Thursday, May 30, 2013

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, 
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 

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


      

Sunday, May 26, 2013

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:

Thursday, May 23, 2013

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):

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Dance like no one is watching.....

It's HUMP day! And that can only mean one thing.

This week we are sponsored by

I used Chibi-Spain for my ATC.

After coloring her with Copics, I fussy cut her out and
mounted her on top of the most amazing vintage, flocked, wallpaper.
I picked it up at a yard sale a few years ago, and have been 
using it sparingly. It's kind of my "precious".

And I had a blast with Stickles to make this little Senorita sparkle!!!

Please join in on the dance party at Wicked Wednesday!!!!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Emergency Embellies

You still have a week to enter the current challenge
at Haunted Design House - Emergency Embellishment.

Do you have a "go to" embellishment that you turn to in a pinch?
How about sparkly ribbon or a cool 3D embellishment?
Well, try to make a project using only one type of embellishment.
Not as easy as you may think.

Personally, I like brads. 
If I have a blank spot to fill, there goes a brad. 
I used four diamond MS brads on this card.

I also used this fabulous image called,
"Mama Mumba Voodoo Woman", from Rick St. Dennis.


Thanks for dropping by today.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

StaMpOtiQuE - Anything Goes!

I have to admit that when I first found Stampotique Stamps,
and Daniel Torrente in particular, it was LOVE!!
Such incredibly quirky and dark, and somewhat twisted, 
outsider imagery made me feel right at home. 
Always the outsider. Never conform.

After placing my first order of handmade to order stamps, 
and waiting eagerly for them to arrive, I never looked back.
I now have quite the collection of Stampotique stamps,
and really must put them to better use.

With that, I have decided to attempt at least one
Stampotique stamped project a month. That will then be entered in their
I have completed two 2 1/2" X 2 1/2" mini canvasses.
I used Dylusions sprays and some acrylic paint 
to complete the backgrounds.

After rather (un)successfully adding an embossed sentiment, 
I used a great image by Kira Nichols called, "Line Up".
I fussy cut the critters after coloring them with Copics and then 
clear embossed them. 

Finally, I added some snaps and then when that was
 not satisfactory, I glued some silver dew drops on top
of the snaps.
Meh.
Maybe some Stickles will help. Yup! That was it! 
I glued corrugated cardboard on the back of the images
for dimension and then adhered them to the canvas. 

I used all of the same techniques for this canvas as well, but 
these two really crack me up!
I envision someone "floating an air biscuit". Classy!

I even got a little "fancy schmancy" with the edges of this one.
A stamp and Stickles!

Thanks for dropping by! 

I am entering this in the following challenge(s):
 


Sunday, May 12, 2013

A Queen and her rotting court

I made another ATC for the current challenge at WW ATC challenge
We're sponsored by my uber talented, Sister Minion, 
Teri of Delicious Doodles.

I immediately thought of this DD image called, Malice,
when I heard the theme was Tarot Symbols

She is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!

I colored her effortlessly, with Copics. And what I mean by effortlessly,
is that Teri's images have nice, thick lines, that make coloring much
simpler. Not to mention she provides the shading as well. Nice.
Too bad she didn't provide the writing too. I stamped each letter 
myself with various rubber alpha stamps. 
A little wonky, but it does the trick.

There is still time to enter over at Wicked Wednesday.
I see new Delicious Doodles images in your future.....

I'd also like to share a couple of masculine themed 
cards I made recently using images from Rick St. Dennis.

First up, is the rotting head image, "Going, Going, Gone".

I love this image, but after coloring it up with Copics, I was 
stumped as to how to use this image on a card. 
Rick to the rescue! 
It's amazing how one witty sentiment can bring everything together. 

Perfect!!!

The finished card using a MS iron fence punch, some MS paper 
tape, a Pink Paisley banner border, and some tapestry dp from 
unknown origins. An overall, masculine feel. 
I'm always at a loss for masculine cards.


Next I'd like to share my version of the current 
RSD Airless Chambers freebie, "Singing Zombie".

It was all I could do to not color him in my "go to" zombie colors.
I usually always color my zombies in YGs. Don't know why, 
other than they're my favorite color family, 
and zombies are my favorite monsters.

I used all Warm Grays for his flesh and a bit of RV25, 23, and 21
for the exposed bloody bits. I wanted the tongue to show up, and be somewhat realistic, so I colored it purple. I also chose my 
paper first, which is something I seldom do, but it helped 
tremendously when coloring the background. 

I found the musical note image on the web, half toned it, and 
added the Happy Birthday sentiment in Gimp.

Remember, the free Zombie image is still available here,
and you have until the 24th of May to enter the challenge 
using said zombie image.
More RSD images are up for grabs to the three winners
so why not play along? You'll find the place to add your entry 
along the top of the blog, marked May 2013 Freebie Contest.



   

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Symbols of the Tarot

This week at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge, the theme is
Tarot Symbols.

We are lucky enough to be sponsored by

I used Teri's menacing Grim Reaper and her Gravestone scene
to represent the Death card of the Tarot.

I colored the images with Copics and then fussy cut everything
out. I layered the gravestones over the Reaper and added a pop
dot or two for some dimension. Lastly, I went over the tops
of the headstones and the scythe with a Stardust pen for some sparkle.

Please join us over at WW this week for the Tarot Symbols challenge.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Knightmares

This week's Macabre Monday challenge at HDH is 
Stephen King Knightmares.

Now at first glance, this should have been an easy challenge.
Stephen King has tons of films and stories, and even TV shows to 
choose from. 
I have read some of his books, but most of them are a bit 
too wordy for me. I finished Gerald's Game, Misery, Cujo, 
Salem's Lots, Monkey Shines and Skeleton Crew
I prefer his short stories over his novels any day.
I only got about 300 pages into IT, when I threw in the towel 
and watched the movie instead of finishing the book.
I really wanted to make something in homage to Children of the Corn,
but nothing was coming together.
So I opted for a favorite film from my teen years, 
Cat's Eye from 1985. 

I think this little troll dude was my favorite part/story of the entire film.
He was creepy and kinda cute, in a breath sucking kind of way.
I went with the "every breath you take" quote, since it was the song
playing on the turntable when our little troll friend hit the wall
in Drew's room.

I finally realized I may have been having a hard time with this challenge
because Stephen King was my Mom's favorite author. 
She had all his books in hardback, and would read every night 
before she went to bed. 
I need to request some of her books from my Dad. 
I just may finish IT after all. 
  

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Fun in the Sun WW reminder

Just a quick post and reminder that you still have a few days to enter
the current challenge at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenges.
The theme is Sun and Surf, and we are sponsored by

I used the adorable flamingo fun image.
I was just going to keep him pretty simple, but my
"less is more" mantra flew out the window quite quickly.

I have had these sun earrings for ages! Really, like 20 years!
So I cut off the post, glued Mister Sun to a piece of orange card stock,
fussy cut a bit, and then Stickled the begeejuss outta him!
Big, bright, sun with shades! 

Then came the die cuts.
I used a cloud (cut in half) and flocked it for a nice texture.
After coloring the grass on the image, I opted for some MS punched 
grass to add some dimension and interest. And to cover my poor grass coloring skills.

Who says ATCs have to be simple and flat?


I'd like to enter this ATC in the current challenge at 


Friday, May 3, 2013

Vivienne Peacock

I have had a "thing" for peacocks for years. 
I have always had peacock feathers in a vase or arrangement 
somewhere in my house. 

I found a really cool mirror a few years ago,
 and I have been caught up in the current craze ever since.


I've got peacock papers, stamps, and embellishments. 
Somewhere.

So it almost goes without saying, that I had to purchase Vivienne,
by Annie Rodrigue, from Kraftin' Kimmie, as soon as I saw her! 

Then I finally inked her up for the current challenge at 
The challenge is heat or dry embossing. I did both kinds of embossing.
I used a cool Sizzix peacock feather embossing folder for the background.
I left it all white. I really like the subtle impact it gives.

 I used heat embossing for the sentiment.
Overall, pretty clean and simple. A new premise for me, but I like it.

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

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Strega in the DICC

Today I'd like to share my card for the new 
Rick St. Dennis is sponsoring the challenge,
and I get to be a guest DT as a fringe benefit.

I jumped at the chance to color up, and create with 
one of Rick's newest "dark" images, Strega

Isn't she lovely? And oh, so deadly....
I liked the iris-less version 
(she comes with both versions when purchased here),
 since it played to my love of cartoons and comic style drawings.

I just went for it, as far as my color palette. 
She reminded me of an 80's style pop princess, 
hence the bright, bubble gum, color scheme. 

I used skulls-her earrings, hand colored satin roses, 
lots of Stickles glitter, and embossing, from the 
list of challenge choices. 

It was fun to create using set choices from the challenge.
I spend way too much time putting my creations together,
so it was nice to have only so many options to choose from.
I'll be playing along again, very soon.   

Please join us over at DICC, and play along to win some 
fabulous  Rick St. Dennis images.