31 Days of All Hallows Eve - Day 26 - Golden Skull Wall Art

 

My make today features the golden skull. Why did I italicize those words? I don't know, it sounds like an Indiana Jones movie title. Anyhow, the skull came off a Dollar Store skeleton. Since he was dead already, I cut his head off his body and took off the back half of his skull. Then I painted it gold.

The "canvas" is one of the few boxes I got from the Dollar Store via the thrift store. I peeled the Easter Bunny decoration off the box and used Mod Podge to adhere part of a Halloween napkin onto it to create the background. 

As I was painting the sides of the box, the gold paint over-ran onto the front, so I made sure the gold made a sort of border. After my skull was dry, I used hot glue to adhere it onto my canvas. I pulled out a piece of laced burlap and some twine. I added some Fall leaves and a sunflower and my project is finished.

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Try It on Tuesdays - Halloween

Unicorn Challenges - Halloween

31 Days of All Hallows Eve - Day 16 - Gaze into my Crystal Ball

 

My bins of craft supplies are like Mary Poppins' carpet bag. Today I pulled out a crystal ball I had bought from Dollar Store last October. It was decorated...okay, but not what I really wanted. So I removed the ball from its base and covered it with Black chalk paint.

After it dried, I added my accessories: part of a necklace chain that had broken (I swear I don't know how to throw anything out), a couple of leftover skulls from the Dollar Store skeletons, some moon and star buttons, and these weirdly-shaped glass beads that looked like leaves (part of a necklace I bought at Savers for $1.50) and a string of sees beads I had got on clearance who knows when (I don't).

There was a little color clashing going on, so I brushed some gold acrylic paint onto those accessories. Then I had to edge both the top and bottom of the base with gold. Before putting the globe back onto its base, I put batteries in a set of twinkle lights (I inherited a shoe box full of these) and placed the lights into a ball of batting. Once the globe was on with the lights glowing eerily through the batting, I was very happy with the effect! and since my bf had ordered the polyester batting from Amazon, she had tons of leftover, which found its way to my house (the bag of batting was as big as Santa's bag on Christmas Eve).

And now comes the best part...come closer while I look into my crystal ball. Do I see love entering your life? Should you not travel our of the country until next year? What will my magical crystal ball tell you about your own future???  

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

A Place to Start - Anything Goes  

Corrosive Challenges - Anything Goes

We Love 2 Create - Anything Goes

Thankful for Good Friends on the Path of Positivity

When my son got married, her parents and my husband and I started a friendship that, just like marriage, became stronger as time went by. We even took a cruise together before hubby became too sick to travel. He's gone now, but I'm so thankful that we have and continue to get along so well together.
I'm also thankful for being able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this month. I created this card for them using a digi image from Scribbles Designs, one of the guest sponsors for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The image is called Champagne Glasses, and it's a FREEBIE! I used Copics to color the image and pulled out all the gold papers and embellishments I could find from my stash to create the rest of the card..

 I decorated both faces on the inside of the card as well as the front. I found the perfect quote (top) and an awesome poem to congratulate them. The font I used is called Violetta.

I am sure they will like the card, as Toni (the other MIL) is a frequent customer when it comes to cards. In fact, she was over the moon last Christmas when she opened her gift from me - a dozen handmade cards. 

You have until the end of the month to create and link your project to the Path of Positivity challenge blog for your chance to win the following prizes:

Challenges I am Entering:

All Dressed Up at Your Scrapbook Place

A new month brings a new challenge at Your Scrapbook Place. The theme is always Anything Goes, and this month the guest sponsor is All Dressed Up. I used a digi image called Time to Celebrate. I think the sentiment is perfect, don't you? BTW, if you get a chance, try some Barefoot Bubbly. My fave cheap champagne to serve at girls' day in. Yum!
My card is filled with die-cuts and jewels. I found a baggie with them in it, as well as the gold and black paper, and ran with it. How about you? Do you have any mystery bags in your craft area? I'm doing a clean-out (again) and am finding all kinds of goodies. You never know what you might have forgotten...
Meanwhile, you have all month to create and link up your project at Your Scrapbook Place for your chance to win prizes from the Guest sponsor, All Dressed Up.

Give Peace a Chance

I was inspired today to  create a Christmas card for  my 2019 stash, which was depleted last month. I absolutely adore this digi image from A Day for Daisies. It's called Placing the Stars
http://adayfordaisies.com/stamps/fairies-nymphs/placing-the-stars and I've used it before.
Today I colored my image with Copics, adding some shading with colored pencil. I've been doing this often now, using both markers and pencils to get a deeper depth tp my images. I used 2 patterned papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles for my background from these Paper Sets:

I printed out my image (with its blue background) twice, cutting out the image and the patterned paper bow and adhering them to the first layer with dimensional tape.

Then I popped it  all on a piece of cardstock with stitched edges. To finish off my card, I gave the ribbon, angel wings and edges of the blue frame some shine with Stickles. I had some extra tiny stars die-cut from a border die. My sentiment goes (I think) perfectly with the image: Star light, Star bright, A wish for Peace on Earth tonight. If only...

Challenges I am Entering

ABC Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Cute & Crafty Christmas - Anything Christmas

the Sisterhood of Crafters - Make It Sparkle (gold & Stickles)

City Crafters - Give Peace a Chance (paper-pieced bow)

Scribbles Design's Year in Review

It's midway through the last challenge of 2018 at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The theme is "Year in Review" and crafters have until January 14th to  link their projects at the main challenge blog. If you choose to follow the optional theme, you can pick out any of the 11 previous (2018) challenge themes for your project. This is a win-win opportunity here, as  one of those themes is ANYTHING GOES.
I chose to create a card with the May "Make It Masculine" theme. And what a paper, am I right? The paper is called Clockworks and is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. I love this big old pattern of the inner and outer workings of a clock, with all its gears and gizmos.This  concept of time can be used in birthday, friendship, even sympathy cards, as well as many other projects.

The image I used for my card is Scribbles Designs' #800 Treasure Chest. I colored my image with colored pencils to get that weathered look just right. Here's where digital and handmade come in: I digitally placed on my paper a couple shapes (heart & star), then printed it. I printed the treasure chest twice so that I could cut out parts of the second image to give it more dimension. 
I love using Scribbles Designs' Treasure Chest with the sentiment above: There is no greater Treasure than a  Good Friend". What a perfect pairing, right? Since this card is going to a veteran I met at the VA hospital, I kept the design simple. 
So that's MY take of the Scribbles Designs Year in Review. Are you going to play along? You have 14 days in which to capture your Muse and shake some inspiration from her (kind of like pixie dust) and link it to the challenge blog. Happy crafting! 
And a Happy New Year to you, too!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craftyhazelnuts Patterned Paper - Anything Goes w/patterned paper

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Sheepski Designs - New or Old (Old Friendship)

World Wide Open Design Team - Anything Goes as a DT  member

Silver & Gold & Metallics Line the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Finishing this year's theme collection of COLORS, the Path of Positivity challenge blog asks for projects using any kind of METALLICS - gold, silver, copper, aluminum, metallic gel gen, glitter, charms - whatever media your Muse inspires you to create with. It's an optional theme, but if your project follows this theme with a healthy amount of metal featured, your entry will be eligible for the Most Inspirational prize from Sparkle n Sprinkle, the guest sponsor this month.

I used a digi image from Sparkle n Sprinkle called Flower Silhouette with a gold and silver color combo. This combo runs through my background papers as well as in my flower blossoms. Then I spritzed on some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist for an overall shimmer.
I dug into my jewelry and metal stash and was able to embellish each flower as well as a few butterflies and even the Happy Birthday greeting. To enhance the jewelry bits, I adhered a little fine crystal glitter from Stampin Up.

As I draw near to the end of the year, I am seeing a difference in my crafting stash. My paper has been reduced by about 20%, and my holiday stash is half what it used to be! This has been an ongoing goal, one which has kept me from having the time of my life in stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Sigh! But I am seeing a light at the end of the paper crafting tunnel.

I really like the way my birthday card turned out. The inside's sentiment reads: "May your birthday bloom with wonderful surprises" I know so many people whose birthdays fall in December, this card is completed just in time for a special friend.

Back to the challenge at the Path of Positivity. while the theme is optional, ALL projects must be positive, encouraging or affirming in some way. Lord knows we need all the support from each other that we can get - am I right? So you have until the end of the year (boy, that sounds so weird to write out) to create and get your projects linked up to the Path of Positivity challenge blog for your chance to win some awesome prizes from Sparkle n Sprinkle. I can't wait to see what you come up with!! See you on the Path!!

