Ho Ho Poe with Quoth the Raven

This post is brought to you with mixed feelings. I will be moving in the new year sometime and have had to put the majority of my craft room stash into storage. Boo Hoo! So this might well be one of the last posts for a while.
I have taken leave of absence from my other DT positions until I am in a place to start creating again.

In the meantime, as GDT for Quoth the Raven, I have this triptych made with ATC sized stampbord pieces. It features rubber stamps from Smeared Ink "Quoth the Raven" and "Gothic Christmas" on the inside and crafters' companion on the outside. Much use was made of my pan pastels, in fact the only thing that was not was the actual tree, Poe, pressies and Raven stamping.

 The ivy leaves are a Sheena Douglass die cut from black card and given a lick of gilding waxes in silver, empire and renaissance golds.
We'd all love to see your Poe inspired Christmas Projects - so get cracking!

I am entering this into the challenge at
Smudgy Antics - Anything Goes with a touch of Creepmas

May We Have A Quick Word - with HDH

Well according to the calendar it's the month of May. According to the weather ...... seems more like March! Begins with the same letter so I suppose there's some similarity. Cold, windy and wet in this corner, but we did see an hour or two of the sun, so blessings must be counted.

Being the first Monday in the month means it's the start of a new challenge over at Haunted Design House. This month the challenge is entitled

May We Have A Quick Word

This month we'd like you to either use some text somewhere on your creation OR make it a quick make - less than a day from start to finish. One stipulation it must be a twisted, dark, macabre or Gothic creation. No sweet and fluffy makes will be included in the voting. There are enough mainstream challenges to enter those projects in.

My make took less than a day to create and has one word on it. Another altered domino - one of the travel variety that are a bit smaller than the norm, being only 3 x 1.5cm.

 Just to prove it is a domino - the back view

 A close up of the central feature. A bead wrapped domino with the word "Nevermore" and grid pattern from the Smeared Ink "Quoth the Raven" set and a tiny raven from the Holy City set 1

Stamped onto paper and applied to the domino with and coated with glossy accents.

While this was drying, I started on the beadwork to surround the domino using another as a gauge for size. For those interested - the main body of peyote stitch using size 11 hex beads in a black AB colour. The curve inwards created by using smaller beads (size 11 delica) for a couple of rows before switching to size 15 seed bead for 1 row. The loop created used ladder stitch.

Attaching the pendants of bird skulls and domino - just simple bead loops.

To stop the skulls moving towards the centre - some simple thread whipping round the leather thong.

A simple hook and eye clasp glued to the thong ends. Finished. Drying time of the domino meant this project took longer than the hour it took to create everything else.

There we have it, a simple necklace with a difference.

I'd like to enter this necklace into the challenge at 

Dream In Darkness - Anything Goes
Smudgy Antics - Anything Goes

Playing with Inks

Seems so long since I got rally inky! It's not really but it seems like it. These are my fingers after several washes so it might be a few more days before flesh colours return.

So much fun though and not that unusual in my crafting endeavours.
What caused them to be this delicate shade of blue?
Inks - dye based, of course, and glossy cardstock. Playing and making an ATC.

Using Haunted Places 1 and Killer Bo-Peep rubber from Smeared Ink. 

The sad news that Smeared Ink is closing the shop as of May 5th was like a body blow. They have been around longer than I have been crafting with stamps and it was a happy couple of years that I spent on their DT. The Smeared & Smudged community lives on in Facebook, thank goodness, under the watchful gaze of a couple of friends - Black Dragon and Shelley Knight. If you like the edginess of Smeared Ink - you better get in quick!

I'd like to enter this ATC into the challenge at
Smudgy Antics - Anything Goes with SI stamps

31 Days of Halloween blog hop with RSD's Airless Chambers

Catchup time again
I will get back to normal soon ................ I hope
Anyway...........

THAT day is creeping nearer! Are you excited yet?

I have a card with a bit of a difference - it can keep some amused for a while. A never-ending card.
I used images Halloween Cheer, Madama de la Noche,  Sugar Skulls, and an old favourite of mine - Skull with Roses.

