Zetti Challenge

Hello everyone! I'd like to invite you to come on over to our DT Challenge Blog, Smudgy Antics, and join in our Weekly Challenge! Each week we post a new one, and for this week the theme is Zetti. In case you don't know what it is or haven't heard of it, here's a little descrip:

A style based on the work of Teesha Moore, Zetti is a blend of the ordinary and the fantastic. Blend collage, drawing, painting, stamping, etc, to make one whimsical concoction of elements based in reality and fantasy. Elements can include contrasting textures and patterns, bright colors, black and white patterns (especially stripes), faces and bodies that are mis-matched, animal parts, added body parts/clothes/wings, fantastic hats and crowns, quirky, odd, whimsical combinations of characters, lyrics, poems, handwriting and text. Use any of these, or all of them, but be sure to put your own artistic spin on it!

I actually got the chance to make a sample for this week's challenge, and I must say I am pretty in love with it. It is once again digital as I am having alot of fun with digi work lately. Here it is:

*click for larger view

I used three different Smeared Ink images for my main character. The body is Vivadondra from our Goth Fairies digi set, the head is Candy Creature from our Candy is Dandy set, and the wings are from our retired Praise Angel from Symbology of Angels. The two latter sets will be available in our shop as digis later this week!

I colored everything digitally and placed pieces and parts, and then added hand drawn elements and stripes. I think it's a pretty good first attempt at the Zetti style, and still fits well with my darker side.

I hope you enjoyed taking alook, and if you get the chance, swing by Smudgy Antics to give this super fun style a try!

Lunar Eclipse Page

Today I am sharing this post here and on our Smeared Ink DT blog, Smudgy Antics, which is a great blog to follow if you want daily inspiration from the whole awesome Smeared Ink Design Team!

As you all know (or should know), we had a full lunar eclipse on this past Winter Solstice, which is the first time that has happened in 372 years. Unfortunately with me being in one of the rainiest spots in the US, we had overcast skies that night at my house. But, my uncle came to the rescue and shared some awesome pics of the eclipse that he took.

Even though we didn't get to see much of it, we definitely felt the effects. Some say that the "crazy" comes out during the full moon, and I have personally witnessed first hand how some people just loose control the closer the moon gets to being full. It's especially evident in all the dumb decision making (including my biggest pet peeve: stupid drivers) that seem to plague some as the full moon rises each month.

Anyways, I decided to make a scrapbook page that honors the lunar eclipse and the "crazies" that come along with a full moon. This page features my uncle's pictures and the Crouching Wolf digi and Staring at the Moon sentiment from Smeared Ink's Part of The Pack digi set. I do have to warn that my pics are kinda blurry, I will try to take better ones in the morning.

*click for larger pics







I am entering this page into Scraps of Darkness: Darkest/Weirdest Layout Challenge of April/May. I think it's both dark and weird enough. What do you think? I hope you like it and that it gives you some inspiration for your own dark weirdness! Thanks for visiting.

Smeared Ink Sponsors Delicious Doodles-Blog Hop

Hello everyone, welcome to my blog! Thanks for stopping by our Smeared Ink/Delicious Doodles combined Blog Hop. Smeared Ink is sponsoring the challenge today over on the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog, and we'd like to invite you to go over and participate in today's challenge for your chance to win 5 Smeared Ink digi images of your choice!

For the hop today, members from the Smeared Ink and Delicious Doodles design teams have gotten together to bring you some fabulous projects that feature some of the images from the Smeared Ink digi line. I'm sure you'll get lots of inspiration, so be sure to visit each stop on the hop and leave all of the gals some love for their hard work and creativity!

For my project today, I chose to work with our newest digi image, Aphrodite. Now you may be saying to yourself that you haven't seen this image yet. That's because Aphrodite is not available to purchase in our shop. How can you get her, you ask? Well, she is an exclusive freebie image that we are giving away to those who participate in any of the Smeared and Smudged Challenges this month. Yes, you heard me right, ALL participants can claim this exotic digi, so please swing by the Smeared and Smudged Forum and check out all of the February challenges. Each challenge has it's own theme, and you can find all the links on the left of the main forum page.

On my card, I followed the featured sketch and used some really vibrant background papers. The base is from an old calendar page, and the light textured paper is actually a wallpaper sample that I watercolored and inked. Aphrodite was colored using prisma markers, and the saying is from our new Heart Wings digi set. I added yarn as my back bar, and finally finished with clear beads and some pearl ex powder accents.






You may notice that this card is very simple; well, that's because I don't do so well with sketches, but I gave it a good try and I hope you find some inspiration! Please continue down the hop list to see all of these amazing projects, and be sure to visit the Delicious Doodles Challenge as well as the Smeared and Smudged Challenges. Have Fun!

Teri

Anita Marie

Pascale

Allison

Ildiko

Alex

Claire

Terra (me)

Tori

Alison

Kelli

Black Dragon

Lady Brayton

Meredith

Kapree

Lisa

Jane

Simply Betty Blog Hop...London Birthday Hardware

Ooooohhh...hardware! These are a few of my favorite things! Today the Smeared and Smudged Design Team is hopping along with Simply Betty Stamps and their super grungy-cute "My Kids Emo World" stamps. We were all challenged to make a project that was grungy-hardware, and it worked perfectly for me because my daughter's birthday is next week. Perfect challenge to make a birthday card for her!

I didn't want to grunge it up too much, since it's for her. Although she definitely takes after me and loves the darker themes, I still wanted the project to reflect her personality, which is kinda diva-grunge.

So, I chose to work with London, whose familiar is a cat. London immediately reminded me of my daughter; prissy and a little evil, ha ha! To work in the hardware, I chose to make a separate piece that comes off the card and turns into a necklace charm. Something that she will love to wear!

*click pics for larger views


You can see in the pics that I tore and layered a greenish paper in the background. The paper came from the inside of a package that I received a while back, and you may remember it from another card that I used it on way back when. The paper is SO COOL because when you tear it, the inside is black.



I colored London and cut her out, then simply popped her up on foam dots. The letters are stickers, and I added white gel pen lines to them. Then I worked on the charm with hardware.



Starting with a punched black square, I layered the same green paper onto the back of it. The front got a coat of black glitter glue, and the cute little cat that I had previously colored. After the glue dried, I sandwiched the square in the middle of two pieces of memory glass, and stuck it in a frame. Then I added some jump rings and these neat looking bolts. Finally, I tied a big black bow on the top of it and attached it to the card with more jump rings.

I know that she will LOVE this card, and the charm will be worn often, if not all the time. And I also know I will be using ths stamp for other projects pertaining to her, because it just fits her so well!!

So, now that you've seen what I've done with these great Simply Betty stamps, hop through the other S&S DT member blogs. Then visit Debbie, one of the Simply Betty Design Team Members, and Betty herself! You're sure to see some amazing grungy hardware featuring the "My Kids Emo World" stamps.

Terra

Tori

Alison

Kelli

Jean

Sarah

Danielle

Black Dragon

Lady Brayton

Meredith

Kim

Kathi

Lisa

Debbie

Betty Betty has had an emergency and won't get to play today :(

Don't Forget Grumpie- new challenges

I'd like to let you all know that we have updated The Challenger group over on the S&S forum with brand spanking new Very Sketchy challenges, an awesome Oh, The Horror! challenge, and an inspiration filled Rock N Rolla challenge! Plus, our guest DT member Lisa has challenged us to stamp something we can wear... you don't want to miss The Challenger this month!

Our July sponsors are just as awesome, and we have had generous donations from both Simply Betty Stamps and Stampotique. Be sure to swing by our main page to get all the info about these fabulous sponsors!

I don't usually participate in my own challenges, but I couldn't pass up this months card sketch(and probably won't be able to pass up the others, they rock!) So, here's my version.

*click pic for larger view

This little guy is Cotton, one of the images from our Li'l Grumpies set at Smeared Ink. I colored him with watercolors, markers, and distress ink. The background paper is from Black Market, and the cardstocks are from Stampin' Up. The punches I used are also from Stampin' Up.

I tore the edges of my papers and then distressed them with antique photo distress ink, then layered them on top of each other. I also used the ink on my blue velvet ribbon to make it look older. For hardware I used a cool little picture hanger-type thing, eyelets as flower centers, and a jeweled brad in his bellybutton.

The card is pretty simple, but still has depth in my opinion. I'd love to hear what you think! And I can't wait to see what you all can come up with using this sketch. Come on by the forum to submit your version for a fab prize!

*31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN 2010*

HIDDEN IMAGE FUN SCAVENGER HUNT

CLUE # 2: REWIND BACK ONE MORE MONTH AND SEE HOW MUCH JACK MISSES YOU

What's Going on This Month?

There are so many exciting things happening this month with Smeared Ink and Smeared and Smudged that I thought it warranted a news post all to itself!

First, Smeared Ink is hosting a brand new weekly gallery challenge! You can find all of the information on the Smeared Ink Website on the news page. The best part of the challenge is, YOU will get to pick the winner! That's right, after the entries are posted, you get to leave a comment and vote for who you think should be added to our gallery. Then at the end of the month, the four weekly winners will battle it out for a chance to win the monthly prize! Even if you aren't interested in participating, we'd love to have you come on over and vote. We are in week one right now, so hurry on over and join in the fun! Our first entries will be posted and voting session will begin this Thursday.

Next I'd like to mention that Smeared Ink is sponsoring the May sketch challenge over on Rubber Stamp Chat this month. If you don't know what RSC is, it's a wonderful forum where stampers commune to share all their fabo rubber stamping creativity! We are offering a free stamp set as the prize, so check it out when you have a sec. Also on RSC this month, their bi-annual rubber stamping online convention. Lots of amazing stamp companies will be running virtual "booths" with wonderful specials! Smeared Ink will be participating and offering some specials, and it is well worth the visit! It runs from May6-10 and you can check it out HERE. Just click through to the virtual convention thread on the 6th.

Finally, here is some Smeared and Smudged Forum news. All of our May challenges have been posted, which include our Very Sketchy sketch challenge, our Oh! The Horror Inspiration Challenge, Rock N' Rolla Inspiration Challenge, and our Twisted Tutorials Challenge. You can view all of these by visiting The Challenger group in the forum. We have two fabulous sponsors this month, Stamp It Crazy and Stamp Happens, who are offering some wicked prizes! These challenges last through the month of May, so be sure to take a gander.

Also, in case you haven't heard yet, the Smeared and Smudged forum will be moving to it's own website very soon, so be on the lookout for an update. If you are already a member, you should receive an email over the next couple of weeks that invites you to join us at our new location. If you're not a member, now's a great time to join us! We have lots of exciting things going on and great people to inspire and be inspired by!

So I hope you get the chance to take a look at all the exciting things happening this month, and I look forward to seeing you at the challenges and convention!

Blingy River Nymph

Two posts in one day, I am really rockin' today! I guess I'm just in a pretty creative mood. The card that I'm going to show you now was made for two challenges. The first is this week's Practical Scrappers Challenge, which is glitter and bling, and the second is the Challenge over at The Cuttlebug Spot, which is also bling.

For my card I used the Nymphs stamp set from Smeared Ink and some decorative paper from Stampin' Up. I colored my river nymph and then blinged her up using crystals, and also added some diamond glitter to her. Building my card was pretty simple, I just distressed and layered the papers, added some more glitter and crystals, and a couple of touches of marker. Finally I added in my saying on vellum, also from the Nymphs set.

Even though it is very simple, I absolutely adore this card and hope you enjoy it too!

*click for larger views

Columbia

Woo Hoo! Two cards in two days, that's a record for me lately! As I promised yesterday, I finished a card that has been stuck in my head for a few weeks now. It is designed using two challenges as inspiration; the Bombshell April Sketch Challenge, and the Smeared and Smudged April Oh! The Horror Challenge, which was to use the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show as inspiration.

I decided to make my card using Bombshell Angel, and I tweaked her and dressed her up like Columbia from Rocky Horror, complete with top hat, bow tie, and fishnets! I used Kathi's sketch for my layout, and added some cool glittery details all over. After mapping out my card and figuring it was missing something, I decided to add in the calendar/clock in the background and the words on my triangles.


