My creative soundtrack

I don't know about you, but I simply MUST have music playing while I'm creating.

Although, I did have TerrorVision playing on You Tube last night while I finished 

up my latest Haunted Design House - Macabre Monday challenge piece.

The new challenge is "I Love Rock & Roll", 

and you are to choose a song as your inspiration. It can be the music,

the lyrics, or even the video imagery to whet your creative appetite.

I originally chose "Rat Trap 666" by Die Antwoord, but after listening closer to the

lyrics (they're from South Africa so it gets hard to decipher at times), I chose to

go in another direction. Have you ever ran across an old CD and have no idea

who it is? I found an Otep CD that I totally blanked on, but the very second I put it

on I instantly remembered this chick. I am usually not a big fan of women fronted

metal bands,  but this chick is bad ass. I really dig her and her gritty sound.

The lyrics to "Blood Pig" really spoke to me, and allowed me the freedom

to create something that represents me. The lyrics are a bit "colorful" so

I'll warn you now, and show you the lyrics I used for my altered mouse trap.

Yeah, an altered mouse trap was what I wanted to make, hence the idea to use

the first song, if only for the title.  

Blood Pig on the album Sevas Tra by Otep 

I'm fucked up

I'm different

Words remain

My only escape

Art saves

All of me

Evolving

Yeah, that pretty much sums me up.

I have recently started collecting ideas for this project on a Pinterest board

I created here: Glo's pinterest board . I really like how small these are,

like an ATC, but a little larger at 1 3/4" x 3 3/4". They make great note holders

and just neat little bits of altered art. 

I began by purchasing a set of four traps for under $2, and I'll be checking out the

Dollar Store next time I'm out and about. After removing some of the unnecessary

hardware,  I gessoed two of them, one in black and the

other in white. I was still very undecided at this point.

I decided to use some Silks acrylic glaze, and I love how it turned out!

 I used Spiced Pumpkin and it gave such a beautiful, fiery color to the

black gesso. Like the flames of hell fire coming to get me...

After the paint dried (it actually takes 48 hours to cure completely, so this was a bit tacky),

I used matte medium to apply some images I had saved on my computer. I felt that these

images represented me in some way. Either in aesthetic, or attitude.

My sinister sistah, Donna hooked me up with some super kewl

charms when we finally made contact, so I used this guy as my

main focus. I used black acrylic paint to the recessed areas to

bring out the details more, and even went so far as to use Inka Gold

in green, purple, and orange to add some color to the crown.

I also went nuts with the Glossy Accents and Glossy Crackle products. 

Crackle on the Ouija board, and Glossy on the spider punch cuts.  

I love me a good Cthulhu image, some (paper) spiders, 

a 'Going to Hell' charm, and a sentiment that pretty much sums it all up. 

I usually go with a matte medium to seal everything, but once I saw how the

Glossy Accents really showed off the color of the Silks, I opted for a glossy medium.  

I was just turned onto shopmissa, where everything is $1, and I saw

these spikes that are used on nails as nail art (can't imagine wiping my butt

with hands festooned with spikes, but that is pretty heavy metal). 

I knew I could use them in multiple ways in my art. 

I bought a bunch. They were 20 for $1, c'mon! 

I used Glossy Accents to glue them down, and then thought they needed to be

embedded in GA to stay on forever. Perfect!

I added some Tim Holtz Halloween rub-ons for some

interest on the sides.

So now you know a little bit more about me, and hopefully you'll be

back anyway.

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

Anything But a Card - Anything Goes 

That Craft Place - mixed media

Corrosive Challenges - Hot, hot, hot (the Silks paint looks like fire)

Mixed Media World - masculine (this is anything but ladylike!)

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes mixed media

Forever Dark 2 - Anything Goes

Bug. Bugg. Buggs.

The new challenge over at Haunted Design House is a 

theme that is near and dear to my heart,

June-bugs, Gems, and Gewgaws.

I'm mainly partial to the bugs and the gems. Still not

quite sure what a "gewgaw" is, but I think it's a

non-essential embellishment. I've got those in spades, too.

I have quite a few framed insect/bug specimens in my collection,

so I figured it would be cool to make my very own specimens.

I got the idea from an episode of America's Next Top Model, where the 

models had to pose with hissing cockroaches that were on leashes 

and covered in jewels.

I used a rubber cockroach I picked up on clearance at Wally World

after Halloween. It comes with a small glow stick you can insert into the  

abdomen for a cool effect. Maybe I'll try and get pics of  that later.

I had a hell of a time getting the jewels to stick to the stretchy rubber 

the bug is made of, but Glossy Accents came through in the end.

I painted the frame with black paint, dry brushed red glitter paint on the edges

and sides, and then added a couple of stamped flourishes embossed 

with red foil embossing powder.  Lastly, I sealed it with a coat or two of

gloss medium.

   

This spider was hard plastic, with a hollow body on the back making

it difficult to glue into place. So, this guy is something of a wanderer. 

He goes very nicely with my spider web under glass, don't you think?

And he looks right at home among the other oddities and creepies

on my mantle.

Thanks for dropping by today.

Be sure to check out the other bugs, rhinestones, and fancy bits 

over at HDH!!  

  

A Quick Haunted Word

So I survived Mother's Day, and true to form,

I didn't do what my Dad told me to do. 

I still plan to write a letter to my Mom, 

but I just couldn't bring myself to do it on Mother's Day. 

I was already having a really hard time, and opted not to 

dive into the most painful part of my life. My fear was that

I may not come back. Ever been afraid to really feel the pain?

I am terrified, but know it will help me heal. All in good time.

I do have a really cool project to share with you today.

Been keeping busy creatively. Idle hands and all that... 

First up is the second half of the Haunted Design House challenge:

Can I Have a Quick Word?

I chose one of my favorite words that doesn't begin with an "F",

and used WEIRD.

 Weird on Google search comes up with a definition of:

suggesting something supernatural; uncanny.

Funny that some of the synonyms for weird are 

odd, bizarre, awful, creepy, spooky, ghastly, freaky, strange,

magical , haunting, grotesque, kooky, etc...

More of my favorite words.

I began with a box frame I have had for months (years?).

I knew it would be perfect for a cool shadowbox display, and as it

turns out, I was right!

I distressed the box with a cool TH hammer with various tips

to give cool textures for aging and distressing. 

 I painted the box red and then black, all the while distressing

as I went along to each layer. I painted some wooden feet

and then gave them a coat of Rock Candy crackle paint. 

I have had this clear embossing paste from Dreamweaver Stencils for a while,

 and was inspired to use it on all sides of this box as soon as my new 

Dyan Reaveley  skull stencil arrived. It goes on very well, and I was worried it

was going to remain kinda rubbery, but once it cured completely ( a couple of days)

it was fine. I am loving the new stencil, too. It comes in a larger size, but this

one will do for now...

One can never have too many doll heads...

I salvaged this one from my kid and chopped the back of

her head off to fit in the frame/box better. I painted her with black gesso

to give me a good base to work with. I used a crackle technique on her

to give a cracked porcelain doll feel.    

As I was waiting for the head to dry onto the frame backing,

I used some TH wood letters and some Scrabble tiles to spell, weird. 

I used the TH hammer to distress the "W" and added some black acrylic wash and 

lime green Inka Gold metallic rub. I used distress paint daubers on the "E',

and white distress paint on the "I" to make it stand out. The "R" got a

smattering of Diamond Dust, and the "D" got a coat of  

green antiquing cream from DecoArt's Media line. 

I really LOVE how the "D" turned out. That is a great product!  

Once I arranged everything the way I wanted, I glued everything

down using Glossy Accents. I usually never use GA as a glue,

but I wanted to make sure this thing wasn't going to fall apart

any time soon.

I used some Pork Chop Show wooden pieces, along with various TH bits

and bobs. I used some mirrors, too.

One of my favorite parts is the eyeball on the top. I used a plastic doll

eye I bought on ebay, and glued it onto one of those TH specimen pins.  

I love the way the plastic TH dolly looks almost like

a negative image in the face after distressing it with black soot

distress paint, and then rubbing some of it off. TH star, and skull and crossbones

made there way onto this, too. I added some Firefly Stickles to the little bottle

to help spread the green color around a bit.

I generously coated the inside walls of the box with

platinum glass glitter. Kinda reminds me of the

genie on Pee Wee's Playhouse, Jambi. 

Okay that's it for my weird HDH creation. 

I love it. How about you?

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

Pile it On - Not Cute

Mixed Media World - Vintage (it's weird, but it does look old)

Left of Center - Distress It

Inspiration Emporium - May challenge - Get Pasted

Going to hell. Can I save you a seat?

DISCLAIMER: This is my blog. I am a person who fancies herself

pretty funny. Snarky. And even a flat out smart ass. What I create is

never intended to offend, but ultimately I have no control over

how you choose to interpret my art. Proceed with caution, 

and with your big girl/boy panties on.  

There, I said it. Or I wrote it. Whatever. It's out.

Yesterday was Easter, and in honor of the first zombie ever, 

I have created a small tribute in his likeness.

I was inspired to create said homage by the new challenge at

Haunted Design House - Going Green With Envy.

Yup. I went there.

It is no big secret that I don't lend much credence to organized religion.

I wasn't indoctrinated into a religion as child, and have never been able

to wrap my head around giving myself over to a higher power. 

 I do, however, consider myself somewhat spiritual.

And that works for me. 

Anyhoo, I found this guy at my local thrift store, and

after my giggles of insane inspiration subsided, I got to work

making him into the true zombie he was always meant to be. 

After several coats of various acrylic paints and washes,

he was complete. And far more interesting than the way

that I originally found him.

While straightening, and purging my workspace I happened

upon this tiny dancer. Also a thrift store find.  

After the official "Creepy Zombie Concoction" has been applied,

she is the star of the zombie ballerina recital.

Thanks to this challenge theme, I have been inspired to start painting the 

numerous statues and figurines I have been collecting. I have some cows,

a trio of babies, and even a Buddha that are all dying to be zombified and given

a new life. Most of which will end up in my Etsy shop by the end of the month.

Remember to stop by the HDH blog to check out all of the incredible art that

my fellow Minions have created for this inspiring challenge.

     

Always in the Naughty Corner

Growing up as an only child meant that I was

always in trouble because there was no one else around

 to blame shit on. I was easily bored, what can I say?

I was always on restriction or grounded. Most of my summers

and school vacations were spent with a chore list, and a

consequence if the list wasn't completed by end of day. Which actually

meant end of business day, so 4 PM when my Mom got home from work.

And even though I crossed stuff of the list as I went, I always

managed to miss something, or more often than not, I just

didn't do it right. Which makes sense in retrospect because

I didn't start doing stuff on the list until about 3:30PM.

Kids are so dumb. Or maybe it was just me... 

Which brings me to my card for today.

The new challenge at HDH is The Naughty Corner.

What's really nice about these challenge themes is that you can 

interpret them any way you'd like, as long as they're creepy,

risque, Gothic, Steampunk, or Hallowe'en inspired in some way.

No cute shit in the dungeon. That doesn't fly with the Minions. 

Anyhoo, this schmexy sistah is from a now defunct(or renamed?)

shop that is no longer carrying her, so I'm going to call her,

"Helllloooooo Nurse!". Any Animaniacs out there?

Nevermind... 

I am quite pleased with how her mask turned out. 

I made the mistake of coloring it with flesh tones first, but

after some colorless blender and blue greens, I think it 

gives the impression I was hoping for.

  

She works perfectly with this sentiment set from

Hambo Stamps. I just love their funny two part sentiments.

But, it looks as though they are selling off the last of their stock,

 so snatch 'em up while you still can.  

See? 

Perfect snark in all it's glory!

Say goodbye to the pretty lady....

I hope you'll join us over at Haunted Design House for some

naughty good times and play along in our month long challenge.

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

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - A is for Accident

Sir Stampalot challenge - One for the Guys 

  

It's a Love/Hate Thing

To say that I don't like angels or cherubs would be a bit of a misnomer.

While I am not a fan of the angelics in the classical sense, I do enjoy them

once they are adequately "repurposed".

I was out thrifting with a friend a few weeks ago and she spotted this

delicious assortment of ceramic angel ornaments.

$2.00 for the entire lot of 10. Super sweet deal!

I knew immediately what I was going to do to each and every one of those

little fellas. I was gonna "fix 'em". And fix 'em good!

I started off with a nice coat of gesso to get everything ready for

what was to come... 

See?

All better!

I got out the polymer clay and began to sculpt a fleshy

heart over the existing one. I made sure it was beefy enough

to accommodate a big ol' chunk being gnawed out of it.

I also gave him a head wound. Might as well, huh? 

I made over his wings with a bit more clay. I ended them in points,

more like bat wings. I like them better that way.

  

Then he got the standard coats of Hauser Light Green

acrylic paint for his skin, and various shades of acrylics

for his remaining colored parts. I added some glittery pink

paint on the heart to make it purty. Same goes for the purty

red paint, too.     

Lastly, the whole caboodle got a wash of black paint

to help bring out all of the details, and a layer of 

Inka Gold in purple was added to the wings for one last

dose of dark angel glam.

This was made specifically for the current challenge going   

on this month at Haunted Design House. The theme is

It's a Love/Hate Thing.

Interpret that any which way you'd like. Drop by HDH for

some killer inspiration.  

My Macabre Monthly has begun!

Have no fear, I am only talking about the newest incarnation of 

Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenges. 

We have decided to begin this year as a monthly challenge

 with really inspiring themes that are left to your interpretation. 

No sponsors, but we will be honoring our monthly chosen winner 

with an exclusive badge just for that challenge.

The more exclusive badges you collect, the better your chances are of

winning an incredible array of artistic goodies from the Minions at the end 

of the year.  

Sound like fun? I think so. 

Wanna see what I made for our first challenge

"What's New Pussy Cat?"    

I decided that my first project for 2015 was going to be a 

mixed media canvas. I really love the freedom this kind of 

project allows. No rules, just add schtuff to your heart's desire.

I began with a 4" x 5" canvas base, painted it with green acrylic paint,

and stenciled a diamond pattern using a pearlized crackle medium.

I got this new stamp from Stampotique called, "Spotted Monster" ,

and I added the wings also from Stampotique, to give him the gift of flight.

He's all colored with Copics, and some Rock Candy Stickles for texture

on his wings and spots. 

After all the paints and mediums were dry, I still wasn't convinced this was

a done deal, so I added more crackle paste randomly on the canvas.

Then I broke the seals on some Silk acrylic glazes I had been dying to use.

They really add a nice subtle touch of color and shine. I ended up using my

fingers to apply it so it didn't look too deliberate. 

I added a Tim Holtz tag at the top with some black tinsel twine.

I also used some new TH stars, along with some pearls to give the

feeling of the starry sky. 

And it's not cool to forget about the sides of the canvas.

I added all the words using green tissue paper and stamping the words

directly onto it using Memento ink in black. 

I glued it down using Golden matte medium and it made the 

tissue paper disappear. I have a hard time stamping directly onto canvas with 

any success, so this really made my day. 

Thanks for dropping by today.

I hope you enjoyed my first creation of 2015, and that you'll join

me throughout the coming year to see more of my artistic ramblings

and shenanigans.   

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

Stampotique - SDC176 Anything Goes

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Mixed Media only- anything goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes