Sew Sweet for The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog

Hi everyone and welcome. It's time for another challenge over at the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Cec is your host for this one and she's called it 'Sew Sweet'.

"Create a shabby chic or vintage project with a sewing theme incorporating items and/or images related to sewing - think rubber stamps of sewing machines or dress forms e.g., fabric, pattern tissue and even notions such as buttons, zippers, thread, etc."

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.

At first glance this must look like another flower topped box but there are lots of sewing elements to it. The intention was to make something a little more shabby chic but the metallic sides took me down more of an industrial path.

Let's show you some of how this box came together so you can better see those sewing elements. It began with the box, die cut from matboard using Eileen's die, assembled and painted along all the edges with 'Sterling' Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint. I used a number of Dina's metallic paints to pull a print onto a piece of 12x12 smooth card which was then chopped into six 3 3/4 inch squares.

Two of the squares were glued onto the top and bottom of the box. The remaining four had opaque texture paste pulled through Tim Holtz 'Stitched' Layering Stencil' - once dry it was coloured with a little 'Brushed Pewter' Distress Spray Stain before being rubbed over unevenly with a brown Archival Ink.

More simple hand stitching detail was added across the centre of each panel (a simple running stitch is really effective for this) before I added some sheer ribbon over the top. To help secure it in place and add to the industrial look I popped self adhesive flat back pearl beads over the lace - alter these with alcohol inks to get them to coordinate if needed. Once done these panels were glued onto the sides of the box.

To decorate the top of the box I chose a mix of metal leaves, metal flowers (painted with white gesso and with pearlised stamens through the centre) burgundy crushed silk ribbon and a sprig of Prima Pretty Mosaic 'Aventurine' flowers. To add to the sewing theme I created a couple of flowers with layers of dress pattern tissue (die cut and secured in the centre with buttons) another with layers of crinoline (using the same method and the addition of a gold tinsel embossed centre) and one more with coiled lace.

Here are some close ups of the box to show in more detail the flowers and leaves blended together on the top and the stitching on the textured metallic sides;

That's my take on the theme 'Sew Sweet'. My hugely talented team mates have also come up with their own sewing related projects 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.

Sizzix Scoreboards Die by Eileen Hull - Gift Box
Sizzix Alterations Die by Tim Holtz - Tattered Florals
Prima Marketing Pretty Mosaic Flowers - Aventurine
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Stitched
Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain - Brushed Pewter
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paints and Gessos
Ranger Texture Paste - Opaque Matte
Ranger Embossing Powder - Gold Tinsel
Ranger Alcohol Ink - Mushroom
May Arts 1.5 Inch Sheer Wired Ribbon - White
May Arts 2 Inch Silky Crush Wired Ribbon - Burgundy
Bronze Leaf Embellishments - Set of 6
Bronze Leaf Embellishments - Set of 4
5 Piece Bronze Flower Beads
Artificial Flower Pearlized Stamen - One Bundle
Buttons
Cotton Crinoline