Give Thanks at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome! It's Sara Emily's turn to host the latest challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog and she's called it 'Give Thanks!' This challenge is all about giving thanks as the title suggests; we have so much to be grateful for! The Frilly and Funkie team is thankful for our loyal readers and our newest visitors! For this challenge, simply create a vintage or shabby chic project that expresses gratitude.

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, so there are plenty of reasons for joining in the fun.

We all have a need to say thank you to someone every so often and a handmade card is such a personal and thoughtful way of doing just that. Wendy Vecchi has designed so many gorgeous stamp sets that fit the bill for making these as this card shows;

The background was created by adding Dina Wakley's Ruby and Cheddar Paints over a piece of card before brushing her White Gesso over the top unevenly for a faded look. The dry card was embossed with Tim Holtz 'Flourish' Embossing Folder before a few drops of highly dilute Ruby and Cheddar Paints were allowed to run into the grooves with a spritz of water.

A small tag was cut from watercolour paper and I used the Stamp Platform to add the Simple Reality floral image to it with Antique Linen Distress Oxide Ink (leaving the stamp in place and removing any remaining ink from it). I painted the flowers with more highly diluted Ruby and Cheddar Paints, mixing Lime and Umber together with water to create an olive shade - on watercolour paper they blend together beautifully. Replacing the tag back in the Stamp Platform I restamped the image using Jet Black Archival Ink to finish it. The same process was used to create more flowers so they could be cut out and layered together over the tag.

By drawing around the tag on the background I could work out where to stamp the Lots of Leaves flourishes and add the Grit Paste through the Simple Reality stencil. Rather than remove the pencil lines I emphasised them with Hickory Smoke Distress Crayon (applied with the Detailer Fine Nib Water Brush) to create a shadow effect. Having added stitching along the edge of the background and blended Brushed Corduroy into it I layered the tag and flowers together with some die cut foliage, finishing it with the Thank You sentiment from the All Occasion Art set.

That's it for my DT project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'Give Thanks' I hope you've been inspired by my latest journal. Do make sure you hop on over to see what my talented team mates have been inspired to create. And remember to link your own die cut shabby chic or vintage projects, to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

I'll be back tomorrow with a big reveal... in the meantime take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx