Celebrating the 150th Challenge at Left of Center

A huge congrats to the Left of Center Challenge Blog as they celebrate their 150th Challenge which starts TODAY!  WooHoo!  How apropo that this auspicious occasion falls on the 1st of October with the theme of Left of Center. I love that LOC has stayed true to it's roots and has always allowed those dark themed and "alternative" projects a place on their stage and I enjoy playing in their challenges as often as I can.  The East Wind is sponsoring this time and TEW DT members were invited to be their Guests. How could I refuse?  I made a simple easel card using my favorite "hell fire" image from my stash and the gorgeous Lucy Loo Devil.  Tell me she's not HOT!

Here's a closeup of Lucy Loo.  I kinda wanna BE her for Halloween.  Don't you? I used the NB png version of the image (did you know that many, if not most, of the TEW images come in several versions for one low price?) and printed her directly on the digital background so she'd look engulfed in flames.  Then I colored her with Copics with a bit of shading with my Prismacolor pencils.  The sentiment is computer generated and cut and pasted on the background and I did a bit of distressing with my scissors around the edges of hell.  I really wanted to burn it, but was afraid my work might just go up in smoke.

I printed more flames for the base of the easel and again finished the sentiment off on my computer.  It was die cut with Spellbinders Labels Five.  Two bat medallions from Recollections hold up the easel.  Yeah, I'll bet she knows a shortcut.  Wait for me!

Thanks so much to Left of Center for this fun opportunity to join you and here's to the next 150 fab, fun challenges.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, Simon Says Stamp ATG, Ching-Chou Kuik October Halloween or Something Spooky, Copic Spain Challenge Halloween, Country View Challenges October All Things Spooky, CCC Digi Creations ATG, Inspiration Destination ATG and Dream in Darkness ATG.

ASITD Sponsored by Dilly Beans

It's time for a new challenge at A Step in the Dark and this fortnight we're sponsored by Dilly Beans.  some of my fave images are Megan's Sugar Skulls, and with Dia de los Muertos fast approaching, I thought I'd use #384 Sugar Skull with Flowers because his big ol' pompadour totally cracks me up.  As you know, it's the custom to make an ofrenda (altar) for deceased loved ones, but did you know that many people makes altars for their favorite (dead) stars, as well? Although not exactly an altar, I decided to channel Elvis (tell me he doesn't remind you of him!) and make a tag to honor The King.  I've colored the stamp with Copics (after digitally removing his moustache ), Added a die cut crown, used pix from the web (including the records) and layered it all up on a black tag.  Added some cool glittered musical notes and strung Alpha Beads on the ribbon hanger. 

I had the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers I is for Iconic in mind when I made this so of course, I'm entering it there, as well as Left of Center 3 or more layers, and PunkYouGirl ATG with a Halloween Twist.

Macabre Monday Crimson Crime Scene Week 2

OOOPS!  I'm a little behind here.  Yesterday began WEEK 2 of our Crimson Crime Scene Challenge at HDH and I  gotta say, I'm a wee bit disappointed with all my pals who call themselves "dark" crafters 'cause only two of you have managed to participate so far.  What'samatter?  Scared of a little BLOOD?  tsk, tsk! So we're looking for inspiration from famous crime scenes, either past or present, and there damn well better be some RED on the project, ya hear? Easy peasy!  I found this glorious pic on the net of Jack the Ripper and surrounded him with actual photos of his victims (changed from b&w to RED).  The snippet of text is from an actual letter he wrote so I decided to back the little photos with my new Spellbinders Postage Stamp die.  See, now how tough is that? Check out the fab inspiration from the Minions of Week 1, as well, and if you'd loke even more, here's a couple of other projects I've done in the past in the same vein.  Lizzy Borden HERE and Ed Gein HERE.  Fair warning, though. They're a bit twisted, even for ME!  xxxx

I'm entering this in the Left of Center No DP and Open Minded Crafting Roll Out the Red.  

A Touch of Darkness at Aurora Wings

This is a very busy Monday for me! I'm so excited about the new Challenge at Aurora Wings with the exciting theme of

  

I've chosen to alter a bottle that originally looked like this.  Fortunately, the wine is yumbo, 'cause I really, really REALLY love the bottle.  However, the writing both back and front has to be scraped off with a razor before altering.
Bummer!

Then I colored the gorgeous dark mermaid, Secret Kiss, with Copics cut her out with a Spellbinders Grand Oval and Mod Podged her to the bottle.  I used the gloss variety, since the bottle was glossy, and kept adding layers until the finish was very smooth.

Didn't quite know how to age the bottle, but tried some Rock Candy Crackle paint.  Seemed like the bottle of paint was too small to paint my whole bottle so I didn't try to cover it all.  Unfortunately, I didn't apply it thick enough to get the large crackle I was going for, and it kind of looked frosty, so I took alcohol inks and ran them down the bottle, diluting them in places with Copic blender.

I used Glossy Accents around the image and sprinkled on mica flakes.  Then set about creating the rest of the scene, ripping cheesecloth and finding shells and other bits and bobs. 

I colored reindeer moss with Distress re-inkers,  added a skull and applied crackle to a tiny bottle and rolled up a message inside.  Found some lichen I'd saved which looked to me like under sea plants as well.

I draped a chain around the neck of the bottle and added a compass.  Finally, I stuffed more moss into the top and glued on a shell stopper that I'd painted, and sprinkled with mica flakes and added the bottom leg bones and foot coming out of the opening in the shell.  (hee hee!)  I don't often do projects like this because I'm way to impatient to wait for things to dry, but I gotta say, after some tense moments, I really love how it came out.  

Now, please visit the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog to see the fabulously dark and gorgeous projects by my DT Sisters and don't forget to scroll down to see the winners from Challenge #6. Also, our September FB Challenge, which runs through September 30th is Anything Goes, so be sure to enter both challenges, if appropriate.  I hope you're inspired to channel your dark side.

I'm adding this to the Punk You Girl What Creeps Under The Sea Challenge,  Left of Center No Designer Paper, 613 Avenue Create ATG, ALBC Distress It, Altered Eclectics September ATG (mixed media), The Mirror Cracked (first challenge, WOOHOO!) ATG Mixed Media, All Crafts Aug/Sept Challenge, and Simon Says Monday Rock the Techniques.

Delicious Darkness Challenge #2

So it's the 13th and you know what that means, a brand new challenge at Delicious Darkness.  Although our themes are ATG (as long as it's DARK) we like to put a little spin on things and give you an optional twist.  This month it's Gotta Be Gothic.  It's tough doing male cards but Teri has some fab images to choose from.  Love this new Dorian Gray.  thought he'd make a great birthday card.  LOL  I've framed him with my Spellbinders Opulent Ovals die.  The DP created the scene and I've added skullie embellies to the candlesticks on the paper.  The layered flowers are from my very old stash.

Here's that handsome devil's closeup.  I printed him 4 times so I could fussy cut and pop him as if he's escaping from his portrait.  Shudder!

Here's the dimensional shot.  Yikes!  He's even scarier this way.  BE sure to visit Delicious Darkness to see the fab makes by my teamies and hope to see you play along.

I'm entering this at Left of Center Under the LOC theme, and Great Impressions September Get Your Spook On.

We All Scream for Ice Cream

It's the second week for our I Scream for Ice Cream Challenge at HDH and to say my mojo has flown the coop since my little vacay in Co is the understatement of the year.  You gotta go see the fun little video we all have taken inspiration from for this challenge and here's my take.  Kinda looks like a 10 year old made it, eh? Umm... the background paper is from Tiddly Inks (thanks Glo for reminding me), stamped with blood spatter from the Inky Dreams Rubber set from Smeared Ink and I've fashioned a little waffle cone from a Spellbinders circle embossed with my Cuttlebug Tiny Mosaic folder. The ice cream is partially die cut, partially free handed and of course partially punched with my Drippy Goo border.  Stamped with a Stampotique stamp (he certainly does look like he's in duress) with red gem eyes and outlined with Stickles.  The sentiment was cut with the Haunted Mini Alphabet from Quikutz.  My teamies we WAY more creative than I so be sure to visit HDH and check them out.  I think I'll slink back to the dungeon now....

But not before I enter it in LOC (using the LOC theme) and ASITD ATG because they love me anyway.  xxx

New Delicious Darkness Challenge #1!

I'm very excited to announce that the very first Challenge at The Delicious Darkness Challenge Blog is now LIVE and I am on the team!!!  Our first theme is ATG, (as long as it's DARK or alternative) and you needn't even use a Delicious Darkness stamp. It runs from the 13th of every month to the 10th of the next so there's plenty of time to play.  I've created a wall hanging which started out as a fairly simple project but just grew and grew.  And so did this post, so grab a cuppa, you're gonna be here awhile.

This inspiration came first from one of Teri's newer stamps, Disturbia, with it's giant pile of creepy characters.  A good portion of the DD team also resides in the dungeon with me at HDH (imagine that!) so this reminded me of them.  xx I printed this stamp 5 times so I could fussy cut the crew and add the dimension I so love. (Better pic of that later.) Fortunately, there was minimal coloring to do, just my usual fave combo of WG! and G21 for Zombie flesh, some more warm grays for shadowing, and a couple of other greens for the lovely snakes slithering about.  After distressing the edges, I chose one of the digi papers from the Beastly Paper Pack (a total "must have").

When I saw this sentiment from Ginger's House I couldn't believe the luck! We're a tight knit bunch and this really fit the bill.  Cut and matted with Spellbinders Labels One and inked with Distress.  OOOH, notice the google eye?  They're splattered throughout.

However, the hanging was a bit lob sided now with that large sentiment, so I looked to the papers of balance it out a bit.  Ah yes, Teri's Pentagram did quite nicely.

This weekend, I went to the Scrapbook Expo in Santa Clara hoping to score, among other things, some more of the Melissa Frances hangers I so love.  However, much to my dismay, they no longer make them in black.  Bummer!  Not that I can't paint the, but...  Anyway, I bought a number of them and tried a few and this, a new style for me, looked the coolest.  However, it needed something to darken it up a bit (besides a bit of Distress Ink).  So on with the Ram's Skully (also from the DP).  WooHoo!

But, of course, I just could leave it flat.  Printed 5 times and fussy cut, here's the dimensional shot.  By the end of this project my hand was in spasms!

And finally, the dimensional shot of my bunch of crazies.  I considered naming them but didn't want to cause any more chaos. (But I'm the one middle left with her mouth open, big surprise.)  Thanks for hanging in there with my longer than long post, but, as you can tell, I really, really, REALLY love this project.

So, if you haven't visited the new Delicious Darkness Challenge Blog, you're in for a treat.  Go meet the team and check out the fabby makes and by all means, come play along.

I'll be adding it to the following dark themed blogs:  Left of Center ATG, PYG August ATG Challenge, A Step in the Dark ATG.  And the mainstream Oldie but Goodie Black and White Plus One (Green and my oldies are the google eye's that are so old, some of them have turned a bit cloudy.), All Crafts Anything but a Card Aug/Sept, and Anything But a Card Repeating Motifs. 

The Devil Wears Nada for The East Wind

OOOh, I've got a naughty one this morning!  HeeHee!  There's a new character at The East Wind and she debuts today!  Meet Twisted Venus "The Devil Wears Nada".  Isn't that the cutest name?  You'll be seeing more of Twisted Venus in the weeks to come.

Here she is in all her glory, colored with Copics. Thought it might be fun to color her up in red with her drape looking a but singed.  I've made the flame shaped card with my Cricut using matte metallic and orange glitter card stock so it really glows.

My original thought was to have a sentiment about hot flashes (which is why I colored her red to begin with) but then decided on this one. 

Here's the dimensional shot.  I really got a kick out of this one.  You can see more fab examples of this new cutie on The East Wind FB Group Page and don't forget the Just For Laughs FB Contest going on NOW!  The WINNERS of the It's Getting Hot Blog Challenge have just been posted and be sure to come back Friday for a brand new challenge.  If you haven't signed up for the newsletter (top right hand side of the Blog page) You're gonna want to do that now 'cause  the new Freebie that's you'll see Friday is a real sweetie.

I'm entering her at Left of Center (under the LOC theme).

Macabre Monday Eerie Inspiration Week 2

It's week 2 of our Eerie Inspiration challenge at HDH and I came up with this, uh, sort of Faberge skull?  Was going for the texture and all around pale monochrome of the collage of goodies, but had a bit of trouble photographing it.  This one, in the light box shows the project, but lacks background interest.

I've used two halves of a Martha Stewart paper mache skull box given the texture treatment I learned in the Andy Skinner Book of Ruination Workshop. I used chalk and an little paint brush to bring out more of the texture. (I like the texture background here in this pic too, but it didn't work so well for all of them.) 

Because it was split down the front, I felt compelled to fill it with maribou and have a ghostly butterfly escaping from within.  (kind of like losing my mind ...it happens sometimes......and more frequently than I care to admit.  LOL)  There's that Cheery Lynn Dripping Butterfly again cut twice, in vellum this time, but with the same skullie charm.

The skull was mounted on a wooden spool painted white and wrapped with gauze.  The ruffle round the neck is done with a used ripped dryer sheet.  It was hot glued (with only minor burns) to an empty ribbon spool topped with and circle of fab textured paper from Sizzix.  I've wired some pearls and added a cross and a circle of fabric rose trim.  I'll leave you with one more pic, my fave, but it messed up the white look I was going for.

Now go take a look at the fab pieces done by my Minion sistah's HERE and HERE and come play along.

I'm entering this in the Punk You Girl Skeletons and Secrets Challenge, and Left of Center using the LOC theme.

GDT Gig for A Step in the Dark with Aurora Wings.

WooHoo!  I'm thrilled to be guesting for a time for A Step in the Dark and this fortnight's Challenge is ATG (Dark) or Dark Fantasy, sponsored by Aurora Wings.  ASITD is a new dark crafting blog and I hope you come and join the group.  I've chosen the fabulous AW Santa Muerte for my project and made a wall hanging in traditional Dia de los Muertos colors.

This gorgeous image comes as I've colored her with Copics here and also without the background HERE.  Isn't she beautiful? (and trust me, not nearly as intimidating to color as she looks.)

The perfect DP is from K&Co and I've added some fun embellies.  In the bottom right corner I've used a Tim Holtz tombstone die cut, some Recollections roses that I've recolored with Copics and a fab spiderweb (and skullie) charm.

On the left I finally managed a hand made rose using the Tim Hotz pinecone die, enhanced with some Stickles.  I'll be making more of those for sure,now that I've finally got the hang of it.  Also some lovely Drippy Goo (MS punch) in red foil CS to match the foil flowers in the DP.

 Finally, I've made a triple looped bow with my Bow (un)Easy and added a gorgeous dripping butterfly die cut from Cheery Lynn that I originally saw on ASITD DT sister Teresa's Blog.  Thanks so much, Teresa!  (See, I told you you want to check this place out)  I've grunged up a skullie charm to add to the butterfly and finally, the sentiment is from Tim Hotz.  Be sure to vist ASITD to see the fabulous makes from the DT and some play along for a chance to win a $15 GC from the amazing Aurora Wings.

I made sure I used plenty of metal to enter the current Use Metal Challenge at LOC. 

I'm also entering this in the Corrosive Challenge Color Me Happy Challenge used Copics), the ABC Challenge "O" is for Orange, Craft Your Passion Ribbons, Paper Make Up Stamps Digi Makeover Butterflies Challenge, and 613 Avenue Create ATG/no Option.

Macabre Monday 666 (+1) the Number of the Beast Week 2

Yes, you read the title correctly.
We Made it!

We are celebrating our 666+1 followers of

our quaint little, dark sided challenge blog.

There are now 666 +1 beasties who follow Haunted Design House! Wow!

So to truly celebrate, we are having a

Number of the Beast

themed challenge this fortnight.

 Join us, if you dare!

 

Bring out yer beasties and yer monsties! You could even use the numbersix (or multiple sixes) in your project, or make an Iron Maiden project as well.

It's up to you. Interpret the theme as you like, but remember to keep it

creepy, dark, Gothic, Steampunk, or Hallowe'en in nature.

Keep in mind, this is all in good fun. We are not promoting Satanism,

(nor are we condemning it), but we are celebrating our own popularity,

and having some fun while we're at it.

I've channeled my previous Creepy Cricut Cween moniker and made a wall hanging using Cricut Design Studio and the George and Basic Shapes and the October 31st cartridges.

 

The center is and appropriate image from RSD MFA and more 6's cut with my Cuttlebug.  I've colored the image with Copics, fussy cut and added it to a  background embossed with the Tim Holtz Bricked folder.  Figured the sentiment was perfect to hang on my craft room door.  What lies beyond makes Hell look like a picnic in the park.

 

So come on you chickens!  Join us at HDH for some devilish fun!  There are lots of prizes to be had.  What are you afraid of?  You know you wanna!  And if you catch some flack, you can always say "The Devil made me do it."

I'm entering this in the Left of Center Use Metal Challenge (metallic card stock and metal hanger, or just LOC if you prefer).

 

Aurora Wings New Release Memento Mori

There's a gorgeous new stamp premiering today at Aurora Wings called Memento Mori.  Now you know I love me some skulls and this one, lying amonst the gorgeous poppies makes me swoon!  You can find the meaning of "Memento mori", as well as fabulous creations from my teamies using this gorgeous new digi on the AW Showcase Blog HERE.

Here's a closeup view all colored up with Copics.  I chose to do the poppies in red to truly make them POP.  Lots of fussy cutting going on too.

Did you know that Mitzi also has a variety of floral borders and corners that coordinate with her beautiful stamps?  I've used a Poppy corner to balance my design here, but there are many more gorgeous floral stamps available in both sets and individually HERE.  They are perfect to combine with her fantasy stamps or elegant on their own.

I've made a tent card, cutting the window with my Spellbinders Labels 17 and framed it with the largest of the Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles.  I used the second largest of the dies to cut the opening window with my craft knife.  The intricate web, floating through the center, is a Memory Box die.

I'm entering this in the Corrosive Crop it or Cut it Challenge, Left of Center using the LOC theme, Creative Knockouts Die Cuts/Punch Frenzy, the Fitztown Favorite Colors challenge (black, white, red)  and A Step in the Dark ATG.

Mirror, Mirror

Did you know that Mondays and Fridays are new release days for The East Wind?  Join the FB Group to find out all the scoop and share your fabulous TEW projects.  Here's my card with the fabulous 'Lucy Loo' Mirror Mirror.  Isn't she fabulous!?   She's colored with Copics in shades of purple to enter the A Step in the Dark Add Some Purple Challenge (or ATG as long as it's "Dark") and I was thrilled to find that purple DP from Recollections in my stash.

Here's a close up.  I've fussy cut her and attached her to a piece of mirror card stock that I've embossed several times with Utee, put in the freezer and cracked.  Kind of an errie effect, eh?  the one thing I'd do differently is cut your card staock the size you want BEFORE you do your heat embossing, because if you need to cut it to size after, some of the cracked pieces may come off.  No prob here since it's it's supposed to look old and shattered.  The sentiment was computer generated and popped a top a lovely ribbon so I could enter the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "R" is for Ribbon challenge and make it "Girly" enough for Left of Center.

Just had to add the graphic from SOSS, they are always such a HOOT!

I'm also enterting this in the ABC Challenge "M" is for Monochromatic.  And speaking of challenges, The East Wind's new Blog challenge is Embossing Wet or Dry and the FB Contest is Something Out of the Norm.  Why not stop by and play along?

Lucy Loo 'Lucy Longstocking', New from The East Wind

Every Monday and Friday Kyra releases a new digi at The East Wind Shop. Today I'm previewing the newest of one of my FAVE characters, Lucy Loo.  Meet 'Lucy Longstocking'.  This girl's got some 'tude!  I nabbed the fab sentiment from Ginger's House because it fit her just perfectly, sat her right on top and cut her out.  I thought she would make a fab door hanger.

I colored her with Copics in girly pink to enter in the Left of Center Girly Challenge.  The girly skull DP is DCWV.

I've even added girly LOC embellies.  How about that?  A number of my DT sisters have also made projects with Lucy and we've all colored her hair differently.  Isn't that fun?  Come visit the TEW FB group to see them all. 

Oh, and BTW, there's a fab sale going on at the Shop.  Huge discounts in the Now or Never section, available through the end of June.  Get them before they're gone for good!  (there's even a few Lucy Loo's!)

I'm also entering this in the Corrosive Challenge ATG 200 Challenge Celebration, Tuesday Throwdown Wild Hair Challenge, Milk Coffee Anything But a Card and Simon Says Wednesday ATG.