SKULL APPRECIATION DAY 2012--hop with us :)

Howdy Skull and/or Art Fans!!

I have always been keen on skulls and skeletons,  

drawing them with charcoals in art class way back in 1978 (first semester of college) was my favorite and best-by-far-project from that class.

This is my second year celebrating the "Holiday" along with the great ning art community SMEARED and SMUDGED through a blog hop!

Please check out this edgy and different art community, and hop along to view some great skully art!

You should have arrived here from Fabulous Alison's blog

when you leave here go on to Smudgy Andrea's blog

The entire Blog list is to your left, take your time, and be sure to comment as there are surprise prizes along the way, 

and prizes on some of the stops along the way as well as the SnS blog. 

You have until Wednesday to visit us all and comment!

Now onto my project

I made a sign for my SAMHAIN Alter or just to hang in the room, or maybe even on my front door for the SAMHAIN holiday,  I haven't decided yet. :)

I knew from day one, that this would be my project. the only thing I didn't know was what skull images to use. I have several. Then just last week SMEARED INK provided any of us who participated in the monthly challenges (any of them) on the SnS group would get this FABULOUS skull and roses image for FREE!

 I took several photos, and the colors look a little different on all :(  but I have 3 here for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure, LOL) Hubby helped a bit, LOL!

 I used a piece of Luan (thin smooth plywood) which I sanded all the edges of. Then I covered it with a layer of LIQUITEX BASICS white gesso. when dry I added a 2nd coat, when the front was just a bit tacky, I dry brushed on black paint, it mixed and blended with the gesso and gave it an aged gray look to the wood.  

In the meantime I had printed out 2 exact images  of the wonderful SKULL With ROSES Digi Stamp from SMEARED INK, and computer generated my Welcome Ancestors sentiment using the Transylvania font.

All are colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencil. I cut them all out leaving the tiniest edge all around, about 1/8". I coated the backs of all with ELMERS glue with a brush. I smoothed them all down and left them to dry.  

When dry I added some of the thick gesso to the small amount of thinned gesso I had in a cup,  I added the rest of the black paint to the mix. I used a palette knife to mix it, and then just blob it on all around the images and words, so it is kind of lumpy and textured. In  the center and around the edges you can still see some of the original background.  

Once that was all dry I asked the hubs to drill me a small hole on each of the top corners and bring me a length of wire. I attached the wire to the right side and then  added 5 loops before attaching it to the other end and cutting off the excess. I said the center was left with the original background, it is a bit hard to see now, as I added a rose and a smaller bud, leaves and white sprigs that I wired together and then glued using BEACON'S 3-in-1 glue. Once that was dry I added another larger rose and leaves to the left side of the sign, through the wire loop, and glued to the back. 

I tied 5 strips of red fabric that I used pinking shears all around on to each of the loops.

Then I took out my Tim Holtz for RANGER distress inks and used 3 different colors on the roses and the fabric strips to age them a bit...I used the ink pads directly on the roses and fabric, using a "smooshing, rubbing, and brushing" technique.

The colors I used are:  Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Tea Dye. I let the entire sign sit for a bit, and while it was sitting, I cut a piece of cheesecloth, and kept "smooshing" it into the Black Soot distress ink pad. (my fingers were black also, LOL) I let that sit for about 20 minutes or so, and then folded it in half and tied it into a bow. I added some of the glue, and attached it under the center rose grouping.

I have been debating about using a bit of stickles on the roses that are part of the digi images. I am leaning towards NO, as I am going for the aged look. What do you think???

Thank you for visiting, and I appreciate your comments :)

for more information about SKULL APPRECIATION DAY, visit SKULL-A-DAY

entered in:
Smudgy Antics ...anything goes
Smudger Challenge ...skulls
One Stitch at a time ...use a digi
Catch the bug ...anything goes
Simon Says ...anything goes
Order of the Opus Gluei ...it's all relative
Secret crafter ...anything goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show ...texture

Recycled Salsa Jar

Hello, Here is my entry for  

SMUDGY ANTICS 

challenge 

this week, which is 

RECYCLE SOMETHING!

 Gotta love Salsa jars! they have a wide opening and when upcycled or recycled they make for good gifts when filled with candy, or embellishments etc.

 I used images from the BOT-BOTS digital image set by SMEARED INK

I chose this because I am going to put a chunk of foam or cork in the bottom of the jar and use it for Fancy pins. Hat pins etc.

 Printed paper is from PROVOCRAFT by Designer Kim Anderson. It is from a pad...old but still cool sheets, this one is actually my least favorite of the set but it is still cool!

I used cotton single edge fold bias tape for around the paper on the jar itself. I used ribbon in a similar color on the jar lid, i chose to use the ribbon over the bias tape as it has texture, and since you need to unscrew the lid, I thought strategically speaking the ribbed ribbon was a better choice.

The image was colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils. and I have the same paper on the lid, and then the whole thing is embellished with Stickles from RANGER.

Entered in:
Squiggle stamps ...recycle/upcycle

What I have been up to for the last 2 weeks of 2011

Well first I never shared the night time images of my(yule) Alter, so I'll start with those, sadly all the darkest, prettiest ones are very blurry :(  so just a few:

 

 This last picture I added as you can see the smoke from my incense, so I have the 2 kings, The God and Goddess and the 4 elements represented. For those not in the know;  incense = air, red candle burning = fire, in the 2 abalone shells at the front of the table I have water = obviously water and sea salt = earth. I also have a small offering of mulled wine, and pound cake.

Then a Piece of 3D Christmas Art made with Nature!

The Digital image of the owl "Hershal" is from SMEARED INK, and I layered him several times, I used coffee stirrer sticks, one for him to stay on the birch chunk, and one for his sign. I used a piece of birch bark (dried and flattened) for the sign. a small piece of plastic holly and berries from an old candle ring. All that is left is to seal the whole thing. I like how it came out. :)



Then I had a HELL OF A GOOD TIME at the December Open House at THE CRAFTERS CAFE ning forum! They had games and challenges, and I entered 1 item in all but one challenge, and that was only because I lost all day Saturday due to pain.


Then I made TOP 3 at SMUDGY ANTICS with one of my "wicked Christmas" entries...I have to find out which one, LOL :)...it was my "Skelly Christmas" creation

AND...If that wasn't all, I won 2 of the games at TCC December Open House!
The grand prize is still open, and one last game, and the winner will be picked tomorrow. {I wasn't the winner, but I feel lucky and blessed to win the 2 that I won :)}

My daughter got a new kitten (a rescue from the PA ASPCA) named Napoleon. Here is his adorable self :

 Amanda says he holds his own against Mag-a-roo (Maggie) who is showing him who is boss. He is also very playful!

I wore my UGGS that Amanda bought for me for the first time...so warm and comfy!
here's the style and color:

 

Over the next few days I'll be sharing the cards I made during the TCC Open House, plus some other stuff I've been making. I hope to be creating  daily, over the next few months, but of course with my injuries and ailments it is always one day at a time. But that is my goal, even if it is just one thing, I want to be creative every day!

I hope you all are doing something everyday, that makes you happy!

XO

Susan

Yultide Blessings-- Traditions

 To visit everyone in this blog party click the picture:




This is the first year I am actually "celebrating" Yule.

I was baptized Presbyterian, made my confirmation Methodist, married Lutheran, and then basically lived and worshiped as a Methodist for years. I started having issues with my faith back when my children were still young, and I witnessed their persecution by other children in Sunday school and the teachers did nothing about it, and all the hypocrites I knew belonged to my church, BUT the big reason was 2 HUGE prayers, that ANY Christian would think that "God" would answer in a positive way went by year after year without being answered.  At the point that I was seriously at a crossroads, those 2 prayers had been prayed one for about 20 years and one for about 18 years.

Becoming disabled, after only being out of College 5 years, and having my great niece be born with not only a fatal disease but one that cause the child DAILY EXCRUCIATING pain (read about EB and Daisy on my sidebar)  sometimes it is so bad she stops breathing and turns blue, she needs to be bagged, sometimes even rescue breathing and cpr. She has MRSA, Psuedomonis, and other infections (which is what usually kills these kids)  The is other information surrounding her birth etc, that I won't go into here.
However, I am done with Christianity. I believe in Jesus, I believe he was an enlightened man, like Buddha, and Mohammed and Gandhi etc.

Now that you have a bit of back ground. I'll share some of my favorite "Christmas traditions" and my first YULE alter.


First I have to say, it wouldn't be Christmas with out sending out cards. I do every year, though, the lists shrinks every year, sadly. (WE will revisit cards, later on)

Every Christmas eve, we would go to the "family Candlelight service" at our church after dinner

 

When we came home, hubs would take care of the wood stove, and bring more firewood in. I would make popcorn and hot cocoa

and I had a pop-up book that came with a cassette reading of 

"The Night before Christmas" so we would listen to the reading, while sipping the cocoa, and eating the PC, I would turn the pages and the kids would do the pop ups or pull tabs etc.

 then they all (including hubs) went to bed, and Mom put everything together  and wrapped whatever wasn't already wrapped, and pulled out everything that was hidden and got it under the tree.

 

of course, as the kids grew the traditions slowly changed and disappeared. One last tradition, was the week that they were home from school (Christmas to new years) We would all hop in the car, with a thermos of cocoa, again. LOL and drive around looking at all the decorated houses.

I hope you liked my little trip down memory lane. NONE of these photos are mine though, just so you know.

Now here's my YULE Alter, my log is not finished yet, and I haven't put my green tapers out yet, and MY nightly health and healing candle is on the alter. but you get the idea.

 the overall Alter

 close up of my pentacle wreath(where I added evergreen and holly) and "Isis" print

 close up of the "Winter Solstice Queen"

 My "God" candle and the close up of "The Holly King"

 My "Goddess" candle and close up of "The Oak King" print.

 

 looking down onto the alter, my cinnamon healing candle is out front, with a crystal, and there is a white candle with a crystal. Evergreen boughs, holly branches & pine cones.

* the art prints from top to bottom- of "Isis" (as visualized by the artist) "Winter Solstice Queen", "The Holly King" and "The Oak King" are all by the artist Emily Balivet.  here is her Etsy shop.

The Alter should be complete and lit for the YULE MAGIC blog party on the 21rst.

now, I said I would revisit Christmas cards. I will be giving away 10 Christmas cards(with envelopes), hand made by me, that you can use for next year.

 * to win:

*you MUST be a follower

*you MUST comment on this post, a real comment, NOT just please count me in.

****you MUST, MUST, MUST include your email IN your comment.  (I recommend in this format: sallyjo AT charter DOT net)

Cut-off date for this giveaway is 12/25 midnight--so 12/26would be too late)

BIG THANKS to Astraea for hosting this blog party!

DAY 20- 31 Days of Halloween, Countdown to halloween, Real witches of Halloween

Scroll down for my ALL HALLOWS GRIM POSTS(3)

Welcome to Day 20 of the 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN, as well as day 20 of the COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN, and Day 20 of THE REAL WITCHES OF HALLOWEEN.

Today's Halloween funny:

Today's creations is a small bit of Decopage. I found this pre-carved and wood burned Red Cedar plaque in a thrift store for 50 cents.
I took a piece of white card stock and covered it well with FIBER-SCRAPS E Z STAIN walnut stain, and let it dry.
 Then I stamped the DOTD Female in mourning stamp from BOMBSHELL stamps. I used Staz-on Ink, then I used my BIC Mark Its! to color it in. From the same stamp set(Growing Hearts) I stamped "The Heart Grows Fonder" in black staz-on above the image. 
I trimmed it down a bit (like to the over all size of the plaque). Then I burned all around the paper with one of those grill-lighter things and stomped it out with a wet dish cloth. In places it burned a bit more than I wanted, but I think it came out nice anyway. Then I crumpled it up a few times. I used Matte MOD PODGE to glues it down, and to coat it.

entered in:



Stamptacular Sunday challenges ...you choose
My Craft spot ...3D Halloween
Whoopsi Daisy challenge blog ...free and easy (anything goes)
Shopping our Stash ...Dia de los Muertos
Inky Impressions Challenges ...Halloween
Divas by Design ...something spooky
For Fun Challenges ...Halloween without Black and Orange
Fab n Funky challenges ...Beat up, turn or distressed
StampAvie and more ...Halloween

Thanks for visiting :)

Please see the list of other Wicked bloggers for the 31 Days of Halloween
<<<<<------------------------------------------------

Also Please click the buttons for The Countdown to Halloween and The Real Witches of Halloween

Happy Mabon!!

Merry Meet and Happy Mabon!!

 

This is my first real alter. What do you think?

The corn and the Macintosh apple are real. I will be using them in a little while, 

along with warm cider and a corn muffin.

Eventually The wreath pentacle will have a braid cord of gold, silver and white. Being it will be round, the braiding will make for a much better form, than the ribbon is here. I just to go with a wreath, as I can decorate it for each Esbat and Sabbat.

This is the ritual I'll be performing tonight:

Mabon Apple Harvest Rite

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, is celebrated in many ways around the world. It is a day of balance, with equal amounts of darkness and light, but soon, winter will arrive. In some Wiccan traditions, it marks the time when the Sun King descends into the underworld, from which he will be reborn at Yule.
In many pantheons, the apple is a symbol of the Divine. Apple trees are representative of wisdom and guidance. This apple ritual will allow you time to thank the gods for their bounty and blessings, and to enjoy the magic of the earth before the winds of winter blow through.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Varied

 The apple is the symbol of the Divine in many cultures. 
Honor the old gods with an apple ritual at Mabon, the second harvest Sabbat.

Image (c) Getty Images 2007

Here's How:

1. Decorate your altar with symbols of the season -- a basket of gourds or small pumpkins, colorful fall leaves, acorns, vines, grapes or blackberries. You'll also need a pair of orange candles to symbolize the harvest, a cup of cider or wine, and an apple.
   If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now.
   
2. Light your harvest candles. Face the altar and hold the apple in both hands. If you can do this rite outside, raise the apple up to the sky, and feel the wisdom and energy of the gods coming to you. Say:
   The apple is sacred, a symbol of the gods,
   and holds the knowledge of the ancients inside.
   Tonight I ask the gods to bless me with their wisdom. Slice the apple in half across the middle. Where the seeds are, you will see a five-pointed star. Place the two halves in the center of your altar.
   
3. Say:
   Five points in a star, hidden inside.
   One for earth, one for air, one for fire,
   one for water, and the last for spirit. Turn to the north, arms raised to the heavens, and say:
   The world passes from light into darkness,
   and the golden fields of the earth bring the promise
   of food and nourishment through the winter. Face east, and say:
   I stand on the threshold of the darkness,
   and know that the summer breezes give way to autumn chill,
   which bring forth the blazes of color in the trees.
4. Next, turn to the south and say:
   I call upon the wise ones, the ancient gods,
   as the sun moves away and fire fades,
   to be replaced with the chill of the night. Finally, face west, and say:
   I will reflect on the guidance of the gods,
   and let the cool autumn rains wash over me,
   cleansing my heart and soul.
5. Raise the cup of wine or cider to the sky, and toast the gods. Say:
   The wild god returns this night to the belly of the Mother.
   The mother goddess tonight becomes the Crone.
   As the Wheel of the Year turns, the earth dies a bit each day.
   I willingly follow the old gods into the darkness,
   where they will watch over me, protect me, and keep me safe. Sip from the cup, and as you drink your wine or cider, think about the power and energy of the Divine, in whatever aspect you choose to honor.
6. Extinguish one of the candles, and say:
   The wild god has gone to rest in the Underworld.
   I look to the darkness for renewal and rebirth. Extinguish the other candle, and say:
   The mother goddess has entered her most powerful stage.
   She is the Crone, the wise one, and I ask for her blessing. Stand in the darkness for a moment. Reflect upon all the changes that are to come, and those things that will stay constant. Feel the energy of the gods as you connect to them, and understand that even though winter is coming, the light will return again.
   When you are ready, end the ritual.

Tips:

1. Leave the apples on your altar overnight, and the next morning, put them in your garden as an offering to the earth.
2. Feel free to replace the wild god and mother goddess with the names of deities from your own tradition.

What You Need:

• A pair of orange candles.
• A cup of cider or wine.
• An apple and something to cut it with. 

I'll be offering the apple, the corn, some cider, and some of the muffin to the earth and it's wildlife.

 Blessed be!!

sharing my alter with Inspire me Friday