Inspired By for Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. Over at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog we are half way through a new challenge. It's Cec's turn to host and she's calling her challenge 'Inspired By'. Cec says "I don't have access to quality craft classes locally so I spend time online to learn new things. For this challenge I want you to create a vintage or shabby chic project inspired by or using a technique or tutorial that you have found online. You must provide a link to the site that is inspiring your creation and please do not make a direct copy of anything you found."

As ever, the Design 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 Top 3 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.

Here's the finished project I created after being inspired by video tutorials from the amazing Kate Crane showing how she makes grungy backgrounds using the Gel Press plate. You can find them HERE along with many more fantastic tutorials to help you get the best from your Gel Press plate.

Having been lucky enough to have a Gel Press plate for a while I must confess to only having used it a couple of times, not necessarily with the best of results. Cec's challenge theme gave the impetus for getting to grips with it so I watched several of Kate's tutorials to take on board all the tips and techniques she shares. Here are the supplies I gathered together when the time came to give it another go; you'll see a small range of Dina Wakley Acrylic Paints, Tim Holtz Distress Damask stamp set, Mushroom Alcohol Ink, some smooth surface paper, a brayer and of course a Gel Press plate.

I followed Kate's method, brayering paint onto the plate, removing some of the paint with the stamps, then repeating the process until it was time to take a print. Each time a little of the paint remained on the Gel Press plate in patches. Rather than clean the plate each time I worked over it so those remnants would add to the next print and by sticking to the same limited coordinating colour palette in different combinations I got the following prints;

The printed piece far left in the photo above is the one I chose to cover the Etcetera Tag with. To allow the background to remain the dominant part I layered a colour co-ordinating Tim Holtz Baseboard and pieces of Ephemera behind a Baseboard Frame covered in Emerald Creek's Charred Gold Embossing Powder. As it melted under the heat gun an antiqued bronze filigree triangle corner was dropped into the molten powder to set in place. The paper left over after covering the tag was stuck to a piece of kraft card before being die cut with Tim Holtz Funky Foliage. Arranged amongst this foliage were some Bouquet Findings flowers coloured with a little Lemonade Alcohol Ink and some Quote Chips provided the finishing touch.

That's it for my 'Inspired By' project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge. My talented team mates have created lots more amazing projects for this challenge so make sure you hop on over and check them out HERE. And remember to link up your own shabby chic or vintage entries that have been Inspired By to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Links to products used stocked by The Funkie Junkie Boutique;
Ranger Gel Printing Plate
Tim Holtz Distress Damask Stamp Set
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paints
Ranger Alcohol Inks
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Funky Foliage Die Set
Tim Holtz Etcetera Small Tag
Tim Holtz Ideaology Salvaged Baseboards
Tim Holtz Ideaology Quote Chips
Tim Holtz Ideaology Bouquet Findings
Emerald Creek Craft Supplies Charred Gold Embossing Powder
Antiqued Bronze Triangle Filigree Piece