HDH058 - Magical Mayhem

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a dark and macabre SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy is fine, but creepy is better :)
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and
please leave a direct-link back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, S&S, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH058.
4. Weekly giveaways! Some weeks will be loaded with loot, others not-so-much... but the thrill is in the win, right?! Some prizes shall be by random drawing, others hand picked... and I'm not telling you ahead of time :)
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected and will receive a little giftie from me... this could be stamp sets, handmade items, papers, halloweenie embellishments... you just never know.

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Magical Mayhem

Use anything associated with magic:  witch/wizard, wand, cauldron, book of shadows... as long as there is something magical with a touch of the macabre!

And check out what the Macabre Minions have in store for your viewing pleasure:

Macabre Mistress Lynx:

You can't get much more magical than this!  Witchy pentagram eyes with that cauldron... perfect work as always, my friend!

Concoctor of Chaos, Creepy Glowbugg:

There is some seriously awesome embossing going on with this one!  You MUST check out the other photos on Creepy Glo's blog... LOVE IT!

Creepy Cricut Cween Donna:

One of my all time FAVORITE papers!  And the coloring on this Sweet Pea image is wonderful, Donna!!

Digital Demon-ess Susan:

Great digital piece once again, Susan!  What is bubbling away in that cauldron?  And what exactly is "Angwusi"... did you just curse me?  :)


Fabulous work from my Macabre Minions... so much more than what I've not been doing lately!
Ok... your turn... let's see you work some magic!

And yes, I know I am EXTREMELY behind in announcing winners from the past few challenges... I'm hoping to get caught up this week... cast a spell for me!

p.s... don't forget about the free giveaway at the bottom of the post HERE!!
What, you guys don't like free schtuff??

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Eerie Elegance & a Halloween waterfall...

Yeay... the new calendar is out for The Scrapbook Page, and sign-ups can begin for my classes!

First up, Eerie & Elegant Cards on October 11th, 6:30pm-8:30pm.  Click on the link and it will take you to the store's website where you can see all four cards.

This is my favorite of the four, but the others are pretty cool, too :)

And this one I am REALLY excited about... a Halloween Waterfall Mini-Album on October 19th, 6:30pm-8:30pm.  It is a wine bag album :)  Plenty of pockets & pull-outs... 

all in Halloweenie glory!

There is no way to do this album justice in a photograph.  Tons of heat embossing, Tim Holtz stamps, May Arts ribbons, flocked paper, and so much more.  LOVE it.

If you are in the Kansas City area, stop by The Scrapbook Page and sign up!  For you out-of-towners that would like to purchase kits, please email the store for details.

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HDH055 - Elegantly Evil

Well, kids... this didn't turn out NEARLY elegant or evil enough, but I'm posting it anyway :)  I've been busy planning & designing samples for some upcoming classes I'll be teaching at The Scrapbook Page in Shawnee, Kansas!  Yep, if you are in the Kansas City area, be sure to sign up for my October 11th Eerie Elegant card class & October 19th Halloween Waterfall Mini-Album class.  The Scrapbook Page's newsletter should be coming out soon so you can get more details... and I'll be posting a couple of pics here in the next week or so :)

Anyway, back to today's bit o' Halloweenieness :)  Super simple and no frills.

Stamps:  Spiders are Seen

Paper:  Penelope, white UltraSmooth & black cardstocks

Ink:  VersaMark, Moonlight white Brilliance

Other:  black embossing powder, Silver Stickles, black ribbon, sequin, Scor-Bug, foam tape

After heat embossing the image & sentiment, I sponged white ink around them.  A little Stickles adds just the right bit o' bling.

What do you think?

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Halloween is Hoppin' at Tiddly Inks!

I was so happy to get this done in time for Tiddly Inks Halloween Hop!  The hop is running 6pm CST on July 22 to 6pm CST on July 24... and I have a feeling there will be a TON of participants for this one :)  For additional deets or to start hoppin', just pop over to the TI Challenge blog!

Now, on to the show :)  I chose Gossmere for my very first EVER TI image... I know!  Can you believe I've waited this long?  Isn't she freakin' cute?!  I just can't decide if she is a vamp or a witch... either way, she's got a princess complex, right?!

Digi:  Gossmere (TI)

Rubber Stamp:  Delightfully Spooky (TAC)

Paper:  Bazzill, PTI white & Neenah cardstocks

Ink:  VersaFine Onyx

Other:  Tim Holtz embossing folder, EK Success & MS border punches, spider confetti, MM felt flower, black felt flower (handmade), misc. gems, Scor-bug, silver glitter pen

Copics:  0, BV0000, BV20, BV23, YG01, YG03, YG91, G24, V01, V06, V09, V99

These photos are horrible... even clicking to make them bigger might not help.  I really need a little spot to set up so I can take pics at night without them turning out icky... dang it.  Believe it or not, but the plum violet cardstock matches her dress perfectly.  And I'm really happy with how well her blue-violet skin turned out  :)

What do you think?

