Macabre Monday Lurid Landscapes

This week at Haunted Design House our challenge is Lurid Landscapes. I scoured the net in search of someting spooky, but most of the stuff either easn't that scary or had a copyright thingy soo I was in a bit of a tizzy then I remembered my fab Holy City stamps from Smeared Ink. Hey yeah, graveyards are landscapes. WooHoo! I live near San Francisco, and those who travel frequently or live near tourist destinations are certainly familiar with the sort of fold out postcard books available. That was my inspiration.

It all folds up and this is the cover of the project. The skellie is from a Tim Holtz Halloween set and the words are computer generated. I might add that these are RUBBER STAMPS, no digis! Do you believe it?

Again, only the words are computer generated.

All from the same set from Smeared Ink.

In fact, there were only two in the set I didn't use. That a lot of stamps!

I was so excited that I didn't mess up that I had to give you closeups of ALL of it. LOVE how well these fab stamps work.

I thought this was a cute ending. I added the little raven to the skellie's arm. Looks like he wrote the sentiment. Wonder who he's sending it to? Be sure to check out the fab work by the rest of the Minions and check out our fab HDH Blog Candy for our soon to reach goal of 500 Followers, offered by our own Creepy Glowbugg and also check out the fab candy she is offering on her personal blog. (She's doing penance for her last week's DT project. LOL) I'm also entering this in the Forever Night Black and Creepy Challenge, Simply Create Shades of Black, Shopping Our Stash Spooky and/or Orange and Black and the Simon Says Stamp Halloween/Goth Challenge..

Macabre Monday Inner Workings and a Mini Cricut Tut

Morning, my pretties! I'm running a little late today, so If you were expecting my BBTB2 project, be sure to come back. I DO have a Cricut creation, however, so I hope that will do until I get my act together. LOL This week our Macabre Monday challenge is Inner Workings. Create a dark,Gothic, or Halloween based project that is either quite literal (clockwork or guts) or just simply decorate the inside of your project as well as the outside. My first inclination was to find something really EEEEWWWW!!!! on the net, but then I remembered my heart stamp from the Quoth the Raven set from Smeared Ink.

I decided to create a gate fold rib cage card to hold my heart, using my Cricut. There's a bit of a lesson here, so if you're not interested, skip this part. (I'm feeling a bit chatty today, though so here goes.) I sized the skelton torso from the Oct 31st cartridge quite large in DS. In order to make a gate fold, the maximum my torso could be is 6 inches at the widest point because my card stock for the base is only 12 inches wide. The base, which measured 12"x7" (yeah, it's a BIG card!) was scored at 3" and 9" and folded towards the center. The skeleton torso was partially off the mat in DS, but since I only wanted the rib cage, it didn't really matter. Remember when doing this, however, that although the cutting will look complete on your screen, your Cricut will think there's still more to cut (because actually, there is, but you've run out of mat). You will have to delete that little cutting progress screen and unload your mat, but when you go to re cut, the program will be confused. It won't cut. You'll have to not only exit your file, but actually close out and restart DS in order for you to be able to continue. A GIANT PITA, but it was worth it to get the size I needed.

Next problem, there are no shadows on the Oct. 31st cart, so after cutting and trimming my rib cage, I sliced it down the center and used removable tape to secure it to my gate fold and traced around it. Make sure you leave plenty of area at the the folds so your base is stable and cut carefully through both thicknesses. Et voila! a shaped gate fold.

For the inside mat, I hid the contours of the rib cage and cut and trimmed it as previously mentioned. I used Copics and Distress ink for a bit of shading. My heart is also colored with Copics, but looked a bit lonesome without any other organs so I cut the zombie hand (also from October 31st) and positioned it to look like it was ripping it out (or at least squeezing the life out of it :D ) Who says Cricut has to be cutesy? (However, if this doesn't float your boat, come back later today to see a REALLY cute Halloween project for BBTB2. Please ignore that, Minions!) Anyway, the sentiment is computer generated and the front closure thingy was cut with the Cuttlebug Embossing Plus Fanciful Labels folder. Now, after all that for a mediocre project, I hope you still have the strength and inclination to visit HDH to see what the rest of the Minions have been up to, and don't forget Wretched Wednesday when Creepy Glo posts. We love it when you participate too, and it is October, after all. Time to get your creep on. I'm also entering this in the Forever Night Anything Goes challenge.