Challenges I am Entering:

CAS-ual Fridays - Shades of Gold

Pattie's Creation Designs - Birthday

Classic Design Team - Anything Goes

Oddball Art - AG w/optional Holiday Haunts & Silly Stripes

Sparkle n Sprinkle - AG w/loose glitter, emb powder, etc

World Wide Open Design Team - AG/must be on DT

Victorian CHristmas at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Merry Christmas from Ike's World Challenge Blog! The newest challenge is at its midway point, and its theme is a "Victorian Christmas." No, the thee is always optional, and as you can see, I took the Anything Goes route and arrived at the digital card above. Since my blog background is white. the card base did NOT show, but it does have a white cardstock background, and prints up nicely for perfectly flat, one postage stamp mailing. As you can see, it also looks great on a computer. Since my sister lives in Berlin, mailing even a letter is expensive from the States. She isn't coming home for Christmas, so I'm sending her this card electronically. In fact, I send her digital cards frequently. I miss her a lot.
Anyway, my card features:

Ike's Art Images: Kitten Kristmas

Papers: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Ornament 2, December Delights Paper Kit 

& Gold, Glitterati 1 Paper Kit

Digital Elements: Pixel Scrapper Melo Vrijhof's Scatter, Christmas Day Set

Whether you create with a Victorian Christmas in mind, or have other ideas in mind, link your creation (anything goes) to Ike's World Challenge Blog for a chance to win a sweet girt certificate to the Ike's Art Store!

Good Luck and Happy crafting! And Happy Holidays from me to you!

New Challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Welcome to the challenge midway point at Ike's World Challenge Blog! The theme is Anything Goes, with an optional theme of Mythical, Mystical or folklore. Ike came out with a set of images covering some of the Greek gods, and I fell in love with this one. She is Athena 2 and you can find her HERE. There are 2 versions - one with a background, and one without. I chose the one without because I wanted to use another image called Greece 3 for my background. It's part of a set of 4 images called Greek Views 2 World Tour Series.

I created a hybrid card,mixing my Copic-colored image of Athena with my digitally created background. I used Photoshop Elements to make the lines of my Greek View background more transparent, popping it onto cloudy patterned paper and embellishing it digitally (well, except for the jewels I sprinkled on the card).

Digitals from PixelScrapper.com: 

Janet Scott’s Back to Nature Clouds Patterned paper

 PS Pauline Thompson’s Eroded Hues Glitter

 PS A Janner Gold Border 001

You have one more week to enter this challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from Ike's Art. My personal goal is to own every image she has. It's difficult, because she's always drawing new ones every month! But she is also generous with her images, so make sure you stop by for a new freebie. You never know when they will pop up!

See you there!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Catz - AG or Ladies Day

Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes

Fabrika Fantasy - Add pearls or Gems

House of Cards - Add Text and/or Colors

Use Your Noodle to Doodle at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Last year when my husband was diagnosed with ALS, we joined an ALS support group. We became very close to one of the couples, and the wife and I started emailing, texting and phoning each other with our worries, fears, discoveries and experiences. We could vent to each other about our feelings at being our husbands caretakers, knowing that each would understand that we while we may complain, whine and begrudge the time and effort, we are at ease in knowing that we won't be judged by the other. She knows how much I love my husband and would go to the ends of the earth for his comfort, just as much as I know she would do the same.
This month Bill and I go to her husband's funeral. I created this sympathy card with the love and understanding I feel for my friend who bravely fought by her husband's side, battling this incurable disease.
I have been lucky to have witnessed several shooting stars in my life. I thought this digi image from the Scribbles Store was the perfect image to show my friend that her crushing grief will pass, just as a shooting star passes across the sky. I printed and then embossed the image, called Shooting Star, then doodled a border around the edge. This fulfills the challenge theme this month to "Doodle with your Noodle" at Scribbles Designs challenge blog.
I also printed out a Gold Glitterati textured paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles before adding some lace, pearls and flower.
Are you fingers constantly doodling? This is the perfect challenge for you! You have a month to use your noodle and doodle up a project - don't forget to link it up at Scribbles Designs challenge blog for your chance to win free digis from the store!! Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entered:

Scrappers Delight - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Find LOVE at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Welcome to the midway point of the February challenge at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. While it's always ANYTHING GOES, the optional theme is Expressions of Love. Our sponsors for this challenge are:

AND

My card today is for my sister Dee, whose support and love have carried me through some tough times this month. I thought she would like this card because, like me, she loves puns! The digi image I used is called "Love You 2 Pizzas" and is offered in the Imagine That! store.

SPONSOR & PRIZE INFORMATION: 

• $10 gift certificate from Imagine That! Digistamp for the post or project that is deemed most inspiring of the bunch. To be eligible for this prize, you must follow the optional theme of Expressions of Love.
• The same three digis used by team members, provided by Mari Digis for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.  To be eligible for this prize, entry must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Whether you choose to express love for someone in a birthday card, a sympathy card, a scrapbook layout, or other media, be sure to link it up at the Path of Positivity Challenge blog for your chance to win prizes!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Calendar Challenges - Love is in the Air

Crafty Cardmakers - Add Some Texture

Get Creative Challenges - Use Red + Another Color

*Anything Goes Theme*

Crafting from the Heart

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Imagine That

The Nature of Christmas

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you,

because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places”

~Roald Dahl

The 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up blog would like you to remember the Nature of Christmas with their newest challenge. Show off woodland scenes, snowfall, winter animals—whatever flora or fauna brings out the natural beauty of the holiday and inspires you to create.

I created my Christmas card using a digital image called Slim from Sparkle N Sprinkle, our sponsor this month. That very pretty background paper is from Lisa of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month,make sure that your card has some sort of outdoor nature element in the design.  Examples include: scene of trees, forest, river, birds, woodland animals, etc. Whatever element you choose must be flora or fauna (i.e. botanical or animal related). If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies.  You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store.

Sparkle N Sprinkle is a small company with a big heart owned and operated by Margaret Myers. SNS specializes in hand-mixed embossing powders and glitters. Our quality, deeply etched rubber stamps are closely cropped on Cling Mount Cushion ready for your acrylic block. Produced in our local Shoppe in Ruskin, Florida, the stamps are already indexed on a laminated color storage sheet for your convenience. SNS sells a variety of other paper crafting tools and products, including a new line of digital stamps and many other exclusive products.

• Prize being offered:  a $15 gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store for one random winner chosen from those who participate in the optional theme.

• Additional Sponsor: Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• Prize being offered: One free digital paper to everyone who links up a minimum of two cards to the challenge.  Cards can be anything goes for this prize, they only have to follow the theme if they want a chance at the sponsor's prize.  The mini set of six digital papers called Nature of Christmas, will also be offered up as a prize to one random winner. 

My Guardian Angel

When I was young, I was a daredevil. I ran away from home once, went water skiing before I learned how to swim, went spelunking without a partner, and dated a few dangerous guys. I believe I had a guardian angel who kept me from losing my life a couple of times...and I believe I wore her ragged with my "adventures."
When I saw this digital image in Ike's Store, I knew I had to create something with her. She looks like my guardian angel might have looked after a particularly rough patch, needing some downtime far, far away from earthly noises.
The image is called Angel 2, and this is my DT make for Ike's World Challenge Blog. The theme is Vintage, which I don't do very often. After I printed and fussy-cut my angel, I covered her clothing with very fine white glitter. I used a little flocking along with some glitter on her wings, too.
I dug out an oval unfinished wooden plaque I had kept through the last three moves (one of them across two states!). Wiping gold metallic paint across the wood gave it more of a stained look than a painted one. Then I sprayed paper doilies with homemade shimmer mist, tore them and Mod-Podged them onto my wood canvas.
Next came my angel using dimensional tape. I didn't think her wings looked feathery enough, so I added a couple white feathers to frame her, hiding their stems with the single rose. I glued both white fuzzy fiber and a string of palest pink pearls to the edges to give my art a more solid frame. To finish off my mixed media piece, I cut up lace flourishes and flowers I snagged off a vintage collar fond at a rummage sale. A few assorted pearls and jewels decorate the rest of my canvas and I am very happy with my Vintage Art.
Ike's World Challenges run every two weeks, and today is the midpoint of the most recent challenge. You have a few more days to gather your Vintage mojo to you and create for your chance to win a gift certificate to Ike's Store. Yu don't have to use an Ike's Art image to play, but you get double points in the drawing if you do. AND she gives away freebies often!!
If you would like to own this altered art piece, please visit my Facebook Page, Patacake's Paper Play.

Challenges I am Entering:

Come & Get It challenges - Lots of Sparkle

Quirky Crafts challenges - Light as a Quirky Feather

Clear It Out challenges - White + One/must use stash item(the oval wood frame)
Creative Card Crew - Sprinkle!
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Make It Sparkle
Through the Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes