Let me Count The Ways

Howdy!  Time for the Funkie side of the Frilly and Funkie Challenge!   The talented Sara Emily is hosting the challenge and her challenge this time is "Let Me Count the Ways".

She is explains the challenge:

"Since it's just a day away from Valentine's Day, the opening line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous love poem "Let Me Count the Ways" (Sonnet 43) comes to mind. "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." For this challenge, I would like to see your vintage or shabby chic project that includes three of something. This could be three colors, three words, three stamps (you get the idea); just be sure to tell us what those three elements are."

Using an odd number of elements is something I learned early on in designing my cards and other projects.   One of the classes I took the instructor said it helps the eye follow the design when you use three (or odd) number of elements.  

I decided to use three of one die cut image and layer them to give depth.  I also followed the idea of three with my brads.

 I started with a brown kraft bag given to me from a local merchant when I purchased something.

 I painted the background with a coat of white gesso.  I then stenciled with crackle embossing paste a pattern on the top and bottom.

I let that dry and smeared with distress crayon and dye ink pad.  Added a spritz of water to soften the effects.  Let that dry.

I then die cut the bird multiple times in white cardstock and cardboard.  I wanted some depth so the cardboard birds were used to stack and layer 3 times.  I painted all the cardboard birds with white acrylic paint.  I cut out a bird from white cardstock which I used to stamp the script and the flowers.

I attached the stamped bird to my top layer.  I then cut out the clock frame and attached it behind the bird with the filmstrip and my 3 brads.

 I added the quote chip to give a little punch to the top of the bag.  Now I have a cute gift bag for someone who love to travel and take the journey!

Come show us your groups of three!  The winner will earn the chance of a Guest Designer spot at Frilly and Funkie, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. And there are Top 3 Badges for three further outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team, because choosing just one winner is so hard!

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Sizzix Bigz Die - Bird Silhouette by Tim Holtz 660231	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Etcetera	Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Jet Black AIP31468	Prima Art Extravagance: Texture Paste White Crackle 8.5 fl. oz.	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Nordic THS070
Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Salty Ocean TDP40132	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayon - Vintage Photo TDB49678	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Marker - Black Soot TDM32458	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Long Fasteners TH92703	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Fasteners TH92790
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rub - Tiny Text	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rubs Life Quotes TH93120	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Wildflowers CMS253	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Ground Espresso TIM43270
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - White Gesso, 1oz Bottle	Prima Art Basics - Heavy Gesso - White 17 fl. oz.

Winter Blues

We have certainly having the winter blues!  The weather dumped about 8 inches of snow and then dropped to negative degrees temperature and now we are getting warmer! 

The extremely talented Kathy is hosting the challenge at the Frilly and Funkie this time around.  She challenges us with the "Winter Blues".   Here is how she describes the challenge:

"January is the longest winter month and lots of us get the "winter blues." Let's take the winter blues in a positive direction by creating a mostly monochromatic vintage or shabby chic project done up in shades of blue. You may use a bit of white, beige or grey for contrast, but I would like to see the blues to be front and center in this project."

I love a good monochromatic color scheme and blues are beautiful especially in the winter time!  I decided to create a vintage valentine montage with shades of blue.

 I was playing with my Distress Stain Sprays and salt.  I love how it pulls the ink into an intense color where the salt absorbs the color. 

I thought it would be interesting to create a shape with the salt and then add the color.  And this is where I ended up:

 How did I get there? 

1. Draw a heart.  Cut it out.  (Use a heavier piece of paper)
2. Place the heart onto a sheet of mixed media paper. 
3. Sprinkle table salt around the edges of the heart and onto the mixed media paper. (I made sure there was a pile of salt all around the edges.)
4. Arrange the salt to the outside edges of the heart onto the mixed media paper.  Smooth the salt to allow it to flare out towards the edges of the paper. 
5. After the salt is arranged to your liking.  Spray with your desired distress stain spray color.
6. At this point I realized the salt was absorbing the ink completely. (Which make sense. :) So I pushed it around and added some more salt.  
7. Let dry and then scrap off the salt. 

I think I would have only done a few things differently. I would have either:

• Sprayed the heart mask around the edges first with a pool of ink.  Added the salt while it was wet and let it dry. 

or

• Sprayed another sheet of paper and sprinkled the salt into it.  After it dries used that around the edges of the heart.  Re-activated the ink with spraying water or more distress ink. 

Things to try in the future. :)

Other pieces to this project included:

• Painting the metal gate
• Adding a touch of feather with the heart on her hat
• Sponging blue distress ink over the paper doll
• Painting the chain with white paint and sponging on some blue die ink and accenting my numbers with bits of chain

Come share your shades of blue with the team!  The winner will earn the chance of a guest spot at Frilly and Funkie, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. In addition, the Design Team will select three further outstanding entries and those creators will receive a Top Pick badge to display on their blogs!

 Thanks for hanging out with me!

Suzz

Products:

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Botanical Layers	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Salty Ocean TSS42457	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Faded Jeans TSS42266	Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Cobalt	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Metal Gate
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ball Chain TH92675	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Dolls	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Dolls, Ancestors	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Merchant	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Valentine THS033
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Broken China TSS42174	Prima Art Extravagance: Texture Paste White Crackle 8.5 fl. oz.	KAISERCRAFT Pearls - Self Adhesive - Bliss	Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - White, 1oz Bottle	KAISERCRAFT Pearls - Self Adhesive - Champagne
Prima Marketing Vintage Lover Watercolor Pencils	Prima Watercolor Brush-Pen Set	Deep Ivory Mulberry Paper Aster Daisy Stem Flowers SAA-378	Heartfelt Bigz Die