Cre8ive Junkiez

Bits and Pieces – Camping Trip

Been feeling a bit under the weather lately. Thought it might be covid since I had to take some supplies to a sick family member that had been diagnosed with covid. Either the test is correct and I have something else going on or it’s not and I have covid. Either way, today was a great day to sit around and create!

Last night, hubby pointed out that I have so much paper and so many pens and pencils, I really should be doing some drawing. Digital is great but there’s something about putting a pencil to paper that you just can’t duplicate on an iPad, no matter what tips and screen protectors you use.

Well, we did that for a bit, then I decided to do a bit of writing. Pulled a random card from The Storymatic (you can find it here) – the card was “Camping Trip”.

So, without further adieu…

Camping Trip

I’m s-s-s-s-soo-oooorrrreeeeeeeee-eeeeoooooow…” The sound coming out of that mouth, that hungry mouth, more and more animalistic by the moment, froze Rachel in place. The creature took a step toward her. The stench that preceded him, it, whatever this thing was, made her eyes water. She blinked and tears slid down her cheeks, unnoticed. It took all of her control not to let loose of her gag reflex as she swallowed what felt like buckets of saliva.

In addition to the smell of carnage and death, was a sound. She placed it almost immediately, the thing in front of her was purring. Purring. Like a cat.

Another step and then another slow, fluid step brought it closer.

What did it want? It was panting as if excited. It wanted to eat her, of course. Another step and she imagined she could feel warmth coming from it.

“What do you want?” Rachel knew the moment she asked it this was a dumb question. This thing, human in appearance only a few moments ago, was currently incapable of a reply she could understand, she was sure. As if in response to her thought, a melodic tone, low and soft, rumbled from its throat. It advanced again, the soft pads of its feet made no sound as it took another step closer. Now she was sure she could feel its heat, comforting and terrifying. The pitch rose a few notes in it’s voice as it took two more steps. She could reach out and touch it now, if she dared.

Their eyes met, both similar shades of green with flecks of blue. The same eyes as their mother. She broke eye contact and looked past the large feline creature. Her mother lay in an awkward heap at the base of the steps to the rv, her face as pale and round as the moon above the campsite; those eyes, familiar, familial, stared at nothing. “Why?” Her voice cracked when seemed to break her composure as well. She openly wept, he eyes on their maimed matriarch. She tried to ask the question again but nothing more than a squeak came out.

My brother, she thought, this animal, this thing that had killed her parents, this monster. It crouched low, the muscles in its body twitched and trembled and wound up for the attack. The creature pounced and knocked Rachel to the ground. Their eyes locked as its jaws locked on her throat. My brother, my best friend, my twin. I forgive you.

There was a loud crunch as the creature’s teeth, her brother’s teeth, she had time to think, severed her spinal chord as he separated head from body.

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Rachel sat up, hands scratching and clawing at a throat that was, only seconds before, was being torn apart. The nightmare, so real, clung to her. She thought she could smell the thing’s rotting breath and feel its drool.

Sounds of the family getting ready for their annual camping trip carried up the stairs. She laid back and pulled the comforter over her head.

There was something in her bed, she jumped and yipped, her nerves still shot from the dream. Richie, her brother, lay propped on his elbow, facing her; his body seemed to vibrate with excitement. “Come on, Rach! Camping!” With that he jumped up and dashed for the door of her room. He called out to her as he headed down the hallway to his own room, “I can’t wait to show you guys what’s been going on. The surprise is just gonna kill ya!”

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Hope you enjoyed another of my Bits and Pieces

It’s me, Shelly D

Bits and Pieces – Writing From Prompts

It’s a new year and another chance to start it out right with some creative exercises – writing from prompts.

And what better way to play around with writing from prompts than to do some ‘Bits and Pieces’! No commitment. It can be a few lines, a few paragraphs or a few pages – anything more than that and it becomes a story. The fun for me with ‘Bits and Pieces’ is I get to tell you part of a story. And, hey! If you read one and want to know where the story goes, let me know! Let’s explore creativity!

Today, I pulled 2 random cards from my Story Slam box (you can check it out here – it’s “a game of storytelling and imagination. I use it for prompt writing). The cards I pulled were:

SETTING – YOU ARE: IN A TRAIN STATION

PLOT TWIST – A TORRENTIAL RAIN BEGINS TO FALL

Without further adieu, here’s ‘Bits and Pieces – The Train Station’

The hiss of the coming downpour drowned out all other sounds. Adrienne was grateful. Grateful they had gotten around that ‘trader’ encampment without being noticed. Grateful they had found this abandoned train station before the coming storm hit. Grateful that Adam hadn’t left her behind any number of times over the past seven months. He had been her savior on that first day that felt so far off.

She shivered with what could have been.Yes. Adam was the thing she was grateful for most of all. She turned to tell him this and realized he was no longer beside her.

“Adam?” And then louder, “Adam.” This was the one thing that he did that really irritated her. He knew it freaked her out when he did his disappearing act. How hard was it to just let her know he was getting up to wander? “Aaaaaaaadam,” louder, longer. “Of course you can’t hear me. This rain!” She stuck her arm out, her finger tips just in the stream of cold water that ran out of the clogged gutter over the steps from the platform. Winter was nearly here. She wiped her wet fingers on the front of her hoodie. And then a random thought: winter is coming. Wait. Wasn’t there an old show about winter coming and taking a lot of episodes for it to get there? And dragons. There were dragons, she was sure of it. She thought maybe her parents had watched it. Maybe? There was something there, some memory, but it was old and covered in layers of dust, just like everything in this world was now. Melancholia washed over her while the rain washed over the landscape before her.

“What’s wrong?”

Adrienne jumped. Adam was suddenly beside her. A gust of wind brought the rain under the awning and right to them, instantly soaking both their faces. “C’mon, babe.” He grabbed the backpack at her feet. “You aren’t going to believe what I found in here!” His face, what she could see of it, was absolutely beaming like a child who found a candy stash. Of course, Adam would look exactly like that if he found a booty of Butterfingers. She giggled. Only he could take her sadness and brush it away is if it were nothing more than a stray hair in her face. Nothing more than a minor annoyance, a fleeting thought. She watched him almost skip through the doorway ahead, disappearing into the darkness within.

He stopped and called back to her, “You just aren’t going to believe it!” The last part of the sentence trailed off as he turned and took off, again, unable to stay still in his current excited state.

“I wonder what he found?” Neither the platform nor the doorway ahead had an answer for her. She stepped into the building, following the only man she ever loved into darkness.

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At the edge of dense forest, eyes watched as the woman hesitated. She seemed to be speaking to no one in particular. Either she got an answer or didn’t, either way, she stepped into the old station, out of view. The entire time those eyes were on her and even now that she had gone inside, a thought, just one thought, slowly repeated over and over behind those watchful eyes: soon.

Having a bit of tea and prompt writing. I love random days off! Sometimes they work out great. Sometimes I fall down the stairs. But that’s a story for another time.

It’s me, Shelly D…

Stone Cabachons and Sea Turtles?

Yep, I’m going to use stone cabachons in a few Sea Scoops Sculpture coming up! Super excited to see how the turtles looks with beautiful stones as their shell!

Stone cabachons I’ll be using a turtle shells 😍

But, before I can do that, I’ve got a closer floor to install!

Until later,

It’s me, Shelly D 🥰

Cricut Crack

Seriously? How have I not bought one of these things before now?

My first mug with the mug press. OMG! I’m obsessed 😍

The mug is the newest thing I’ve done. The design is one of mine. planning to do 3 more designs to match this one, then do them in 4 different colors – one of each in the 4 pack of infusible transfer sheets. Need to order more mugs as I’ve already had a request for a set

Sea themed stickers in holographic vinyl

And, while I know Halloween has passed, here’s a card I put together from a design I was playing with.

3 layers – orange card stock (medium), red vellum, white card stock (light)

All while remodeling the master closet 😉

Well, putting the new floor in today so I guess I gotta get busy!

It’s me, Shelly D

Glitter : The Herpes of the Craft World

Now I’ve gone and done it!

Glitter!

But it’s just sooo pretty!!! Can’t wait to do more layers! Progression pics coming!

Stay tuned 😉

It’s me… Shelly D

And it’s done!

FINALLY!!! The sea turtle commission is completed! (Ok… except for a few itty bitty details that probably won’t even get noticed but I’m a sucker for a bit of subtle bling 😉)

Details: Turtles were sculpted with Super Sculpey over wire and foil bases and painted with acrylic paints. Mama turtle’s shell has a hand-embedded design done with caviar beads in multiple colors (approximately 5000) and her eyes are lampwork dragon glass (Mexican fire opals). Baby turtle’s shell has a bit of glitter mixed in with her uv resin coat and her eyes are blue and pink glass beads The sea grass/kelp is sculpted from Super Sculpey and Cosclay (love this stuff!!) and painted with acrylic paint. There are 6 pieces of coral, 3 shells, 2 starfishes, and a sand dollar, most of which are embedded in a layer of sand and resin. And it’s all sitting in a 10” pasta bowl with a scallop design around the outside.
Every piece has been painted and attached with uv resin to give it a wet look and to protect it.

Measurements: 12” x 11” x 8.5” (30.5mm x 28mm x 21.5mm)
Weight: 6.5 pounds
They’ll be heading to their new home in Florida soon!
Next commission? A blue crab with a galaxy paint and the Cancer constellation! That’ll be fun!

It’s me… Shelly D

Mermaid Tails and an Itty Bitty Octopus

Got a few things accomplished this past week. Can’t show one of them yet. Still have to add the rest of the base sand and attach the big turtle. Pics are coming soon. In the meantime, here’s what I have finished 😉

Esmarelda is made with translucent polymer Sculpey Premo. Painted with resin tinted with mica powders and sitting in a 3” heat-shaped dish with resin water. The dish can hold several rings or other jewelry.

Stella is made with translucent polymer Sculpey Premo embedded with colored caviar beads. Painted with resin tinted with mica powders and sitting in a 3” heat-shaped dish with resin water. The dish can hold several rings or other jewelry.

Addy – The most Adorabilis Octopus there ever was! I just adore her! I think I’m going to look into creating a heavier, fish tank-safe version. I think she and her little friends would be perfect hanging out in a tank!

Other things I’ve been working on…

Possible Sea Scoops logos – just need to decide on a font and work my magic.

Mock up of 3D mermaid tail in surf board mold. Can’t wait to play with that mold!!

Commission – Blue crab with a galaxy paint and cancer constellation

Commission – 4 Character totem – wolf, sloth, gorilla and The Grinch – plus roses.

AND, we’re in the middle of a remodel project. I’m a bit busy but I would trade it for anything! Well, the day job could go away so I had more creative times but that’s how I afford supplies so… necessary evil 😉

It’s me… Shelly D

Just the Tip… I Mean Tail

So, I was playing with clay yesterday, more of a therapy thing as my hands have really been hurting lately, and I created something… Mermaid Tail trinket dishes.

WORK IN PROGRESS!!! Still need to do some super light color washes and add resin!

Made with Sculpey Premo translucent and itty bitty seed beads. Loving the effect!

A core of Sculpey glow in the dark with Sculpey Premo translucent over it. Again, the effect is amazing!!

This was not the original plan for the mermaid tails but it’s a great addition to the line!

It’s me… Shelly D

Hey! Who did that?

I’ve been working on the sea turtle commission today. Painted the main piece – the big turtle. Beyond thrilled with how it come out! I just keep looking at it and asking myself, “hey! Who did that?”

Now, kelp, sea grass, coral and a special something left to paint then put it all together!

Updates to follow…

It’s me, Shelly D

Commissions, beads and back pain…

Ok. Finally done with aaaalllllll the bead work for the sea turtle commission. Wow. That’s a TON of beads. But, she’s in the oven now to finish the shell and then it’s time to paint! Can’t wait to get this thing painted and put together!!

I’ll be doing some light washes of yellows and greens around the beads and the shell, then, sealing with us resin to make it solid and shiny! Don’t want to lose any of that bead work! then paint the rest of the turtle, paint the kelp and sea grass, paint the surprise piece 😉 and put it together!!

Can’t wait!

Till then…

It’s Shelly D