"A Candle Loses Nothing By Lighting Another Candle" - Father James Keller


Showing posts with label handmade crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handmade crafts. Show all posts

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Haunting My Dollhouse Giveaway

If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I have been considering, for several years now, making the dollhouse that my father built me when I was a little girl haunted. Yesterday, my mom came over, and we finally haunted the dollhouse, or at least made a good start, as there are lots of things that I would still like to add. But for now, below are a few pictures of the macabre editions. I didn't pick a story theme like some suggest, but I did let my mind go to the dark side. Although some thoughts we just laughed at rather than executing. My mom did all the great painting, since I a terrible at it, and we made out of clay things like the pumpkins, drippy candles, cauldron, etc. 

My father said that when he made this dollhouse for me all of those years ago he wouldn't have dreamed that I would still be playing with it in my forties. But then, he probably didn't imagine I would be a paranormal author of often dark and erotic stories either who has an almost obsession with the color black, witches, skulls along most things paranormal and horror.



Here is a before shot.

And, the after. Wish you could see better the amazing pumpkin patch we made on the bottom corner. All hand-carved pumpkins and a gazing ball. The house looks hauntingly amazing when we turn battery-operated flickering, orange flamed, tea lights hidden inside under those ripped up curtains.

The inside before. As you can see, built in the 70's, time had already begun to haunt it for me, with sun damage to some wallpaper, and dust I couldn't seem to get off the floor. 

 Here is the haunted inside. For some reason, even with a flash, some rooms are dark now that they are all painted and distressed. Or maybe the spirits were messing with the camera for effect lol

A close up of the living room. More witchy and old than haunted, but I love it! Maybe the witch and her daughter are trying to resurrect the dead. You will see what I mean in the next image. Of course, there would be no help for the skeleton resting in the master bed.

Suppose the dead dad in the bathroom is responsible for the haunting. Odd though, the spirit image in the mirror looks sinister in real life, but took on a silly smile for the camera. Only a little creepy. I can't think about the giant spider my mom put in the toilet or I just may have nightmares. I have a better chance handling a ghost than a spider in real life. Not kidding there. Love the effect my mom did on the walls in there. She dipped a sponge in paint-colored water and let the thin wet paint run down the walls. Some ended up running under the wall into the nursery, but so is the way of damaging stuff for effect. 

 Well, then, that's all for the house. For now...

Happy October!
Here is the Haunting My Dollhouse Giveaway

Are you doing any creepy crafting this year? Are you visiting any haunted houses? Tell me about it in the comments, anything from this year or past years that you have done to celebrate the spooky season, to enter to win your choice an ebook written by me that will be gifted through Amazon.

My author page if you want to look at the possibilities

Winner chosen Oct 31st. 


Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day Contest: May 30th - June 4th, 2011

First, let me start by giving a HUGE thanks to all of the authors, publishers and crafters who donated their patriotic/military themed books and handcrafted items. Thanks to your generosity, I have three bundles to giveaway!

Below you will see the descriptions of all of the items to be won grouped into three different bundles. All you have to do to enter is email me at howell.kiki@gmail.com; Subject Line: “Memorial Day Contest Entry” and in the Body of the Email list which bundle(s) you are interested in winning: Bundle #1, Bundle #2,  Bundle #3, or any combination of the three. Winners will be picked by Random .org on June 5th.

A Reminder: From release day, May 27th, until midnight July 4th, all royalties earned from the sales of A Strange Freedom: Blood & Fireworks, my short patriotic paranormal erotic romance, will be donated to http://www.dav.org in honor of my father who is a  Vietnam Veteran and all who have sacrificed serving.  AVAILABLE NOW from Excessica Publishing, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and All Romance eBooks, etc.


Bundle #1: eBooks

1)A Strange Freedom: Blood & Fireworks by Kiki Howell (Erotic, Paranormal Romance) - Novella
Blurb: Can a witch gain her freedom to live as she chooses between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July?  A man was not exactly what Meranda was looking for when she went to her grandfather’s grave for a ritual of remembrance on Memorial Day.  As Meranda’s grandfather lay dying on a bloody battlefield in WWII, Alexander had promised the man he would take care of his family if he got out of the war alive.  Even though he returned to the states a vampire, he has done his best to honor that promise from a distance.  When Meranda is hurt due to his negligence, Alexander valiantly fights his own desires for her blood to save her.  Only, once she is better, their lives clash.  But, using a little magic, she plans to win their war by the time the fireworks light up the sky on Independence Day.
Author Website: http://www.kikihowell.com

2) Falling Down by Selena Kitt (An Erotic, Interracial Romance) - Novel Length 
Blurb: Lindsey is a bad girl, and she’s determined to stay that way. She makes it known to every man she comes in contact with that she’s available for the taking—the rougher, the better. When she meets Lieutenant Zachary Davis on one of her many trips to the principal’s office, she finally finds a man who refuses to treat her like the trash she believes she really is. 
Author Website: http://selenakitt.com/

3) False Jihad by David Bullock (Military Thriller) – Novel Length
Captain Jake Matthews has already sacrificed almost any hope of a normal life in order to battle America’s enemies far from home. Now Jake, and his team of Green Berets, joins forces with an ex-Navy SEAL working for the CIA, to put an end to the most malevolent covert operation ever conceived. Jake must now face losing the only people that mean anything to him, his men, as they track an elusive foe leading a group of psychotic commandos determined to bring America to its knees.

4) Don’t Fence Me In by Marianne Arkins (Sweet, Historical Romance) – Short Story
It's June, 1953 and Lizzie Scott recently lost her brother, Seb, in the Korean War.  When his friend and unit buddy, Jeremy McMasters, brings her Seb's "goodbye" letter, little does she know her life is about to change forever.

5) Semper Fi by Barrie Abalard (Erotic Romance) -  Short Story
Jake Stone is searching for a woman who will be Semper Fi—always faithful. Connie Woods has a thing for Marines. But a hot threesome with her best friend Amanda and a confusing first date with Jake leaves all three shaken. Can each one find the love and happiness they seek? 
Author Website:  http://barrieabalard.com/

6)  Fugue by  Claire Dargin (Military Science Fiction)
Lt. Chad Meyer and his team of Navy Seals on a simple arctic training mission
in the Gates of the Arctic National Park find more than bargained for when a
normal day goes awry.  Attacked by an unknown and deadly force, the team
now outgunned and out manned must fight for survival. Chad, determined to safeguard the lives of his men, must use all of his courage, will and stamina to make sure that they survive against their non-human foe.
 AuthorWebsite: www.claredargin.host22.com 


Bundle #2: Print Books & Handmade Items


1) Book or EBook Reader Tote  - Handknit
Tote is 9 x 7 finished, so should hold standard trade paperbacks as well as most eBook readers.

2) Falling Down by Selena Kitt (An Erotic, Interracial Romance) - Novel Length 
Blurb: Lindsey is a bad girl, and she’s determined to stay that way. She makes it known to every man she comes in contact with that she’s available for the taking—the rougher, the better. When she meets Lieutenant Zachary Davis on one of her many trips to the principal’s office, she finally finds a man who refuses to treat her like the trash she believes she really is. 
Author Website: http://selenakitt.com/

3) False Jihad by David Bullock (Military Thriller) – Novel Length
Captain Jake Matthews has already sacrificed almost any hope of a normal life in order to battle America’s enemies far from home. Now Jake, and his team of Green Berets, joins forces with an ex-Navy SEAL working for the CIA, to put an end to the most malevolent covert operation ever conceived. Jake must now face losing the only people that mean anything to him, his men, as they track an elusive foe leading a group of psychotic commandos determined to bring America to its knees.

4) Set of Three Handmade, Embroidered, American Flag Cards.
Standard greeting card size: 5.5" by 4.25". Made out of card stock and embroidery thread. These cards also comes with blank, white envelopes.

5) A Valentine Collection Anthology by Victory Tales Press
Five stories to stir the heart and satisfy your romantic cravings. This collection offers:
The Lace Thief by Charlotte Raby -  As Aveline Halifax prepares for the Valentine’s party , she finds herself in the past, celebrating Valentine’s Day – Victorian Style.
A Heart for a Heart by Cheryl Pierson - Kiera takes Cory into her home, but when his uncle returns from military duty he wants to take over. Can  they work this out for?
Time Dancers by Christine E. Schulze - Princess Calina steps through a magic mirror to avoid marriage. But things are not always as they seem.
Growing in Love by Evie Alexis - Lissandra is a romantic girl, but all her Valentine’s dreams never work out. Nor do the years make her any wiser. Will she ever let go of her romantic ideals and let true love run its course?
November Rose by Rob Shelsky - Rosalie's world is torn apart by a WWII bombing raid in
London. Hospitalized, perhaps blind, she is terrified until a mysterious stranger appears—changing her world forever.
Author Website: www.cherylpierson.com 

6) Patriotic Natural Stone earrings Sterling silver hooks with silver accents 
Hand Crafted with Love by Alexx  at 
http://momcatscreations.blogspot.com



7) Swarovski Crystal and silver chain Red, White and Blue Book Mark. Hand Crafted with Love by Alexx at 
http://momcatscreations.blogspot.com 

Bundle #3: Print Books & Handmade Items

1) Destination: Berlin by S. Cardin (Sweet, Military, Romantic Suspense) - Novel
Blurb: Stuck in a routine job in Cold War Germany guarding nuclear weapons, U.S. Army Corporal Sharon Cates thinks she is going to Berlin to attend an orientation tour. Unknown to her, the briefcase she carries contains top-secret information that the Stasi and KGB are willing to kill for.

Russian Junior Sergeant Dimitri Nagory is an assistant to a high-ranking Soviet officer in his country’s embassy in England. Dimitri isn’t expecting a great adventure as he boards the duty train for a routine trip to headquarters in Berlin, and he certainly isn’t expecting to meet any Americans.

The Stasi derails the train in the middle of East Germany, expecting to take the information from Sharon’s dead body. But when the sudden explosion hurls Sharon and Dimitri from the train and into each other, he too becomes a target. With Sharon nursing badly bruised ribs and branded by her country as a traitorous thief for stealing top-secret documents, Dimitri goes against everything he’s ever been taught to ensure her safe return to the West.

2) Red, White and Blue Crystal / Silver Earrings - Handmade

3) ONE American Rocket Soapsicle - Handmade
Made with oodles of handmade love, glycerin soap with cocoa butter, coloring and fragrance.


4) A Christmas Collection Anthology by Victory Tales Press
Christmas with Hope by Anne Patrick
Hope Erickson, a Blackhawk pilot, and Nick Cunningham, an army ranger, renew their acquaintance on the battlefields of
Iraq. Will they risk their hearts to one another or does fate have other plans in store for them?
A Christmas Full of Memories by Markee Anderson
Piper Sage knows the man who enters her travel agency franchise is trouble from the moment he tells her he's the owner's son. He demands an old-fashioned Christmas, with a ready-made family…and Piper has to deliver.
Severed Hearts by Laurean Brooks
Julie Blanton's dream is realized when shy Johnny Michaels all but professes his undying love. When he enlists two days later without so much as a goodbye, her world crashes. Will these severed hearts survive?
An Unexpected Holidate by Evie Alexis
Audrey Christensen, legal secretary, is in no mood for Christmas cheer. Defense attorney, Tom Finster, generally hates the holidays. Will the duo move past all that and make a little Christmas magic of their own?
Homecoming by Cheryl Pierson
A holiday skirmish sends Union officer, Jack Durham, on an unlikely mission for a dying Confederate soldier—his enemy. Will the miracle of Christmas be able to heal his heart in the face of what awaits him?
Author Website: www.cherylpierson.com 

5) Red, White & Blue Burst Book Thong  - Handmade
Etsy Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KikiHowell

6) Austrian Chrystal and Cloisonne Book Mark.  Hand Crafted with Love by Alexx at http://momcatscreations.blogspot.com

Again, all you have to do to enter is email me at howell.kiki@gmail.com; Subject Line: “Memorial Day Contest Entry” and in the Body of the Email list which bundle(s) you are interested in winning: Bundle #1, Bundle #2,  Bundle #3, or any combination of the three. Winners will be picked by Random .org on June 5th.

Thanks for stopping by, and Good Luck!
Kiki


~Contest is open to everyone who is interested regardless of location!

In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, Kiki Howell of An Author's Musings, would like to advise that in addition to purchasing my own books to review, I also receive books, and/or promotional materials, free of charge in return for an honest review, as do any guest reviewers.