Fall Foliage

 The winds have shifted and the cool air has arrived.  The trees are starting to put on their fancy outfits and give us a spectacular fashion show.  This time around at The Funkie Junkie Boutique challenge Jenny is challenging us with "Fall Foliage"

This is how she describes the challenge: 

"According to most search engines the Fall season has officially begun so we should be starting to see the emergence of all those beautiful Autumnal colours, unless Mother Nature throws us a curve ball! Let's celebrate them anyway by creating a vintage or shabby chic project in traditional Fall shades that includes some form of foliage like leaves, berries and so on."

 What better way to celebrate fall than to use the new Autumnal Leaves Die cuts and cut some translucent leaves from Yupo paper. 

The leaves were die cut from the Yupo paper and then I happily played with mixing a variety of fall colors form the Alcohol Inks. I used a variety of the colors. 

I stamped over the large leaf with text using a lovely coordinating color.  

The background is a stencil emulating burlap and burlap along with some fine splattering.  The Paper Doll was colored to coordinate.  I couldn't resist the snarky sticker as her expression looks like my kids did when I asked for one more picture. 

Please come share your fall foliage with us!  The Design Team will choose their top picks with the overall winner earning an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique challenge blog and there are also badges for three additional outstanding entries. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to go shopping at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: 

• Sizzix Chapter 3 Bigz Die - Autumnal Leaves
• Sizzix Fall Foliage Thinlits Dies
• Stampers Anonymous - The Professor 2
• Stampers Anonymous - Burlap Stencil
• Ranger Archival Distress Oxide - Ground Espresso
  
• Alcohol Inks - Currant, Tim Holtz Red to Yellow Pack, Rust, Caramel, Blending Solution
• Yupo Translucent Paper 
• Ranger Archival Ink - Thistle
• Idea-Ology - Paper Doll 
• Idea-Ology - Jute
• Burlap

Ladies in Hats

 Hi! I am back to share a new filmstrip stamp from Darkroom Door called Ladies in Hats!

The filmstrip contains a variety of fashionable ladies showing off their hats.  

 I paired them with the background stamp of the newsprint which had an ad for the Fashion Academy which I thought was perfect for these fine ladies.  I added a few handmade flowers by twisting up some trim with a few hatpins holding it in place.  I added a vintage button as the centers and some glittery buttons mixed into the background.

I loved the striking effect of the filmstrips in black and white and decided to create a few more cards with no color.  I think it is very elegant using the  black and white combination.

I thought wouldn't it be fun to have some baby cards to give someone as a little tag on a gift or just as a little note of inspiration.

For more inspiration you can visit the Darkroom Door blog.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz 

Products: 

• Darkroom Door Filmstrip Ladies in Hats
• Darkroom Door Background Stamp Gazette
• Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Sets - New York Vol 1

Staying in the Background

 Welcome back to another Funkie Junkie Challenge!  This time it hosted by the wonderful Cec and she is challenging us to Staying in the Background.   This is how she describes the challenge:

"My challenge to you is to create your own background and use it in a shabby chic or vintage project - no pre-printed patterned paper this time. You can create the background in any number of ways and it can be simple or intricate. Using embossing folders. stencils, dies, stamps, washi tape, paints, inks or a gel press are just a few ideas. Make sure you give a brief description of how you created your background in your post."

Well I love a good background either stamped or mixed media. My problem is I never want to cover it up!  

I wanted to try to do something in shades of green and pulled out the gradient square stencil as I have never used it on anything.

I played around with a mix of stamping tiny text as a whole sheet of rubber of different versions of a sprayed/embossing paste mixes of the diamonds. 

For my card I took a remnant of something I was playing with.  I sprayed through the stencil and it was very messy and the squares became indistinct.  I then used another sheet of cardstock to pick up the excess.  

After it dried I then stamped over a piece and cut off a scrap which became a panel in my background. 

I stamped a mix of brown and green ink for the circle and cut it out.  I stamped over that the watch hand in brown.  I then attached my panel and circle together with a bit of design tape and put them onto a white cardstock background. 

Next I stenciled embossing paste over all the layers and waited for it to dry and sponged brown ink over the embossing. 

I added a double flower with some stamping and twine to finish the card. 

Here is an alternative background using the same tools: 

I stamped the circle over the stenciled background and enhanced with some watercolor pencil around the edges.  I layered more design tape over the image. 

I originally started the challenge with the idea to create my own pattern paper.

I stamped a mix of the roses with text on white cardstock.  I colored with watercolor pencils.  I then took the brick stencil and softly sponged brick around the images.  

I added touches of clear embossing on the flower to help with the glossy effects and also added water drops using glossy medium. 

The butterflies were to add depth and make my background a backround. :)  

Come show us your backgrounds!  The winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique challenge blog, 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. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text 
• Stampers Anonymous Gradient Square Stencil
• Stampers Anonymous The Professor 2 
• Stampers Anonymous Faded Type
• Stampers Anonymous Flower Ship
  
• Stampers Anonymous Bricked Stencil
• Stampers Anonymous Entomology
• Stampers Anonymous Glitch 1 
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Walnut Grain, Peeled Paint
• Ranger Distress Oxide Spray - Peeled Paint
• Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Antique Linen, Ground Espresso 
  
• Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee, Watering Can
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste 
• Glossy Accents
• Watercolor Pencils
• Idea-Ology Ball Chain
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Jute
• Idea-Ology Design Tape

Saturday Showcase - Feathered Friends

 Hi!  I have a post over at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog today showcasing a few cards with Feathered Friends and lots of Idea-Ology goodies.

If you want the details and to see the  other cards in the series please pop over here! 

Have a beautiful Saturday!

Suzz

Birds

 Happy Wednesday!  Time for another fun Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge! I am hosting this time around and I am challenging you to be inspired by the Birds! 

 

Here is my description of the challenge: 

"For this Challenge I want you to be inspired by our flying friends.  You can take the challenge literally and have images or die cuts of birds on your art, you can be inspired by the words describing birds or even showcase their homes.  Make sure to share with us how you were inspired by the birds"

I was inspired by this lovely stamp from Aall & Create with had me happily coloring and using my waterbrush to create a simple card with lots of color. 

  This was a simple process of stamping the image and I used a mix of plum and black ink for my image.  (Didn't clean the stamp of the black ink and layered on the plum over it) 

I stamped the image and then happily colored with a variety of watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.  I multiple layers of color and shading.  I outlined the images with a soft gray to create more depth. 

After I finished with my coloring and it was dry I used the white gel pen to add highlights and some speckling.  

Then I used an craft knife to carefully cut up the petals randomly and bent them to add texture.  I had some die cut pieces from my Saturday showcase (peek to come) sitting on my desk.  I stuck in pieces of the piney branches behind my cut up flower petals. 

I stamped the bird a second time and colored him.  I then cut him out and popped him up over the original colored bird.  

I then stamped the sentiment and attached it to the bird.  I finished by layering the image multiple times including a watercolored piece to add emphasis. 

Now onto my sneak peek for Saturday: 

If you want to get your grunge on... Fly over to the Funkie Junkie Blog on Saturday and see how the bird flys! 

Come join us in sharing your birds!  The winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date  at The Funkie Junkie Boutique challenge blog, (and the guest designers have been wow!) 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. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: 

• Aall & Create -  Flourish #269
  
• Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text
• Prima Marketing Vintage Watercolor
• Tim Holtz Detail Water Color Brush 
• Archival Ink Jet Black
• Archival Ink Thistle
• Sizzix Funky Festive Florals Die

It's a Wrap

 Welcome back to another The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge!  This week the creative Sara Emily is inspiring us to "It's a Wrap!"

Here is how she describes the challenge:

"Whenever I hear this term, I think of something that's finished or completed. But for this challenge, we want you to share your vintage or shabby chic gift wrapping, gift box or bag or perhaps a set of gift tags. Or maybe you might take a different approach and use a wrap die cut or gift packaging on your project -- just be sure to tell us what your 'wrap' is if it's not obvious!"

I think you will be able to tell what my wrap is...

I started with a Christmas Box and covered all the sides with newspaper print.  I cut the newpaper print paper to fit the sides.  I then sponged distress oxide ink over a stencil over each piece.   I attached each piece and then used design tape to add a vintage trim around each edge. 

The flower was die cut from newspaper print and stamped with script using a gray ink.  The edges were sponged with the same pink ink and a touch of brown as well. 

I assembled the flowers following the guidance on the sizzix site.  I taped the edges together on the first one and then cut the bottom triangle out. I then took the second die cut flower and cut off a petal and repeated the process. I did this for three flowers.  Then I took the leftover petals and cut them down and used them to fill the center.  I liked the newpaper print paper because it was more flexible.  

I also created one with regular white cardstock with a splattering of sprays. 

You can see it is much more structured and could be curled more on the edges. 

Here is the view from above the box:

The vines were created with a bit of wire and design tape: 

I cut a few strips of wire and then just wrapped them with Design Tape as if I was creating flower stems.  After it was completely covered I wrapped it around my stylus to get the curls. 

Everything was hot glued together. 

I hope this has you thinking about creating a piece of gift wrap.  The winner will earn a 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 draw for the chance to win a $25 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 Flower Shop
• Sizzix Courtyard Bloom Die
• Ranger Distress Oxide Victorian Velvet
• Ranger Distress Oxide Peeled Paint
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ground Espresso
• Ranger Distress Oxide Sprays - Worn LIpstick, Spun Sugar
• Seth Apter Inkz Dye Antique Pearl Spray
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Design Tape - French
• Ranger Archival Ink - Watering Can 
• Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencil #47
  

Stencil Mania

Welcome back to another Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge.  This time Jenny is hosting a fabulous challenge to use our stencils called Stencilmania.

Here is how she describes the challenge:

"Stencils are such versatile tools - you can add colour through them, add texture and patterns with them, draw with them, emboss with them, print with them and so much more. So for this challenge we want you to get creative with your stencils, adding as many layers as you dare to create a vintage or shabby chic project to share with us all."

Well.... I had tons of stenciled art laying around my craft desk as I had been playing with different ideas for a variety of challenges. 

I decided to take a few similar toned pieces that I had created previously and create a few more.

I started with one of my index cards created previously and cut it up.  I then took a second one and cut that up.  I created a new background using a embossed background and sponged blue ink over the background to create a third layer.

To finish it off I created a background and stamped the script and then embossed with translucent embossing paste over that.

I layered the bits and pieces together.  I then wanted a focal point so I pulled out the professor to add a fun touch to the card.

For my second card I masked off some areas of the card and used the stencil to add a flowery section.

This one just received a sponging of dye ink across the center and some stamped script in a softer tone of ink.

I then stamped and layered the flying bees along with a pretty sentiment.

I hope you will hop over and check out the magic the rest of the design team created using the stencils. The winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, 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. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products:

Stampers Anonymous - Layering Stencil - Tim Holtz - Bouquet

Stampers Anonymous Layering Stencil - Numbers

Stampers Anonymous Layering Stencil - Gradient Square

Stampers Anonymous Layering Stencil - Gears

Stampers Anonymous - Layering Stencil - Nordic

Stampers Anonymous - Entomology

Stampers Anonymous - Flower Shop

Stampers Anonymous - Tiny Text

Stampers Anonymous - Professor 2

Ranger Distress Oxide - Ground Espresso, Speckled Egg, Antique Linen, Faded Jeans

AAll & Create - Blooming Poppies

Mummy

Ranger Archival Ink - Watering Can,

Wendy Vecchi Dyeable Ink -Acorn

Wendy Vecchi - Embossing Paste - Translucent

Ranger Embossing Paste - Crackle