Funkie Junkie Focus – "It's Cold Outside"

Hello, our current Funkie Junkie Focus is "It's Cold Outside". Our projects need to show what we love (or hate) about the wintertime. One of my favorite winter activities is skiing! I learned when I was a little kid and have very fond memories of yearly family ski vacations in Lake Tahoe. I created a Vignette Divided Box project to celebrate skiing:

I removed one of the dividers to create a large compartment in the top half of the box.

I used one of the new Tim Holtz Vault series die sets, Vault Rosettes to create background elements.

The little snow bunny is cut using the original Bunny Games Die Set. This cute bunny is in the new Vault Bunny + Chick Die Set as well although in a larger size. It does pay to have both so you can choose what works best in your project! If you missed the Tim Holtz live go check it out on replay. Tim goes through all the new Vault dies and shows the size comparisons between old and new. It's very helpful.

Here's a look at some of the "in process" steps.

1) Little snow bunny. Don't forget to search through your old dies to mix and match! The hat from the Winter Critters Die Set fit the bunny perfectly.

2) I cut rosette pieces out of vellum and layered with snowflakes. Vellum is trickier to work with than paper as far as scoring and folding but it works with a bit of care.

The half rosettes are made from two of the pieces. I found  it helpful to have the base circle folded at a 90 degree angle to make a little "shelf" on which to glue the rosette parts.

3) Elements in the box before I glued in all the top layer parts:

All the snow was created with Snowfall Grit Paste. Love that icy look!

Thanks for stopping by. Keep an eye on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, Inspiration Ave. because you are now getting regular doses of expanded (and inspiring) content each week. Don't miss it…

Supplies used:  

Tim Holtz Die Set - Forest Shadows
Tim Holtz Die Set - Vault Rosettes
Tim Holtz Die Set - Festive Gatherings
Tim Holtz Die Set - Bunny Games
Tim Holtz Die Set - Winter Critters
Tim Holtz Die Set - Paper Snowflakes, Mini
Tim Holtz Die Set - Paper Snowflakes
Tim Holtz Die Set - Tree Line

Tim Holtz Die Set - Vintage Labels

Tim Hotz Stamp Sets - Reindeer Flight, Grunge Flakes

Distress Collage Medium Matte 

Distress Spray Stain - variety of greens

Distress Paint - Tumbled Glass

Distress Texture Paste - Sparkle
Distress Grit Paste - Snowfall
Distress Rock Candy Glitter
Glitter Duster

Idea-ology Vignette Divided Box
Idea-ology Christmas '23 - Pinecones
Idea-ology Christmas '23 - Layer Frames
Idea-ology Christmas '23 - Alpine Trees
Idea-ology Design Tape - Trims

Funkie Junkie Focus – Favorite Products of 2023

Hello there Funkie Junkie fans! For this focus, we were given the difficult task of choosing our favorite products that were introduced in 2023. So hard!! I've incorporated a few of them into my project; I really couldn't choose just one.

The Idea-ology Reliquary Dome introduced this year is definitely a favorite! I love the size and shape of the glass dome. There is so much you can do with it. Another new favorite is the Tim Holtz Die Set Holiday Blocks. I'm looking forward to playing more with it. It's like a set of puzzle pieces you can combine in so many different ways! 

I am also quite fond of the Idea-ology Salvaged Deer and Alpine Trees (love that thinner profile!)

Let's take a peek at how I put this all together:

Step 1 – I wanted to build the die cut panel out of distressed metal pieces. You can get a great look by using copper or aluminum tape placed on cardstock and then cut. I also like to add a layer of paint which I then distress.

Step 2 – After cutting out the shapes, I sanded the edges and grunged it up with Archival Ink.

Step 3 – Foundry Wax is another product I need to play more with. It's so cool! I gilded the Salvaged Deer to make them look metallic to match the die cut panel. It's easy to use. You apply it with a brush and when it dries (which is quick!) you hit it with a heat gun and watch the magic happen. Tim Holtz has an extensive video demo about it.

Here's a look at the scene before I add the glass dome:

Thanks for stopping by. Keep an eye on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, Inspiration Ave. because you are now getting regular doses of expanded (and inspiring) content each week. Don't miss it…

Supplies used:  

Tim Holtz Die Set - Holiday Blocks

Distress Collage Medium Matte 

Distress Crayons - Salvaged Patina

Distress Spray Stain

Distress Paint - variety

Distress Mica Flakes
Distress Grit Paste - Snowfall
Foundry Wax - Mined

Distress Archival Ink - Ground Espresso
Ranger Alcohol Ink

Idea-ology Christmas '23 - Salvaged Reindeer
Idea-ology Christmas '23 - Alpine Trees
Idea-ology Christmas Baubles
Idea-ology Reliquary Dome
Idea-ology Mini Fasteners

Copper Tape

Eileen Hull's January Sizzix Release 2024!

 

Welcome to the Sizzix 2024 January Release Party of Eileen Hull's newest die collection! We are celebrating with a Live party and this Blog Hop. Eileen's Teams have been hard at work creating with Eileen's new products and have quite a lineup of inspiration for you. Here is what Eileen has to say,

"You asked for it – we did it! The Classic Cantilever Sewing Box, Embroidery Hoop and Needle Book dies have been brought back because you asked. These dies all relate to stitching but of course may also be used in other ways. They are all Bigz dies which are so versatile because of the number of materials that may be cut with them.

I have fond memories of my Mom’s wooden sewing box and designed this Cantilever Sewing Box to replicate that. It’s great for storing sewing supplies like needles, thread, buttons, floss and pins- but it also works for hair bands and clips, small storage items, jewelry, desk organization and small treats. Use the drawers separately to organize your desk drawers or create a shadowbox – so many ways to use! Finished size is 3 1/2" x 6 1/4" x 2 1/4".

The Embroidery Hoop measures 4" and is designed to be cut from thick material such as matboard or chipboard. You can actually tuck thin fabrics in the hoop and stitch on them. Or you can die cut from paper and use the hoop on card fronts. Use the pieces separately or all together.

The Needle Book is also a ScoreBoard die and features a pretty scalloped edge to the book. It measures 3 1/2" x 2 1/4" x 1/2" and is perfect for storing your stitching needles and pins – works great when made from felt! But it can also be made from matboard, chipboard, leather or fabric – one of the benefits of the Bigz dies.

Please join us for the It’s All about Stitching Release Party that will be held on Tuesday, January 2nd at noon Eastern time on my YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages. The team and I will be sharing creative ways to use these dies – we can’t wait to share them with you! There will be giveaways so make sure to tune in and see how to enter to win!"

The New Collection:

The team has been busy creating lots of samples so please make sure to visit the Blog Hop post on Eileen's blog and be watching social media to see their makes! There's a giveaway too! Comment in the Facebook and YouTube streams and tell us which is your new favorite die or folder and what you would make with it. You have until July 8th to post your comments.

Here's a look at some of the projects I made using Eileen's new dies. Tutorials will be coming up later in the month…

Using the Cantilever Sewing Box Die, I created a cheerful floral box for keeping those special objects in.

I made an embroidered needle book with the Needle Book Die. It's decorated using mixed media stamps made with Eileen's Snail Mail Thinlits Die Set.

Last is a stitchy wall hanging featuring the Embroidery Hoop Die and felt flowers cut with some of Eileen's retired dies.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to keep an eye on Eileen's blog for more inspiration from the Educator and Inspiration Teams.

Playing Favorites – Top 3 Eileen Hull Projects of 2023

Where has this year gone? It sure has zipped by! It's time for the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team to take a look back at 2023 and pick their favorite three projects they created over the course of the year. It is so hard to choose! I managed to narrow it down however so here are my Top 3 favorites…

January saw the release of the Scoreboards Plus Frame Pocket Journal Die and I used it to create a forest themed journal stuffed full of woodsy bits and pieces. You can find the whole post and tutorial about it here.

The Library Pocket, ATC Card & Tabs Die Set
was also a new one!

Our theme in June was to create journal fodder using Eileen Hull's dies. That was lots of fun! I made mixed media postage stamps using the  Snail Mail and Mini Slimline & Tickets Die Sets for the bases. See all the details here.

Another great new die that came out in 2023 is Eileen's Field Notes & Specimen Card Die. I used it to make a needle book to use for my embroidery projects. Check it all out here!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to keep an eye on Eileen's blog for more inspiration from the Educator and Inspiration Teams.

Some links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Funkie Junkie Focus - "Holiday Homecoming" a Christmas Recipe Book

Merry Christmas Funkie Junkie fans! Our theme is "Holiday Homecoming" - celebrating the holidays with family and food. Our family has several favorite recipes for this time of year so I decided do create a photo recipe album.

For the album structure I used Eileen Hull's Field Notes & Specimen Card Die. It has such a great shape. I used it this past fall to make another flip photo album and you can check that one out here.

Inside I filled it with photos from past family festivities and pull out recipe cards tucked into pockets.

Going to a Christmas tree farm the day after Thanksgiving to pick out our tree was a long-standing family tradition. Of course there was always a grand tailgate picnic!

