Marvellous Metallics at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog

Hi everyone and welcome. It's the start of a new challenge theme over at the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog (formerly the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog). It's my turn to host and this time the challenge is called 'Marvellous Metallics'. "There are so many ways to add metallics to your projects, from embossing powders and pastes, metallic finish cards and foils, metallic inks and paints to metal embellishments. And you can leave them untreated for a touch of glamour or alter them for an aged or more grungy look. Show us how you like to use metals on your vintage or shabby chic projects."

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 The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog 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.

The obsession with creating notebooks continues - this one was the perfect vehicle for showing how metallic elements can make such a difference to a mixed media collage. Amongst many pieces it features a Metallic Confections Tim Holtz 3D Impresslits Leaf created as part of my recent Saturday Showcase tutorial over on The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.

This notebook began as so many have before with the Eileen Hull Designs Scoreboards Die Notebook, cutting the two covers and spine from mountboard for strength. After cutting these pieces apart and reassembling them with flexible fabric tape the covers had a layer of baking parchment applied to give that kraft colour to them. Adding sewing pattern tissue would give a similar look. After applying layers of calico fabric and old French book paper I added some paper lace, cut using the Tim Holtz Thinlits Die 'Crochet' and some beautiful Venise Lace from Linda's shop.

The main frame was also die cut, this time using Tim Holtz Bigz Die 'Trinket Frames' both from Metallic Confections Kraft Stock and from mount board. After layering them together for strength I altered the metal surface by adding black gesso, rubbing away some of it when partially dry, then adding a little dilute Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint in 'Ancient' and some Alcohol Pearls Ink in 'Smolder'. To finish the look Tim Holtz Ideaology Nailheads were glued into the corners. Hint - to get a better look to the finish paint the edges with black gesso and a little of the Ancient Paint to blend them with the Metallic Kraft Stock on the surface.

Inside the frame is a Tim Holtz Ideaology Large Keyhole with a little Alcohol Pearls Ink in 'Smolder' dribbled over it to alter the colour. Having stitched through the Metallic Leaf, Quote Chips words were added alongside a Tim Holtz Ideaology 'Bouquet Findings' flower (coloured with a little yellow ink).

Some black May Arts Crochet Lace was glued onto the spine and a metal key altered in the same way as the frame) was tied onto it using Burlap String. Linda stocks a great range of metal keys in different sizes which are perfect for adding to collages and for use as charms.

Inside the notebook has a text block inserted made up from a mix of different tea stained pages to compliment the neutral colour of the cover and vintage look of the metal.

That's my take on the theme 'Marvellous Metallics' for the current The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog 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 projects to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

Most of the products used to create this Notebook are available from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and are listed/linked below.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Sizzix Chapter 2 ScoreBoards L Die - Notebook by Eileen Hull 663635

Sizzix Chapter 2 Tim Holtz Trinket Frames Bigz Die 664186

Sizzix 3-D Impresslits Chapter 2 Embossing Folder - Leaf 663293

Sizzix Chapter 2 Tim Holtz Thinlits Crochet 664178

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Large Keyholes

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Nail Heads

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Bouquet Findings

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips

Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Pearls - Smolder

Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Ancient

Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Black Gesso

May Arts 1.5 Inch Crochet Ribbon - Black

Burlap String - 12 Colors

Bronze Keys

Beach Huts and Freebies for Craft Stamper Magazine

Hi everyone. As the heat descends on us this week I'm sharing some new beach hut themed card ideas over on the Craft Stamper magazine blog today, teaming the August 2019 freebie stamp with one of Eileen Hull's new dies. To whet your appetite here's a few sneak peeks;

I hope you can hop on over to the Craft Stamper magazine blog HERE to see the tutorials for each of these cards.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

It's Heating Up at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

Hi everyone and welcome. It's the start of a new challenge theme over at the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog (formerly the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog). It's Suzz turn to host and she's called the challenge 'It's Heating Up!' "July is when the weather here in the Midwest really starts to turn warm and muggy. This is the inspiration for our challenge to interpret the heat with using one or more of the following colors: Yellow, Red or Orange. Your challenge is to create a vintage or shabby chic project where the main color is yellow, orange or red. I can't wait to see how you turn up the heat in your art!"

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 The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog 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.

With Eileen Hull's latest Sizzix Scoreboards Dies - House Ornament and Gift Card Folder & Label #2 - newly arrived at The Funkie Junkie Boutique it was the perfect opportunity to add a Summer heat twist to them. Here's what I came up with;

Tutorial

Step 1: To start add light touches of Ruby, Cheddar, Olive and Sedona Acrylic Paints by Dina Wakley Media to a Gel Press Plate, finishing with a layer of Lemon to pull the print. You'll need a couple of prints to cover both the House Ornament and Gift Card Folder.

Step 2: Stick the printed paper to black chipboard or matboard and cut two House Ornament pieces. The die will also cut the adorable mini house labels.

Step 3: Remove the base from one of the pieces and glue the two pieces together (it doesn't matter which way round you do this). Add brickwork detail to the walls and base with Red Geranium Archival Ink - I used a Wendy Vecchi background stamp to do this but you could also use a stencil with a Mini Blending Tool.

Step 4: Picking flowers from the Wendy Vecchi MAKE ART Stamp, Die, Stencil sets 'Country Flowers' and 'Flowers Say It All' cut the shapes and stamp the images using permanent black ink.

Step 5: Stamp the flowers directly onto the House Ornament where you want to place the die cuts then stamp leaves and stems from the same sets around them. I used a white gel pen to add little dots onto the stems.

Step 6: To give the die cut flowers a 'journaling' twist colour the edges with a permanent black ink pen or gel pen and add white dots with a white gel pen.

Step 7: Glue the flowers in place over the stamped images and when completely dry carefully run a sharp knife across the scorelines, taking care not to cut through them.

Step 8: On black card stamp and emboss words from the 'Flowers Say It All' set using white embossing powder. Cut out and add to the House Ornament.

Step 9: Finish assembling the House Ornament by sticking together the sides and base. I found it helpful to hold the structure in place with a band and peg as the glue dried.

Step 10: Colour seam binding with Ocean Acrylic Paint and use it to close the roof, attaching a house label and charms from Linda's shop.

Step 11: Moving on to the Gift Card Folder, stick the printed paper to black chipboard or matboard and cut one set of shapes.

Repeat Steps 3 - 8 above on the two largest pieces to add the wall and flower detail. Re-colour the card holder piece with Ocean Acrylic Paint (as shown below).

Step 12: With the Folder assembled, add several layers of red liner tape or dimensional tape to the reverse of the card holder piece to ensure a card can slip underneath it when added to the front.

Close Ups

Here are a few photos showing the House Ornament and Gift Card Folder in more detail. You'll see how the addition of metal charms and filigree pieces helps to elevate the look of the finished projects. To make the filigree corner fit the gift card holder piece better I used snips to remove the top corner.

That's my take on the theme 'It's Heating Up!' for the current The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog challenge. My talented team mates, including a wonderful new team member, 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 projects to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

Products used to create the House Ornament and Gift Card Folder are available from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and are listed/linked below.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Sizzix Chapter 3 ScoreBoards L Die - House Ornament 663636 by Eileen Hull

Sizzix Chapter 3 ScoreBoards L Die - Gift Card Folder & Label 2 - 663637 by Eileen Hull

Wendy Vecchi MAKE ART Stamp, Die, Stencil Set - Country Flowers

Wendy Vecchi MAKE ART Stamp, Die, Stencil Set - Flowers Say It All

Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Red Geranium

Dina Wakley Media Paint
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Bricked THS038

Metal Charms
Filigree Metals

Christmas House Ornament for Eileen Hull Designs

Hi everyone and welcome. This month sees the release of two brand new Sizzix Scoreboards Dies from Eileen Hull Designs! The first is called 'House Ornament' and the second is 'Gift Card Folder & Label #2' and both are so much fun to play with. Make sure to check out the fabulous posts coming this month from the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team on Eileen's website HERE as they share their ideas for using them.

With lots of people already gearing up for Christmas I made this ornament that can be hung from your festive tree and can also hold a special treat or two inside. There's even coordinating labels as part of the die set so you can make several to hold personalised gifts for all the family - that way they can open them and keep the 'packaging' for their own trees!

Although it may look a little in depth to make lots of this ornament comes down to die cutting and adding colour, and I've put together a tutorial for you below.

Start by cutting two of the house ornament pieces using Eileen's 'House Ornament' Die and add embossing paste through a brick stencil to the 'walls' sections.

Chop off the bottom of one piece (as you only need one bottom!) before applying Eileen Hull Designs Clearsnap Colorbox Blends inks - I used the Blends 2 Reinkers and a mini blending tool to add the colour 'Stop' to the walls and 'Ebony' to the roof, though you could also use the original Blends ink application tools with the same colours.

Next up put the stencil back in place and added 'Coconut' Blends ink over the bricks. Again, this could be done with the original ink application tool. One of the fantastic things about Eileen's Colorbox Blends inks is that they are so opaque that white will happily layer over red when that initial layer is totally dry.

Another of the cool things about Eileen's Colorbox Blends inks is that they stay wet for a long while so you have time to apply Eileen's 'Winter White' Molten Dimensions Embossing Powder over the top. Once heat set it really has a great texture and the look of snow/ice when frozen.

At this point it's time to assemble the House Ornament - as the die puts the scorelines in place this is so easy to do either using wet glue or red liner tape. You'll see from the photo below that I used a hairband to hold the sides in place as they were drying.

To give some interest to the roof cut leaves from black card using Eileen's 'Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves' die set and stick them in place as shown below after adding a little shaping with an embossing tool.

Stroke the 'Coconut' Colorbox Blends Ink applicator or mini blending tool loaded with the ink over the roof, allowing it to catch on the tips of the leaves. Sprinkle over the 'White Wonder' Embossing Powder and heat set.

With the main house finished it's time to decorate - I used Tim Holtz 'Funky Festive' Thinlits Die Set to cut leaves to form seasonal clusters, colouring them with 'Frog', 'Leaf'' and 'Nutmeg' Colorbox Blends Inks. The berries were created using Liquid Pearls though you could colour self-adhesive pearls to get the same effect. The little house label is also cut from the 'House Ornament' Die Set (there's a blank one and one with a window) and on this version is coloured with the 'Stop' Colorbox Blends Ink. I also added festive charms from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and a ribbon closure that will also enable the Christmas House Ornament to be hung from the tree.

Here are some more photos showing the Christmas House Ornament from different angles;

That's it for this month's Eileen Hull project. For lots more from the Inspiration Team make sure to check out Eileen's website this month HERE. And the 'House Ornament' and 'Gift Card Folder & Label #2' will be available at your retailers now so you can make start making your own gifts for family and friends ahead of the Christmas season.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Eileen Hull Designs Clearsnap Colorbox Blends Inks are now available in the UK from Country View Crafts HERE.
Eileen Hull Designs Molten Dimensions Embossing Powders from Emerald Creek Craft Supplies are now available in the UK from Country View Crafts HERE.

Water, Water, Everywhere for The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog

Hi everyone and welcome. It's the start of a new challenge theme over at the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, formerly Frilly and Funkie (the name and blog design has changed but the bi-weekly challenges continue as usual). It's Cec's turn to host and she's called the challenge 'Water, Water, Everywhere'. "Often when people go on vacation there is water involved – fishing, cruising, checking out the aquarium, enjoying water sports or playing in the sand at the beach. For this challenge I want you to create a vintage or shabby chic project that reminds you of one or more of these past times."

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 The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog 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.

With very few things relating to water in my stash I thought about using the delicate swirls from Tim Holtz 'Scrollwork' stamp set to represent waves when creating background. To make them even more 3D on a notebook cover I decided to give Suzanne Czosek's clever technique from this project a try. Here's how it looked when finished;

The technique worked really well and meant I didn't have to clean much off my stamps (though looking back at Suzz gorgeous tag I may have taken her suggestion of adding a heavy coat of embossing paste far too literally!!!) Once dry the pieces of embossed card were cut to fit the covers of an Eileen Hull Designs Notebook and painted with 'Night' Acrylic Paint. Rather than re-stamp the impressed parts with ink I used 'Gilt' Acrylic Paint to make the scrolls stand out.

With the theme being water related I cut boat shapes from card and painted them with 'Sedona', 'Buff' and 'Turquoise' Acrylic Paints. Once dry I used a couple of antiqued bronze charms from Linda's store to embellish it, snipping off the loop on the ship's wheel before gluing it in place. Needing something to support the boat on the uneven surface of the cover I added 'sea greenery' using dies from Tim Holtz Holiday Greens and Wildflower Stems #2 Thinlits die sets. After testing several brighter colours they were painted with 'Sand' Acrylic Paint so as not to detract from the bright boat or embossed background.

The spine of the notebook was covered with burlap string from Linda's store and I added more of her sea/beach themed antiqued bronze charms using coordinating jump rings. Inside there are tea stained paper pages bound in place to fit with the colour scheme.

Here's a final close up of the detail on the front cover;

That's my take on the theme 'Water, Water, Everywhere' for the current The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog 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 projects to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

All the products used to create this notebook are available from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and are listed/linked below.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Eileen Hull Designs Sizzix ScoreBoards L Die - Notebook
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Stamp Set - Scrollwork
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Thinlits Die Set - Wildflower Stems #2
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Thinlits Die Set - Holiday Greens
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paints
Antiqued Bronze 'Seaside' Charm Set
Bronze Jump Ring Set
Burlap String