Gods and Monsters!

This week's Macabre Monday challenge at the Haunted Design House blog is "Gods and Monsters" You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece
that uses, includes or is inspired by a God and/or a Monster. I did a little bit of research and decided to portray Echidna. She was a figure in Greek mythology and became known as the Mother of Monsters, because nearly all the famous monsters in Greek mythology are her offspring. After she and her partner, Typhon, attacked Zeus in Olympia, Zeus sealed Typhon underneathe Mount Etna but allowed Echidna and her offspring to remain free, as a challenge to future heroes. Neat, huh?
Echidna herself was half-woman, half-serpent, but many of her children were either part-lion or part-dog, hence the heraldry-type image in the corner. Her choldren include Ladon, Cerberus, the Nemean Lion, the Gorgon, the Chimera, the Sphynx, the Hydra and Orthros.
I've used Medusa's Daughter by Delicious Doodles as my image and the backing paper is from the Poison Punch set at Crafty Chaos Designs.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
The Pixie Cottage - sketch 90
One Stitch At A Time - anything goes
Paper Sundaes - your favourite colour combo. Mine is purple and green, I love them together.
Crafts and Me - use a digi
Mami Doodles - Mother Nature. Echidna is definitely a mother and with all the various creatures in her family, plus the fact that she was the offspring of Gaia (the Earth spirit) I think she counts.
Delicious Doodles - tales of the unexpected. I'm hoping that thinking of a serpent-monster as a mother-figure is unexpected enough.
Lothian Crafts Online - anything goes
Just Tracy's Crafts - anything goes

Freebies at Simply Betty and Smeared Ink!

I have a couple of projects to show you today, and I also want to tell you about two REALLY EASY ways to get FREE DIGISfrom two great companies!


This first piece uses Goth Fairy Honey and It's About Time digis from Smeared Ink. And all you have to do to get a free image is enter any of the monthly challenges over at the Smeared and Smudged Ning Group. I haven't really left you much time to enter this month's challenges, but there will be a different freebie image available next month too. You don't have to be a winner, you just have to enter! How cool is that? The backing paper is from the new Poison Punch set at Crafty Chaos Designs and everything else was either created by me or hiding in my stash.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Smudgy Antics - Zetti I'm not entirely sure that this is "obviously" Zetti-esque, but I really had fun creating and combining everything.
Crafty Boots Challenges - things with wings
Totally Stampalicious - it's got wings
Whoopsie Daisy - make your own embellishments. I made the heart kiss thing, the flower, and the shopping list.
Paper and Such Online - use at least three from the list. My chosen items are deigner paper, ribbon and 1 flower
Clear It Out Tuesday - alter something. I'm not really sure that this will count, but I altered the Goth Fairy stamp by giving her a dalmation head and then added a crown on top too.
Flutterby Wednesdays - use an angel, fairy or butterfly
Cute Card Thursday - animal crackers (does a dog-headed fairy count?)
Speedy the Cat's Friends' Challenges - things with wings
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Critter Sketch Challenge - anything goes
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - anything goes
Crafty Catz - things with wings
Crafts 4 Eternity - anything goes
Fussy and Fancy - use a new technique (merging the dog head on to the fairy body was a bit tricky, but I'm pleased with the way it ended up)
Simply Create - use something older than 6 months. The digi clock, the pair of specs and the glittery skull brad are all over 6months old)



My second creation for today uses two Simply Betty images, both of which I got for free for simply JOINING Simply Betty's PCP group! And once we reach 500 members over there, there will be a super-cute-and-sassy witch available free to all members! So come on, join up, and be the first to see previews, join in the fun chat and pick up the limited-time freebies that Betty releases over there! This creation uses paper from the Poison Candy set at Crafty Chaos Designs.
These are the challenges I had in mind while creating this one:
Tuesday Morning Sketches - sketch #113
The Scrapbooking Queen - Halloween
Paper Creations Ink - buttons or bows
My Partner in Crafting Crime - sweets and treats
KB Cute Monday - Halloween
Ooh La La Creations - punches or dies (my little bats)
Paper Playtime - Halloween
Top Tip Tuesday - use 2 or more ribbons, lace or twine
Crazy 4 Challenges - Halloween
Stampin B's Design Team - Halloween
Moving Along With The Times - Halloween
My Mum's Craft Shop - dress up
Little Darlings Challenges - Fall or Halloween
Art Impressions - Halloween
Sweet Stampin - anything goes
Penny's Challenges - anything goes