Simply Betty Double Whammy Blog Hop!

Have I told y'all lately how much I LOVE this time of year?  Huh?  Have I?  You know, when all of the Halloweenie goodness starts showing up in magazines, store shelves, and of course in rubber stamps & digi's?!!!!

Can you say:  HELL-to-the-YEAH!  :)

And Betty, being my Halloweenie Soul Sistah, is making me smile even more... she's releasing TWO new Halloween-themed digi/stamp lines today, with MORE coming soon!  That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.  Today's new lines from Simply Betty Stamps are:

Jude and his Shenanigan Crew and Punky Teens. 

(note:  please click on photos for clearer view... Blogger is sucking the life out them here...)

 First up, this is Peter... buddy of Jude, and just as ca-yoot as can be!  And you know I usually try to creep-out any cuteness... well, I just couldn't do it.  I KNOW!  Am I getting soft?  WTH?  :)

Peter is colored a la Copics, but I forget which ones I used... my bad.  I used a Tim Holtz texture folder, Neenah & TAC cardstocks, VersaFine Onyx ink, & a retired alphabet stamp set from TAC.

Next up, Punky Teen Tootsie!  Freakin' adorable, but I didn't feel bad at all giving her green skin and purple hair... that's just how I roll.

More Copics, Tim Holtz edge die, Delightfully Spooky stamp set (TAC), VersaFine Onyx ink, PTI canvas texture plate, purple rhinestones, Bo Bunny paper(?), misc. ribbon; Bazzill, Neenah & TAC cardstocks.

And finally, my FAVORITE of the entire release :)  Punky Teen Freddy!  I'm sure you can tell why, right?  How fun is this?!  I tried to icky-up his face a bit, but OBVIOUSLY it does no justice whatsoever to the real Freddy... just sayin'.

Copics, Studio G rubber stamp sentiment, Background Soup rubber stamp (TAC), Moulin Rouge Palette ink, VersaFine Onyx ink, Stardust clear glitter pen, Neenah & TAC cardstocks.

Now, more on this Double Whammy Blog Hop... if you've arrived here from the SBS blog, you are on the right track!

To continue on your merry way, you should head off to SBS's September Guest DT's blog:  Calie!

Four lucky winners will receive three free digis of their choice from these two lines! All you have to do is leave us some loving on the Simply Betty Stamps blog! Of course it is always appreciated when you leave everyone a little lovin', however the four winners will be chosen from the Simply Betty Stamps blog!  Have fun hoppin'!

HDH046 Wacko Jacko's... done!

Well it took me until tonight, but I did my own challenge!  And check it... two posts in the same day!  I'll wait a moment while you haul you fanny back into your chair...

...

...

...

:)

Soooooooo back to the wacked jacked card for this evening.  I apologize right now for the beyond crappy photos.  Obviously if the sun isn't shining & I have to shoot them under my OTT light, ALL IS SUCKY.  I even played with the color balance in PhotoShop... of which I know just enough to be dangerous.

BUT I can tell you that in real life, this is pretty cool... IF I do say so myself.  Do ya' think I got enough jacko's??  I have a couple more, but me thinks this should do :)

Me likey the dimension to this bad boy... I used foam tape & pop dots to vary the heights of the jacko's.  I also used two different orange cardstocks & white... not diggin' the white... made the orange WAY too freakin' bright {hey... that rhymed! :)}

Stamp companies:  The Angel Company (TAC), Stamp It Crazy, Missy B's, Judikins, & SU.

Paper:  Rusty Pickle dp, Bazzill & TAC cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Other:  MS border punches

Copics:  E09, E35, E57, G14, G28, V99, YG05, YR04, YR07, YR18

Oh, by the way, to the first person that comments and says they want 'em, I've got 16 of these pumpkins stamped that I'll send out.  The gi-freakin'-normous Judikins' one isn't in there, but the rest are.  My favorite?  It's a toss up between gi-fri Judikins' and the Stamp It Crazy one (extreme left)!

So..... have you done anything for this challenge yet?  This is your friendly reminder...

don't make me get the flyin' monkeys!

Happy Mail!

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?!  :)

Macabre Monday #034 - Grim Gift Boxes

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 HDH034.
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:

Grim Gift Boxes

 You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween themed box perfect for housing a little giftie of some kind.  Stipulation:  you must use at least one flower!!  Stamped image, digi, paper, or a real live, dead, dried number... as long as it's a flower :)

I was away this weekend at a TAC demonstrator gathering (The Angel Company rubber stamps) and one of the late night challenges was to take an empty card box and create something with the box of paper scraps they had.  How fun was this?!  It was the kind of box with a clear plastic lid, and their scraps were awesome.  This is what I created:

The bit of green that is peeking between the weaves is actually on the inside of the lid.

The large flower was made from three scallop circles, and the little flower was made with six flower punches.  Everything is crumpled & distressed.

I also decorated the inside.  I'm thinking this would be perfect for one of the milestone birthdays when everything is supposed to be black... like the big 40 :)

Stamps:  TAC (can't remember which set... I was sleep deprived & brain dead at the time)

Paper:  More Mimi dp & black cardstock

Ink:  Palette Noir

Other:  black paint (Plaid), scallop circle & flower punches (Marvy), misc. black brads & card box

Ok... your turn... what great little grim gift box can you create?!

Hello Dolly... take two

I couldn't resist doing another card for the HDH030 Hello Dolly challenge :)  Especially since a blogging buddy of mine, Melisa, sent me a couple of stamped images... with a little nudge to Goth them out a bit ;)  This one is for you, Melisa!!

I also wanted to participate in Copic Creations challenge No. 24.  I just started following this challenge blog... they have some great tips!  I chose to do Skin Tones and a Brunette Hair technique... and maybe this qualifies for the Feathering technique, too?!

Stamps:  boy w/ wagon (B-line Designs), dolly (Kraftin' Kimmie), Aged Ornaments (TAC), skull (Bombshell), unknown sentiment

Ink:  Moulin Rouge, Charcoal, & Noir Palettes, Memento Tuxedo

Other:  Copic markers

The boy image did NOT have the rusty knife in his hands originally (of course)... I drew that little twisted element myself  ;)

Don't worry, Copic Creations people... I'm working on a not-so-twisted entry, too!



So, Melisa... did it live up to your expectations? :)

Totally Moth Fab...

Have you missed me?!  I have been locked in my creative dungeon today, so I can actually share something new ;) 

Can I just say, I love Torrente stamp images?  So demented looking... fiendish, really.  LOVE THEM.  I know, I know... if you've been to my "normal" blog, you are probably wondering how I can create a whimsical little snowman card one day, and say that I'm in love with Torrente images the next.  Well, that's just how I roll.  Yes... I AM the same person... ;)

Stamps:  Moth Fab (Torrente), sentiment (The Angel Company - TAC)
Paper:  Penelope (orange) & basic black cardstocks (TAC), misc. white & green cardstocks
Ink  Palette Noir
Other:  Copic markers, Crystal Lacquer, MS spider web punches, misc. ribbon

I took a ton of pictures of this one... I was trying to show my Copic coloring.  I've got a handful of them, and am still a bit clumsy with markers.

I used Crystal Lacquer on Moth Fab's eyes, bodice, boots, and the heart on her purse.  It adds just a bit o' shine.

A lot of Torrente's images are freakin' TALL!  This forces one to step outside of the typical A2 sized card... me likey :)

I think I did pretty good on coloring this one... and I like how I added all of those little orange dots everywhere.  They kinda go along with Torrente's style of drawing.

She really does look better in person... and the bow is yummi-liscious... you'll just have to trust me :)

I'm thinking the inside of the card should read:  "No, really.... go".  I got that from Junkmail Greetings... LOVE IT.

What do you think?

.

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?
.

Tissue-Paper-Mache Gourds

This isn't extremely Halloweenie, but a fun project nonetheless ;)  I followed (sorta) Martha Stewart's instructions to make this tissue paper mache pumpkin.  Basically, you use a balloon as a form, layer tissue paper with diluted Mod Podge, and let dry overnight. 

Pop the balloon and remove.  Martha used her's as votive holders, if I remember correctly... I'm going off memory, so I'm sure I left some info out ;)  Let's just say, it would be WAY freakin' easier to do this project with two people... it took forever on my own, and it was probably messier, too.

I punched a flower and cut it apart to use as leaves and rolled up some kraft packing paper and glued it for a stem.  A little Scrapper's Floss for the stem tendrils... perfect touch!

I modified it a little and TRIED to create one of the striped green gourds.  I'm not sure how it's workin'.  To do this one, I under-inflated one of those long skinny balloons... it was trickier to remove it after it all dried, but I got it!

After I let them dry another day without the balloons, I cut larger holes so I could insert wrapped candy inside (Halloween peanut butter kisses).  After I filled the gourd, I glued a punched flower to the bottom to help it stand up a little.  For the pumpkin, I gathered the hole and glued it shut along with the leaves & stem.

These took a while, but maybe if you got an assembly line workin' it would be worth doing several!

Stamps:  More Bone Appetit (TAC special... ask me for more details!)
Paper:  tissue paper, kraft & Bazzill cardstock
Ink:  Burnt Umber Palette
Other:  Copper Hardware (TAC), Scrapper's Floss

What do you think?

.

Skull collage...

I was feelin' kinda scrappy, but not enough to actually create a page :)  So I came up with this.

I used a stamp from my new goodies I got in the mail from The Angel Company, and a couple of embellies in my Halloweenie stash.

I used another pre-made gate-fold card, but I created two card bases from it!  This is the smaller one, and then I have a standard A2 that you'll see next time :)

Stamp:  Fun Skulls

Paper:  DCWV card base

Ink:  Noir Palette, Tsukineko Eucalyptus spray ink

Other:  BG ribbon, Yellow Bicycle clear star, MM ribbon tag, Avery shipping tag, fabric scrap

What do you think?

It's never too early for Halloween... Boo Sprite Girl

Haa haa! I received several replies from FB & Twitter after my status update last night :) So, here is the little bit o' cuteness I was talkin' about:


Boo Sprite Girl


{squeal}


Isn't she abso-freakin-lutely adorable? I LOVE LOVE LOVE this new set from TAC. So versatile... I mean, we all know I can spook-up just about anything... but come on, isn't the image cute?


Stamps: Spunky Sprite Girls, Glitter Goblins (might be back in September), Punk Princess (retired)
Paper: Bazzill Mono-Oranges, Basic Black & Olive cardstocks, & Premium White cardstock
Ink: Noir Palette, VersaMark
Other: pop dots, black lace, distresser, Prismacolors w/ mineral oil, grey Tombow marker


I missed a spot on her hand, but I'll fix it later... just a quick swipe with the blending stump! The woven background is a leftover from my Paper Wings design team project, so that should peak a little interest, there {insert evil smiley w/ raised eyebrow & horns here}


The VersaMarked background really popped after I sponged a bit of Noir ink over the edges. The orange was really bright, and the Noir toned it down quite a bit.


What would be AWESOME is if I had a spring under the skull instead of a pop dot... oooooooo... me likey!


What do you think?