Hogs and Sketches - Goulash

The kids over at Hambo decided to change things up a bit this month

and make this challenge a bit more, um, ... challenging.

All the DT members had an (un)knowing part in this potpourri of a challenge.

We  were all asked a random question regarding our favorite color, embellishment, technique, etc., and then a recipe was made and we were asked to adhere to it.

This was my very first attempt at paper piecing (thanks, MacKenzie).
Everything that is red or purple on the main image has been pain stakingly, cut out by hand and glued into place, by yours truly.
I am happy with how it turned out and may actually use this technique again someday.

The color combo is very, 'Red Hat', but it works. I like the smaller size card, since I used this larger image, it kept things simple. And who doesn't like Dew Drops?  

This was a fun challenge and it really took me out of my comfort zone and thought box.

I am really fond of this new digital image from Hambo.

So many options for this one.

So, don't be a chicken. Join us over at Hambo for this month's Hogs and Sketches challenge.

Pick up a rubber or a digital image (there are some freebies too!) over at the website, and get busy being creative.

I double dog dare ya!

The Far East Grows Horns

Here is my second submission for this week's

Macabre Monday Challenge,

over at Barb's, Haunted Design House blog. 

'Gothic Asian Persuasion" is the theme.

I think I nailed it.

This guy was just begging' for some horns!

I also elongated his ears and then I clear embossed the entire image

so I could blend in the background color.

Note to self: be neater next time you clear emboss.

    

I went over the scroll work inthe background with a Sakura glitter glaze pen.

Aside from the shoddy clear embossing, I think it turned out pretty cool.

So Inspired

When I first found out about Barb, and her Haunted Design House blog I was a fan instantly! I felt as though I had found a kindred spirit in Barb, and her love of the macabre and Halloween.

I made a promise to myself that I would participate in ALL of the fabulously inspiring challenges that Barb comes up with every Monday, for her "Macabre Monday Challenges".

Well, I haven't played along in a loooong time. Too long actually. I have made projects, but I seem to keep missing the deadline (5 o'clock!!!), or I never quite finish what I was working on.

When I read this week's Macabre Monday challenge, I was instantly inspired and wasted no time getting my s*it together for this one!

 

I give you, "Gothic Asian Persuasion".

I have had this set for quite a while. I have always wanted to use it, but never had the right papers, or whatever. When I read the challenge I knew exactly how I was going to use these stamps.

For starters, there were a bunch of butterflies flying by the geisha and I turned them all into bats with the help of my Copic multiliner. I also gave her some 'sinister' eyebrows as well.

 

And I just knew I had to set fire to that pagoda.

(need to work on my flame coloring though)

I had great fun drawing and modifying these images to fit the challenge.

I had so much fun, I actually have 2 entries for this week's challenge, but I'm gonna save the second one for tomorrow.

What a tease.  

A Real Basket Case

I LOVE horror! I love horror movies, horrific artwork, horror novels, scary toys, all horror, old and new.

One of my passions lately has been to revisit some of my favorite horror films from the 70's, 80's, and 90's.

Titles like, "Killer Clowns from Outer Space", "Demons", "Pieces", "Xtro", "The Brood", "Phantasm,"and "Basket Case", have been dripping their "B" movie goo all over my DVD player lately.

Apparently, when I was in high school I had very little prejudice regarding the caliber of horror films I chose to watch. Some of the aforementioned titles have been almost agonizing to sit through. I can't believe the hokieness of some of the effects, and the inability to act frightened by most of the actors involved. Still better than most Troma films though (i.e."Toxic Avenger").

And still, I cannot turn away or stop myself from loading the next gem of 'B' Horror into my DVD player.

After watching the film, I just had to make a creepy little card using the artwork from the original trailer for "Basket Case".

This is still one of my favorite movies and I happen to share this fondness with my friend Robb, who is going to turn 40 next week.

I made him this card originally to wish him well on his recent home purchase and the pending arrival of his first child.

Funny, right?!

Well, after some thought, and the unsolicited advice of my husband, I made a cute baby card and just decided to give Robb this card for his birthday instead. 

  

I just LOVE the way the bloody drips came out!

Using 2 colors of red, and popping them up on dimensional dots really made this card ROCK!

I almost don't want to give it away.

Left over from V Day

Here is a card I forgot to post before Valentine's day.

 

I used the "Dinos in Love" digital image from Hambo.

I colored it in using my Copics and also added some Stickles to her claws and the hearts for a little bling. 

What the flock?!

Here we have my very first 'Wee Henry" card from Hambo.

It depicts Henry as a leprechaun, and I thought he was a perfect image to use with Hambo's hilarious, 2 part sentiment for St. Patrick's day.

  

I went ahead and just printed out the image twice, and then I used the pot of gold, but drew in some potatoes to go with the famine verbage.

 

I used another head for Henry since I messed up the skin tone on the original head. I used some orange flocking for Henry's beard and his strands of hair. I also got a bit crazy with the pot of gold and used 3 different colors of Stickles to really make that sucka sparkle!

  

When I grow up I want to be an old woman

Last Saturday, we celebrated my DH's Grandma's 80th birthday.

Wow! 80 years of living!

Not quite sure how I feel about that one. I'm going to be 40 this year, and to even begin to contemplate living for another 40 years gives me a headache!

Anyhoo,

 I made a really cute card for her using another Kraftin' Kimmie image.

This time I used "Posy" from the art of Annie Rodrigue.

I've had this little gal for quite a while and realized I hadn't inked her yet while I was organizing my ever growing collection of KK stamps.

Love the cherries on her pockets and I decided to use some of my 'precious' (said in the voice of Gollum, from Lord of the Rings) cherry paper from SU. I am a self admitted hoarder of paper crafting supplies and find it difficult to use some of my supplies because I like 'em too much to use 'em.

Stupid, I know.

Cute card though, huh?