HB, BD!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Macabre Monday challenge with a special Belated Birthday Bash for our dear sister Minion Lynx (AKA Black Dragon). Lynx's b-day was yesterday but we decided to surprise her today with a very special Birthday Celebration. Lynx's contributions to the team are truly breathtaking and phenomenal so be sure to check out HDH and her BLOG to view some of her recent contributions. She is a true lover of all things POE so I couldn't help but use the Smeared Ink Quoth the Raven set to make her card. I used 4 stamps from the fabulous set and added birthday hats from Scrolls Work (alas, just gone out of business) and a computer generated sentiment of my own. Being the "senior" members of the team, I didn't think my little joke would be taken with offense. Did it, Lynda? All in fun, hon. XX

Anyway, the fab frame is a Cuttlebug Emboss Plus Brocade Window folder that has been inked within an inch of it's life with Distress and the whole thing popped to make an almost shadow box effect. The lovely jeweled flourishes are by Recollections. Hoping your birthday was a fab one, Lynx. Loads of love from all of us at Haunted Design House. I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamps Anything Goes Challenge because, who wouldn't with such a fab prize?

Macabre Monday Menacing Mermaids

This week at Haunted Design House our challenge is Menacing Mermaids. OOOHHH, did we have fun with this one! Forget Ariel! Mermaids have always had the reputation of causing shipwrecks and luring sailors to their deaths (conveniently forgetting that humans can't breathe under water, yeah right!) with their irresistible songs. They are often portrayed as beautiful creatures, but in the dark gloomy depths of the sea they revert to the the horrific creature they REALLY are. BWAHAHAHA!



So there ya go. It's been awhile since I've gotten my full creep on and I was afraid the Minions might just drum me out of the corps. Never fear! I was REALLY inspired by this challenge! It started with the digi skull head I received for FREE by participating in the Skull Appreciation Day Blog Hop with Smeared Ink. The rest of the skelly was cut and pasted from the Muertos Doll digi from Bombshell Stamps. They were shaded a bit with Copics, then fussy cut and glittered. Her tail was cut from the Dreams Come True (yikes, with dreams like this, who needs nightmares?) Cricut cartridge, again shaded with Copics and embossed with the Cuttlebug.

Her hair is a ripped up used dryer sheet, inked with Distress Inks, dabbed with silver acrylic paint and glittered. the background was done with Distress Inks in the smear, spritz and swipe manner on a craft sheet, dried, ironed and distressed with my Distrezz-it-All, and overstamped with Perfect Medium and brushed with Perfect Pearls. It turned out too big for a card once the mermaid was popped on there so I used my Grand Caliber and the 3 largest Spellbinders Grand Labels Four to cut and emboss a base. This was also stamped with Perfect Medium and brushed with Perfect Pearls. The stamp is the Large Elegant Words background stamp from Heartfelt Creations.

"Siren Song" was computer generated and printed on a Fanciful Label from the Cuttlebug Embossing Plus folder. It was inked and glittered as well. For additional texture I added a woven piece that was cut from a pouch that came with some silverware. It was inked with Distress, dabbed with acrylics and glittered too. This was the closest I've ever gotten to mixed media and I have the blue fingers to prove it. LOL

All that was need was a hanger and some fibers and ribbon to trail from the bottom and a Recollections brad to dress it up a bit. Now, if you dare, check out the rest of the Minions fabulous creations at HDH. I'm sure you'll be inspired to play along. I'm also entering this in my DT Sis Susan's Guest DT Monochromatic Challenge over on the Smeared and Smudged Forum. I'm thinkin' it's close enough, eh Susan? And I'm also entering it in the Cardmadfairy's Under the Sea Challenge and the Shopping Our Stash SOS Challenge using Spellbinders, Smeared Ink, Ocean theme, skull, sparkle, stamping, Siren's Song.

