Haunted Design House

Do not adjust your monitors.  It is not a glitch.  And no... you are not hallucinating (or maybe you are).  It is I... The Masterful Mistress of the Macabre! Oh how I have missed this.  It has been so sad that I haven't been able to get my creep on this year and participate at HDH.  Life sometimes is a drag, and the mundane things like work,bills & drama unfortunately take the front seat. So, on to the good stuff for today!  This week we are sponsored by Rick St. Dennis .  I chose to work with his " Salome the Vampyr " and " Hexology " images... and they are fabulous: I apologize for the horrible photos... I just don't know how to adjust my camera when it comes to reds... they always end up REALLY bright.  Anyway, I know the color combo on this card is a bit different.  Red, purple, black & gold?  Yeah.  I had already colored her gown purple & hair black, so the robe needed contrast... it DOES pick up ...

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. Please make sure that your blog post / upload has been made AFTER the challenge date... we wanna see fresh stuff, not those from a few weeks ago!! 3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, S&S, PCP, SCS, etc.) , please tag the title using HDH 101 . 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. We'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twoso me (our top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled an...

**This post will remain at the top until May 6th... for newer posts, please scroll down** But before we get to the candy, please read: The NOT-so- Masterful Mistress of the Macabre here.  I have been so damn busy with work and other responsibilities that I have neglected necessary blog housekeeping duties & announcing quite a few of the last Masters of the Macabre .  So I guess it's about time for me to dig through my big box of scraps and reward you guys... and you'd BETTER like it... just sayin'.  >':) Stay tuned for that announcement later this week. Ok, now on to the reason why you clicked over here... mmmm.... BLOG CANDY Haunted Design House has officially hit 400 Stalkers!   YEAY!  Who knew that there were so many fan- freakishly -tastic people out there ;)  So to celebrate, I am offering up this bit of fiendishly fun goodies: Items include: orange rub-on letters, pleather card-keeper handbag, blank mini-album, three sheets of Grun...

Check it.  This is a just-for-fun card I finished the other day.  Not for classes, not for DT, not for Christmas... just for the hell of it.  Ahhhh.  Cardmaking for the sheer joy... can ya' feel it?! And since I suck at the whole photo-taking thing, I thought I would show you the difference from my scanner vs. camera.  Let's just say that in real life, the image color is actually in-between these two representations.   {photo shot with camera} Awhile back, Kenny K had a contest to name his newest digi line, Krash Kittenz ... and one of my names was selected!  Yeay!  This is Maggie Mayhem ... VERY fitting name me thinks :)   {scanner version}  I'm trying out the Latina-esque / sun-kissed skin tone with Copics E11, E13 & E15.  The jacket & shoes:  N1, N4, N7.  Reds:  R59, R29, R24.  Hair:  E21, E25, E29. {photo shot with camera} The trim is some pleather belt-ish stuff I found at JoAnn's...

It's that time again... Simply Betty Stamps blog has got a new challenge for the month!  Yeah, you have a whole month to come up with a card for a chance to be a Guest Designer!  And as a Guest Designer, you'll be able to get your grubby mitts on new release images before anyone else... for free... that's what I'm talkin'bout :) Let me start by saying this:  they don't call them CHALLENGES for nothing.  Yikes.  I'm not really a "bright and colorful" kinda girl :)  Especially not primary colors... those really scare me... and NOT in a good way :)  So, I had to just suck it up and give it a shot... and this is what I came up with. I think it works pretty good, right?  I mean, I still had to get a little grungy with it... and maybe I over-did it a bit, but I thought I needed to tone it down a notch :)  I'm VERY happy with how Christian turned out!  The photos don't show it well, but the coloring worked out on this one :) Digi:   ...

**If you are here for the for the Simply Betty Stamps Victorian Beauties Bloghop, please scroll down to the next post.  Thanks! Ok, I'm seriously diggin' the latest Kenny K digi's, Gothik Angelz... this line TOTALLY fits in around this blog :)  And I have finally managed to squeeze in a card for one of the KK challenges... bonus! This is Alice Chains... what do you think is goin' on in her mind?  Me thinks this would make a fun Valentine's Day or Anniversary card... I'm sure the hubbs would like it ;) A lot of fun to color, but MAN the skirting took awhile, whew.  LOVE how her eyeshadow & bodice turned out!  Please click on photos to enlarge. Digi:   Alice Chains (Kenny K) Rubber Stamps:  Background Soup , Spunky Sprite Boys (both TAC) Paper:   Bazzill & Neenah cardstocks Ink:  Charcoal Palette, Onyx VersaFine Other:  Tim Holtz edge die, Scor-Bug, Stardust silver glitter pen, black tulle, garter clasp Copics: ...

The Creepy Cricut Cween herself has WOW'd us once again!  Check this fabulousness out: OMFG... cool, right?  Well, check out the view from the side: I KNOW!  Be sure to click on the Cween's link above so she can give you all the detail for this!  Thanks, Donna... fantastic!

Check out the awesomeness that is Macabre Mistress Oz !  I LOVE this Bat House ... no bird should venture too close, that's for sure :)   See below for the details for this fabulous project! Not every neighborhood can afford a 2-story bat house, but then not most would not consider us "every" neighborhood! This little sweetly shingled bat house is ooze-ing with details. From the top of it's cresent moon weather vane to the bottom of it's iron grated platform.  The patterned paper is from Graphic 45. I stamped a woodgrain design on kraft cardstock for the shingles. The misc pumpkin buttons are all from my stash I had lurking around. I do so hope you ENJOY!  ~ Linda aka Oz Fantastic work as always, my friend!

Well, most of you with kids are gearing up for Back to School:  shopping for clothes, supplies, and whatnot.  So Betty has decided that the parents deserve a little shopping fun too! Not only a little shopping fun, but some cool deals too... online & indoors beats this heatwave hands down! Right now at Simply Betty Stamps : My Little Shoe Box papers, stickers, and overlays are 50% off! BoBunny papers, stickers, and embellishments are 40% off! All Rubber is 30% off! All Digis are 25% off! How's that for a sweet Back to School mom has done all the shopping reward!? So hurry on over the Sale ends Thursday night at 11:59 PM (California time)!! Have fun shopping! See you all soon for winners of the first SBS Challenge (a new one starts on the 5th!), a New Release Blog Hop August 6th , and lots more fun!

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 HDH049 . 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 Twoso me (my top two favorite creations) from all ...

.introduce you to The Sisterhood of the Sinister ... Haunted Design House's very own Macabre Minions ! {trumpets sounding: doot doot doot doooooot} wait a sec... ... ... {maybe it should be shrieking screams instead?} ':) At any rate, here they are! Lynx {Sultana of the Sinister & Macabre Mistress} I'm also known as Blackdragon because I ALWAYS wear black and adore dragons.  I love darker art, but not the gorey stuff.  I have a warped sense of humour, and love to have inky fingers.  I am known to have an artistic flair and create detailed scenic pieces that tell a story. I am one busy mum of three hailing from the UK.  When I've got a free moment between the kids & oldies, I am busy creating work for the five other design teams of which I am part and I am hoping to open an Etsy shop very soon!  I was very proud when Barb made me one of the two Macabre Mistresses, along with the wonderful Oz. The Oz {Sovereign Monarch of Mayhem &...

Are you guys jones'ing for an actual card on this freakin' blog?!!  Now that a lot of the housekeeping has been done, how about a little fun?! I am super excited to tell you all that I am one of the newest members of the Simply Betty Stamps design team!  Yes, Lynx TOTALLY caught the new badge in my sidebar... clever girl :) The SBS blog will be hosting monthly challenges AND there is going to be a new release on July 15th, so you might want to go follow to be updated!  In fact, Betty has a fun way to win all SIX of the new releases going on RIGHT NOW! Yes, I know... SBS are a bit cute... BUT if you will notice there is a subtle appearance of skulls, bats & spiders!  Love it.  I call it creepy-cute. Stamps:  London , sentiment (unknown source) Paper:  black & premium white cs (TAC), green & amber cardstocks (Bazzill) Ink:  Tuxedo Memento Other:   Michael's $1 ribbon (I know!  effing fabulous, right?), pearls (Mich...

... until True Blood season 3!!! Bite me, Eric...  ... no, really, bite me. :)

I just received my package from Barb over at Stamp It Crazy for donating to the Oz drive (see THIS post)! *** O...M...G... Becky... look at this pile of stamps...   ... it is so big : And these photos really do not show it well enough.  I don't know that I'll ever be able to use them all, but I'm gonna try :)  That priority mail envie was stuffed!  AND it had a wonderful little note attached telling me to SNAP OUT OF IT AND GET TO CREATING!   :)  I love my support people! You, too, can get a whopper of a stamp package... be sure to check it out at the link above!  Thanks Barb at Stamp It Crazy... you are freakin' awesome!! *** I just totally dated myself with this play on lyrics... can YOU name that song?!  :)

... until True Blood starts up again! Eric, I think I love you.

I cannot freakin' believe this... do you realize that I didn't select a March Master of the Macabre ?!!  I knew I was behind for April, but daaaaaammmmnnnn!!!! The Gruesome Twosome list from which I will draw a name for Master of the Macabre for March 2010 (from HDH028-HDH031 challenges): 1.  Susan 2.  Creepy Glowbugg 3.  Tracey 4.  Lynx 5.  Terry EO 6.  Alex 7.  Paula 8.  SIC Barb {drum roll} The Master of Macabre for March 2010 is:  Creepy Glowbugg !!!  Grab your Master of the Macabre badge from the sidebar, and please email me with your mailing address so I can send out your winnings :) The Gruesome Twosome list from which I will draw a name for Master of the Macabre for April 2010 (from HDH032-HDH036 challenges): 1.  Renee 2.  Linda in PA 3.  Dragon 4.  lachsekatze 5.  Renee 6.  Sarah 7.  Gabby 8.  Donna 9.  Margie 10.  Suzi 11.  Don...

If you haven't gone over to Stamp It Crazy 's blog and become a follower, please get it in gear and do it!!!  For every 50 followers she gets, she will give away 50 rubber stamps !!   Yes, you read that correctly.  She needs 24 more before she'll draw a winner this time, and then another 50 and she'll do it again!

... all of that rubber... sitting there... staring at me... mocking me... I cracked. Ta da!  It was so worth it... ya' know... not getting some of the non-fun stuff done that I really need to get done :)  Isn't she awesome?!  This is one of the Goddess stamps from Elementals from Smeared Ink ... me likey alot.  I almost started with regular skin tones and thought better of it... I'm so glad.  I think I'll have to buy refill ink for my Copic markers soon, but man I had fun. I added Crystal Lacquer on the water drop tattoos, eyes & lips... o-so-shiney :)  I seriously tried to get a decent photo, but I'm telling you right now the skin shading looks way better in person. One thing I might do next time is mask off the inked cheek area... I HAVE been know to perform stamp surgery before... cutting out elements or snipping them apart... but I'm thinking Terra might hex me if I did that :)  AND this is such a lover-ly stamp image... maybe I'd better ...