31 Days of Halloween - Day 28

It's day 28 of the Smeared and Smudged 31 Days of Halloween blog Hop.  Please visit the Smeared and Smudged blog for the daily clues and all the rules to  qualify for prizes and to find out about the daily winners.

I have done a journal page today.  The image is from Crafty Moments, one of the gals on the hop last year used these images and sent us over to her friend Vince's blog.

I've colored with pencils and fussy cut out. I was going to create a page but as I was flipping thru my journal I found this one that I made and never used. It has a layer of water color crayons and then several glimmer mists sprayed on top.

Next stop of the hop is Sandy.  If you get lost along the way the complete list of Wicked Bloggers can be found to the left in the side bar.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 17

It's day 17 of the Smeared and Smudged 31 Days of Halloween blog Hop, and it's Friday!  You know what that means - Smeared Ink day on the hop :)  Please visit the Smeared and Smudged blog for the daily clues and all the rules to  qualify for prizes and to find out about the daily winners.

I've made another rolodex card today.  I covered it in gesso (yesterday) and today I scribbled on it with my watercolor crayons.  I used a small paint brush to add water until I was happy with the background. I was so happy with it I wanted to squeal. I've used Black Widow digi from Smeared Ink and colored her with pencils. I used foam tape behind her body so she's popped up a bit. A strip of washi tape and a quick stamp of beware up in the corner and I'm done.  Oh and I added a bit of black gel pen on the legs and around the edge of the body.

Next stop of the hop is Sandy.  If you get lost along the way the complete list of Wicked Bloggers can be found to the left in the side bar.

LOC #27 = Favorite Books

There's another brand new challenge over at the Left of Center Challenges blog today, the theme is 'Favorite Books'.  Our wonderful sponsor this time around is Delicious Doodles.  I decided to do a journal page for this one.

Once it popped into my head what I wanted to do I went to figure out which journal I wanted to play in. the very first one I went to I found an older Poe project which you can see here.  And just by a happy chance the neighboring page was blank. Of course now that I'm typing I realize I didn't take a full picture of both pages together, ug.(will have to do that once there is enough sunlight to take a good picture) Anyway I used the same watercolor crayons to make the background similar to the first page. I have a tree stencil that I sprayed with ink and carefully put down on the page but it was still wet from the water color crayons that it just kind of blobbed everywhere. So I blotted with a paper towel. It doesn't look like I first envisioned but I think that it turned out pretty cool. The fabulous Raven image from Delicious Doodles really didn't need much coloring done. I lightly filled in some areas with colored pencils (lilac and silver). Then cut it out to add to my page.  The title I stamped with some older alpha stamps from CTMH. Then I added some random dots over both pages with metallic sharpies and a white paint pen.
What are you waiting for, create a project of your favorite book or story and join in the fun at LOC. We are still celebrating our first anniversary too so we have an 'Anything Goes' challenge happening all month long. Plus we have a new FB page we would love to see you there!

Happy Crafting

LOC Challenge #24 - Cute vs. Creepy

It's time for another challenge at Left of Center Challenges. The sponsor for our Cute vs. Creepy challenge is Meljen's Designs.  I got to work with this fabulous image called Sugar Skull 1.

I started by coloring my skull with pencils and then cut out to add to my mini journal.  For the background on my journal page I started with some pages from a book and glued them down.  Well when I cut them I was first planning on an ATC so they were smaller than the pages in my journal...  opps.
So to hide that I added the black squares around the edge of the pages with a sharpie.  Then I sprayed some black dylusions ink. Then I scribbled with water color crayons along the top then let them drip down.  Then to add a bit of contrast I outlined my black squares with white paint pen.  Popped my colored skull off the page with some foam tape and voila, a fun and messy page to create.
Now head on over to the LOC blog to check out the amazing creations from the DT and then show us your cute vs. creepy creations. 

LOC Challenge #23 - Scary Stories

Hello my crafty friends! This fortnights challenge over at Left of Center Challenges is scary stories and our fabulous sponsor is Ike's Art.

I chose to use this scary guy in my mini-journal. I colored him with pencils and then cut him out to foam mount on the page. My background was created with water color crayons, dylusions ink spray and sharpie markers.
Please come join us this week at LOC and play in our scary story challenge.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 31

We made it! Today is the last day of the Smeared & Smudged 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. All the details can be found on Terra's blog.  Make sure you check all the past winners to see if you have any prizes coming your way.

