Two Christmas/Holiday cards

I felt like a little creating over the last few days, so here is what I made ( and a few ATCs)

6 x 6 gate fold card, on textured card stock from CALIFORNIA PAPER GOODS, Red speckled paper, rec'd as a RAK, embossing folder by CUDDLEBUG, Holly Ribbon from ALPHA STAMPS, other ribbon from WALMART (it is NOT pink), Black Embossing Powder for Stamp by STAMPIN' UP, Stamp by THE ANGEL COMPANY, markers are glitter vellum markers by AMERICAN CRAFTS, metallic gold marble paper by ATD SPECIALTY PAPERS, Stickles by RANGER.

entered in: Digi Darla Challenges ...Holiday cheer w/ embossing

 Merry and Bright on Navy Mica card stock, pre-made card by CALIFORNIA PAPER GOODS,

Merry & bright stamp by CORNISH HERITAGE FARMS, Holly Angel Stamp by WHIFF OF JOY STAMPS, snowflake stickers, and 3 different colored stones by RECOLLECTIONS, Tinsel from stash, silver embossing powder for stamps by STAMPIN' UP.

entered in: Digi Darla Challenges ...Holiday cheer w/ embossing

Thanks for visiting, extra thanks for commenting!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Where I've been...

Hello friends and followers, I thought it was about time, I took some time to post to my blog. I've been trying to stay fairly current on at least Facebook, as it it so much quicker to just post an update.  However I know not all of you are on FB, or are not my friend on FB.  Sooo here is what has been going on. 
(Plus some art)

Starting in June, June 14th to be exact, Hubs was not feeling like himself. On the evening of the 15th we found ourselves in the ER. His symptoms...feeling a little constipated (which is NEVER, EVER a problem for him) and just feeling "sick inside".  Well they stripped him down and put on a gown, and the doctor and I both noticed his right foot. IT HAD BEEN AGES since I have seen him without socks or shoes on his feet.  I HAD noticed he was walking a wider step than usual, and told him a few times, bring your foot in, why are you walking like a duck?"  I should have looked closer. His foot was totally contracted.  They told me it was "ankle roll". (later when a podiatrist came in to see him, he told us it was almost complete ankle roll...severe case, and a bit of foot drop, and ankle roll was starting on the left foot)  BUT, that was not the reason for being admitted. Blood work came back, showing he was "septic" - infection throughout the body, in the blood. He was in the Hospital for 8 days and rehab for 10.  He kept falling, and retired during this time. 

Ron continued to have falls, and near falls, and finally had 2 out patient appts. with PT. Got a walker, and the CORRECT foot and lower leg brace that he needed. There was a trip to the ER during the month of August, and he was send home. Another on September 8th, and he was admitted...Glucose extremely high. Hospital 7 days, transitional care unit (in the hospital) 11 days (was supposed to be 14)  (I am NOT going to discuss my outrage with certain actions or inactions, or people involved with Ron's care, or I'll be here forever)
It was now Mid October.  On October 16th, I trimmed his toenails, and checked his feet (which I wasn't trusting him to do any longer on his own...due to the contracture being so bad, we could have helped it, had I known) His feet were fine.  On the 19th he decided to BBQ a steak on the Grill.  He fell...leaves, dirt, tree roots, stacked crab traps and yard tools etc. Our son was an hour away. As most of you know, I can not lift anything over 17 lbs.  I do push it sometimes to 20 or 25, but I pay for it.  I am missing bones, ligaments and muscle in left wrist (and permanent nerve damage) and 4-5" of muscle in the lowest part of the upper right arm and elbow area. (this is on top of lumbar spinal stenosis and cervical disk herniation etc and bad knees)  I used all my might and grabbed him by his belt loops in the back and together we tried to get him on an outside chair, it was soo hard and took me forever to dot it. Called my neighbor, she said her hubs would be back in 15 minutes, and she would call his cell and tell him to come directly here.  he did come, but it was 30 minutes or more, she walked over to help also. It took the three of us and his "yard walker" 5 minutes to reach the driveway and switch to his good walker, and then they walked him behind me into the house...another 10 minutes, and I took him the rest of the way to the LR and into his chair. He had some blood on his jeans which was coming from a gash on his pinky finger. he said nothing was hurting him. (keep this in mine for the next segment)


On October 27th, he felt ill all day, and towards evening started vomiting...this is a key symptom of his glucose being through the roof. Our son and I begged him to come downstairs in case he got worse, all day! he refused. then at about 10pm, he called for my son, out of his bedroom, and he wasn't answering, I asked what is the matter, what do you need from Tom? He said, "I have to go to the ER" ...It took Tom almost 10 minutes to get socks and shoes on my hubs and a flannel shirt, and then the two of us over an hour to get him from the upstairs hallway to the bottom of the stairs, then out to the porch. He was slurring his speech...I called an ambulance. I am glad I did, as it turned out he was in A-FIB. I wrote the last couple of glucose readings down for them, and told them I gave him some REGULAR Insulin. (I was in a LOT of pain this night, so I didn't go. I stayed in contact with the ER by phone)
Turned out he had a necrotic (gangrene) big toe, which was broken in two places and the next toe was broken at the base. I told the nurse the above story and she said it sounds feasible, that perhaps I was right and he got some dirt or pine needle, etc. in his shoe, which then rubbed and irritated his callus (RT foot, so he has a large callused area due to the contracture, and his gait) got infected and couldn't heal with his sugar the way it was.  

All specialists were  called in...the toe has to go, we have to clear him for cardiac reasons for the surgery.  He was in CCU again, then moved to telemetry the day SANDY hit!  NOW I am stuck in the house. But I was glad he was improving enough to get out of the CCU, he didn't even remember me being there with him on sunday afternoon/evening.  A stress test showed some irregularity BEYOND his previous 2 MI's and double bypass, and some other test showed a possible blockage in the lower right leg arteries. He was sent the following monday to DEBORAH HEART & LUNG HOSP. they catheriterized his heart and put a stent in is right coronary artery. Two days later they did and angiogram of the right leg only, found the main artery in the lower right legged block almost completely for the length of it, they ballooned it open, and then amputated his rt. great toe.  The head of the vascular team, told me it was this blockage and lack of blood flow that caused the toe to go bad, not his sugar, but the toe turning bad made his glucose go through the roof, and also gave him the A-FIB. 
The following Wednesday he was sent to HEALTHSOUTH Rehab hosp. in Toms River NJ... much to our distaste...we wanted him back at our hospital's rehab unit.  They kept telling us they didn't have a bed...for reasons I won't go into, I think the charge nurse didn't want to shuffle any patients around (which is done all the time) for my husband, her and I have butted heads a few times. They called in a different podiatrist instead of sending him out to our guy. This QUACK, never even took the bandages off to look at the wound (which was open, you could see his metatarsal bone) he was supposed to come back the day after TG, but never showed. hubs was discharged on the monday after TG. and I was handed a huge bag of bandages and stuff and told to change his dressing every night. I was told by the surgeon that the podiatrist may make the decision to close up the wound on that first visit.  OBVIOUSLY he did not want to be held responsible as not being the surgeon etc.  Our Pod. told us it was waay past time for closing it up, now, when he saw him in wound care.

He was in the hospital for about 30-31 days that do round. he was in for SANDY, (good place to be) in for Halloween, Our 27th Anniversary, veterans day, and TG.

The 2nd trip to wound care showed that the infection was making a come back, he was put on new meds , and a medicated patch was put over the wound. However the sugar kept climbing so back in the ER he went last friday, and he is still in there now. He had a PICC Line put in and will be on Vancomycin for about 8 weeks.  He may be discharged today.  

During the last 2 weeks of his 30 day stay. both of our trucks died 4 nights apart. I lost a front capped tooth during the night, and can't find it (think I swallowed it) tooth next to the eye tooth. 3 night later I broke the same tooth on the other side, this one had been root canaled but only had a vaneer on it.  so now I look like a hill billy (olbviously I'll be getting this fixed). Tom was unable to get to work, and I was unable to get to the hospital. My daughter's friend lent me her car so I could go on TG and spend the Day with Ron. Sadly I was coming down with something.  By the time we had eaten the TG luncheon. I was running a fever and had the chills, so as to not spread more sickness I left, cutting our visit short.  It was a sinus infection, and within days it was starting to move into my chest...augmentin and good cough med. prescribed!

This seems to be rearing it's ugly head again now, not sure, but the cough is coming back.

We have had a HORRIBLE year, and these last 6 months are the worst!  We appreciate any prayers, good thoughts, candle lightings, energies sent, spells and incantations etc!

Additionally, we have NO CLUE on how we are going to afford to live, we owe everyone, I mean EVERYONE is on the past due list.

Here are the missing pieces of art I created for  THE GAME:

Dress up-  Halloween

6 x 6 canvas, distress ink, and tattered angels mists. I started this project a few years back at a friends, but never put it all together. The stamp is hers, I do not know the company's name.  This is Tom  his Sr. year of HS as Charlie Chaplin for Halloween.

Name that Tune

Decorative birdhouse. very old sheet music, acrylic paints, Black Enamel Accents by RANGER, flowers by both PRIMA MARKETING and WILD ORCHID CRAFTS. Bird from MICHAEL'S and ribbons from my stash.

 Back

 both side views

Duck, Duck, Goose...er Turkey

(quick and dirty sample, as hubs was in Hospital and I was not feeling well either)

Thanksgiving card with embossing (Unknown, received as rak), stamping(STAMPIN' UP)  and stickers (COLORBOK).  I gave this to My daughter's friend, as I was soooo thankful for her gift of lending me her car to visit with Ron on TG.

The 2 December creations will be posted over the next 2 days

Breast cancer Awareness ATCs for a swap

***scroll down 2 posts for Halloween party post***

Hi everyone just sharing some ATCs, I hope you enjoy them. Breast cancer generally touching everyone, and I am no exception, my maternal grandmother died from it, my mom, is dealing with it, and my SIL is a survivor!!

here we go:

 All 6 for the swap

all images are from ALTERED PAGES

all digi stamps are from A DAY FOR DAISIES

German Scrap from COLLAGE STUFF

brads from MAKING MEMORIES

Card stock from STAMPIN' UP

Stickles by RANGER

I printed the digi images first on white card stock, and colored them in with markers by STAMPIN' UP, then also printed them on vellum, I glued the vellum over lay down on top of the colored image. With an extremely fine point marker by FABER-CASTELL I wrote "HOPE" and "BELIEVE" on the ribbons of the image. if that ATC had a ribbon that said "Hope" then on the ATC with a calligraphy tipped marker I wrote the other word..."Believe"  etc.

 closer...group 1

closer group 2

left-hostess, right- me

Thanks so much for visiting!!

entered in:

Altered pages challenge blog ...Think Pink
Through the craft door ...anything goes

Challenge #11...THE GAME - Punch Buggy (late)

***Please scroll down for the Halloween party post***

Hello, sorry this is late. Once again things have been CRAZY around here, and I have had to pit and choice what and where to go with my computer time.

Saturday Ron went to the ER again, and was put in the CCU, his sugar was super high, he also had A-fib (from the sugar and apparently a BEYOND badly infected toe)

Thankfully, he is not Critical any longer, and is in the telemetry unit. BUT...they have to take the toe. It is the big toe on his bad foot...so we think the fall on the 19th (outside) perhaps he got a little something in his shoes, which started an irritation, and then his shuffling of that foot kind of on it's side when not in shoe and brace (bed time and in the am) for bathroom trips, most likely opened the irritation.   I saw both of his feet earlier that week, and they were ok...no red spots no sores no nothing.

They are going to do a cardiac work-up before the surgery.

So here is my 

PUNCH BUGGY PINK!!

This is an 8" X 10" piece that will be put in a shadow box frame, which will also be decorated.

Image from DEZINAWORLD

Card stock from STAMPIN' UP

Printed paper by Dove Craft

most of the flowers are from ALTERED PAGES (and they are all PRIMA MARKETING and BAZZILL)

the pre made Yo-yo's are by  "On the Dot"

Reflective hearts are from Crafty Chica

Misc. buttons, beads, key, stickles (RANGER) charm, cufflink, net ribbon, bakers twine

*******************

Some close-ups

Thanks for visiting!

entered in:

AlteredPages challenge blog ...Think PINK

Through the craft door ...anything goes

Some Halloween ATCs (all for a swap)

 Hi, I was recently in a mixed Halloween ATC swap.  Digital stamps, and vintage/collage images. Here's the Digital image ones:

 Card stock and markers by STAMPIN' UP

Background by DEZINAWORLD

sentiment computer generated

Digital stamp by___________ has no label, does anyone recognize the artist?

Misc. Crystal effects (sentiment and eyes) by STAMPIN' UP

entered in:

Quoth The Raven ...anything goes

Card stock  and markers by STAMPIN' UP

Background by DEZINAWORLD

sentiment is computer generated

digital image by IKE'S WORLD

Misc. Stickles and Crackle effects (used on the moon in the shadow part) both by RANGER

entered in:

Dude Time Doodles ...inspiration challenge-Halloween

Quoth The Raven ...anything goes

Forever night ...photo inspiration/anything goes

The collage image ATCs

 Card stock by STAMPIN' UP

Image from ALTERED PAGES

"witches" cut from MY MINDS EYE paper

misc.-Dew drops, Punchinella, 

Black Enamel effects by RANGER, 

Bat charm by A CHARMING PLACE

entered in:

Quoth the Raven ...anything goes

Card stock by STAMPIN' UP

sentiment is computer generated

all images(including bkgd.) from DIGI DESIGN RESORT--artist; Kaleid- "Ancient Samhain"

Misc.- MS Word (put a text box in the center of the single sheet) "Welcome Ancestors Spell"

Crystal effects by STAMPIN' UP (over spell title)

Foam tape under Book of Shadows and spell

Stickles by RANGER over Sentiment

entered in:

Quoth The Raven ...anything goes

*********************
ALL ENTERED IN:

Crafty Calendar ...anything spooky

Poodles parlour ...anything goes

Robyn's Fetish ...Halloween
Sparkle and Glitter with Rick ...Halloween spooky or Sweet

Thanks for visiting, 

and EXTRA thanks if you left a comment, they make my day!

Robyn's Fetish --challenge #127- Stitching, real or faux

Happy Kinda Sunny Sunday!  I have had a rough few days with my own pain, but a NICE visit with my mom. I went up and stayed overnight with her her 2nd night after breast surgery, and helped her shower the next day, took over her outer bandage and all. I am SO happy and proud that she changed her mind and had the mass removed. They aren't going to do anything else, and she sees the breast doc in 2weeks.  Mom turned 86 on the 21rst, she looks great and her incision looks great!!  Hubby will hopefully be starting PT and OT this week. I am SO happy and proud of him also for getting the brace, and it is helping immensely!
Once again, Thank you to all of you that sent well wishes etc!
****************************************************************

Now onto the card for this week  over at ROBYN'S FETISH challenge blog
we were to use some stitching , real or faux...I had to go with faux...I still am in need of a working machine, and my hands were not in a place to do hand stitching this week (which was my original plan)

Our Sponsor is
BUGABOO STAMPS
the winner will receive a $21 voucher to the store! WOW!!

I used Sunbonnet Thimble (sewsun)

Card stock for the card itself, ribbon and the markers are all STAMPIN' UP. The textured, slightly shiny card stock is  older and by MRS. GROSSMAN, The striped paper is new by MY MIND'S EYE. I used Stickles by RANGER on the needle and pins. The glitter buttons were rec'd as a RAK and the package says MICHAEL'S. I used decorative scissors to cut the image, sentiment and card stock. my tiny paper piercer to makes the holes all around the image, across the top and bottom of sentiment, and in the corners. I used my SAKURA Glaze pen in black for my stitching. Running stitch, hand stitch, and cross stitch.

Thanks for visiting!

PLEASE come join us this week at

ROBYN'S FETISH

with your 

Stitched Creations

and remember 

there is a BIG SALE going on at Robin's store, see the banner at the top left of my blog!

entered in:

Challenge #10 at THE GAME...Four Squares-newly edited

Hello everyone, I am a day late posting my own post...I posted on THE GAME from my Mom's house after emailing her all our pics. LOL

Anyway...


FOUR SQUARES:

Create a 4 X 4 or other square size art with 4 squares on it, featuring at least 3 images. The fourth square can be another image or a quote something like that.  PLEASE go join us!
 ********************************
I made (making---as it is a WIP, almost done though)
a 12 x 12 Scrapbook page with 4 squares on it! 

