Little Things for The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Hi everyone and welcome. It's time for another challenge over at the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. I'm your host for this one and I've called it 'Little Things'.

"Sometimes it can be the littlest of things that can mean the most. For this challenge create a small vintage or shabby chic project (or if you're feeling adventurous even a set!) It could be an Artist Trading Card/Coin, a tag or a little card for example, or you may have something else in mind - we can't wait to see them."

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.

I wrote this challenge theme a while ago, and now, in these uncertain and difficult times, even more it's the little gestures, offering to help where we can, looking out for our friends and neighbours, thanking people who are putting their lives on the line to look after us, that can mean more than we know. And maybe, in some small way, sharing our art with each other can be a positive focus where so much seems so negative. I hope you all stay safe and come through this in good shape.

So for the challenge my 'little things' are a set of 4 x 3 inch trading cards which have afforded me the opportunity to play with some older supplies. Here's how they came together;

I started by using a Gel Plate to pull prints onto a couple of pieces of 12 x 12 smooth card. The first used layers of Ancient, Turquoise, Sterling and finally Sedona Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint applied with a brayer.

The second print was pulled from layers of Peacock, Penny, Mineral and finally Turquoise paint, also from the Dina Wakley Media range.

After misting the first print with water I let drips of Rust Alcohol Ink run down the surface. Any Alcohol Ink with an orange/brown tone to it would work equally well.

The second print was again misted with water before drops of Pebble Alcohol Ink were applied. Again, similar pale brown shades such as Mushroom would work equally well.

To make the cards I chopped a 3 inch wide strip cut into three pieces 4 inches long from each print (leaving a good chunk aside for future projects or more cards). The edges of each card were dabbed with a little Black Acrylic Paint using foam.

The same paint loaded foam was used to stamp 'Ledger Script' onto the rusty coloured cards. Make sure to wash your stamps thoroughly and quickly when using paint on them.

Using the alpha pattern from Tim Holtz 'Mixed Media #3' Thinlits Die Set I cut letters, numbers and symbols from the rust coloured cards before sticking them over the blue coloured cards, retaining the leftovers for future projects. A hint or two here; it occurred to me after cutting into each card that it would have been sensible to add double-sided adhesive sheets to the reverse side first making it easier to stick the two layers together and giving the added bonus of self adhesive leftover letters. Also, concentrate when cutting into your cards - after answering a phone call my mind must have wandered and I ended up cutting one of them upside down! (you'll be looking for it now, I bet!!!)

To finish the bases I hand stitched patterns through them using a template - you could use your stencils and a basic running stitch, marking out your design with a white gel pen before sewing through the layers. To enhance the blue background I wrapped some aqua coloured wire along the length of each of the cards, securing it at the back with some masking tape.

Moving on to the decorative toppers I took a piece of tea stained copier paper (left over from making notebooks and journals) and stamped a couple of the Tim Holtz 'Fragments' images in a repeat pattern using the Black Acrylic Paint on foam sponge.

As the paper is quite thin I mounted it onto a couple of layers of card cut away from a regular manilla file. As well as being a thrifty base it's also flexible yet firm when used together. From this I die cut a Tim Holtz 'Tattered Butterfly', a Tim Holtz 'Large Stem' and a Tim Holtz 'Patchwork Bird', adding a few of the elements to make them slightly more dimentional.

When laying these focal elements onto the backgrounds (which are already highly patterned) they got lost so I went back over with a thin layer of Buff Acrylic Paint to tame down the pattern without obliterating it, blending Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink onto the edges for added definition.

After mounting these focal elements onto each card I finished them by adding a Mirrored Heart coloured with Turquoise Alcohol Ink and a die cut word - the new Tim Holtz 'Alphanumeric Tiny Type' dies would be great for this.

That's my take on the theme 'Little Things'. My hugely talented team mates have also come up with their own little things 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.

Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Ledger Script
Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Fragments
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Bigz L Die - Large Stems
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Bigz Die - Tattered Butterfly
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Bigz Die - Patchwork Bird
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterarions Thinlits Die Set - Mixed Media #3
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Thinlits Die Set - Alphanumeric Tiny Type Lower
Dina Wakley Media Paints and Gessos
Ranger Alcohol Inks
Tim Holtz Ideaology - Mirrored Hearts
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink - Walnut Stain