I've played in one of my journals again for this last project. This is my watercolor journal, which is cool because I don't have to gesso the pages and the page has a cool texture that shows up when using my watercolor crayons.  I may have gone a bit overboard on the background, but I was having fun :)

 I started with my watercolor crayons of course. Then I stamped some texture stamps from Unity and CTMH.  Then I sprayed with a couple different glimmer mists. I have colored this zombie mermaid (yep my friend Charina drew this) with pencils. When I cut her out and put her against my page she was so bright and glowing I had to try to figure out how to tone her down.  I ended up sponging her with purple ink. I added some dots with metallic sharpie and some glitter glue on her fin.

You can find this image and more over on Charina's blog and her shop, Stamp Effect.  I had zombies on the brain so that's what she's drawn for me so far but I've seen some of her other work in progress and I can't wait to play with more of her images!

I want to thank everyone again for visiting and commenting each and everyday. It's really helped me to keep going this month. I have a lot going on in my life at the moment and this hop has helped me work out some of my stress and relax while having fun making art. Not to mention all the fabulous projects everyone has made. I have a long wish list of new supplies and images that I want :)

Make sure to leave all the Wicked Bloggers some love and visit all the amazing sponsors stores, they have been so generous with all the prizes!

Happy Halloween!

Next stop Anna.

31 Days of Halloween - Day 15

Hello my creeptastic friends! Today is day 15 of the Smeared & Smudged 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. You can find all the info on the hop over on Terra's blog. She's posted a bunch of winners so if you've been playing along on the scavenger hunt hurry on over to see if you're a lucky winner.

I've been playing in my journal again, this time with Stumpie the Grumpie from Smeared Ink.  I made my page green on the bottom and blue on the top and my grumpie blue on the bottom and green on the top. I will also be entering this page into the current challenge over at Smudgy Antics. The theme is to only use Smeared Ink stamps. There is still plenty of time to join in the fun :)

Next stop on the hop is Anna.

The Wicked Bloggers list on my side bar has been updated :)

31 Days of Halloween - Day 13

I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend! Today is day 13 of the Smeared & Smudged 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. To check out the rules or to see if you are winner on the daily scavenger hunt please head on over to Terra's blog.

For today's project I decided on another rolodex card, I'd forgotten how fun they are :) I covered it with gesso and used my watercolor crayons. After I blended with water I took  paper towel and dabbed off the extra water - I loved how the texture of the gesso showed better after taking some of the color away. On a separate piece of CS I stamped my skull from Inkadinkado and my sentiment from CTMH. I cut them out and added to the card. I stamped in pansy purple but it came out way darker than it usually does, but I like it anyway :) Then I used a purple metallic sharpie to add my dots around the edge.

Now head on over to see if Trisha has joined in the hop yet :)

(full list of wicked bloggers is on my sidebar)

31 Days - Day 11 & LOC #16

Happy Friday my friends! It's day 11 of the Smeared & Smudged 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. If this is the first you've heard of it you can find all the rules over on Terra's blog. I also have my DT project for Left of Center Challenges today.

First up is my 31 Days project and since it's Friday it's also Smeared Ink day. This was one of my first rubber purchases from Smeared Ink, way before I was into digi stamps. Unfortunately I searched the store and didn't find her for sale anymore so she must be one the retired sets. However there are many more awesome sets over there. 

First I stamped her in lt grey in my mini journal so I could see where her face would be. Then I added my water color crayons, greenish where her face would be and orange-ish everywhere else. Then when that was dry I stamped her in black ink. I then got out my various colors of glitter and went to town. I added some sparkley spider stickers but the sparkle didn't really show up in the photo.  

Over at Left of Center we have a new challenge starting that I know you can all join in on.  The theme is Halloween / black / orange ..... easy peasy for all you wicked bloggers and even the hoppers can grab their stamps and join in the fun.  Or if you like to create things out of the norm we always accept anything Left of Center :)  Our sponsor over there this time around is Limited Runs Digital Stamps. I got to play with Brad Nailed Zombie,

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and get some stamping time in :)

Next stop on the hop.... Trisha.

Thank you all for the comments on my rolodex card, you can see more of mine here and here are some cool ones I found on Pinterest.

I only used the gesso on my card so it wouldn't get too warped, plus it adds some texture as well. 

31 Days of Halloween - Day 9

It's day 9 of the Smeared & Smudged 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. All the info can still be found here on Terra's blog.  :)
I'm back to creating in my journal today, mixing it up with a Dia De Los Muertos page.

I stamped my image from After Midnight Art Stamps.  The scribbled with my water color crayons and added some water to blend it all together. After it dried I added my border stamp from CTMH and colored her dress with pencils.

Short post today, it's been a crazy week at work already.

Next stop on the hop... Trisha.

LOC Challenge #4

Hello Friends,

It's time for another fun challenge over at Left of Center Challenges.  This weeks sponsor is Lacy Sunshine. Somehow before this challenge I'd never heard of her or been by her shop, WHAT?!?! I had fun looking through and chose this fab image to play with Buggz and Lil Voodoo Bunny.

You have to stop by her shop to see what a wonderful selection of images she has.  I colored her with pencils and decided to create a journal page with her.  I used watercolor crayons to create  the background, then used a background stamp from Smeared Ink. Cut my lovely voodoo gal out and glued her onto the page. I spritzed some glimmer mist and wrote BAD onto the page. I love how the colors turned out. Of course the pic doesn't do it justice, I will have to try to snap a pic in the bright morning sun so ya'll get the full effect.
Head on over to Left of Center to join in the fun. If you like creating out of the norm then the challenge theme will always be anything goes. If you are more of a mainstream stamper you can still join the fun but you'll have to follow the theme. This week theme is to "bling it up".

LOC - challenge #2

Welcome back for another fun challenge over at Left of Center Challenges.  This week's theme is Punch It Out - border or other punch if you are more of a mainstream stamper.  Or if you are a risk taker and like to create things out of the norm the theme is always anything goes.

Our sponsor this week is Sassy Studio Designs. I got to work with this fabulous image called Ursula Pinup. I colored her with pencils and cut her out. On my journal page I used water color crayons for the background then used two stamps I had won a while back that look like bubbles. I added a strand of green sequins down the side and included a few lines of the song that Ursula sings in little mermaid.
I hope you will be able to join us at Left of Center Challenges this week.

Left of Center - challenge #2 punch it out/anything goes

Art Journal

Happy St. Patrick's Day.   It was a lazy day here so I thought I'd do some crafting.  This lovely image is from  Ike's Art. She was a freebie last year and I've finally gotten to use her.  

I colored her with pencils and then cut her out.  My journal page is done with water color crayons - love them! I scribbled my colors down then I just used my finger and some water to blend everything until I was happy with it. I got a little too carried away with the drips and ended up dripping all over my clean dishes in the dish drainer....doh! I couldn't help but add the saucy little sentiment to go with this gal :)

LOC Challenge #1

Hello Friends!  

I'm excited to be part of a brand new challenge blog called Left of Center Creative Challenges. This will be a bi-weekly challenge blog that allows/encourages all things Left of Center- Steampunk, Goth, Halloween (year-round), dark, spooky, creepy, anime, edgy, mythical (fairy tale,  mermaids, dragons, fairy, literary characters, fan art),  and horror, as well as regular mainstream crafters. 

Each Challenge will have a theme, and as long as you project fits into one of the above Left of Center categories, you can follow it or not.  If you are more of a mainstream crafter, you must follow the Challenge theme.  It's a win-win for all!

This weeks theme is buttons and/or bows. Our fabulous sponsor this week is Floppy Latte Digital Designs and I was able to play with Guarding the Egg.  I colored her with pencils and then cut her out to place in my art journal.  My background was created with watercolor crayons.  I love how it turned out!  Then I stamped some little circles down the side, attached my dragon with her egg (that I added some glitter to) and some gems at the top of the page in a couple of the circles I had stamped. I used a metallic sharpie to add my sentiment, not so happy with how that part turned out so may try to figure out something to add at a later date.... maybe a cloud :)

We would love to have you join in our challenge and tell your friends too!

Left of Center Creative Challenges

Thursday Throwdown

It's day 4 of the Smudgefest over on the Smudgy Antics Challenge Blog! Today's challenge (or throwdown) has to do with color.  We are asked to use at lease 3 colors from this swatch.

These aren't usually my first choice when playing with my Smeared Ink stamps, but it turned out to not be as bad as I thought it might be.  I remembered I have some lovely fae stamps that would work perfectly with this color story.  I decided to work in my art journal again. 

First I stamped this sweet fae and then colored her with pencils.  I stamped "curiosity" down the side of the page in blue, pink and purple.  Then I scribbled with my water color crayons and added water to blend them.  I added some more color to my fae with gel pens and then spritzed the entire page with some glimmer mist.  Fun, fun fun!

Here's another shot of the page in the sunshine and a closeup so you can see the shimmer of the glimmer mist.  My camera really doesn't do justice to the colors I used.
Thanks for visiting!  Don't forget to come back, there are still 3 more fabulous days of Smudgefest!  If you really like these challenges you should also check out the Smeared and Smudged Forum for monthly challenges and lots of inspiration and way cool people :)

Wordy Wednesday

It's day 3 of Smudgefest and the challenge today is a tough one.  Today we are to use words only - no images.  I decided to get out one of my art journals and figure out what to do.  I started with my watercolor crayons to create the background color on my page.

I still haven't mastered the technique yet so you can still see the texture of the paper along the edge where I had scribbled with the black crayon. But in this case I like the added texture.  I also stamped the chain link stamp in purple for more background interest.  Then I chose to use part of "The Raven" and end it with my NEVERMORE word stamp from Smeared Ink.

Thanks for stopping by, please visit the Smudgefest so you can be inspired by all the fabulous entries!

Over the Rainbow

This weeks challenge over at the Octopode Factory the theme Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I don't have many Octopode images yet so I thought and thought how I could use the ones I have. I love this gal from the Steampunk Misses set and I thought she would work with a quote from the scarecrow :) I've colored my journal page with watercolor crayons (my new favorite thing) then added my gal in her rainbow colored polka dot dress. You have till this afternoon to join in the fun so stop by the challenge blog (they have a new challenge every Friday).
thanks for stopping by!
PS Octopode is also sponsoring a challenge over on Forever Night Challenges this week :)

Super Freak

This week's challenge over at Haunted Design House is "Chic Freaks" and it's being sponsored by Stampotique Originals. I love love love their images especially those by Daniel Torrente.

So I have used one of his images "Glimmering Hope" for this challenge. I think she's rather chic in a freaky kinda way. And as soon as I read the challenge Super Freak by Rick James popped into my head :) I know my mind works in mysterious ways.... Anywho I've created a journal page with my chic freak stamped in black stazon then made the background with water color crayons. I went bright since it's a bright beautiful day here. Then I added some metallic dots around the edge and outlined her dress and bow. I've also included some lyrics from Super Freak so now you all can have it going thru your head just like me.
Thanks for stopping by!

HDH116 - Chic Freaks

31 Days of Halloween - day 21

TGIF! Only 10 more days of this awesome Smeared & Smudged blog hop. I hope you are all enjoying it as much as I am. Since it is Friday the Wicked Bloggers are encouraged to use images from Smeared Ink. I chose to use the skull from my favorite set. I'm sure I've mentioned it more than once so all you hoppers should know which one that is :)I went with a journal page again since the last one was so fun. I scribbled with my watercolor crayons and then I couldn't find the paint brush I used last time so I just used my finger. This actually worked better because if the colors started to get too muddy I just rinsed my finger real quick. I dabbed away some extra color with a paper towel. I had these skulls already stamped on tissue paper left over from a project I did a while back so I just mod podged them onto the page. I was looking for a skull poem but couldn't find one that fit my mood so I went with part of the description on Wikipedia. Weird, but I like it :)

31 Days of Halloween - day 17

Good Morning to all the hoppers on this 31 day journey with the Smeared & Smudged blog hop! I decided to take a break from the rolodex cards (don't worry it's not for long I'm sure) and get out my journal to play in. My only other entry in here was from the skull appreciation day hop back in June.... my poor neglected journal :(

I scribbled my watercolor crayons starting with lt blue in the middle then a darkler blue then black around the edges. Then I took a wet paint brush and spread the color all around. Since I didn't want to wait for long for everything to dry I took a papertowel and blotted it. At first I was worried that I was pulling too much color off the page, but I really like how it turned out. The tree is from Paula Best and all the rest are from CTMH. I used colored pencils to add a little bit of color to the house. This wasn't my vision when I started the page, but I was pleasantly please with the end result.
I will also be entering this into the Forever Night Challenge for this week: Black and Creepy.
Next stop on the hop.... Ikes' World.