Funkie Junkie Focus – Summer Fun

Hello Funkie Junkie fans! Our new theme is "Summer Fun". I always think of beach and ocean themed things as a part of 'summer' so I pulled out the Graphic 45 "Make a Splash" paper pad and started to play.

The Tim Holtz Etcetera tags and parts make perfect bases! The new Facades coordinate perfectly with the tags and add a lot of dimension.

Graphic 45 papers always have so much lovely detail built into each collection. The focal designs are perfect for fussy cutting.

Here are some looks at the "in progress"

1) First I painted the edges of the tag with purple. I cut a piece of fabric and thin quilt batting to fit the front of the tag and stitched around the edges.

2) I stitched on some scraps of lace and shell buttons before I adhered the fabric to the tag base. Then I went to town layering away.

The purple foliage I cut from some scraps of painted and heat treated Tyvek I had from this project.

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:

Graphic 45 8"x8" Paper Pad - Make a Splash
Graphic 45 4x6 Stamp Set - Make a Splash
Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Garden Greens
Tim Holtz Bigz Die - Garden Greens 659436

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: 
Etcetera Medium Tag Thickboards
Etcetera Facades
Etcetera Bracket Trims
Baubles

Distress Collage Medium Matte

Distress Archival Ink - Black Soot
Distress Ink - Evergreen Bough, Wilted Violet, Bundled Sage
Distress Paint - Wilted Violet

Funkie Junkie Challenge - Stencil Mania!

Good day to you! Our new challenge at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog is up and running and it's a fun one! Our hostess is Teri Wilson and the theme is Stencil Mania.

Get your stencils out and go a little crazy for this challenge! Use them with inks, paints, glazes, mediums, or whatever else you wish, but use at least three different stencils in your project.

I love using stencils so I was ready to roll for this challenge. I decided to make another mixed media Etc. tag project (see my first one here).

Summer often makes me think of the ocean and trips to the beach and I got the idea to make a funky octopus' garden, complete with a yellow submarine in the background. ;-) I was also influenced by my newly arrived Uncharted Mariner Distress products - the newest color in the Distress line. O-la-la, I love this new color!! How could I not do something marine inspired? Brightly colored ocean "flora" was created with die cuts and I fussy cut a stamped octopus garden resident.

I started off making a stack of various backgrounds and experimented with different color combos. (Funtime!) I chose my favorite one to stencil and stamp on to create the tag background (see below).

I raided my scrap bins for bits and pieces to use for the die cutting. (It pays to hoard!)

For the octopus, I used a stamping platform to stamp my initial image. Without moving the stamp or paper, I painted over the image with mica watercolors and then re-stamped the image over the top once it was dry to bring the detail back. (Handy technique alert!)

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 - Wacky Transport #1

Tim Holtz die set - Artsy Stems

Tim Holtz die set - Decorative Trims

Tim Holtz layering stencils - Code, Linked Circles, Feather, Nature

Tim Holtz stamp set - Sealife CMS304

Etc. Tags Thickboards, Small

Etc. Thickboards Bracket Trims

Distress Ink - Uncharted Mariner

Distress Oxide Ink - Uncharted Mariner, Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio

Ranger Archival Inks - Black Soot, Hickory Smoke

Distress Spray Stains - Spiced Marmalade, Uncharted Mariner

Distress Oxide Spray Stains - Uncharted Mariner, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon

Distress Paint - Uncharted Mariner

Distress Glaze - Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber, Uncharted Mariner

Distress Collage Medium Matte

Part 2 of the "Unconventional Materials" Project – Submarine Tunnel Book!

This month Eileen Hull's May project theme is "Unconventional Materials". Her design Teams have been hard at work and stretching their creativity by using 'not so normal' supplies and her Sizzix dies to create some really cool makes! Check out her blog if you've missed any posts this month. Last week I shared Part 1 of my Submarine Tunnel Book. You only got to see the cover but now you can see the coral reef tunnel book I created inside!

the 'porthole' cover

Open it up and what do you see?

An explosion of tropical color!

Some of the unconventional materials used are Tyvek mailing envelopes, paint chips and candy wrappers!

I think this just might be an octopus's garden!

Back on the outside, here are a few details of the cover:

Porthole is a Sizzix Shaker Dome!

Detail of the closure (see Part 1 for the how-to)

The tunnel "frame" is created using Eileen's Bookbinding Die (tutorial below):

Let's see how it came together! Visit my Part 1 blog post for the cover tutorial. This tutorial is about the inside construction.

Step 1 – Playing with Tyvek. Tyvek is a synthetic nonwoven material that is durable and tear resistant. It's used in applications such as shipping supplies, housewrap, and worksuits. However, it is not heat stable which is a property we can exploit for art! I found this video from Sandra Duran Wilson very helpful in explaining what you can do with it. I used mailing envelopes as my Tyvek source.

I used various acrylic paints to color the cut up envelopes. If your paint is too thick it will inhibit the bubbling when heat is applied so I kept my layers thin.

You can use a heat gun or an iron to apply heat to the Tyvek to make it bubble. It tends to curl and move around more with the heat gun so I stuck with my iron because I wanted flatter pieces I could put inside my book.

Watch the video for more detailed directions, but basically you need to sandwich the painted Tyvek between two press sheets (baking parchment or silicon craft mats) and then hover the hot iron over the top. You don't place the iron directly onto the Tyvek or press sheet covering it. It bubbles unpredictably which is part of the fun!

I cut and glued sections onto the insides of the front
and back covers of the book.

Step 2 – Brackets for Tunnel Pages. I cut four of the bookbinding folding spine units, two for each side. I folded them up and glued them together (see below).

'How to fold' detail

To make them easier to handle, I mounted each of the two spine units to a piece of cardstock cut to 3" x 4.75".

Then I glued the units into my cover:

Step 3 – I made a bunch of "reef parts" to have at the ready as I began assembly. I used cardstock and some more unusual materials (as per our May theme!)

Paint chips!

I think the Funky Cactus Die Set is great for 'coral'!

Candy wrappers!

I started by decorating the inside cover with die cuts, more of the Tyvek "bubbles" and "pirate treasure" from my bits and bobs stash.

Step 4 – Making the Tunnel pages. First I cut four pages to create my tunnel. The page die from the Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers Die Set made it really easy! I cut the centers out with the smallest opening for the back page and then gradating out in size to the front.

I checked the fit and made sure I liked the spacing and size of my tunnel openings.

Looks good!

I had some tiny clothespins which were handy for temporarily clipping the pages into place.

Step 5 – Assembly! I worked from back to front, gluing and stamping as I went.

To glue the pages in, I used a quick grab wet glue and applied a thin line to the back of the side edges of the tunnel page. My little clothespins were useful in holding the page in place while the glue dried. (Didn't take long).

Next layer!

Last layer and the little side pieces to cover the front set of spine tabs.

Well, that was a long post again! Congrats, you made it through. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by and next week will be a new month with a new theme! Be sure to keep an eye on Eileen's blog for some more inspiration.

I am also entering this into the Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog "Anything Goes" challenge. They always have fun challenges to enter every two weeks so check them out!

Supplies used:

Dies:

Eileen Hull Sizzix 

Folio Journal  ( Sizzix / SB )

Bookbinding & Label ( Sizzix / SB )

Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers ( Sizzix / SB ) 

Grass, #660326 - retired

Tim Holtz Sizzix

Funky Cactus ( Sizzix / SB )

Holiday Greens, Mini ( Sizzix / SB )
3-D Embossing Folder - Foundry ( Sizzix / SB )

Wacky Transport #1 ( Sizzix / SB )

Funky Festive ( Sizzix / SB )

Funky Festive, Large ( Sizzix )

On the Edge Die - Twigs

Other:

Topflight Stamps, Lavinia Brand stamps - School of Fish, Sea Creatures, Seaweed 2, Mini Fish, Fish Set

Topflight Stamps, Pink Ink Designs - Shell Nymph

Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Sea Life

Sizzix Shaker Domes - 664190
aluminum cans

Sizzix mat board
Distress Ink, Distress Oxide Ink - various colors

Distress Paint - Salvaged Patina, Black Soot
Distress Glaze - Salvaged Patina

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Hardware Heads

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Hitch Fasteners

Crop-a-dile Tool

eyelets

elastic cord

Stickles glitter glue - various colors

Crafter's Pick - The Ultimate! glue

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!) If you shop at Topflight Stamps, use my coupon code LISAHOEL for 12% off your order.

Submarine Tunnel Book
by MonalisaH -Lisa Hoel
Scrapbook.com

Mermaid Card with Topflight Stamps

Happy Saturday y'all! If you participated in the recent 4th Birthday Blog Hop Celebration with Topflight Stamps, then you probably got a peek at the mermaid birthday card I'm going to share with you today. My sister-in-law loves mermaids so I always have fun making her a themed card each year. I also have a short tutorial at the end for the background I made using PaperArtsy Fresco Paints. It's easy and looks really cool!

Here's the card:

I made it an accordion type folded card so you could extend the whole scene when you opened it up.

The stamps used are from Pink Ink Designs and Lavinia and they play very well together! (See supply list for exact stamps.) I used twinkling metallic watercolor paints to color the mermaids. They are very glimmery!

The background is created using PaperArtsy Fresco Paints. These chalk acrylic paints dry with a matte surface and are perfect for stamping and inking on top of.

