Funkie Junkie Focus – "Out of the Vault"

January has seen the release of several "Out of the Vault" Sizzix Die Sets from Tim Holtz. These are designs pulled from previous sets that were given a new twist! Our current Funkie Junkie Focus is to see what creative magic we can come up with using them. I was inspired by our current winter weather and landscape to create this piece…

I've always been inspired by the soft and subdued color palette of a snowy winter day. The greys and browns of the leafless trees and sleeping garden are quietly subtle as the snow is sifting down.

I started off by creating a color palette of inky backgrounds to work from. Distress Oxide and Distress sprays combined to give a wonderful wintery look. I also used the new Distress color Scorched Timber products in various ways. I love how it gives a dark punch but isn't as stark as a black would be. 

The base is an Idea-ology Framed Panel. I painted the frame with Scorched Timber and Hickory Smoke Distress Paint. The back panel was covered with one of my inky background papers.

Using the Vault Rosettes Die Set, I created three rosettes to use as part of the layer bases. You can alter the diameter of the rosettes by trimming the die cut sections. I used three sections for each rosette.

You can see my layering process:

A splatter of white paint over the background adds to the "snowy" feel.

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 - Vault Wildflowers
Tim Holtz Die Set - Vault Lovebirds
Tim Holtz Die Set - Tangled Twigs
Tim Holtz Die Set - Paper Snowflakes, Mini

Tim Hotz Stamp Sets - Reindeer Flight, Slight Alterations

New Distress Scorched Timber
Distress Collage Medium Matte 

Distress Spray Stain - variety

Distress Oxide Spray Stain - variety

Distress Paint - Scorched Timber, Hickory Smoke, Picket Fence

Distress Glaze - Scorched Timber
Distress Grit Paste - Snowfall
Distress Stickles Rock Candy Glitter Glue

Distress Mica Spray - Phantom Mist
Idea-ology Framed Panel

Eileen Hull Sizzix Cantilever Sewing box Die Tutorial

Hello Eileen Hull fans! At the beginning of the month, Eileen released some Classic Sizzix die designs that were brought back due to popular demand. (If you missed the Release Party, you can watch the replay here.) The Inspiration Team had a lot of fun revisiting these old favorites and we've been sharing tutorials for our projects all throughout January. Here is a closer look at one of mine featuring the Scoreboards Cantilever Sewing Box Die:

This die design is based on vintage cantilever sewing boxes. You can swing them open just like the originals!

Think of all the fun goodies you could stash in one of these cute boxes!

Top view:

How to assemble:

1) Before I cut all the pieces out, I colored my Sizzix Mat Board with blue Distress Paint on one side and spritzed with Winterberry Mica Spray on the other.

2) On the two boxes I was going to use on the bottom, I added die cut grass around the edges.

3) I used sections of washi tape glued at the corners to assemble all the box parts. A rubber band around the top held it all in place while the glue dried.

4) To help reinforce the base of the box, I cut an extra piece of mat board 21/8" x 6" to glue underneath the two bottom boxes.

5) Using the brads and cross pieces, you just start building up and attaching the other boxes.

These are the new dies released this month:

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 - Cantilever Sewing Box  ( Sizzix, FJ )
Eileen Hull Die Set - Shadowbox Elements ( Sizzix, SB, FJ )
Eileen Hull Die Set - Birds & Butterflies 661901- retired
Eileen Hull Die Set - Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves 662811 - retired

Sizzix Mat Board
Distress Paint (blues)

28 1/8" brads

washi tape

Distress Mica Spray - Winterberry

Sizzix Making Tool - Shaping Kit

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!)

Eileen Hull's New Sizzix Dies - Embroidery Hoop Stitchery

Hello Eileen Hull fans! At the beginning of the month, Eileen released some Classic Sizzix die designs that were brought back due to popular demand. (If you missed the Release Party, you can watch the replay here.) The Inspiration Team had a lot of fun revisiting these old favorites and we've been sharing tutorials for our projects all throughout January. Here is a closer look at one of mine featuring the Bigz Embroidery Hoop Die:

I embraced the sewing theme and created a little wall hanging featuring felt, fabric, vintage lace and embroidery. Bigz dies can cut through heavy materials. I used it to cut out matboard hoops that I layered for greater thickness.

I had a lot of fun layering the parts and stitching away. Here's a peek at some of the process as I layered the elements:

(Both Bigz and Thinlits dies are perfect for cutting felt by the way.)

The new Classics release:

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 - Embroidery Hoop  ( Sizzix, FJ  )
Eileen Hull Die Set - Tiled Alphanumeric  ( Sizzix, SB, FJ  )
Eileen Hull Die - Flower, Heart & Soul 661108 - retired 
Eileen Hull Die Set - Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves 662811 - retired

Sizzix Surfacez Mat Board

Ranger Distress Woodgrain Cardstock

felt

fabric

lace

embroidery floss

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 – "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.