First Smeared and Smudged Design Team!

I'm so truly ecstatic to announce that Smeared and Smudged has it's first ever Design Team! Thank you to all of you who submitted to be on the team...I have chosen six wonderfully talented ladies, and am very eager to share their stamped art and creativity with you! These DT members will be creating for the Smeared and Smudged ning group, which is growing daily. I'd like to invite each of you to join us over there for a fabulous and unique stamping network, and now even more rockin' S&S projects from these awesome new designers. Their creative projects will be featured frequently on the ning group, and occassionally on this blog. So, without further adeu, here is the new Design Team!



Alison
Jean
Kathi
Jenn
Sarah
Kelli

Horrible Hostess Promotions

Wow, what a horrible blog hostess I've been! I've not stamped in over a week, what with Thanksgiving preparations, hubby coming home from deployment, and just sheer laziness on my part. I am feigning to be creative, and plan on using this four day weekend to catch up on lots and lots of stamping!

In the meantime, I decided I'd use my post today for some shameless promoting and want to share some of my newest favorite things from different companies. And I'll even point you in the direction of where you can get them.

1. So first up is a gorgous stamp that I found from Prickley Pear. Although I am a design team member and get free items from them to stamp with, I HAD to order this one to add to my collection, I just couldn't resist!



Isn't she awesome!?!! I got her yesterday in the mail, and I can't WAIT to use her this weekend! I already have a project going for her, so it will take me no time at all to get it ready to post for you to see. You can find her HERE

2. My next new fave are the bamboo domino beads from Rubber Nation. Not to mention all their other rockin' products, like photo charms and memory lockets, but for some reason these stand out to me.



You can find these and much more HERE

3. Recently I ordered some text blanks from Hollander's, and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed with the quality and their great service. I'll be using these for Christmas presents. If you don't know what text blanks are, they are already-stitched book pages that you can add your own covers to. They come blank, lined, or themed, and are available HERE



4. And last but certainly never ever least, from my beloved Bombshells, Temporary Tattoo Body Ink Pads, both invisible ink and black ink.




Use these inks to turn your favorite stamp into an awesome work of body art! The invisible ink is black-light reactive. You can find these HERE

So there you have it, my top four product picks for today! I hope you enjoy them, be sure to take a glance at these items and all the others available on these fantastic sites. And don't forget, tomorrow is the last day I am accepting entries for the Smeared and Smudged Design Team!! Don't miss your chance! For more info, scroll down to the S&S DT Info Post. Catch you all later this weekend, hope you have a wonderful Turkey Day!!

Purple Gesso Reindeer

This is part two of my gesso card endeavor, and I really like the colors and textures. I used the same technique as my black and red card, using the Tim Holtz masks; except this time I colored the gesso with acrylic paint before hand and used a tone-on-tone purple.

The Prickley Pear reindeer image was heat embossed over glossy cardstock that had been colored using alcohol inks and red acrylic. The edges were colored using a gold leaf pen, and I added green glitter to the gesso before it dried. I love the playfulness of this card, and the fun colors!

All I Want For Christmas Is Gesso

After reviewing my blog post from the past couple of weeks, I realized that I have been thoroughly neglecting my beloved Prickley Pear stamps. So when I sat down to make something yesterday I decided to pull out my new sheet of Christmas images. Then I sat. And sat. I could not think of anything to make!!!!! My brain must have been really drained; I had no mojo. At least I didn't until I glanced in the mirror.

No, I'm not trying to be snobby. I glanced at the CLOTHING I was wearing and got a color and layout idea! My shirt yesterday was a really pretty floral printed tank in black and white, and I covered it with a cropped red button up sweater. It looked great together, and inspired my gesso card.


*click for bigger pics


I started this card by masking with some mask shapes from Tim Holtz, and then covering them with white gesso. After I peeled the masks off, I was left with an awesome flower print. The top half of the card is a really sultry red velvet paper, which is hard to see in the picture, but super soft. I used the Retro Trees Ornament from Prickley Pear on glossy paper, and mounted that on top of a line of ribbon and black tulle. The final touch was the black buttons in the corners.

I LOVE this card! I think it's elegant and pretty, and still has a little Smeared and Smudged influence. I'd love to hear what you think about it. Tomorrow I'll be sharing another gesso card that I made using Prickley Pears. Until then...

Smeared and Smudged Design Team Call!!!

Do you have a different way of looking at things when it comes to rubber stamping? Smeared and Smudged is looking for a few "dark" Design Team Members. Smeared and Smudged is a growing Ning group that focuses on alternative, vintage, gothic, and out-of-the-norm rubber stamp art.

To see the type of art styling that I am looking for, please visit the ning group at http://smearedandsmudged.ning.com ,or visit the Smeared and Smudged Blog at http://www.moresmearedink.blogspot.com .

Requirements for Smeared and Smudged Design Team:

*You must have an active blog.
*You must be or become a member of the Smeared and Smudged Ning Group.
*DT requirements will be to design three cards and one altered item per month, and post those designs on both your blog and the Smeared and Smudged Ning Group. Every project must use a rubber stamp image somewhere.
*Each DT member will be assigned a group from Smeared and Smudged. One of your monthly cards must follow the requirements of that group and be posted in that group. The groups will rotate. To view some of the groups available, please visit Smeared and Smudged on Ning.
* You must actively participate in The Vent group on Smeared and Smudged. A minimum requirement is three posts a week.

Benefits of Smeared and Smudged Design Team:

• Your blog will be featured on both the S&S Ning Group and blog.
• You will receive one goodie package from me each month that you can use on your projects. It is not required that you use these items, and the items will vary.
• You can use any supplies you like on your projects.
• You get to network with other wicked awesome stampers who share the same love for out-of-the-norm stamping.
• You get to sport a really cool S&S Button on your blog.

To Apply, please email the following information to zaharstudio@gmail.com

Name
Email
Blog URL
Pictures of three cards and one altered item that best represent your style of stamping.
Why you would like to be a DT Member for Smeared and Smudged.

Deadline for Submissions is Friday, November 27, 2009
Winners will be contacted by Monday, November 30.
DT term will run for four months starting December 1, 2009

Bombshell Hump Day Hop

This week I am not able to participate in the hop, I had some obligations that needed to be tended to, so I haven't really had a chance to stamp so far this week. But, I thought I'd point you in the right direction and link to the hoppers! Be sure to give these ladies a visit and see their awesome projects!

Angela

Kathi

Ms. November - Mary G.

Gabby

Miss Magoo

Lyss

Kas

The Creationist Tree Spinner- Bombshell Hump Day Hop

Welcome to the first November Bombshell Hump Day Hop! Just in case you haven't been here before, each Wednesday the Bombshell Design Team brings you a wicked blog hop that features themed stamp projects and fabulous prizes!

Getting an entry to win is really easy. Just take a look at my project and leave me a comment. Then hop over to the other DT member blogs and leave them a comment about their project as well. For every comment you make, you get an entry.

This week we are all welcoming our Ms. November Bombshell, Mary G.

Big, warm welcomes to you, Mary!!!

Ms. November has presented us with a challenge that rocks, literally. Our challenge is to use song lyrics as inspiration for our project, and I am so thrilled to be participating this week. I LOVE using song lyrics! To view the challenge details, visit the Bombshell Stamps Forum after you've hopped.

For my project I wanted to use the song "The Creationist" by Kerli, which is the song playing on my blog today. The lyrics are:

This is an old and funny poem
I accidentally overheard.
It keeps the little children playing
And bigger children spread the word.
My memory is bad so I always tend to forget
How it goes but

Life is my creation.
Is my best friend.
Imagination is my defense.
And I’ll keep walking
When skies are grey.
Whatever happens
Was meant that way.

Your no better or no worse than the others
We are all the same.
Life is just a moment
You might as well enjoy this day.
It’s time to start believing that everything you want is
On its way and

Life is my creation.
Is my best friend.
Imagination is my defense.
And I’ll keep walking
When skies are grey.
Whatever happens
Was meant that way.

We’ll be growing
Into knowing
While we’re flowing
Keep on going

Life is my creation.
Is my best friend.
Imagination is my defense.
And I’ll keep walking
When skies are grey.
Whatever happens
Was meant that way.

I’m a creationist, oh
I’m a creationist.

This is an old and funny poem
I accidentally overheard

When I listened to the lyrics I knew I wanted to make something free and creative, so I chose to make a tree spinner. It is similar to a windchime; you hang it in a tree or on a porch outside, but instead of making noise it spins in the wind.


*click pics for larger views*











I used an awesome piece of metal that I found at goodwill for the top piece. I'm not sure what it was supposed to be, some sort of decoration, but I painted it up with acrylics and nailpolish to suit my purpose. Then I used scrabble tiles to make my two spinning words: create and live. These words are interchangeable in my world! I can't live without creating, it's just part of me.

My paper art collage doll at the bottom of the spinner was made using five different Bombshell sets: Mermaid Anchor, Pirates Life, Till Death, Sugar Skulls, and Butterfly Queen. I also used the banner that says "No Regrets" from the Girl's Ruin set on the front of the metal piece. Both were colored with prismas and nail polish. On the back of the art doll, I scripted out the lyrics to the song so you can see them when it spins.

To me this spinner represents my interpretation of this song, and I hope you enjoy it! I wanted to make it colorful and fun, something that represents how I feel when I create. It reminds me that no matter how bad life gets, I will always have what is truly me!

So, now that I've told you all about what I think of the spinner and the song, I'd love to hear your opinion. Please leave a comment, and then hop over to the other blogs!!

Ms. November - Mary G.

Kathi

Glittery Katie

Nicole

Jacquie

Angela

31 Days Blog Candy Winner!!!!

The results are in! I just have to say WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Between the two of us, Kelli and I had 561 entries for blog candy! That is truly amazing, and I just want to thank each and every one of you for participating and making 31 Days of Halloween such a fun and successful experience for everyone!

I know I had a wonderful time sharing projects with you all. This was the first year that I've done anything like this, and I learned a few things that I can improve on for next year. It was exhausting and thrilling at the same time, and I hope you all got some inspiration from the projects here on Smeared and Smudged, and from Cajun Stamping Queen. I truly love stamping and sharing!

So lets get to it... the winner of the hugely awesome blog candy prize is.....

We chose our winner using Random.org's random number generator, which came up as number 240. And that's you, Char! Please email both me and Kelli with your address and we will get your prize out to you!

Thank you again to all who participated! If you loved the projects that you saw during 31 Days, I'd like to invite you to join the Smeared and Smudged ning group. The group is growing and has some very cool people participating. I am slowly but surely incorporating some very neat challenges, swaps, and groups; and it's a great place to just chat and network with other stampers who enjoy alternative stamping!

For now, I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks, and hope you enjoyed your Halloween! This week join me on Wednesday for the Bombshell Hump Day Hop, and I'll probably be throwing in a couple of other projects here and there... can't stay away from stamping too long!