Other stamps used are from Smeared Ink and the web is T.Holtz

The front

flip 1

flip 2

flip 3

Flip again and you're back to the beginning. 

.....and for Haunted Design House - I scream..........

Second week of the challenge over at Haunted Design House. The challenge is to show your interpretation on a little film short.

The other Minions of the Dungeon have worked their magic and produced some amazing art. I just have an ATC.

My first attempt at zentangle. I used images from Smeared Ink  The BG is stamped using a stamp from Visible Image. The letters were stamped and cut out, mounted with sticky pads.

Get on over and link up on the first week's post linky and show us YOUR darkside

They're Coming To take Us Away...........

......... Ha ha, he he
They're coming to take us away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa

 Alien Abduction/Invasion

The funny farm would shake their head if I were to be removed to that place I'm sure.
The thought processes that come out of my head make ME wonder occasionally. Then, when The Haunted Design House challenge of this fortnight was drawing close, I had to engage that part of my brain that spewed out creativity. Hubs, bless his cotton socks, always asks if he can throw "this" out. "This" being an outside light fixture today. Just the thing popped up and out of the grey cell that I have tried to keep alive.
Armed with acrylic paint, glass paint, a couple of rubber stamps - Paper Artsy and Smeared Ink, ink and card, teamed with a few bits of wire, glow in the dark mod-podge and some UTEE, my spaceship came into being. As an added "bonus" I installed some battery operated LED lights inside - a "real" spaceship night light.?

 my Alien

 By day

 in the dark with the internal lights on

top view

The glyphs were handpainted on using Maynov's Glyph Collection (public domain)

The Blog gives a few ideas to help tickle your grey cells into activity as well as some fantastic pieces from my fellow teamies.Get along over there and take a peek ......

then come show us what you came up with.

I'd like to enter my altered light fitting into the challenges at
Anything But a Card - Anything Goes
Craft My Life - Anything But a Card
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

Fresh Blood for Haunted Design House

Hi folks, Yep HDH are back after our winter break. In the time between Hellowe'en and last week, those that follow our movements will have seen that a new minion has been spawned. Non other than the very talented Monique - our very own "Maniacal Mother of Mayhem". I hope you've been and left some bloggy love on, not just Mo's blog but the other awesome minions as well. The nature of the challenge this fortnight was decided - we have fresh blood in the Dungeon - let's see what our challengees make of it.

FRESH BLOOD

I decided on an art journal page to depict my thoughts on the subject. I've not done many but this might just change in 2014. So many new techniques and products I want to try out. What better than to create a journal documenting my progress using my new found knowledge. I won't bore you until later in the post with the whys. If you want to know - carry on reading.
First my page

My project features two images from the pen of another of our talented Minions - Teri of Delicious Doodles and the new offshoot - Delicious Darkness. The two images are Bleeding Hearts and Love Lies Bleeding.
The other stamps are from Smeared Ink,(blood spatters) Indigo Blu (the numeral one)and Aly's Inky Fingers.(the time piece)

coloured with promarkers

coloured with promarkers and Luminarte Radiant rain pourables

The quote retrieved from the web and attributed to the work of Georg Buchner seemed apt. The white paper has been brushed over with distress ink (barn door)

There are a few more days left for you to enter our first challenge of 2014. See you there at 

Haunted Design House.

Onto the whys
I recently signed up for the online program called Creative Jumpstart 2014.  I felt as if my work was getting stale. A lot of the "OOmph" was lacking, for me at least. Time to maybe get some more ideas going in my head. This year is my first time of joining this kind of project. Part of the program is to show some of our work created using the prompts supplied by a group of very talented and successful artists. The common theme is to use "household items" commonly found in most homes. One of the prompts was using masking tape and inks. I went a bit further with the addition of red embossing powder, images and quote. It was, afterall a prompt.
Along the way of the course there are various "show and tell" with some amazing giveaways by the sponsors of the project. One of these is to choose a favourite tool. Mine is my craft knife. Without this fabulous tool I would not be able to cut out the images I choose to use, with all the fine detail they include.

Baubles and more baubles

Well, so far I have fought off the putting up of "The Tree", I like it going up after my daughter's birthday on the 12th and it's always been a tradition in my home for a family activity when all are present just before the big day. Looks like it's be this weekend that the battle will be lost by me. No more excuses. I have however been making some new baubles for the seasonal decoration that takes over our room.
I have used a variety of techniques and, in deference to the different tastes of family and friends, stamps from different sources.
My first batch are using my new rubber stamps from Smeared Ink and images drawn by Rick St Dennis - Dark Holidaze.
All are wooden, some are altered jigsaw pieces and some are precut from Indigo Blu.

 Primed with white gesso, stamped with green pigment ink and dusted with yellow ochre. burnt sienna and copper pan pastels

 Primed with black gesso, stamped with clear embossing ink and dusted with copper panpastels

 primed with white gesso, sanded back slightly, stamped with green pigment ink and heat set. The other side  was primed with black gesso stamped with clear embossing ink then dusted with copper and green perfect pearls. purple gilding wax round the edges

Primed with black gesso, stamped with silver pigment ink. Heat set before painting with perfect pearls

Primed with black gesso, stamped with silver pigment ink that was wiped randomly on the bauble as well then all heat embossed with clear EP.

I'd like to enter my tree baubles into the challenge at
Left of Centre - Winter or Holidays

Second Day of Creepmas with RSD's Tuts

Hi, The project/tutorial I have for you all today can be seen in it's entirety over on the Second Day of Creepmas post of the Tuts and Comments blog of the Rick St Dennis' EDT so just a brief synopsis here so you all know about it.
I made a couple of Jacob's ladders. One of those toys that both young and old can enjoy.

I used a rubber stamp from the Smeared Ink "Morte" rubber set, drawn by Rick St Dennis and "We Three Geese" available from Rick's Zibbet shop.

One for those that prefer "the Dark Side" and one lighter themed one. Both employing heat embossing. The geese were coloured with a mixture of promarkers, sparkly gel pens and metallic markers. 

I'd like to enter this project into the challenge at
Through The Purple Haze - Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat
Addicted to Stamps - Embossing - Heat or dry
Anything but a card - Holiday Themed - these are to be presents
Stamping Sensations - Free and Easy

Grumpy For Christmas

Me, I'm always grumpy leading up to Christmas. Not my favourite time of year for many reasons. I won't bore you with the details, suffice to say, the best time of the day is midnight - just before the 26th. I do however make a few cards for those family and friends that will appreciate them. Some of my favourite characters are The Grumpies from Smeared Ink. They fit just about every occasion and there are now quite a few to choose from and make fab cards for the menfolk in our lives. There's one particular man in my life that just adores them and this is his card.

 I followed sketch # 73/74 from the Papertake Weekly files. The spotty DP is from a #2papercraft 4 you"  Christmas collection and already has "Merry Christmas" printed all over it. That's the sentiment taken care of. A square of frayed hessian with some copper and gold ribbon. A square of green inked kraft coloured card and topped off with our main character. The card base was dusted lightly with distress ink to take away that stark whiteness.

This little Grumpie comes from the "All Occasions" rubber set from Smeared Ink. Coloured with promarkers, glittery gel pens and metallic markers with some woodware "Fluffy Stuff" applied on the hat fur.

I's like to enter this card into the challenge at
Papertake Weekly - Sketchie Free-for-all using sketch # 73/74 (they are both the same)
Smeared and Smudged Forum - "Smudgy Antics" Anything Goes with a Smeared Ink Stamp
Stamping Sensations - Free and Easy

Anything Goes at Smudgy Antics

Hi there peeps. It's the last week of not only this Anything Goes challenge at the Smudgy Antics blog but also the last challenge on the blog. All future challenges will be held within the Challenger section of the Smeared and Smudged ning forum.  It's free to join and so much going on with all the new stuff, as well as old favourites, it's well worth a visit or four.
My piece for this week is a variation on the Christmas Wreath. I used the Smeared Ink rubber stamps from the "Gothic Christmas" collection.

