Spinnin' Tails

Liebster Blog Award News and Thank You, Alison!

2012-02-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

I was totally blown away by a very good friend of mine, the awesome & talented Alison, of 21st Century Pillow Book by giving me the Liebster Blog Award Saturday. In doing a little research, I learned that the name means little darling in German and is given to as yet, undiscovered blogs who have less than 200 followers.

These awards give small bloggers with less than 200 followers some well deserved recognition for their creations. Here are the rules:
* Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
* Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
* Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
* Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed.
* Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.

Here are my choices:

Helen

Susan

Sara

Jane

Fiona

Please check out their blogs, give them some bloggy love, and become a follower!

Like Alison, I've "met and hung out" with these wonderful artists on the Smeared & Smudged Forum (link on the right), which is sponsored by the awesome owner/sisters at Smeared Ink . Everyone on the forum has been so very welcoming & supportive over the past year that I've known most of them. Some of us are alittle quirky, and our art pushes the envelope at times, but you couldn't ask for a better or kinder group of people to be in your life.

Once again, Thank YOU Alison for giving me this award. Like you said sometimes we little bloggers don't know if people notice what we post (they usually do). You are a sweetheart & I'm so grateful that you came into my life. Mwah!

Smudgy Antics Challenge - Red Hot

2012-02-19T00:51:00.000-07:00

For the Challenge sponsored by Smeared Ink this week, the theme was Red Hot. I chose to do a tag in honor of Valentine's Day, with a hot blooded twist.

I took a shipping tag, colored it with Fired Brick & Rusty Hinge Distress Inks along the edge, then cut a piece of DCWV's "Street Lace" paper slightly smaller. The image is from Smeared Ink's new My Bloody Valentine digi set & I just love the nails digging into the heart . I colored the hand & heart with Derwent Inktense pencils, then used Ranger's Glossy Accents on the heart & blood. I punched 2 hearts of different sizes from foil, as well as 2 from Tacky Tape. I embossed the foil hearts, and added red micro beads & glitter to the tape hearts. I also added some drippy blood punched using Martha Stewart's Drippy Goo punch at the bottom, and a piece of wordy ribbon at the top.

Thanks for looking.

Oh no, she didn't ...

2012-02-16T11:42:00.001-07:00

If someone had told me I would be making roses out of bacon this year for Valentine's Day, I would have thought them absolutely insane. But, I did make some - 7 to be exact as that is how many silk roses were in the bunch from Family Dollar. Being financially strapped, I offered to make my daughter a card to give to her boyfriend of 7 months. Then I suggested the Bacon Roses she'd shown me earlier that week, found a couple of blogs with instructions and off we went. Had to sacrifice my mini-muffin pan by drilling holes in it so the grease drains out, but the look on his face was priceless. He loved them!

Here they are:

The saying goes: For the girl who loves flowers, and the guy who wants a snack.

I'll be posting my final valentine blog hop project in a few. Did you know that you can hit a computer & sometimes it will work? There's always something.

Bloody Valentine Blog Hop - Day Two

2012-02-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

What an awesome hop this is so far! Had to work Friday, but will be making rounds today to comment on everyone's superb projects. The list is to your right --> and you don't want to miss a thing.

Today's project is a little something I made to hang on the wall. Loving zombies the way I do, I don't think they get enough lovin. The main image is the Zombie from the Rick St. Denis digi sheet that I'd won last Halloween, and the cool Winged Hearts are from Smeared Ink's Heart Wings digi set. Both were colored with Derwent Inktense pencils & I added a little glitter to the wings of the hearts. For those that are curious about the pencils, they are an ink in a pencil form, used like watercolor pencils, but the main difference is that they are permanent on paper as well as fabric. Love 'em! The background paper is from DCWV's Street Lace 8X8 pad, on top of a piece of black patterned paper. The sticky lace tape is from 7 Gypsies. I wrote the senti on a piece of white cs, added glittered lips. Hope you like it! Thanks for looking!

Bloody Valentine Blog Hop - Day One!

2012-02-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day out of 3 of the Smeared & Smudged Forum's Bloody Valentine Blog Hop brought to you by the wonderful artists at Smeared Ink. You should have arrived here from Emjay's blog. If not, start at the beginning of the list to your right so you don't miss any of the awesomely quirky, not your usual Valentines.

My project is a card using two images from Smeared Ink's new Valentine digi set which were printed on watercolor paper, colored with Derwent Inktense pencils, Promarker flesh colors, and finessed with Prismacolor colored pencils. I punched Martha Stewart's Drippy Goo punch from red cardstock, inked with Distress Ink in Black, Fired Brick and Walnut stain, then used clear UTEE over that. The mini hearts were punched from Tacky tape & covered with tiny beads in red. All was mounted on a scrap of skull paper over black alligator skin paper & then attached to a dark pink piece of Bazill CS. I also added some heart clips from Making Memories.

Thanks for looking & hopping with us!!!!
Happy V-Day

Smudgy Antics Challenge - Wheelie

2012-01-08T00:53:00.000-07:00

This week's Smudgy Antics Blog was to use wheels, and here's what I came up with:

This page is for my Major Arcana Tarot Study book that I made last year. I used Smeared Ink's "Fortune Teller" digi colored w/pencils/markers. Added a few embellishments & will put a tag with my notes on the right side in a pocket.
Thanks for looking!

Invisibility has its perks

2012-01-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, it does. On the downside, nobody really gives a crap. On the upside, nobody expects anything either.

I've been in a very dark place for a few months, and have come to realize, with few exceptions, I could disappear forever and no one would notice or even care. Last year I was on a design team, and during the course of the summer didn't post for over a month after suffering a mild stroke. Not one person wrote to ask where I was, if I was ok, zippo, nada. Happened again in October, nothing. Then, last month after being excited that I'd still have internet, started a monthlong hop, became ill, the darkness took over, came back to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and only one person said "good to see you back".

I'm exhausted treading water, not getting anywhere and it would be much easier to just go under. Good thing the water's murky and I'm invisible...

Challenges - Smudgy Antics & Smeared Ink Funk Junk December

2012-01-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

Last post for the year!
Sorry for the crappy glaring pic - scanning a round glass object is foolish at best, but will take a photo when the batteries are charged

I used one of Smeared Ink's stamps from Misty Benson's Skelly Christmas stamped on a transparency w/pigment ink, then colored with markers & paint. For the confetti, I cut up purple, red, green & white rubber bands (wanted something light, yet not glitter).

Am glad to see this year end. Thanks for looking

Smeared & Smudged - 12 Days of Christmas - Day 2

2011-12-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 2 of Smeared & Smudged Forum's Twelve Days of Christmas, hosted by the great ladies at Smeared Ink ! For today, I made an ornament to hang on a garland. This year is a very Skelly Christmas in many ways. LOL

The base is an embossed piece of purple foil which is backed by black cardstock. The main image is from Misty Benson's A Skelly Christmas rubber stamp set, sold by Smeared Ink. I stamped it on 7 Gypsies music paper cut into the shape of a tree and colored with pencils & markers. At the top is some of my spun fibers I made with Angelina & wool, and added a few beads. As soon as I find the fishing line, I'll add the hanger part hahaha.

Thanks for looking & check out all the other awesome Jolly Bloggers - the list is to your right -->

Smeared & Smudged - 12 Days of Christmas - Day 1

2011-12-01T07:00:00.004-07:00

For the first day of Smeared & Smudged Forum's 12 Days of Christmas I made a tag:

The tag background was made using these instructions by Tammy Tutterow, which is a debossed tag that looks icy since the debossing is filled with a crackle finish. I used Deco-Art's crackle finish rather than Tim Holtz's Crackle Paint in Rocky Road, since that is what I had. The stamp is from Smeared Ink stamp set "A Skelly Christmas" that I colored with pencils & silver ink. The snowflake buttons are really old, like me, but I colored them with silver stamp ink, added some ribbon and voila!

