed with pale pink on one side (papermania hearts stamp) then the other side was dry embossed; running through the bigshot with the card carefully positioned in the folder so that only the plain bit was embossed.



The lace from the kit was threaded with thin satin ribbon, the same ribbon being teamed up with some coffee ribbon from my stash. A ribbon rose made and teamed with one of the charms from the kit and a heart shaped bead from stash.










The pearls added are also in the kit











I am entering this card into the challenges
Sketches by Carly - Sketch #48

Simply Create Too - Love is in the Air

Colour Create - Pink and Green with hand made flower

Craft Us Crazy - Valentine/Love

Crafty Creations - Valentine

PaperPlay - Ribbon, Every Which Way

Freaky Chick

Or Chic Freaks if you want - which is the challenge over at Haunted Design House this week. Barb has arranged for an awesome sponser this week - Stampotique! This is one collection of stamps that I have been meaning to add to my collection but never got round to ordering. Always something else that the pennies need to be channeled towards.
So which image to use was my first challenge. I went for Rusalka from Smeared Ink.

I used the sketch from My Time Made Easy as the basis for the card.
The image was coloured using a mixture of promarkers (girl) and distress inks (tree) Then the background was brayered, Masking off the moon wanting a slight haze round it.


The sentiment at the bottom is a combination of 2 paper artsey stamps. Stamping the eye first then, masking that off, stamped the words on top.


















A couple of challenges I am entering this into
Haunted Design House - Chic Freaks
My Time Made Easy - Their sketch MTMEPPS44
Smudgy Antics - Masking

Masking for SmudgyAntics

Smudgy Antics - The open challenge blog for the Smeared and Smudged Forum have a challenge this week inviting folks to show projects that have a theme "Masking".
You can interpret this in many ways. You can do a masking technique with your stamps, use an image with a mask, use a mask with your spray inks and mists, or use masking tape on your finished project.
I've made a valentine card. A bit different from the "norm" of course. The masking in this project is on the little 1/2 heart down the side.

I used the offcut from my grumpy card made a few days ago. The well sanded black/red coredinations. My TH mini masks and some SU! whisper white ink pad.
The image is from Smeared Ink. The Fire goddess. Stamped in the same white ink and heat embossed with red sparkle embossing powder.
I stamped the image on black card for a change. A "negative image" in mind. Then with white and red pencils, added colour then edges torn away. Some little red and black gems added for some more firey sparkle.
The shapes are all cut by hand including the black card base.
Inside didn't get left out from some ink either

Challenge I am entering this into
Smudgy Antics - Masking
Craft Us Crazy - Love/Valentine
Paper Creations Ink - Love/Romance

Phindy's Place - No Straight Edges/Shaped Cards

WOW! Embossing powders challenge - Love themed

Winter Wonderland

It's time for a new challenge over at Delicious Doodles' Challenge Blog. This week, the theme is, yes you guessed it, WINTER WONDERLAND. We want to see all things wintery, whites, blues, snow covered forests, whatever!

This is my card made for the challenge. I had another birthday card to make, so doubled it up with that.

Using one of the new images from the shop, Olyvia. I did hint a few days ago that this gal would change her wardrobe for the next outing ;) This time I have used the icy blues to colour her. All done using promarkers.

(note to self - need more colours. any excuse. Looks like Joanna Sheen's going to see more of my pennies). I used antique linen DI to give that slightly aged look that goes with the attire.
Pale blue and silver card used for the matting with some paper left over from christmas (I think echo park but not sure). The feathery swirls using my new sizzix die and glitter card for that frosty look. The bottom edge cut with MS drippy goo punch with co-ordinating icicle stamp up top stamped in SU! whisper white. The sentiment stamped using the same ink. Ribbon and pearls from stash.

It would be fantastic to see all those wintery cards entered into the challenge, so please come and show us those beauties.

Sketch used from Sketches by Carly

I am entering this card into a couple of challenges

Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenges - The Colour BLUE

Joanna Sheen Challenges - Celebrations

Stempelsonne challenge - Winter

The Duck Pond Card Kit

My very good friend Karen, over there at Duck Pond Crafts has asked me to review this card kit that she supplies. At a VERY reasonable cost I might add!! She's even doing a "fan of the week" for leaving a comment on her FB page.
Pictures - got loads to show you. It's crammed with goodies. This month is all about vintage and luuurve.
On opening the box ..... look at all the goodies the eye sees...

WOWOWOW

more pics















double sided papers so your choices are doubled.














8 card blanks with matching envelopes in this kit (varies each month)
Some plain, textured card stock
Then we come to all those embellishments that just finish off our cards to a "T"
In this kit comes some lace and some lovely tape that looks just like a tape measure
some seam binding, pearls and faux bottle tops


















Still more to come...













Some cute cupids on pegs and "diamonds"







And the bag o' bits
hat pins, buttons, charms, little lace flowers...














All this !!!!
All you need add is adhesive and a little love and there's enough there to make so many more cards than the blanks supplied. We all have card blanks/stock or objects that we like to alter. Plenty here to keep most people occupied until next months kit comes out.
Karen also does a lovely blooms kit. Again at fabulous prices.
Head on over there and have a good look.

RAVEN

There's not that many challenges that I regularly participate in. This is due, purely, to time constraints. There are now three that I will endeavour to take part in as many challenges as I can though this year.
There is a new challenge blog on the block. One that is dedicated to the Master, E.A.Poe, called Quoth the Raven, Nevermore and the first challenge is to create something That shall bear the mark of 'The Raven' in whichever form or guise that pleases you.
Then there's the challenge over at Smudgy Antics to "Recycle".
Lastly, but by no means least, there's Haunted Design House where the challenge this week is Metal Mania".
This week I managed to combine all three together.
My little offering this week is a necklace with a presentation box.

I have had these little cameos in my stash since last year, itching to use them but never quite getting round to it. Never seeing quite the setting I wanted to attach it to. Until last week that is.
As well as attching the cameo, I also glued in some tiny deep red pearls into the dimples.

The recycling bit is that I used an old bracelet for the clasp and some of the beads from an old broken necklace.


This is modelled by my future DIL with the promise that her face shall not be seen devoid of makeup.














































Then there's the box.

Homemade box covered with paper from EchoPark. The edges inked over with black soot DI. A piece of lace at the "window" and one of the ravens from the "Quoth the Raven" stamp set from Smeared Ink. Stamped several times and layered up with pinflair glue then dipped in UTEE after a light dusting with purple, green and blue DI to highlight the black.


I am entering this into the challenges listed above
Smudgy Antics - Recycle
Haunted Design House - Metal Mania
Quoth the Raven, Nevermore - Ravens

2 Sisters Challenges - Use Metal

Creations by Gillma

- 3-D decoupage - the Raven

Designed2Delight - Use a heart - there are 4 on the necklace

Drunken Stampers - Love - Inspired by The poem about love

Thankyou

first post of the day
This is an image that is one of the new images from Delicious Doodles, Olyvia.
I just felt green was the right colour for her on the day I coloured her. She will have changed her wardrobe, I'm sure, on her next outing.


Lots of different greens here and also using my new flourishes diecut. The image herself was coloured with promarkers with a touch of white gel pen on the owl.


The feathers just seemed the right thing to use.They are held in place first by glue then a big brad that I coloured with alcohol ink to co-ordinate.

I am entering this into a couple of challenges
Sarah Hurley Challenges - Thankyou
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Anything goes with new stash - Swirl diecutter and image

January Bloghop with Smeared and Smudged

Hardly seems like yesterday that we had December's bloghop with the 12 days of Christmas. Then Christmas and New Year and I still am trying to sort things after that. Hey Ho.

The theme this month is MESH IT! Interpret this how we like. Can use mesh, mesh images together, have a mesh texture...etc. Use the imagination and have fun with it. Also, not forgetting the S&S rule that is has to be stamped somewhere (digi stamps are fine).

I went with some really simple cards this time. I have had a couple of projects in recently that have taken up more time than normal. Both cards use Smeared Ink stamps. Some digi and some rubber.
First up is using some black mesh ribbon. Oh and some glitter card stock that hubby bought for me as a surprise last week. The girls dared me to use it!
Oh I need to invest in a circle cutter of some sort! The image is The Valkyries, a digi stamp. Coloured with promarkers and cut out. Mounted onto three glitter card circles. The backing card was embossed and then glossy accents used to highlight the swirls. The mesh is used as the backing for the sentiment (computer generated by me). Some little die cut flowers to balance and just a touch of gel pen.


The second card is the start of the valentine cards I have been asked to make. Features one of those lovable rogues - The Grumpies. This one is again a digi "Shot Grumpie".
Isn't he great! Coloured with my trusty promarkers. The Hearts on the outside are from the digi Heart wings set "Grungy Heart". Coloured with promarkers again and dipped in UTEE. The mesh is from an old "net curtain" that's been sitting in the attic for a while.. A rectangle cut down the centre part way and gathered to form a heart shape. Tied off with some ribbon. This was attached to some well sanded core-dinations with some brads. You can't see all the grumpie here because he's partly hidden by the heart shape cut out of the front.

Here he is, with one of the sentiments from the set having been ink distressed with redDI. Two of the mesh stamps from "Quoth the Raven" rubber have been stamped using white ink onto the black cardstock. These will be coming back to the store soon I'm sure. The "blood" is just red glitter gel pen. I don't think anyone would be clean after being shot, do you?

Now this is a hop and there are oodles of projects made by the rest of the gang. They'll all be fabulous so go hurry and look them up. Leaving some luv along the way of course.

JANUARY SMEARED & SMUDGED
MEMBER BLOG HOP
BLOG ROLL

Tori
Black Dragon
Fiona
Monique
Jane
Celina
Sara
Kristy
Heather
Kapree
Helen that's me
Alison
Sugar
Dianne
Lisa
Sharon
Pam
Ike
MaryKay

A couple of challenges I am entering

card 1 - The Valkyries

Passion for Promarkers - Inspired by a song ("We will overcome" by Thursday)

Craft your passion - Mythical creatures

Magical Mondays - Magical creatures - anything goes

card 2 - Grumpie

Crafty cardmakers - no floral embellishments

Take one plate

This was going to be a cushion front, but people have a habit of leaning back on them and this grew into so much more that I decided to just use the plate I was using as a template to attach this to and hang on the wall. Why not just cut out a card base? Because I wanted more dimension. It was one of those cheap plates picked up for about 20p so not the best china. Just so you can see the proof.
The stamp plate I used was the "As Death" rubber from Smeared Ink.
So what did I make?
A "cushion" for a death mask. One of a couple of paper mache masks that were sent over from the US last Hallowe'en and still sitting in the box!
Now I'm going to bore you with some piccies. So many aspects to this that it took a few.
The front as it will be seen when it finally gets hung on the wall.
Want a closer look? Well you're going to get it.
Some PinWHEEL flowers in the eye sockets instead of pennies plus 3 more down the right hand side.
Some black lace flowers with pearl button centres, some ribbon roses, some black and red lace all adorn the "cushion" base. This was made from black satin fabric with a large ruffle sewn on as well.

The skull was first primed with watered down PVA glue. Next came a coat of very pale yellow acrylic paint. When that was dry I added some black to the base coat, watered it down and "dry sponged" over to take away the "newness". Shadows formed by dry brushing the same paint into the relevant parts. Added a touch of green to the mix and went over the teeth, cheek bones and nose areas, wiping much of it away leaving just that hint of mould to the crevices.







Next comes the stamping. White tissue paper at the ready and black stazon ink and my trusty mod podge.
One central image and one of the text stamps
Then two each of ........
The beauty of using tissue paper is that the image can be seen through the tissue and can therefore be reversed. Which is exactly what I did.
The text from the image near the eye sockets was carefully cut out and added to the forehead and nose bridge.
That's about it.




I am entering this into the challenges over at
Haunted Design House HDH#114 - Got Goth
Smudgy Antics - Wheelie Good Time - PinWHEEL flowers used here. Never made them before but will again now.
Art Impressions Stamps - Anything Goes
Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

Forever Night Challenges - I've been Framed - all framed by that big ruffle

NEW

Happy New Year to you all. How many new year resolutions have been broken already? Me, I don't bother making them now. Not enough will power maybe.
With the New Year brings us round to a whole new lot of challenges after the Christmas break. More importantly, the new round of challenges starting at Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog. Teri treated us all to some fantastic new images to go with this. Some of you will have already seen some if you follow my posts here and there's more eye candy on the blogs of my fellow DT members. So don't forget to go see them.
So to my project this week. A simple card using the beautiful image "I'm NOT Goth!!"
I followed the sketch over at Stempelsonne Challenges this week.



Coloured with promarkers with just a touch of black DI round the outside of the die cut centre.

I dug down deep into my stash to find the hot pink, (not a colour I tend to use very often) and the lime green c.s. More die cutting to form the embellishments etc. The main BP, I think is Basic Grey, has been sitting in my stash for about a year. This was layered onto some more lime green before attaching to a black card base. The ribbon was picked up last year at the SECC from crafty ribbons. Some charms and beads attached with a brad with a little key attached to the image to tie in with the sentiment.

So come on folks lets see those NEW projects over at Delicious Doodles Challenges for a chance to win images of your choice.
You could use new stash, try a new technique, make something for a new baby, new home, in fact - we just want to see anything that is new!!
I am entering this into the challenge over at
Stempelsonne Challenges - Their Sketch
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - New - New image
Paper Creations Ink - Die cuts and/or punches - The image and the corner embellishments
Digistamps4joy - something old (BP) something new (image)
Fab'n'Funky Challenges - Something new - image
Scrap Creations - something old (BP) something new (image)

Card Crafter's Circle - Make It Colourful

Last card of 2011

And the second card destined for a friend. This one made at the request of her husband. Hence the sentiment.
The card itself is made following the sketchy over at Sketch N Stash Challenge blog.

The elements are all those that women are supposed to want from their menfolk as gifts.
Hence the tag on the little back of choccy coins left over from Christmas.

Starting with the image...
It's one of the new images soon to be in the Delicious Doodles shop. (I'll add a link when I can)
EDIT - Image - Katarina
Coloured with promarkers.
Cut out with a nestie after first lifting the head out. Backed onto turquoise c.s.
The card under is silver textured and some paper that came with the november card kit from Duck Pond Crafts. This was edge punched with a diamond punch.
A swirl pattern was created with some tiny red gems as decoration.

and some red roses, again from Duck Pond Crafts,. Some home made pins with "diamonds and pearls" added.



The black/white fabric under the image is some white fur fabric spotted with black marker to simulate the snow leopard of the image.

A few extra pearls added to finish with the computer generated sentiment.

The tag on the bag of coins, so it can be read easier









I am entering this into the challenge over at
Sketch N Stash - Their sketchy
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Anything Goes