A Step In The Dark Challenge #2

Welcome fellow Bloggers, Crafters and Friends. 

WOW that first two weeks went so quickly. Thank you to everyone who showed me such amazing support on my first post for A Step In The Dark Challenge Blog. 

http://a-step-in-the-darkness.blogspot.co.uk/

Again, I understand that the dark themes aren't to everyone's tastes, but you have all supported me and left such brilliant feedback on my techniques used etc....It means so much to me.

The theme for A step In The Dark's Challenge #2 is..... "Anything Goes/Purple"

Our Amazing sponsors for this challenge are The East Wind and Make It Crafty

 

I chose to use an Image from The East Wind called Lucy Loo Love Letter 2.

Here is what I have made.....

The spiders web and Skeleton Frame were both cut using my cameo. 

The backing card was sprayed with purple and black mica inks. I then drew my own border with a thin black pen and used wiggly lines . 

I coloured the image with WHSmiths colouring pencils. I cut it down to fit in the frame and distressed it with black soot TH distress Ink and sprayed with the same mica sprays as on the backing. I then added black flat backed gems to the corners. 

 I used a selection of paper roses with a black feather and some black wired bead sprays. I added some skeleton leaves and a hat pin. I know skeleton leaves aren't that fashionable anymore, however I LOVE them so will use them lol 

I finished the card off by embossing a wooden skull and crossbones. 

A Step In The Dark only accepts dark, punk, emo, gothic, cute scary, steampunk etc entries, so I know for a fact this challenge wont appeal to most of my followers..... However, I hope that it will appeal to the dark lovers that visit my blog.

Thank you once again for visiting my blog and leaving such lovely comments...

A Step In The Dark Launch

Welcome fellow Bloggers, Crafters and Friends..... Your visits mean the world to me.

Some of you might have notices the "A Step In The Dark" Design Team Badge on the side of my blog.... Well today see's the launch of their first ever challenge!! 

I know a lot of my followers/friends aren't fans of my 'Dark Side' but, it is something I really enjoy doing as it gives me a freedom to try new things and not worry about getting them absolutely perfect. This side of my crafting is an outlet for me to mix things up a bit and let my hair down..... I appreciate your support and comments, even though its not your 'bag'.

 

To get to the "A Step In The Dark" Challenge Blog, please either click on the badge above, or the link below.

http://a-step-in-the-darkness.blogspot.co.uk/

They also have an amazing Facebook group in which you can share your dark makes as well as your challenge entries

https://www.facebook.com/groups/629105100496386/

"A Step In The Dark" is dedicated to anything dark, gothic, punk, grunge etc.....Meaning NO cute or normal makes will be accepted!!!!

We will be running fortnightly challenges, so plenty of time and opportunity for you all to enter.

The Challenge Blog owners, Erin and Fiona, have been working extremely hard securing us a list of AMAZING sponsors. These sponsors are not only providing the Design Team images to work with, but supplying their brilliant images as prizes for our challenges. 

The first challenge theme is 'ANYTHING GOES / SKULLS and we have two, yes TWO sponsors for this challenge. 

Our amazing sponsors for our first ever challenge is "DELICIOUS DARKNESS" and "LACY SUNSHINE"

http://deliciousdarkness2.blogspot.co.uk/

http://lacysunshine.weebly.com/lady-heathers-curiositiesmoppets.html

We had a choice of which sponsors images we wanted to work with....well as it was our first challenge I thought I would work with both....greedy I know, but who can blame me?!

Here is what I made using the Delicious Darkness Images - 

Make One

The backing has been sprayed with two different mica sprays. I have mounted the purple onto black card and added black peel off strips to the edges. A cut out cobweb was added and then flower/flourish black peel offs. 

 The main image on this card is the gorgeous Deadly Nightshade from Delicious Darkness. I coloured her with my WHSmiths Pencils. This image was so lovely to colour as you can add as little or as much colour as you want too. 

I added black peeloff strips to the edges and black flat backed gems to the corners. 

The skull stack is from Dilly Beans. I coloured these with the same penciles and then black glittered the eye sockets. 

Make Two

 I used a flat canvas. I covered this with mod podge mixed with purple distress ink. I stippled the mixture each time I added a layer. 

I then sprayed the surface with mica and ink spray mixes, stuck some cobweb diecuts on top and then sprayed it some more. 

I distressed the ends of the bow ribbon and glued this down with a feather and bead spray and put a gorgeous skeleton cameo on top. 

The image above is called 'Cranium Caresses from Delicious Darkness. 

I couloured her with the same colouring pencils. I added some glossy accents to parts of the image to make them stand out. I have to admit, I love the way the glossy accents works on this image. 

I sent this make to my wonderful friend Maureen Scott, who loves all things dark and has a collection of makes from the big names in dark crafting.... I wanted to add mine to it lol 

Here is what I made using the Lacy Sunshine Image - 

 The backing is a Kanban card stock that I mounted on deep red and then black card. 

I used another diecut cobweb, which was mounted on the same red, as was the image. I then used black lace around the image edge, and boy was that tricky for me..... 

 The above image is called 'Sadie' and is from Lacy Sunshine. She has been coloured with the same colouring pencils. I really enjoyed colouring her hair and dress as it gave me so much opportunity to practice my shading.

I finished the card off with large red roses, black flat backed gems, a feather, bead spray and another gorgeous cameo and finally diecut bats.

I hope you will help support this new Challenge Blog by popping over to the "A Step In The Dark" blog and join in with the Anything Goes/Skulls theme.... Remember, it has to be made in an alternative style, no cute and cuddly etc....

As always, thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving such lovely comments....I hope you will still comment on this post, even if you hate the dark themes.... Thank You Lovelies

Left Of Center - Challenge #30

Welcome Lovely Bloggers, Crafters, Nosy Parkers and Friends lol It is always lovely when you pay my blog a visit.

Today see's the Mid-Way Inspiration for Challenge #30 - Spring Fling over on the

Left Of Center Creative Challenges Blog

Left Of Center Creative Challenges offer fortnightly challenges. We have a post at the start of the challenge and then a mid-way inspirational post a week later. 

We have a set theme, however if you choose to make something alternative/dark/gothic/punk etc then you can do an anything goes make. 

We have a HUGE amount of AMAZING sponsors and this Challenge is Sponsored by the very talented Delicious Doodles.

Challenge #30 launched a week ago , so this is just a little added inspiration to hopefully encourage you to join in with the fun. 

You don't have to make something alternative/dark etc, you can make what ever style you want, as long as it fits our themes. 

Left Of Center also has a facebook group, that we would love you to join. This group is to show your Left Of Center makes and chat to like minded crafty people

https://www.facebook.com/groups/366516863488820/

Well, here is what I made... The image is called Lilleth

I coloured the image with my WHSmiths colouring pencils. I tried to use as many brighter colours as possible. I backed the image and the textured lilac backing paper with a dark green card.
I coloured the image and sentiment a couple of times so I could cut out elements to decoupage for depth to the card.

The flowers I used a large embossing tool to round the petals to give these dimension and depth. I diecut some swirls and leave sprigs to allow the foliage theme to spill out onto the card. 

I LOVE the brightness to this card, and I think it represents spring perfectly. 

I hope you will all join the Spring Fling Challenge over on the Left Of Center Creative Challenges Blog....Remember, it doesn't have to be dark!!

Thank you for your constant support and encouragement

Sweet Lilac Flowers

Welcome fellow Bloggers, Crafters and Friends, I appreciate every single one of you.

I was lucky enough to be sent a gorgeous bag of Sweet Lilac Paper Flowers from the very lovely Linda Simpson. 

Linda has been an amazing friend to me since I started crafting. I was lucky enough to meet Linda at the NEC in November and she was as lovely in person as she is online. 

Linda has always been encouraging and supportive to me and someone I will always be friends with. 

This morning I opened my post and out popped a bag of the most gorgeous paper flowers I have seen. They are not thin like most paper flowers, they are sturdy and hold a shape. 

I set to work straight away to make a card to fit the Sweet Lilca Paper Flowers Current Challenge 'Monochrome'. 

I picked an image from The Stamping Chef and coloured her in grey scale. This is the first time I have tried this, and I am pretty pleased with how she turned out. 

Once she was coloured, I then picked my papers from a DoCrafts Capsule black and white paper pack, and my flowers from the stash Linda sent me from Sweet Lilac Paper Flowers. 

This is the finished card....

The above photo shows the embellishments closer. The big black flower and the two large white flowers either side are from Sweet Lilac Paper Flowers. 

I teamed these up with some diecut silver leaves, white feathers, black and white ribbon roses and some pearl sprays. 

The flowers are the perfect size to add a statement to any card. 

I finished the card by adding some black and clear flat backed gems and some white card candi. 

I would recommend Sweet Lilac Paper Flowers to any crafter who loves good quality flowers in gorgeous rich and deep colours. 

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:

Sweet Lilac Paper Flowers - Monochrome

Crafty Girls Challenges - #16 Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenges - #54 Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - #40 Anything Goes

Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

Scribble and Scrap - #17 Always Anything Goes

Crafting For All Seasons - #76 Lots of Layers

Simply Create Too - #60 Stack Em Up

The Paper Nest Dolls - #9 Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - Use Diecuts or Embossing
ArtByMiran Challenge - #4 Anything Goes

The Stamping Chef - #27 Anything Goes

As always, thank you for all your wonderful visits and comments. 

Left Of Center - Challenge #29

Welcome Lovely Bloggers, Crafters, Nosy Parkers and Friends lol It is always lovely when you pay my blog a visit.

