Friday, October 26, 2012

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

20 comments:

MarkerGeek said...

Oh Melanie...I am in love. This is beyond awesome. She looks deliciously dark and creepy!

Amanda R said...

Awesome Melanie! I knew yours would be great so hopped over here first, great detail on your directions and love the background you created!

alethea said...

OMG I absolutely love this!! From the distressed background to the, stamping to the die cuts to the image!! Love it all!! HUgsxx

Alyce Kit and Clowder said...

woah woah woah too cool!!! melanie i always love how you do your backgrounds....i wish I could do this! the colours look fabulous and i especially love how you did her eyes :)

Alexandra Lundgren said...

Oh Melanie, I think this is the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen. I am in love with this. The minute details you do always amaze me. There is no way I could get 3 colors plus a crayon in that tiny space! EVER! YOU are truly talented and I can;t imagine the time this takes. Seriously, most beautiful tag ever.

Miss NiceRoad said...

Totally gorgeous Melanie!!!

Kirsty said...

Wow! Everytime I look at your cards I'm torn between admiration and insane jealousy! Her eyes are perfect! Witchin'

Kathi said...

I am totally gobsmacked!

This is beyond fabulous. I love everything about it from your coloring of Steampunk Eyes to that incredibly rich, textured background, to the embellishments.

It's been pinned!

Riet said...

What a gorgeous tag.


Hugs Riet.xx

Chrissy D said...

Ohhh so cool! Love your spooky coloring!!!

Danni said...

This is stunning! That magic you create with those copics is amazing! Wow!

Lori Aragon said...

Above and beyond amazing Melanie!!! Everything is totally PERFECT!!! Awesome awesome awesome :D

Alaine said...

The coloring on her is SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!! Just Incredible! Love it.

Maureen Hayes said...

Love that you worked the Goth/Steampunk angle into this challenge, and I agree with you about the violet eyes! Beautiful job!

Susan Paul said...

Fabulous tag! Love the Steampunk and Goth combo. Your coloring is awesome!!

Vanja said...

Fantastic!
Vanja

fredalexmom said...

Once again, your coloring is absolutly stunning!

jordanbev5@yahoo.com said...

Melanie, your coloring is fantastic! Her eyes are penetrating!! Love all the details!! Just spectacular!

Unknown said...

Hi Melanie,

I try to contact you by email to offer you to become our artist of the month for december for our design team and I need permissions to proceed. Could you email me so I can give you more details about our proposal.

Thank you in advance

Clara
clara.lafleur@hotmail.com

Team Leader
DT Boutique Art du Scrapbooking
Terrebonne, Quebec

vielkac said...

great job love your tag. the spookiest movie I have ever seen has been the Shinning