*click for larger view

I think Angel looks awesome as Columbia, especially with the red cheeks and blackened eyes! I hope you enjoy this card, and go visit the Bombshell Sketch Challenge and the Oh! The Horror Challenge on S&S, you still have time to enter!!!

February Smeared and Smudged Sketch Challenges

February boasts even more great challenges on the Smeared and Smudged Forum, and I'd like to share with you some information about them and how you can win!

Each month in the Very Sketchy group on the forum, we feature a card sketch and a scrapbook sketch, with an awesome sponsor prize at the end of the month! This month's sponsor is:



Third Coast is a small art rubber stamp company started in 1995. Now carrying more than 5000 stamp images, they work with several artists to bring you new unique and inspiring images. Third Coast has something for every taste!

This month's prize is $50 in product of your choice from Third Coast! Yes, you heard me right, $50 in stamps! To participate in the sketch challenges, just visit the Very Sketchy group on the forum. You can find the Card Sketch HERE. You can find the Scrapbook Sketch HERE.

Along with the sketch challenges, Smeared and Smudged offers some other unique challenges, including the Oh! The Horror Challenge, and a BRAND NEW Rock n' Rolla Video Challenge! (Sounds fun, huh!)

Also, we are currently taking sign ups for an ATC swap and an image swap. You can find all of this information on the homepage of the forum as well as this post. SO, give Third Coast a visit to see their rockin' stamps, and then head over to the S&S Forum to get your challenge on!

End of the Month Challenge Reminders

So this post is just a reminder about some upcoming challenge deadlines on the Smeared and Smudged forum. Right now we have a card sketch challenge and a scrapbook sketch challenge sponsored by Faerie Song Art Stamps. Win a free stamp plate of your choice! Just use the sketches provided and upload your project by Jan 31. You can also participate in the Faerie Song Challenge. Use a Faerie Song stamp on anything and enter it to get another entry to win the free plate.

Plus we have the Oh The Horror Challenge that is based on recent and vintage horror movie inspiration. This challenge has no entries yet this month, so you could win just by making a project! The theme is "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" and you could win a free Blockbuster movie rental with popcorn and candy. Who wouldn't want to win that!!!!! I've included a picture of my sample here, it's a keychain inspired by the movie poster and a quote from the movie, and it used the Bombshell Angel set from Bombshell Stamps.



If you'd like to participate in any of these challenges, simply follow the link, register for the forum if you haven't already (you'll get to network with some really wicked stampers!), and then make your project based on the rules. The deadlines for each of these challenges is January 31. Then we'll do it all again next month. Can't wait to see your entries!

Free My Wings Altered Tin and Purple Mermaid Treasure

Today I have two Bombshell Stamp projects to share with you. Both were meant for challenges, and neither one can be used. Argh!!! I barely missed the deadline on one, and the other just doesn't quite meet the criteria, but oh well. I love them anyways.

My first project is an altered tin. After three years of hanging on to this empty hodgepodge hardware tin, I finally sat down and did something with it! I started of course with paint. My base color was midnight garden, a really pretty deep blue-green. Then I added layers of lavender paint and some purple glitter glue. I stamped some background in copper using the "Striped By Me" Bombshell set, and I finished the paint by spraying white and gunmetal black in various spots.

I little while back I got a really cool RAK package from Kathi that had a dressform cutout, among other things (thanks again Kathi!!!), so I decided it was time to use the dressform. I covered it with clear microbeads, and then painted them with paint pens in black and white, and once again used midnight garden for the dressform stand.

The heart image from the "Sacred Heart" Bombshell set was stamped and colored with prismacolors, then covered with glitter glue. I layered feathers, my dressform, and my heart to form my main image. I completed the tin by adding painted scrabble tiles and a hanging jewel. I think I'll be using this to hold some notecards with the same heart image on them, but we'll see.

