Funkie Junkie Focus – Permanently Perfect

Hello Funkie Junkie fans! Our focus this time is centered on the magic of permanent Archival Ink from Ranger. This ink is a real work horse and definitely a supply you want to have in your crafting arsenal. It is the perfect ink to pair with all sorts of mixed media techniques. Here is my first mixed media tag for the theme:

This layered tag background features diecuts, Distress Crayon and lots of stamping using Archival Ink. (tutorial below)

As I was hunting around in my technique folder for ideas using Archival Ink, I found this one from Tim Holtz's Creative Chemistry classes (way back when!) You stamp with Archival Inks onto Glossy paper as a resist. Tag number two:

Let's take a look at the how-to…

Tag #1:

Step 1 - I cut two big tags out of Mixed Media Heavystock and then die cut patterns out of the top layer tag.

Step 2 - I wanted some stamped images to peek through the die cut areas so I stamped with Archival Ink onto the bottom layer tag.

Step 3 - I glued the two tag layers together and also sealed the top surface with Matte Distress Collage Medium. (Sealing is needed for the next step.)

Step 4 - Using Distress Crayons, I added color to the tag. I blended the Crayons with a damp finger, making sure to get into all the die cut nooks and crannies.

I stamped over the background using the new set Curiosity Shop plus various Glitch stamp sets.

Step 5 - Tim has shared in the past how to add color when you make labels using the Vintage Labels Die Set. It's easy! Use a brayer to add Archival Ink directly to the die before you cut. The ink will transfer onto the paper as you run it through your machine. I do like using the Distress Brayer for this. I have other brands of brayers but the Distress brand seems to be best at picking up the Archival Ink. Experiment with what you have to see what works!

Tag #2:

Step 1 - Using Archival Ink, stamp with bright colors onto glossy paper. Heat dry the ink to make sure it doesn't smear.

Love the new Crochet Trims stamp set!

Step 2 - Blend a darker Distress Ink color over the background. Buff off the extra ink with a soft cloth. The Archival Ink acts as a resist. Cool background! You can stamp over the background with additional images and using more Archival Ink.

Thanks for stopping by. Keep an eye on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, Inspiration Ave. to see all the inspiring content each week. Don't miss it…

Supplies used:

Tim Holtz Stamp Sets - Curiosity Shop, Crochet Trims, Inventor 3, Glitch 1, Glitch 2, Mini Glitch
Tim Holtz Die Set - Vintage Labels

Tim Holtz Die Set - Mixed Media #6

Ranger Distress Mixed Media Heavystock

Ranger Gloss Paper

Distress Collage Medium Matte
Ranger Archival Inks - various

Distress Crayons

Distress Brayer

Idea-ology Paper Dolls Portraits

Idea-ology Paper Dolls

Idea-ology Ephemera

Colors of Spring Bookmark Box with Eileen Hull Dies

For the month of April, Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team's theme is the "Colors of Spring" and we've been busy creating all sorts of seasonal projects! I used her Skinny Mini Book Box Die to create a little gift box full of bookmarks for a friend of mine who is an avid reader. Of course my color scheme shouts "spring!"

Open it up…

the bookmarks fit neatly inside for storage!

I laminated the bookmarks to protect them…

My friend really liked her gift!

A tip for making it a box:

Here are all the parts I cut for the box. The cover parts can be used for journal covers or making a box. When using as a box, it is important to cut off a spine section. Otherwise there will be a big gap because the box sides are not as tall as the full spine width!

Making the bookmarks was fun. I used various paper and die cut scraps from my stash. 

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 - Skinny Mini Book Box  ( Sizzix, FJ, SB )
Eileen Hull Die - Mini Book  ( Sizzix, FJ, SB )

Eileen Hull Die Set - Envelope, Folder & Flowers ( Sizzix, FJ, SB )

Eileen Hull 3-D Embossing Folder - Crochet Mandala ( Sizzix, SB )

Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Crochet Trims, Spring Sprung
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - various

Sizzix Mat Board

Eileen Hull Easy Cut Adhesive Sheets
Gel Press Plate

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 – "The Flowers Are Coming"

Happy Spring! Our current Funkie Junkie Focus theme is "The Flowers Are Coming" and they are popping out all over, both in the garden and the craft room. I always think it's nice to have some cards on hand for any occasions that come up so I made a set of spring themed flower cards.

Think pink!

The beautiful Floral Trims stamp set from Tim Holtz is perfect for creating a focal image on a card! The Simple Sayings stamp set is also a favorite sentiment set that I use often for my cards.

I started off by creating several pages of pink inky backgrounds using Distress Spray Stains and Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock. I cut them down into card fronts and stamped with Black Soot Archival ink. I then loosely watercolored over the top to fill in the flowers. Easy!

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 Stamp Set - Floral Trims
Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Simple Sayings
Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock
Ranger Distress Spray Stains - Kitsch Flamingo, Saltwater Taffy, Picked Raspberries

Ranger Distress Oxide Spray Stains - Tattered Rose

Ranger Archival Inks - Black Soot, Picked Raspberries

watercolor paint

Four Seasons Mini Books – New Eileen Hull March 2024 Sizzix Dies!

Eileen Hull released some great new Sizzix designs at the beginning of March! (Check out the live Release Party here.) All month long the designers have been sharing the tutorials and more in depth looks at all the wonderful projects created for the release. Following is one of my projects; a Storage Box that holds four Mini Books:

Four Mini Books fit perfectly into the Storage Box!

Each little book is themed with a quote and art to match one of the seasons:

Here's a look at how it all came together:

1) all the parts needed to form the outer box:

I used Distress Paint to color the Sizzix Mat Board before cut all the parts out.

2) For the mini book covers, I embossed pieces of gel prints using the 3-D Lace Embossing Folder.

Inside of the covers:

3) Eileen has a Book Binding Die you can use to make folded spines to fit her Folio Journal Die and other larger journal of hers. It won't fit the Mini Book so I figured out my own measurements to cut and score a Mini Book sized version. You can find that template below if you want to try it. It accommodates five pages.

Folded binding template to fit Mini Book - 5 pages

After fixing the spine into the cover, you add the pages:

A piece of trim covers up the spine flap on the back side.

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!

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 - Mini Book  ( Sizzix, FJ, SB )

Eileen Hull Die - Storage Box  ( Sizzix, FJ, SB )
Eileen Hull Die Set - Wreath & Snowflake ( SB )

Eileen Hull A5 3-D Embossing Folder - Lace ( Sizzix, SB, FJ )
Tim Holtz Die Set - Forest Shadows ( Sizzix, SB, FJ )
Tim Holtz Die Set - Decorative Trims ( Sizzix, SB, FJ )

Tim Holtz Stamp Sets - Shattered, Floral Trims, Reindeer Flight, Sketchy Leaves, Tree Line, Flutter, Grunged, Holiday Sketchbook, Field Notes, Falling Leaves, Spring Sprung
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Autumn

Sizzix Mat Board

Ranger Woodgrain Cardstock - Holiday Grey
Eileen Hull Easy Cut Adhesive Sheets
Gel Press Plate
Distress Paint - Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood, Lost Shadows

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 – "Easter Joy"

Our current Funkie Junkie Focus theme is "Easter Joy" and I had fun making an Easter decor piece using lots of Tim Holtz goodies and the new Eileen Hull Storage Box Die.

One of my Eileen Hull Inspiration Team teammates had the idea of flipping the box upside down to make an exploding box card. I thought turning the box over was such a great idea, I wanted to try it. I created an Easter scene inside of mine:

I made some glittered Tiny Eggs and tried the new and improved method of making a chocolate 'Salvaged Rabbit' that Tim Holtz recently shared.

I made sure the back side was interesting too!

I covered the outside of the box with stamped panels (using the new Mr. Rabbit stamp set) and die cuts.

Top view:

Here are a few 'in progress' photos:

1) Glittered eggs. First I colored some Distress Rock Candy Glitter with alcohol inks. (See this Tim Holtz tutorial to see how. It's really easy.)

Tim also shared several different ways to decorate the Tiny Eggs. You can see that here.

2) Here are all the box parts laid out.

There are rectangular strips on the die that you glue inside of the box to help the lid fit on snugly and stay in place. (It seems like a mystery piece at first ha ha.)

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 Die - Storage Box Die 
-Eileen Hull Die Set - Shadowbox Elements 

-Tim Holtz Die Set - Crochet
Tim Holtz Die Set - Bunny Games
Tim Holtz Die Set - Papercut Chicks, Colorize

Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Mr. Rabbit

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Backdrops

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Salvaged Rabbits

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Eggs

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Bouquet

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Barrel

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Chit Chat Stickers - Seasonal
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Salvaged Stickers - Seasonal

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Memo Pins
Sizzix Textured Cardstock Pack

Distress Collage Medium Matte
Distress Rock Candy Glitter
Ranger Alcohol Inks
Ranger Glossy Accents
Distress Spray Stain - various
Distress Paint - Gathered Twigs
Distress Glaze - Walnut Stain
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!)

Celebrate 7 With a Topflight Stamps Birthday Hop!

It's Topflight Stamps 7th birthday and to celebrate, I’ve teamed up with some great designers to showcase celebratory projects using the unique products available at Topflight Stamps. Please hop along with us and see all the beautiful talent from this group of amazing designers! There is a master list of Hop stops on the Topflight Stamps blog. We are also Hopping on Instagram! You can start at the Topflight Stamps account @topflightstamps .

Did we mention there will be prizes?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Of course, it wouldn’t be a birthday celebration without prizes. Topflight Stamps is giving four lucky winners $50 Gift Certificates to the store. Two winners will be chosen from commenters on the blog hop and two will be chosen from commenters on the IG hop. For a chance to win, make sure to visit the stops on the hop and leave a comment by April 1st. Winners will be announced on the Topflight Stamps blog on Monday, April 3rd. U.S.A winners only due to shipping issues. Good Luck!

Let's take a look at the cards I made for our Hop:

Lavinia is a favorite brand of mine and I paired their stamps with the Skycrossed Paradise die set from AALL & Create as well as the new Fern stamp set from Tracy Evans Boutique Designs. I also used PaperArtsy Infusions (Golden Sands & Emerald Isle) to make the backgrounds.

HOP STOPS:

Topflight Stamps

Kathi Rerek

Dina Kowal

Esther Asbury

Annette Allen

Rachel Kleinman

Connie Mercer

Lisa Hoel <-

Jenny Marples

Cornelia Wenokor

Ericka Strange

Melina Dahl

Autumn Clark

Natasha Vacca Colleen Balija

Alanna Moses Sara Naumann Raquel Perez

Lavinia stamps: Everlee, Snailcap Mushrooms, Snailcap Single Mushroom
Sea Flower, Foliage Set

Lavinia stamps: Josie, Fern Heads, Sea Flower, Foliage Set

Don't miss the sale also going on over at Topflight Stamps! There is a wide selection of fab stamps and products sourced from all over the world.

New Eileen Hull March 2024 Sizzix Dies! – Mini Book

Eileen Hull released some great new Sizzix designs at the beginning of March! (Check out the live Release Party here.) All month long the designers have been sharing the tutorials and more in depth looks at all the wonderful projects created for the release. Following is one of my projects; an accordion album housed in a Mini Book:

Eileen's new dies:

I packed a lot of stamping and ephemera into this mini book!

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! All month long you can find tutorials for the projects on Eileen's blog.

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 - Mini Book  ( Sizzix, FJ, SB )
Eileen Hull Die Set - Faux Postage ( Sizzix, SB, FJ )

Eileen Hull A5 3-D Embossing Folder - Lace ( Sizzix, SB, FJ )
Eileen Hull Die Set - Envelope, Folder & Flowers ( Sizzix, SB, FJ )

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!)