New Years Inspiration at Frilly and Funkie - Make it Happen

Hi everyone and welcome! It's my turn to host the first challenge of 2017 over at Frilly and Funkie and the chosen theme is New Years Inspiration; at the start of each New Year so many of us make plans and set goals for the futures. So for this challenge we want you to create a vintage or shabby chic project depicting what you are inspired to do/achieve this year.

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot here 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.

My DT project for this one won't make a great deal of sense to anyone without explanation as I've not opted for a sentiment or phrase to sum up my goal for 2017. Instead I've chosen to make something which will demonstrate my determination to make the words "Make it happen" a mantra for the year; it's time to make positive steps forward in life alongside making the most of offered opportunities (those are always welcome of course!) The people I admire most in the craft and hobbies industry are the ones who have made things happen through hard work, commitment and self-belief, and being honest it's that last one that is the most challenging, particularly in a culture which has a tendency to pour scorn on self-confidence.

This portfolio contains A5 replicas of some of my favourite canvases created over the last year to make it possible to physically share my work with people rather than just on social media or in print. Seeing pictures of artwork is always good but you really get the measure of it in real life, especially when there's lots of texture and dimension included. Its first journey will be to accompany me to Creativation 2017 (the new name for CHA) which this year takes place in Phoenix, Arizona; what better place to show people what you can do!

The portfolio covers came from a book salvaged from a charity shop onto which I added a Wendy Vecchi inspired vintage style floral panel bundle and a faux plaster plaque using a Prima IOD mould and paper clay (the tutorial promised  for achieving this look is included at the end of the post). I rebuilt the spine using strong card following an online tutorial by Seth Apter and added sticky backed canvas, coloured with Vintage Distress Collage Medium, to cover it. The filigree metal corners were added to the book covers for decorative purposes and I also 'aged' them further by applying the smallest amount of Distress Paint in patches. Here are a couple of close ups of the front cover;

And here's how I've added the canvases inside - as you can see from the first one they are all as dimensional as the originals, meaning that the finished portfolio measures almost 5 1/2 inches wide! There's also some vintage music score dating back to 1899 added to the inside covers and room for me to include some flat collage work and journalling if time allows before I fly.

As promised last Friday on my Frilly and Funkie Friday Focus post here's how to add a faux plaster/stone look to your Prima IOD paper clay moulded pieces (and remember, these beauties are currently discounted by an extra 15% at The Funkie Junkie Boutique).

Start with a layer of Peeled Paint Distress Paint over the dry moulded object label.

When the first layer is dry use a brush to add an uneven layer of Antique Linen Distress Paint. Some of the detailed areas will have the Peeled Paint layer still exposed.

Ensure the second paint layer is dry before spritzing water over the whole piece. While wet add a couple of drops of Mushroom Alcohol Ink to the edges and allow the ink to run before blotting with tissue to dry.

Finally add a layer of Crazing Distress Collage Medium and allow this to dry naturally to reveal the delicate crazing.

Here's what your 'faux aged plaster' moulded label will look like; you can add stamping or Remnant Rubs to finish.

So that's it for my DT project (and additional tutorial) for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge all about our New Years Inspiration. Please make sure you hop on over to see what my talented team mates have created to represent their goals for 2017 and remember to link up your own projects to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

I'll leave you with a list of ingredients used for altering the covers of my new portfolio and a promise that I'll be back with some sneek peaks of something very exciting soon. Until then take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx