A Little Rusty for Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome! For the past week it's been Autumn Clark's turn to host the latest challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog. She's called it 'A Little Rusty'; "With the end of summer nearing, some of us have gotten a little rusty with our creating due to holidays and lazy days. For this challenge let's break out a rusty color palette in preparation for fall. Whether you take the challenge literally and use rusted metal a faux rust technique, or just the color in your vintage or shabby chic project - the choice is up to you! We can't wait to see your creativity in full swing!"

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.

I decided to create a background with paints, paste and inks intended to replicate a weather-worn rusty piece of metal. Then. rather than follow a somewhat predictable masculine route to finish the card, I chose a more feminine flourish with lots of altered die cuts and a touch of Linda's ribbon.
Here's the finished card;

Now it may look complicated but the rusty background was relatively simple to achieve; After covering a piece of card with coarse texture paste it was painted with layers of Dina Wakley Media paints, starting with Umber and then a more uneven layer of Cheddar mixed with Elephant. When dry the surface was sprayed with water before drips of Rust Alcohol Ink were allowed to run and pool across it. Finally I dribbled very dilute Ocean paint down the surface to emulate the look of verdigris.

With the background complete I used the Small Tattered Florals Thinlits die set to cut lots of blooms from card coloured with Tattered Rose Distress Spray Stain and coloured several of the branches from the same die set with the Umber paint. These were shaped, layered and wrapped with a little wire before large dots of Rose Gold Liquid Pearls were added to the flowers. The little bow actually came from one of the little glassine bag parcels that came in an order from The Funkie Junkie Boutique - I keep all of the little pieces of dyed seam binding for just such occasions! The doilies are actually the centres from the larger die design, coloured with Broken China Distress Oxide Ink and embossed with Fractured Ice Embossing Powder for that fabulous mottled look. A simple sentiment completed the card.

Here are a couple of close up photos to show the rusty texture, delicate florals and altered doilies in more detail;

That's it for my DT project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'A Little Rusty'. Make sure you hop on over to see what my talented team mates have been inspired to create for this challenge, and remember to link your own shabby chic or vintage projects featuring rust to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes that are up for grabs.

I have a lot more to share with you in the coming days so stay tuned for that. In the meantime take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx