Day #4 of the 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN and NEW CHALLENGE at QUOTH THE RAVEN

How now Beloveds ?
Forsooth - how time doth fly and we find ourselves again here for a further Quest.
The Eve for haunting and witches doth creep ever closer ! Perchance thou dost hanker for an abundance of horror and creepiness ? The, hie thee hence to the site of our beloved Sisters of the creep at Smeared & Smudged Forum  wherein they doth celebrate each of the 31 Days of creepiness with projects and Rewards to tempt thee.

And now Beloveds - thy Quest this time at QUOTH THE RAVEN shall be

  "ANYTHING POES".

Take delight in producing for the Master that which your heart desires albeit that it shall appeal to His taste in it's dark, silky succulence, for the Master shalt shudder at the flippant frills and fancies of sugary sweetness !!
Explore thee thy dark and Gothic side in this, the season of ghostly doings, when ghouls and goblins doth abound.
Of cause, as you have probably already guessed, the above text is from QUOTH THE RAVEN challenge blog...masterfully written by IKE , who is generously sponsoring this challenge with a voucher for her digi store..... be honest who doesnt want to win some of IKE's digis?
The two below are just a couple of them that i coloured up for a previous QUOTH THE RAVEN CHALLENGE

 Such hauntingly beautiful images.....

Now on to my offer to the master this month...... a writing desk....1/12th scale for a dolls house.

 Its a handmade desk.... painted, aged ,distressed, stamped images heat embossed in silver then distressed and vanished over...

 the drawer knobs are made from tiny beads.... on the top, a black cat sits upon two tiny handmade books,playing with a rose in a vase made from a large blood red bead.....a skull with a candle on top...and another candle in a bead holder....

 The writing flap is linined with faux leather....

 inside the desk is a framed picture of the master himself.... tiny ink wells, made from beads.... keys, pencils made from cocktail sticks and an ink pen whittled by me.... i have the cuts to prove it..... to reply to the love letters kept bound with a rose...... tiny envelopes and writing paper.....

 This tiny desk has been a labour of love for me..... it took many hours....drying time really gets me down! I hope you'll join in our ANYTHING POES challenge..... i'm sure a lot of the 31 day bloggers will do a POE piece during the month long hop...... please consider join us?
The full 31 day blog roll is on my side bar.....have fun hopping and see you again tomorrow for day #5.

I'd like to enter the following challenges.....

http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/ HALLOWEEN

http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ ALTER IT

http://tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD OR TAG

http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES

http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ VINTAGE

Thanks for visiting. BDx

DAY #3 OF THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN and DRAGONS DREAM T.I.O

Hello,and welcome to the third day of our massive blog hop..... and to the new challenge at 

DRAGONS DREAM .

My teamie Helen chose the recipe for the challenge for the next fortnight..... it is called LEAF ME ALONE .......and she challenges you to use on your TAG, the colour orange, some metal and leaves. Please use at least one 'real' stamp and anything else you fancy. 

 I used TATTERED ANGEL stamps onto linen cardstock..... coloured my images with promarkers and distressed with ink.
I die-cut some leaves from recycled aluminium food trays.... coloured them with alcohol inks....and various embossing powders..... the spiders on the leaves are coloured with alcohol ink as well.... they look like really nasty little critters now...dont you think? Hope you'll join in with us this fortnight.

I'd like to enter the following challenges with my tag.....

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/ HALLOWEEN

http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/ TAG

http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/ ALL ABOUT AUTUMN

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.co.uk/ FRIGHTFULLY SCARY HALLOWEEN

http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/ LEAVES

thanks for visiting see you tomorrow for day #4 and the new QUOTH THE RAVEN CHALLENGE.

BDx

DAY #2 OF THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN.... DE-STEMPELWINKEL .

After yesterdays huge post i'll keep todays short.... well shorter.
Earlier this year Jetske asked if i'd like to be guest designer again in October....did i? You bet i did!
Halloween is 'my time'..... so this month i'm not only a regular member of the DT  i am 'guest' designer, so i'll be doing 12 posts using stamps from DE-STEMPELWINKEL .... Who knows maybe more as i do love real rubber!

This started life as a kiddies wooden tic-tac-toe game.... i took it to pieces...distressed the wood....painted it...used designer papers around the sides, inside and underneath. The triangle shaped blocks were painted, then pumpkins adhered to one face, bats and moon to another and the third left blank. I edged the blocks with gold pen.

My  charity shop find is now a unique Halloween toy. Please go and check out the DT blog  when you have a few minutes to spare.... these ladies are very talented.

                                               I'd like to enter the following challenges....
http://tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.co.uk/ NO CARDS OR TAGS.
http://www.craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ THREE....my blocks are 3 sided... and i used 3 bats on them.
http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ HALLOWEEN
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.co.uk/ HALLOWEEN
http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES.
See you tomorrow for day #3. BDx

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN IS HERE.... also SMUDGY ANTICS, HDH and my VISITING ARTIST spots for CS DESIGNS.

This is a combined post so please forgive the length. I promise tomorrow's post will be MUCH shorter! I am participating as a wicked blogger for THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN blog hop hosted by the Smeared and Smudged Forum.  I will be posting a new, stamped project everyday during the month of October dealing with the theme of Halloween and Day of the Dead. To learn more about the 31 Days of Halloween and to find out how non-bloggers can win prizes, click this link. There will be multiple prizes daily and a HUGE GRAND PRIZE at the end of the month! For your convenience, I will keep the blog roll posted on the right side bar of my blog. The hop goes LIVE everyday in October at 9:00am PST. Not only is today DAY 1 of the 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN, it is also Monday which means it is time for a new challenge on the Smudgy Antics Blog. Smudgy Antics is the weekly challenge blog for Smeared Ink.... who are having a massive set of new releases today... halloween, day of the dead and much much more.
The theme for this week's challenge is "DANCE WITH DEATH".
I have done another mask...using SMEARED INK images....

PROJECT #1

Lots of paint..... distress crackle paint.... and copious amounts of ink to give it the well worn, grungy look. We hope you'll join us and DANCE WITH DEATH this week.

Next is MACABRE MONDAY .......

"Creepy Cryptids"

You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece

that has something to do with a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but is unrecognized by scientific consensus and often regarded as highly unlikely!  Think Loch Ness Monster, Yeti, even Faeries.

PROJECT #2

I made the 1st page of a book that i plan on making during the 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN..... i used CREATURE FEATURE from SMEARED INK..... promarkers and lots of ink to colour my scene.
Come and join us this week.... there are so many CRYPTIDS to chose from!

Now.... i was asked way back in march this year by the lovely Chris...of CS DESIGNS if i'd like to be a visiting artist at RECYCLE, RE-USE, AND RE-INVENT and at ART WITH NO BOUNDARIES.
I of cause said yes...knowing that i'd be doing all 31 days this month and knowing i could use some of her wicked images.
The challenge at RECYCLE, RE-USE AND RE-INVENT is HALLOWEEN with the added bonus of BONES.... BRILLIANT HEY?
 I have re-invented a thimble shelf...it stands just over 12'' high.

PROJECT #3

I made little books.....cocktail stick pencils..... altered glitter pots.... yep i did say glitter.... to make potion bottles....beads into crystal balls.....

chicken bones..... mini bandages.... tiny balls of string.... altered kiddies toy cup and sauser....

junk.... oh i mean treasure of all types...... dried hedge row flowers, picked on our walks to school....

i really enjoyed putting this together and hope you'll join me this month at RECYCLE, RE-USE AND RE-INVENT.

Finally.... i heard that sigh of relief!..... is ART WITH NO BOUNDARIES..... this month the challenge is HALLOWEEN/GOTHIC.... I made a vampire shrine using CS DESIGNS....  CLARA BOW..... who'd have thought she'd make such a stunning vampire?
I re-used candles.... and a gift bag as my backing paper.... die-cuts.... and roses i made...yes the dragon makes flowers :)..... and some plastic bones...... i used promarkers and ink for colouring..... hope you'll join me at ART WITH NO BOUNDARIES this month.