Today see's the Mid-Way Inspiration for Challenge #29 - ANYTHING GOES over on the

Left Of Center Creative Challenges Blog

Left Of Center Creative Challenges offer fortnightly challenges. We have a post at the start of the challenge and then a mid-way inspirational post a week later. 

We have a set theme, however if you choose to make something alternative/dark/gothic/punk etc then you can do an anything goes make. 

We have a HUGE amount of AMAZING sponsors and this Challenge is Sponsored by two of our wonderful sponsors

Limited Runs and Smeared Ink

Challenge #29 is Anything Goes BUT it is dark themed only. Usually we will accept any style of crafting, but this challenge it has to be on the dark side.....

Left Of Center also has a facebook group, that we would love you to join. This group is to show your Left Of Center makes and chat to like minded crafty people

https://www.facebook.com/groups/366516863488820/

Well, here is what I made with an Image from Limited Runs. The image is called 'Brad Nailed Zombie'.

I coloured the image and skulls (which are from Delicious Doodles, another one of our sponsors) with my WHSmiths colouring pencils. 

I then did light swirls all around the image to take the whiteness away. The eyes of the skull and zombie were coated with crackle glaze, to give the card some texture. 

The paper are from a BoBunny Halloween paper pad and backed in orange card. All edges were distressed with a rangers distressing tool. 

I finished off by drawing my own border around the layers, added card candi and some bat diecuts. 

I have to say, I do love this card as it is fun and bright and shows the softer side of dark/gothic/punk etc. 

I hope you will all join the Anything Goes - Dark Themed Challenge over on the Left Of Center Creative Challenges Blog....Remember, for this challenge is HAS to be a dark themed make....

Thank you for your constant support and encouragement

Left Of Center and PunkYouGirl

Welcome Lovely Bloggers, Crafters, Nosy Parkers and Friends lol It is always lovely when you pay my blog a visit.

I have two Design Team posts to blog about today....sorry if its a long one lol
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Today see's the Mid-Way Inspiration for Challenge #28 - Ribbons/Flowers over on the

Left Of Center Creative Challenges Blog

Left Of Center Creative Challenges offer fortnightly challenges. We have a post at the start of the challenge and then a mid-way inspirational post a week later. 

We have a set theme, however if you choose to make something alternative/dark/gothic/punk etc then you can do an anything goes make. 

We have a HUGE amount of AMAZING sponsors and this Challenge is Sponsored by the very talented and very sexy Sassy Studios.

Challenge #28 launched a week ago and we already have a great number of entries. 

You don't have to make something alternative/dark etc, you can make what ever style you want, as long as it fits our themes. 

Left Of Center also has a facebook group, that we would love you to join. This group is to show your Left Of Center makes and chat to like minded crafty people

https://www.facebook.com/groups/366516863488820/

Well, here is what I made.....This was made before I realised that we didn't have to make dark themed projects hahaha

The Image I used was Sassy Studios 'Bella Bride'.

I coloured the image with my WHSmiths colouring pencils. I used red and black distress ink around the edge of the image, but applied it with a shaving brush so it was stippled rather than blended. 

I then sprayed the whole image with mica spray to give it a shine. 

The sentiment was printed out from the computer. I have used the same coloured pencils around the wording. 

The paper was from a black and white paper pad. Everything was backed with black card and stuck down. 

I used some gorgeous red and black embellishments and ribbon and arranged these at the side of the card. 

I hope you will all join the Ribbon/Flower Challenge over on the Left Of Center Creative Challenges Blog....Remember, it doesn't have to be dark!!

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Today see's the start of a brand new challenge over on the PunkYouGirl Challenge Blog.

PunkYouGirl is a monthly Dark Themed Challenge Blog. We have some amazing sponsors and amazing prizes.....

We are dark themed, so want to see all your dark themed entries. We don't want fluffy and cute, we want dark/gothic/punk/alternative/grunge etc....

This months Sponsor is the brilliant StitchyBear

This months Challenge Theme is 'Lavish Lace'. 


Here is what I made using an image called 'Dark Valentine'.

The backing was made by stamping with a Kanban Lace stamp. It was hard making sure that the edges welded together, but I got there in the end. I then sprayed over the top with red mica spray.

The image is coloured with WHSmiths colouring pencils and cut into a shape to fit inside the gorgeous diecut frame. The wings wouldnt fit, so I cut around these to give them a look if coming out of the image. I backed the image and backing with red card and then a leather look black paper.
I drew a border around the image topper with a red glitter pen.

The heart and flowers are diecuts. I used hot gluegun to glue the flowers and popped a black flat back pearl in the middle. I finished with black lace and black bead and wire spray behind the flowers.

Although the image is dark themes, I think this card is very pretty and delicate looking...

I hope you will pop over and join in with the challenge.....embrace your dark side and have fun!!!!

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Thank you for your constant support and encouragement