Step 1 – Using a brayer and three different colors of paint, I covered the cardstock in a patchy manner so there would be color variation.

Step 2 – I used the Lavinia Coral stencil to monoprint on top of the background. First I squeezed some paint onto my craft sheet and then brayered it out into a thin layer. I then misted it with water so it would be "soppier" and give me the watery effect I wanted. I lightly applied this paint to the back of the stencil with the brayer and then flipped it over onto the background. I pressed it down with a paper towel to transfer the paint and soak up any extra that squished out.

I did that a few times on the background and also on the card envelope.

Once I was done, I went ahead with my stamping and painting. I did use a stamping platform for more control.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the wonderful products from around the world you can find all in one place, Topflight Stamps.

Supplies used:

Topflight Stamps Products:
Pink Ink Designs - Shell Nymph, Sea Nymphs
Lavinia Stamps - Shoal of Fish, Mini fish, Fish Set, Sea Creatures
Darkroom Door - Happy Birthday Sentiment
Lavinia Stencil - Coral
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paint - Mermaid, Paua Shell, Bora Bora, Dusty Teal
Versafine Black Pigment Ink

Other:

cardstock
Twinkling metallic watercolors

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!) If you shop at Topflight Stamps, use my coupon code LISAHOEL for 12% off your order.

Mermaid Garden Shaker Card with Eileen Hull

What a month this has been! At least we can continue to look outside and see spring unfold. I've been working hard in my yard getting all the spring cleanup done. I'm eager to see some flowers start to bloom. All this month on Eileen Hull's blog the Inspiration Team has been busy creating and sharing lovely projects celebrating spring. I created a mermaid's garden shaker card mounted on a base cut with Eileen's new Display Stand Sizzix Die. I made it as a birthday card for my sister-in-law Katie who is a fellow lover of mermaids.

The shaker front is a sample from the January Creativation show. We R Memory Keepers was demoing one of their new (very cool!!) machines, a Mold Press. (see the short demo video here) It is basically a mini vacuum form machine and you can mold a sheet of hot plastic over pretty much everything! They had a scallop shell and foam stick on letters so I got the bright idea to make one with my SIL's name so I could use it later for a card. (Thinkin' ahead I was!!) So check out the video. I'm not gonna lie, I'm coveting one of those machines lol.

I applied a bit of gold paint to the inside of the letters to make them stand out.

The Display Stand has a built in stand that you can pop up and down so you can fold it flat for mailing (although this one isn't very flat ;-) I mailed it popped up in a box along with her present.

Here are a few peeks at how I put this together:

Step 1 - I inked up a sheet of Mat board with the blue background and then cut out my stand. Then I stamped a bit in the background. I figured out how the shaker front was going to fit onto the front and traced the cut lines with a sharpie marker. It was easy to cut with sharp scissors.

I prepared my mermaid and sea horse die cuts and also painted a bit of gold paint on the inside of the letters of her name to make them stand out.

Step 2 – Filling the shaker was a little tricky. I carefully made a little pile of the shaker bits in the middle of the area under the shell. I then applied Glossy Accents to the back of the plastic front and carefully laid it onto the front of the card. I pressed it down tightly with my hands and held it in place for a few moments until it started to hold. Then I weighted it down until it was totally dry.

When it was dry, I embellished the front with my die cuts and a layer of Dirty Sand embossing powder for the ocean floor.

It it is a little confusing on how to fold the Display Stand at first. Eileen Hull has created a short video on how to do it! Feel free to watch it several times. ;-)



Thanks for stopping by! Check out Eileen's blog and if you are not already a member, join the Facebook Eileen Hull Fan Club group. It is a warm, supportive group with lots of inspiration and sharing going on. You'll just have to answer a few simple questions when asking to join (to keep out spammers) and then you'll be added. ;-)


Dies:
Eileen Hull Sizzix
Display Stand ( Sizzix / SB )

Tim Holtz Sizzix
Holiday Greens Mini ( Sizzix / SB )
Crochet ( Sizzix / SB )

Dream Mermaid ( Sizzix / SB )

Other:

Eileen Hull Embossing Powder by Emerald Creek - Aqua Splash
Eileen Hull Embossing Powder by Emerald Creek - White Wonder
Eileen Hull Clearsnap Blends Ink - Clear
Sizzix Mat board
Lavinia Stamps - Sea Creatures, Seaweed 2
Baked Texture Embossing Powder - Dirty Sand
Glossy Accents
cardstock
various beads and sequins for shaker
shell mold press shaker front

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!) If you shop at Topflight Stamps, use my coupon code LISAHOEL for 12% off your order.

Mermaid Garden Shaker Card/Display Stand
by MonalisaH -Lisa Hoel
Scrapbook.com