bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

let me answer my own question and possibly edumacate others as well. i put my tattoo image in a new image map node, plugged that into a new color math node set to multiply and plugged that into the root node diffuse color outlet...render...and whalaa! presto chango!

now my next mission is to try and figure out how to add multiple tattoos to just one section, like the torso for instance.

Comitted to excellence through art.