The paper is "kraft resist" from Tim Holtz for RANGER. I used a handful of the TH Distress inks (I finally have them ALL, but not the re-inkers, yet) by RANGER to color the paper. I also used them on the card stock squares. Card stock is STAMPIN' UP.

The square with my kids on it, and the square with the moon and the witch hat, are both pockets, raised on foam tape. This is where I will put the journaling. The Moon Images are from RETRO CAFE ART GALLERY. the ribbon is from my stash, which was part of a de-stash purchase from someone else LOL.

I used a fine point sharpie to write.

"1999;  They are a long way from Goodnight Moon."

meaning my kids are growing up quick, LOL.

In this picture; April is 17, Tom is 13.5, and Amanda is 12.  Forgot to say...Tom is a Punk Rocker (dog collar and matching belt, are the real McCoy bought for him by me in Philly---I was still living on campus-he is also wearing mascara and black nail polish and lipstick...I think lipstick), Amanda is a hippie (I got that dress in a thrift store...hippie dress in beige with brown trim, I used one of my cool fabric paint dying techniques with blues and purples. She is wearing 2 different shell necklaces, a wire twisty choker, and has a painted peace sign on her cheek) April is a Cat...with a way skimpy mail ordered costume (she was living with her dad that year...I wouldn't have allowed this)

I do not plan on embellishing this page too much, as I like the words on the page, and I already covered up so many, I really hate the idea of covering more.

Thanks so much for visiting!

PLEASE join us at 

THE GAME

this challenge:

Four Squares

HUBS & Robyn's Fetish challenge #126

Hi everyone and HAPPY, SUNNY SUNDAY!!
GREAT NEWS!...My Husband is home and has his new brace on his foot/lower leg. It makes a huge difference in his gait and balance...not fixed, but muchly improved. His stomach meds are doing their job also, and his glucose is somewhat behaving!!  Thanks soooo VERY much for all the well wishes!

This week over at

ROBYN'S FETISH challenge blog

we are making

BOOKMARKS!

Our sponsor is

THE CRAFTING BOUTIQUE!

The winner will receive 

3 digi images of their choice.

Since Ron was still in the hospital I wanted something simple but yet NEW-TO-ME.

I decided on one of those great jumbo Paper-clip bookmarks!

My image is COCKATU- Jungle Friends!

 

The image is colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencil. I used Stickles by RANGER on the leaves. I also used Liquid Pearls by RANGER around the scallops. The punch and card stock are both from STAMPIN' UP. The jumbo paper clips (3.5" long) are MAINSTAYS from Walmart.

I folded the card stock in half, and put it into the punch, with the fold just shy of the top scallops, and punched. that way the fold remained. I then attached my little Cockatu. I opened it up and laid a line of beacon's 3-in-1 glue around the outer edge and a blog in the middle. I put the top of the paper clip into this blob of glue and pressed down, all around the metal, and inside the loop also. I also pressed down along the edges all the way around, and did so for a few minutes. Once it seemed to be holding all over I laid it down and rubbed it real good both front and back, and then added the stickles and liquid pearls!

This is a great book mark!

Thanks for visiting :)

PLEASE join us this week at

ROBYN'S FETISH

with your own

BOOKMARK creations!!

AND

remember our sale!! 

details in the upper left of my blog!

Robyn's Fetish Challenge #121--Use a Digi image

Happy Sunny Sunday everyone!

This week over at

ROBYN'S FETISH CHALLENGE BLOG

we're being sponsored by 

STITCHY BEAR DIGITAL STAMPS

the winner will get a

$10 gift voucher good at the Stitchy bear store

the theme is

Use a DIGI... we kinda always do, right? LOL

I chose  to use 

MISS WEEBLE!

The card stock is STAMPIN' UP, the Pretty patterned paper is Digital by SHENDY.

The beautiful shimmer floral texture paper (punched out with a 3" scallop circle by MARVY-UCHIDA), the bows, and the dragonflies were all from my stash AND 

they were all rec'd as RAKs!

I colored Miss Weeble by STITCHY BEAR DIGITAL STAMPS with PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencil. I finished the card off with dots of Black Enamel Accents by RANGER, on each of the scallops.

I didn't bother with a sentiment as I think it's pretty enough without one. :)

So, NO EXCUSES not to play with us this week, as the theme is such an easy one for everyone to do!!

Join us at

ROBYN'S FETISH CHALLENGE BLOG

with a creation using a DIGI IMAGE!!

entered in:

Robyn's Fetish Challenge #119...Tags

Happy Sunday all!

This week at

ROBYN'S FETISH CHALLENGE BLOG

we are making 

TAGS

our wonderful sponsor this week is

FRED, SHE SAID

the winner for this challenge will receive

a $10.00 voucher to Fred, She Said store

I chose to use the "Wheel Barrow" digi stamp

This is an extra-large shipping tag, that was previously treated with watercolors, and shimmer mists.

All Card stock is from STAMPIN' UP, the image is colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencil, The butterflies are a punch by Martha Stewart for EK SUCCESS. I used stickles by RANGER for some added texture and sparkle, on a few of the flowers, 2 of my torn card stock strips, and on both layers of the 3D butterfly. All fibers are from my stash.

PLEASE come join us this week at

ROBYN'S FETISH CHALLENGE BLOG

with your TAGS!

Robyn's fetish Challenge #114- DISTRESSING

Happy Sunday, and Hello July!  boy that went fast huh?

Well, hubs is getting fitted for his Orthotic for his foot and ankle on Tuesday and probably coming home on Wednesday (since it will take 2 weeks to make the orthotic) YIPPEE SKIPPEE!!

This week at

Robyn's Fetish Challenge blog

we are

DISTRESSING

and our LOVELY sponsor is

DELICIOUS DOODLES!

the winner will receive

4 digis of their choice!

I used "In the Harbour"  I LOVE this image, 

(and she has a beautiful new lighthouse to go with it)

I made this card ahead of time and used it as my Husband's father's day card (which he spent in the hospital...like 11 years ago, he had his big heart attack on father's day...I will never tell him to "do what he wants" for father's day ever again, LOL)

OK, first the items used: all card stock is by STAMPIN' UP, Back ground stamp by STAMPIN' UP, Printed paper by K&CO.  Olive striped hemp by ELEMENTS. Distressing Inks by RANGER (Tim Holtz) and FIBER SCRAPS EZ Walnut stain. PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencils. 

Buttons from my stash.

I printed out the image and colored it in. Then covered it with the ez walnut stain, allowed it to dry. I stamped *Print pattern on to ivory card stock, with turquoise SU ink. Let dry. then also used the EZ walnut stain on that. Let that dry. Edged the Marigold morning card bash with I believe it was 'twigs" distress ink. Since I can not find my tonic paper distresser, I used a pocket knife, and went around scratching the edges of the print pattern background and my image (oh the sentiment is computer generated). then crumbled them up over and over a few times, then flattened them out. In the mean time I distressed the edge of the chocolate chip card stock. I also tore a piece of the glitter trimmed K&Co. paper.   I  wrapped the hemp around the stamped bkgd. piece 3 times. Glued that onto the base. Then I laid the K&Co. paper down under 2 of the hemp strands and over one, glued down. I took another piece of the hemp and tied a bow around the 3 strands. Then I took a sanding block, and sanded down my image piece. Then attached that to the chocolate chip card stock. then attached that to the card base, and glued on the 2 buttons.

NOTE:  Because the image hangs above the card, I should have written my message inside first, I didn't and to be able to write, I had to fold the card back wards, which weakened it's "hinge"...so learn from my mistake and put your message in first with any  hinge side hang-overs.

Thanks for visiting! comments appreciated :)



So, PLEASE come on over to Robyn's Fetish this week, 
and DE-STRESS by 
Creating an art piece that is DISTRESSED, for a chance to win 4 wonderful digis from
Delicious Doodles!

entered in:
Lili's Little fairies ... a little bit distressed

Hotshot Craft blog ...distress inks

E. A. Poe's Masque of the Red Death

Hello,

I recently watched  

"The Masque of the Red Death" 

starring Vincent Price, 

not exactly what I expected. 

I thought it was good, good and creepy, but more weird than creepy!

Anyway, continuing on with my collection Of Poe inspired fat pages (4 x 4) here is 

The Masque of The Red Death.

The background is the Ballroom Digi by SASSY STUDIO DESIGN, Death is a Dig from SMEARED INK's "Death Cab" collection, the sentiment, and the masked figure are rubber stamps from SMEARED INK'S "As Death" All are colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils, including metallic gold and silver --windows, chandaliers, hair and fringe of the masked figure. I used starlight stickles by RANGER on the chandaliers, and the word "death" and the masked figure  are raised on pop dots.

entered in:

Quoth the Raven, Nevermore ...Masque of the Red Death

In Her Majesty's honor

I made a card in honor Of 

Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee!

I hope all my friends in the UK, like it!

I used a FREE Digi Image from SQUIGGLE STAMPS, Card stock, punches, and markers by STAMPIN' UP. Digital papers...2 unknown and one from BEARLY MINE DESIGNS. Digi Sentiment by DESRT DIVA. Stickles by RANGER. Misc. pop dots.
The sentiment, and the "medallion" are raised up on pop-dots, the medallions is 3 layers, 2 are raised.

The inside a bit blurry (sorry)

entered in:

Squiggle Stamps ...jubilee

Less is More ...red,white,and blue

Craft your days Away ...red,white, and blue

2 Sisters challenge ...inside and out

One Stop Crafts Challenge ...jubilee

Sweet Sketch Sunday ...Sketch

One Stitch at a time ...use a digi

Smudgy Antics ...anything goes

Catch the bug ...anything goes
Ooh La La ...make it girly
Secret crafter ...anything goes

The Pink Elephant ...vibrant colors

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

Robyn's Fetish Challenge #108

Happy Sunday Everyone!! and a beautiful Sunday it is!!

I had a 12 hour fever last night, complete with body aches etc.  Isn't that weird?

This week at

ROBYN'S FETISH CHALLENGE BLOG

it is 

ANYTHING GOES!

and

Robyn is our sponsor!!

The winner will receive

3 digis of the winner's choice!

I used  "A Little Birdie Told Me"

 

All card stock by STAMPIN' UP, Embossing folder by Tim Holtz for SIZZIX. Image colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencil. Sentiment and Punch by STAMPIN' UP. Silk Flowers by BAZZILL, mini flowers by PRIMA MARKETING. I used Liquid pearls by RANGER all over the place. The punch started out with just dots at the curves, but my got in it, and smeared so I had to add more all the way around.

I hope you like it, THANKS FOR VISITING!

PLEASE join us this week at 

ROBYN'S FETISH CHALLENGE BLOG 

for ANYTHING GOES!

The Pit and the Pendulum

Today I made another fat page for my Poe book. 

I watched Vincent Price in The Pit and The Pendulum. 

Then designed my plan from the Movie! 

This is the Challenge this fortnight over at  

Quoth the Raven, Nevermore

Here is my entry!!

I think everyone else probably went with a pendulum, and I thought about making a swinging one to have in front of this, before I had the whole design in my mind, but I decided against it. I like being different. :)

So I went with the main torture room, and the sitting iron maiden, that dear Elizabeth gets locked in 

and left forever, and her previous "Wall of Internment" 

and from the Pit/Pendulum room the creepy reapers on the wall.

it is a combination of painting, paper, digi stamp, rubber stamps and hand drawing.

Paper -I believe it is older BASIC GRAY, Brick wall stamp by LAYERS OF COLOR, Flying skull stamp by BOMBSHELL STAMPS, The Criss-cross stamp is by SMEARED INK 

(from the Quoth the Raven set). Scared Eyes is a digi stamp by SMEARED INK.

Black and gray paint for the reapers, fine line black sharpie also, 

and red stickles by RANGER for the eyes. The sharpie used to make the name plate and her name, 

with copper stickles. Copper paint pen for a cut in view of Elizabeth's fear inside the iron maiden.

SHARPIE white poster paint pen for skull, and silver paint pen for the wings.

STAMPIN' UP markers for the flesh and eyes of Elizabeth.

Hope you like my take on The Pit and the Pendulum!

entered in:

Forever night ...anything goes (dark)
Bunny Zoe Crafts ...anything goes