*click pic for larger view

My second project is a card made using the "Mermaid Treasure" Bombshell set. I started by layering paint over cardstock, swirling to make it look a little like water, and then stamping the seaweed directly into the paint to make some ivory colored images. The little sprinkle-looking things are microbeads that I dropped into the wet paint. I stamped my mermaid and colored her with prismas, then cut her out. I also stamped some extra seaweed in purple paint, added pearl-ex, and cut them out to add layers. My treasure was stamped and colored, then I added in the jewel, pearl, and glitter bling. Finally I put everything together and tied my 3 ribbons to the side.

*click pic for larger view

So, I hope you enjoy taking a look at these. I was feeling very purple when I made them, and I blame it partly on the Gogol Bordello song that we've been listening to on the Smeared and Smudged forum, ha ha! "Start Wearing Purple" really inspired my color choices for these two projects. Speaking of which, come on over to the forum and join us for our sketch challenges and very special Faerie Song challenge, going on until the end of January! You can win a fabo prize from Faerie Song this month, and each month the sponsor changes. Hope to see you there!

Macabre Monday Challenge #021 Eerie Elegance

So, I'm loving Barb's Haunted Design House Blog, and if you guys haven't checked it out yet, you really REALLY NEED TO!! Part of the charm is a weekly challenge called Macabre Monday, and I get to spread my creepy wings and make projects that highlight my dark side. There's a theme for each challenge, and this week's theme was eerie elegance.

I don't know if I'm known for my elegance in my projects, but I figured I'd give it a go. For my eerie creation I used Bombshell Stamps sets "Till Death" and "Mi Amor".

*click pic for larger view*

The background is embossed in silver, and although you can't see it well in the picture, each corner is sporting a black crystal. I layered my stamped roses ala 3-D sticker, and went for a grayscale look with just a touch of color on the beauty's lips and the leaves of the roses. The flower in the tux pocket also has a black crystal.

I tried to make an elegant but dark card that you could send to your hunny, and I know I would use it, so I hope you all enjoy! Now go check out the challenge and enter before Sunday night!!

Smeared Ink Stamp Line Sneak Peek!

What what you say? Did you do a double take after you read the title? Well, I have a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT to make! If you've been following this blog or the Smeared and Smudged forum for a while, you may have heard mention of a Smeared Ink Stamp Line. Well, that dream will become a reality relatively soon. For my loyal followers and friends, I have an exclusive sneak peek at one of the images that will be available in the line!

This image is called Accordion Carnie, and will be available in one of the sets. I made my sample today following guidelines for the Macabre Monday challenge #20 over on the Haunted Design House blog, and I hope you like it!


*click pic for larger view



So the purpose of this sneak peek is for you to tell me what YOU think of the image! Leave a comment and let me hear it, and you will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp when the Smeared Ink line releases in a few months. I'll announce the winner on Feb 1.
Ready, set, go!

New Year, New Challenges! Faerie Song Art Stamps Sponsor and Art Journaling

Happy 2010 everyone! The project I have to share with you today is actually very personal and kind of a realization of myself and my resolution for the upcoming year. On the Smeared and Smudged forum we have had several art journalers join in and so have opened an art journaling group. I've never done any art journaling, although I LOVE to alter the outside of journals, and thought there could never be a better time to try it than now.

After a pretty deep discussion on the forum about exposing your inner self through your art and creativity, I was moved to journal last night and came up with this page. Like I said, it probably means more to me that it will to you, you may even say "What the hell is that?" , but I still feel compelled to share it as a way to solidify my resolution to truly find myself this year and express myself in honesty through my art. Here it is:







So there you have it, my first attempt at art journaling. If nothing else, it was fun and very revealing, and I look forward to continuing.

On another note, I would like to let you all know about this month's challenges over on the Smeared and Smudged forum. We have four challenges going on this month, including 2 Sketch Challenges and a Faerie Song Challenge where you have the chance to win a FREE PLATE OF YOUR CHOICE from Faerie Song Art Stamps! That's three chances to win! Plus, we have the monthly Oh!The Horror Challenge where you can win a movie night mini prize! Come on over and play with us, and enjoy the fun, growing forum.

For now, I wish all of you a peaceful and prosperous new year!!