Bits and Bobs for 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's turn to host and this time the challenge is called 'Bits and Bobs'. "Do you have a pile of leftover scraps from projects previously made or even a half finished project waiting for you to get the time to complete it? This is the challenge for you! It is time to pull out those scraps, remnants or half finished projects and pull them together into a fabulous shabby chic or vintage project. Make sure to mention in your post what part of your project was a scrap or remnant."

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.

Collaging is a fantastic way to use up those bits and bobs so many of us have lying around (or hoarded - LOL) and having really enjoyed creating a mini collage on an Eileen Hull Designs 'Gift Folder' recently HERE, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to create more for this challenge. Here's the first of three sets;

Before showing you more let's take a look at my scraps pile - oh my word!!! Until doing this I hadn't realised how much had been accumulated in a dis-organised folder. Where to start?! For me projects usually start with the selection of colours so it was important to sort this lot into colour families and separate bags.

To create each folder I began by die cutting them from Dina Wakley Cotton Watercolor Paper because it is robust enough to take paint, gesso and water and has a soft, fabric feel to the finish. After applying White Gesso across the main body of the folder some yellow ochre watercolour wash was painted onto the edges and dabbed dry with a paper towel. You can see from the photo below how the gesso acts as a resist to the watercolour wash to create an uneven aged border.

Before folding and gluing the sides and bottom together on each folder the main inside flap was painted (as shown below). Dina Wakley's pastel shades are perfect for retaining that delicate vintage look to a project like this.

The first folder finished was the one painted with 'Heather' Acrylic Paint inside and I teamed some purple bits and bobs with green and neutral ones to match.

Rather than making a gift card holder insert each of these folders contain coordinating mini gift cards measuring roughly 12.5cm by 9cm (5 by 3 1/2 inches). The one below features Wendy Vecchi's beautiful 'Faded Floral' background stamped with her Thistle Archival Ink and a butterfly from her 'A Million Thanks' Stamp/Die/Stencil set with other bits and bobs. You'll also see more of those altered metallic leaves that were made for a recent Saturday Showcase added to each of the folders and mini cards.

The folder itself features the gorgeous butterfly from Wendy Vecchi's 'Artful Thoughts' stamp set on more die cut foliage, book paper and calico. The bent wire stitched to the centre of the butterfly is a rusted hairpin I found on the floor when taking the dog for a walk and I added an old shirt button underneath one of its wings.

The second folder to be completed was the one with 'Aloe' Acrylic Paint inside and this time I went for a more autumnal feel using orange, green and neutral coloured bits and bobs on it.

The background to this mini gift card is a piece I've had for the longest time, just waiting for the right project. It was created using Tim Holtz Alcohol Lift-Ink and the rings background from his stamp set 'Halftone and Rings'. The flower stamp is from Wendy Vecchi's 'Delightful Art' stamp set and was applied to gel plate printed paper left over from a previous DT project HERE.

You can see a couple more of those flowers on the coordinating folder, alongside some orange painted paper embossed with one of the images from Tim Holtz 'Fragments' stamp set (ideal for using with your scraps!) and a fabric painted leaf using his 'Nature's Wonder' stamp set.

The final folder was the one painted inside with 'Mineral' Acrylic Paint and I added blue bits and bobs with neutral and contrasting gold ones on it.

The background for this mini gift card was created using Wendy Vecchi's graphic style 'Tic Tac Toe' background, whilst the little butterfly image comes from her 'Country Flowers' Stamp/Die/Stencil set. Gold die cut foliage added a touch of bling against the matte blue Tim Holtz 'Crochet' die cut lace border.

As with the previous two folders I used the same bits and bobs on the front as I did on the mini gift card, adding a large flower stamped using Wendy Vecchi's 'Country Flowers' set again.

So that's my take on the theme 'Bits and Bobs' for the current The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog challenge. My fantastic team mates have created lots more amazing projects using up their scraps and leftovers 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 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 - Gift Card Folder & Label #2
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stamp Set - Delightful Art
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stamp Set - Artful Thoughts
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Background Stamp - Faded Floral
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Background Stamp - Tic Tac Toe
Wendy Vecchi MAKE ART Stamp, Die, Stencil Set - A Million Thanks
Wendy Vecchi MAKE ART Stamp, Die, Stencil Set - Country Flowers
Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Fragments
Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Nature's Wonder
Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Halftone & Rings
Sizzix Tim Holtz 3-D Impresslits Chapter 2 Embossing Folder - Leaf 

Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Crochet

Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Funky Floral #1

Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Funky Floral #3

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Metallic Confections Kraft Stock

Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paints and Gessos

Dina Wakley Media Cotton Watercolor Paper