Thanks for checking it out!

Smeared & Smudged Forum - November Member Blog Hop

2011-11-10T11:03:00.001-07:00

Good Morning! Our challenge this month was to create a project in the "steampunk" fashion, and I'd started making a mixed media doll from Creative PaperClayBest laid plans...found out that yes, paperclay will burn in the oven LOL, or at least scorch. In lieu of the doll I'd planned to post here is a sketchbook that I covered in a "Steampunk" fashion.

I used a piece of Graphic 45's "Steampunk Debutante" line as the background. The main image is from the original Steampunk digi line at Simply Betty Stamps colored with Derwent Inktense pencils. I also used the Geared heart from Smeared Ink colored with markers & Distress Stickles in Old Brass. I added a couple of metal pieces/gears from 7 Gypsies & ribbons to accent.

Since I made a second body for my doll I'll try to finish that one up shortly. Anyway, thanks for looking! The Blog roll is to your right ------>

Am also entering this on the Smudgy Antics Challenge Blog, the challenge is to "alter something".

TOFF Challenge - "Halloween"

2011-11-03T22:51:00.000-06:00

This is a card that I made for The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge this week. The theme was Halloween. I used Lily's generous freebie Witches Hat along with the March Hare digi image, both of which were colored using Derwent's Inktense pencils. I made a little trick or treat bag using a paper bag. This was mounted on 2 pieces of DP - simple card but I just love Lily's awesome images. She rocks! Thanks for looking

31 Days of Halloween - Day 27

2011-10-27T10:11:00.000-06:00

An ATC for today using Glinda from Wizard of Oz. One of my fave books is Wicked by Gregory Harrison.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 24

2011-10-24T09:54:00.000-06:00

Alas, tis but another flower, but later I'll have something bigger & better to show. (Please forgive the crappy scan, it hates 3d items)

The center image is a cat from Martha Stewart's Halloween magazine that I cut out.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 23

2011-10-23T10:25:00.000-06:00

Good Morning,

Today's offering is a card:

The main image is "Bratty Little Witch" digi from Rick St. Dennis - she just cracks me up to look at her. I colored her using Derwent Inktense pencils (these are the best watercolor pencils since they are actually vivid ink in solid form, paint like watercolors, and once dry you can work over them using other mediums, in other words they're permanent.) Mounted the image onto black cs, added some ribbon & a Making Memories snowflake/star & mounted it all onto a piece of Halloween paper. Then I added the senti digitally.

Thanks for looking, and check out all the awesomely, talented bloggers (list on the right)!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 22

2011-10-22T10:32:00.000-06:00

Sorry, but it's another flower:

The center image is another one of Rick St. Dennis's creepy creatures from the prize sheet - I think this little "snail" is adorable. Colored it with my Derwent Inktense pencils and a red colored pencil for the bloodshot eyes. Used Martha Stewart's cobweb punch on some black dp, glued on purple, and orange strips.The strips are scored using Martha's Scoring Board, makes it easy peasy to fold them into flowers.

I'll be back later. Thanks for looking!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 18

2011-10-18T10:12:00.000-06:00

For today, another ATC:

I made a background using alcohol inks & glossy cardstock, stamped Inkadinkado's cobweb stamps in black Staz-on & used the senti- Boo. Was hoping that the stazon would lift some of the alcohol ink on the boo, leaving a ghost image, but that didn't happen . So I added some highlights with a silver pen on the letters. The spider is from Dusty Attic, inked in black & covered with glittah. Thanks for looking!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 17

2011-10-17T09:43:00.000-06:00

Morning all, here's another flower ::smile::

For the center portion of the flower I used one of the awesomely creepy little guys on the digi sheet I'd won from our main month's sponsor, Rick St. Dennis. Colored him in with watercolor pencils, and used a punch to stamp him out, placed this on a background circle of purple and used black stickles. I used one of Inkadinkado's $1 stamps to stamp cobwebs on the orange pp. I then used my Martha Stewart cobweb stamp on some black pp & glued it to some generic green/white striped paper before scoring and making the outside flower.

More to come today...

31 Days of Halloween - Day 16

2011-10-16T00:52:00.000-06:00

Another Saturday w/Poe - part deux

This is the second part of my framed tribute to Poe. The base paper was distressed w/Black Soot and Pumice Distress Inks and is from DCWV Street Lace and complements the earlier piece. I added a picture of a lovely woman and a cemetery figure from a collage sheet from Altered by Designed. Stamped "Nevermore", a raven and "Forgotten Lore" from Smeared Ink's "Quoth the Raven" rubber stamp sheet. Added a gorgeous gray Prima Flower, another UTEE'd Candlestick, ecru lace, black tulle, and some bling.

I've missed so many days, but will attempt to catch up (details to follow). Am entering this in the Smudgy Antics blog Challenge whose theme is Blackbirds.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 9

2011-10-09T09:30:00.000-06:00

Good Morning, Hope you've been having a wonderful time hopping and blogging this month thus far! Remember there are daily prizes, check out Terra's blog (addy to right). For today, I went with an addition to my Halloween decor, a tag that will be attached to a large granite candlestick with in my Poe section.

First I crumpled the tag, rubbed Pumice & Black Soot Distress inks across the creases, then sprayed with water, flattened it out & distressed the edges. The word stamps are from Smeared Ink's Quoth the Raven set, and the Raven stamp itself was from I Brake For Stamps. I took a chipboard raven, painted it black, then added Crackle Accents to it. Added some ribbon at the top and voila!

Have a great Day/Night! and thanks for looking!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 8

2011-10-08T09:01:00.000-06:00

This will be short & sweet. I'd forgotten how enjoyable it was to make ATC's, so I made another one:

This is an image transfer of the little girl, along with some vellum stickers. The only stamping is October 31st, but it'll do.

Have a wonderful day, now off you go!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 7

2011-10-07T02:04:00.000-06:00

Hello Hoppers! Today I went with another ATC:

On Fridays, if we use only Smeared Ink stamps, the bloggers get an extra entry for the big prize - pretty cool huh? I used the collage stamp from Smeared Ink's "Quoth the Raven", embossing it in silver on black paper, which was then mounted to an atc sized orange cs. Added some orange/black ribbon at the bottom, 3 little satin bats, and silver filigree star piece. The silver was pretty bright, so I toned it down with some Staz-on in black.

The blog roll is to your right ---> Thanks for looking! I truly appreciate all the kind comments. And, no I didn't kill my kitties for wrecking my last project, but I did say a few choice words. I'd made an embossed plate/shallow bowl in paperclay which was drying on my desk. They'd knocked it off my desk, and a few books that were precariously placed on my desk fell on it. Ohhhh such sweet kitties. Have a great day!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 6

2011-10-06T09:31:00.000-06:00

I really didn't want to only show 1 flower at a time, but we had a little mishap late last night in my craft room. Apparently I neglected to shut the door all the way, while I went online. Came back to find 3 kitties all over my project on the desk which was drying at the time. ACCCK!

So I stamped this this morning, another Teesha Moore zetti image & colored with markers. Lame, I know...head hanging woefully in shame.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 5

2011-10-05T09:53:00.000-06:00

Good Morning everyone, or afternoon/evening depending on where you live. I'm blown away by everyone's projects thus far and have made a list of things I want to ~~steal~~ copy and make for myself. Here's my project for today, it's a box. I LOVE boxes! A place to hide or store something (sometimes it's difficult to remember exactly what's in there), and this box is for all those little witchy type accoutrements, like candles, matches, incense, mini bottles of herbs, crystals, even a small altar cloth. Grab-n-go anywhere, outside, to the park, wherever you desire.

Barely made it again Wanted to finish this up last night, but had forgotten how long this crackle stuff takes to really dry. Base coated with Territorial Beige, a coat of hide glue, then Christmas Green on top. When it was dry I stamped a few stars in gold, and moons in white. For the main image I used Inkadinkado's new Witches set in Staz-on, added a little color, distressed the edges in Antique Linen. Added some no-hole beads to the sides, and one of my flowers. I'll be back to add a better picture.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 4

2011-10-04T09:43:00.000-06:00

It's now day 4 of the 31 days of Halloween! The big day itself gets closer and closer...and I've not finished decorating ::insert sad face:: Well, lots of stuff stays up all year, but there's always more to put out Anyway, you're here to see my offering for today.

Today I made a card using the adorably cranky & hungry looking "Frankie" which was a freebie from Smeared Ink for participating in a challenge last month. Isn't he cool? I colored him with Derwent Inktense pencils. The cool Happy Halloween was a freebie I found online, and I used my markers. I mounted it on a piece of DCWV Street Lace Paper, added a bit of wired sheer ribbon gathered in the center w/ an orange button on top.

Thanks for looking!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 3

2011-10-03T09:02:00.000-06:00

Well, we're on day 3 of the 31 days of Halloween, hosted by Smeared Ink. The Wicked Blogger list is to your right, in case you get lost. For today's project I made an ATC:

I'd snagged a skelly image from the internet and printed it on a transparency, then cut it to ATC size. In PSE, I made the little Wood Coffins stamp out sign, printed it out, cut it to size. Then stamped the senti at the bottom, securing the 2 layers with little bat eyelets. I love making ATC's - they're small

Well, that's it for today...off you go to the next stop.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 2

2011-10-02T09:46:00.000-06:00

This will be short, as I almost missed the deadline waiting til this morning to do this. Man, I hate migraines - suck the life out of you, or at least any ambition I'll do better for tomorrow's project now that I'm feeling somewhat human. Wish I'd had the foresight to do projects last month LOL. Anywho here's my project, I went with a tag:\

Distressed the tag with walnut ink/black soot & antique paper Distress Ink, ran it thru an embossing folder also distressed (technique from Tim Holtz). I then used the Poe stamp from Smeared Ink's "Quoth the Raven" set stamped in India Ink Black and distressed. Colored a raven with black soot, added a couple of flowers I made from a shopping bag & Perfect Pearls Mist (homemade), and a piece of webby ribbon. Also added some ribbons. Again, poor scan apologies...

Now off you go!

31 Days of Halloween - Day 1

2011-10-01T02:58:00.000-06:00

Here's my project for the first day of the 31 Days of Halloween at the Smeared & Smudged Forum, sponsored by Smeared Ink. I'm also combining this with the Challenge at Smudgy Antics to do a Zetti style project. I've had a collection of Teesha Moore's Zettiology stamps for several years - I love her style & to be able to combine it with the 31 Days of Halloween is a treat!

It's a simple project: I stamped the swirlies & "surprise" from Smeared Ink's rubber stamp set "Jack" on some orange pp in black, then made a rosette from the orange, adding another rosette in black pp. Then I stamped a Zetti "cat person" image on white cs & colored it with markers. Glued everything together & glued a black skewer to the back. I'm making a little "garden" so to speak with several of these lollipop rosette flowers to sit on the tv.

**excuse the poor scan, camera batteries were dead, again . better pic to follow.

Oh the Horror Challenge - Smeared Ink

2011-10-01T00:05:00.000-06:00

Here's my entry for the "Oh the Horror" challenge at the Smeared & Smudged Forum, sponsored by Smeared Ink. It's based on the 2002 movie "May" starring Angela Bettis, which I confess I've not seen.

I used a freebie image from Sassy Design Studio called "Wicked", adding a few pairs of scissors, a digi from Smeared Ink called "Dead Dancer", and added the title & line underneath all using the computer. Yayy me! Anyway, I colored this with Derwent Inktense Pencils & distressed the edges using Distress Ink in Scattered Straw, Walnut and Black Soot. I added some dripping blood in red cs using a Martha Stewart punch - my only one from her, but my favorite. I'm going to put it into a frame which I just painted & going to place it with my little Vincent Price shrine. A little collection of horror movie inspired art! Thanks for looking!

Saturday with Poe, part deux

2011-09-18T00:53:00.000-06:00

With Halloween fast approaching I'm adding to my Poe tribute collection of projects. When I was on the Smeared Ink Design Team, I started doing a sporadic Saturday with Poe and I've decided to continue on spending my Saturdays with him. This week the theme on the Smudgy Antics challenge blog is to use paint, messy & fun!

I flipped over a 10x10in canvas to use the wood as a frame & painted it black. The piece of pp in the center is from the "Street Lace" collection by Die Cuts with a View. I've distressed the edges with Pumice & Black Soot Distress Inks. I then stamped a verse from "The Raven" as well as a raven from Smeared Ink's "Quoth the Raven" rubber stamp set (my favorite set of theirs!) I also used some ephemera from a Joggles image sheet I had. I also used a Dusty Attic candlestick embossed w/Platinum UTEE and a couple of DA ravens painted black & embossed w/clear UTEE. The POE letters are from Making Memories.

September Smeared & Smudged Forum's Member Blog Hop!

2011-09-08T17:03:00.000-06:00

Hard to believe, but it's already September. And, once again, time for our monthly Members' Blog Hop over at the Smeared & Smudged Forum. Each month we have a fun blog hop with a different theme. This month we were asked to combine two or more images into a new one, lots of possibilities. For my project I chose to combine the Jack in the Box from Smeared Ink's "Jack" rubber stamp set & Edgar Allen Poe's image, also from Smeared Ink. I also used The Octopode Factory's new Mad Hatter Digi. All were colored with Derwent Inktense Pencils & Tombow markers. I mounted them on a couple of older pieces of patterned paper, and all will be a part of a book for my DD, Becca. Sorry for the lateness.....

If you're not a member and you like the freedom to stamp and create the art you want to, it's time to join our little group! Besides, it's free. Our hop and forum is hosted by Smeared Ink who has the most awesome, edgy digital & rubber stamps. Check them out!

Next on the list is the lovely Kelli But, here's the whole list, in case you're lost:

Terra
Black Dragon
Jane
Kim
Celina
Kapree
Heather
Lady Brayton
Kristy
Monique
Lisa
Ike
Jean
Dianne-me
Kelli
Sara

I'm also entering this on Lily's The Octopode Factory Challenge Blog where the theme was stripes.

Thanks for looking

Smudgy Antics Challenge - Dead Divas

2011-08-21T00:46:00.001-06:00

Each week, the folks at Smeared Ink are hosting a challenge on their DT's blog Smudgy Antics . The challenge starts on Monday at 12:01 a.m. and ends at 11:59p.m. the following Saturday, giving participants 6 days. The challenge has weekly themes, this week's being Dead Divas. The only stipulation is that there be at least one Smeared Ink stamp (digi or rubber) used. Beyond that, you can use any other stamps on your project. Of course, there's a prize! By Random Number Generator (which, by the way, hates me ), one person will receive a digi or prize listed on the blog. Cool, huh?

My project this week is a framed piece (all set for the best holiday of the year!) using one of Tiddly Ink's images "Frankie", a really sassy version of the bride of Frankenstein. She's a part of Tiddly Ink's Gothic Pinup collection. For the Smeared Ink image, I used the Gear Heart digi image available in their shop as a single, and printed several resized & twisted, printed on watercolor paper. For the coloring, I used Derwent's Inktense pencils, Tombow markers, and colored pencils. Added a little Distress Ink. Please excuse the flash...

A Call for Cards

2011-08-19T20:18:00.000-06:00

The ever-sweet, lovely Meredith at Paper Canteen Creations has asked her crafty friends to send cards to a young man who was seriously injured last April. Ryan, on the long, laborious road to recovery, and whose story you can read about here Ryan's Recovery:. He sounds like such an extraordinary human being having moved from California to New Orleans to help out during the aftermath of Katrina.

Here's the card I am sending to Ryan:

The image is "Owlette" (isn't she adorable with her owl?) from Tiddly Inks, and the sentiment is from Comotion. She's stamped on watercolor paper, colored with Derwent Inktense pencils & colored pencils and mounted onto a piece of CS. The background paper is from DieCutsWithaView's Rock Star 8x8 pad. I added a little ribbon, a gear & spinner from Tim Holtz. Inside the card, I've written " 'Owl' be thinking of you" .

August Smeared & Smudged Member Blog Hop

2011-08-11T02:00:00.002-06:00

It's that time of the month again, (no, not that time), but time for Smeared & Smudged Member Blog Hop, brought to you by Smeared Ink . This month we were asked to get messy with "Paint" for our projects.

Since there is only 81 days till the bestest day of the year, Halloween, I've begun working on additions to my decorations. I love Halloween so much that there are many items I leave up all year long, a muslin witch a friend made, a huge grinning paper mache black cat, my 2 Pumpkinseeds figurines by Janell Berryman, and more...

Today's project started life out as a plain old paper mache container. I painted it with black gesso, followed by a couple of coats of purple. For the lid, I printed out the "wicked witch" digi from Smeared Ink and colored her with Derwent Inktense pencils. I love those pencils, the intensity of the color after you paint with your waterbrush is amazing. To the lid I also added an orange pumpkin trim, accented with paprika & green stickles & black satin witch trim over it. To the bottom I used Graphic 45's new Oz stamps Wicked and the witch hat in white ink. Excuse the poor photos...

Thanks for hopping with us! Here's the complete list of blog hop participants:

Smudgefest 2011 - Day Seven, The Final Challenge!

2011-08-07T23:09:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's the last challenge of Smudgefest 2011, sponsored by Smeared Ink . There have been awesome prizes won, and lots of cool projects by many talented artists. Wonder who will win the grand prize of 17 digi sets?
Pick me... LOL

We were given a digi of an adorable rat named Calypso to use in our project, which was pretty nice of them. When I was young, about 14, we were visiting some friends who had boys about my age and a little younger. They had rats for pets, so we put 3 of them on my head, kind of tangled in my hair & I walked to where the grownups were playing cards. I told my mom "you always say my hair is a rat's nest, and now it is". Mom let out a little scream & we laughed. My daughters had rats when they were younger, but could only play with them in their rooms with the door closed because we also had cats & dogs. Cats plus rats equals dead rats...

My project is a simple card showing a rat's revenge on the human who hurt its tail . I colored the rat image with Derwent Inktense pencils & colored pencils, the same with the image from "Gross Anatomy". I cut out a second tail for the rat & wrapped it with gauze. Mounted them both on yellow patterned paper, and cut out a "mousehole" using another darker paper. Made a little tag showing his satisfaction with the Acme Human Trap, and added a metal swirl.

This was fun!

Varying Visages of Vincent Price

2011-08-07T15:29:00.000-06:00

The illustrious Barb and her minions at Haunted Design House are having a blog hop to celebrate the 100th birthday of Vincent Price. There is blog candy for this challenge & I'm amazed at the awesome entries.

Here is my humble addition to the celebration. I loved Vincent Price, his voice, his movies and was saddened by his death in 1993. One of his last movies, "Edward Scissorshands" is one of my all time favorite movies. Anywho, I took a small shadow box, painted it black & purple, then added miniature photos I found online from some of his movies "The Raven", "Pit and the Pendulum", "Edward Scissorshands", and more. I also used a couple of Making Memories metal letter discs V & P, along with the bloody goo at the top and some little satin bats at the bottom. Please forgive the crookedness of the photo.

Smudgefest 2011 - Day Six!!

2011-08-07T00:47:00.000-06:00

Today was the next to the last challenge in the 7 days of Smudgefest, sponsored by Smeared Ink . This has been such fun, and wonderful to see such awesomely talented entries. Today was a little more difficult, and it also took me the most time, since I'm not too swift with sketch challenges. LOL

This is a page I made for my BOS using one of the gorgeous images from Smeared Ink's Nymph rubber sheet. She is so beautiful, an Ocean Goddess to me, more than a nymph or undine, caring for all the creatures of the sea. I colored her with Derwent Inktense pencils, then added some gems withing the water she is playing with. I colored a background piece with pastels, added some rocks & many, many laser cut-outs from Lil Davis that I've had for about 8 years or so. The big fish is from K&Co, and the gems & pearls are BoBunny. The background piece was put on a piece of Navy CS. All of this was placed on a piece of patterned paper that I deckle edged & inked/chalked, then placed on a base of Grey CS. I'm gathering names of Sea/Ocean goddesses which will be written on the opposite side in my BoS.

Only one more day left! Whew!

Smudgefest 2011 - Day Five

2011-08-06T00:04:00.000-06:00

This is Day Five of Smudgefest 2011, put on by Smeared Ink. Awesome prizes can be had by completing the daily challenges. All the details of the challenges are found at the Smudgy Antics blog. Today's challenge was Flowing Friday, in which we were to use liquids i.e. inks, watercolors, watered down acrylics, glues to create a project.

For my tag, I took several colors of Distress Ink smooshed on my craft sheet, spritzed with water and created the background. Found the technique in Lord Tim Holtz's "Compendium of Curiosities" which is the bestest book ever! Then I took one of Smeared Ink's "Jack" rubber stamps, stamped with India Ink Black on watercolor paper, colored it with Derwent's Inktense Pencils using my waterbrush. I wanted it sort of subtle. I also used Rock Candy Stickles & amped it up with glittah where Jack's bells are dangling from his jester's hat. I stamped the senti (also from the "Jack" set on vellum and embossed it. I made another little flower from coffee filters spritzed with a concoction of Peeled Paint Distress Ink & various colors of Perfect Pearls in a Mini Mister bottle. Adhered Jack using foam squares. Added various ribbons & mini ric-rac.

Whew! Only 2 days left for the challenges. I, like everyone else, want to win the big prize sooooooooo badly. Nonetheless, this has been a lot of fun, and a great distraction from crap here in Happy Valley, Utah. Tomorrow I'll be posting another project I'm working on - Manga! My DD thinks I'm so weird, if she only knew... Goodnite all!

Smudgefest 2011 - Day Four

2011-08-05T00:02:00.000-06:00

Today's challenge during Smudgefest by Smeared Ink was Twisted Thursday, and the project was to be an ATC, aka Artist Trading Card.

I used a base of Club Scrap CS, the senti is from Smeared Ink's "Jack" rubber stamp set which I stamped on colored vellum & embossed. The skull is from Dusty Attic which I embossed with Platinum UTEE. Then I took 3 pieces of different colored craft wire & "twisted" it, wrapping around the ATC. Pretty simple.

Wonder what tomorrow's challenge will be...

Smudgefest 2011 - Day Three

2011-08-04T00:53:00.000-06:00

Today's challenge was a Color Challenge - using Mustard Yellow, Pumpkin Orange, Dark Grey & Purple!

I used Smeared Ink's Wicked Witch digi image colored with Inktense pencils, backed with purple cs, mounted on dark grey cs, all over a base of Mustard yellow cs. I then made flowers with white cardstock using markers in orange,mustard & grey. The flying monkeys & compass pieces, as well as the Wicked Witch of the West is from Graphic 45's new Oz line of paper. I LOVE THIS PAPER!!!

I'm entering this as my Sketchy Challenge for the Smeared & Smudged Forum. (I'll add links as soon as I figure it out).

Of course, I had to journal a little on the page about my feelings on witches being portrayed as mean green hags

Smudgefest 2011 Day Two!!!

2011-08-03T00:14:00.000-06:00

It's the second day for Smeared Ink's Smudgefest 2011, 7 days of challenges for awesome prizes. Today's theme is Terrifying Tuesday, where we are to create a project using our scariest Smeared Ink image. I used the digi "Open Bust" from the Gross Anatomy set, colored with Derwent Inktense pencils, colored pencils and Tombow markers. The base was colored using various Distress Ink pads with a section masked off for the half human/half raven witch, a stamp from I Brake for Stamps. She was colored with colored pencils. Her minions are Ravens chipboard pieces from Dusty Attic, that I painted, then used embossing powder to give them a little pop.

I just love ravens & crows, and think I'll feature just them in one of my next projects. Looking forward to tomorrow's theme.

Smudgefest 2011 is Here!!! Day One

2011-08-01T23:45:00.000-06:00

First of all, a Blessed Lughnasadh & Happy Lammas to all!

All this week, from August 1st thru the 7th, Smeared Ink is having a challenge extravaganza!!! Each day a different challenge will be posted along with guidelines & a special them. Those who would like the opportunity to win awesome prizes, make a project, card, scrapbook page and link it up before midnite that day. A winner will be chosen randomly each day for a cool digi stamp. If you complete all 7 challenges, you will have a chance to win seventeen (17) awesome digi stamp collections worth 275$ Holy Moly!!!! All the particulars can be found on the Smudgy Antics Blog
http://smudgyantics.blogspot.com/

Today's challenge was to create a Bi-Polar project, showing 2 things that are opposites. I chose to do a card which will go in my art journal depicting a woman who to the outside world is submissive, a people pleasing doormat, but on the inside is raging, wanting to kill everyone and anything who treats her as such, even herself. Smeared Ink's Femdom digi image called "Spreader Bar" portrays the submissive woman perfectly, and the larger image inside of the gun-totin' mama is from the rubber stamp sheet "Chicks Dig Guns". The coloring of images is a combo of Derwent Inktense Pencils (I love 'em), colored pencils and Tombow markers. I also used the bullet holes from the "Chicks Dig Guns", as well as a grave stamp from Gazdina's Stamps (no longer in business). The embellishments were from my stash & they were all put on a gate folded card.

Hope I haven't offended anyone.

Miss me? Not! LOL

2011-07-04T13:47:00.000-06:00

Cannot believe that it's been a month since I posted anything, but it has. I wasn't going to post about this, but today is my 58th birthday, and I'm indulging myself. I had a mild stroke on the 22nd of last month. Earlier in the month, I'd called my dr.'s office for an appt & told the receptionist that my bp was very high (180/100) and I was afraid I was going to stroke out. The dr. is a lifelong buddy of my husband's, and therefore will see me on a very reduced charge (no insurance/job etc). Anyway, where was he? In Costa Rica Doctors without Borders, I think. Well, it happened. Wasn't sure I'd see this day even come, sometimes I wasn't sure I wanted it to. My body is wearing out so much faster than it should, or at least faster than I would like it to wear out. I could deal with the structural instability (i.e. RA, OA, Osteporosis, Fibro), but now it's electrical too. Sheesh!!! These PVC's are leaving me breathless, anxious, dizzzy.

Then, there's my husband who has been laying in bed 24/7, for real, the past 2 years since he got fired for not doing his job well. Granted he has COPD, but why in the fuck does he still smoke, and diabetes, so why in the hell does he still eat what he shouldn't in vast quantities? He's obese, wonders why he can't do anything. Because he hasn't done a damn thing. If you don't use it you lose it. Guess who takes care of him? I jhonestly want to shoot him between the eyes.

I've been such a flake to my DT at Smeared and Smudged, and am really very sorry.

Well, this pity party is over.

"Skull Appreciation Day" Smeared Ink Blog Hop

2011-06-04T07:00:00.086-06:00

Welcome to the First Annual Smeared Ink Blog Hop for "SKULL APPRECIATION DAY" !!! On June 4, 2007 Noah Scalin of Skull-A-Day, began a long and arduous journey of creating an art project honoring the human skull each and every day. During the following 12 months he created 366 projects (it was a leap year). Since that time his blog has grown to nearly 1800 followers, he's written 2 books, and the blog content is continued thru readers' submissions. Last year, he and his editors/contributors proposed to make June 4, 2011 the first annual international Skull Appreciation Day. They are having a celebration and a one month exhibit at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA. So if you live nearby, by all means go!

At the forum for Smeared Ink, a bunch of us decided to participate in Skull Appreciation Day by having a blog hop. There are 37 participants, and if you check out Terra's website, there are lots of prizes to be won. You should have arrived here from Susan's blog, your next stop will be Barb Foster

The skull houses our heart and soul, each little electrical impulse that makes us unique, makes us feel, lets us hear is within that home. For me, music feeds my soul, can change my mood - so here is my little contribution. I made a background canvas with old sheet music, distressed it with paint and lots of ripping. The stamps used were from 1) "Quoth the Raven" by Smeared Ink and the smaller 2)Basic Grey Halloween clear acrylic stamps. The center skull was painted, then bathed in UTEE. It needs a frame & a little tweaking.

Here is the list of participants:

Terra
Tori
Kelli
Alison
Kelli
Jane
Alex
Judi
Kathi
Steph
Lisa
Freddie
Heather
Kapree
Alison
Susan
Dianne
Barb Foster
JenniLynne
Teri
Cyndi
Pamela
Prissy
Trisha
Dawn
Lady Brayton
Donna
Black Dragon
Paulette
Creepy Glowbugg
Susan’s Crafty Chaos
Andrea
Helen
Kate
Fiona
Sugar
Linda
Dragonfly Jane
Debbie

Smeared Ink / Simply Betty Blog Hop - Zombie style

2011-05-18T02:10:00.004-06:00

Hi everyone! Welcome to the Smeared Ink & Simply Betty DT's Zombilicious Blog Hop

What brought this on? A mutual love for Zombies, of course! Well, that plus Simply Betty is sponsoring 2 of the Smeared and Smudged monthly Challenges. If you enter these challenges you have a chance to win Simply Betty Zombie digis! Not only that but you will get a free digi image from Smeared Ink just for participating! How awesome is that?!

In addition to sponsoring the Smeared and Smudged challenges this month, Betty was generous enough to allow the Smeared Ink DT to work with some of her zombies. Hop around and leave some love then be sure to swing by the Smeared and Smudged forum to join in the challenges!

(totally plagiarized from Lady B - thanks sweetie!)

The digi I chose to work with was the Everyday Zombie Teen Lola. Thank you again, Betty!!!! Lola in all her many styles is my favorite, probably because she reminds me of my teenager dd Beccah; naive, kind, carefree & blonde. Well, I couldn't just have Lola on the card - she needs to be the center of attention yanno? So I have Simply Betty's Valentine Emo Teen Miller (he's a cutie too) totally in love with Lola. Love is blind, after all.

The images were colored with my new Derwent Inktense Pencils & Prismacolor Pencils. I also used one of Smeared Ink's digis, "gear Heart" from the Hearts set, colored them, then added some Brass & Rock Candy Stickles from Ranger. I then stamped "Do you feel lucky Punk?" senti from Smeared Ink's "Chicks Dig Guns" rubber stamp set in Staz On Black. Added a couple of embellishments from my stash, mounted everything on the skully sheet of DCWV paper from the Rock Star stack, then onto a base of cardstock. Hope you like it.

I really urge you to stop by & join the Smeared & Smudged Forum:
a. it's free
b. the artists there are awesome, welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable
c. lots of fun challenges & monthly freebies for participating
d. did I mention it's free?

Here's the list of participants in the hop. If you can leave them some love, and head over to the Smeared & Smudged Forum to join in all the fun! Now get to hoppin'!

Betty

Terra

Tori

Alison

Kelli

Lady B

Kapree

Dianne That's me!

Paula

Helen

Cheri

Nicole

Jennifer

Suzi

My "should've been" Saturday post w/Poe

2011-05-15T12:22:00.002-06:00

On Thursday, whilst Blogger was down I had a chance to play in my craft room. I'd found Claudine Hellmuth's first DVD from 2005 while cleaning & had some fun with her techniques! I took a piece of Canvas panel, slathered it up with gel medium and placed torn pages of ephemera, in this case from a book written in Chinese. After it dried, I used a wash of various acrylic paints and dabbed randomly. While it was still wet I placed masking tape pieces side by side on the canvas and started ripping them off. Where the papers are wet will cause them to separate so you actually see the underside of the ephemera. Let it dry thoroughly then remove the remaining tape pieces. To keep it all down I covered the entire panel with matte medium & let dry. Next up was the peeled paint technique, using petroleum jelly randomly as a resist to a layer of red acrylic paint. When the paint was dry, you just take a paper towel & rub off the petroleum jelly & excess paint. I love how it resembles smeared blood. Made a second sheet using sheet music for use at a later date.

I then layered a piece of black mulberry paper & a piece of silk that I fringed. It's such a pretty pattern (yeah, I found that while cleaning too ), that I might move things around so I can see it better. Using one of Smeared Ink's digi stamp from the "hearts" set, I printed it along with the book title on a piece of Extrav-organza & distress them with Antique Linen & Vintage Photo Distress Inks. The heart and Poe image are also from Smeared Ink, in this case the "Quoth the Raven" rubber sheet which is my favorite one of all!!!!! The heart was stamped using Fired Brick Distress Ink & a leftover piece of Extrav-organza (fun stuff to use sheer & printable). I secured the heart to the panel with a lovely pin from Scraps of Darkness. My beloved's face (of course I'd have to fight Black Dragon for him) was stamped on cardstock & distressed as well. I also added a couple of acetate pieces from K & Co's Que Sera Sera line.

I'll be using this on the box that houses my first day covers from Edgar Allan Poe. Hope you liked it.

Smeared and Smudged Members Blog Hop for May

2011-05-12T09:51:00.000-06:00

Epic Fail on my part. This photo I found online explains it all.

Finished my project late last night, put it up on the shelf above the computer so the glue could dry. I awoke this morning prepared to take pics of my beautiful metal box & found the p.c. monitor hanging by its cord, stuff scattered everywhere, my glasses nowhere to be found, parts of the printer tray broken off and my little metal box smooshed. Embossing foil is not very sturdy, yanno.

My apologies to all, but if you're here, then head on over to Paula's blog whatspeaks2myheart.wordpress.com Hopefully that works. I'll try to get back with something, that is, after I take care of some very bad cats.

Smeared Ink New Digi Release Blog Hop

2011-05-09T02:53:00.000-06:00

Welcome to a new digi release blog hop from fabulous Smeared Ink. There are 2 digi sets being released today, May 9th, and for today only if you buy 2 digi sets you can get one free!!!

My image is from the VonBayros set, showing a lovely woman who is chained to a rock surrounded by birds. Franz Von Bayros was Croatian, brought up in Austria and part of the Decadent Art movement. But looking at the picture I am reminded of the Irish folk tale of Fionnuala and the Children of Lir, a woman and her brothers who were imprisoned by chains and cursed to be swans, in their case, for 300 years. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and Pitt Pens, mounted & framed on cardstock with a touch of foil to represent the chains and a feather. I will be putting this card in my personal journal, just after the Brighid page.

Here is the list of blog participants and don't forget the sale!

Beachy yearning on a snowy day

2011-04-30T01:20:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it is snowing here in Utah? Egads!!!!! I am so ready for summer & miss walking on the beach in southern California as this lass has done. I've used 2 of Smeared Ink's awesome digis (available singly), Crabby Love from the Smitten set and Geared Heart from the Hearts set. She and Mr. Crabb were colored with water-based markers & watercolor pencils. Since scanning this in, I've added a distressed brass stickles from Ranger (didn't want to muck up the screen of my new all-in-one :::clapping loudly::: I also chalked around the edges. It was then mounted to a based card that has pieces of a sandpaper textured papers. Added a heart & shell from K & Co., velveteen flowers from prima, a senti sticker from 7 gypsies, and the black border at the bottom is actually a sticker. Hope you like it!

Digi stamps are great to use, re-size as needed. We'll be having a digi release at Smeared Ink in May so be on the lookout!

My Debut as a DT member for Smeared Ink

2011-04-16T02:13:00.000-06:00

Good morning all, Today is my first offering as a member of the DT. First of all, I was so excited to have been chosen to join their design team. Those ladies know how to rock their stamping world. When I found out I just kept singing the Pointer Sisters "I'm so excited" in my head and sometimes aloud . I'm very, very grateful.

So here it is, my first project:

I made the background on the dominos with alcohol inks and wanted it to look like blood. Mr. Poe is the Master of the Macabre, after all. I then used my absolute fave stamp set "Quoth the Raven" from Smeared Ink, using Staz-on in black. It was strung together using stretchy cord and various beads from my collection. This was a learning experience on the properties of alcohol inks, lessons I'd learned before but had forgotten. I'm going to try a different ink next time for the images, perhaps Ranger's Archival or some Decor-it just to see what happens.

I'll be back after I get a little sleep to post a better picture and another project just finished. Thanks for looking!

Smeared & Smudged's April Member Blog Hop

2011-04-14T11:17:00.001-06:00

She's late, she's late for a very important date... Lost my cable & internet yesterday late afternoon. A horribly strong windstorm came thru yesterday, I swear all I could think as I drove to pick up my younger dd from work watching branches, signs, debris pass in front of the car was "I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!" (complete with music in my head) LOL Well the net is back on, you have my sincerest apologies, so without further ado:

Welcome to the my little contribution of the Smeared & Smudged Forum's April Member Blog Hop!

Most peeps don't know that I am a philatelist and have been one for 50 years. There I've admitted that I am truly a dork! LOL One of my areas of stamp collection is First Day Covers commemorating the life & death of one of my fave authors, Edgar Allan Poe. So rather than displaying them in boring plastic sleeves, they deserve a book of their own, done scrapbook style. Here's the first

Our challenge was to use metal somewhere in our project, so I took a piece of purple embossing metal, stamped the backside and embossed it, covered the front with clear embossing powder & heated. The "Nevermore" border is using one of the stamps from Smeared Ink's awesome rubber set "Quoth the Raven" which commemorates our beloved Poe in SI style. I also colored the SI digi image "Marionette pointing" with prismacolor pencils & layered a piece of black tulle over the border, dancer and Poe. The two small flowers are from Prima.

Hope you enjoyed it! Here's the list of participants:

Terra

Kelli

Lady Brayton

Black Dragon

Alison

Kapree

Alex

Sugar

Jane

Kymberly

Paula

Tori

Lisa

Tiffany

Dianne

Steph

Helen

Smeared & Smudged's March Member Blog Hop

2011-03-10T03:40:00.003-07:00

It's time for the monthly blog hop at the Smeared & Smudged Forum, the challenge/theme this month is to use the colors brown & green. Each month, members of the S&S forum (there's a link on your right for more info), can showcase their talents (and there are some VERY talented artists in the group), the only caveat being that we use a stamp somewhere in our project. They are loads of fun, and we usually "play" for the sheer pleasure. However, this month Strange Skin has offered one lucky hopper some delicious blog candy. In order to have your name entered to win 2 awesome digis, all you need to do is leave a comment about their project at each participating blogger. The blogger list is at the bottom of this post.

Now that all the info stuff is out there...

For my project I made a clamshell box using an old Club Scrap kit from several years ago. The pic is of the top before gluing it on. Pics of the rest of the box are forthcoming, camera battery issue as well as slow drying glue ). Don't you just love these Grumpies???? They do make me smile, something which I probably do too little of. Anywho, this little heart Grumpie is a digi from Smeared Ink released for Valentine's Day, but I think he's grand anytime. I colored her (he's now a she with the addition of a bow LOL) with Prismacolor pencils. The flowers are from Prima, Pastiche & netting. Added the Making Memories metal word colored with metallic markers.

This little box will house some memorabilia from different times with my daughters when they were young, like teeth collected by the tooth fairy, ticket stubs, a lone polly pocket, etc. They do grow up so fast ::insert sad face:: & it goes by too quickly. Well I hope you enjoyed my small offering, now off you go!

Tori

Alison

Kelli

Ladybrayton

Sugar

Black Dragon

Monica

Kapree

Alex

Tiffany

Jane

Meredith

Dianne ---you are here

Judy

Lisa

Kimberly

It's the DAYTONA 500, Baby!!!!!!

2011-02-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

Finally, the Nascar season is starting. It seemed forever since the last race at Homestead in November ::sigh:: New season, here are my guys Smoke (Tony Stewart), Rowdy (Kyle Busch), and a new guy Trevor Bayne in the 21. He just turned 20 yesterday, and would be the sort of young man I'd want my daughter Becca to marry. Polite, sweet, and a helluva driver. Well, the green flag is about to drop, I'm off!!!!!!!

*** Holy Crap!!!! I can't believe it Trevor Bayne won the freakin Daytona 500!!!!!!!

Check out this awesome blog candy!

2011-02-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

Rather than feel depressed about getting older, Linda over at Linda's Crafty Creations is having a blog candy giveaway for her 60th birthday. Isn't she the sweetest? The link is on my sidebar, but hurry and enter!

Happy Birthday Linda! Remember we are aging like fine wine, from another who's sliding towards her 60th shortly.

Smeared & Smudged Valentine's Day Blog Hop

2011-02-14T01:23:00.004-07:00

This is an altered paper mache box that I made to house one of my journals. The "tiles" are made from black polymer clay that I textured using various stamps, and colored with Perfect Pearls. The uncured tiles were then glued onto the box, then baked/cured in the oven. The image of the woman is a digi stamp from Smeared & Smudged from the Femdom collection, called "Spreader Bar". She was colored with Fabrico & Tombow markers and mounted onto a piece of black "corrugate" cardstock. I then took several metallic words by Making Memories and colored them with different colors of Adirondack Alcohol Inks. The word Love was deliberately mangled. This was an extremely personal project for me as I truly identify with the subjugated woman who is not allowed to speak and whose hand are tied behind her back. The journal encompasses my journey as I separate & break the chains that bind - 21 years of marriage to an insecure despot - Time served.

Please check out all the wonderful projects from the talented ladies on the list, which is to your right -> and up. My apologies for downing anyone's Valentine's Day also for the delay in getting these dang pictures up. ** Weird, my computer shows the files, blogger can't see them, so I had to replace them **

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone, here's the list of bloggers:

Terra
Tori
Alison
Lady B
Helen
Kymberly
Berenice
Kelli
Lisa
Dianne
Teri
Rebecca
Steph
Jane
Sugar
Kapree
Black Dragon
Alex

Why don't she write?

2011-02-09T16:47:00.001-07:00

I must warn you all the following pictures are very scary, and to me quite sad. This is my crap, no I mean craft room - it's a teeny tiny bedroom about 7'6" x 6'8", and there is toooo much crap in there. When I look at these, I think to myself "this person should be on "Hoarders" ". Perhaps I should.

But, as any artistic/creative type person knows, it takes supplies to create anything! Part of the problem is that I have too many areas of interest, since I have the attention span of a gnat . First it's crochet, then spinning, then scrapbooking, followed by mixed media, quilting, lapidary work, jewelry making, cross stitching, drawing and painting, back to scrapbooking & paper arts. EGADS! The cycle continues. At first it was okay when I just did scrapbooking & book arts. There was room for what I used, but the fabric has taken over. Immediately behind my chair is a mountain of fabric, some in containers, much is just stacked.

God forbid someone should ask me if I have something. I'm sure I do,but it takes forever to find what they are asking for. Heck, it takes me so much time to find what I need for a card or a present, that the holiday/birthday passes before I finish making something.

I could blame getting sick, my heart condition, or the fibromyalgia, or the depression following my mother's passing (8 years ago today), my buying things that I have, but lost, or my younger daughter who cannot entertain herself when she's home - she needs reassurance and gets upset if I want to go in my craft room, or my husband, a useless 300lb. person who lays in bed 24/7 expecting me to do everything for him except wipe his ass (it's not that he can't do, it's that he won't do anything). Bitter much? But, the fact is there is no excuse. So, I've started to sort & purge, and at least store the fabbies somewhere else, unmount boxes of wood stamps, sell whatever I don't want & throw the garbage out. I've asked my older daughter to come help move the heavy stuff - she's very strong . Better to do it now, because if there were an earthquake & I was in that room - they'd never find me .

If you read this, thank you for letting me vent. I really am a nice person, just a tad overwhelmed right now.

HDH072 -Hell hath no fury & S&S Sketch Challenge

2011-01-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

The theme this week at Barb's Haunted Design House was Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Decided to kill the man in question, but didn't want it to be too gorey, and thought flowers are lovely and spring is coming soon. I printed out the Grace digi from Simply Betty Stamps' great Steampunk line and came up with a little ditty based on a children's rhyme. Colored Grace & former hubby with markers/pencils edging the cardstock with distress ink. Added a few 3-d embellishments, placed it all on a floral paper on top of green cardstock from Club Scrap.

I'm also entering this card at Smeared and Smudged Forum's January sketch challenge.

Thanks for taking a look-see! Comments are always welcome, Dianne

Simply Betty Challenge #2

2011-01-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

This week's challenge from Simply Betty's Stamps is to "Make it a Classic" using Black & White, Silver and the accent color of either pink or red. For my card I used two of her cool Emo kids Christmas Lola and Valentine Miller (gosh, I love the look on his face - does he look lovestruck or what???). They were colored with prismacolor pencils & Pitt pens, matted on a glittery dark grey/black cardstock & mounted on a white marbled cardstock. I stamped little valentine candy hearts, attached them to foam rubber and placed them in a little candy altoid type tin embellished with black ribbon. Added a couple of vinyl Thickets in black & Voila!

I'm really new at this card making - not hard to tell hahaha

2011-01-19T00:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Smeared and Smudged Members Blog Hop to view projects from several talented ladies at S&S Forum. The list of participants is to your right -->

For my project, I made a birthday card for my future son-in-law Cody who is turning 24. He has a beautiful sleeve of skulls so I thought he might enjoy these skellies. I used one of the new rubber images from Smeared Ink by Misty Benson. Yes, I know it's the Death card, but it's also a card of rebirth, and each year we have the opportunity to re-invent ourselves. I stamped the image on a grey cardstock, colored it with Prismacolor pencils, Fabrico markers and Pitt pens. The Happy Birthday & fun is from Making Memories, and the Time Flies & Where Does the Time Go? are Dimensional accents from ??. I printed out the "partay" senti & deckle edged, colored with Ranger's distress ink in Brick. The little calendar is from 7 gypsies and the flower from Prima.

As a side note, I crocheted him a beanie using my handspun wool in grey and black. Tried to scan it, fail... Found my camera & am charging up the batteries to take pics. Anyway, I hope you liked the card and leave a comment if you wish. Now off you go to hop to my S&S Sisters' sites and leave them some love. The list is to your right. Have a wonderful day! Dianne

Simply Betty Challenge #1 for 2011

2011-01-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Long time no post! For Betty's first challenge of the new year, we were to use 2 of her stamps. I used 2 of her Steampunk images (love 'em).

This winter has just knocked the crap out of me, along with life challenges, but I really really would love to win even just one of Betty's new Valentine Emo kids.

Double Duty Project today

2010-12-17T23:41:00.001-07:00

This is a twofer day! This is my project for both The 12 Days of Christmas - Smeared & Smudged's day 9 and Simply Betty Challenge's Day 11. It is the cover for an photo album for my dd Becca who is indeed having a Skelly Tree this year. I used black chipboard cover with green and red cardstock, along with a scalloped metal book edge from 7 Gypsies. The lovely girl is Lola, one of Simply Betty Stamps' Christmas Emos which I colored with prismacolor pencils & markers. The skelly tree is one of the new Smeared & Smudged plates featuring the artwork of Misty Benson "Skelly Christmas", colored with various markers and embellished with skull & crossbones nail stickers, as well as some fun skulls I drew. The "plaque" stamp with the skull is from 7 Gypsies. I used a couple of candy canes & glittered tree buttons as well. I hope you like it!

Don't forget to visit the Jolly Bloggers on the list to the right. My apologies to those who've visited to find nothing new. Happy Holidays & Stamp on!

***Edited to Add*** Yes, you're correct Alex, it is an alcohol ink background (I'm not too swift at describing my process LOL) I started with a yellow-ish glossy paper and used Cranberry, Pesto and Eggplant Alcohol Inks. I could spend hours just playing with them. I wanted the background to look somewhat Nightmarish.

12 Days of Christmas S&S Style - Day 6

2010-12-11T10:21:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Day 5 of Smeared & Smudged 12 Days of Christmas! Obviously, I did not succeed at posting days 3, 4 and 5 on time, but will put them up today. I'm just waiting for paint/varnish to dry and dd#2 to wake up so she can take pics with her camera. Scanning just won't do with items that will scratch glass such as metal doo-dads.

Anywho, this is a book I've make for my dd#2 Becca for Yule/Christmas. Totally a handmade gift season this year. I used one of the awesome new tarot images from Misty Benson "The Fool" by S&S. Stamped it in India Ink Black, colored with a combination of Pitt pens, watercolor pencils, chalks, prismacolor pencils, and my trusty Dove Blender. The book itself was a kit from Club Scrap that I've been holding onto (hoarding) stamped with Distress Ink in Peeled Paint. After making the book I added a piece of really old mulberry paper in tan, a couple of tags from 7 Gypsies as well as the Fool. The stickers are from Making Memories, and an old QVC kit by "I have no clue". Becca is my C'est la vie child, she expects nothing from others (except her mom), rolls with the punches Ms. Whatever I call her. I'd bought her the Scapini Medieval Tarot Deck about 10 years ago (kept them safe in my drawer) and thought it would be nice for her to have her own book in which to jot her thoughts/readings/etc. while I teach her.

Hope you like it. I'm adding a few metal embellishments & a sheet of laminate over the image or varnish to protect it. Scanning afterwards wouldn't work. I'll be back to post Days 3 & 4 & 5 ASAP. Check out all the fabulous works from the good Jolly Bloggers (list on the right). BB

12 Days of Christmas Simply Betty Challenge 7

2010-12-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

The challenge was to use purple, turquoise and lime green with one of Betty's awesome Emo stamps. I colored the lovely Lola Christmas Emo chickadee with watercolor pencils & markers, and one of Smeared & Smudged new stamps from Misty Benson's Skelly Christmas, used some MM snowflakes & a couple of stickers.

12 Days of Christmas Simply Betty Challenge 6

2010-12-07T23:56:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love these Steampunk images from Simply Betty Stamps. This is just a simple card, the image colored with watercolor pencils, stamped image from Stampers Anonymous, a gear & brass piece from 7 Gypsies, clock face and stickers from my stash.

12 Days of Christmas S&S Style - Day 2

2010-12-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days where NOTHING goes right? It's been a couple of those here in Utah, overflowing sinks, sickness, etc. Add to that the fact that I am not the queen of organization (pics of my poor neglected craft room to follow), scissors walk away on their own and who knew that ink pads would dry out after a couple of years???Epic fail LOL

This has the tiniest bit of stamping from Smeared & Smudged newest stamps by Misty Benson (oh to die for!) in "The Wonder of Christmas", along with alot of glitter on a glass ornament. I used Staz-on White which sort of smudged.

The good news is I've got Sunday's started & is much, much more of the new stamps. For my dd's Christmas present we are doing ( what's this we business???) I'm making her the ornaments for a Nightmare Before Christmas/Halloween mash-up tree for the front room, witches, Sally & Jack, & skellies & other things that go "bump in the night". I hate un-decorating for Halloween, so this year I didn't have to!

p.s. sorry this is 20 minutes late :~{

12 Days of Christmas S&S Style - Day 1

2010-12-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been ::ahem:: a few months since I posted ANYTHING. When I signed up for the Challenge, I hadn't touched my stamps & paper arts supplies for awhile, so if it looks lame mea culpa. hahaha. This is a card I'm making for my DD#2 Becca, who's 19, still at home, and has always been my "different" & "dark" child (she's like her Mom). I used one of Simply Betty Stamps' digi Emo Halloween stamps colored with Prismacolor pencils, a few Susan Branch stickers (don't judge me ), wire snowflakes from Making Memories. One of my personal challenges this season is to use what I have, more about that later. I'm excited to be a part of this group of Jolly Bloggers, it will be an adventure!!!! ttfn!

Everything Austen Challenge II

2010-07-02T18:25:00.000-06:00

Okay, last year I missed the deadline for signing up for this challenge, but not this year. Jane Austen has always been one of my favorite authors, along with the Bronte sisters. Life was so much slower back then, we weren't running here and there, like little hamsters in a wheel. So in honor of Miss Austen, these are the 6 activities I've chosen. I'm excluding re-reading her books, since I pretty much do that on a regular basis, and watching Pride and Prejudice (2005 version) for the umpteenth time (it resides in my DVD player somewhat permanently).

1. Finish The Sampler Girl's "Northanger Abbey" cross stitch sampler
2. Net or knot a small reticule, embroidered with the flowers Jane used in her cross stitch sampler. Perhaps a crocheted purse with silk (I don't knit)
3. Refinish & paint a small 3x3ft table. My plans are to decoupage the center portion and surround that square with gold and white flourishes.
4. Finish reading "Lost in Austen"
5. Read "The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy"
6. Create a cloth & clay Jane Austen doll to sit beside her sewing basket

I'm really new and inept at this blogging deal. Something new to learn, I suppose. Will a spiffy blog help me become "accomplished"? Pictures to come... Dianne

WooHoo it's Bristol, Baby!

2010-03-21T11:13:00.001-06:00

Nascar & crafting, what could be better than that?

2009-05-05T14:04:00.000-06:00

The first lame post LOL