"The Curse of the Glitter Fairies" Mini Book for Smudgy Antics Glitter & Gore Challenge

Hello Friends!
 We're now entering week 2 of Smudgy Antics Glitter and Gore Challenge!
We challenge you to bring on the gore but you must bling it up with glitter!  Are you up to the challenge?  As always the Smeared Ink design team has your back if you're in need of some inspiration and here's my mini book to give you some ideas on how to combine glitter and gore into one fabulous project ;0)

"The Curse of the Glitter Fairies"
My title is in French on the book cover

All the images are by Smeared Ink:
French Fairies digital stamps,
Angel - As Death and the Winged Heart - Heart Wings set

DominoART Challenge #3 'Toxic Tonic' Half-O-Ween Playing Card + Domino

Hello Friends!

 DominoART's 3rd Challenge started Friday April 26 and here's the inspiration piece I created.
The featured game for this one is Playing Cards and the theme is Half-O-Ween coz May is DominoART's 15 Days of Half-O-Ween event.  I'm looking for scary creations to feature so if you'd like to play then pop over and check out all the details here!

'Toxic Tonic'
Click on the photos to enlarge so you can see the details.
I used a Crooked Deck playing card and a domino on my easel type card.

Stamp the crooked playing card with one of Tim Hotz Skull Components stamp in Blazing Red StazOn ink.  Make a black card with two narrow folds on the sides with the side flaps cut at an angle so it stands with a slight lean backwards.  Distress the edges of the playing card and the black card with Tim's Paper Distresser tool.  Adhere the playing card and decorative Halloween border strips (Recollections and Martha Stewart Crafts) along the sides with Quick Dry Adhesive and Tim Holtz Idea-ology tape along the top and bottom edges.  Attach an apothecary label to the card with tiny staples....I nearly added authentic blood drops to my creation after stapling my finger tip when my stapler jammed...ouch!

 

Now for the domino...apply Meadow, Pesto, Cool Peri and Purple Twilight Alcohol Inks to a white standard sized domino surface and all 4 sides.  Rub at the surface with a wet baby wipe until some of the colour is removed for a distressed look.  Stamp the Tim Holtz X-Ray Components stamp onto the domino with Jet Black StazOn ink and add a portion of the paper tape that says 'Poison' to the bottom edge.  Colour the word 'Poison' with red Sharpie.  Seal the domino with a few coats of Krylon Artists Workable Fixative.  Age and distress the card with Tea Dye Distress Ink and then adhere the domino to the card with Judikins Diamond Glaze.

There's lots of fun things happening over on DominoART so pop on over and join the fun!  Here's a list of links to all the festivites:
DominoART's Next Top Mascot Doll Contest - The Search for the Next Dominique Doll
 May's 15 Days of Half-O-Ween event sponsored by Lost Coast Designs - open for sign-ups now!
DominoART Challenge #3 Scary Half-O-Ween Playing Cards

Have a fabulous weekend!

Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * Lost Coast Designs * About Art Accents

"Serenity of the Sea" Asymmetrical Asian Amulet

Hello Friends!

This month the Blockheads Paper Arts DT has been playing with Grungeboard and today I'm sharing an asymmetrical Asian-water themed necklace I designed with Blockheads stamps, Jet Black StazOn ink, Grungeboard Shapes - Stripes, Perfect Pearls, Magic Transparent White Viva Pearl Pen and jewelry supplies.

I used the following stamps from Blockheads Paper Arts: Waves and Chinese text from the Chinese Princess set and the Seahorse from the Seashells with Round Sand Frame set.

My necklace is also reversible!  For an all silver look just turn the necklace and the fish charm around!

"Vintage Alice Illustrations" Spinner Domino Book and Birthday Celebrations News!

Hello Friends!

I've got tons of news to share with you today!  There's lots to see, do and take part in over on my DominoART Blog right now coz we're celebrating our 11th Birthday ;0) 
Here's a list of everything so pop on over and join the fun!

DominoART's Next Top Mascot Doll Contest - The Search for the Next Dominique Doll
Dominique Doll Scavenger Hunt
 May's 15 Days of Half-O-Ween event sponsored by Lost Coast Designs - open for sign-ups now!
and we're entering into the 4th week of
DominoART Challenge #2 Alice Domino Books sponsored by Rick St Dennis

Today I'm sharing another one of my domino books.  Last week I made a book with Doublecross Dominoes and my theme was 'Down the Rabbit Hole'.  This time I've made a vintage Alice illustration book with vintage Spinner dominoes and the Rick St Dennis Digital Alice Domino Book kit Rick designed especially for DominoART in celebration of our birthday :0)

I used the 'Alice' image for my covers and the 'Through the Looking Glass' pages for my book.  The images were printed out onto white paper and torn to create the ragged edges.  I coloured the covers with Copic markers but left the pages uncoloured so that they'd look like illustrations in my vintage copy of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

 After accordion folding the book pages I aged them and the covers with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  The dominoes I used are a yellowish cream colour and are slightly smaller than a standard domino.  These particular ones are called Spinner Dominoes because they have a brass pin in the center of the domino face which allows them to spin around.  I decided to adhere the book covers to the face of the dominoes so that you can see the pips, that's what the dots are called, and I stuck the brass spinner pins back in afterwards too.  I also decided to make this one into a more traditional book with a spine so glued the backs of the pages together.  Before adhering the pages to the dominoes I added two lengths of black embroidery floss as my tie closure then adhered the pages to the dominoes with Judikins Diamond Glaze.  I completed my mini vintage book with the title and the author's name, Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.  I actually scanned a page that only had half a page of text on it from my vintage Alice In Wonderland book into Photoshope CS6 and typed out the text using the same font as the book in the blank area.  I printed it out, tore the edges, treated them with Tea Dye Distress Ink and adhered the pieces to the spine of my domino book.  I then tied the black floss into a bow to close the book and knotted the ends.

I hope I've inspired you to come and play in the Alice Domino Book Challenge and I hope to see you all over at DominoART enjoying the Birthday Celebrations Bash too ;0)

Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * Lost Coast Designs * Smeared Ink * About Art Accents

Doll Contest going on NOW over on DominoART!

Hello Friends!

I'm currently celebrating the founding of the original DominoART Yahoo group and on Thursday April 18 DominoART turns 11, Woohoo!

One of my main Birthday events is the search for the next top mascot...Dominique the DominoART Doll!  It's time to put the search out again ;0)

Will your game art doll be the next Dominique?
Come and join the fun!

"The Girl that's Hidden" Zentangles for Smudgy Antics

Hello Friends!

It's week 2 of the Smudgy Antics "Tic Tac Toe Challenge and yesterday I shared my first Zentangle creation, "The Girl with Daisies in her Hair", which is based on the three items I selected from the Tic Tac Toe grid:  Paint, Doodles and Cardboard.  I got my Zentangle action on with two digi images from Smeared Ink's new Hidden set and today I'm sharing a more complex Zentangle creation titled "The Girl That's Hidden".

"The Girl with Daisies in her Hair" Zentangles for Smudgy Antics

Hello Friends!

We're now into the 2nd week of the Smudgy Antics "Tic Tac Toe Challenge!  Select three items from the Tic Tac Toe grid up on the SA blog and get creating!  The Smeared Ink design team has you covered with some fantastic ideas and here's mine!  I selected Paint, Doodles and Cardboard to play with and got my Zentangle action on with two digi images from Smeared Ink's new Hidden set.

Today I'm sharing "The Girl with Daisies in her Hair" and tomorrow I'll be sharing a more complex creation titled "The Girl That's Hidden"!

I added the black frame in Photoshop CS6 and printed the Smeared Ink image out onto white cardstock.  For the 'doodles' part of the Tic Tac Toe challenge I decorated the girl's hair with my 'daisies' variation of the Nzeppel Zentangle then added the Hollibaugh Zentangle in all 4 corners.  I used a combination of 01 - 05 black Micron pigment markers by Sakura and a pencil to add shading.

  

  I used my Perfect Layers tool #1 to trim leaving a 1/8" border of white cardstock then adhered the panel to black cardstock with Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive.  Then used Perfect Layers tool #2 to cut the black mat leaving a 3/16" border.  I'll be posting more about these fabulous tools this week but in the meanwhile you can use the links to check them out and don't forget to use my special coupon code Leigh5% to get 5% off your entire Perfect Paper Crafting order!

For the 'cardboard' part of the challenge I tore a strip of corrugated cardboard and stained it black with Black Soot Distress Stain.  Once the cardboard was dry I used my 3rd selection for the challenge which is 'paint' and dry brushed on white acrylic paint to highlight the corrugated ridges.  I folded a sheet of white cardstock in half to form the card base and adhered the cardboard with Quick Dry Adhesive then adhered the main panel with Create & Craft 3D Silicone Glue.

I have the Zentangle books that are available from Design Originals but you will also find a wealth of info if you Google the pattern names I used too.

I hope I've inspired you to take the challenge!  Pop over to Smudgy Antics for the chance to win a $5 Smeared Ink gift voucher!
 

Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * Lost Coast Designs * Smeared Ink * About Art Accents

"Bird Wings" Window Hanging for Blockheads

Hello Friends!
This month the Blockheads design team are featuring projects created with Grungeboard.  Last week I shared my faux metal scraps photo frame and this week I've been playing with Grungeboard Alphabets, Distress Stains and Crackle Paint, StazOn ink, Blockheads Bird stamps and recycled acetate!

My "Bird Wings" window hanging is sort of along the lines of a sun catcher except it is more of an art piece that allows you to still view the nature out the window through the acetate frame!

Nightmare Fun House featuring new Smeared Ink digi images!

Hello Friends!

Today I'm excited to share my bizarre Nightmare Fun House with a scary attraction hidden inside so keep reading if you dare!  I've been a fan of Stephen King forever and my Fun House is something that would definitely mysteriously appear on the outskirts of Derry....dare to enter at your own peril haaaaahaaaaaa!

 I'm featuring some of Smeared Inks newest digi releases so if you like quirky and bizarre then you're going to want to check these out ;0)  I used images from two of their new releases.  Most are from the  Circus Procession set and I used the large mask collage image from the Venice set.  The Ring Mistress is from their Femdom set.

 

Industrial Grunge Photo Frame with Grungeboard Scraps

Hello Friends!

 Today I'm sharing an Industrial Grunge style photo frame I've created for Blockheads Paper Arts.  The Blockheads team are featuring Grungeboard this month so I went with a faux scrap metal look using scraps of Grungeboard and metallic Distress Stains. 

 

Colourful French Fairies with Smeared Ink!

Happy Monday Everyone!

We're now into the 2nd week of Smudgy Antics "Make It Colourful with a twist" challenge!  The twist is you can't use markers or pencils!  Of course there's plenty of ways to make your projects colourful and the Smeared Ink design team has you covered with some fantastic ideas and here's mine using Distress Stains and transparencies!

We Won! Go Team Smeared Ink :0)

Woohoo!  My first Design Team Throwdown and we WON!  Team Smeared Ink rocks ;0)

Congrats to all the design teams who participated in round 2, everyone totally brought their A-Game!

Check out my team mates creations here, mine here and the other teams here!
  Round 3 starts Sunday March 31!  Team Smeared Ink will announce the new challenge theme by noon!  Do you dare to go up against us?  We challenge your design teams to enter the ring for the next DT Throwdown!  Read all about it here!  

 
Happy Easter and as always Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * Lost Coast Designs * Smeared Ink * About Art Accents

Smeared Ink Design Team Throwdown - Faux Finishes!

Hello Everyone!
This is a belated post coz for some reason my blog would not post, just kept getting an error message to fix a page problem...urrgh!  Anyway, thank goodness it's back to it's normal buggy self and I'm not tooooo late with the news!

Ancient Stone 'faux finish' Dominoes

So without further delay...here's the scoop!
Smeared and Smudged forum is now hosting Design Team Throwdowns where Design Teams from around the globe get to compete against each other in a friendly and fierce bi-weekly competition!  The first Throwdown was won by Haunted Design House and as the winners the team then got to pick the theme of the next Throwdown.  They chose Faux Finishes and this time round I'm battling it out with 2 of my fellow Smeared Ink design team mates!  You can see their Faux Finish creations here!

The Design Teams have entered their Faux Finish creations and the voting started yesterday so you've only got today to dash over, check out the absolutely amazing art and cast your votes!  Of course, we'd LOVE it if you choose us to win, but we encourage you to vote for the projects (team) that you think are the best!

This is what I came up for the Faux Finish challenge, an Ancient Stone technique for dominoes!

NOW PLEASE GO AND VOTE :0)  You have until midnight tonight EST to get them in!  You do have to be a Smeared and Smudged forum member
to participate and vote, but it's free and very worth signing up.

Delft Blue Bunny Card with matching envelope for Blockheads!

Hello Everyone!

As a ceramic artist I love to paint in the Delft Blue style Holland is famous for.  I thoroughly enjoy translating the style over to my paper art as well and today I'm sharing an Easter/Spring card with a matching envelope I created for Blockheads Paper Arts just using Memento Ink and Copic markers.

Blockheads Paper Arts stamp sets used:
Easter Full Sheet and Love and Romance.

DominoART Challenge #1 Rick St Dennis Easter/Valentine Domino Books!

 DominoART Blog's first challenge - Rick St Dennis Easter/Valentine Domino Books closes March 27th!  The Domino Book Kit and Prizes are sponsored by Rick St Dennis Digital Stamps! You can still get the kit on sale in Rick's Etsy store!
Come join the fun before it's too late!

"Kensi Pram" 3D Gift Box

Hello Everyone!

Today I'm sharing a super cute 3D pram gift box that I made for a friend who recently had a little girl named Kensington.  So I'm calling this cutie the 'Kensi Pram' ;0)

 I used my Silhouette Cameo and Designer Edition software to die cut out the 'Baby Buggy Bag' from the Bundle of Joy SVG kit by SVGCuts.  I used white cardstock for all the pieces so that I could rubber stamp them with the following Blockheads Paper Arts stamps:
Nature Medallions , Painted Butterflies, Verses (full sheet)

Stamp the main body of the pram with the flower medallion in Pixie Dust VersaMagic ink.  Apply Tea Dye Distress Ink to the edges with a foam ink applicator.  Stamp the other side with wishes for the new baby - I chose the words 'Love', 'Dream', 'Create' and 'Inspire'.  Apply Spun Sugar Distress Ink to the cardstock with a foam ink applicator while the words are still slightly damp so that they blend and smear a bit to create a dreamy effect.

 Stamp the hood sides with the small blossom in Pink Petunia VersaMagic and the main hood part in London Fog Memento ink.  Apply Spun Sugar Distress Ink to the edges.  Stamp the hood accent piece and the frills with the flourish in Perfect Plumeria and apply Spun Sugar DI to the edges too.  Stain the large wheels with Tea Dye Distress Ink and the wheel center circles with Perfect Plumeria VersaMagic ink.  Assemble and adhere everything with Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive.  Embellish with pink buttons and add dimensional pearl accents with a Magic Transparent White Viva Pearl Pen or use Liquid Pearls instead.

click to enlarge the photos

To complete my creation I made an oval gift tag and stamped it a few times with a tiny pram in Pixie Dust VersaMagic ink and edged it with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  The word 'Congrats' is stamped with Rick Cocoa Memento ink (both stamps are from a CardMaker set).  Cut two pieces of pink ribbon and attach them to the tag with a tiny white button brad (Recollections).  Add pink tissue paper then sit a baggie full of pink jelly beans for the new Mom inside the pram.  So cute!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!
I'm entering this one in the following challenges:
 Stuck On Us Sketches - Baby Stroller Die Cut Challenge
 Divas by Design - Babies and Toddlers
 Paper Craftink Journey - Ribbon or Lace
 Charisma Cards #11 Die Cuts
 Jelly Park Challenges - Pretty Pastels
Hot Shot Craft #15 Anything But a Card
Crafting for all Seasons #48 Anything But a Card

Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * Lost Coast Designs * Smeared Ink * About Art Accents

Week 2 of the Easter Bonnets challenge over at Third Coast CreativeChallenges!

Hello Friends!
Lots going down in the challenge world today!  We're now into week 3 of my first DominoART blog challenge and I introduced the 2nd member to my new DominoART design team too so pop over to the DominoART blog and check everything out!   We're also into week 2 of the TCCC#14 Easter Bonnets challenge over at the Third Coast Creative Challenges Blog!  Here's my inspiration for this week...another super cute vintage chic bonnet wearing fancy feline!   She's so adorable in her bonnet and matching outfit!  
 

I'm looking for creations featuring bonnets or hats in some way or form for this one!  So put your best hat on and come join the fun!  The end date for this challenge has now been extended to April 3 instead of March 20 because starting with TCCC#15 Spring Steampunk I'm going to host a new challenge every 4 weeks instead of 2.  You've now got lots more time to play and enter each challenge!

Third Coast Rubber Stamps used:  Henrietta DT-256-M and In Your Easter Bonnet WS-107-C

All stamping was done with Onyx Black Memento ink onto Neenah Solar White cardstock and die cut out with Spellbinders dies.  I used the following Copic Sketch markers to colour the kitty:  E41, 43, 44, Y11, 13, G21, YG06, 09, 85, B34, 37, RV10, 13 and the Colourless Blender.  I also stamped the hat portion and Kitty's bow onto a piece of scrap and fussy cut out just the flower and the bow then coloured and adhered to the main image with a dab of clear Create and Craft silicone dimensional glue.  New Sprout Memento Ink was applied with a foam ink applicator tool to the oval panel edges and I used a Spellbinders Mega Oval metal die to die cut the panel and as a stencil for the ink to preserve the white border and also applied to the edges of the sentiment panel.  All the decorative paper is My Mind's Eye (I finally made myself use some of this huge stash of gorgeous paper) and die cut out the scalloped mat with a Spellbinders Mega Scalloped Oval die and a Quickutz Lacey Rectangle die for the sentiment.  The sheer white ribbon is from Michaels and I made a tall folded card from black cardstock and adhered everything to it with craft glue.  I completed my card by adding White Magic Transparent Viva Pen pearls to all the scallops, the 4 corners of the sentiment and to kitty's pearls too then added a dash of diamond Stickles glitter glue to the flower centers.

 Thanks for stopping by to check out today's project!  Please visit my DominoART blog to join in my altered game art challenges!  D'ART#1 is Domino Books sponsored by Rick St Dennis Digital Stamps.  The domino book kit is now on sale in Rick's Etsy store!  Hope to see you all over at DominoART and Third Coast Creative Challenges too!

I've entered this one in the following challenges:
 Use Your Stuff #75 - Our Four Legged Friends
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Chic to be Shabby
Card Maniac Challenges #16 - Lots of Layers
Stamp and Create - Fur or Feathers
Tuesday Taggers - Hats and Easter Bonnets
Creative Card Crew #31 - Ribbon

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Tuesday Alchemy #52 - Anything Goes

Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * Lost Coast Designs * About Art Accents

Vintage Travel Booklet with Tags - upcycled paper towel tube!

Hello Friends!

The Blockheads Paper Arts design team are doing Travel themed projects this month and I'm really pleased with my project I'm sharing today!  I've upcycled the cardboard tube from a roll of paper towel to make the page pouches for my mini travel booklet!  I love the travel worn vintage feel of the completed booklet with the shipping tags tucked in to each pouch!

My travel booklet is perfect for a 6 day trip!  You can journal about each day on the tags and write either the name of the location or the date inside the red arrows.  You can glue photos or clippings to the pouch covers and stash all sorts of things like tickets inside the pouches too! 

Kitty Sitty Pretty In Her Blue Easter Bonnet

Hello Friends!
 

Rick St Dennis Domino Book Kit Now Available on the DominoART Blog!

Hello Friends!

DominoART's brand new Challenges launched on Friday March 1st!
DominoART Challenge #1 - Rick St Dennis Domino Books
 The freebie Domino Book Kit and Prizes sponsored by Rick St Dennis Digital Stamps

THE PRIZES!
For the challenge launch there will be THREE WINNERS!  Each will receive 3 digis of their choice from Rick's Etsy store!  How absolutely awesome is that!

The Domino Book kit is NOW available for you to download on the DominoART Blog!  Rick is providing the kit free for TWO DAYS ONLY, Wednesday March 6, 7am PST, until midnight March 7!  The freebie is for your use only, please DO NOT share the images on your own blogs!

To enter the challenge please click HERE 

For your inspiration I'd like to share my "Love is Magic" domino book featuring both book cover images and the Valentine pages from the digi kit.  See my project on DominoART for more info!
 

 I look forward to seeing all your wonderful entries :0)

Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * Lost Coast Designs * About Art Accents

Textured Pearls Domino Necklaces - A DominoART Technique!

Hello Friends!

Before I tell you all about today's projects I want to remind everyone that DominoART's first official challenge, sponsored by Rick St Dennis, starts March 1st over on my DominoART Blog!  Rick is graciously providing a freebie digi Domino Book Kit which will only be available for download for two days as well as some awesome prizes!  So pop by for the grand launch Friday March 1st!  It's going to be so much fun :0)

To get you in the mood for altering dominoes I've got a super fun technique for you all to try that I first discovered in 2002 and it's still a pleasure to do!  The Blockheads Design Team have been featuring Perfect Pearls this month.  For paper arts this one is known as Heated Pearls but for dominoes I decided to call it Textured Pearls and you can see in my demo photos why I decided on that name.  The finished look is sooo textural and shimmery!

DominoART Challenges launch March 1st with a Rick St Dennis Bang!

Hello Friends! Don't forget that I'm launching DominoART Blog Challenges on Friday March 1st!  Challenge #1 is sponsored by Rick St Dennis Digital Stamps!  Rick is providing a freebie digi Domino Book Kit and sponsoring the prize!