Taking Care of Business...Gothic Arch

As you can tell, these hands have been busy with many new projects. Been takin’ care of business...like ya do. This is the last of the new projects that I spoke about a few posts ago. Ain’t she creepy? Just in time for Halloween too.

So yeah, I found this girl at The Graphics Fairy blog and had to use her for this piece. Thanx again, Karen! Just a bit of my dark humor mind you.*Mutley laugh*

I cut a window out for the red sign...you can't tell, but it looks like it's floating in the arch. I used a clear crackle medium (you can't see the cracks, but they're there). Sand and Clear Glass Glitter were used that I colored with Alcohol Inks to get the "look" of blood and a muddy look. Distress Inks, markers. Collaged images. 4x6 in size with an easel back.

Thanx for stoppin’ by!

Just in time for Halloween

Here’s one of the projects that I worked on in the last week. This card came out of a need to get my hands on my art toys again. Wanted to try my hand at a half window card but I didn’t wanna get messy per se, just wanted to play is all. Card making is one of my first loves….taught card making classes some years ago. I have a card making workshop coming up next month…(will try to take pics of the class). My Muse took me on a an exploration to find just the right elements to use for this card...had no idea it would turn out this way, but I am pleased with it. I just love trying new ways to make some magic.

As you can see in the first pic all the elements used. What you don’t see is some other toys that I have been drooling over for a while now…Movers and Shapers dies, and SpellBinders dies. So how did I get the “look” of the half window card you may ask? Ah, the magic of YouTube. This is where I found Valita's tutorial on How to make a Half Window card in the Cuttlebug. It’s amazing the ideas we come up with. Thanx Valita!

Well, I don’t have the Cuttlebug machine either so I used my Big Shot along with the Labels, Ornate #5 Sizzlits die. It worked! Once I got the formula down, I was good to go.

What you may not be able to see are some of the details in the finished card. The papers were aged with Distress inks. I used Cuttlebug embossing plates for the front half and swirly bits of the card. Used a silver metallic pen to make the dots around the borders. Sizzlits Skull charm was used (I cut the tip off) and used gold paper for eyes, nose, mouth. Inside: The tips were cut from the top/bottom of the Ornate #5 label and turned sideways. Ghost and pumpkin punch were used to add a bit of embellishment. Rubber stamps for “Boo” on silver metallic card stock, and an almost invisible stamped swirls on the opposite side. Well there ya have it.

Thanx for stoppin' by!

Rusted Stuff

Rust...Yeah, so what do you think of when that word comes to mind? Someone left the bike out in the rain?! Old metal lawn chairs from the 50’s and 60’s? Your parents old car from back in the day? A buried treasure of coins...no, those were just rusted screws found in an old jug out back. No, no, how about this...the weekly challenge over at Three Muses? Yup, this is the last day and I’m getting this one in just under the wire! Gawd, talk about old and rusted (me...LateFreightSuzie). Did I make it...think so.

Remember in the last post I said that I would do something with those rusty gears? Well that did happen, and this piece started out with the idea of being a plain ol' magnet (where the skellie is) for the fridge. I kid you not! But my muse came in and totally took over, again! Which is why it’s right at the deadline. Just kept my mind open to her prompts and building upon what was there. Geez, she's so pushy sometimes.

click image to enlarge

Then I got a bee in my bonnet. It had to have an ornate frame. There was no way this was gonna rest till one was found. Searched through hell and high water for the right frame. Michael’s (two locations), Joann, Aaron Brothers, even a garage sale! Grrrr, could not find the right one...until I went to Urban Ore.

Hawt damn! Found it! Recycled, you betcha. It wasn’t as ornate as I wanted it to be, but it was wood (yush!). Washed it up, painted and distressed it, and there you have it. I rusted the ball chain and other elements then added some magic to it. This is a perfect piece for DOTD or Halloween. Guess the magnet will have to come at another time? Hah!

Thanx so much for stoppin’ by!

WARNING!....this post may creep you out. My WIP

Boo! Happy Halloween everyone!

What better time to show you my WIP...that started a few weeks ago.

I took an awesome workshop with Michael deMeng and I gotta tell ya, it was delightful and spooky. The Island of deMented Toys was a genuine, wicked-awesome, all out righteous workshop. This was a full day class and it was so worth the wait. It poured down rain for a while. And if there were thunder and lightning, it would have been perfect for this class.

Michael was very charming and is a fantabulous artist/teacher. Courteous, with a wonderful sense of humor, no holds barred, he encouraged us all to be bold in our creations. He showed us a lot of “Oohs and Ahhhs” techniques. Would take his class again in a heart beat. There was so much to take in, take down in notes, and experimentation's. *wicked laugh* FIVE STARS to ya Michael!

I brought so much stuff to the class and didn't use half of it! Had two projects going at once. I was overwhelmed (in a good way) by the day and did not get a chance to get too far with one of my toys. I learned about mixing paints to get some amazing faux effects, how to use caulking and Apoxie clay to sculpt, and how to use some new tools that are a must have for my tool chest now.











This wonderful day ended with the clouds moving onwards and Michael on his way to Mexico.

Just in time for Halloween?.....

...Well it ought to be. I made this piece in August, posted it elsewhere in September, and kept putting it off from posting here. Why? Dunno. But here it is...My Darkness.


This 6x6 piece represents what may be lurking in many of us. This is definitely some of my darkness. Roots go deep. What's underneath, inside. Do we dare expose it?

Believe it or not, the face is made from pieces of Coka' Cola cans. Embossed, inked, punched and nailed together with gold pin heads. Collaged papers, washers, flooring nails, vintage beads, and the brown eye (it's not a piece from a computer), you don't wanna know.

Background: acrylic paints, and image transfer experiment.