A Winter Birthday Card

I know this blog has been a bit neglected in the last few weeks. Since October and the 31 days to be precise. For all my lovely followers - this is about to change, again.
December is all about Christmas, and the run up to it, for most. Creepmas for many though that do not like the commercialism that now marks this, supposedly, sacred time and because we love the Hallowe'en holiday more.
For more info on Creepmas, please go read here. The link's are also on the left hand side bar for a few of the groups of people that will be going down this alternative path.

Before I go into Creepmas mode, I want to share with you a card I made for one of the December birthdays I also cannot forget. Both my daughter and step-daughter celebrate their birthdays in December. It will be one of them that gets this card.

Made using just 4 colours, white, silver, grey and blue. All icy, wintry colours. I used a Rick St Dennis image  called The Snow Queen.

Coloured with promarkers for the most part, the "embroidered" decoration on her gown and her headdress were coloured with silver glitter gel pen and the gems securing the ermine tails are blue glitter gel pen then there's some silver glamour dust added to the fur. Phew - such a lot of sparkle.
I have used silver leather look card as a base mat on a white silk card base with a layer of embossed pearlised white on that. A band of linen look white card, lattice edge punch with silver mat topped by white lace. Two lengths of silver organza ribbon added then a frame cut from more pearlised white. That extra shimmer was added by using fusible gossamer fibres. Two snow flakes. One cut using my cricut the other made from punched silver fleur di lis shapes, (mirrored from the dress). Then there's the pearls and clear gem stones to add that extra sparkle. Both girls do like their bling!
There we have it.

A few challenges that I'd like to enter this into
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Ribbon/Trim
Divas By Design - Glitter and Sparkle
ABC Challenges - Anything Goes

Goth Vs Pretty with Delicious Doodles

The new challenge over at Delicious Doodles this week is entitled

Goth Vs Pretty

How would you interpret this? The rest of team A have some very different ideas of course.

I went with a pretty image - that of Angelique with Snowflake. Then added a few Gothic elements to a card.

Some deep red paper on a square card. I edged this with double sided tape and rubbed black flock on it.
Some black lace with a "snowflake" made from 6 fleur dis lis pearlised black punch outs, glossy accents and a black gem in the centre.
The image, from Delicious Doodles of course, was coloured with promarkers. Some gold and silver glamour dust added to the wings and snowflake.

 I used my TH iron gate die cutter to create the border. from black silk sheen card. A couple more black gems and job done.

How are you going to depict your pretty Goth? Please come over to the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog and show us.

A couple of challenges I'd like to enter are
Flutter By Wednesday's - Punch It
ABC Challenges - Anything Goes

Reptile Rampage with Smudgy Antics

Smudgy Antics day has rolled round again

This week it's your take on the theme "REPTILE RAMPAGE" that is the type of project we're wanting to see. For full details please read the blurb on the Smudgy Antics blog.
I got to play with one of the many new designs available in the Smeared Ink Shop. This one is called "Feeling a Little Snakey". Just one of many fabulous images produced by fellow teamie Ike. Please go look at, not only the Smeared Ink Shop but also, Ike's own shop.

My Reptile Rampage took the use of snake skin papers to my limit. Was rummaging through my stash trying to decide what to use and came across these forgotten papers in the mass. The image was coloured with promarkers.

Die cut snake skin paper behind the image before the mat of pearlised coppery brown. Then a pale copper card stock die cut piece that was stamped with a crackle BG stamp (Indigo Blu). Then a black/white snake skin paper, next another layer of blue/green/yellow snakeskin paper, before finally mounting that onto a piece of DCWV paper. This is actually a floral paper but the petals look so scale-like, I decided on this.
The mesh ribbon also has a scaly look to it with some serpentine looking ric-rak as an extra reptilian type addition. The beady pearls from stash as well I followed the sketch over at Simon Says Stamp for my layout inspiration. The sentiment is from a Creative Expressions set, stamped onto a hand made paper scrap.

Your turn peeps to show us all at Smudgy Antics what your Reptile Rampage projects look like.

I'd like to enter this card into the challenge over at
Simon Says Stamp - Their Sketch

Twisted Holidaze with RSD

Ooops I forgot to post this on Friday.

My Sparkle and Glitter. the Rick St Dennis Challenge blog post.

Twisted Holidaze 

We have another fabulous sponsor lined up with a fantastic $15 shopping trip to be spent in the store of Smeared Ink

This next two weeks we're giving you a chance to take a fun or freaky poke at the Winter Holiday season. To be a bit bizarre or creepy but also have FUN.

Well those that frequent this blog of mine will probably have guessed by now that this challenge would be close to my heart.

I have two cards to show you all.

The first is using two images from Rick St Dennis.  The Fah Lah La This Carolers and the Merry Creepmas  (full card version)
A "flip flop" or "swing" card"

Images are coloured with promarkers, cut out with a nestie before ink distressing and mounting.
Flowers and skully ornaments from stash with some odd bits of ribbon and fibres from stash.

My second card uses The same sentiment and the Smeared Ink, Watchful Eye image.
Using a couple of graphics programs, Gimp and MCS, I created the centre piece for this.

I coloured the watchful eye image with promarkers (twice) then took the opacity down

then layered the greeting that I'd converted into a png file.
The heated embossed spiders' webs are from Tattered Angels. The snowflake flower has perfect pearls dusted on. The rest is from stash.

Please come and join us all from team Sparkle with your Twisted Holidaze projects. Any holiday - I just happened to want to get started on my Creepmas cards.

November '12 Smeared & Smudged Blog Hop

The 31 days of Hallowe'en hop over, what seems like eons ago, was it only 15 days? Withdrawal symptoms  have set in for some, relief for others. Lol.  We have the monthly Smeared and Smudged hop to fill that gap between then and the 12 Days of Christmas  Creepmas.
The challenge is to "ALTER SOMETHING". Anything. Absolutely No cards allowed this hop. To use your imaginations, it can be a can, box, coaster, book, creepmas ornament, etc. Also, don't forget the S&S rule that is has to be stamped somewhere (digi stamps are fine) – we love when you use Smeared Ink stamps, but it is NOT a requirement to participate. 
You will, if you're following the list, have come from seeing the fabulous project made by Lisa

Blog Roll:

Shell
Kristy
Susan S.
Jane
Windy
Candace
Wendy
Fiona Randall
Carla
Jean
Vee
Lisa Hall
Helen - that's me
Monique
Dianne

There's the list of bloggers this November, There are a few not able to take part unfortunately due to a variety of reasons - Life happens! They are missed xxx
I've gone for making a pressie that one of my friends will be receiving. I only hope that she'll like it.
IT started out looking a bit "loved". Picked up from one of the many charity shops and street markets that I'd trawled through looking for bits to alter.

One of a pair. The other will be shown in a few weeks.
A small wooden chest of drawers. measures 14x9x5.5 cm if you're interested.

This is that chest after it's make over.

Some pearlised gold card. Dry embossed. Black Soot DI rubbed over then, while still wet, some red perfect pearls brushed on (and off). This was then spritzed with plain water and heat dried. A lovely deep red with the black undertones goes so well with the gold IRL. The glare from the shimmer makes it harder to pick up all the details on camera. That's a darker green satin ribbon and red and green skullies.
The front?

The image is "Watchful Eye" from Smeared Ink. Coloured with promarkers. Applied to the drawer fronts that had been painted a jade green. Flower soft added to the hat trim for that "furry" look.
The insides of the drawers did not escape.

Each drawer was subjected to some Christmas DP. just to finish it all off.

Monique's wonderous talent is next to behold.

Thanks for visiting my humble abode.
See you soon

I'd like to enter this into the challenge at
Just Keep On Creating - Christmas is around the corner

Twisted Sister with Smudgy Antics

Monday and a new challenge from Smudgy Antics. Yes, I know I'm late posting, It's OH's birthday and some things have had to be delayed.
The challenge theme this week is
 "TWISTED SISTER".
How twisted can you get?  We want to see your dark or naughty side come out to play.  There's no need to hide or be squeamish, we are all freaks here...at least that's what those in The Land of Magnolia say about us.  
I wear my Freak Show Badge with pride and so should you (click this linkto get your own freak show button)!  Heck, art is art.  I sometimes make gruesome things, but that doesn't make me a mass murderer or an unfeeling person. I like to be diverse in my creative process.  My mates make alternative works as well.  Come on, dive in and have some fun!  Save the pretty pretty for those other challenges.  We like it gritty around here...and TWISTED!


Now this might not be gruesome to some, cutting up someone's artwork might be considered wrong. It was necessary for my bit of twisted fun.

This is my project lying flat - just so you get the idea

And this is it hanging up.

The image itself is the Steampunk Sugarplum Fairy from Smeared Ink of course.

Coloured with promarkers then scanned and printed. 6 times for one direction and six flipped images.

Then came the dismembering and gluing together of all the layers. The two sides were stuck together with a wire between so that they could be strung together. These were then dipped in UTEE before assembling using jewellers thread with some cog charms between the sections. The 'copter piece is made from 2 small TH gear die cuts, heat embossed with distress embossing powder. Triangles of a pearlised gold card inserted as shown. Yes - a heat source underneath causes the fairy to twist and turn.

Your turn - after seeing what the rest of my teamies have dreamt up for your inspiration.

Get as twisted as you like and then come back and show us all at Smudgy Antics. 

A couple of challenges I'd like to enter this into
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes
Forever Night Challenges - Anything Goes
Stampotique Designers Challenge - SDC#73 Hanging

Remember - Lest We Forget

Rick St Dennis has graciously allowed me to share one of his awesome digis for a limited time with anyone that would use him.

He is not available to buy in the Etsy Shop

He's just the image that would also fit very neatly into the REMEMBER challenge over at the Sparkle and Glitter the Rick St Dennis Challenge Blog.

The image is The Euro Boy Red Poppy Soldier

By clicking on the image you should be able to get the full size version and download to your PC.
Please leave a comment, we do appreciate it. It would be great also if you used him in a project and shared it with us, either at the Challenge Blog or why not join us on Facebook - or even both!

Tic Tac Toe with Smudgy Antics

Smudgy Antics day has arrived yet again - but then it is Monday!

This week's challenge is a fun one.  Can I interest anyone in a game of 

TIC-TAC-TOE?  Just pick any three items in a row from the grid below.  You can go up and down, across, or diagonally.  Please make sure to list which three items you have used in the making of your project and use at least one stamped image ("real" or "digi"). 

Simple enough for you all?

There're times when I can't make my mind up with these projects and end up with all the elements. This week I tried very hard to limit myself. I went with the centre line of "Distress, Mono-chrome and Fabric or ribbon". A bit of glitter found it's way in as well though in the form of red stickles.

This image from the pen of Ike, who is now drawing some images for Smeared Ink. This one is from the range of 5 Succubus women - image #4. 

You can see which colour I chose, haha. The image is coloured with promarkers and cut out using labels 8 nestie. and backed onto red pearlescent card after some ink distressing. 

She is a beauty, isn't she!

The image panel was layered onto a piece of red patterned paper from stash (distressed), to which a ribbon (sheer organza and grosgrain) detail had been added then onto deep red plain card (distressed) then the card base onto a card base (distressed) made from the same pearlescent red as the image mat. Some red stickles added to the wings of our lady and to the corners of the card.

There we have it. Room for a sentiment when I decide who is going to get this.

Looking forward to seeing your "Tic-Tac-Toe" projects. 

I am entering this into the following challenge
Come and Get It - Monochrome
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
So Artful - Monochromatic - Red

Emboss It - with Delicious Doodles

Embossing is the name of the game over at Delicious Doodles Challenges this week. Can't get much simpler than that. Just make something - anything - that incorporates either or both dry or heat embossing.

I took the opportunity of playing with some of the new Christmas images and getting a card done for my stock that I will need in just a few weeks time.

So armed with some pearlised card, embossing tools and some images - this is what came out of my craft room. Using pearlised card meant the printer ink stayed wet enough for me to use embossing powder on the image. No need to go over it with any other medium.

Here using the Snowflake Corner. Manipulated so that it printed in two corners. This was doused with an opaque blue/gold powder straight out of the printer, then heated as normal.

The snowflakes on the front and inside are from the Snowflake Collection. Printed onto pearlised silver card. I heat set these without embossing. Then with my trusty blade, proceeded to cut them out.. One for the inside as you see and one for the front.

Slightly off set, I think gives a better "feel". The folder used here is from Sizzix.

Both the pale blue panels are mounted onto a dark blue card base. The closure tab was made from the piece  cut away to make this "Big Buckle card" and stamped using blue archival ink.

Looking forward to seeing those embossed makes of yours. The rest of the team have worked their magic as well. Go check them out!

See you soon and thanks for looking

I would like to enter this into the following challenge
Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas
Hooked on Craft - Christmas - no red/green

Remember - with RSD

Sparkle and Glitter with Rick St Dennis have a new challenge. It starts today and although it's not "my" team's turn, I volunteered to use one of the images from our sponsor this week. Way back when the challenge blog was just an idea. Waaaay outside my comfort zone here with these cute images from Whoopsie Daisy. That's what challenges are all about though, isn't it? I hope I have done this justice.

The theme of the challenge is REMEMBER
These coming days see the British and Americans remembering the fallen Heroes in the wars on Remembrance Day and on Veterans Day. 
We also want to remember those loved ones, that are no longer with us for other reasons.  
October heralded in Breast Awareness Month, November remembers the fellas with all the "Movember" tributes. There are many more causes that we need to be aware of and remember those affected. Check out the list here - there's going to be something on that list that strikes a chord with each and every one of you.

I made a card using sheet #389 from Whoopsie Daisy. There are four images to a sheet, two precoloured and two line drawings. I chose the colour purple as my "cause to remember" It stands for many causes close to my heart.

Coloured with promarkers with antique linen DI . 8 little ribbons surrounding her with nail art gems as "pins". The BP is from a 12x12" sheet that has been in my stash for so long I can't remember where I got it. All teamed up with some pearlised purple card and ribbon.

We would love to see how you all "Remember" so please pop along and show us.

ALSO
Rick St Dennis has some news about a weekend freebie giveaway. Go check it out before you miss out on some fabulous images.