Elegant Jewels for Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. Over at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog we are already half way through the latest challenge, 'Elegant Jewels'. Here is how our host Cec Wintonyk describes it: "Let's make a vintage or shabby chic project in jewel tone colours such as deep purple, emerald green, jade green, burgundy, bright turquoise to name a few AND to make your project extra special, add some sort of jewel or gem, which can be anything from a dollar store find to a piece of broken jewelry."

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 Top 3 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.

For this challenge I decided to build on the basics from my latest video tutorial, using the gesso resist technique to create the background for this card and adding the jewel colours to the centre.

When thinking about how to depict elegant jewels I was inspired by these beautiful postcards, sent from Belgium in 1915/16 home to my relatives. They have timeworn embossed frames and centres filled with the most detailed embroidery on fine gauze. Despite being over 100 years old the colours still pop against the neutral backgrounds.

To recreate the aged look to the background I used the gesso resist technique, this time using Tim Holtz Cutout Floral Cling Foam Stamps to apply it in the design of a bouquet. The remaining gesso was scraped onto the edges of the card with a spatula to create an uneven border. Just as in the video for my previous card I blended Antique Linen Distress Oxide Ink over the dried gesso and removed the excess with a slightly damp wipe.

In an added step I sprinkled a little water onto the ink to reactivate it and create the look of aged watermarks. To enhance the lacy border I added some stamping using Tim's Ornate Trims stamp set with Watering Can Archival Ink and some uneven stitching, before blending Potting Soil Archival Ink onto the edges and scuffing them with a Paper Distresser.

To recreate those bejewelled pops of colour seen on the embroidered postcards I used Distress Inks as they are bright, not muted like Oxide Inks. Having blended my chosen colours onto scraps of white card I die cut them with the Sizzix Alterations 'Funky Florals #1' Thinlits set, assembling the blooms before arranging them over the background bouquet. A Small Talk sentiment and some Mirrored Hearts added the touch of bling required for the challenge.

That's it for my elegant jewel floral creation 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 shabby chic or vintage floral projects to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

Take care of yourselves and get creative!

Jenny xxx

Bloomin' Marvellous at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. Over at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog we are already half way through the latest challenge, 'Bloomin' Marvellous'. This is what our host for this challenge, Zoe Hillman, is looking for; "As Spring pokes it's head through the frozen ground, let's celebrate the season and create a vintage or shabby chic project with flowers as the focus and in vintage muted pastel tones, (no brights)."

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 Top 3 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.

Funky Floral Mannequin

Having seen some beautiful mannequins recently I was inspired to create one myself, getting the opportunity to decorate it with flowers and leaves using Tim Holtz 'Funky Florals' Sizzix Alterations Thinlits Die Set. In line with the challenge requirements I kept the colour palette muted with shades of blue and green accented with pops of white and mustard.

First up I'll explain how I put the mannequin base together. The body is made from Papier-mâché that has been covered in a layer of white gesso and thick crackle texture paste. After a coat of Weathered Wood Distress Paint I've applied pieces of painted Collage Paper (Stormy Sky Distress Paint) before dry brushing it all with White Acrylic Paint.

At the base of the mannequin I've added one of the new Ideaology Vignette Bases which is a sturdy metal with a beautiful filigree pattern on it. Then I've added some of the Ideaology Vignette Finial Structures to the base and top of the mannequin to extend it's length. To make them match and give the wooden finials the look of burnished metal I painted them with Black Acrylic Paint before dry brushing both them and the Vignette Base with Sterling Acrylic Paint.

The two layers of lace trim at the bottom of the body are Venise Lace from The Funkie Junkie Boutique - Linda has a good stock of different designs and they are perfect for adding a touch of feminine elegance to projects. The ruler tape trim is from the Ideaology Vintage Design Tape set - I used a little Matte Collage Medium to secure it in place firmly around the lace trim and neck of the mannequin.

And so to those flowers; Tim's Funky Florals #1 Die Set has a wonderful array of leaf and flower designs that cut intricate shapes which work together beautifully. I cut them all from Classic Kraft Cardstock which had been sanded to reveal the core. I love that there's no need to colour the reverse or edges of the card before shaping.

That's it for my muted floral creation 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 shabby chic or vintage floral projects to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

Take care of yourselves and get creative!