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HDH048 - Wayward Words

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a dark and macabre SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy is fine, but creepy is better :)
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and please leave a direct-link back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, S&S, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH048.
4. Weekly giveaways!  Some weeks will be loaded with loot, others not-so-much... but the thrill is in the win, right?!  Some prizes shall be by random drawing, others hand picked... and I'm not telling you ahead of time :)
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected and will receive a little giftie from me... this could be stamp sets, handmade items, papers, halloweenie embellishments... you just never know.

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Wayward Words

 You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween page, project or card using text/words as the MAIN focus.  Poetry, prose, riddle, rhyme, text, quotes or statements... as long as it's got a wicked or creepy edge, it works!

Check it!  Did I surprise you?!  I'm posting my challenge card on time!  And not only that... I've got some treats in store for you.  A few of the Macabre Minions will be strutting their stuff today... so be sure to scroll down and check them out!  I'm planning on introducing HDH's Sisterhood of the Sinister this week along with their bio's so please stay tuned!  If you can't wait that long, check their blog links in the sidebar :)

But first, we'll talk about this quick (in theory) and easy card I made.  I've had this fabulous quote stamp forever and have only used it a few times!  Mostly for backgrounds... not today!  Such beautiful words need to be up front!

Stamps:  quote (unknown), skull background (Mrs. O'Leary's)
Paper:  Bazill & black (TAC) cardstocks
Ink:  Onyx VersaFine, VersaMark, Noir Palette
Other:  Transcendence EP, Tim Holtz edge die, Scor-Bug, black rose trim (Am. Crafts), ribbon (Michaels), misc. gems


And now... for some additional eye candy-corn:

 Susan (Digital Demon)

Donna (Creepy Cricut Cween)

The rest of the Macabre Minions are busy {insert cracking whip sound here} and will be dazzling you soon!  Please pop by Susan's & Donna's blogs for additional info about their work shown here!

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Simply Betty Sketch Challenge!

Hey all you challenge fans!  Here's one for you:  the Simply Betty Stamps blog is hosting a sketch challenge that will run through July 29th (11:59pm Eastern time).  That's right... about three weeks, so there is PLENTY of time for you to try this baby out:

And guess what the prize is for winning this challenge?  One lucky winner will get to be a Guest Designer for Simply Betty Stamps in August!  Guest Designer means FREE images to play with... helloooo...  TOTALLY worth trying out the sketch, no?!

As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to use Max & Li-Li!  Doesn't Max look like he wants to pet Li-Li?  Surely he wouldn't bite... well... maybe.  Since I printed these digi's prior to sizing them properly, I needed to figure out a way to make it work.  Hellooooooo forced perspective :)  You are my friend.  Doesn't it look like Max is standing in the background with Li-Li up front?  Simply by using a trapezoid instead of a rectangle.  Me likey.

Had I kept the rectangle shape, Li-Li would have appeared to be some crazy huge monstrous kitty... not that it would be a BAD thing :)

And did her eyes not come out freakin' awesome?  And what about her texture?  I know!  Copic blending solution, you are my friend, too :)  A scrap of an old washcloth and some solution, and Li-Li is all textured up.

Digi's:  Max & Li-Li (Simply Betty)

Rubber Stamp:  Spunky Sprite Girls (sentiment- TAC)

Paper:  Cougar white cardstock, Winchester cardstocks (TAC)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, Palette Burnt Umber

Other:  EK Success & MS border punches, Tim Holtz embossing folder, Scor-bug, Fancy Pants felt border, silver stardust gel pen

Copics:  0, BV20, BV23, E31, E35, E57, E59, V93, V95, V99, YR20, YR23, YR24

Don't forget to pop over to the SBS blog to see what the rest of the SBS Design Team created using the sketch (I can tell you, they are all awesome) and to link up your own creation for a chance to win!

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A little not-so-creepy post...

... but I used an image from one of my FAVORITE creepy stamp sources, so that counts, right?  I do have plans to creep this one out eventually, but I thought I'd go a little sassy traditional for the first time ;)

Is her dress not freakin' awesome?  These photos kind of wash out the color... she looks really freakin' pale!  She looks better IRL... I need to get my camera manual out:  I don't even know what all the buttons on my camera do ;)

I thought the sentiment was fitting for the "come hither" look on her face and in her body language, right?

Stamps:  Tina (Stamp It Crazy), Spunky Sprite Boys (TAC), Swirlies (TAC)

Paper:  white ultrasmooth, black, & DCWV green cardstocks (TAC)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, VersaMark

Other:  Transcendence EP, ribbon (HL), misc. rhinestones, Scor-bug, silver glitter pen

Copics:  0, E000, E11, E57, YR23, V01, V04, V06, V09

I guess I need to figure out what next week's challenge is going to be instead of just playing... shouldn't I?!

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Macabre Monday #035 - Walking Dead Divas

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a dark and macabre SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy is fine, but creepy is better :)
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and please leave a direct-link back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, S&S, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH035.
4. Weekly giveaways!  Some weeks will be loaded with loot, others not-so-much... but the thrill is in the win, right?!  Some prizes shall be by random drawing, others hand picked... and I'm not telling you ahead of time :)
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me... this could be stamp sets, handmade items, papers, halloweenie embellishments... you just never know.

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Walking Dead Divas

 You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween page, project or card using images/sentiments of o-so-girly zombies!!  Blingy, pink, flowery (or not)... let's see those ladies of the day & night... 

uh... I meant that in a totally non-hooker type of way ;)

And lookie!  I finished mine early :)  Yeay!  This background was made with one of the Impressabilities plates.  After embossing it with my Big Shot, I dragged my Belle Rose & Noir Palette pads across the top to pick up these lover-ly crescent moon shapes!  Sahweeeet!  I highlighted her hair and metal studs with a Stardust Clear glitter pen... for just a little sumpin' sumpin'.

I colored her with Prismacolors and mineral oil with blending stumps.  The fabulous image?  Yeah, it's another from Stamp It Crazy... Zombie Girl with Doll... me likey alot :)  AND, it just so happens, that this stamp will be the prize this week!  Yeay!!  Who wouldn't want this?!  That's what I thought.  

So, let's see those decrepit divas of the flesh eating variety this week... yum!

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Macabre Monday #029 - Oh You Devil!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a dark and macabre SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy is fine, but creepy is better :)
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and please leave a direct-link back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, S&S, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH029.
4. Weekly giveaways!  Some weeks will be loaded with loot, others not-so-much... but the thrill is in the win, right?!  Some prizes shall be by random drawing, others hand picked... and I'm not telling you ahead of time :)
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me... this could be stamp sets, handmade items, papers, halloweenie embellishments... you just never know.

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Oh You Devil!

 You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween page, project or card using images/sentiments that are little devilish in nature.  Cute, funny, or evil... we DO like the dark stuff here!   :)

This is a pretty simple challenge... and I did a super simple sample for you!  I'm not diggin' the white-ish title much.  It was SO bright that I went over it with a little red ink... both ways just don't do it for me.  If I were to do this over, I'd leave the title off altogether :)

Stamps:  HAL19 (Stamp It Crazy - scroll down a bit), This Boy (TAC), sentiment from Inkadinkado (I think)
Paper:  Scarlet, Black & White UltraSmooth cardstocks (TAC)
Ink:  Moulin Rouge & Noir Palettes, Fresh Snow (PTI)

Other:  Copic markers, Cuttlebug embossing folder, MS drippy goo punch

I LOVE the red on black embossed background... devilish indeed!  Same for the image... she's looking a little pissed off, no?  ALMOST looks like she is getting ready to flip you the middle finger... I'm just sayin' :)

I'll post the Gruesome Twosome & prize winner in a separate post this week (maybe tomorrow, maybe not!)

So, are you up for the challenge?!  I'm hoping to see some truly gruesome devil images... I'm needing to find another good one to buy for my rubbah stash :)

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HDH006 Perplexing Pigment Play - finally...

Yeay!  Here it is... took me long enough... I mean, it's almost time for the next challenge!  Is she not the cutest?  The hair, that sweet face... paired with the teensie spider... this image totally makes me smile.  :)

Stamps:  Spider Girl (Stampotique), Boo Bash (retired TAC), Spunky Sprite Boys (TAC)

Paper (all TAC):  Penelope SWIC, White UltraSmooth, Black, & Penelope cardstocks

Ink:  Noir Palette, Moonlight White Brilliance

Other:  white embossing powder & Mini-attacher (Ranger), misc. black trim

I decided to let the 'yo' sentiment hang loose, so to speak... I received the black trim in a goodie bag from a crop a couple of months ago... me likey.

What do you think?

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Macabre Monday #004 - Repulsive Riddle & Rhyme

Welcome to the Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenge!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a Halloweenie SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy Halloween is fine, but creepy is better :) However, no extra 'points' are given either way.
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and linky back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH004.
4. Starting in September, I'll have monthly contest giveaways... more details to follow.
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me (I have NO idea what this will be!!).


Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:
Repulsive Riddle & Rhyme

This week's challenge is to use a ghastly little poem or rhyme in your creepy creation. To illustrate this challenge, I've come up with a simple gatefold card using one of my new Torrente stamps.

Trio of Worm Play
In case you can't read the rhyme:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle
On your snout.
(do you remember this one from way back when?)