PROJECT #4

I know its been an awfully long post..... have a wonderful time hopping...i know you'll be amazed and inspired by the talent that these incredible bloggers have.

I'd like to enter the following challenges.....
http://smudgerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  all of them....i need those earrings!
http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ SHINY SPARKLY BLING.  project #4.
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES. all projects.
http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.co.uk/ HALLOWEEN. all projects.
http://quirkycrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ MONSTERS. project 2 and 4
http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ SHOW YOUR STYLE....all of them!
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES LINKY PARTY. all of them.
http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ HOW DARK CAN YOU GO? all of them again.
See you tomorrow with a shorter post...promise... for day #2.
BDx

DELICIOUS DOODLES and DE-STEMPELWINKEL

Today there is a new challenge at DELICIOUS DOODLES and its my turn to post at DE-STEMPELWINKEL.
First up then is the new challenge at DELICIOUS DOODLES.... and its AUTUMN SCENE OR AUTUMN COLOURS......i made a tag using Teri's PUMPKIN PATCH image.... coloured with promarkers and layered it up to give the pumpkins more dimension.

Blackcard stock base and an orange ribbon to finish. Hope you'll have time to join us this fortnight at this fun challenge.
I'd like to enter this tag into the following challenges.....
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.co.uk/ HALLOWEEN OR ANYTHING GOES
http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING BUT SQUARE
http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.co.uk/ LEAVES
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.co.uk/ PHOTO INSPIRATION
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.co.uk/ FALL INSPIRED

Now onto my DE-STEMPELWINKEL DT project..... i have so many beautiful faerie stamps that i never seem to use these days that i thought i'd do a pastel pretty offering.... i know i must be feeling poorly or going down with something....but remember next week is the start of October and i'll have 31 days of creepy, macabre offerings ....so this was a pleasant change.

The stamp of cause is from DE-STEMPELWINKEL....coloured with promarkers.... mounted onto silver mirri card.... if i'm going girly...i'm doing girly!....although i didnt manage to use glitter...that would be a step to far :) All the papers etc are PRIMA.
Come and check out the DT blog.... these lasses are amazingly talented.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges...
http://itsallaboutthevintagechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ BROWN TONES
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.co.uk/ MYTHICAL CREATURES
http://www.sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ SOMETHING MAGICAL
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ FAIRIES AND FANTASY
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ USE A STAMP...NO DIGIS
Thanks for visiting BDx

SMUDGY ANTICS and MACABRE MONDAY.....

You still have a couple of days to join in these two brilliant challenges..... SMUDGY ANTICS challenge is BLACKBIRDS.... any kind of blackbird you want.... i used one of the ravens from SMEARED INK'S QUOTH THE RAVEN set.

I faux rusted a small bird cage.... added lots of bits and pieces..... then made myself a dimensional RAVEN... lots of layers and fussy cutting..... then glazed it..... i even made the little rolled paper flowers.... i must be getting girly! I hope you'll have time to join in....you have til Saturday teatime..... LETS SEE SOME BLACKBIRDS...PLEASE?

I'd like to enter my caged raven into the following challenges
http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.co.uk/ THINGS WITH WINGS
http://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ BIRD
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.co.uk/ FUR OR FEATHERS
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/ ANYTHING GOES
http://lexiscreations.blogspot.co.uk/ MAKE A GIFT


NOW to something completely different..... MACABRE MONDAY where the challenge is CHAIN ME UP, CHAIN ME DOWN.
I decided on a mixed media canvas.... and a SMEARED INK IMAGE (who else?)

