Holey Moley!!

I was asked quite some time ago, to make a 

Marilyn Manson 12"x12" art piece, for a friend of a friend.

I am quite the procrastinator, but I finally finished it.

I really wanted to use this new technique I learned from the 

Andy Skinner - Book of Ruination workshop. 

It is such a killer technique and so fun to create!

I highly recommend Mister Skinner's workshops. 

Well worth the price of admission.

It just so happened that this technique is perfect for 

the current challenge at HDH, Holey Moley!     

I decided to use a few different techniques 

and textures for this page.

I fussy cut this cool frame from Itkupilli, and then heat embossed

just the skull and the angels and their sash.

I used Rock Candy crackle paint on this chipboard slide, 

with some silver and black paint. Then I filled the inside with

Glossy Accents. I really like the textures on this. A lot!  

Basic cracked glass effect, using UTEE, freezing the piece, and then

cracking it as it comes out of the freezer.

I adhered the lightening bolt to a chipboard piece, 

and then UTEE'd everything together. 

I added some eyelets for some metal.

Marilyn needs some metal.

And finally, more clear Rock Candy distress paint

over bright red and silver painted chipboard letters.

I sure hope this is what she had in mind.

It was fun to put together and a good opportunity to

practice all of these techniques.

Be sure to stop by Haunted Design House and check out 

what the other Minions have created for this challenge.

Keep it Creepy! 

Ready for your close up, Mister Orlok?

Creepy Glowbugg here, with my newest creepy creation.

As you may have already surmised, I enjoy life on the darker side.

I love scary movies, both classic horror and the gory stuff. 

I grew up on 80's Splatter Horror. Can't get enough of it!!

But in order to get your dark card, you must enjoy the very classic 

of the classics, Nosferatu. 

I have used this amazing image from Rick St. Dennis,

aptly named," Nosferatu". 

I used a tombstone Spellbinder nestie shape for his cryptic image,

and colored it using a sponge dauber and Fired Brick Distress ink.

I coupled him with a witty little saying from Ginger's House.

Nothing more confusing than a smiling Count Orlok.

And lastly, I added this vintage tooth chart to carry out the 

toothy theme. I printed it onto kraft stock, and then crumpled and 

distressed it a bit with Vintage Photo Distress ink, 

and highlighted the teeth with a white pencil. 

Keep it Creepy!

Honor thy Skull

It's that time of year again, when we celebrate the cranium!!

Yup, it's Skull Appreciation Day!!!

I love skulls. All kinds of skulls. I have armadillo skulls, skull tattoos, 

skull art, skull toys, skull kitchenware, barware, clothing, purses, shoes, 

bandanas, skull stamps, skull paper crafts, embellies, etc... 

You name it, my husband and I probably have it.

That being said, I have a few Skull Appreciation projects 

to share with you today on the Smeared and Smudged blog hop.

First up, is an older project that is finally (nearly) finished.

This is my sgraffito skull. I started working on it last year,

and am determined to finish it and have it glazed 

and fired before Hallowe'en. 

Once it's fired, it will be a high gloss black with white artwork. 

I am trying to keep it in a fairly Hallowe'en theme.

Gah! I hate what I did to the teeth, but with everything else going on, 

maybe they won't be too distracting.

Another jawline spiderweb. And more bad teeth....

Thirteen has been my lucky number for years, so it was a given that

it be represented on my skull.

Back of the skull.

I still want to do something to the sides of the skull, but I 

haven't decided on a design yet.

My next project is a papercraft. Had to be done, no way around it.

I present you with,

The Queen of Skulls.

She is a brilliant image drawn by Rick St. Dennis and available here.

She is fierce!

Colored with Copics, MS scarab border, and MS dp.

Done!

Lastly, is one of my favorite things to make out of polymer clay.

A wonky skull!

I created this background using some techniques I learned 

through an Andy Skinner workshop. Such a cool and fun texture.

Then, I artfully crafted this rather large skull out of polymer clay.

He's about 4 1/2" wide by 3 1/3" high. The backing plaque 

measures approximately 5" x 5". 

Overall, much larger than I usually make my skulls.

I used purple, black, and silver acrylic paints and washes to achieve

the color on the skull. I added a couple coats of satin sealer to finish it off.

Thanks so much for sticking around until the end.

There are a ton more blogs to visit on this killer, cranial themed, hop. 

Here is the list of Smeared and Smudged 
participants in order:

Terra
Tori
Laura
Kapree
Kristy
Sandy
Jacki
Rick St Dennis
Airless Chambers
Wendy
Julia
Susan
Lady Brayton
Black Dragon
Kay
Miko
Creepy Glowbugg
Aletha
Ike
Miranda
Hazel
Monique
Shoni
Suzi
Leigh S-B Designs
DominoART
Alison
Donna M
Donna W
Jane
De Stempelwinkel
Evil Edna
Jenn
Steph
Anna
Bombshell Stamps
Helen
Shell
Movie Magic Monthly Blog
Fiona
Serena
Little Black Kitten
Maureen
Karen
Milo
Teri

Did someone say, Freebie"?!

