Smeared Ink Forum Swap and Left Of Center Challenge 14

Well hello everyone!  End of the month is near and my room is almost done.  I am so happy to be able to get some challenges done.  This is also in prep for the upcoming 31 Days of Halloween 5.  I will post more info on Thursday so that you can really get ready for this awesome event.

I joined, for the first time, in an ATC swap hosted by the Smeared Ink Forum.  They do so much over there!  The September theme was Time.  Use of gears, clocks, and watches in your ATC is the main goal.  I can not wait for next week when I get to open my mailbox and see a package full of others wonderful talent.  AND I get to see them in real life.

Left of Center Challenge Blog has a challenge right now that is NO DP, Challenge 14.  You can not use any designer paper in your project.

I had a great time making this ATC and hope you find some inspiration from it as well.

 

Deets

I started with Very Vanilla card stock, 2 1/2" x 3 1/2".

Versa Marked, inked, large back ground clock stamp.  Clear Embossing Powder over stamped image and heat set.

Inks were sponged on.

I used a punch for the cogs and did not punch all the way through, just to give a little more dimension and texture.

Background images were then stamped with slightly darker inks.

Bird images were stamped with Mustard Staze On.

I used a template for the darker blue spots in the upper right area.

Some gears are stamped with Silver Encore ink.

A 1" punch was used on the upper circle clock and a mini brad placed in center.

Saying is stamped with Black Staze On.

Rhinestone Jewels, mini brads, and a silver metal swirl paperclip from stash, are the embellishments.

I roughed up the edges and adhered to Midnight Muse card stock, with dimensionals.  

Gold Shimmer Spritz over entire ATC.

Stamps Used from Stampin' Up!

Clockworks

Serene Silhouettes

Favorite Thoughts (retired SU!)

Sense of Time (retired SU!)

Print Pattern (retired SU!)

 All materials used are from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Smeared Ink Forum Oh! The Horror and Smudgy Antics Challenges

I have been trying out some new layering techniques and I am pretty happy with the way this one page came out.  Below are the two challenges that I am entering this 6"x 6" page into.
Smeared and Smudged Forum
Smudgy Antics  -  September Challenge Embellishments

The Smeared and Smudged Forum had month long challenges going on and it is a great way to get those fingers inky.  This page is for the Oh! The Horror challenge featuring the movie Transylvania 6 - 5000.  The plot is for two reporters to go to Transylvania to find out if Frankenstein is real or not.  While there they meet a crazy scientist, a humpback family, vampiress, something in a swamp, a hairy man, and Frankenstein.  It is a comedy about finding out if these "monsters" are real or not.

This got me thinking about how each of us views our areas of our life.  Then the big one, death.  I found a great quote by Lao Tzo, "Life and Death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides."  We can choose to embrace one or the other or each.  The important thing, I think, is that you have an open mind and are willing to embrace everything all that comes with both Life and Death.

What side do you see for Frankenstein?  The Monster or the Man?  Life or Death?

No Deep Thoughts in these Deets!

Stamps from:
Smeared Ink Rubber Club
Quoth the Raven, February 2013
Holy City 2, July 2013

Stampin' Up!
Swallowtail
Off the Grid
Everything Eleanor

Stampotique Originals
Heads from Daniel Torrente

Embossing Powders are Clear, Black, Pewter, White
Embellishements are Pearls, die cut flower, ribbon from stash, Linen Thread, washi tape.

Spritzers, markers, black Sharpie, White chalkboard marker, Staze On inks and Aqua Painter used for background.

31 Days of Halloween 5 and Counting....

14 more days and counting....
Join the Smeared and Smudged Forum for more.
Check back next week for full details. 

Quoth The Raven, Punk You Girl, Smeared & Smudged Forum Junk Funk, and Smudgy Antics Challenges

I know, I know.  I should be working on getting this room up and running but...there are so many fun challenges going on right now, I had to stop and play.

First, click HERE to find out more details on the base of my project today.  I had previously made this mini Toilet Paper (TP) album and had posted instructions on "how to" on my Stampin' Up! blog.  I think I did around 5 different ones in all.    One package of SU! designer paper goes a long way.  I am planning on doing another TP album that will be different in the next week, so keep an eye out for it.  

Onto the Challenges!
Quoth The Raven is an awesome site for the Poe fans out there.  I could never play along until this past month when I received my Smeared Ink Rubber Club stamps.  This set, Quoth The Raven, is from February 2013.

Quest 24 - Tic Tac Poe is the challenge this month.
You can go up, down, or diagonal.  But all three in the row you choose must be in your project.
I chose the last column.  Raven, POE, Lace.
See if you can spot them!






Punk You Girl is another challenge blog that you have to keep on your list.  The Design Team has some really great inspiration.  This month's theme is Black & Red.  I am pretty sure you can spot the splashes of red.

You all know that the Smeared and Smudged Forum is my favorite place to lurk about.  The Junk Funk Challenge is using toilet paper rolls for or in your project.  We all have them and instead of just throwing them away, use 'em!  Join the forum and find out what more ways to use these everyday items.

Smudgy Antics, sister blog to the Smeared Ink Forum, goes every 2 weeks.  Plenty of time to get some creativity out there.  This month they have made it easy, Embellishments.  We all have them, we all use them, so why not show them off??  Get over there and see that fab embellishments the DT has used. 

Please scroll down to see all the pictures of each pocket, extra pages, and sliders.  The photos show the front and backs of each.

 

Rollin' with the Deets

Stamps

Quoth The Raven - Smeared Ink Rubber Club, February 2013

Mosaic Madness - Stampin' Up!

Designer Paper - Modern Medley, SU!

Rhinestone Jewels embellishments are colored over with red Sharpie

Ribbon - all SU!  mixed of current and retired

Haunted Design House Challenge #175 and Left Of Center

IN YOUR FACE HALLOWEEN!  This is challenge going on right now at Haunted Design House.  These great group of people are why this blog was created.  The Challenge #175 is all about Halloween, Halloween, and Halloween.  It is only open for 1 more day so get your craftiness on!

The second challenge I am entering in is from Left Of Center.  The Challenge 14 that started today is No Designer Paper.  You have about 2 weeks to get your entry on for some great prizes.

Both blogs are wonderful inspirations and please leave some comments for the wonderful Design Teams that showcase their awesome talent every challenge.  Thanks!  Hope to see you there...

My no designer paper Halloween card:

Details
Card measures 3 1/3" x 9".
This card was inspired from the wonderful Michelle Zindorf.  She is a master at the Brayer and has a beautifully unique artistic look. 
Please check out her link and FYI there are some great Free Tutorials!!
My card was sponged, my brayering needs more work!

Stamps are
Haunted Haunts
Teeny Tiny Wishes (saying)...both sets are Stampin' Up! (retired)

Images were stamped in Black Staze On.
Markers on windows and grave stones.
White Gel pen for highlights.

Challenges Galore...Smeared Ink Forum, Left Of Center, and Smudy Antics

I can see the floor in my room and am finding places for all of my crafting "stuff".  So fun to unpack boxes and see things that I have not seen in over a year.  When did I get so many ink pads??

By the end of the week I hope to have my "area" done, the closet and majority of my desk.  Sh!t, today is Thursday...okay all done by Sunday.

Unless I get sidetracked with making some projects...Like today's!

This is a 6" x 6" page for the Smeared Ink Forum.  We get to use a FREE image from the Smeared Ink shop on/for our project.  This month features a sweet gal called Sex Kitten from the ZOMBIE PINUPS set.

I think I have enough time to get this into Left of Center's challenge that ends in an hour,#13- Girly.

Yes and one more...Smudgy Antics just started their new challenge, Embellishments.  I have decided that this page can fit into all three. 

Meow have fun, join some new challenges, and go get inky!

First Photo is WITH flash and the second is NO flash.

Deets
Sometimes you lose the depth of your embellishments (flowers, hardware, jewels) when you use flash.
I also am trying out new layering techniques.  This month you may see a little more of this in my projects.

The base is the cardboard from Stampin' Up!'s Designer Paper packs that is included to help keep the DP from bending.  I cut it into 4, 6" x 6" pieces.

I printed out Sex Kitten, meow, and then used white Gesso on my base and on her.  Adhered and let dry.

Used a wet cloth to clean off excess paper once dried.  The image is the flip of the original.  I then used markers to color her in.

When finished I went over her with Versa Mark ink and heat embossed main image with Clear Embossing Powder.

I then stamped and added all other embellishments.

Stamps used
Skull in moon - Morte, June 2013, Smeared Ink Rubber Club
Wings - Daniel Torrente, Stampotique Orginals
Happiness saying - Stampin' Up (retired), set Warm Words
En Franicas - background stamp

Embellishments
saying hardware - from stash
flowers from Blossom Party Die on Comfort Cafe DP
Ribbon is Rich Razzleberry Stitched (retired)
Jewels are I ROCK.

31 Days of Halloween...

Now I know that some of us get a little more crazy this time of year.  Nothing wrong with that.  So if you are one of remarkably insane then next month's 31 Days of Halloween 5, 2013, is just for you.  This one of a kind event is presented by the Smeared and Smudged Forum. 

Please click the link or the button above to find out more about this wonderful event that will be going on all month long. 

There will be plenty of horrifying eye candy, maniac bloggers who are posting every day of the month, awesome prizes, and loads of creativity and inspiration to get the Halloween mood set.

Join us if you dare...