CRUSADE No. 13 ~ Get Gothic

Yay!  It's been one year since we started the crusades!  I can't tell you how thrilled I am that we have so many terrific teamers who participate in the monthly prompts.  We've all made lists of new friends, found cool places to visit, read some great stories, witnessed art being made, and heard lots of tunes!  Throw confetti on yourself and celebrate!!  We've had lots of Top Hat picks and special give-aways, but YOU ARE ALL WINNERS for participating in creativity!

You know I have a Crush on Gothic Style.  Don't be misled, however, I don't expect you to paint your fingernails black.  Since our very first crusade was about stamping and showing your halloween art, I thought it would be fun to revisit the theme.  This time I think it would be really cool to see how you decorate for halloween, because as artists we can't help but express ourselves in our homes!   Choose Spooky Art or Spooky Decor or both! 

Last year our teamer Belinda started a trend with her Gothic Arch Project, collaborating with crusaders Audrey, Pilar, and Tina.  Many have glommed onto the luscious shape and have gone crazy making pages.  If you've done that, then use that as your crusade entry.  Found some great new ghoul-y props for your home?  Show us!  Making some clever costumes?  We wanna see!

Here's a photo from last year.  I have rows of styrofoam heads in my studio and love to change their attire.  With lights underneath they cast spooky faced shadows!  Can't wait to get them all dressed up for Halloween this year. 

Some tags from last year.  We're having another Halloween party so I pulled these out as inspiration while I'm designing my invitations. 

Martha Stewart's special Holiday issue is fabulous.  Many ideas have been rehashed but it's a terrific magazine filled with clever crafts, chilling embellishments for your home,  and scary looking food.  (Scary because it's too much work for me!)  I love seeing the Goth Martha cover.  Don't have any Halloween stamps?  Why not carve your own.  Cracked myself up at last year's party telling the kids they would be "carving pumpkins".  I gave them each a pre-cut pumpkin shape so all they had to was cut the face.  And how about these stamps by Inkadinkado?  HAD to have them!  Now I need to begin my decorating....will come back with photos soon.

So, you know the drill.  Get Gothic and show us your spooky art and/or home decor.  Post on your blog and leave a comment here with a link to your site and I'll add to the list (newest at top).  Never played with us before?  Check out the "What's a Street Team" link on the upper left if you have questions.  Anyone can play! 

Want a button for your site?  Take this:

CRUSADE No. 13 ~ Get Gothic DUE DATE NOVEMBER 1st.

And again, Happy Anniversary to all of us!  We rock!!! 

Comments

[Fiona]

Seriously fun topic this one. It's going to be such fun!

[Girl gone thread wild]

Holy canoly, I'm all over this one! As a newbie to these crusades this will be my 3rd to join in... and I know the most FUN one to play with! Rock on Michelle, you gothic chica you... thank you for opening this bash to any team player. I'm getting started today...

[Barbara]

Cool!!! My most recent post should fit the bill...Check out what I made by recycling and old Easter candy box...I am sure there will be more to share on this as the month goes on. Congrats on your 1 year blogoversary!!
Here's the link:
http://www.smith411.typepad.com/

[Belinda]

Happy Happy Happy Anniversary!!! I was away anyway but totally forgot about the Wednesdaystamper's first in July - duh! I didn't expect Goth for some reason! But you can imagine after visiting Prague the other weekend my mind is sooooo gothic right now. Will let you know when I got something gothic to share. Boy, and I totally dig those Inkadink stamps - woohoo!!

[Shay]

Congratulations on a year of sharing and creating beautiful art! I love this concept and all of the art being inspired by the Crusades (as I also adore Michelle Ward's work & her stamps how could I not?). Since I now have my very own blog, I will try to see about finally (I have been lurking for nearly the entire year) participating! Again, congratulations to everyone on the first anniversary of Green Pepper Press Street Team and I hope many, many more follow!

[Shay]

Oh and by the way, isn't it so appropriate that the number for this Crusade is 13?

[Michelle Ward]

Shay - I was WAITING for someone to notice that! Glad you GOT it. *wink*

[Mia Howard]

I can't wait to submit - I have to think of something super gothic! This is my favorite crusade so far! YEAH!

[Natalie Briney]

Happy Anniversary Michelle!! Love your tags, they just leap out at you from the screen....

Here is my entry for this theme -

http://nats-ramblings.blogspot.com/2007/10/gpp-street-team-crusade-no-13.html

Rock on for another year baby!!

[Carrie]

Oh I can't WAIT to post for this one!!! Got lots of work to do before I'll have anything to show though... Halloween is second only to Christmas, and only by a nose! *gothic glee*

[tina]

We sure do Michelle!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I couldn't play last month. We moved and it has been a complete minefield; no real art space yet and no phone, cable, tv or internet!! I am freaking out. I am a big football fan and love it when football season comes around. Well, I haven't seen a single game yet and we are approaching week 4....It is called a monopoly and if you don't like it, you can lump it really; we have been waiting 4 weeks for Comcast already and have to wait another 2! Cest la vie.

[Dawn]

I get to be the first to actually post that I have something for this crusade. I made a journal page last night with a Halloween theme, hyping myself up to decorate for the holiday which will come just three days after my big half-century birthday.

http://on-the-banks-of-bay-creek.blogspot.com/2007/10/someone-witchy.html

I hope to be able to post again after I get the decorating done.

[Dawn]

Oops, not first. While I was phrasing my comment, someone slipped in before me and I just missed seeing the first one. Mark it down to dealing with too many adolescents today at school. I never think very clearly in the evenings.

[ArtKat]

Hi Michelle....Here's my try, with a gothic-themed ATC. I usually aim for cute, light-hearted for Halloween (check out my previous post for proof!), but I tried to bring out a darker mood! ;)

http://creativeartscraftsspot.blogspot.com/2007/10/spooky-atc-art.html

[gaby braun]

Congratulations for the first Crusade year. You had really great themes on your Crusades. I love all what you do here! And for once I'll trey o be gothic!!!

[Vicki]

I've never posted or participated in the Street Team before - don't have a blog, etc.
I love Halloween & Gothic style and have cool Gargoyles in my garden.
Also Michelle has got me hooked on HIM!
I'd like to post a link to a card idea I saw at Archiver's (a stamp/scrapbook store)- thought of Michelle as soon as I saw it, and now thanks to her post, I see the stamps are Inkadinkado. Gotta have 'em!
http://www.archiversonline.com/ideas/ideas.asp?cat=holiday_cards&img=hoC_07hal4_T.jpg

[Barone]

http://wildvines.blogspot.com/2007/10/gothic-women.html
CONGRATULATIONS ON A FIRST FABULOUS YEAR! YOUR CREATIVITY AND INSPIRATION IS PHOENOMINAL. HERE IS MY SECOND CRUSADE. SO LOVED THIS!
JODI
WILDVINES.BLOGSPOT.COM

[karla nathan]

I'm light on the spooky stuff this year, but did cage some hand made ghosts. I cut them out of kid's foam craft paper, drew eyes and mouths with black marker and hung them in a black bird cage with a glittered pumpkin next to black wicker rockers.

http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2007/10/making-more-spa.html

[Gisele]

Happy Anniversary Crusaders!
Love the Gothic theme & your stamps Michelle are perfect! Here's my entry for this topic.
http://artescapes.blogspot.com/2007/10/lets-go-gothic.html

[Janine]

Congratulations and thanks Michelle for your continued inspiration. Your crusades are fabulous. I had never really understood the concept of Halloween until I was able to experience it first hand when I was in the US. I really enjoyed my first "trick or treat" experience *wink*!

[Belinda]

here are my "gothic" pages
http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2007/10/07/more-frida-pages/

[christine]

Woo hoo -- Happy Anniversary!! Today, I worked on a gothic witch altered cab card -- find her here:

http://artistadicarta.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/crusade-13-chal.html

Thanks for the inspiration!

Christine

[christine]

By the way -- if you look closely, you'll see Michelle's scary tree branches around the edges....!

Christine

[michelle infantino]

I already posted my ink blot Halloween characters but I have tons of other Halloween cards to share.

I had to order that bat to match my skull!

Love your tags and congrats on the anniversary!

[deborah]

Happy Anniversary!!! Here is my entry so far....

http://encrepapier.blogspot.com/2007/10/around-house.html#links

[Dani D]

Hello

Happy Birthday

here are two Gothic ATC and a video with german soft gothic music
hope you like it

http://danisart.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/gothic/

Greetings Dani D

[Chris Miser]

This is a really cool project! I'm new to the art scene, after 40 years of writing, at 50 I decided to art.

Michelle, thanks for the opportunity to share with other artists! You are a funny and interesting girl!

Chris

[Aileen]

Happy Anniversary Crusaders!
Gothic they ain't LOL, but Herm and Ethel would still like to wish you a Happy Halloween!
http://aileensmusings.blogspot.com/2007/10/meet-herm-and-ethel.html

[Laura Bray]

Happy Anniversary! This is so fun! Thanks to everyone who has made this a success. You challenge me & that's a good thing! Here's my gothic crown:

http://katydiddys.blogspot.com/2007/10/heres-my-contribution-to-gothic-crusade.html

Laura aka katydiddy

[Gina]

Holloween is not so popular in Sweden, but I MUST dig and see what I can come up with! Those tags are fabulous, literally popping off the screen!

[johanna]

and here is mine... absolutely my topic!!

http://johanna-mixedmediafun.blogspot.com/2007/10/ab-spread-who-is-counting-souls.html

[Beverley Todd]

My first crusade!! Not overly gothic but deffo halloween! Great challenge - I'll be back with more before the end of the month. Mine's here: http://craftymoments.blogspot.com/2007/10/which-witch-is-which.html

[kristy]

Can't believe that it's been a year since I last took part! Here's my effort:

http://brayergirl.typepad.com/brayergirls_blog/2007/10/witching-hour-s.html

[deb]

Happy Anniversary!! I TiVo's Martha's Halloween tv special (on Fine Living I think) and just watched it this weekend. What a fab site you have!

[Pam]

I just want to say for the record that I think it's cool that this is challenge number 13!!! Planned or coincidence...hmmmm? I just did some Halloween themed bookmarks and I'm offering up those as a start but hope to do some more to add specifically for this challenge... I'm so inspired by Michelle's art... and ravens and skulls... my things aren't as Goth-y as some, I guess I haven't tapped into that darker part of my soul, although I watch episodes of CSI without flinching... it just hasn't translated into to my art yet! I'll give it a go and try to get darker! I do love these challenges...it's good to have something to push me out of my usual boundaries.
http://dieverdog.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-had-fun-making-halloween-bookmarks.html

[michelle infantino]

http://solistenup.blogspot.com/2007/10/crusade-no-13-get-gothic.html

Here ya go Michelle. More skull from Inkadinkado!!!!!

[eb]

gettin' ready - here's #13 exhibit A...

BOO!

xox - eb.

http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com

[Pam]

Ok, I got a little bit darker last night... as I was working, I set up a table in my living room, the History Channel had a show on about the Devil and Hell... how appropriate... maybe it inspired me somewhat! I got three new pieces of art done... I just worked on the size paper I already had available and dove in...here's the result.
(Before I started I organized some of my unmounted stamps and found some more Halloweeny ones I could use..)
http://dieverdog.blogspot.com/

[Karen Campbell]

I love this crusade!! here is my entry:
http://karensaltereddreamz.blogspot.com/2007/10/too-gothic.html

[Monique]

Happy anniversary! Time for me to stop lurking and finally join the fun!
Here's my batlady
http://smallworld.web-log.nl/moniqui/2007/10/fall_is_my_favo.html

[martha]

LOVE this theme! Here's my post for this one. I did it at work on a slow night, so it's not the greatest. I'll post a good one when I get the time.

[Karen Owen]

Michelle, congratulations on your 1-year anniversary. My entry is a haunted house I made in September, and here's the link:

http://karenink.typepad.com/karens_muse_and_musings/2007/09/screeeeech.html

Karen

[Laurie Blau-Marshall]

Happy Anniversary! This is my first Crusade entry, and it gets to be in Lucky Crusade #13! I actually posted this ATC a couple of weeks ago, but the subject matter is so appropriate for this crusade that I had to enter it. I'm working on spooky/gothic shrine, hopefully I'll get it finished before the end of the month and get that linked here, too.

I'm not sure if this link will show up as an actual link or not. I'm a little tech-challenged...

Laurie

http://loudlife-laurieblaumarshall.blogspot.com/2007/10/well-schools-officially-startedwere-all.html

[kelsey]

Okay! So now I get to participate in my first Crusade!!! All because you made me re-read this particular one Michelle...I mis-read it initially as a decor thing and since Halloween doesn't really exist down here in Australia, thought I couldn't take part. But my last blog post DOES fit!!! Yippeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

http://ko-ok.blogspot.com

[Barbara]

Michelle,
Posted a few more things on the blog for Halloween...
Here is a collage I had been working on
http://smith411.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/halloween-witch.html
and here is a few of my inside decorations
http://smith411.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/halloween-decor.html
A bit more fun than scary, but it makes me feel like I am in the spirit of the season.

[Kathleen Chabot]

Congratulations on your first anniversary! Hope we'll all be around for #2! I've got my first entry for Crusade 13 posted on my blog, and as Halloween is such a great theme, I'll probably add more as the month goes on.
Thanks for the continuing inspiration!

[Pam McClung]

Michelle, I'm not holding out... that skeleton hand you keep asking about is a stamp that I had made (some years ago we had a great stamp company here in town that made stamps from art in sheets for a really reasonable price... sadly they are gone now!) I believe the image came out of a Dover copyright free images book... I got a lot a stuff out of those (as I notice do lots of stamp companies!), I also did some original art, too. I've been looking around, haven't located the actual book it was in just yet...if I come across it, I'll let you know! I've recently been trying to get all my unmounteds organized since I don't use them that often, because there is some wonderful stuff just sitting in shoe boxes pining away to become fun art! If you email me your address I'd be happy to send you one of the bookmarks with the hand in it so you can have one!

[Suzanne]

WAAAAHHH!!! This is probably my favorite crusade of all, but I've been busy with life and getting ready to leave for vacation (gone Oct. 19th-28th), so will only have a tiny window of opportunity in which to create before the crusade ends. And we artistes simply do not do well under that kind of pressure! ;^) Anyway, seeing lots of super-cool entries. "See you" when I get back.
Suzanne

[Kathleen Chabot]

Another Crusade 13 posted on my blog! Halloween--gotta love it!

[Barone]

Love this topic...could not resist one more
jodi (again)
http://wildvines.blogspot.com/2007/10/riding-petals-and-leaves.html