Hip to be Square at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome to Wednesday and thank you for joining me. I'm back with a flurry of posts and DT projects over the coming few days, all of which have been keeping me out of mischief!

First up is the current Frilly and Funkie challenge (hosted by yours truly) which is entitled 'Hip to be Square'. For this challenge we want you to create a 3D vintage or shabby chic project based on a cube shape. The Design Team have used Artist Trading Block cubes but let's be clear, you can use your own templates, dies or hand cut cubes if you would prefer. Decorate, embellish and alter them in any way you choose as long as they are cube shaped and have a vintage or shabby chic feel. As an added bonus this fortnight we are teaming up with our friends at 'The Artists on the Block'. They have a dedicated Design Team using Eileen Hull Designs cubes (and many other 3D die cut shapes) in incredibly imaginative ways so make sure you take a look for some added inspiration. And with their companion challenge blog 'Art With Heart' having an 'Anything Goes' theme this month you've got the option to enter your creations there as well to be in with a chance to win a brand new Eileen Hull Designs die!

And so to my set of boxes... you may have seen the remarkable block projects created by the Frilly team last week - talk about setting the standard! I knew only the best would do to match up this week and so began an often frustrating yet ultimately fulfilling few days beavering away. Inspiration came in part from a US tv show called 'Sin City Motors' where a workshop team in Las Vegas breath new life into vintage cars, embracing every imperfection and quirky design twist imaginable (well I do live in a house with four males who love cars!) And then there was Tim Holtz' August tag, all steampunk and rusty. In my head, then, formed a partial vision of old motor vehicles, rusted metals and travel.

For the smallest box I used Tim's riveted metal technique, adding extra dabs of alcohol ink after rubbing back the original layer. The top looks ultra-ornate with its filigree metal corners and ring fastener (all altered with Distress Paint to match). As all of these cubes open to allow for future use as gift containers each one has been lined with paper or paint to match.

The next box became a travel trunk, complete with Tim's faux kraft suede technique and tons of Rusty Hinge Distress Stain. I added an extra 'lid' to make it look more realistic and included little travel stickers cut from the Menagerie Paper Stash. Finally it was fastened with an inked grunge paper strap and Idea-Ology buckle, with matching 'feet' added for stability.

Next box up, and I used my version of Tim's eroded metallic technique from the June 2014 issue of Craft Stamper magazine (Rachel of Fisher's Cards and Crafts has also made fantastic use of this technique for her entry into the current CS Take It, Make It August challenge). The added extras included a sprinkle of Verdigris embossing powder and a swipe of Watering Can Archival Ink. The 3D car atop is my tribute to the 'Rat Rods' created on that tv show I mentioned earlier and Wendy Vecchi's 'Licence Plate Art' words were a perfect fit with the theme. I love mixing Distress Paint, Ink and Embossing Powders to create rusted and aged effects on arrows, cogs and washers!

The final, largest box is the one based on Tim's August Tag and pretty much follows his colour choices but this time teamed with Brett Weldele's 'Racer Girl' stamp set. All the metal embellishments were altered with matching Distress Paints and I added a little tag to the handle cut using the Tim Holtz Framelits Tag Collection and some Remnant Rub Ons. Funnily enough this block didn't look completely finished until I roughed up the edges!

So those are my blocks/cubes/boxes and now it's time to flip over to the Frilly and Funkie challenge blog to see what my Funkie team mates have come up with for this theme (they're awesome again by the way!) Don't forget, when you enter this challenge you've got that added option of entering the 'Art With Heart' challenge too giving you more ways to win.

As for me, I'll be entering Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of 2014 August Tag challenge

and the Simon Says Stamp Monday 'Anything Goes' challenge

Hopefully see you again tomorrow, but for now, take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

Eileen Hull Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Blocks/Cubes, 3-D	Ranger Inkssentials Foil Tape Sheets 6x12"	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Rust	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Pitch Black	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Stonewashed	4 Piece Large Antiqued Bronze Triangle Filigree Pieces	4 Piece Bronze Tone Ring Fasteners For Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Brushed Pewter	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Mini Stash Menagerie	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Rusty Hinge
Ranger Inkssentials Ink Refresher	Ranger Multi Medium Matte 4 oz.	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Grunge Paper	Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Buckles	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Walnut Stain	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Rusty Hinge	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Spiced Marmalade	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Vintage Photo	NEW Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Gathered Twigs
Ranger Embossing Powder - Verdigris Antiquities	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Watering Can	Mini Old Jalopy and Arrow Set Sizzix Alterations Movers & Shapers by Tim Holtz	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Evergreen Bough	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot	Ranger Embossing Powder - Clear	Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Gadget Gears Die	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears	Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Washer Border	Stampers Anonymous Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stamps - License Plate Art
*Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Artful Arrows Bigz Die	Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Stain - Brushed Pewter	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder - Vintage Photo	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder - Black Soot	Ranger Embossing Powder - Silver	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Evergreen Bough	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Frayed Burlap	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Weathered Wood	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - White	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Stars
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stencil - Checkmate	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Splatters	Stampers Anonymous Brett Weldele Rubber Stamps - Racer Girl	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Word Bands, Observations	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Fasteners	Burlap String - 12 Colors	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tea Dye	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Compass Coins	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings Game Spinners
4 Piece Antiqued Bronze Tone Mini Box Handles	Tim Holtz Sizzix Framelits Die Set 8PK - Tag Collection	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rubs Life Quotes	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents