A Harvest of Gratitude for Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. Over at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog we are half way through a new challenge. It's Kathy's turn to host and she's calling her challenge 'A Harvest of Gratitude'. There is always something to be thankful for. In this gratitude themed challenge, we are asking you to create a vintage or shabby chic project that portrays something that fills your heart with thanksgiving. Use harvest colors and be sure to tell us how your project reflects your thankful heart.

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 my project this week I chose to celebrate and give thanks for the things that are most important to me, my family and friends, health and well-being, home and all the memories it holds. With Autumn in full swing here it's such a special thing to see the changing colours on fallen leaves as I walk our dog. There's such a lot to be thankful for.

The Tutorial

I began by adding sticky back canvas to a small Etcetera Tag before covering the front, back and two of the 'enforcer rings' with black gesso then Aged Mahogany Distress Paint. Once dry I sanded the tag and rings lightly, concentrating particularly on the edges, to give it a more age-worn look before rubbing Potting Soil Archival Ink over. You'll have spotted from the finished tag that I added two rusted metal rings from my stash on the rings.

After adding a piece of vintage book page with Distress Collage Medium over the canvas covered area I dried it, spritzed it with water and peeled away some of it. Finally Texture Paste was spread through the Code Layering Stencil and covered with Dirty Sand Embossing Powder. When dry I heat embossed it to reveal the shimmer and gritty texture.

For the Skeleton Leaves and Funky Foliage I covered three separate pieces of white card in Distress Paints before die cutting them. The first had a combination of Walnut Stain and Brushed Corduroy Distress Paint dragged over it with a little water to create this mottled look. The process was repeated on a second piece of card with Peeled Paint and Crushed Olive Distress Paint.

The third piece of card had a combination of Aged Mahogany and Wild Honey added to it. I used Distress Markers to cover the white edges caused by die cutting and some Glossy Accents on the acorns and rose hips before layering them onto the tag over a Baseboards Frame with a bow and Quote Chip. The little blue flowers had previously been cut using the same die set and were coloured with Faded Jeans Distress Paint.

The Close Ups

Here are a couple of close up photos of the finished tag so you can see all of the elements in more detail;

That's it for my Thanksgiving project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge. My talented team mates have created lots more 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 Thanksgiving entries to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

Take care of yourselves and get creative!
Jenny xxx

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Etcetera Small Tag Thickboards	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 5pk - Skeleton Leaves by Tim Holtz 663094	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 20pk - Funky Foliage by Tim Holtz 663087	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Baseboards - Frames	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Code	Ranger Texture Paste Opaque Matte INK44444	Seth Apter Baked Texture - Dirty Sand
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips	Natural Woven Jute Ribbon - 1"	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Aged Mahogany TDF52890	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Wild Honey TDF53385	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Peeled Paint TDF53156	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Crushed Olive TDF52999	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Walnut Stain TDF53361
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Brushed Corduroy TDF52951	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Faded Jeans TDD53033	Dina Wakley Media Mediums - Black Gesso - 4 oz. Jar MDM41719	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents GAC17042