Stamps: '3 in a round' (stampotique), rhyme sentiment (artful illusions)
Paper: DCWV card base, moss cardstock (retired TAC), UltraSmooth White cardstock (TAC)
Ink: VersaCraft black, VersaMark, & Noir Palette
Other: Prismacolor pencils w/ mineral oil, Scor-Bug & Scor-Pal, white embossing powder (ranger), Transcendence embossing powder (TAC), string (ace hardware)

I haphazardly ran my VM pad over the card base and sprinkled with white EP and heat set. Also heat embossed the main image with VC & Trans. EP, colored behind the trio and matted with moss cs.

So, do you accept this week's challenge?

Gruesome Twosome for last week:  Lynx & Ineke for their truly Wildly Wicked Winged Things!  Grab your GT badge in the sidebar ladies!

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Macabre Monday #003 - Wildly Wicked Winged Things

Welcome to the Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenge!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Must have fun and not stress.
2. Create a Halloweenie SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy Halloween is fine, but creepy is better :) However, no extra 'points' are given either way.
3. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and linky back here.
4. If you upload to any online galleries (PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH003.
5. Starting in September, I'll have monthly contest giveaways... more details to follow.
6. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me (I have NO idea what this will be!!).


Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:
Wildly Wicked Winged Things

This week's challenge is to use something with wings on your creation. Fairies, moths, butterflies, birds, bats... just make sure they are a little wicked. This is what I've created... a little Moonlight Fairie. Be sure to click on the photos to blow up to see details :)

Stamps: mushroom fairie (Stamp it Crazy), Fresh Air Favorites (retired TAC)

Paper: Mulberry Meadow cardstocks (retired TAC), black & White UltraSmooth cardstocks (TAC)

Ink: Jardin Moss, Landscape, Cognac, Orangerie & Noir Palettes

Other: Grungeboard, Crystal Laquer, Prismacolors w/ mineral oil, VersaMarker, clear embossing powder, black lace & white swiss dot fabrics, Glimmer Mists

See the creepy-cool swiss dot fabric? It used to be white :) I sprayed it with olive & cranberry Glimmer Mists and dried it with a heat gun. I chose to over-heat it so that it would melt a bit & scrunch up. It feels really funky in real life and there is a lovely subtle shimmer from the mists.

After coloring the image, I applied Versa-Marker & embossing powder over the fairie & mushroom. Then I sponged the background & stamped the foliage. To really make the fairie stand out, I applied Crystal Lacquer.

Now it's your turn! This should be easier than the first two challenges :) so I hope to see a lot of participation this week!!

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365 Cards - Day 149 - Try a Technique Tuesday!!

Greetings all, & welcome :) I'm totally psyched to have been chosen as a guest designer for today over at 365 Cards!! This entire week is Reader Appreciation Week, so be sure to join in the fun for prize opportunities and to gawk at all of the wonderful cards the Design Team & Guest Designers have created :)

What is the technique today? SPONGING! Those that know me or my work will be the first to tell you that this is a technique that I use on probably 90% of my cards... and 100% on my Halloween cards :)

Sponging tends to create depth, and REALLY finishes off certain images wonderfully. The entire background of this Halloween Flourish Tree card was created with sponging. Yep, I started with a completely white cardstock panel for this baby :) I also used regular hydra sponges, as well as manicurist pads... the sponge creates a stippled texture, while the pad creates much softer blending.

I created a reverse-mask for the moon first. Start with the lightest yellow, and keep layering color toward the center... then add darker yellows & cognac colors at the outside edge to create a rounded look to the moon.

I then stamped the weedy image along the bottom & the tree. The tree is heat-embossed to give a bit of sheen and nice raised quality. Place a piece of paper to create a horizon line and start blending green & black inks for the ground and blues & purples for the sky. I went back with darker shades of blue & purple ink and created thin lines of clouds to add an eerie touch.

Then I stamped the sentiments & bats** in black, sponged black ink around the edges, distressed them, and matted the panels. Next up, used the Scor-bug for a little texture, swiped a white ink pad around the card base edges, and topped it all off with some sheer grungy-olive ribbon.

**The bats are actually one of the butterflies from the Love & Laughter tree image... I just snipped it apart from the main image... oh how I love cling-rubber stamps... I can manipulate them so easily to fit whatever I need :)

Stamps: Flourish Trees of Hope, Love & Laughter, Edge Designs, Tag Tidbits (happy), retired GWP (Halloween)

Paper: White UltraSmooth, Basic Black, & Penolope Cardstocks

Ink: Raw Sienna, Cognac, Noir, Starry Night, Prussian Blue, Violete, French Lilac, Landscape, & Jardin Moss Palettes

Other: Transcendence Embossing Powder, hydra sponges, manicurist pads (from Sally Beauty Supply), olive sheer ribbon

What do you think?

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