Autumn Colours at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. It's the beginning of the second week over at the Frilly and Funkie challenge blog and our host Sue has set the theme 'Autumn Colours'. Here's what she has to say about it; "I love Autumn, the beautiful colours of the trees and here in the UK the cooler temperatures are now upon us. So let's celebrate this time of year by creating a project using the gorgeous colours of this season." With the new Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi embossing powders and Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stains arriving in the mail I was in the mood to experiment for this one...

Have you seen Wendy Vecchi's faux graniteware tutorial? Awesome! Had to try it especially having stumbled on a couple of mini metal baking tins for £1 each. I managed to apply the Cornflower Blue powder to the tin without burning any fingers (always a plus) and added a little twist remembered from a Fabergé tutorial I did ages ago...

...by applying a little Cornflower Blue Archival Reinker mixed with surgical spirit (rubbing alcohol) to the embossed surface and reheating it I got a more aged look and retained the sheen. Finally the whole lot was stamped with a splatter stamp - in the absence of Snow Cap Ink I used some 'Pantry White' English Cottage Artist's Acrylic Paint.

Transforming a tin into a 'clock' was the fun part. A die cut clock face covered in a mix of Gold embossing powder, and Tarnished Brass and Black Soot Distress Paint was cut to size for the base of the tin. The paper flowers and leaves were all handmade using a mixture of die cut and hand cut petals all spritzed with Distress Spray Stains. I love how they give a mottled 'past their best' look that is difficult to replicate with inks or paints. I also used some kraft core Coredinations cardstock for other die cut leaves to add a mix of texture and there's even a kraft glassine pinecone tucked into the bottom of the arrangement.

Then there were the long hoarded metal filigree elements. A butterfly covered in Tree Branch embossing powder was painted in the centre with Orange Blossom Archival Reinker for contrast. The metal flower was snipped between the petals to enable me to bend them inwards for added shaping before they too were embossed. A couple of filigree metal leaves blended in well with the rest of the flowers, and to help support the clock I added a couple of box corners and dyed seam binding.

Hopefully this has got you inspired to create your own Autumnal project. For even more inspiration the rest of the Funkie team at the Frilly and Funkie challenge blog have pulled out all the stops and produced some amazing pieces too so please make sure you head on over there. And remember, there are great prizes up for grabs with the chance to win a $25 shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and the offer of a Guest Designer slot on the challenge blog for the winner.

I'll be back on Friday for the launch of a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey. Until then take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx