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 

By Airmail

Hello! The current Frilly and Funkie Challenge "By Airmail" is hosted by Zoe and she challenged us to crate a vintage or shabby chic postal themed project.  The description of the challenge is:

" Zoe just loves sending and receiving letters in the mail. And especially love the stamps, airmail stickers and postmarks that these letters pick up along the way. For this challenge, create a vintage or shabby chic postal themed project. Think old fashioned aircraft, airmail stamps, post marks, postage stamps."

This had me thinking of the beautiful envelopes I have seen people create to send in the mail.

That concept had me pulling piles of envelopes from my envelopes drawer. (Yes I have an envelope drawer!)

After that I was off and inking, stamping, embossing and just having fun with different designs and ideas.

It didn't matter the color or size of the envelope, I just pulled them out and stacked a pile of stamp sets on my desktop. 

If something didn't work the way I had planned I started another envelope and used the same ideas. Since these will be used for different cards for different people they won't see the other one similar to theirs. :)

 I tried to do some research online on what limitations their might be to send out these envelopes but I will have to make a run to the post office to see what input they can give.

 

 I do know that they all need a good seal because I used inks and other mediums that are not water resistant. The last thing I want to have happen is for my envelope staining other peoples mail! 

 I even pulled out my favorite farm animals to create a farm inspired envelope!

Then I created a plain envelope with just a mix of distress inks and splotches of paint.

The envelopes all will get a proper seal with a spray after they are addressed and ready to go.

On many of the envelopes I used stencils and sponged on a light layer of ink to give it a soft pattern in the background. I also added layers of stamping, remnant rubs, and even just drawing lines with permanent markers.

Don't forget you still have time to play along with the challenge until 7/3/2018. 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!

I hoped you enjoyed my envelope extravaganza!

Suzz

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2018 Year of Courage

Welcome to 2018! I am hosting the challenge at Frilly and Funkie this time around and I had challenged everyone to thing about their word for 2018!  I am calling the Challenge 2018 The Year of.

Here is how I described it on the challenge:
"I am not very good at New Year Resolutions but I do like to think about what I want to focus on in the New Year. To help me do this, I pick a word that is my word for the year and try to use that word to keep me focused on what is important. The challenge to you is to pick a word that will be your inspiration for 2018. Create a vintage or shabby chic project that includes your word of 2018. The word can be part of a sentiment, phrase or stand alone on your project as long as it is featured somewhere in your art."
 

I had a hard time picking one word but I decided to focus on Courage.  For me it is focusing on what I can achieve if I don't let my fear prevent me from trying something or doing something.  As my daughter said to me "Don't let your fear be greater than your faith".

I created a series of pages based on this idea:

I started with a few sheets of mixed media paper that I completely soaked with spritzing water over the surface.

I then pulled out the distress ink sprays and sprayed areas of colors.  I then tilted and twisted the paper to mix and blend. I also used more water to make it blend with out any splattering from the sprays.

While the ink was wet I flicked white paint into the inky wetness which allowed the soft white highlight.

 I then dried/waited for my backgrounds to dry. I actually dabbed the excess ink up on one of my backgrounds and on the other I used a heat gun to help dry up quicker.

After that I added lines, circles, stars, rectangles in various places as well as cutting my pieces into different shapes and sizes.

I use this as a trick as if you aren't satisfied with something you can always cut the section that you do like out and keep it and use it on another part of a project.

 I pulled so many different quotes and stamps to make my collages which in itself was a good way to focus on my word.

 And finally I just pulled out some of my favorite stamps to use on the pages because I love them and they speak to me.

You still have time to join us in the challenge!

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us as a Guest Designer here at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive Top 3 badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.


Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

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