Day 2 of the 3rd Annual Dia de los Muertos Bog Hop

This is Day 2 of Abby's 3rd Annual Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop and I promised another project and here it is.   If you've just happened upon this Hop, please visit Abby for all the details and the chance to win the 4 fabulous prizes that's she's offering.   Hopefully you have arrived from the fabulous Monica's Blog. 

Although I have made real sugar skulls, see HERE from the first Dia de los Muertos Hop with lots of pics of my personal ofrenda and history about the day itself, I was extremely excited to find this 3D skull file available exclusively from Cricut Craft Room.  Although I'm a Design Studio gal all the way, I just couldn't pass this up.  After cutting the skull and shading it a bit with my Copics to bring out the details, I sprayed it with adhesive and doused it with glitter to give it a sugar skull look.  If you're a Cricuteer, you may wish to visit my last year's post HERE with my Dia de los Muertos Banner done in DS on the Cricut and more details about my personal celebration of this day.

She was a bit challenging to assemble but so fun to decorate.  Her flower crown and leaves are from Spellbinder's Dies.  The centers are from punches which wouldn't be complete without adhesive beads.

My personal candy for Day 2 of this hop is a set of Dia de los Muertos earrings I've made using stone skull beads and metal roses in the girly colors of pinks and purple.  Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.  I will be announcing the winner on Saturday (or maybe Sunday since it's been a rough week.  LOL) And if you haven't already, please scroll down for my Day One project and for a chance to win 3 incredible stamps of your choice from Dilly Beans, the fabulous digi stamps I used for yesterday's project.  Now off to Gaby's Blog and thank you so much for participating in this very personal Hop.

3rd Annual Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop

 WooHoo and wecome to Abby's Third Annual Dia De Los Muertos Blog Hop. If you've come from Monica's Blog, you're on the right track, but if you've happened here by chance click HERE because I know you'd just hate to miss a thing. This is a big celebration at my house and my entire dining room becomes a giant ofrenda (altar) honoring those important people who are no longer with me. Remember, it is a celebration of life and a very festive and happy occasion. For today's project I have decorated a papier mache coffin.   It stands between old family photos.  Those on the left are my maternal grandmother's parents and siblings (she is back row, on the right).  On the right are her husband and children (my mother is front row, center).

It's covered in bright DP from K&Co and adorned with a gold and silver cross cut with a Spellbinder's die. I've used gold peel offs around the top and sides.

Inside I've used the fabulous #470Sugar Skulls Stacked from Dilly Beans, just one of the many fabulous Dia de los Muertos digis from Megan Suarez.  I've colored with copics and Distress Inks.  The sentiment in the lid says "La familia es todo"  (Family is everything) and is cut and embossed with the Cuttlebug Emboss Plus folder.

I've fussy cut the skulls and popped them for dimension.  I really love how this turned out and as my prize for today, Megan has generously offered your choice of 3 digi stamps to one lucky person who leaves a comment on this post.  Be sure to visit Dilly Beans to see all of the wonderful new stamps Megan just added.  There's plenty besides sugar skulls and again, it's your choice.  WooHoo!  Come back Saturday when the winner will be announced and also tomorrow for a new project and another giveaway.  Abby also has 4 fabulous prizes for those who comment on Each Blog in the hop.  Now off you go to Gaby's Blog.  I'm sure she has something wonderful to show you.

BBTB2 Halloween Witch Challenge

Oh my!  Halloween is almost here.  Are you ready?  We gals at BBTB2 sure are.  My dear and talented friend, fellow MSU Spartan and DT Sister Susan, has chosen any witch from any cartridge as our challenge this week at BBTB2 and there are lots of them from "witch" to choose.  LOL  Since Goliath has been terrorizing the backyard, the critters are up in arms and have called upon the powers of this cutie from Happy Hauntings.  They've asked her (him?) to conjure up a spell to make them all invisible to cats.  Best of luck!  I'm sorta sick of scooping up body parts from the back porch.

It's a shaped front card, welded in DS.  The "EEK!" is also from Happy Hauntings and the big ol' moon, just a circle from George.  Not sure why, but I also seem to always favor a rounded rectangle for the back.  Softer look maybe, or just a creature of habit. And I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find BLACK Alpha Beads.  BE STILL MY HEART!  There a a few little details, like wire whiskers, a bit of doodling and a fuzzy nose.  The teeny bats are from K&Co.

Yup, she's layered up, alright.  If I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it right, which brings me to an apology for not participating last week.  I'm really not a "work ahead" kinda gal.  (wish I were but...)  Of all of my DT's, BBTB2 is the most difficult and time consuming for me (but also one of the most rewarding).  I've been on the team for a long time and have been asked to do some of the same challenges over and over.  Since I really put my heart into them, sometimes I just can't come up with a new idea.  I just can't get past a favorite project from before, or like last week, I wrack my brain and come up with something, and it just doesn't pass muster.  I've been having a bit of a crafting crisis lately and rather than post something I'm ashamed of, I just can't post at all.  Sorry, it's a matter of personal pride in my work, especially if it's for a DT.  I really appreciate the fact that probably the majority of my followers come here for Cricut inspiration, so that's a bit of an added pressure.  Sometimes though, I want to try new things, explore different mediums.  I hope I don't let you down.

I'm also entering this in the Moving Along With the Times Too Cute to Spook Challenge, the Scrapilicious USA Halloweenie Challenge, and Crafty Creations Halloween Spooks.

Dilly Beans Halloween Challenge

OOOps!  sorry about the late post, here.  Had to run to the airport and pick up the hubby.  This week at Dilly Beans we have our final Halloween Challenge.  Instead of a card, I did a little witch's broom treat bag (Google it, there's tons of tuts) and decorated it with the adorable #150 Framed Halloween and Candy Witch (scroll down to the bottom of the page for her).  She's colored with Copics, her lolly sparkles with Stickles and there's a bit of Glossy Accents on the candy on her hat.  The little candy string is by K&Co.  The team has some fabulously bright and fun projects for you so be sure to check them out HERE.

I'm also entering this in the Scrapalicious USA Halloweenie Challenge and the Decorate to Celebrate Halloween Party (Part 2).

Haunted Design House Nosferatu Ad nauseum

Well, today I'm doing the mid week inspiration ( 'cause I obviously couldn't get my act together this past weekend) post for Haunted Design House and the theme is Nosferatu Ad nauseum  (Vampires, lots and lots of VAMPIRES).  WooHoo!

Our sponsor this week is Rick St. Dennis.

Rick has a wonderfully dark line of Creepmas images and many
masterfully drawn everyday macabre images.
He also has more mainstream images available as well.

Now not only have the Minions been given some digis to work with, but
BOTH Gruesome Twosomes will win 3 digis of their choice.
I think we will be inundated with entries this week!

There is also a challenge blog called Sparkle and Glitter with Rick St. Dennis,
which features a couple of our own Minions as DT members.

Rick has so many fab vamps in his collection that I had a hard time choosing but then I fell in love with the handsome and irresistible Baron Blood. (I think it was the earring.  I just wanna nibble nibble ear, don't you?) 

I lovingly colored him with a mix of Copics and Prisma Pencils but then made the fatal error of deciding he needed to sparkle.  Out came the Stickles which masked the ab fab job I'd done on his hair.  Now he sorta looks like he just stepped out of the shower (do Vamps shower or do they rely on their natural musky scent to seduce?) which ain't a bad thought either but...  P.S., note the earring, it's a real one and BTW, there is a sparkle in his eye too, but it's not showing up in the pic. 

 As you can see, he be 3D.  Again, a labor of LOVE!  xx

 

The cool vampire bat is another of Rick's that I'd won last year while participating in the 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop over at Smeared Ink (going on now, and you can still win daily prizes) but you can find him HERE in the shop.

Pretty simple card but it wouldn't be complete without a liberal dose of Drippy Goo.  The sentiment is in Alpha Beads, perhaps not the best font but it's the only one they come in and the scale was right and how about them chompers?  Oh yeah, BITE ME and drain me dry, you Bad Boy!

I'm aso entering this in the Sparkle and Glitter with Rick Sweet or Spooky Halloween, and Digital Tuesday Halloween/Spooky.

Week 3 Chapter 20- Twinkle Like a Bat, Shine Like a Tea Tray

...it was at the great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing "Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!How I wonder what you're at!"You know the song, perhaps?' `I've heard something like it,' said Alice. `It goes on, you know,' the Hatter continued, `in this way:-- "Up above the world you fly,Like a tea-tray in the sky.Twinkle, twinkle--"'-- Chapter 7, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
 

 Just like the Mad Hatter's song, we at The Altered Alice, want you to create something that twinkles or shines; bats are optional! Think bling, metal, glitter, mirror card; the possibilites are endless! Some of the design team will be using some very unusual Alice-inspired designs. Just like you dress up for Halloween and take on another persona, these racy images have Alice and other characters all grown up and taking a walk on the wild side!

My project is a wall hanging using the fabulous White Rabbit Single, one of our great sponsor's fabulous Wonderland images.  This ain't no ordinary fairy tale.  LOL

Our sponsor this month is Smeared Ink, home of edgy, wild and fun designs in rubber and digital forms has released a Wonderland Collection; images are available individually or as a set. The randomly-chosen winner of this month's challenge will receive a $15 shopping spree in their online store.

Smeared and Smudged is an online community of rubber stampers and crafters who enjoy using alternative, gothic, edgy, and unique stamps in their designs. We thrive on different and unusual. We welcome the macabre and devious side of things, and most of all, we embrace ALL types and styles of art. Whether or not you “come to the dark side”, your creations should be a reflection of you. At Smeared and Smudged, the most important thing is being yourself. There are lots of ways to interact with the community! [ Ning Community | Challenge Blog | Facebook Group ]

Here's a close-up of the fabulous image.  I've colored with a mix of Copics and metallic gel pens and added a serious amount of bling with adhesive gems.  The clock hands are part of the Tim Holtz die cut I've layered the image on.

I had a particulary fun time with the White Rabbit herself, fussy (or should I say fuzzy, LOL) cutting and flocking her and adding a fluffy white tail.

The fabulous glittered and embossed wings were done with the Cuttlebug Vintage Collage Emboss Plus folder, the scalloped circle and shaped mat layer with Nesties Grands.  Time certainly does fly, almost right off the page as each layer is popped with dimensional foam.

Finally, I've added tea time charms from Alpha Stamps  and spelled out the rather obvious sentiment with colored Alpha Beads. (I just couldn't help myself).
There is more fabulous inspiration for our sparkly theme on The Altered Allice and if you haven't already, scroll down to see the previous 2 week's offerings.  There's still time to shine in this month's challenge.

Enter your project by Friday, October 25 for a chance at the shopping spree. As always, multiple entries are encouraged (after all, this is a monthly challenge) but each entry must be on a separate post. All projects that meet the challenge criteria are welcome, but entries that feature Wonderland will have two chances with each project entered instead of one.  DON'T BE LATE!

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Your Favorites Challenge (mine being dimensional layering, combining stamps and die cuts, and Alice in Wonderland.)

Dilly Beans Cute and Creepy

It's Friday and that means another fun Challenge at Dilly Beans.  We're gearing up for Halloween and asking for Cute and Creepy.  I've used the adorable #476 Me & Pops and #478 Little Monster & Bat.  It's just a fun family out trick or treating.  The sentiment is a freebie from Tiddly Inks found HERE on Christy's Blog.  It's cut and matted with Nesties labels Eighteen and embellished with a Wonky Eyed Skull from our own Creepy Glowbugg's Etsy Shop.  (Fab stuff there, just sayin')

It's an easel card.  Been awhile since I've done one and they make the cutest scenes.

The monsters were merged in Printmaster, printed a  whole bunch of times, colored with Copics and fussy cut and layered within an inch of their lives.  I must say fussy cutting is theraputic when you're having a bad night and major bout with insomnia.  I even layered the bat and wired him.  HeeHee!

The house is a Tim Holtz for Sizzix die that I've embossed with the Bricked Sizzix folder.  The roof is cut again, popped and embossed with Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes.  The cool banner is K&Co.  So it's time to get creepy and cute and join us at The Dilly Beans Challenge blog.  Loads of adorable inspiration by the rest of the team there too.

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Joy's Eerie Inspiration challenge.

Rick St. Dennis Sparkle and Glitter Challenge

 

How exciting!  Rick St. Dennis has a new Challenge Blog and I'm so happy to be able to play along with his very first challenge Anything Goes With Sparkle and Glitter (how apropo!)  I had a hard time choosing which of Rick's fab digis to use but finally decided on WacKy WiTCh because she totally looks like a "glitter girl".  The sentiment is a combo of black Alpha Beads and Cricut.  I welded letters from the Stamped cartridge which I ran through my Xyron right side down and coated with chunky glitter.

I colored her with Copics and then added Stickles, metallic gel and Spica pens for additional glitz.  Sure wish it showed up a little better.  The fussy cutting gave me fits since I'm at the age where multi-focal lenses are appropriate but eventually it was all good.

She's popped on an action wobble which is why I decided to cut her out.  I snipped apart a bling web but forgot to put my cute spider gem brads in the center before I took the pix and as I'm still having issues with the desk top, you're just gonna have to take my word for it.  It really bugs me that they're not here, though.  The upper corner spider has amber gems, while the bottom one is purple.

Now look at her Boo-gie!   Sure wish I could figure out how to do a video. You still have a day to enter this fab challenge and the DT and participants have done an outstanding  job.  See ya there!  (BTW, you don't even have to use one of Rick's images to play, but if you do, you get 2 chances to win.  WooHoo!)

Wicked Wednesday's First Birthday

Congrats to Jenn and the gang at Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge.  They just turned 1 and I almost missed the party.  Strawberry Girl from The Octopode Factory DP from MME.  Gotta run and get this uploaded.

BBTB2 Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge

Happy Monday, everyone.  Time for another challenge at BBTB2.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and that is our theme in honor of those we've loved and lost, those who have fought and won and those who we hope will never be touched by this horrible disease.

I've chosen the signature pink for my color scheme. It's a shape front card I designed in DS using a shape from Lacy labels welded to the shadow of the ribbon from Stand and Salute and "Hope" from Home Decor.

The butterfly is a Spellbinders die.  Here's the dimension shot.  I've added embossing and adhesive pearls to accent the cuts.  Please visit BBTB2 to view our inspiring projects.

I'm also adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Dies or Punches Challenge.

Macabre Monday R.I.P.

I'm finally liiving up to my Creepy Cricut Cween Minion moniker with what I think is a dlightfully creepy card from the October 31st cartridge.  Our challenge at Haunted Design House is R.I.P. this week.  You know, graveyards, gravestones, and the like.

Because there are no shadows or other layers on this cart, I had to mess a bit with hiding contours and some trimming to get the dimension I wanted.  Then inked, shaded a bit with Copics and added some moss.

The scary dude on top is welded to the back only.  The letters are stickers and the cross a Spellbinder's die.  sorry for the short post.  (Well, short for me anyway.)  both my laptop and my desktop are giving me fits and I don't even know when I log on whether I can upload pix or post or comment at all.  Tearing my hair out!  Please stop by HDH and check out the glorious inspiration by the rest of the Minions and don't forget our mid week inspiration from Creepy Glo.

I'm also adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Dies or Punches Challenge.

Dilly Beans Spooky Girls

I'm having major issues with my computer that is screwing with everything imaginable.  It especially doesn't want to upload pix so I'm pulling my hair out.  WooHoo!  Looks like this one took.  Our challlenge this week at Dilly Beans is Spooky Girls.  I've used #379 Ophelia's Heart but instead of having her heart on the string, she's walking her pet spider in front of the cemetary.  She's such a girly ghoul, colored with Copics and popped.  The punches are MS and the tombstone is a Cuttlebug die.  The DT has a bevy of beauties that are too cute to sppok so go have a look and come and join along.  We had 50 participants last week.  WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Dies or Punches Challenge, Moving Along with the Times Tag it Challenge, and the Scrapalicious USA Tag! You're It! challenge.