Dare to Resist with Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. Over at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog we are already half way through the latest challenge, 'Dare to Resist'. Our host for this challenge is Autumn Clark - here's what she's looking for; "as we break away from our Valentine creations, we'd love to see you incorporate a favorite resist technique in your vintage or shabby chic project. There are so many options, perhaps you will try something new. Whether it be gesso resist, Vaseline resist, alcohol resist, embossing resist, or watercolor resist, we dare you to resist!"

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 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.

A Delicate Floral Card

I promised more collage style cards in my last post and so here's the latest one to share with you. Alongside those delicious Memoranda Paper Stash papers there are die cut florals, a die cut doily and a butterfly from Tim Holtz Botanical Layers pack.

The Resist Tutorial

Back in April 2016 I used a translucent texture paste resist method to create the background for a card. It worked so well that Tim Holtz was kind enough to share it as part of his Creative Chemistry 103 online course (read more HERE)! I love the end results but there's now an even speedier way to get a similar look thanks to the new Distress Resist Spray!

Begin with a piece of Memoranda and after covering with the Mosaic Layering Stencil and placing in a box, spray all over with Distress Resist Spray. Remove the stencil and clean immediately with water. The spray will leave a raised area which can be dried with a heat tool.

When the spray is dry blend Distress Oxide Ink over the top, rubbing over gently with a damp piece of tissue to remove the excess ink from the resist areas.

Cut the paper into tags and blend around the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink.

The Close Ups

Some linen ribbon was added to the top of the tag and the Wildflower #2 die cut flowers were painted with Tattered Rose Distress Paint. The die cut doily was coloured with the Faded Jeans Distress Oxide Ink before being covered with Fractured Ice Embossing Powder. The Remant Rubs on the little tags come from the Special Delivery set.

So there you have it, my resist technique for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge. My talented team mates have also created lots of amazing projects for this challenge so make sure you hop on over and check them out HERE. And remember to link up your own die cut shabby chic or vintage projects, to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

I'll be back over on the Frilly and Funkie challenge blog with a new tutorial for you on Saturday.

For now, take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx

Realistic Rust with Tim Holtz Distress Resist Spray and Baked Texture Embossing Powder

Hi everyone and welcome. You'll be aware from previous posts and projects here on my blog that I love being able to create faux finishes, and I'm back with a new one for you. By combining Tim Holtz new Distress Resist Spray from Ranger and Seth Apter's new Baked Texture 'Chunky Rust' Embossing Powder from Emerald Creek Crafts it's really easy to get the look of rusted metal with the added bonus of the bumpy texture spots that occur naturally.

The Collage Card

Having used the technique on a tag (which you'll see in the video tutorial below) I added it to a collage background created from off cuts of Tim Holtz 'Dapper' Paper Stash. A random sweep of white gesso blended the various patterned pieces together and provided a base for stamping using Tim Holtz 'Dapper' set from Stampers Anonymous. I highly recommend using Tim's Stamp Platform to stamp over the uneven surface on the tag as you will probably have to repeat stamp to get a clear image. The cogs and gears are a combination of Ideaology ones and die cuts from altered Metallic Kraft Card, with little dots of Enamel Accents, a Tim Holtz Paper Doll and of course one of those Snarky Small Talk Stickers to finish.

It's really gratifying using up these Paper Stash off cuts to create collage backgrounds for cards and I have many more already in the pipeline.

The Video Tutorial

Now for the all important video tutorial showing you how you can create this look yourselves, passing on my hints and tips for working with Seth Apter's 'Chunky Rust' Baked Texture Embossing Powder;

Hopefully that's shown you how easy it is to achieve this look and you feel inspired to create your own rusted metal. As well as more cards there are also more video tutorials being planned so make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss those.

I'll be off to the UK trade show 'Stitches' tomorrow and will be back here with a new card for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'Dare to Resist'. Whatever you're up to this weekend get creative!

Jenny xxx

All You Need is LOVE with Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome! Over at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog we are already half way through the latest challenge, 'All You Need is LOVE!' Our host for this one is Zoe Hillman and here's what she's looking for from potential entrants; "With Valentines just a couple of weeks away, I've chosen "ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE" as the challenge theme. It's time to let cupid draw his paintbrush and create a vintage or shabby chic project with the word "LOVE" somewhere on the project. It can be the focus or just a tiny detail."

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 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.

A Valentine's Card

Having produced a lot of paper-based projects more recently the time was right to bust out the Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paints and get messy (in a good way of course).

One of the questions I'm often asked is how best to pick colours that will work together. There are many answers but here's a suggestion if you are using Dina Wakley's range; Dina's Washi Tapes are made from her art, created using her colours, and she's kindly done all the thinking for us by picking colours that team well together.

So my starting point for this card was to choose a couple of her Washi Tapes (the ones with hearts on) and find the paints that matched them. I think it worked a treat but I'll let you be the final judge of that having seen the finished card.

I began the background by diluting a couple of the colours with water and dabbed them onto watercolour card, spritzing them with more water to encourage them to move. After drying a couple of the paints were spread onto my craft mat and I dipped the card into them randomly, following up with a little bit of paint splattering. Some stencilling added a clearer design and layers of the Washi Tape helped lead the eye to the focal point.

Having gone with the aqua, lime and lemon tones for the background I used contrasting red and orange shades on the heart shape to make it stand out. The aqua edging came straight from the nozzle of the small bottle and to finish I added the wording using Dina's new Collage Words.

So that's my Valentine's card for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge. My talented team mates have also created lots of amazing projects for this challenge so make sure you hop on over and check them out HERE. And remember to link up your own die cut shabby chic or vintage projects, to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

As ever there's plenty to do in my craft room with commissions to complete and video tutorials to shoot. I'll be back to share those with you very soon.

For now, take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx

Eileen Hull Designs Book Club Collection - Valentines Box

Hi everyone! Here we are in February already and Valentines Day will soon be upon us. Tomorrow I'll be sharing a card for the occasion so make sure you come back for that. Today it's time to focus on the gifts for that special person in your life.

If your plan involves giving a special little something, be it choccies or a bit of bling, what better than to personalise your gift than with a handmade box. You can even coordinate it with your card! The finished internal dimensions to this one are 4"x 3" x 1" so plenty of room to to fit a treat or two inside. It has been created using the Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - 'Book & Pages, Trinket Box & Frame' by Eileen Hull Designs. That name is long, but it's because this die can create so many different things, including this box! The link above is for US customers but I'm thrilled to say I know of a couple of UK retailers who are already taking pre-orders for Eileen's Book Club collection of dies (links at the end of this post).

My Valentines Box was simple to construct and decorate but then I couldn't resist adding vintage style finishes and even a touch of glitter. First up lets see how easy it is to create a professional looking box.

Box Tutorial

Cover several pieces of mount board with papers of your choice as it's easier than cutting papers separately and sticking them on a die cut piece.. I used DCWV 'The Far East Stack' using a sheet of the Oriental red floral pattern on the outside and a sheet of the chocolate flourish pattern for the inside of the box. You'll need;

• 2 x pieces of 8" x 2" board covered on one side with the red paper and on the other side with the chocolate paper.
• 3 x pieces 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" board with paper on one side only, one red and two chocolate.
• 2 x pieces 3 3/4" x 5 1/4" board covered on both sides with the red paper.

I've put the corresponding die cut shapes on top of each piece of card so you can see how they match up. Remember, all these shapes (and more) are part of the one die and include the Movers and Shapers Oval to insert into the 'frame' shape.

At this stage I took the opportunity to cover any white edges with Dina Wakley's 'Gilt' Acrylic Paint. This is not essential. You can leave the edges white if you prefer or cover them with ink, paint, pen etc. If you coordinate with the papers you've used it does give a more professional finish. Should you want to go further with the finishes now is a good time to add stencilling, pastes, stamping as the pieces can be laid flat.

Now it's time to assemble the box; begin by folding the pre-scored lines on the longest die cuts and glue together to create the sides of the box. I use wet glue and pegs to hold the pieces together while they dry. Glue the red 'ATC' shaped piece to the underside of the oval aperture frame piece.

To finish glue the box sides to the frame base (placing something flat and heavy on it like a book until dry). Then stick one of the remaining chocolate paper covered 'ATC' shapes on the bottom of the box to cover the folded edges and stick the other one onto the underside of the box lid to help it stay in place when sat on the base. Your box is now complete and ready for that gift. Or you can add more...

The Finished Valentines Box

Being unable to leave things as they are I covered the paper with Crazing Distress Collage Medium to give it a subtle crackle finish, and applied white gesso, Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and clear Distress Glitter over the gold edges. The floral arrangement on top of the box includes flowers cut using Eileen's Stitchy Flowers with hearts and branches to match the paper design.

So that's it for my Valentines Box serving suggestion and tutorial. Hope you're feeling inspired to get the die and make your own gift boxes (and so much more).

Tomorrow I'll be back with the Valentines Card. Hope you can join me for that.

For now, get creative!

Jenny xxx

Pre-orders available for Eileen Hull Designs 'Book Club Collection' dies by Sizzix from these UK stockists

(if you know of any others please let me know);

Sir Stampalot

Handmade At Helens

Creativation 2018 - Tim Holtz Blog Hop and Give Away!

Hi everyone and welcome! The Creativation show is over for another year and you've all enjoyed seeing Tim's videos sharing the samples created using his gorgeous designs. Now it's time for all the designers responsible for them to share their own close ups and details in a very special blog hop organised by the amazing Richele Christensen.

If you're following this Tim Holtz Blog Hop you should have arrived from the blog of one of my creative heroes, Jan Hobbins. If not there's a full list of all the participating blogs in order at the bottom of this post to help you make sure you don't miss out on any of the fun.

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Journal

I was beyond thrilled to be asked to create a journal using Tim's Idea-Ology range featuring some of the products you will be familiar with and others that were launched at the show. In particular you'll notice an abundance of the new Collage Paper, used liberally over Tim's Memoranda Paper Stash to add a floral touch throughout.

Here are a couple of close ups of the front cover showing how well the Collage Paper, new Design Tape and new Snarky Small Talk stickers (LOVE them!) coordinate with the Paper Dolls, Memoranda Paper Stash and Ephemera.

The journal was created using a Tattered Worn Binder as the base into which I could add pages and inserts. Some of the pages were adorned whilst others remained 'blank' so that you could see how your own photos and journaling could be added to make it more personal.

Now to reveal what's inside... I've put together a video flip through as there are a number of pages and inserts to see (click on the square at the bottom right corner of the video to see it in full screen);

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the close ups of this journal and feel inspired to create a journal of your own using Tim's Idea-Ology range.

And now for some added fun...

PRIZES, PRIZES,PRIZES!

There are a few prizes to give away! Just leave a comment on all the different blog hop posts - the more posts you leave a comment on the better your chance to win!

Comments must be posted by midnight PST on Tuesday, February 6th.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 7th on Richele Christensen's blog.

Next up in this blog hop is the incredible Tami Bastians. Head on over to see what she created for the Sizzix booth and remember to leave a comment to be in with a chance to win.

Good luck everyone!

Take care of yourselves and get creative.

Jenny xxx

Here is the full creative line up in case you started at my blog.....

IDEA-OLOGY

Paula Cheney
Vicki Evans
Emma Williams
Cathie Parreco
Kaz Hall
Jan Hobbins
Jenny Marples (you are here)

SIZZIX

Tami Bastians (next up)
Audrey Pettit
Mou Saha
Richele Christensen

STAMPERS ANONYMOUS

Kath Stewart
Cheiron Brandon
Stacy Hutchinson
Chelle Fowler
Zoe Hillman
Joy Kennedy
Bobbie Smith

Products used in this journal;