Scotch it Is!

 Hi!  I am hosting the challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog this time around.  I was inspired by National Scotch Day!  

Here is the challenge: 

"I googled what July 27th is and it came up as National Scotch Day. Why not be inspired by Scotch? I am going to take great liberties with this and say you can be inspired by Scotch in any way you want to interpret it including and not limited to: tape, plaid, liquor or any way you are inspired by the word Scotch. Make sure to share with us how you were inspired!"

That means I went mad for plaid!  :) 

I pulled out my different stencils with various lines and started playing with different color combinations. 

My first attempt I made a pattern with Scotch tape on white cardstock and started  sponging with different colors.  It ended up with beautiful stripes of colors but not a true plaid. More of a deconstructed plaid. :) 

Next I just laid down the stencil one way and sponged on my yellow ink.  I flipped it horizontally and repeated. I liked how that looked and shifted it slightly and repeated the process with a blue/green combo. 

I did it again using the larger stripes stencil and then went over it horizontally with the smaller stencil in blue.  It gave it a completely different effect.  

My last attempt was to draw on the plaid lines with a pencil and then sponge on the various pieces using masks created to the size of the different shapes. I didn't like it and then I did after I walked away from it for awhile. :) 

My flower was totally inspired by a book I checked out from the library. This lady made the most beautiful and realistic looking flowers from crepe paper.  I thought I needed something bold to hold up against my plaid!  I first put a sheet of vellum over the plaid and then I took party streamers (white) and colored them using the dye inks.  I then hand cut the petals and leaves and formed the flower. 

This card was made from the ends cut off of my bigger pieces.  I was thinking it was fun to just layer them randomly.

I thought the sentiment appropriate. :)  Come join us and show us how scotch inspires you!  The overall winner will be offered the chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date  at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products:

• Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Shifter
• Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencil Stripes
  
• Ranger Distres Oxide Uncharted Mariner
• Ranger Distress Oxide Abandoned Coral
• Ranger Distress Oxide Mustard Seed
  
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Mowed Lawn
• Ranger Distress Ink Evergreen Bough
• Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text

Moving Parts

Hi! Long time no see. :)  I am back with the latest challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique called Moving Parts.  

Lisa Hoel is hosting this time and here is how she describes the challenge: 

"Life can be busy and complicated with lots of moving parts. Sometimes we need to get really creative to make it all work! We would like to see you get creative with this theme and either treat it as a metaphor for something happening in your life or you can literally make parts that move as part of your project. Get crafty!"

I decided to pair my project with my Saturday Showcase (coming up this week!)  and am sharing with you a few of the pages in a flip book that have moving parts. 

I created this fun windmill that spins!  The blades spin when you turn them.  I tell all about how I created this on the Saturday Showcase on The Funkie Junkie Blog! 

 I also had fun creating barn doors that open with my friend the horse peeking out! 

I used some beautiful Prima Marketing papers as my inspiration for the barn doors and cut out the pattern and assembled them on the envelopes in my book.

I hope this has you inspired to come up with a creative moving part and join us in the challenge this time around!  As always, the overall winner will be offered the chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Please play along with us!

Suzz

Products: 

• Prima Marketing Sweet Farm
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Foundry Wax Kit #2 
• Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
• White Gel Pen 
• Stampers Anonymous - Field Notes
• Tonic Snip Detail Scissors
• Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Measured
• Ranger Tim Holtz Antique Bronze Stain Spray
  

Stuck In The Middle

 Hi!  I am hosting the challenge this time at The Funkie Junkie Boutique this time around.  I chose Stuck in The Middle as the challenge.  I was thinking about June being in the middle of the year. Here is the challenge description: 

"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!"

Here is how I was inspired by the middle:

I had this vision of a butterfly opening up in the middle of the card.  But what is better than one butterfly opening it's wings?  Two butterflies!  :)

The card design is intended to be simple and highlight the butterfly delicate wings.  I cut two of the beautiful Sizzix Tim Holtz Butterflies from white cardstock. 

I cut the butterfly down the middle.  I attached each wing to the front and back of the card and on the inside I did the same to create my butterfly in the middle.
 

I then embossed panels using the damask embossing folder and used them to frame out the beautiful wings.  

I finished with a lovely Irish blessing about butterflies stamped on vellum. 

Come join us in the challenge.  There is a lovely prize and great opportunity to share your art on the challenge blog!  The overall winner will be offered the chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date  at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

 Suzz

Products: 

• Sizzix Tim Holtz Perspective Butterfly Die 
• Sizzix Chapter 3 Texture Fades Damask Embossing Folder

Music

 Hi!  We are celebrating Music at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge this time!  Laura has asked us to be inspired by the theme of music.  

 

I started rummaging around in my vast supply for music related items.  I ended up with a old volume of songs, some tissue tape with music scores, a snapshot image that looked like a choral group, :) and a ticket to the theater.  How does that all come together? 

 

I started by making a few backgrounds using the music layering stencil and sponging on distress ink. 

Next up was some translucent embossing paste with the same stencil.  

I tore up the various pieces along with pages from a song book.  I sponged everything to add a distressed edge.  

Mainly it was layering together all the bits and pieces with a few images butterflies and the photo. 

Come join us on the challenge!  The overall winner will be offered the chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date  at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous Butterfly (I had a wood stamp for my moth but there is a great set in the store from Stampers Anonymous here.)
  
• Ranger Distress Oxide Vintage Photo
• Ranger Distress Oxide Antique Linen
• Ranger Translucent Embossing Paste
• Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Concerto
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Snapshots
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Mini Paper clips
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Ephemera Memoirs
• Impression Obsession - Something Sings
  

Reuse & Upcycle

 Happy Wednesday!  Time for another great challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique! Lisa is hosting and she is challenging us to Reuse & Upcycle.  Here is how she describes the challenge:

"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 started pulling out my leftover pieces of cardboard, cardstock and old lacy bits.

 I cut my tags from multiple pieces of cardboard leftover from shipping packaging.  I cut my mandala die from leftover tissue paper wrapped around something I purchased.  The lace trim is from old lace bits found at a flea market.  The heart used strips of plastic from the gold pearls that were embossed as part of the embossing on the pearls.

I love playing with recycled bits and have plenty in my craft room waiting their turn to be incorporated in the next project.

After the tags were cut they were painted with white gesso.  Then I applied embossing paste using  different sized stencils.  After that dried I spritzed the surfaces with distress inks.  I let that dry and then sponged brown dye ink around the edges.  

 

I layered lots of pretty embellishments.  The mandala die cut was painted with foundry wax and heated up to a shimmery gold.  

Come join the fun!  The overall winner will be offered the chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team

Thanks for stopping by!

 Suzz

Products:  

• Ranger Distress Ink Spray - Salt Water Taffy
• Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Saltwater Taffy 
  
• Ranger Tim Holtz Crackle Texture Paste 
• Sizzix thinlits die - Eileen Hull Heart Mandala
• Sizzix Butterfly
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Chapter 1 Stacked Hearts
  
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz 
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Typo
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stencil - Industrial
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Bouquet
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencil 47
  
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Ephemera Number Strips
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Snapshots  
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Remnant Rub-Ons Eccentric
  

Sunday in The Park

 Happy Middle of the week!  Today starts a new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique hosted by Lyla and she calls the challenge "Sunday in The Park".   Here is how she describes it: 

"Weather-wise, you might not be spending time outside in the park, but we've all got memories of playing in one! Get out your stamps, dies, mixed media, or embellishments that remind you of what you might see on a beautiful sunny day in the park. Make a Tag, Panel, or even a 3D project, & bring the outdoors into your craft space!"

I started thinking about spending the day in the park right now and it made me think of all the birds we have.  They are building their nests and chirping away enjoying the shift from winter to spring. 

I decided to make a beautiful batch of birds using the Sizzix dies.  I cut 36 birds from cardstock. To make a banner of birds.

They make me happy... I had them hung up in my craft room and my daughter walked by and was drawn in to see them up close.

After I cut the birds out, I spent some time pulling together the Distress Oxide Inks I wanted to use to sponge the edges of the birds.  They needed to be a light enough and bright enough color palette.

After I sponged all the birds I pulled out my stamps to add some visual interest on the birds.  I had fun sorting through different stamps and decided where to place the stamping.  

I then pulled out the rub-ons and tiny text and gave each bird a little word personality. I have to say this was very fun to put together. 

Now I have a beautiful banner of birds and just need to decide where to display them! 

Come join the challenge and share your Sunday in the Park.  The overall winner will be offered the chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for flying by! 

Suzz

Products:  (Links to the Funkie Junk Boutique) 

• Sizzix
• Distress Oxide Inks
• Crackling Campfire
• Peacock Feather
  
• Festive Berries
• Mustard Seed
• Lucky Clover
• Picked Raspberry
• Wilted Violet
• Stampers Anonymous - Faded Type
• Stampers Anonymous - Field Notes
• Stampers Anonymous - Tiny Text
• Flowers (Idea-Ology Tim Holtz the store is out of them but here is a nice alternative)
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs Eccentric
  

A Study in Contrasts

 Hello!  Today is a new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge.  It is hosted by the talented Lisa and she is challenging us to be inspired by A Study in Contrasts! 

Her description: 

"The seasons are changing and the cold greys and browns of winter are giving way to the warm greens and colors of spring! For your challenge highlight contrasts in your projects.  It could be themes, colors, textures or forms.  We are looking forward to your creative interpretations and juxtapositions of things that are contrasting!" 

I have been recently reading the book The Book of Hope - A survival guide for Trying Times -  by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams.  In it they discuss hope and here is a direct quote from their conversation:  "There is a lot of darkness, but our actions create the light. (Jane Goodall)  "So it seems we can shift our perspective to see the light and also to work to create more of it.(Doug Abrams)"  This inspired me of how hope is a light in times of darkness.  

I used that idea to start with light and show how darkness can spread as well as light. 

Which started from this:

The power of the water added to the dark or light colors makes them spread exponentially.  

In the Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle said “A book, too, can be a star, “explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,” a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.”

I started with one large sheet of mixed media cardstock.  I sprayed a yellow background across the paper. 

Then I started adding red spray ink along with spritzing with water. 

After that started blending I brought the black spray ink in areas. I used additional water to force the dark to disperse and more yellow spray ink with water to push the colors.

Once I finished with my mix of dark and light inks I dried the layers and then added a splattering of white paint mixed with yellow inky spray.  I wanted to add light spots of hope into my dark areas.

I cut up my paper into sections to form three cards.  Then I decided to look for words of hope, inspiration, or of light to add to my cards. 

After playing with the phrases on the backgrounds, I decided to add a sheet of acetate over every front of the card to give a added sheen to the backgrounds.

That gave a highlight but I went one step further and cut some shapes out of the acetate to highlight the sentiments but not detract from the contrast of the background.

The hearts for love and the stars to represent our universe.

 Please come share your contrasting art with us at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge!  The overall winner will be offered the chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Sending you light and hope. 

Suzz

Products:  

• Ranger Distress Oxide Spray - Black Soot
• Ranger Distress Ink Spray - Squeezed Lemonade
• Ranger Distress Ink Spray - Mustard Seed
• Ranger Distress Ink Spray - Barn Door
• Ranger Dylusions White Linen Paint
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Metallic Stickers 
  
• Acetate
• Sizzix Dies Stars
  
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Chapter 1 Stacking Hearts
• Idea-Ology - Tiny Attacher
• Idea-Ology Tiny Attacher Re-fill