We're Bloomin' over at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. This fortnight I'm hosting the challenge over at Frilly and Funkie and I picked handmade flowers as the theme. Flowers have been such a huge theme at the recent trade shows so with lots of dies and tutorials out there the team are looking forward to seeing your own creations. The winner gets the chance to join the team as a Guest Designer for a future challenge and there is also a random draw for a $25 shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Now for my floral project. Hopefully Mark, Brenda and Rosie will remember this frame. I was lucky enough to attend the Stitches show this week and as well as getting to see/meet lots of fantastic people and products I had great fun at one of Mark's 'make and take' workshops on the Decoart stand.

This frame was bare dark grey plastic before being 'pimped' with Chalky Paints, a wax resist and some gorgeous clear liquid wax. Mark used the same idea on a chair he had re-upholstered; please make sure yoy all pester him to post pictures of it as it is absolutely gorgeous!

Having completed the frame Mark challenged us to do something with it. To be frank he did me a huge favour as I'd had these handmade flowers sitting on my desk for a week but couldn't get them to work with the original project idea. Arriving home last night I put one with the other and the beginnings of this home decor piece was born.

I started by removing the glass from the frame and working on the chipboard back with a mix of Distress Paints. The silver Embossing Paste was applied through a stencil and, when dry, was rubbed over with Plum Archival Ink to give a beautiful shiny contrast.

Next came layers of die cuts covered in the same paint colours to provide a base for the design and flowers. Some of the film strip pieces can still be seen but I didn't worry too much about the rest of them disappearing from view.

It was an absolute privilege to watch Finnabair at work creating one of her masterpieces at the show. I love the way she keeps adding layers to her canvases to create a sense of depth and took this on board for this project. Over the die cuts I added lace, floral strips and filigree metal embellishments, all of which had more paint added to their surfaces.

The flowers were created from plain white card covered in the same colours of Distress Paint, stamped with Plum Archival Ink and once completed spritzed with Perfect Pearls. 

I followed a flower tutorial HERE from our Guest Designer at Frilly and Funkie this fortnight, the wonderful Jennie Atkinson.

In order to add flowers to the base some foliage was required. I used the Garden Greens die on Kraft Core Coredinations and Clearly for Art/Frosted Film coloured with Watering Can Archival Ink (remember Tim's poinsettia tutorial at Christmas?)

The 'picture' was finished with an altered metal butterfly and a touch of contrasting gilding wax was applied to the prominent edges on the frame (for Mark's benefit - Treasure Gold Indigo :) As it coordinates beautifully with my colour scheme at home this will now take pride of place on display to remind me of a great day with such good friends.

I hope you'll now take the opportunity to see what my super-talented team mates have created for this challenge. We all hope you will feel inspired to join those who have already uploaded their own floral projects so you too can be in with a chance of winning.

Take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Aged Mahogany	NEW Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Dusty Concord	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Seedless Preserve	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Tarnished Brass	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Brushed Pewter	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - Silver	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Doily
4 Piece Silver Tone Butterfly Set Filigree Metals for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	Corner Filigree Metal Pieces	Venise Lace Trim - 1/2 inch wide	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Clearly for Art	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Frosted Film	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Watering Can	$6.39 Core′dinations Kraft Core By Tim Holtz - 4.25x5.5" Paper Pad	*Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Garden Greens Bigz Die
Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Mini Filmstrip & Mini Tickets	Sizzix Alterations Die - Mini Tattered Florals Movers and Shapers Die by Tim Holtz	Sizzix Alterations Movers & Shapers - Mini Flourish by Tim Holtz	Mini Branch & Leaf Set - Sizzix Alterations Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die by Tim Holtz	Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists - Biscotti