Day 21 of the 31 Days of Halloween ~ Rick St. Dennis' Airless Chambers

It's that time again for Rick St. Dennis' Airless Chambers Crew to join in the creepiest bloghop of the year, the 31 days of Halloween, organized by Smeared Ink. Today it's my turn to post on the Airless Chambers blog for Day 21.

I have a mixed media piece featuring two of Rick's wonderful images, Dancing with the Starz and Flying High. They make quite a team and both seemed to fit the sentiment. They were coloured with Prismacolor and Polychromos pencils and then fussy cut leaving a narrow white border. They were each matted with black cardstock before being trimmed out again and popped up on foam tape.

The 6 x 8 rectangle of mixed media paper which forms the substrate was spritzed with water and then sprinkled with Orange, Lemon, and Scarlet Brusho crystals. The background was tilted various ways so that the colours would run and blend before they were allowed to dry. Stars were die cut from black cardstock and scattered across the background. Inky dots were added with a Joggles background stamp and Jet Black Archival. The edges of the background were lined with Black Big Brush pen before it was mounted on black cardstock to frame it.

The sentiment was computer generated and printed onto white cardstock. The letters were filled in with red marker and the words were matted with black and popped up on foam tape. An enamel heart was adhered beside the last two words for emphasis and balance.

Thanks for joining us today. My witchy friend, her cohorts and I appreciate your visit.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Airless Chambers post ~ 31 Days of Halloween Day 7

Hi there! Rick St. Dennis' Airless Chambers is participating in Smeared Ink's 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop again this year. Members of Rick's EDT are taking turns posting Halloween or Day of the Dead projects each day for all of October on the AC blog. Today is the first of my two posts. I chose to feature Bratty Lil Witch found in Rick's Zibbet shop.

Bratty and her wee friend were coloured with Prismacolor and Polychromos pencils. They were fussy cut leaving a narrow white border and then matted with black cardstock which provides a wonderful contrast with the background. They were then popped up on foam tape to create a shadow and add dimension.

The background, a 6 x 8 inch rectangle of mixed media paper, was inked with Straw, Dried Marigold, and Worn Lipstick Distress inks to create a blended background. One of the Mish Mesh stamps from Stampendous was used with Orange Blossom Archival ink to stamp texture on the background. Black Archival ink was sponged through Dina Wakley's Plastic Canvas stencil and white embossing paste was scraped through TCW's Netting stencil. Dylusions Black Marble paint was added to the background with bottle lids to make rings and a plastic gift card to make the lines.

Before Bratty was placed on the background, torn patterned paper with text and crossed bones was added in three places. The first place gave her a place to stand, grounding her so she wasn't floating. The computer generated sentiment was printed on white cardstock and Sharpie orange and purple pens were used to colour in the open parts. The words were then matted in black and popped up on foam tape. Black and black and white washi tape semi-circles were punched and added to the top and bottom of the background. Black Big Brush pen was used to edge the background and a black cardstock mat was adhered to the back of the page.

Thanks for stopping by today. I'm always happy to visit with you and Bratty...well, Bratty is Bratty. Be sure and stop by the Airless Chambers blog each day of October to see the other awesome projects by the EDT, all using images from Rick's creative brain! Follow the hop at Smeared Ink, too, and you'll be eligible for cool prizes.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Merry Creepmas ~ Rick St. Dennis Airless Chambers project

Today is Day 5 of the 12 Days of Creepmas organized by Smeared and Smudged.

It's my turn to post on the Airless Chambers blog and I have a mixed media Creepmas project. I began by spraying my white bristol background with water and then Dylusions Cut Grass, Fresh Lime, and London Blue ink sprays. That layer was dried and then the background was dipped into the leftover spray on the craft sheet drying in between dunkings. The final coat was a spritz of  Iridescent Gold Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist for that creepmas glow...lol. The edges of the background were inked with Black Soot and then black Big Brush pen. The bristol was matted in black cardstock and then mounted on chipboard for strength.

An icicle border was die cut from white cardstock, shaded outside with a Stabilo black pencil and outlined with black Micron pen. Two different patterned washi tapes were layered onto white cardstock and then adhered  below where the two stars of the show would stand to ground them. White punched snowflakes were scattered around the background.

Creepmas Witch Tree and Phineus Pucker were coloured with Prismacolor pencil and fussy cut leaving a narrow white border. They were then both matted in black and popped up on foam tape.

Glossy Accents was added to their eyes and Wink of Stella was added to the dear witch's hat and ornaments. Metallic gel pen was also used to outline her lovely cape.

A third image, Creepmas Bones, was printed on white cardstock, coloured with Prismacolor pencils and cut with an oval die. It was framed with a black oval which had paint added to the edge in a checked pattern. Icicle Stickles were added to the spider webs on the design.Doodling and inking with Black Soot completed the outside edge of the sentiment.

The other sentiment, which expresses poor Phineus' dismay at what he has found under the tree, was computer generated, printed on white cardstock, and matted in black. The segments were popped up on foam dots for extra loft. Black pearls become the thought bubble trail of Phineus and a black cardstock arrow indicates the tree under which (or is that witch) his present awaits...poor lad!

Thanks for joining Phineus, his witchy friend, and me today. We appreciate that.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Hester's Pantry ~ an RSD assemblage piece

Welcome to day 30  of the 31 days of Halloween organized by Smeared and Smudged, This is my final turn to post on the Airless Chambers blog for this event.

I chose to play with Hester Hoopgarten creating her pantry cupboard. Hester can be found in Rick St. Dennis' Zibbet shop. I coloured Hester and her little scorpion friend with Prismacolor pencils, fussy cutting them while leaving a narrow white border. The image was then matted on black cardstock and cut out again, giving it more strength. Hester needed that so she could remain unbending and inflexible...as usual.

Hester's cupboard is a masonite hutch shrine from Coffee Break Designs. It measures 4.5" tall by 2.75" wide and 1.25" deep.The insides were all covered with Halloween paper scraps adhered with matte medium. Once it was glued together, the outside was covered with a spider web designed paper and the raw paper edges were inked with a black Big brush pen. A drippy border was die cut from red and black cardstock which were offset to create a shadow and greater contrast. A spider web was die cut from black cardstock and then painted with Clear Wink of Stella before being trimmed and adhered to the upper right corner.

Because this is Hester's pantry, two larger and three smaller bottles were stored in it with such yummy ingredients as Spider Legs, Bat Blood, Slime of Snails, and Foul Breath Mints (Vectoria Designs labels). A skeleton hand was adhered to the top of the hutch with Glossy Accents and Hester's message, Want me to spell it out for you, was printed on handmade paper. The message was then torn around (we don't give Hester sharp objects like scissors) and inked with Vintage Photo. Beware! She means business.

Thanks for visiting Hester Hoopgarten, her scorpion, and me today. The 31 Days of Halloween is nearly over...it's been a scream!

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Bite Me ~ a Rick St. Dennis image

It's day 17 of the 31 days of Halloween organized by Smeared and Smudged and my turn to post on Rick St. Dennis' Airless Chambers blog.

For today's post, I created a Halloween card using one of Rick's newer images, Freddy Fullmoon. Freddy is available in both Rick's Zibbet and Etsy shops. I coloured him with Prismacolor pencils, enjoying every moment colouring those fabulous cape folds. Freddie was fussy cut leaving a narrow white border to allow him to better stand out next to the black background. He was then popped up on foam tape. He waited patiently like a well mannered vampire should.

The background began as a white card base with a black rectangle cut to leave a small white border of the base showing. This repeats the white around Freddie and seems to frame the card keeping the eye on the design. The drippy blood border was cut with a Frantic Stamper die. It was inked with Black Soot Distress ink, adhered to the top edge, and faux stitched for greater interest. Black circle tiles with the numbers and st printed in white were adhered just below the drips.

Two strips of washi tape were first adhered to white paper and then to the bottom of the card, giving Freddie a place to stand. Backing the washi tape with white creates a stronger pattern than you would see if the semi-transparent tape was placed directly on the black background. Two half pearls were added to the straight ends. The final touch was to print the sentiment, Bite Me, on white cardstock, edge the words with Black Soot ink and then layer them over a red die cut heart. This brings the red all the way through the design and helps the eye travel from corner to corner.

Thanks for hanging out with Freddie and me today.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Madama de la Noche ~ RSD image

On Rick St. Dennis' Airless Chambers blog, it's day 10 of the 31 days of Halloween organized by Smeared and Smudged and it is my turn to post.

I chose to create a Day of the Dead tag using the RSD image, Madama de la Noche which can be found in Rick's Zibbet shop. As a Canadian, I was not familiar with Day of the Dead celebrations until recently when I did a little research to satisfy my curiosity. I thought it was similar to our Halloween but it really isn't at all. Instead, it is a day to remember and celebrate our loved ones who have died and to entice them back for a reunion.

To begin, I coloured Madama de la Noche with Prismacolor pencils, fussy cut her, and popped her up on foam tape. The moon was a circle punched from watercolour paper and inked with Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, and Picked Raspberry Distress inks. A scrap of cheesecloth became the mysterious cloud partially covering the moon. The headstone comes from a tag download from my stash.

The tag background which was black to begin with was given a white checked border with white paint pen and white gesso. Black gesso dots were added to the centers of the white spaces. Grass was cut from green cardstock with a Joy Crafts die and then deepened with Mowed Lawn Distress ink.

When I was reading about the symbols of the Day of the Dead celebration, I discovered that marigolds are usually included in the decorations because their scent draws the deceased back to earth for the reunion celebration. I included some tiny punched "marigolds" at the bottom of the headstone and a larger one to decorate the ribbon topper.

Thanks for joining Madama and me today. I had a blast creating this tag.

Life is good, so is art.
Bonnie

Ghoultide Witches ~ RSD 31 Days of Halloween

Rick St. Dennis' EDT is participating in the 31 Days of Halloween which is a fabulous blog hop run by Smeared and Smudged Forum. There is incredible inspiration every day of October. Our team is posting our Halloween creations on the Airless Chambers blog and today is Day 5 and my first day to post.

I chose to create a card using the amazing Willaworm Witchypoo image which can be found in Rick's Etsy and Zibbet shops. I tend not to colour gory, ewwy images but I love Rick's creepy yet humourous ones and Willaworm certainly qualifies. She and her entourage were coloured with Prismacolor pencils and fussy cut leaving a narrow white border for better contrast with the background. To me she looks slightly startled and I'm wondering if she has just seen someone sporting the same outfit or accessories as her at the Witches' Ball. I hate when that happens!

A little Black Soot inking and black doodling on the Recollections Witches' Dust paper, a bejewelled spider sticker and a simple punched one completed the card background. The die cut spider webs (Papertrey ink) adhered as a border along the side and the computer generated sentiment completed Willaworm's new home.

Thanks so much for visiting today. Willaworm and her posse appreciate it too.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Let the Games Begin - Rick St Dennis Airless Chambers post

There  are so many things about this image,  Smilin' Joe Skull with Roses, that really amuse me: the broken skull contrasted with the beautiful roses, the hat with the ace of spades tucked into the band, the burning cigarette (Live) in Joe's (not so live) mouth. Anyway, I just HAD to colour him and create a mixed media background where he could star. You can find Smilin Joe in Rick's Zibbet shop or his Etsy shop.

I coloured Joe with Prismacolor pencils and tried out a new tip I thought might work. I was watching an encaustic video and the instructor used a piece of pantyhose to buff the wax and remove some of the bloom. Anyone who colours with Prismacolor pencils knows that this will occur at times if you press too hard and get a waxy build-up. Well, guess what...the buffing with the nylon removes some of that build-up or bloom, too, allowing the colours to be more true without the haze. Bonus! Joe was fussy cut and matted in black both for greater strength to pop him up and also for greater contrast with the background.

The background began as a layer of subtly printed kraft paper, distressed and inked on the edges, and matted with black cardstock. Jet Black Archival was used to apply the Dylusions  harlequin stencilling. White gesso was used to apply the TCW Mini Circles stencilling. A strip of black cardstock was embossed with a chain link pattern and highlighted with Treasure Gold wax so the pattern would show. Two playing cards and a layer of cheesecloth were adhered behind the popped up image.

The sentiment was computer generated, torn around, and inked on the edges with Black Soot Distress ink. It was then popped up on foam and baker's twine was wrapped to the back from each end. Black enamel dots embellished the ends. The two final details were the skull charm and a black corner triangle to which more stencilling was applied. I love how this turned out...it makes me smile.

Thanks for joining Joe and me today. We do appreciate your fine company. For more inspiration using Rick's fabulous images, fun challenges, and some wonderful sharing of projects and knowledge, come and visit:
our Facebook group
our Airless Chambers blog
our Rick St Dennis Gallerie
our Tuts and Comments blog
Hope to see you there.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania ~ We Think You Are All Charming (Cuttlebug machine and Lifestyle EF)
Creative Card Crew ~ #65 Masculine
Loves Rubberstamps ~ #110 Anything Goes
Haunted Design House ~ Macabre Monday Eerie Inspiration (skellies)
The Corrosive Challenge ~ #202 Color Me Happy (Prismacolor pencils)
Left of Center ~ #34 Use metal (skull charm)
A Step in the Dark ~ #5 Dark Fantasy/Anything Goes

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie