Dilly Beans Scrapbook or Journal Page

Yikes, the Fridays are coming fast and furious and this weekend unofficially marks the end of summer...bummer!  We'll still have lots of fun challenges at Dilly Beans, however and this week is a doozy; make a Scrapbook or Journal Page.  WWWAAAYYY out of my comfort zone.  I love the whole idea of art journaling, but have yet to sucessfully embrace the whole arty, inky, painty, collagey background thing.  I think I'm just too uptight.  Can't just let things flow.  I sure admire those who do, though.  So it should be no surprise that this is my third attempt at a background.  It's mostly done with Dylusion sprays, then a Spellbinders die cut from another sprayed piece.  The "road" is done with Distress Ink and a sponge over a Diane Reaveley mask.  Fortunately, I knew what I was going to say, a quote from Lewis Carroll, although that's not exactly as it's written in Alice in Wonderland.  It's more the gist of the conversation between Alice and the Cheshire.  Wish I had the talent or at least the nerve to  try some fancy hand journaling, but hey, it was already late in the game.  I've used #152 Alice, #153 the Cheshire and #358 Mushroom Set, printed, colored with Copics, fussy cut and glued to the page.  These still are some of my very favorite Dilly Beans images.  My teamies have done some fabulous work so I hope you visit the Challenge Blog for a little inspiration and come join us this week.  It really was fun.  And have a wonderful, safe 3 day weekend.

Marshall Tucker at Yoshi's in Oakland

Sorry, I'm having a bit of a crafting crisis so I'll share something personal for a change.  I don't know how many of you remember (read: are old enough to know) the Marshall Tucker Band (70's Southern Rock) but we saw them Tuesday night a Yoshi's Oakland.  Fun small venue (normally a jazz club) and the opportunity to meet the band and have first or second row seating.  that's hubby, Doug Gray (lead singer), me and Rick Willis (lead guitar).

Only one original band member left, Doug Gray, but they've kept true to their roots and the musicians are amazing.  Here with the fabulous Marcus Henderson who plays keyboard saxophone and flute which I mention because of the next song.


My fave song is "Can't you See?"  Well, DUH!  It's EVERYBODY'S favorite.  when Doug asked "What to you want to hear?" everybody yelled "Can't you See?" and he laughed and said "Well, of COURSE we're gonna play that!"

What I wasn't expecting was being pulled on stage to sing with the band.  Thank God I'd had several glasses of wine.  Anyway, super fun time and if you ever get the chance to see them, DO!  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Second Week for "Nailed It" at HDH

Happy Monday, lovelies.  It's our second week for our "Nailed it" challenge (or pinned it as the case may be) at HDH and I was inspired by the Rock and Rolla Challenge at the Smeared and Smudged Forum so this is double duty. WooHoo!  Don'tcha LOVE when that happens?  Anyway, the song is "Salvation" by the Cranberries (the vid is on the link to the S&S challenge) and the layout and elements pretty much come from the video.  Funny, that I'd already figured I'd use a creepy image with nails coming out of his head and you can't get much creepier than a clown now, can you?  This one's from Smeared Ink's Circus Procession Set, also available as a single HERE.  The cute bear is from the retired Candy is Dandy Rubber set, also from Smeared Ink, now available in digi form.  I stamped him on bright yellow and flocked him in white to make him all fuzzy and mute the color somewhat.

I printed the clown dude several times in both black and red.  Managed to crop the nose and mouth in my Printmaster program and paste them on the black image so I didn't have to fussy cut those parts.  Colored the red ruffles with my yellow Copics, fussy cut, layered and popped.  The head is layered as well, with the nails stuck through the foam in between.  I loved the way Laura, who won the fussy cutting challenge on the Smudgy Antics Blog had put her clown head on an action wobble so I decided to do the same  this was the best action shot I could get because he was a bit top heavy due to his permanent headache.  LOL  He dangles rather creepily from the tag though so thanks for the inspiration, Chickie!  The Minions have done some fab work with sharp objects both week's so be sure to visit HDH to see their wonderful projects and please come join us in the dungeon.

I'm also entering this in the Left of Center Challenge 13 using the LOC theme.

Introducing The Robert's Family Halloween 2013 Release for Simply Steampunk

We have an exciting new release at SBS, just in time for Halloween.  The new Steampunk line from the fabulous Abigail Larson is A Roberts Halloween and I'm featuring the adorable Rio Gone Batty.  I have to say her outfit made me think of Alice in Wonderland so I've done sort of a tea party theme.  The 3D cup is a Sizzix die done with DP from the Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland stack.  The large clock face is another Sizzix die by Tim Holtz.  The flying bat trio is cut from glitter paper using an EK Success punch.

Rio is colored with Copics and stands beside the giant tea cup reminding us not to be late for the party because "Time Flies" (cut from the new Steampunk Halloween DP from Graphic 45).  The winged Steampunk clock was cut from the same DP to which I've glued one of Tim Hotz acrylic Fragments and popped atop a rosette cut from yet another Tim Holtz die.  Rio is just one of the 5 fabulous new Halloween Steampunk Stamps so be sure to stop by Simply Steampunk Challenges to see the gorgeous projects done by my teamies with the rest of the line.  Also remember that our current "Metal" challenge is still going on.  You have until Sept 5th to enter.

I'm also entering this in the Left of Center Girly Challenge (or LOC since she is pretty Halloweenie.  LOL)

Dilly Beans Inspirational Quotes

This week's challenge at Dilly Beans is a special one.  We're asking for Inspirational Quotes and I think this one by Judith Campbell is pretty special.  The image I've chosen is #566 Jenn's Heart Framed, named after our sweet DT sis.  I cropped her out of her frame and then did the paper lines on my Printmaster Program, cut it out and punched the side as if she'd been printed on notebook paper.  I suppose it would have been easier to just print directly on a small piece of notebook paper, but I was afraid the edge would catch in the printer and rip.  The image is colored with watercolor crayons and sort of looks like a child's artwork, partly by design, and partly because the crayons blend better on heavier card stock.  The pencil DP is from the Cosmo Cricut Boyfriend Mini Deck.  Kinda thought it was perfect.  Being in love does make you feel like a kid again, doesn't it?  Yeah, and taking good notes is important, but remember, if you can't follow them, you flunk the test.

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday Back to School challenge.

Broomsticks and Black Cats for Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge

This week's challenge at Wicked Wednesday is Broomsticks and Black Cats.  OOOh, how FUN!  I had lots of choices in my stamp library but finally decided on A Fancy Hat for Halloween by ADFD. (the site is down for maintenance so I can't link at the mo)  LOVE that little kitty on the back of that broom, and what a stylish witch. She's colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped atop DP from the new Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells.  Added a sentiment with black Alpha Beads and called it done.  My printer is having an alignment problem though, since I'm low on black ink so I can't help the shadow.

Showcasing Pisces for Simply Steampunk

Today I have the pleasure of showcasing Pisces from the fabulous Steampunk Zodiac collection at SBS.  Currently we have 5 of the 12 signs but more are on the way.

I've colored the gorgeous Pisces with Copics in shades from mostly the BG range accented with Waterfall Stickles for sparkle.

The underwater scene began with DP from K&Co with an overlay of potato sack netting that I sprayed with green glitter spray and sprinkled with mica flakes.   I swirled the yummy velvet crimped ribbon to look like seaweed and added a die cut cog distressed with ink under the net in the corner with some metal gears on top.  The sentiment is computer generated on a DP scrap, cut with my Nesties and inked, sprayed and stamped wth bubble wrap.  Then I threw on some epoxy bubbles for more shine.
 

 

The top left corner looked kinda bare so I added the adhesive metal "love"  that I colored with Alcohol Inks and a gold leaf marker and sprinkled with more mica flakes.  Why all the metal?  To remind you that our Current Challenge at Simply Steampunk is Metal and runs through September 5th.

 

It also fits the Metal Challenge at Left of Center , the Dream Valley Monochrome Challenge the Simon Says Wednesday Monochromatic Challenge, Loves Rubber Stamps Hair of a Different Color challenge, 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes and the All That Stickles Great Outdoors Linky Party.

Dilly Beans Little Monsters

It's Friday and that means another fab challenge at Dilly Beans.  This week, Little Monsters.  Woohoo!  I've used my fave freak #376 Martin (scroll down).  The inspiration for the card is a video that fellow Dilly Beans (and HDH Minion) Sis, Creepy Glowbugg posted on her Facebook page.  I'll spare you the link (you'll thank me for that.  LOL) but the song seems to have become sort of an anthem in the dungeon so I just couldn't resist.  I tore a piece of newsprint and glued it to my cardstock and printed Martin directly on it.  Left it uncolored because the video is black and white.  The rats are from a Martha Stewart punch and the sentiment (lyrics) are computer generated.  A bit of a departure, but I think it turned out cute.  The rest of the team has done some adorable projects so be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog.  Halloween's a coming so why not get a head start and join us?

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday Monochromatic Challenge and Left of Center using the LOC theme.

Wicked Wednesday ATC Like Clockwork

Oh WOW!  Cutting it close again.  I had so many ideas for this week's Wicked Wednesday ATC Clockwork Challenge.  I could have done a million of them (had I not procrastinated, anyway).  Well, TIME was running short and I finally decided that since I'd won last week's WW Challenge with Smeared Ink sponsoring AND the whole freakin' Grand Prize shebang at Smudgefest it would be fitting to use a Smeared Ink Stamp.  The background stamp is from the Holy City set at Smeared Ink, available as a past offering from the Rubber Club.  The skellie from the Tim Holtz Mini Halloween set from Stamper's Anonymous.  I stamped and Distressed and fussy cut the skellie.  The cool skellie clock face is from ArtChix Studio.  The sentiment is assembled with stickers from the Authentique Enchanted Collection.  Woohoo!  I made it! 

I'm also entering this at Left of Center using the LOC theme. 

Macabre Monday Astrological Atrosities Week 2

It's week 2 of our Astrological Atrosities challenge at HDH sponsored by our own Minion Sister Teri of Delicious Doodles.  No surprise that I've chosen the fabulous Taurus (coming soon to the Shop) because I can be quite the stubborn one on occasion (and that's no bull!  Ha!  I crack myself up!).  I've created my own background DP using a Taurus symbol from the net and recolored it in shades of red.

I printed the image 4 times and fussy cut and popped for dimension.  These are the most FAB images to fussy cut EVER!

Here's the close up.  I've added a silver ring in his nose and did the sentiment with my Dymo label maker.  Stubborn...moi?  LOL

Teri has been working feverishly to complete the entire set of Zodiacs.  She not only has the uber creepy Horrorscope range, but also, (for you delicate flowers) lovely and amazing more traditional renditions of the signs.  And here's the best news of all!  Teri is offering 6 Horrorscope images of your choice to the Gruesome Twosome this week.  Be sure to stop by HDH to see the fabulous makes, both this week and last and come play along.

 I'm also entering thhis in the Left of Center Use Metal (his nose ring) Challenge.

Final Day of Smudgefest!

WooHoo, I made it through!  I sort of started Smudgefest as a whim, but managed to keep at it all WEEK!  The challenges were fun and exciting, the prizes fab, and the comraderie excellent.  Can't say some days were outside my comfort zone, but hey, that's what challenges are for.  I'm proud that I hung in there as I'm not a "spur of the moment" kind of crafter and hesitate to post things I'm not overly proud of, but this experience was liberating and so freakin' much FUN!  Today, thank God, was an easy one.  A freebie challenge using this fun little Goulipop.  He'll eventually be in the SHOP but today only you can nab him HERE and play along.  There are daily prizes as well, so you may just get lucky!   

Ghoulipop looked a bit lonely so I also used Smeared Ink's Devil Boy, available individually or part of the Creepers set.  I think with those 3 mouths he may just be able to do Goulipop justice.  He sure looks thrilled with it.  The card turned out sort of chaotic with all that candy but I think it captures the spirit of a true sugar rush.   A huge thanks to Terra and Tori for a fabulous event.  I hope this is training for some of the biggies coming up.  We'll see.

Smudgefest Day 6, the Dreaded Sketch!

Still hangin' in there with Smudgefest, although this morning my heart stopped as I viewed the DREADED SKETCH!  I suck at sketches because I have no imagination.  I feel compelled to take them literally and today was no exception.  However, not to be undone, I faced my fears and decided to combine it with the Freaky Freebie Challenge on the Smeared and Smudged Forum and used Anya from the Glam Vamps set.  (Just so happened I already had the set, but Anya is the freebie this month for that challenge). I started thinkin' on DP to use and decided that one with blood spatter would be apropo so I called up this lovely from Crafty Chaos (alas, the shop is closed).  As I was sizing in my Printmaster program I stuck Anya in the center and realized I might just be able to do the majority of this digitally so I gave it a go.  I'm obviously no pro at this but at least it doesn't suck.  Even kinda proud of the shaded parts.  I'm too lazy to learn to color digitally, however, so Anya is done with Copics.

Here's the sketch.  See what I mean...pretty damn literal.  That line down the side was a bit of a heart stopper but I just couldn't let it go.  More blood seemed just the ticket but went back and forth between nail polish and reinker that SURPRISE was still laying out from yesterday (and probably will remain out forever like the majority of my supplies) but the polish was a bit sluggish so reinker it is.  DONE!  and it isn't even lunch time.  WooHoo!  Oh, and because I think the sentiment is kind of a giggle, I'm entering it in the PunkYouGirl Dark Humor Challenge and Left of Center using the LOC theme as well.