Monday 9 November 2015

Voodoo People Album - Playing with Leather

Yesterday I've been playing with a piece of leather to see if I could make something for my Voodoo Album. 
It isn't finished but so far I seem to be heading towards something worth the effort. 

Let me know what you think!



Sunday 8 November 2015

M.A. Harper - Fire on the Bayou (booksBnimble)

Authoress : 
M.A. Harper

Official website : 

Series :
The Jolie Blonde Series : A Louisiana Trilogy

Part II : Fire on the Bayou

Genre : Romance

My review on Amazon and Goodreads : 

Rating : ***

At first I wasn't sure about this book. I had a hard time getting into the story and relate to the characters. However, by the time I reached chapter 5 it finally started to "click" with me. 
The cover tells me it a trilogy, Goodreads tells me it's part II, but I've read it as a stand-alone. 
It is a rough story about life, what it can do to a family and how, sometimes, there is nothing you can do against the inevitable.

+ There are very strong characters in the story.
- It takes a long time to get into the story.

Friday 6 November 2015

Voodoo People Album Part II - Page 19 Done!

Wait... whut...? Page 19...? Did I miss something...?

I finished this page because I knew exactly how I wanted it to turn out.
I don't feel like I need to go by page number, I rather just work on those lay-outs of which I'm sure how I want to finish it. 

Today I introduce to you "The Baron", or at least three of him :

I used a lot of varnished pieces in this lay-out. The name tags, made with Sizzix Alterations Thinlits Labels and Tim Holtz Alpha's, are covered with 2 layers of varnish. I did the same with the Sizzix Corner Flourish #2 and other black die-cuts. The frames are cut with Spellbinders.

The top picture's is covered, on request, with respect for his privacy.

I've let the Flourish die-cuts loose and they curl slightly because of the layers of varnish.

The roses are a part of the Voodoo theme and I try to use them in every part of the album. I do feel this lay-out has turned out exactly as I wished. 

I would like to enter this lay-out into the next challenges : 

1) Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge : So Glossy!
The challenge inspired me to try out some glossy accents and it turned out to be just what I needed.

Sunday 1 November 2015

Voodoo People Album - Progress

I didn't make as much progress on the album as I was hoping. 
In fact, it went so much slower than I wanted to that I decided to go for a different approach. Instead of making the album page by page, from the base up to the very last embellishment, I went a made all the base pages in one go. 
I prettty much spend my evening distressing 12x12 papers for the background without knowing what I'm going to put on there. I definitely hope this won't backfire on me later on during the project!



It is a bit disappointing that it turned out to be 10 pages because I honestly thought I was going to end up with more. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure this is not going to be enough at all! 
But for now I'm just going to work with these and when I need more I'll have to go find another paper pad of he same colors used in this one to make another set of base pages. 

The next step will be sorting out the picture's, divide them on the pages, decide how to incorperate them, which big embellishments to place on which page, the voodoo tags for example, and go from there. 

Saturday 31 October 2015

New Goodies!!

Every now and then I get really, really excited when I get some new crafting supplies. 
Today is such a day. 
I ordered some new dies for my Big Shot and I can honestly say, they did not dissappoint!


Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Alterations - Thinlits - Labels #660060




Joy! Crafts - Noor! Design - # 6002/0356


I can't wait to start playing with my new toys!!! 

June Stevens - Moon Sisters

Authoress : 
D.J. Westerfield writing as  June Stevens


Official website : 

Series : 
The Moon Sisters

Part 1 : Voodoo Moon
Part 2 : Immortal Moon

Genre : 
Urban Fantasy - Post Apocalypse / Adult Romance 18+


Description on the Official website : 

A sinister magic is sweeping across Nash City…
To Fiona Moon, it’s just another day at work. And some days, well, they’re a helluva lot worse than others. As a member of the elite Black Blade Guard, Fiona is tasked with hunting down the most-dangerous Paranorm criminals. To find out who is kidnapping mages and sucking the life energy from their bodies, she has to work with the one man that embodies everything she despises.
Master Necromancer Ian Barroes, a rich professor of Necromantic Studies, wants only one thing in this world… Fiona.
They each hold secrets that could destroy them, but that could also be the key to destroying the evil Voodoo priest, Bokor. They must learn to trust each other and track down Bokor before more innocent lives are lost. When Fiona becomes a target of the evil madman, she is lured into his trap. Now, she and Ian have to fight for survival… and their very souls.

*****
Description as I would publish it : 

A little over two hundred years ago in the year of technology called 2012, the North and South Poles started shifting. It was gradual at first and lasted a couple of decades. When it was over, the shift wasn't exactly ninety degrees, but it was close enough that east became north, north became west, and so on. The shift caused a climatic Cataclysm that pounded the world with storms, earthquakes, and other natural disasters for more than forty years. 
Damn Mayans.

Whole cities were destroyed, and governments crumbled. Famine ran rampant. Widespread panic caused wars, which killed even more than the natural disasters and starvation. When the smoke and weather finally cleared, the world had changed drastically. What had once been the Eastern United States was now a peninsula called Appalachia made up of a range of mountains in the west and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean inn the north and east, as well as the newly formed Mississippi Sea in the south. Only two major cities, what had once been Nashville and Atlanta, remained partially standing. From those ruins rose the autonomous city-states of Nash and Atlanta. 

For more than fifty years after the start of the Cataclysm, every city, town and community was at war with each other and internally. Finally, the Paranorm Council of Elders stepped in to bring peace and unity. While the two city-states were completely autonomous in rule, they were allied under the Council of Elders along with three other city-states - Okie City and Sanlou to the south, and New Winnipeg in the west.  Many areas in the south and west had resisted the Council. Some set up legitimate governments of their own, but many other were ruled by warlords and tyrants. 

The city-state of Nash claimed jurisdiction over several small fishing, farming and industrial villages throughout southern Appalachia, but the main part of it was built around the heart of the original city and separated into two main parts - Nash City and New Nashville. 


The walls of Nash City rose up out of the ground like a lumpy, gray fortress. Sentries marched along the top. The path and most of the materials for the walls of Nash City had once been a vast highway that looped around downtown Nashville. But when the Cataclysm began, mages and other paranorms used it as the building blocks of a wall to protect the people who huddled within.

*****
I absolutely love the setting. What I wrote above is really just a part from the book where the current situation is explained. But during the story you come to realize that the writer did a great job in figuring out all the details and consequences of the Cataclysm. And yes, I'm a sucker for details. The main character is Fiona Moon, one of the three Moon sisters, and she is a kick-ass Black Blade Guard. The story of the Moon sisters is just as well thought off as the setting is. Most of the characters I came across are in fact quite interesting. Even though it is a Romantic 18+ paranorm novel it does have a great background story. At the moment I've only read the first part, Voodoo Moon, but I will be reading the second part soon enough. 

Friday 30 October 2015

Voodoo People Album Part I - Finished Front Cover

I have finally finished the front cover of my Voodoo People Album. As I mentioned earlier on it will hold picture's of our L.A.R.P. group the Voodoo People while we were playing at Ravenskeep Adventure's. 

One of the things I really wanted to add was a Raven Skull and through our network of larpers I found someone who made a 3D print of one for my project. Combined with some lovely paintwork of my husband I had found the perfect center piece for this project. 

So first there is the Front of the Front Cover :

The finished Raven Skull.

I've decided to add some more color to the front by covering the background of the "window" with distressed Core'dinations Color Core Paper and I finished the edges with some purple raffia.

The Titel is made with cardboard alpha's painted with Citadel - Boltgun Metal. I added those while the painted layers of tissue paper were still wet so they are pressed into the paper. The numbers are made from wood and also painted with Citadel - Boltgun Metal. I'm not convinced I'm going to leave those as they are. They seem to stand out to much, taking the focus of off the center piece.   


The frame underneath the Raven Skull is a MDF embellishment from a local craftstore. It's been dry brushed with layers of Citadel - Abaddon Black and Citadel - Boltgun Metal. I added a few roses in the corners of the "window" as a finishing touch. 


I absolutely LOVE how the center piece turned out!

And then we move on to the Inside of the Front Cover : 

I have made less picture's of the inside but I did turn out as wicked as the outside.


On the inside I covered the original paper with tissue paper like I did on the outside and painted it black. The original "window frame" of the front was painted Citadel - Boltgun Metal and used on the inside to frame the first picture of the series used in this album. This shows the graveyard area of the setting used during the L.A.R.P. event we played at. 

I used the Sizzix - Corner Flourish #2 die for the top right and bottom left corners and a die from a different brand (I honestly don't remember!) for the other corners. Small roses were added as a finishing touch.
  I would like to enter this finished project in three different challenges : 

In this weeks challenge we were allowed to choose any previous challenge to our liking. I wasn't ready with this project to enter in last weeks challenge so I choose Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - The Monster Mash.

I don't have any Lawn Fawn products so I couldn't use any on this weeks challenge. 

I definitely think this project would qualify as something wicked, don't you?

Picture of Graveyard made by : Scarlett Bohemian Fotografie

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Leather Mask "Shaco" (League of Legends)

Part of our Geeky Family undertaking is our Etsy Shop where some of our crafts are being sold. 
Our main focus is the leather masks which can be custom ordered to any design you wish. 
They are all handmade and finished with a layer of varnish making them splash-proof. 

Check out our store : 

Our latest item :

Custom Order
Leather Mask "Shaco"
(League of Legends)






Christmas 2015 - Wrap it up!!

It might be a bit early but I've just finished wrapping up the first load of christmas presents for my nieces in the UK. 

I found some lovely gift bags and combined them with butterfly wrapping paper and tags. Instead of the usual twine I used some pink ribbon for the girls. 
On the gift bags I used some Tim Holtz Alpha's for their names and finished it off with a layer of varnish. 


 One of my nieces is having her birthday shortly before christmas so I wrapped her little gifts in a cute, pink giftbag designed as a purse. I added some cardboard Alpha's for her name, pink & purple offcours! 



Within Temptation - Solemn Hour

Within Temptation
"Our Solemn Hour"

Sanctus Espiritus redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus!

In my darkest hours I could not foresee
That the tide could turn so fast to this degree
Can't believe my eyes
How can you be so blind?
Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside?
Time keeps on slipping away and we haven't learned
So in the end now what have we gained?

Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve,
can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?

Are they themselves to blame, the misery, the pain?
Didn't we let go, allowed it, let it grow?
If we can't restrain the beast which dwells inside
it will find it's way somehow, somewhere in time
Will we remember all of the suffering
Cause if we fail it will be in vain

Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve,
can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?


Tuesday 27 October 2015

Voodoo People Album *Sneak Peak 2*

I started on figuring out some layouts for the album. I'm still waiting for some supplies to arrive, one of which will be a die-set of frames for the picture's and offcours there is the skull for the front. I feel like I'm getting to the point where all the pieces all falling in place and ones they do I can assemble most of the album in one go. Here are some sneak peaks of the first page : 



Saturday 24 October 2015

Voodoo People Album *Sneak Peak 1*

In my previous post I mentioned a Monster of a project I started working on. 

When I started on it I had a vaque idea what I wanted to do with it but yesterday I suddenly had an epiphany. I now have a clear plan on what I want it to look like when it's done. 

For now, I'm just going to show you a little sneak peak of what it is I'm working on. 

A while ago, 'bout 2 years or something, I bought a bunch of supplies on Ebay UK, getting a lot of stuff for a really cheap price. One of the items was a 12x12 scrapbookalbum, I believe it was a making memories album. 

When I recieved it it was heavily damaged, the window was loose, adhesive residiue everywhere but the binding and base were in good condition. I figured it was fine, it was cheap and I could always alter it and make it a multi media project. But I didn't know what I wanted to do with it so it ended up in a dusty corner in my crafts closet. Untill now. 

I decided on a album for the picture's of our Ravenskeep LARP Adventure's as the Voodoo People in a matching style. 

Here are a few picture's of my progress on the front cover : 

Before :
The damage isn't all that clear on the picture's but you get the idea.







After : 
The front will recieve a 3D Ravenskull in the middle and I'll embellish it with purple and black flowers. 
The inside of the cover will recieve matching embellishments.



Wednesday 21 October 2015

Tim Holtz - 12 tags of 2015 - October

This is the Tim Holtz - 12 tags of 2015 - October tag : 



Each month mister Tim Holtz makes a tag and you can enter the give-away challenge by making your own tag inspired by his example. 

At first I didn't know where to start because I didn't have any of the items he used on his. Neither did I have anything that could resemble them. Which, by the way, makes me wonder how on earth it is possible I don't even have a skull die or cut-out anywhere... *adding new halloween themed craft supplies to my wishlist*

This morning I went to work and while I was working on the background of the tag inspiration struck, or at least a big "duh" moment came along. 

Earlier this week I started working on a monster-size project to make a 12x12 scrapalbum in which I'll be using the picture's taken by various photographers of our LARP group "The Voodoo People".

The thing I thought of this morning was that I could make exhibit pieces on several tags and use them in the album. So, I went to work and made a series of 6 tags, each of them showing evidence of our adventure's in Ravenskeep, our LARP organisation.

These are my 6 tags of The Voodoo People : 




Saturday 17 October 2015

Julie Smith - Talba Wallis


Authoress : 

Julie Smith

Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel : 
A Skip Langdon Mystery - New Orleans Mourning

Official website : 

Series : 
A Talba Wallis Mystery

Book 1 : Louisiana Hotshot
Book 2 : Louisiana Bigshot
Book 3 : Louisiana Lament
Book 4 : P.I. on a Hot Tin Roof

Genre : 
Detective





Description on official website : 


She has three names and two sets of clothes, four different professions, precious few scruples about breaking the law, and a perennially nagging mama. A girl who came into the world named Urethra just has to have attitude. And attitude's the first thing you notice about the Baroness de Pontalba, as she calls herself in her night mode as a glamorous poet and performance artist. By day, she'd be a humble private eye if she had an ounce of humility. 


When required, she’s an office temp because who’d suspect her of ransacking the boss’s hard disk while everyone’s on break? Or carrying a purseful of electronic bugs? She’s got what her mentor called the “right demographics” for spying without getting noticed–she’s young, African-American, female, and dresses like a Catholic school girl. Her fourth profession?

Computer genius. Hardware, software, code-slinging, hacking–you name it, she can do it. At home, she has an entire closet full of white blouses and navy skirts for her day gig and another of flowing silks in fabulous colors for her stunning night persona. Who’d imagine such a complex, independent woman would live with her mother? Talba does.


Miz Clara calls her "Sandra" most of the time, never 'your grace", like most of her admirers. It's hard to get respect from Miz Clara. She thinks there are only three suitable professions for a child of hers - doctor, Speaker of the House and president. So Talba doesn't have to use her computer skills to bring in money and prestige - Miz Clara's never going to be happy anyway. Instead, she searches for other people's answers - and her own as well, which, perhaps, is the point.



*****


I'm not sure where to start. It's a detective series which breaks my habit of reading tons and tons of fantasy series. Obviously it was, once again, the New Orleans theme that caught my interest. I read the first book and I was sold. An old yearning for mystery awoken and I couldn't get enough. In no time I've finished the entire four book series, which will hopefully be continued on. Talba, better known as the Baroness de Pontalba or "your grace", is this spirited character that seems to be this unstoppable force of nature and nothing can stop her from doing what she wants, or what she feels like she needs to do. The intricate cases she stumbles upon as a P.I. show what a criminal mastermind the authoress Julie Smith is. It doesn't surprise me at all that she is an award winning authoress. Anyone who is looking for an exciting, thrilling book series to read should give Talba a try. I'm sure you're going to love it!

Alyssa Rose Ivy - The Chronicles

Authoress : 
Alyssa Rose Ivy

Official website : 

Series : 
The Crescent Chronicles
Book 1 : Flight
Book 2 : Focus
Book 3 : Found
Bonus novella : First & Forever 

The Empire Chronicles
Book 1 : Soar
Book 2 : Search
Book 3 : Stay
Book 4 : Savor
Book 5 : Storm - coming soon

The Allure Chronicles
Prequel : Seduction's Kiss
Book 1 : Lure
Book 2 : Lust
Book 3 : Lost - coming soon

Genre :
Adult Paranormal Romance 18+

Description on official website : 

The Crescent Chronicles
Sometimes you just have to take flight...

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad's invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind, untill she sees Levi. 

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her. 


The Empire Chronicles
In the city that never sleeps the Chronicles continue...

Serving coffee is temporary, just like Casey's year off from school. She's going to come up with a plan to stay in New York City and go back to college, and that plan does not involve dating a paranormal creature, let alone two. 

Running the supernatural society of New York is not as fun as it sounds, especially when you still have to answer to your ex-girlfriend's fiancĂ©. Toby doesn't mean to bring Casey into the chaos of his life, but he can't resist the girl who makes him smile when he thought no one else ever could. 

Jared's in New York checking out a security risk for his best friend, the king. He plans to return to New Orleans quikly, but not if it means losing his chance with the brunette who pretends she wants nothing to do with him. 

In over her head with a bunch of winged creatures who most definitely are not angels, Casey has to figure out who to trust with her life and maybe her heart. 


The Allure Chronicles

Never agree to a road trip to New Orleans with your roommate. At least not when your roommate is dragging you along while she reconnects with an ex-boyfriend. Possible consequences of failing to take my advice : 

1) Unknowingly going out with a vampire stripper.
2) Getting kidnapped by said vampire's nest mates.
3) Falling head over heels for your winged hero. 

Believe it or not, number 3 is the worst one, especially when no one believes you that he exists. 


*****
Obviously I was drawn to these series by the simple fact that the first series is about New Orleans, The Crescent City. As it turned out this fairly romantic, highly pornographic, supernatural/paranormal series actually has a pretty good storyline at it's base. I love the Pteron creature's and I've tried to find some lore about them but have failed to find anything so far. Admittedly I'm not yet impressed by the Allure Chronicles but we'll just have to see what's going to happen in the upcoming books. So far I'm a fan but I do have a fear of reaching the point where this series will be dragged on instead of finished off with a decent ending.