Mother May I?

Happy Wednesday to you!  I am here to share my creation for the current Frilly and Funkie Challenge which I am hosting called "Mother May I?".

I was inspired by Mother's Day being in May and decided to make the challenge about being inspired by our Mothers or people who have been Mother's to us in all areas of our lives.

Here is how I described the challenge on the Challenge Blog:

"May in the U.S. is when we celebrate Mother's Day and honor our mothers. I am challenging you to create something that is vintage or shabby chic which is inspired by your Mother or any mother figure in your life. It can be a favorite memory, something based on her style, something she said/says to you, or anything that reminds you of your mother figure. Make sure to share with us how your mother inspired your art!"

My projects for this challenge were inspired from something my mother would say to us when we did something that made her happy.  She would tell us "You make me happy in my heart".  I loved that phrase and when I started thinking about my mother those words popped into my head.

I used the idea of happy in my heart to create a visual translation of the phrase and tried to  blend elements she would have loved. 

I continued with the same concept and created a card with the same elements of colors. 
 

 I love the heart shapes and playing with them by outlining them with watercolor pencils. I used heart dies laid over the backgrounds and traced with watercolor pencils.  I then used the waterbrush to soften the edges.

 The flowers were cut out in a previous project and laying on my desk.  I added some distress stain sprays to add a mix of the same colors.

I know if my mom were here she would have loved the idea and what I created for her.  She loved when I would create something and share it with her.

Suzz

Products:
Stampers Anonymous Glorious Bouquet
Stampers Anonymous - Nature Walk
Stampers Anonymous - Something to Say
Prima Marketing Dream Without Fear
Wendy Vecch Make Art Washi Tape 1
Sizzix Wildflower Stems 1
Ranger Distress Oxide Sprays  - Peeled Paint,  Fossilized Amber
Prima Watercolor Pencils
Idea-Ology Story Sticks
Idea-Ology Typed Tokens
Seam Binding 
Ranger Distress Stain Sprays - Walnut Stain
Ranger Layering Stencil - Nordic
Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste 
Idea-Ology Long Fasteners
Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee
Tim Holtz Jute Twine
Ranger - Clear Embossing Powder
Key Charms 

I Love It Because Challenge

Welcome back to the Frilly and Funkie Challenge.  This week the challenge is "I Love it Because" and is hosted by the talented Jenny who has asked us to share a project inspired by things we love.  Here is her description:

"How often do you create something just for you that makes your heart sing? Doesn't it feel great when you do! My challenge to you is to make a vintage or shabby chic piece of art, be it a journal page, a tag, a card, a home decor project etc, that fills you with happiness and makes you smile - don't forget to tell us why you love it so much."


I have so many different things I love to do while creating but I know there are a few I tend to use or techniques I love to use.  I don't always love the end result but I always love the process of creating or trying something new. 

I have always been drawn to color combinations of neutrals.  I am fascinated with the idea of the old vintage gold leaf pages and how beautiful the stark contrast between a white / ivory backdrop with black and gold and brown.  A natural color palette with touches of grunge and metal. 

The reason I started paper crafting was for the stamping. I can use images provided in the stamp sets and use them in a variety of ways so my happiest place is using stamps and inking them up.

 

I started with layering stamped images using masks and black archival ink over top of brown inky splatters. 

I stamped a sentiment (another thing I love to use in my art) in the bottom right corner.

I used a versamark ink pad and pen to draw a line over the ruler and around the inside of the circle and around the edges of the paper.  I then sprinkled with the embossing powder and heat set  and added a few touches of gold around the edges and on the edges of the bug.

I cut slits around the edge of the stamped circle to insert the bug and the metal clip. 

This is my favorite way to mix images with touches of gold and layers of stamping. 

Come join us in the challenge and show us what you love about your art!

The winner will earn the chance of a Guest Designer spot here 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.

Thanks for sharing your time with me!

Suzz

Products:

Stampers Anonymous - The Professor
Stampers Anonymous - Entomology
Stampers Anonymous - Fragments
Prima Marketing - Finnabair - Wild and Free
Yvonne Blair - Impression Obsession - Dreams
Ranger Distress Ink - Gathered Twigs 
Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black
Versamark Watermark Ink
Versamark Watermark Ink Pen 

Ranger Embossing Powder - Gold
Idea-Ology - Clasp Fasteners
Bronze Jump Ring Set

Spring is in Full Bloom

Hi!  Welcome back, just in time for the Funkie Side of the Challenge "Spring is in Full Bloom"!   The talented Maggi is hosting the challenge and here is her description of the challenge:

"This is my favorite time of the year. Here in the south the trees and shrubs are all blooming and showing their splendor. Many are busy planting their vegetable gardens. The migrating birds have returned to build nests and raise a new family. Your challenge is to create a vintage or shabby chic project that illustrates the magic of spring in bloom!"

I have to confess we are sitting in 3 inches of snow right now. A late snowfall for us but it is definitely hiding the spring flowers right now!  :)  I played around with a variety of things but ended up with a vintage inspired spring card.

 

I love looking at magazines. I work all day on a computer and getting back onto the computer to scroll through ideas is usually not on the agenda for me. But give me a stack of magazines I am happy to browse through them and get inspired.  I was inspired by a series of all neutral layered cards and used that as my starting point for this card. 

 I started with making some tissue paper flowers.  My first attempt I used on the card with was more of a round flower without too much layering.  I thought it turned out cute but wanted to see if I could get more layering.  I tore a strip of the collage paper and added a thin strip of double sided tape along the edge. 

I used the strip with the tape to fold over the tissue paper into a circle and I ended up with these fun flowers:

 

The flowers needed a center and I used a button to give them a focal point. I then used a heavy duty needle and stitched twine through the  button. I decided to use a thin wire to make stems for the flowers and I also pulled the wire through the button holes to keep the stem and the flower together. 

I also played with Dina Wakely mixed media tape. I acquired this tape awhile ago and have been wanting to play with the tape and finally got the chance! 

The tape is like tissue tape but with a surface that you can decorate.  I put embossing paste through the stencil onto the tape, I stamped on it, I painted it with gesso and I spritzed it with distress stain spray.  

I was really pleased with the effect. You can see pieces of it on the card in the background. 

I hope you are inspired to share your spring flowers with us at the challenge. 

 The winner will earn the chance of a Guest Designer spot here 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 

Products: 

Tim Holtz Collage Paper - Travel 

Stampers Anonymous - Entomology

Stampers Anonymous - The Professor 

Stampers Anonymous - Fragments 

Sizzix Thinlets Wildflowers Stems #1

Ranger Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Nordic

Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencils # 18

Ranger Distress Stain Sprays - Antique Linen,  Picked Raspberry

Idea-Ology - Quote Chips 

Ranger Distress Inks - Forest Moss, Antique Linen

Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee, Jet Black 

Idea-Ology Jute 

White Gesso

Dina Wakely White Acrylic Paint 

Buttons