Leap into the Odd with The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Hi everyone and welcome. It's time for another challenge over at the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Suzz is our host and she wants us to 'Leap into the Odd'.

"2020 is a leap year which means we will have an additional day in February ending on an odd number of days. The definition of odd is "different from what is usual or expected; strange." My challenge to you is to create something odd or unusual."

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.

Trying to think about something unusual to do I hit upon inspiration from Cathy Nichols and her amazing collages. Combining this style with an Eileen Hull Designs Gift Box (without the lid) I created an art box to hold colouring pens. My odd twist for this was to use what would normally be a focal image stamp to create backgrounds.

Here's how this art box came together; I die cut and stuck together the box, removing the lid section to make it into an open container. You'll also see die cut branches, all of which were painted with Black Gesso.

Next I picked out what was left of some papers created a year ago now using a Gel Plate and Dina Wakley Media Paints (see original post HERE). Cutting one sheet into 3 3/4 inch square pieces I glued one to the bottom of the box and saved four more for the sides and the basis of the collages.

Cutting 2 inch strips from three more of the colour coordinated papers, I used Wendy Vecchi's 'Bouquet' stamp (normally one I'd use for a main image) and repeat stamped/heat embossed them with white, gold and Tea Rose embossing powders.

You can see below how these strips were cut up and layered onto the background squares, with machine stitching added to enhance the edges. The squares were then glued onto the sides of the box in readiness for further decoration.

Those die cut branches were cut down and used as tree forms on each side with Gilt painted leaves added to mimic something of Cathy Nichols' style. As there was already a lot going on I kept the rest simple, stamping sentiments from Wendy Vecchi's 'Artful Thoughts' stamp set onto tissue with permanent black ink before using Distress Collage Medium to fix them in place over the embossed papers. Since this made those parts matte I added a gloss medium over the top to restore the shine of the embossing and enhance the papers.

Here are the other sides of the finished box;

That's my take on the theme 'Leap into the Odd'. My amazing team mates have also come up with some oddities for this challenge so make sure you hop on over and check out their gorgeous projects 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 that's up for grabs.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Products used to create this art box are available from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and are listed/linked below.

Eileen Hull Designs Sizzix Scoreboards Bigz XL Die - Gift Box
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stamp it Stencil it - Bouquet
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stamp Set - Artful Thoughts
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterarions Bigz Die - Branches
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Thinlits Die Set - Funky Foliage
Dina Wakley Media Paints and Gessos
Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powders
Ranger Embossing Powders
Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte
Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Jet Black