The lady in chains is layered and glazed.... i cut up an old belt for the bondage straps..... and distressed the recycled canvas..... i used chains and upholstery tacks...... the words are rub ons..... this ones enough to scare the life out of ya..... and my grandad would be mortified if he'd have seen it! Get your chains out and join us at MACABRE MONDAY.....you have a couple of days still to play.

http://artwithnoboundaries.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://sparklingblackrose-craftmylife.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ TEXTURE
http://doodleartifacts.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://smudgerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ RECYCLE
Thanks for visiting BDx

Dragons dream tag it on

So it's back to Elizabeth to choose the theme with "Misty Autumn Glaze" She would like to see Mica/Ink Mists, Autumn Colours, Glaze and as always at least one real stamp on your tag please. 

I did something a bit different for me.... its not even macabre..... i used mica sprays and ink sprays.... messy!

After my tag base was dry i stamped my image from THATS CRAFTY directly onto my background....then stamped it out 3 times more on card.... coloured them in with promarkers and sukura pens.... fussy cut into decoupage layers....3D'd it with silicone then clear heat embossed  the top mask  .... added a few feathers.... stamped around the edges with the swirly bits of the same stamp and added detail with the sukura pens. Hope you'll join us this fortnight.... get messy and have fun.

I'd like to enter my tag into the following challenges....
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/ FALL COLOURS
http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/ FALL INTO FALL
http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.co.uk/ SHADES OF AUTUMN
http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.co.uk/ NEW STAMPS.... brand new never inked before!
http://eurekastamps.blogspot.co.uk/ AUTUMN COLOURS
http://justsomelinesblog.blogspot.co.uk/ 2 DIFFERENT COLOURING MEDIUMS... spray inks and pens.
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup FALL COLOURS USING ALCOHOL MARKERS.
http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ AUTUMN
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ EMBOSS IT... i heat embossed the mask.
Thanks for visiting BDx

LATE POSTING.... SMUDGY ANTICS, MACABRE MONDAY and DE-STEMPELWINKEL

I am sorry i am so late with these posts.
We have a new challenge for you at SMUDGY ANTICS, its a colour challenge SHADES OF GREY WITH YELLOW..... whilst over at MACABRE MONDAY the new challenge is I'M MELTING.
I have combined both challenges and made a small curio cupboard.

I distress painted it... black and grey..... i used POE  and ROSE COFFIN from SMEARED INK as well as a skull digi image on the front of the tiny books  from them.

I made tiny little books and pencils...... altered a small plastic skull with tissue paper stamped with ravens from SMEARED INK also..... stuck a small candle on the top and let it burn down a long...long way!

I used various bits from my ever growing stash of oddments....... and some thin yellow taper candles.....

Lots of burning.....and melted wax.... I hope you'll come and join in with at least one of these challenges....or be like me and combine them!

I'll enter this curio cupboard in the following challenges.....
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/ ANYTHING GOES
http://sparklingblackrose-craftmylife.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES LINKY PARTY
http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ TEXTURE
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD
http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES

Now on Saturday it was my turn to post on the DE-STEMPELWINKEL design team blog..... this time i decided to make a DRAGON TAG...... of cause all the stamps come from DESTEMPELWINKEL..... coloured with promarkers and ink

How many baby dragons can you see? I'd like to enter this tag into the following challenges....
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/ MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND
http://paperminutes.blogspot.co.uk/  AUTUMN
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ THINGS WITH WINGS
http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.co.uk/ ANIMAL COMPANIONS
http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/so-sweet.html SO SWEET.... what could possibly be sweeter than baby dragons?
http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING WITH WINGS

There are actually 8 babies..... maybe thats why we dont see many dragons....they hide amongst the fallen leaves!
Thanks for visiting BDx

DE-STEMPELWINKEL DESIGN TEAM http://destempelwinkeldesignteam.blogspot.co.uk/

This my 1st project as a member of  DE-STEMPELWINKEL design team, to say i'm chuffed to bits is an under statement....... I do love real rubber! Thank you Jetske for asking me to join your amazingly talented group of stampers.
My daughters had lots of little board books that they no longer wanted.... could i throw them out?
 NO! I kept them to alter. This is a simple way to make a one of a kind altered book.
Cover the spine in metal tape and the centre crease between the pages.

 Cut some card to fit the board pages..... plus one for the back and one for the front cover.

 I stamped and coloured all my pages, then assembled my book.

 I coloured all the images with promarkers and tinted the sky with two shades of blue ink, before distressing

 the edges of each page with grey and black ink.

 Before i put the front and back covers on the board book, i stuck down a piece of ribbon, make sure its long enough to tie in a bow..... i also went around the edges with a silver paint pen ..... just to make it pretty.

Hope you like my little book of forest fantasy...... now go and see what old board books you can find to alter.
I'd like to enter the following challenges...
http://smudgerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ RECYCLE
http://www.clearlyistamp.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Clearly%20Inspired%20Challenge LEAVES
http://www.sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ SOMETHING MAGICAL
http://tandastamps.blogspot.co.uk/ MYTH AND MYSTERY
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD
http://jacksonsdigitalexpressions.blogspot.ca/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD
http://artwithnoboundaries.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://doodleartifacts.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES/MUST RECYCLE
http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD
http://www.tammyscrapincorner.com/ THINGS WITH WINGS
http://totallystampalicious.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD.
Thanks for visiting....please go and check out the DE-STEMPELWINKEL designers blog..... you are really going to be inspired by these ladies.
BDx

NEW CHALLENGE AT QUOTH THE RAVEN and GOODBYE TO MY HERO

MY HERO, MY PAL, MY GRANDAD
1919-2012

You can skip this bit and scroll down for the new challenge at QUOTH THE RAVEN if you like, but i'd like to quickly explain why i've been missing in action.
On the 23rd of July my treasured Grandad died..... i'd looked after him nearly 6 years... i'd promised him (and my Nan, who died last September)  he'd never go into care or a Nursing home and that he'd die here at home just as he and my Nan had always wanted...... (Nan died in my arms on a sunday afternoon).... but after a week of being given anti biotics at home it was decided he needed stronger ones by IV so i let him go into Hospital.... he seemed to be doing well and the doctor told me that he'd finish the course on the wednesday so he'd be able to come home then...... but it didnt work like that...... he died in his sleep all alone at 5.50am on the Monday morning. I wasnt with him.... i now have to come to terms with breaking my promise and the terrible feeling of guilt.
His ashes were interred with my Nans on Tuesady... they are together again..... i miss them both so much. They were parents to me.... not just grand parents.... the massive whole they have left will never be filled.

Til we meet again.... love you Grandad. x

And now - a further Quest.......  what say thee to the notion of discourse with a creature from eons gone by ? How wouldst thou address such, and what knowledge would he impart to thee. ? Herewith lies a tale of one such encounter - a strange tale indeed - and doth not thy mind race at the thought ?? The tale is entitled "SOME WORDS WITH A MUMMY" .
Perchance a small snippet to whet thine appetite.....Quote:          "Come to me, by all means, my dear good friend, as soon as you receive this. Come and help us to rejoice. At last, by long persevering diplomacy, I have gained the assent of the Directors of the City Museum, to my examination of the Mummy --- you know the one I mean. I have permission to unswathe it and open it, if desirable. A few friends only will be present -- you, of course. The Mummy is now at my house, and we shall begin to unroll it at eleven tonight".
So lets see what you can come up with...... its not a horror story...its a satire.....poking fun at the Victorian obsession with all things Egyptian.

I altered a china doll.... and made a door hanger....... the name of POE's mummy..... ALLAMISTAKEO (funny hey?) is down the right side as you look at the photo.

I hope you'll come and join us this month.......please?

I'd like to enter the following challenges.....
http://smudgerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ RECYCLE
http://tandastamps.blogspot.co.uk/ MYTH AND MYSTERY
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD
http://jacksonsdigitalexpressions.blogspot.ca/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD
http://artwithnoboundaries.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES
http://doodleartifacts.blogspot.co.uk/ ANYTHING GOES/MUST RECYCLE
....thanks for visiting BDx