Everyone likes a freebie, don't they?

Crafters especially like freebies.

Today, Rick St. Dennis is giving away two free digital images.

Over at the Airless Chambers blog, there is this killer skeleton image.

Grab him, make a project using him, and enter it in the monthly freebie

challenge to win more free images. Win, win!! 

I colored this dapper fellow with Copics, and then fussy cut him out.

I added a couple of bones from a previous "RSD blog only" available set,

and a square of this cool, self adhesive, "Magic Mesh" to finish it off.  
I am really new to this magically adhesive mesh, and wish I had 
applied it with some dimension. Next time....  

Then, if you pop over to the Sparkle and Glitter blog, you can pick up

this beautiful "Desdemona" image.

I colored her up in purples, teals, and golds. She is such a beautiful image,

that I may have to color her up in various color schemes to see which one

I like the best. It's amazing how diverse an image can be by just simply changing the paint job. 

I finally found the perfect opportunity to use one of my precious,

handmade by Andrea, sheer fleurs. It goes beautifully with this tag.

So how's that for some awesome freebies?

Make sure to get them, and then play along with the monthly challenges

on each blog for a chance to win more free images. 

Please play fair, and don't share the images. 

Direct your friends to the blogs so they may get the images and some inspiration for themselves.

   

   

Oh, Alice! Eat me....

For what now seems like many moons ago, I used to be a part

of a great group of creative ladies who were the design team

for the Oh, Alice! challenge blog. 

It was a wonderful Alice in Wonderland themed challenge blog.

After a while, the blog changed (equally worthy) hands,

and I felt it was a good time to step down and see what else was

out there for me creatively. I always meant to play along 

with the newly renamed, Altered Alice challenges, but never did.

Then I read that this is Altered Alice's last scheduled challenge until 

further notice. I absolutely had to play! 

It had been much too long since I made anything

Alice related, and I couldn't think of a better reason to do so.

And the theme is Anything Goes. Really? My favorite theme ever! 

I immediately knew I wanted to use my favorite Alice image, 

from Spesch Designer's Stamps, drawn by Christina Gardner.

I had all the blue and yellow Copics out with the intention of doing 

a classic color scheme for Alice, but then I remembered 

it's anything goes!

I like Alice with lavender hair and green eyes.

Then, I colored up this great image drawn by Rick St. Dennis,

 and gussied it up a bit with some Stickles and loose Doodlebug glitter. 

I added the black satin ribbon with the buckle/brad to give some balance.

Plus, it was an opportunity to destash a bit. I always need to destash....  

I even broke out with my highly coveted 

Graphic 45 Hallowe'en in Wonderland dp, and my 

loverly Leavenworth Jackson Wish you were here stamp. 

I embossed it after I distressed it slightly. 

I am so happy I got a chance to create something for the awesome 

Altered Alice Chapter 27 

What a wonderful dream it has been challenge.

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

  Simon Says - Anything Goes!

Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with ribbon

Inkspirational Challenges - Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesdays - #122 Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

      

Anything Poes, and then some

Finally, I am able to play along with my fiends

at Quoth the Raven, Nevermore challenges!!

With a style all their own, they deal only in the 

masterings of Mister Poe, and none other! 

I have been itching to use this wonderfully rendered image of Mister Poe

by Rick St. Dennis. It's available here.

I wanted him to be the main attraction, so I decided on an ATC.

After printing Poe out on kraft stock, I used Distress Inks and an aqua 

pen to give him some color. I used a "nevermore" stamp that I got from 

Viva Las Vegas via an Etsy retailer. Weird, I know.

It seemed a little plain, so I felt the need to add some blood splatter.

I embossed it with some cool, but unused for far too long,

 red tinsel embossing powder.

Lastly, I added the witty sentiment from Viva Las Vegas and some more

sparkly blood splats.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Quoth the Raven - Anything POES

Anything but a Card - Dust off your old supplies

Crazy for Challenges - No patterned papers

Left of Center - red and black or just LOC

A Day for Daisies - Anything Goes

Yup, you read that right. I said, "daisies".

Now, I know it's not my usual dark cup of tea, but I adore

the images at ADFD, and wanted to play along with

one of the adorable images I have collected.

I fell in love with this Ladybug and Me image.

They are just the sweetest things.

It would make a beautiful little tattoo.

I made this card for one of my MILs for Mother's Day.

I have been blessed with TWO fabulous MILs.

I don't know where I'd be without them both!

Close up of the sparkles. So pretty.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenge(s):

A Day for Daisies - Anything Goes #70