Holiday Hues at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. Sixth day in to January, third post - not bad eh? Over at Frilly and Funkie we are kicking off the year with a 'Holiday Hues' challenge hosted by the amazingly talented Pamellia. Here's what she has to say; "It's been a wonderful year full of shabby chic and vintage projects with all sorts of amazing themes. For our final theme this year I have chosen HOLIDAY HUES. I would like to see your favourite colours for your favourite holiday. Choose whatever holiday you like, just make sure your project is shabby chic or vintage in style."

The Design Team will vote for their top four picks, the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie and the next three receiving badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into a draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. So plenty of reasons to enter! And there's still time, with the challenge being open for another week.

And so to my Funkie DT project for this challenge; I went for my favourite holiday colour combo (Iced Spruce, Bundled Sage, Weathered Wood, Brushed Pewter and Aged Mahogany) using it in a decidedly non-Christmas way. There was also an opportunity to play with the Industrious Metals method employed by Tim Holtz in his first of the 12 Tags of 2016.

(click on each photo for a closer look)

I started this with a square of white card, dipping it in a mix of Bundled Sage, Weathered Wood and Brushed Pewter Distress Paints on my craft mat and spritzing it with water to let it blend together a little. Once dry I blended Iced Spruce Distress Ink over the top to cover any gaps and bring it all together. Adding to the aged feel of background I splattered a little Picket Fence Distress Paint onto some areas before embossing the lot with the Tiles embossing folder. I added a final swipe of Hickory Smoke Distress Ink around the edges and onto some of the raised areas.

My general rule of thumb is that if the background is detailed (as in this case) it only requires a simple focal point. I love this Watering Can die and knew it would be the perfect place to hold a bouquet. Covering a piece of card in metal foil, I embossed it before running it through the die to produce the body and band. I followed the Industrious Metals method shown by Tim Holtz this month with an added twist; by pouncing Denim and Mushroom Alcohol Inks onto the metal before sanding it back I achieved a darker look. Like the rivets on the central band? Pewter Liquid Pearls are going to feature a lot more on my projects this year methinks! 

The bouquet was die cut and punched from Kraft Core card with the flower centres created by heating large blobs of silver Stickles. You'll spot that I raided my stash for some Tissue Tape behind the watering can and the sentiment was covered in Brushed Pewter Distress Stain before being coloured with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink to achieve a softer look.

Adding a coordinating backing layer always helps to frame a background and make a card look more professional, particularly when that background is mottled and multi-tonal. It doesn't have to be your 'best' card either! I used simple kraft card blended with the Walnut Stain Distress Ink again.

That's it from me for today. I urge you to jump over to see what the my Funkie DT team mates have been up to for this 'Holiday Hues' challenge. You are in for a real treat! Then it's over to you to show us your own projects created with your favourite holiday colours - can't wait to see them!

I'm headed back to the craft room now as there's new stuff to share... more to come! Whatever you're up to take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx