Steampunk With a Goth Flair

Hi folks!!

The SCACD design team is having a bit of creepy fun with a Spook-A-Licious blog hop today with stamps and dies by SCACD. :)  Each designer has worked their creative magic to give these images and dies a creepy makeover. Through the strategic use of colour selection, paper and embellishment choices and perhaps even a slight tinkering to the stamped image, we have all stretched the versatility of these stamps to work for Halloween projects...just wait until you see what the DT has come up with! If you have been hopping along in order, you should have arrived here after visiting with the lovely Chris. If not, you can find the entire hop list over at the Store Blog.

So many choices to go with here! Zombies, vampires, witches, ghouls, ghosts....what's a girl to choose?? I selected to work with "Steampunk Eyes". My first inclination was to make her a vampire or witch but as I started colouring, I changed my mind and decided to go with a "goth" vibe instead. I pulled out an Inkssentials tag and began to create a background by first stamping the word "Halloween" and the chandelier in Archival Ink. Both these images and the skull in the bottom corner are from an older Teresa Collins set, but Susana similar Halloween stamp sets in stock HERE and HERE. I also used the Steampunk Clock from the Susana Loves Stamps Mixed Media collection. However, instead of using the entire image, I just selectively inked up the gear portions of the stamp and used those on the tag. I grabbed my palette and mixed some green and orange acrylic craft paint with Matte Medium to make them translucent. These were applied in random patches over the tag. I applied a few layers, not worrying if the application was even...in fact, I actually wanted some darker lines in the background, so I applied some "marble" like lines with the very edge of my flat paintbrush and very lightly blended them out just to slightly soften the effect. I then picked up some black ink on the edge of my brush and used it to emphasize or shadow those lines. This resulted in creating a creased or distressed look...almost like the tag had been crumpled up. To finish off the background, I added a hint of silver paint to the edges and then heavily inked the edges in black. I also used the fabulous Alice's Clock Statement Corner from Dies by SCACD. I cut it out in a dark cardstock, applied silver paint and then sponged it with black ink...everything about this tag is dark and grungy. :)

Let's talk a bit about "Steampunk Eyes". :)  To "goth" her up, I used a lot of warm greys to shade her skin and clothing. I really went to town shading around her eyes with my W5, W7 and W9. I also pulled out my black conte crayon and paper blending stump to add further smokey shading to her eyes and clothing. Rather than going with a traditional eye colour, I chose to go with violet because I felt it kicked the creepy factor up a notch.

Skin: E000, E00, E11, RV95, G20, W3, W5, W7, W9  Hair: C3, C5, C7, C9, 100, V12, V15, V09  Purple collar and other accents: V12, V15, V09, W3, W5, W7  Coat and boots: C3, C5, C7, C9, 100, BV29  Shirt: YR04, E08, W5, W7  Shorts: G82, G85, G99, YG91, W3, W5, W7  Goggles: C00, C1, C3, C5, Y17, E18, E59   Eyes: R59, V09, V06, V00  Gears: C3, C5, C7

So what do you think?? It was a lot of fun to play with a "cute" image and give her a totally different creepy look. I know the other design team members had a blast with this theme as well. :)

BLOG CANDY ALERT: What's a Halloween Hop without a little candy??!! Make sure to do a little trick or treating at the SCACD store blog for your chance to win 2 FUN prizes. There is also another different Blog Candy at the Quixotic Paperie store blog! When you are done hopping along be sure  to visit both the SCACD store blog and Quixotic Paperie store blog for details on how to enter for your chance to WIN! You can find all the stamps HERE--if you are in the USA, and HERE- for our International friends. The Dies by SCACD can be found HERE--if you are in the USA and HERE-for our International friends!! Happy hopping and shopping!!

 SCACD is your one stop shop for all your crafty needs. Susana has a ton of products perfect for any project you are working on. From cardmakers, to scrapbookers, to mixed media artists...she's got you covered! She is always adding fantastic new products to the store, so check in often. Of note, she just recently added some great new 6x6 paper pads...you can check those out HERE. Service is always fast and friendly, and her prices are fantastic. :)

It is now my pleasure to send you off to the next designer on today's hop, Lori...just wait until you see what she has to share with you!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Melanie