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

Using Up Leftovers with Eileen Hull's Dies

Are you scrap hoarding? We've all got them – those little bits and pieces which we can't bear to part with, the last of a pack of paper, bits of stamping, collected items for recycling… you get the idea! All this monthof June we've seen the Teams creating with leftovers in projects using Eileen's dies. For my project I created a junk journal using the Folio Journal Die as a base (and a whole BIG pile of scraps and leftovers!)

Here's the pile of "leftovers" I gathered to use. I had previously cut the Folio Journal out of burlap covered matboard and then never moved forward with that project. Out it came for this make! Of course I have a large stash of leftover paper scraps, die cuts and ephemera.

A junk journal is a perfect way to use up lots of scraps!

Here's a peek at some of the how-to:

1) First I decorated the insides of the cover pieces. I collaged some book pages onto them, spritzed with Distress Spray Stains and stamped on them.

2) After decorating, I glued the two halves of the cover together. I like to use liquid adhesive for a stronger bond.

3) Here's a look at all the pages in the first signature. I find it easier to decorate all the pages before assembling into a signature.

4) I also used Eileen's Card, Waterfall & Tags Die Set to add a waterfall feature to the right side of the fold out cover.

5) I used another set of Eileen's, the Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers Set, to add a little tag pocket to the other side.

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 - Folio Journal  (Sizzix / SB / TFJ )

Eileen Hull Die Set -  Card, Waterfall & Tags (Sizzix / SB / TFJ )

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

Eileen Hull Die Set -  Folio page, Pocket & Flowers (Sizzix / SB )

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

Eileen Hull Die Set - Bookplate, Hinges & Label #662356

Eileen Hull Stamp Set - Snail Mail Postage

Whole pile of Tim Holtz Stamps, Distress inks and sprays ;-)

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!) 

Stuck in the Middle - Another Funkie Junkie Challenge!

Hello there, time for a new challenge! Suzanne Czosek is our hostess this go around. Here is what she has to say about the theme "Stuck in the Middle":

For this challenge I want you to showcase something in the middle. It can be a pop up card with a surprise in the middle, it can be a mini journal with pages inside, it can be anything that highlights the middle of something!

I created a Father's Day card for my husband with a computer theme and "things in the middle".

The base is a piece of mat board with a shaker card front mounted on it. (Shaker bits - in the middle #1 part) The background is a piece of 3-D embossed cardstock ( Circuit ) and I filled it with 1's and 0's, glitter and metal gears. There is another surprise though, the shaker flips open to reveal…

… a pop up sentiment on a wobbler spring inside! (in the middle part #2) I had a lot of fun making this card. Let's take a look at the how to.

Step 1 - I started by adhering pieces of aluminum tape to the base of mat board. I discovered my new roll of tape has printing on the whole thing which is a bit of a bummer. Good thing I was adding a painted layer to this.

Step 2 - Painting! I base coated with different colors of Distress Paint and let it dry.

Added some washes of black and rusty red:

Added some distressing with a sanding block to reveal the metal underneath.

Step 3 - Backgrounds done:

Step 4 - I used Foundry Wax to highlight the raised areas of the circuit background. The Wax is fun to play with and looks amazing when you heat set it! I need to experiment more with it. You can find out how to use it from Tim Holtz's thorough video.

Step 5 - I cut a frame of foamcore board so I'd have plenty of depth in the shaker box. I also embossed a piece of matboard using the 3-D Foundry embossing folder and dry brushed on Mined Foundry Wax to highlight the details.

I glued a piece of clear plastic behind the embossed topper frame and then glued and filled the shaker.

Step 6 - Ready for assembly! Note that on the mat board base I added (with stencils) a final layer of copper embossing powder covered Transparent Gloss Texture Paste. I glued the shaker box to the front of the inside card and then glued that to the mat board base.

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 - Alphanumeric Bold

Tim Holtz 3-D Embossing Folder - Circuit

Tim Holtz 3-D Embossing Folder - Foundry

Tim Holtz stamp sets - Inquisitive, Glitch 1, Glitch 2, Mini Glitch

Tim Holtz layering stencils - Digits, Circuit

Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Black Soot

Distress Oxide Ink - Crackling Campfire

Ranger Archival Inks - Crackling Campfire, Black Soot

Distress Spray Stains - Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss

Distress Paint - Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Iced Spruce, Weathered Wood, Twisted Citron

Distress Collage Medium Matte

Foundry Wax - Mined, Statue

Copper embossing powder

Ranger Texture Paste - Transparent Gloss

Distress Kraft Heavystock

Tim Holtz Hitch Fasteners

gear charms

wobbler

metal tape

foamcore board

mat board

clear acrylic sheet for shaker box window

Belated Birthday Card with Topflight Stamps

Better late than never I say! My nephew's birthday snuck up on me so he ended up getting his card and present late. Pretty sure he was still okay with that ha ha. Heffy Doodle has a versatile Everyday Sentiment Duos stamp set that had the perfect saying for a belated card. As always, I'm also a big fan of the whimsical Katzelkraft stamps and this cute cat was perfect for the theme.

I added a wobbler behind the stamped cat part because interactive cards are just plain fun! (Especially for a kid's card.) A wobbler is basically a plastic spring that pops the element up and makes if wobble with movement. It squishes flat for mailing and has adhesive on the bases so it's really easy to apply to your project.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps store for a wide selection of different and hard to find stamps, stencils and other paper crafting supplies from all around the world! Also keep an eye on the Topflight Stamps blog. There is new inspiration posted daily!

Topflight Stamps Supplies Used:

Katzelkraft stamp - Albert

Heffy Doodle stamp set - Everyday Sentiment Duo

Visible Image stamp set - Rays of Light

PaperArtsy stencil - PS165

Versafine Ink - Black Onyx

Wobbler

Prism Glimmer Mist - Cherry Pie

Other:

Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Tea Dye

Ranger Heavystock mixed media paper

cardstock

watercolors

oval die

New Funkie Junkie Challenge – Music of Life

Hello Funkie Junkie fans! It's time for a new challenge. Our hostess is Laura Gilhuly and the theme is "The Music of Life". This definitely gives you lots of directions to go in so create a music themed project and share it with us for a chance to win. 

I have been enjoying having my windows open to the fresh spring air and hearing all the birdsong as well. I decided to create a card celebrating our vocal feathered friends.

For the background, I started off with an old sheet of music and lightly brayered on acrylic paint. I used Collage Medium to adhere it to a sheet of heavy cardstock and then die cut the sentiment in the corner using the Bold Text #1 Die Set.

The birds are all cut out of a gel print from my stash. (It is so helpful to have a "backgrounds" stash!) After I glued them onto the background, I used the Stabilo Aquarellable pencils to shade around them a bit. Then added some stamped texture over everything with stamps from the Tiny Toadstools stamp set and it was done! Now I just have to decide who to send it to. ;-)

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 - Silhouette Birds

Tim Holtz die set - Bold Text #1

Tim Holtz stamp sets - Tiny Toadstools

Distress Ink - Vintage Photo,

Ranger Archival Inks - Watering Can, Garden Patina

acrylic paint

Distress Collage Medium Matte

Gel Press prints

old sheet music

brayer

Stabilo Aquarellable pencils - blue, brown

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!)