The images were stamped using Stazon onto felt, cut out and glued to the prepared wreath.

The wire ring base was first wrapped with wadding and strips of hessian on top of that a couple of retaining stitches held it all in place.
Some colour was added with fineliners. I was not about to use my promarkers near the stazon ink.
Some felt mistletoe added with a little bow and a grosgrain ribbon hanging loop before topping off with that fabulous reindeer head.
That's about it from me today.
Come along and join us with this fun challenge. Think outside the box and surprise us.

I'd like to enter this Christmas wreath into the challenge at
Stamping Sensations - Christmas

Anything Goes at Smudgy Antics

I don't know about you but when the theme of any challenge is an "Anything Goes" my mind goes blank. So many things I could make. What do I want to make? What do I need to make? So many questions swimming around in this empty  noddle of a head. That very theme is the new challenge over at Smudgy Antics for the next two weeks. So, what am I to make? I ended up making a simple tag. One for the different and like-minded friends I love.
I used the Gothic Christmas rubber set from Smeared Ink.

I cut a simple tag from rich red card stock and heat embossed the tree on it with black powder. The bat and wreath was stamped into clear hot glue. When cool, this was dusted with a mixture of perfect pearls and pan pastels.

A few flat flowers added at the hole and secured with an eyelet. Some ribbon and fibres to finish. Simple, as I said.
So, what are you waiting for? Get those projects linked up to the Smudgy Antics challenge so we can all enjoy your eye candy.

I'd like to enter this tag into the challenge at

Craft-Dee BowZ November challenge - Anything with a hand made bow

Fire and Ice

Oh my. Is it really a week since I last blogged anything. I haven't been idle..... honest. It's because I'm working on a project that is taking some time to complete. As well as this -- my project for week two of the Fire and Ice challenge over at Smudgy Antics. The competition is wide open still for the next 6 days.
I altered a bottle for this project. Made it into a candle holder. Well there's fire for you. Wait, there's more....

 The bottle was coated in gesso before wrapping with hessian (burlap) strips. Some copper wire threaded with red bicone beads and steel wire with blue and clear beads was wrapped around. Then left to dry off a bit before adding the next bits.

 This is the fire goddess from the Smeared Ink rubber Elementals set

and this is the water goddess from the same set.
My stamping medium - well that's hot glue. I made a large puddle, using yellow and red for fire and blue and clear for the ice, onto a piece of baking paper on my heat resistant mat.then pressed my stamp into the hot glue and let it all cool down. No, the stamp is not damaged. I've seen this done with clear stamps and they weren't harmed either. The advantage here is that the glue panel is flexible unlike UTEE. The fire goddess was give a wipe over with copper pan pastel and the ice panel with silver perfect pearls. Then sprayed with hairspray to set.
Some holes made in the panels and joined with more copper wire. More pan pastels in copper and blue sponged onto the hessian. Some firey red and icy blue and white flowers added for more interest before adding the candle.
Simple but very messy. I had a ball!!

I'd like to enter my candle holder into the challenge at
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Premium Craft Brands - Anything Goes/Something Altered
Craft My Life All Crafts Challenge - ABAC

Fire and Ice with Smudgy Antics

Smudgy Antics has a new challenge starting today.

FIRE AND ICE

We want to see how you interpret this. The DT have come up with a few ideas, but we want to be inspired by you as well.

I made a simple AJ page using two of the images from the Elemental Goddesses set.

For those lucky people in the Smeared Ink Rubber Club, these stamps should be hitting your doorsteps very soon if they haven't already done so.
Fire and water were the images chosen. Coloured with promarkers before given their separate treatments.
The Fire Goddess was burnt round the edges. An obvious procedure I think. The frozen water goddess was sealed first with Decoart sealer before painting on Rock Candy. When this was dry some weathered wood DI sponged on lightly and another coat of sealer.
The paper used is digital from Smeared Ink's "Slasher" set.  The colour was altered digitally diagonally before printing.
Cut to size 8"x8" to fit in my journal. The "Fire" word is from the same Elementals set the "Ice" is just a set of  alphabet stamps I have.

It looks simple now I look at it again. 

Day 31 of 31 Days of Hallowe'en

For full deets on this Freaking fangtastic Blog hop organised by Smeared Ink and The Smeared and Smudged forum, please hop on over to Terra's blog. All the info on the days sponsors are there as well as any other info you think you might need.  The blog hop roll is there in my side bar.

Good morning folks. How are we all? Are you all ready for tonight?  THE day when zombies, ghosts, skeletons as well as a motley crew of other creepies will wander the streets and no one will bat an eye lid. Tales of Horror will be broadcast on the TVs, almost throughout the world, to help bring those in their homes into the celebrations.
Well I made it - all the way to the finish line. Over 31 different projects made, photographed and blogged (a couple of days had more than one piece). A mammoth task and there were a few times I nearly gave up. You Horrifying Hoppers kept me going and for this I thank you.
My last project is a tag. I realised yesterday that I had not made a single reference to the Master of the Classic Gothic Horror. That fantastic author that so many of us love and who brings joy to our lives through the power of the written word. I speak, of course, of Edgar Allan Poe. I felt his poem "The Raven" had to be the one for my last day piece, just because.

The Raven stamped image is from Lost Coast. Stamped with versamark onto pale grey card and black PanPastel applied with a sponge before tearing out.

The word "Nevermore" was compiled by stamping, onto the same grey card, three sizes of feathers (Sheena Douglas) at various angles. The (memory box) die cut tree was stamped with a crackle stamp (more Sheena Douglas). Black feathers (with a greenish tinge) from stash.

All these elements were laid over a tag that had first been painted with black gesso and some scrunched up tissue applied and left to dry.

Well that's it from me folks. Phewwwwwwww. I'm glad to report that my craft room looks almost back to normal after a massive tidy up yesterday.
What will tomorrow bring?

I'd like to enter this tag into the challenge at
Premium Craft Brands - Shades of Grey

Day 30 of 31 Days of Hallowe'en

For full deets on this Freaking fangtastic Blog hop organised by Smeared Ink and The Smeared and Smudged forum, please hop on over to Terra's blog. All the info on the days sponsors are there as well as any other info you think you might need.  The blog hop roll is there in my side bar.

Good morning folks. How are we all? Nearly at the finish line. Just think, tomorrow is the BIG day.This last month has been a blast. I can see me spending a good few days at the PC trying to go look at everyone's projects because I haven't had time to hop AND blog. One or the other when working f/t as well for me unfortunately. Still got the mess of papers, stamps and other paraphernalia all over my craft room although I did manage to find a space to put together this project for today.

Doesn't look much maybe from the front except for the cute little topper he sports, made from one of the Hallowe'en papers I have. Just can't remember which collection off the top of my head.

The template has been sitting in my pc files a while and I can't remember where from but Leigh, fellow SI DT teamie has a similar one on her blog. A couple of homemade skully pins, dark orange ribbon, black feather and a trio of black roses complete the top hat.

What is seen as the skull is rotated though?

All images are from the Smeared Ink Voodoo rubber stamp collection drawn by Rick St Dennis. 

Stamped with stazon onto tissue paper and coloured with pencils. Modpodge used to adhere to the gesso covered paper mache skull. The teeth were highlighted with smooch ink.

It still remains a mystery to me what tomorrow might bring. Thinking cap needs to be refreshed with more coffee I think. 

Thank you Hoppers for visiting again. I can't stress enough how much your fabulous comments have spurred me on each day. Until tomorrow then ..................

My 666 post giveaway - Can "DogsMum", "Maureen Scott" and "Matney" please email me or pm me in facebook your snail mail addys. Thanks girls xx

I would like to enter this skull into the challenge at
Loves Rubber Stamps - Hallowe'en