Round 2, ding ding!!!

The second round of the DT throwdown at 

Smeared and Smudged has begun.

This time the theme is Faux Finishes.

Here is my faux finished skull.

Paper Mache skull with bronze metallic paint and patina treatment.

I used the VerDay paint set from Retro Cafe Art to achieve this

awesome finish. Very realistic IRL. It looks like it should weigh quite

a bit, like solid cast bronze. 

All paper and card stock gears and cogs and such, 

given a faux rust technique using acrylic paints. 
I also used some navy blue rhinestones that weren't 
getting used very often, to act as faux rivets.

Stamped stylized steampunk gears onto tissue paper and adhered it 

over the bronze and patina. Next time, I think I'll apply it before 

the patina step. Might make it appear more realistic and less

sticker-ish.

Good shot of the bronze and patina, and a close up of the gears and 

stuff. I used some grunge board, but found the cardstock to work
better. Grunge board doesn't glue down very easily, either.

The Haunted Design House team won the first DT throw down, 

and we'd love to go two for two on this round as well.

We all worked really hard on our projects and we think it shows.

If you would like to see the entries from all of the teams

and cast your vote on Thursday or Friday, here is the link. 

You do have to be a Smeared and Smudged forum member

to participate and vote, but it's free and very worth signing up.

Check out our collective entry at Haunted Design House. 

WW Reminder Post

Saturday friendly reminder that WW ATC challenges is still

accepting entries in our challenge

Spring Fever.

I used this peacock from our sponsor, DigiDarla. 

I finally got to use my peacock embossing folder!!!

I think it looks quite elegant, all white like that.

It helps the peacock really pop!  

A little bling to finish it all off. Nice.

You still have until Tuesday to submit your ATC.

C'mon, it's fun!!!

First day of Spring?

We have had the most beautiful weather here, in Northern California lately.

Temps in the mid to low 70's, sun, everything is blooming. Just gorgeous!

Today? Not so much. Rain (which we do need) can suck it.

So, to brighten your day (and mine), 

I have a Spring Fever challenge for you, from

Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge.

We are sponsored by DigiDarla Designs this week.   

I have used the Fashion Fairy image from DigiDarla's shop.

Very fun to color and create with this image. 

Just wanted to show off the dimension and the Stickled sparkle 

from this angle. So glad I thought to use those fleurs. 

I have had them in my stash for years!  

Nice close up of the fleurs, beautifully accented by that adorable, 

teeny, ladybugg!! My dear friend, Jenn gifted me a few of those precious ladybuggs, and I had to add one to this ATC. It was the perfect touch!

Okay, let's get in the mood for Spring and play along with us at 

Wicked Wednesday ATC challenges!!!  

Another gorgeous undead girl

I had big plans for the Macabre Monday challenge at HDH this week.

I painted a pretty cool painting (for a newbie), but she was not my first

idea for the Drop Dead Gorgeous theme.

I am on the Rick St. Dennis EDT, and he is very well versed in the 

drawing of gorgeous ladies. His etsy shop is filled with beautiful 

women of all ages, sizes, and time periods. He really knows how 

to draw scary chicks too, but I had the idea to take one of his 

pretty gals and make them dark with my coloring. 

I have done this in the past with other, "non intentionally dark" 

images, and they turned out pretty good. Well, not this time. 

In fact, it turned out so freaking bad that I actually 

threw the image away.

I NEVER throw out images that I mess up on. 

I always try to salvage them, or at least let them serve as 

a cautionary tale for others. 

So,

I had to redeem myself with the intention of using a RSD image in the 

way that it was originally intended.

I used the image of Meena  from RSD's etsy shop 

(I'm not sure that she is still available, though).

I followed the "choose a sketch" challenge over at 

Simon Says Stamp challenge blog, and this is what I came up with.

I used a sentiment from Stamp Insanity's True Blood set. 

Those are some great sentiments (thank you, Catherine), and I get 

quite a bit of use out of them. Unfortunately, it appears that 

Stamp Insanity is no longer in business. 

Stop by HDH to check out the latest Macabre Monday challenge.

Then, check out Rick's Etsy shop full of killer art digis.

If you are still in search of inspiration, stop by the

Simon Says Stamp challenge blog.   

Show us your FANGS!!!

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means!

The new challenge for WW ATC challenges has been set!

Show Us Your Fangs!!!

Our generous sponsor this week is Rick St. Dennis.

Rick has tons of beautifully drawn images that will appeal to ever taste

and occasion. He can do creepy like no other, and his mainstream images

 are too die for!

Here is my ATC using, Mistletoe Kiss Me ,

which can be found under The Crypt tab in Rick's Etsy shop. 

I chose him for his nice, jagged, fangs.

I colored Mister Kissyface with Copics, and then used some red tinsel

embossing powder to give it all some bloody sparkle.

Pucker Up!

Please join us at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge,

and SHOW US YOUR FANGS!!! 

I'd like to enter this ATC in the current challenge at 
Fun with ATCs  - #83 Gothic  

Drop Dead Gorgeous painting completed

So, about halfway through my painting for the 

Drop Dead Gorgeous

challenge at Haunted Design House, 

I realized I don't really have a clue what I am doing!

I'm no painter! How do I blend colors? What's gel medium used for? 

Which brush should I use? Ack!

She's turned out pretty good considering, I guess.

So this was the original idea, using chipboard letters to spell out

Drop Dead.

My son put the nix on it, and said it detracted from the painting too much,

making it look "scrapbooky". I rely on his opinions quite a bit. He's got a

good eye for color and design. 

I want to also state that this is not my original concept.

I found a really cool sketch on Deviant Art a few years (long before I 

became so diligent about saving artist's names with their art), 

and sketched it into my ideas book.

I scoured about 80 pages on DA for this sketch yesterday, but couldn't 

find it. I just wanted to be clear that this is not my concept, but rather my version of the original sketch.

This version was before the final (for now), fine tuning. 

    

The more she sat on my table, the more I kept messing with her.

Is that how most paintings are? The more you look, the more you want to 

fix and add to it?

I had to stop. I still want to fix her nose and lips, but I have to stop.   

Feel free to stop by HDH and get your hands dirty with our latest challenge.

Drop Dead Gorgeous WIP

The second week of the Haunted Design House

Drop Dead Gorgeous challenge begins today.

As usual, I am running behind.

My nickname in high school was the "Lag Master".

My license plate frame read: The Lag Master has arrived.

Yeah, it was that bad.

Still kinda is apparently.

I am bit intimidated by the challenge of painting my project. 

But I want to try. That may have something to do with my slow going. 

Here is a peek at my current progress.

Sketched and background blocked out

Skin and hair roughly added, and my feeble attempt at blending

the skin tones. 

Smoothed out some of the skin tones, added some dimension to 

her wounds, and painted her top (what's left of it). 

Added some color highlights to the hair and lips.

So far so good.

I'll pop in with the finished painting sometime later today or tomorrow.

Keep it CREEPY!!

Not one to back down...

...from a good challenge, 

I have completed my Smeared Ink DT Throwdown project.

What is the DT Throwdown you may be wondering? 

Well it is the cream of the crop in alternative crafting Design Teams, competing against each other for the badge, and more importantly, 

the bragging rights, of top voted DT Throwdown champions.

This is the chance for me to create something beautifully twisted, 

and then be voted on it by my peers.

The DT with the most votes, collectively, wins. 

If you are interested in checking out the competition, 

or in getting more info, go here. 

You must be a member of the Smeared Ink ning group to 

participate  in the challenges and/or the voting. 

Join up and vote for your favorite project!! 

I am honored to be participating alongside my fellow 

Haunted Design House Minions, Donna and Mark.  

Here is my project for the theme of 

Paint and Splatter

CAUTION: Lots of photos

Here is my before picture.

This is a small chest of drawers made out of chipboard and handmade

papers. It was originally sold through Hallmark, but I picked it up at my 

local thrift store for a low, low price.  

I began by removing the knobs and metal hardware, 

and then I painted it out in white acrylic paint for a good base coat. 

Then I painted it completely in a metallic champagne color.

I added gold highlights for an antique feel.  

While the paint was drying, I started stamping various Stampotique stamps

onto tissue paper. This would allow me to add the images directly to my 

piece without the risk of a bad image stamped onto the drawers forever.

Once the images were adhered to the drawers with decoupage and dry 

(with the help of Mister Hairdryer), I started coloring them with Copics. 

I really like the idea of brightly colored monsters and creeps (kinda like Monsters Inc.), so I kept the color palette rather bright and cheery. 

I also knew I was going to be antiquing the drawers later, 

if I needed to tame down any excessive fluorescence.

3 in a Round is one of my absolute favorite Stampotique images.

They had to be a part of this project. 

For the splatter portion of my project, I used an awesome

red glitter acrylic paint. Might have gotten a little carried away, but

you can never really have too much splatter.  

Lots of heads. Creepy, colorful, heads.

More excessive dripping.

Using a crackle with acrylic paints is a new technique for me.

I had to put on my reader glasses to see the teeny tiny crackles, but they 

showed up better once I applied the brown acrylic wash.

Stampotique skull image stamped multiple times and flipped over for a

mirror image. One of the perks of working on tissue paper. 

Weird little recessed top area.

Nice crackle finish and antiquing.

Well, there you have it. My DT Throwdown entry,

in all it's splattered and painted glory!

Thanks for the fun challenge.

You can see all of the entries and cast your vote for your favorite project

at the Smeared Ink ning group. 

I am also entering this in the very first challege at
Left of Center challenges

Did someone say, "green"?

I am finally coming out my mental and creative funk.

The buds of my imagination are starting to bloom.

And it feels so good. 

Today I have a green project for the Dilly Beans challenge.

  I used #416 Sugar Skull framed for this completely green card.

Well, all green, plus black and gray.

I colored the entire image in Warm Gray, and Yellow Green Copics.

I stamped a couple of flourishes and heat embossed them in black.

I added some lime green Stickles and lime green Doodlebug glitter

for  some sparkle and interest.

Drop by the Dilly Beans challenge blog and see what the rest of the

DT have to offer. Maybe you'll find inspiration and play along!   

WW - Pin Ups

Wednesday caught me off guard yet again!

I've been trying to work ahead of schedule and then I forget what

day it actually is! 

Today's Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge is

Pin Up Girls.

Who doesn't enjoy a well done pin up?

Sassy Studio Designs is sponsoring WW this week. 

I went with the Sassy Bunny Pin Up for this ATC.

I went all sparkly with lots of Stickles!

ATCs are very easy, quick, and great fun to make.

They're a great way to use up scraps of precious papers 

and trims, and a good way to try out new techniques, as well.

Join us this week over at Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenges.

Try it, you might LOVE it!