Reuse & Upcycle! Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge

Hello Funkie Junkie fans! It's time for a new challenge. Our hostess this time is me and the theme is "Reuse & Upcycle!" 

Ready for some spring cleaning? Try using something that would end up in the trash as part of your creative project! Upcycle thrift store finds, use your junk mail or product packaging in creative and 'arty' ways. Let's see what you can do with "trash".

"I" is for inventor and "G" is for gadgets! I had a lot of fun with this industrial assemblage. I rummaged through my stash of "found objects with possibilities" and the recycling bin!

Detail 1

Detail 2

I think you will be surprised at some of the things I used in addition to a load of Tim Holtz Idea-ology and other products! Let's take a look:

First we have a cardboard cheese box, junk mail postcard, random number tags I'd saved and some metal bits that were going to get tossed. Also vintage filing dividers of some sort that I found at a thrift store outlet. (Guess how fast those made it into my card?)

I had some vintage letter stencils in my stash that I thought would be an interesting addition.

More stuff! Old resistors and the burned out tail light bulb from our SUV. Saved from the trash LOL!

Next step, grungify! I painted the metal parts and the cheese box with black gesso and then "rusty" paint colors. I wrapped the edges with Tim Holtz Linen Tape and copper wire. I also cut a slot for the card to fit into and a hole for the light bulb assembly.

I added lots of layers – stamping in the background, scraps from other projects. I love how the round Idea-ology Gauge Dial fit perfectly into to metal bit from my stash!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you check out the fun challenges we have on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. They are always good for sparking your creativity! You have two weeks to join the current challenge so I hope you give it a go.

Supplies used:

Tim Holtz die set - Abstract Faces

Tim Holtz die set - Bold Text #1

Tim Holtz stamp sets - Mesh & Linen, Inventor 7, Glitch 2

Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Black Soot

Ranger Archival Inks - Crackling Campfire, Black Soot

Metallic Kraft Stock

Black Gesso

Distress Collage Medium Matte

label maker

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: 

Linen Tape Agenda

Ephemera Gauge Dials

Gauge Dials (metal)

Tiny Clips

Hardware Heads

Paper Doll Portraits

Ephemera Snippets Number Strips

Ephemera Snippets Curator

Birds, Nests & Eggs – May Theme with Eileen Hull

Hello Eileen Hull fans! We are kicking off May with a new theme - Birds, Nests & Eggs. Perfect for spring, don't you think? I'm continuing with my Book Box of the Month series for my project. I'm using Eileen Hull's Sizzix Book Box Die and each month will have its own holiday/seasonally appropriate diorama book. Here is the May book:

When you open it up:

A little closer look:

I'm pretty happy about Eileen's new 'Making Plans' stamp
set with all the month & labels stamps! Perfect!

Here are a few "how-to" details:

1) Super awesome (and super easy) way to use the Crochet Mandala. All you have to do is rub the inside of the debossing part of the folder with archival ink. Insert your paper, close the folder (don't let the paper move around and get ink smudges), then run it through your machine. The ink gets deposited in the recesses of the embossed paper. It is so effective!

I started of with lightly inked, mottled cardstock and then experimented with three different ink colors on the folder. I really love the look!

2) I made the bird nest out of "twiggy" pieces cut with Eileen's Wreath die. Some I folded in half, others I cut into pieces. Glue and layering them up made quite a nice nest!

3) Building up the scene! The white blossoms are cut with a die that is part of Eileen's new Shadow Box Frame #1 set.

So now I have a book series of three. ;-) More to come!  You can see the February and March boxes in other posts.

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

Supplies used:

Eileen Hull die - Book Box  (Sizzix / SB )

Eileen Hull Shadow Box Frames #1 (Sizzix / SB / TFJ )

Eileen Hull 3D Embossing Folders - Crochet Mandala (Sizzix / SB / TFJ )

Eileen Hull Wreath & Snowflake (Sizzix / SB / TFJ )

Eileen Hull Die - Spring Leaves

Eileen Hull Die Set - Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves #662811

Tim Holtz Die Set - Bird & Egg, Colorize (Sizzix / SB / TFJ )

Tim Holtz Die Set - Funky Nature (Sizzix / SB / TFJ )
Eileen Hull Stamp Set - Making Plans

Sizzix Mat Board

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!) 

Sunday in the Park – Funkie Junkie Challenge

Hello Funkie Junkie fans! It's time for a new challenge. Our hostess this time is designer Lyla Larimore and the theme is "Sunday in the Park". Here's what Lyla has to say about the challenge, 

"Weather-wise, you might not be spending time outside in the park, but we've all got memories of playing in one! Get out your stamps, dies, mixed media, or embellishments that remind you of what you might see on a beautiful sunny day in the park. Make a Tag, Panel, or even a 3-D project, and bring the outdoors into your craft space!"

When I think of the park, I have fond memories of taking my sons there to run around and play with friends. They are grown up teenagers now! I decided to look back in the family photos and create a scrapbook page of those bygone days. (It's been forever since I've worked on the scrapbooks lol!)

I chose a mostly primary color scheme to fit the kid theme. I had a fun play with mixed media techniques! Take a look at my step by step photos to get an idea of my process.

Base layers of sprays with stencils.

Getting an idea of where the main elements will go.

Adding die cut elements.

Stamping and collaged tissue gel print pieces add visual texture to the background. I embossed the concentric circles with Wild Honey Glaze embossing powder.

The Abstract Faces die set has a wealth of shapes you can use in all sorts of ways. You don't just have to make faces with it. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you check out the fun challenges we have on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. They are always good for sparking your creativity! You have two weeks to join the current challenge so I hope you give it a go.

Supplies used:

Tim Holtz die set - Abstract Faces

Tim Holtz die set - Bold Text #1

Tim Holtz stamp sets - Mesh & Linen, Inquisitive

Stencil - Dina Wakely, Connected Dots

Stencil - Dylusions, LG Behave

Distress Stain - Tumbled Glass

Distress Oxide Ink - Candied Apple

Distress Glaze - Wild Honey

Distress Ink - Fired Brick

embossing ink

Ranger Archival Inks - Cobalt, Dandelion

Dina Wakely Gloss Spray - Turquoise

Distress Collage Medium Matte

Tim Holtz Big Chat Stickers

Sakura Souffle Pens

Signo Uni-ball pen, white