And WooHoo! Look at this!

and this! I love it when people appreciate my "dark side". LOL

Macabre Monday Hacked to Bits Challenge (and Various Mother's Day Challenges...YIKES!) WARNING! Possibly Offensive!

Okay, before we even go there. I need to do a bit of a disclaimer. I was having a bit of a challenge with my Macabre Monday Hacked to Bits Challenge when I remembered this adorable image from Limited Runs Stamps. Little Madison with Hatchet, one of the Grimms, reminded me a bit of Lizzie Borden so...well, there ya go. What followed was a bit of my twisted humor which in no way reflects my opinion of my own Mom, or any Mom I know or have ever known so I really don't hope to offend here. Please blame the humor on WAY too much wine at Sunday Brunch and please forgive. The image included a collection of 6 of the images which I resized, then copied an pasted, until I got 54 of the little dears and then trimmed it down to 40. Then I made the computer generated sentiment and overstamped the whole shebang using the by Smeared Ink Inky Dreams Set in Aged Mahogany Distress ink. The sentiment was cut and matted using Nesties Labels Seventeen. I actually tried to hack my original attempt with an axe but it sort of made a mess, so instead I blew up the single Madison with Hatchet image and cut out just the hatchet to add to the front. The lovely roses are by Recollections from M's. Mom's Love roses!

Just in case you can't see some of the 40 little Madisons, here's a close up. Love doing my own DP! HeeHee!

And the beginning of the little Lizzie poem...

Now here's where I might be skating on thin ice. To whom would you send such a card? Well, all I could think about was Mother's Day, so here's the inside sentiment. Hoping I'm not going to lose followers over this! Check out s0me more Hacked to Bits Inspiration HERE AND because there are quite a few Mother's Day challenges out there I thought I'd stir up the pot a bit. (Besides, I've been dared by another of the Minions so ...) I'm also entering this in the following Mother's Day challenges (I'm not ALWAYS like this ladies, really, I'm not!): Simon Says Stamp, Mother's Day or Girly 2nd entry, Stampin'for the Weekend, One Stitch at a Time, Craft your Days Away, and I'm thinking I better quit while I'm ahead. Most are UK blogs and I'd hate to have my passport revoked.

Macabre Monday Toe Tags and Body Bags

It's time for another Macabre Monday at Haunted Design House and the challenge this week is Toe Tags and Body Bags. Alter or create a bag or tag in a suitably macabre fashion. My tag was created with my Cricut using the Happy Hauntings cartridge. I created a shadow cut using Design Studio and tweaked the proportions of the tag so I could use a stamp from the As Death rubber stamp set from Smeared Ink. The "stone" layer was cut in white and inked with Pumice Stone, Black Soot, Frayed Burlap, and Forest Moss Distress Inks and run through the Cuttlebug using the Goochie Script folder (which is 5x7"). I used a Nesties classic oval to cut a window in this layer as well as in the As Death stamp. The wings and crown are from the Cuttlebug Emboss Plus Vintage Collage Folder and inked with the same Distress Inks.

Since the challenge said "toe tags" I made a skeletal toe using a chocolate pretzel mold and paper clay but removed one of the bone segments, since the mold was for a finger and I wanted a toe. I intended to suspend the tag from the toe but it ended up being sort of tied there with fibers from my stash. (Besides, it sort of filled a nasty void.)

The inner oval of the stamp is attached to the shadow portion of the tag with the wings behind. The next layer is popped with the arch of the wings and crown adding additional dimension. I'm kinda lovin' this one. AND I'm lovin' the fab work of the rest of the Minions so be sure to pop by and check them out HERE and why not play along?

HDH Macabre Monday Dr. Death Challenge

Hi guys! I'm hoping you all who have my blog on your sidebar didn't have a heart attack today. Sorry about this, but rest assured it will be replaced by BBTB2 come 7:00a.m. PST. LOL Ah yes, but for you Macabre Monday lovers, this week our challenge is Dr. Death. I'm not a big fan of going to the Dr. so I pretty much see them all as "Dr. Death" but for some reason I had a tough time with this challenge. I finally decided that I'd use the heart from the Smeared Ink Quoth the Raven Set and do a little open heart surgery. The fab heart is colored with Copics and shiny from glossy accents. The blood is actually nail polish and I must say if the card itself doesn't make you nauseous, the smell will! It still is giving off some noxious fumes, even after drying over night. The surgeon's hand is from the Punky Teens Freddy Kruger digi stamp from Simply Betty Stamps. The background is from an internet pic of old medical instruments and the sentiment was inspired by Dr. Freddy's personal implements. (and a bit by Dr. Hannibal Lecter. HeeHee!) Now go have a look see at the rest of the Minion's take on this maniacal medical challenge (if you dare!)

Whimsical Wednesdays Alice in Wonderland Challenge

Today is a special day because I'm so honored to be Guest Designer for Whimsical Wednesdays. When Jess contacted me and told me the challenge was Alice in Wonderland how could I say no? You know I love me some Alice! This fun challenge is open to any interpretation of an Alice theme so I hope you're inspired to play along. (I've heard there is a fabulous prize to be had!)

I'm quite the collector of Alice images so it was very difficult to choose. Because it is "Whimsical" Wednesdays, however, I decided you couldn't get more whimsical than the quirky digi stamps from The Octopode Factory. Lily is such an amazing artist that it's hard to believe she's only 17 years old. The stamps are available individually, or as a set, and I've used characters from both the Alice in Wonderland and Alice Elements sets. They are all colored with Copics and a bit of metallic gel pen here and there.

For my Wonderland scene I chose a side step card so I could add the layers and depth I wanted. Here's a LINK to a simple tutorial for this style of card. Choosing papers is always difficult for me, but when I saw the gorgeous flowers on this sheet from Webster's pages, I thought the quirkiness of the images would play off the beautiful, realistic botanicals quite well. The pattern is on the edges and corners of the page so with a bit of fussy cutting I was able to contain this magical world quite easily.

Of course the whole concept of time is central to the Alice theme. My clock here is a digi stamp from Smeared Ink and I've mounted Alice with a brad as if she were one of the hands and she does rotate. I'm afraid these days I feel alot like Alice. Time just seems to get away from me and sets me spinning! (Of course it doesn't help that I'm so easily distracted and the consummate procrastinator! LOL)

The sentiment is a combination of computer generation and what was printed on the Webster's Page. I've used wire to attach the computer generated portion which I printed in olive on more of the blank part of the printed card stock and cut and embossed with my new Nesties Labels Seventeen. I love the thought of "living the life I have imagined" and better still that it's "never too late" to make that happen.

Now to get you even more excited about the challenge I have a couple of "sneak peeks" from the gals who bring you Whimsical Wednesdays. The first is from Jess. Again, I want to thank Jess for this fun and fabulous opportunity. OOOhhh, I recognize that face and it's one of my FAVES! Hurry over to see the completed project HERE and leave her some love.

And from Stephanie I see another peek of gorgeous hair! I'm sure you're excited to see what Steph has in store and you'll find the particulars of the Whimisical Wednesday challenge, Mr. Linky, and the prize info HERE too. Hope all you Alice lovers come and play along!

Macabre Monday Nightmarish New Year

We're BAAAck! time for a new Macabre Monday at Haunted Design House. It's a new year and we're exploring all of those well meant but PITA New Year's Resolutions. Mine's pretty self explanatory and uses one of the new Occasions Lil Grumpies Set from Smeared ink (so is the "bottoms up" sentiment). He's (she's?) colored with Copics and metallic gel pens and I've used Rain Dots for the champagne bubbles. "bottoms up" is also part of the Grumpies set which I crossed out with a pen.

The green foil mat is embossed with the Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles folder (how fitting) and the label cross the bottom is from my new Dymo Caption Maker. Remember those things? They're back! The fabulous "Dreadful resolutions" sentiment is a freebie from Tiddly Inks. You can snag it on Christy's blog or in our Tiddly Inks PCP group HERE. So come on guys, get your creep on, check out the rest of the minions resolutions and play along with Macabre Mondays. And just in case you think I'm getting soft with a pink and green color scheme here, just think of the green as bile and the pink as petechial hemorrhage. (Have a nice day!)

Macabre Monday Ravenous Ravens

Had to get my creep on this morning for a new Macabre Monday. This week we've got Ravenous Ravens and I just HAD to break out my Quoth the Raven set from Smeared Ink. This is my attempt at being "collagey". LOL I started with the Ink Spot Digi background from Tiddly Inks (makes great blood spots too! ;D ) which is part of the Love Hurts set. ALL of the rest of the stamps are from Quoth the Raven from Smeared Ink. (Sorry I can't get a direct link to the set, but it's one of the unmounted stamp sets.) I started by cutting a book with my Nesties and stamped the exerpt from the Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven". Added a few more quotes. Then I stuck a skull and wings on Poe (easiest way to make him bald) and stamped him again so I could cut out his eyes and add them to the skull. I thought about adding some blood drips but thought that might be a bit much for a Monday. Consider this "pre pecking". Y'all did see the movie "The Birds", didn't you...shudder!

I had a fun time inking and popping to give plenty of dimension. By now SandyE should be coming to and ready to give me a ration of S**T for this card, but I'm extremely fond of it. (You know I love you, Sandy but just HAVE to tease! LOL) Anyway, my Sinister Sisters have knocked this challenge out of the park so have a look see at their masterpieces HERE. And come on, I know you've got some closet creep left before we're TOTALLY CONSUMED by "Good Cheer" (and actually, that ain't gonna stop the Macabre Minions), so why not try and play along. I want to see some NEW FACES over at Haunted Design House. (Creepiness LOVES company!) Come back later today for my BBTB2 project which I promise isn't the least bit creepy.

Macabre Monday Smeared and Smudged

It's another Macabre Monday and we're being sponsored by the fab Smeared Ink Stamps. We each got some fab digis (and boy do they have some great rubber too) to play with but I have to confess I forgot all about the challenge being "smeared and smudged" until the very end. Oops! My overall inkiness came in the form of the background paper sponged with Distress Inks with a little masking for the full moon along with some physical distressing from my Zutter Distress-it-All. I think Pouting Witch is a hoot! Doesn't she look like a little kid being punished? When I paired her with the It's About Time Hourglass all I could think of was "time out". LOL (Inside will read "it's Halloween").

The witch is colored with Copics and the hourglass was printed twice; once on regular cardstock and also colored and once on transparency. The two were fussy cut and combined so you could see through the glass. The best part came from my dear friend Lillie. I was talking about the hourglass and she asked if I'd filled it with sand. I said, well no, it wasn't a shaker, but I'd completely forgotten all about adding sand to the hourglass so I ripped the card apart (very carefully) and added stickles behind the transparency. WooHoo! Thanks Lillie! Then I popped it all with dimensional foam. The tiny bats are off cuts from an MS border punch and the sentiment stickers are Nostalgiques by Sticko that I got at M's. Every time I look at that witch I LOL. Now scurry off to Haunted Design House to see the fab offering from the rest of the Minions and please play along for a chance to win a digi set from Smeared Ink. Do you realize this is the last Macabre Monday before the best Holiday of the year!? Here's wishing you and yours a freaktastic Halloween!