Haunted Design House

It's the Masterful Mistress of the Macabre here, late as usual with my Macabre Monday challenge goodness (bad bad Mistress) I may have to switch places with the Minions for my actions...  well...  maybe ;) We are having our  LAST  challenge of the year, which expires this Sunday at 5pm CST.  The Minions are in need of a little yard time from the dungeon, but will pop in now and again to keep everyone on their toes. So, what is the challenge? Macabre Monday  challenge, " Sam hain   Sun set ." You are to  create a   dark,  Gothic, or  Hallowe'en based art piece that represents a  Samhain  Sunset . We're looking for the colors of a beautiful fall sunset. Think  purples ,  reds ,  oranges , and  yellows . Use them as you wish, just keep it within our guidelines. We are sponsored by the incredibly talented Mitzi Sato-Wiuff, of  Aurora Wings . She has offered up a ver...

Since the Mistress chooses not to manage her time properly... a little Wicked Wednesday in-lieu-of  Macabre Monday ;) HDH #177:  Dimensional Hallowe'en Please see all details & link up your own creation   HERE .  This challenge is being sponsored by: Without fu rther ado... The Masterful Mistress of the Macabre  Barb Be sure to pop by my blog, as well as ALL of the Minions' blogs ( see links at right ) for more details & photos.  And don't forget to get your creep on with us... you've still got until  Sunday at 5pm (CST)  to join in on the fun and possibly win some Tando Creative goodness! Also a little reminder of the ongoing Countdown to Halloween blog with links to 192 participants in all that is Halloween!

I'm not really distressed... because I actually got to play along with the challenge this week!  Smeared Ink was awesome enough to offer up a sponsorship, and the Minions and I couldn't be happier... thanks SI!! We tailored this week's challenge, "Pass the Distressing, Please" , specifically for Smeared Ink... their name says it all!  Ink it, rip it, tear it, file it, crumple it... you get the idea :)  Here is my offering: other details:  Tim Holtz edge die & key die, Maya Road stick pin & rose trim, Karen Foster paper I LOVE how this turned out.  In real life, the red is a true BLOOD red!  I added color with my Copics and then went to town distressing the edges & gettin' inky.  I even colored a clear crystal stick pin to match the red... me likey. I used two of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Smeared Ink images:   Skull - Quoth the Raven Plaque - As Death   Aren't they fantastic?!  These images would ...

As Summer is basically here, it makes me long for the cool, crisp evening air of Autumn and all that is dark and lovely.  However, HBO's True Blood is back in June with Season 5, so that is one of the FEW saving graces of Summer :)  And  since I'm already counting down to June 10th, I thought I'd go all vampish on a cute Saturated Canary digi:  Suzie Stockings   Me thinks I Goth'd her up just a bit.  I used Copic Toner Grays for the black, my favorite "dead" skin combo (BV23, BV20, C00), and for the red:  R39, R56, R37, R35.  The two papers are from Karen Foster, the glittery die-cut is from a LSS, May Arts bat trim, & who knows where the black heart brad came from :)  Did you notice I added a little rhinestone on her garter, too?  Love it. Her dress was really fun to color... all of those folds! The red is waaaay off in this photo.  Damn glitter & shimmery cardstock threw off the lighting. Krista wit...

After seeing what Creepy Glowbugg did with all of those Delicious Doodles images, I didn't even want to post this.  Wasn't that step card amazing?!!!  Me.  So.  Jealous. So, here is my no-frills card for you: That Zombie Pirate image by Teri is awesome, isn't it?  So to make it center-stage, I just used some Karen Foster "Dragon's Gate" paper scraps & popped up the matted image. You still have a few days to play along for the chance at some Delicious Doodles digis!  Check out THIS post for details :)

Two weeks in a row?!  I can't believe it either.  I'm sure I just jinxed myself :)  But, yes, I was able to play along with Macabre Monday ! I've been a fan of Octopode Factory's images since they first came on to the scene.  I love the bold lines and the creepy quirky style.  This week, we've been lucky enough to be sponsored by OF... and here is my offering: I used the head of  Frankenstein's Bride , the body of Morticia , and also the severed head of the Headless Spectre .  KaiserCraft patterned paper, Martha Stewart edge punches (x3), May Arts black web trim, & a sentiment stamp from River City Rubberworks round out this card. I added Glossy Accents to the eyes and the blood... looks great IRL.  I just love how this image looks... and it's from three different digis!   You've still got a couple of days to play along for a chance at some Octopode Factory goodness!  Are you up for the challenge?...

That's right everyone... I'm baaaaaack :)  The "real" jobs have been keeping me hoppin' for so long, that I almost forgot how to find this damn blog!  I'm working this weekend, too, so if I was gonna play, it had to be today.  So, without further ado: HDH126 - Grimm's Grimmest Ike's images that I used for this challenge are f'ing awesome.  "Red" is looking a bit... ummm... yeah, YOU know what I'm sayin'.  >`:)  Let's just say the hubby is diggin' this card. I'm not happy with how the wolf turned out.  When I was almost done with it, my damn marker dumped a HUGE drop right in the middle of it.  Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!  So I kept going over it to try and blend it out, so it looks all blah now.  Dammit.  Good thing "Red" is the focus I guess. I also used an old Rusty Pickle patterned paper that I've been hoarding (LOVE it).  The sentiment stamp is from StampInsanity. You've...

*Please see the sidebar for HDH Macabre Monday Rules* ( Note: entries not following the guidelines are not eligible for prizes or badges ) Ok, macabre fans ... your challenge this week: HDH119 " Freaker's Free-for-All " You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece with  no restrictions . That's right... the Mistress has been slacking, so everyone gets to benefit with a laid-back, no-holes-barred, do-WTF-ever-you-want challenge! Check out what the Macabre Minions have created to feast your eyes upon: Sultana of the Sinister Lynx : Creepy Cricut Cween Donna : Agent of the Abominable Andrea : Our Devious Digital Demoness Susan will be back when she is feeling better, hopefully soon! Temptress of Terror Teri is running a bit late, but check back later for something fantastic as usual! EDIT:- Here I am, please don't sack me!!   Imp of Insanity Ike : Cadaverous Concoctor of Chao s Creepy Glowbugg : will post on Wret...

*Please see the sidebar for HDH Macabre Monday Rules* ( Note: entries not following the guidelines are not eligible for prizes or badges ) Ok, macabre fans ... your challenge this week: HDH117 " Get Lost " You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece that includes a map .  Big or small, background or main focus... let's get lost in HDH-land! Check out what the Macabre Minions have created for your viewing pleasure: Sultana of the Sinister Lynx : Creepy Cricut Cween Donna : Agent of the Abominable Andrea :   I'm intrigued already... Our Devious Digital Demoness Susan is still out with a few broken bones... send her a little healing vibe, would ya'? Temptress of Terror Teri : Imp of Insanity Ike : Cadaverous Concoctor of Chao s Creepy Glowbugg : will post on Wretched Wednesday, so tune in! So, are you up for this challenge?!  Time to get lost this week :)

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 Art...

*Please see the sidebar for HDH Macabre Monday Rules* ( Note: entries not following the guidelines are not eligible for prizes or badges ) Ok, macabre fans ... your challenge this week: HDH116 " Chic Freaks " You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece that includes a chic freak or a freakishly chic theme. Get your freak on... in a chic way. Wasn't there a song from the 70's, "Le Freak" by Chic?  Yes... yes there was.  HERE is the proof.  Sorry, tangent... something shiny.  This song has absolutely nothing to do with this challenge.  You were just given a glimpse into the mind of The Mistress... scarier than any horror movie, huh? ANYWAY... Our awesome HDH stalkers are in for a treat this week, because we are being sponsored by: http://www.stampotique.com/ Home of the awesomeness that IS Daniel Torrente 's art stamps!  Now don't get us wrong, there are some other fantastic stamps at Stampotique, but there is a...

Fantastic work by the Minions & participants so far!  I am LOVING this challenge :)  But as usual, I ran out of time to play, so I've got a couple more cards to show you from my class that I taught in September... and yes, one actually fits the challenge ;P This one uses another Midnight Dreary paper by Moxxie (Dead on Arrival)... LOVE it.  I trimmed up a tree diecut (Tim Holtz) and added a bit o' ribbon. Here's my challenge card :)  More MD Moxxie paper & another Tim Holtz die (rickety house), and a MS fence punch. This shows the dimension a little better (pop-dots are my friends), but the lighting is off.  I kinda like it :) Well kids, you've got one more day to join in on the HDH113 Heinously Haunted Houses challenge for a chance to win a fun little prize pack.  Got haunts?

That's right, stalkers... finally!  And it took about 5 minutes including clean-up time. And it looks like it.  :P No ribbon, no bling, no foof... just rubber stamps, paper & ink. Stamps:  Artful Illusions (grass, tombstone), Tim Holtz (bats), Bombshell (barbed wire) Paper:  Moxxie - Midnight Dreary line Ink:  Palette Noir, Burnt Sienna & Charcoal What do you think... too blah?

The Mistress has a card today!!!  I know... un-freakin-believable. It's even for the current HDH107 Appalling Apothecary Macabre Monday challenge ! I am a bit of a cheater though.  This was actually done a couple of months ago!  ACK!  I know.  It was one of six cards I did for my Elegantly Eerie card class last week.  I had 25 people show for the class, and the three extra kits were gone by the time it was over!  Sah-weet!  I used all of Moxxie's new Midnight Dreary paper line... LOVE LOVE LOVE every single paper in that line! I will say that it took FOREVER to cut and punch all of the pieces for the kits.  I definitely don't make any for my time, which completely sucks.  BUT, I do enjoy teaching.  Here's another card from that class: Super easy, but I just couldn't bring myself to cover that beautiful house!  You can't see it here, but I ended up adding clear glitter pen over the eaves and the right ...