Jenny xxx

Bridal Shower Gift Bag for Eileen Hull Designs with Sizzix

Hi everyone and welcome. I hope you've all had a good break over Easter and found a little time to get out those craft supplies. With the promise of sunshine and warmer weather on the way I've been focusing on flowers. First a heads up that I'm excited to share a new tutorial with you over on the Ranger blog using Wendy Vecchi's products and designs from Ranger and Stampers Anonymous. Please do make sure you check it out HERE.

Meantime, throughout April Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team are following the theme 'April Showers', so with Spring nuptials in mind I have created a Bridal Shower Gift Bag;

Looking more closely you'll be able to spot the pearls on the leaves, the beautiful detail from the Sizzix Textured Impressions 'Eyelet Lace' Embossing Folder on the DCWV pearl card, the layers of ribbon and lace behind the bouquet and the gift tag with a greeting stamped using Ranger's Letter It 'Wedding' Stamp Set. It's amazing how the embossed panel, lace trims, die cut flowers and a gift tag can transform a basic small white gift bag into something rather special.

Flower Tutorial

The flowers may look complicated to make but actually they are relatively easy to do. Here's how;

For one flower, cut five same size 5-point flowers from the Sizzix 'Stitchy Flowers & Leaf' Thinlits Die Set (there's a larger and smaller version in the set) using watercolour paper. Apply Eileen Hull's 'Wildberry' Clearsnap Colorbox Blends Ink to a craft mat and mix with a little water. Spritz the die cut flower shapes with a little water and add the diluted ink so it spreads unevenly across (leaving white areas). Dry and repeat on both sides of the die cut flower shapes until you are happy with the colour intensity.

Blend a little brown ink around the edges of each die cut if you want a vintage look to your final flowers. With the first die cut flower use a ball tool to bend the petals inwards then add a little adhesive to the petal edges and pull them in to form a tight bud shape (as shown above).

Use the ball tool to reshape the second die cut flower inwards and add adhesive to the flower centre and base of the petals. Place the bud inside this second flower and draw the petals up in a slightly looser pattern (as shown above). Repeat this process with the third flower adding adhesive to the centre and placing the larger bud into it.

Reshape the final two flower die cuts using a ball tool on the reverse side so they bend downwards (as shown). Stick one flower inside the other, then add the large bud into the centre to finish. I created three large and two small flowers for my bag.

Cut leaf shapes from watercolour paper using the leaf shape from the Sizzix 'Stitchy Flowers & Leaf' Thinlits Die Set. Apply Eileen Hull's 'Frog' Clearsnap Colorbox Blends Ink to a craft mat and mix with a little water. Spritz the die cut leaf shapes with a little water and add the diluted ink so it spreads unevenly across (leaving white areas). Dry and repeat on both sides of the die cut leaf shapes as before and add brown ink to the edges if required. Fold each leaf in half, cut from the base to the centre and use adhesive to cross one side of the leaf base across the other (as shown above).

Cut the branch shapes from the Sizzix 'Birds & Butterflies' Thinlits Die Set and colour with Eileen Hull's 'Beach' Clearsnap Colorbox Blends Ink using the same method as shown for the leaves. Cut the multi-leaf shapes from the Sizzix 'Leaves, Spring' Bigz Die and colour with Eileen Hull's 'Bay' Clearsnap Colorbox Blends Ink using the same method as shown for the leaves. Shape the branch and multi-leaf die cuts with a ball tool.

The Close Ups

Here are some close up shots so you can see more of how these flowers and leaves look when arranged together over lace and the embossed background;

So that's how you can transform a simple white gift bag into something special for a bridal shower. I hope you feel inspired to give it a go. For more 'April Showers' ideas throughout the month make sure you check out Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team to see what they've created.

I'll be back tomorrow with a new project for the current Frilly and Funkie 'Bloomin' Marvellous' challenge. For now take care of yourselves and get creative!

Jenny xxx

Topflight Stamps 1 Year Birthday Blog Hop - Winners

Hi everyone and welcome. I hope you've had a wonderful Easter weekend. A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to follow the Topflight Stamps 1 Year Birthday Blog Hop and to those who left comments here on my own blogpost.

As promised I'm back today to announce the winner of the $10 gift certificate, picked from those who kindly left a comment on my blog post. And the winner is.....

Karina Arreguin

Huge congratulations Karina! Please email me at buttonscraft@btinternet.com for the certificate details. And don't forget to go over to the Topflight Stamps Blog to find out who has won the Grand Prize, the $50 store credit!

I'll be back tomorrow with a new project for Eileen Hull Designs and on Wednesday with something floral for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge, so I hope you can join me for those. For now take care of yourselves and get creative!