HDH116 Chic Freaks - Macabre Mistress style...

Can you believe I actually am playing along this week?!!  I swear it's been for-FREAKIN-evah since I've had the chance to create something for this blog :)  But there was no way I was gonna miss out on a week sponsored by Stampotique!

First off, I wanna show off my Stampotique collection.  I have my Daniel Torrente blocks displayed so that I can see them from my desk:

JOY!  I've also got a little cube stamp w/ four Torrente images, but you can't see it here.  You may be asking yourself: "uh, Barb... I haven't seen you use all of these before... WTF?"  Yes, it's true, dammit.  The cube, fence, door & head background have yet to see ink :(

And here are my latest additions, courtesy of Stampotique (thanks SO much!)...

"Olivia" & "Glimmering Hope":

I tried to go all simple-dark-elegant-chic for Olivia...

Toner Grey & Red Copics on kraft cardstock, MME paper, my favorite trim by May Arts (red texture), a black rosette from JoAnn's, and a sentiment stamp from StampInsanity.

Now my favorite, Glimmering Hope...

I actually used Prismacolor pencils & mineral oil for this one!

I started with a little Picket Fence Distress Stain to lighten the area where I stamped.  After drying it with the heat gun, I colored.  More MME paper, some lover-ly black lace from Creepy Glowbugg (thanks, man!), and a few Michael's grey flowers round this one out.

LOVE HER!  Kinda ethereal looking, eh?  She looks waaaaaay better in person...

I am no photographer.

That's it for today!  You still have until Sunday, 5pm central time, to play along for a gift certificate to Stampotique... you KNOW you want some of those Torrente images :)   Be sure to check the challenge post HERE, and get your freak on!

So, what do you think?

I know it's cute, but...

... at least it's something to look at for a bit :)

CLICK HERE

Kenny K's DT call

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenge blog is having a DT call through Saturday, June 26th!  These are some cute digi's, I must say.  And if you go to his greeting card shop, you'll see a bunch of fabulous little goth girls, which I am hoping will be released as digi images in the future {crossing fingers}!

So, this post is my bid for a DT spot :)  We're supposed to choose one of our best creations, colored images are a must, and post it.  What is difficult, is that what I think is my best and what someone else thinks is my best are probably totally different :)   Plus, Copic coloring looks very different from colored pencil rendering, so which do you choose?  So, I'm posting more than one... will that totally disqualify me?  :)  

Click on the photos to see them up close and personal!

What do you think... which is your favorite?

Down to the wire...

Un-freakin'-believable.  I'm not EVEN gonna get into it... let's just say I completed my own challenge ;)  Not thrilled with it, but it's done!  Super simple, but it uses one of my favorite silhouette images from Stamp It Crazy.

AND I got rid of a few more scraps that were cluttering my desk... bonus!

Stamps:  Spooky Silhouette (Stamp It Crazy)

Paper:  Bazzil, white ultrasmooth & black (TAC) cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Other:  Prismacolor pencils, mineral oil, EK Success edger punch, Mini-attacher & edge die (TH), uber-cool & creepy trim (gifted from Creepy Glowbugg)

To get into the spirit of HBO's True Blood (tonight at 8pm central!!!), tune in for tomorrow's challenge!

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!

A-tisket A-tasket...

... three freaks in a basket!  You are humming that old nursery rhyme right now, aren't you?!  Come on... admit it... you are going to Google it as soon as you leave here ;)  Let me save you the trouble... from Wikipedia:  CLICK HERE

Ok, back to the card... this is for another challenge from Stampotique Designers: SDC#4 - Easter.  I haven't received my latest order from Stampotique, so I only have four stamps on hand... I think 3 in a Round worked perfectly!  Please click on the photos to see them close-up.

How wonderfully springy and Easter-y... right?  ;)  I hope you can tell I was trying to create a basket handle with the ribbon.  And I went a little edger punch happy on this one.  And look... even some actual handwriting... un-freakin'-believeable.

Stamps:  3 in a Round (Stampotique), rolling alpha (Provo Craft)
Paper:  Bazzill & white cardstocks
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo & Palette Noir
Colorant:  Prismacolor pencils w/ mineral oil blending
Other:  ribbon (TAC), flowers (Archiver's & MM), MS spider border punch, EK Success edger punch, Distress Stickles (flower center)

What do you think?

No ordinary angel...

I've been a blogging slacker here at HDH!  I know!  I need to find a free moment to just sit down and create... alas... it will NOT be this weekend!  Far too busy... BUT maybe I can do something on Monday {crossing fingers, muttering mantra to the Goddess of Spare Time}

So until then, all I have is this little quick tidbit to show.  Extremely plain and simple, but it's all you're gonna get!  :)

TAC Stamps:  Hear the Angels (sentiment is from a retired seminar set)
Paper:  Penelope, Mia's Cottage, white UltraSmooth & black cardstocks
Ink:  Noir Palette
Other:  silver & orange glitter pens, WeR MM eyelet

You can't really see the glitter pens in this photo, so you'll just have to trust me ;) 

HDH023 - Darkside Bride

How's that title grab ya'?!  Isn't there some evil bride reality show or something?  Bridezilla?  Well, I must say that this bride from the Darkside is quite stylish, no?  Definitely blinged-out... as all brides should be.  I LOVE this stamp image... too bad it's retired... aren't you jealous ;)

Stamps:  Haute Couture (retired TAC)
Paper:  White UltraSmooth, Scarlet & Black cardstocks (TAC), Bazzill cardstock (green)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo
Colorant:  Prismacolors w/ mineral oil, cranberry & black Glimmer Mists
Other:  Black Stickles, MS drippy goo punch, gems, sheer ribbon, lace trim, black tulle, pop dots

The photos really don't show how sparkly the glimmer mists are or how the dress coloring has more of the crimson shade.  But you'll just have to trust me ;)  I added some Black Stickles to the centers of the lace ovals... looks almost dried-blood-ish IRL.

You can find a couple of other creepy divas HERE.  Me likey a lot :)

You still have plenty of time to play along with the HDH023 Macabre Monday challenge this week!  I had so much fun with this one, and can't wait to see what you all create!

Boo Sprite Girl... in the pink

Well, kids... the big day is almost here!  I didn't get much of anything done today, so I have a ton of work ahead of me tomorrow... spiderwebs, creepy black vines, the big mummy... yikes.  I won't bother dusting anything... that will just add to the ambiance, right?  ;)

Ok, tonight's card is a whole lotta Ca-yoot-ness (right, Patti J.?)  ;)  I know this little sprite isn't too spooky, but she's a little grungey.. does that count?  I think I would look like this if I put a bow in my hair, too ;)  Although, I don't wear dresses... or pink... and I have a mouth & nose...

Stamps (TAC):  Spunky Sprite Girls, retired sentiment
Paper:  Brighten My Day, White UltraSmooth cardstock, DCWV card base
Ink:  Noir Palette
Colorant:  Prismacolors w/mineral oil blending
Other:  misc. ribbons, Bazzill & misc. florals,  jewel

I think I'll be off for the night... to let the images of ghosties & goblins dance about in my skull  ;)

BTW:  let's get some more players in this week's Macabre Monday challenge, people!  Don't you want to win some Halloweenie goodies?!!!

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Macabre Monday #009 - Eerie Inspiration: Haunted Home Decor

Welcome to 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 (TACPCC, PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH009.
4. I'll have monthly contest giveaways... tune in for additional details.
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:

Eerie Inspiration:  Haunted Home Decor

 For this week's challenge, you are to create a Halloween page, project or card using the photo below for inspiration.  This is one of my favorite Halloween decorative groupings at the house so far... I put up a backdrop to hide the refrigerator ;)

At least one of the elements shown in the photo must be present in your project... skull, owl, birdcage, bones, barbed wire, or raven!

For my card, I decided to make an almost direct copy of the scene, minus the raven jar & the barbed wire.  I colored with Prismacolors & mineral oil, and cut everything out.  I sliced the owl wing so it would rest over the top of the bone end, and created more dimension by popping up the birdcage.

Stamps (all TAC):  Birdcage, Fleur Birdies, Boo Bash & Punk Princess (both retired)

Paper:  White UltraSmooth, Black, & DCWV lime cardstocks

Ink:  Palette Noir

Other:  misc. sheer ribbon, Prismacolors w/ mineral oil, Scor-Pal & Scor-Bug

Gruesome Twosome for last week:  Jana for the awesome little hidden spider treat box, and Linda aka Oz for her raven's egg box.  Grab your GT badge in the sidebar ladies!

So, do you accept this week's challenge?
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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?

My bad...

...no, I haven't done my challenge card yet.  I KNOW!  I am such a slacker... but, to make it up to you I will show you this little ditty.

Cute, no?  This was a submission to TAC for publication consideration, but they used my other one instead... yeay!  I'll show that one to you sometime as well.

Stamps:  Spookilicious

Paper:  Penelope, white UltraSmooth & black cardstocks

Ink:  Palette Noir

Other:  paper piercer, mineral oil w/ Prismacolors, Black Scrapper's Floss

Who says you have to use the whole image of a stamp, right?  Kinda looks like a window... or maybe it's like the opening credits of the Brady Bunch:

Here's the story of a wicked witchy,
Who was boiling up one very goofy skelly.
He was green and white, like no other,
The bow tie looks 'nelly'.

Here's the story, of a scared black kitty,
Who was busy with two jack-o's of his own.
They were orange, and kinda silly,
Yet they were all alone...

I know... it's horrible... but creative writing was NOT my forte!

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!

More cuteness... ugh!

;) Seriously, I just wanted to share one of the new Halloweenie stamp sets available from TAC. I was lucky enough to be asked to submit samples for their latest publication: Inspiration Avenue, and this is one that made it in!!

Yep... CUTE! I stamped & colored the witchie, masked her off and sponged the moon, grass & sky. I paper pieced her little skirt and then added some shadows to her & the sentiment with a q-tip.

Got out the ol' sewing machine and stitched a couple of edges of patterned paper after distressing them. Add some sheer ribbon & a glittery plastic spider and... voila!

Stamps: Spooky Girls, Happy Haunting

Paper: Penelope SWIC, White UltraSmooth & Penelope cardstocks

Ink: Landscape, Violette, Starry Night & Noir Palettes, Purple Hydrangea Versamagic (I think!)

Other: Penelope Ribbon, PrismaColor pencils w/ mineral oil, glittery spider

I'll be sharing a few more cute ones over the next several posts, so I hope that's ok ;)

What do you think?

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!!