Gingerbread cut out cookies are non-negotiable at Christmas-time!

When we moved to Idaho we had the chance to have white Christmases!

These Molasses - Spice cookies are a big family favorite around here. Yum!

There isn't really a tutorial for this but I took a few in progress pictures:

I cut all the pages first and lightly inked them up by smooshing them into Distress Mica Sprays sprized onto my craft mat.

I had lots of fun creating the cute Santa from the Santa Greetings, Colorize Die Set.

I used the pocket from Eileen Hull's Card Case Die to make the holders for the recipe cards. They fit perfectly!

Thanks for stopping by. Keep an eye on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, Inspiration Ave. because you are now getting regular doses of expanded (and inspiring) content each week. Don't miss it…

Supplies used:  

Eileen Hull Scoreboards Die - Field Notes & Specimen Card
Eileen Hull Scoreboards Die - Card Case
Tim Holtz Die Set - Forest Shadows
Tim Holtz Die Set - Santa Greetings, Colorize
Tim Holtz Die Set - Reindeer Sleigh
Tim Holtz Die Set - Paper Snowflakes, Mini
Tim Holtz Die Set - Christmas Cookies
Tim Holtz Die Set - Fresh Baked #2

Tim Holtz 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Cracked
Tim Holtz 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Holiday Knit

Tim Holtz stamp sets - Darling Christmas, Bottlebrush Trees, Winter Woodlands, Ticking + Grain, Ornate Trims, Snarky Cat Christmas, Grunge Flakes, Tree Line, Mini Weathered Winter

Distress Collage Medium Matte 

Distress Mica Spray - Fresh Balsam, Frosted Juniper, Mulled Cider, Tree Lot, Peppermint Stick

Distress Spray Stain - Antique Linen

Distress Texture Paste - Sparkle
Distress Rock Candy Glitter
Glitter Duster

Gold & Silver Embossing Powder

Etcetera Tag - Medium
Etcetera Cathedral Windows

Etcetera Bracket Trims
Idea-ology Christmas '23 - Backdrops
Idea-ology Christmas '23 - Sticker Book
Idea-ology Christmas Design Tape, various
Idea-ology Christmas Ephemera, various
Idea-ology Christmas - Tiny Bells
Idea-ology - Classic Label Stickers

Tim Holtz Deckle Trimmer

Funkie Junkie Focus – "Deck the Halls"

 …with Tim Holtz Idea-ology! It's time to create with everyone's favorite collection of wonderous bits and bobs – Christmas style. Idea-ology isn't just for hoarding (ha ha, seriously, use it!) I've used Christmas Idea-ology from this year and years past to create a Christmas decoration chock full of festive goodness.

Did I mention I love Idea-ology? So many fun little bits to include!

The base is a thrifted piece.

Some detail photos:

There have been so many great projects combining Vignette Boxes and Window Frame Baseboards I wanted to give that idea a try.

The new large size Salvaged Figures are a great new option to add to your projects.

Here are some "in process" photos so you can see how it came together:

Thanks for stopping by. Keep an eye on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, Inspiration Ave. because you are now getting regular doses of expanded (and inspiring) content each week. Don't miss it…

Supplies used:  

Tim Holtz Idea-ology:
Distress Holiday Woodgrain Cardstock, Gray
Christmas '23 - Backdrops
Christmas '23 - Pinecones
Christmas '23 - Sticker Book
Christmas '23 - Salvaged Reindeer
Christmas '23 - Large Salvaged Figures
Christmas '23 - Confections
Christmas '23 - Layer Frames
Christmas '23 - Baseboards + Transparencies
Christmas '23 - Adornments (wreath)
Christmas - Baubles
Christmas - Woodland Tree Lot
Christmas - Pine Twine
Christmas - Paper Dolls
Christmas - Tiny Bells
Christmas '22 - Pocket Cards
Christmas'22 - Linen Tape
Christmas - Tree Stand
Halloween '23 - Baseboards + Transparencies
Halloween '23 - The Manor (candlesticks)
Halloween - Drippy Candles
Toadstools
Vignette Boxes
Baseboards - Window Frames
Adornments - Deco Frames
Hardware Heads
Vignette Hardware
Mini Knobs
Christmas - Wood Slices

Distress Collage Medium Matte 

Distress Crayons - Ground Espresso

Distress Icicle Crackle Paste - Seasonal 2022
Distress Grit Paste - Snowfall
Distress Rock Candy Glitter
Glitter Duster
Distress Watercolor Pencils
Distress Glaze - Lumberjack Plaid
Distress Foundry Wax - Gilded, Statue