Bird on a Branch

The new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog starts today and Suzz, our hostess is calling it Birds. Here is how she describes it:

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 decided to take the challenge literally and show a bird on my project. I was inspired by a canvas I saw online with a bird and a branch but then went off in my own direction.

I started by covering an 8 x 10" canvas board with White Gesso. I used some Wild Honeysuckle Coral Stardust Ink Spray and some Roast Chestnut IZink Pigment Ink like watercolours by mixing them in small puddles of water on my kraft sheet and then painting them onto the canvas. I did a layer of the Coral first, the the Roast Chestnut and then more Coral. Note: I forgot to take a photo at the end of this step but I am sure you can see the colour below the stenciling.

Next I added some stenciling with a Mini Ledger Stencil and some Coffee Archival Ink. I also used a Criss-Cross stencil I designed myself and my husband cut to add some texture with Textue Paste.

My husband designed and cut the branch with leaves from chipboard for me and I gave it a coat of White Gesso. I used my finger to add some roughness on the wood with texture paste and then painted it with Melted Chocolate Acrylic Paint followed by some Umber Acrylic Paint. The leaves were painted with Aloe Acrylic Paint.

The flowers were punched from a paper collection called Garden Goddess, the edges inked with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and some tiny dollar store gems were added to the centres.

The little bird is cut from some fine corrugated cardboard that I had in my stash. I have a large stencil of different birds and I just traced him and then cut him out. Next I have him a coat of White Gesso followed by some Sedona Acrylic Paint and then a dry brushing of more Gesso. Once the paint was dry I rubbed some Rose Quartz wax paste over the raised areas and then added a gem for an eye.

The clock was cut from a cracker box by my husband and then I coated it with Umber Acrylic Paint, a sprinkling of playground sand and finally a coat of Mod Podge.

I ran a strip of Rose Gold Metallics Kraft Stock through an embossing folder called Paisley Palooza to create a textured strip for the background. I also die cut a scalloped circle from card stock, ran it through a Bubble embossing folder, inked the edges with Gathered Twigs DI and dry brushed White Gesso onto the highlights. Sorry I forgot to photograph this step - brain turning to mush being home for so long.

I die cut a circle from cracker box material, coated it with White Gesso and then inked it with Dried Marigold Distress Ink. I used the Bubble stencil and some Coffee Archival Ink to add some markings and then covered the circle with some Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paste. The Crackle Paste was really thick (a.k.a. pretty well dead) so it didn't really crack well.

To assemble the canvas, I put the metallic strip down first, followed by the scalloped circle, the clock and the stenciled circle. The branch was added next followed by the bird. Finally I added some iridescent sequins and a little Small Talk sticker that I inked with Gathered Twigs.

I hope you will join us for the challenge, which runs until 11:55 pm EDT on Tuesday, September 15th. One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and the Design Team will choose their Top 4 Picks with the overall winner receiving an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date.

Supplies list:

Dina Wakley Media Mediums - White Gesso MDM41689
Seth Apter Izink Pigment - Roast Chestnut 80638
Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint - Aloe, Umber, Sedona
Dylusions Paints, Melted Chocolate DYP46011
Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Coffee AIP31451
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads - Gathered Twigs, Dried Marigold
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Bubble THS002
Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic 2 Kraft Stock - Rose Gold & Copper TH93780
Ranger Texture Paste Opaque Matte INK44444
Scor Tape
Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965
Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint - Clear Rock Candy
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Small Talk Stickers
Graphic 45 Garden Goddess 12" x 12" Paper
Lindy's Wild Honeysuckle Coral Stardust Ink Spray
Treasure Gold Rose Quartz Wax Paste
Mini Ledger & Criss Cross Stencils
Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies
Mini Flower Punch
Micro Gems
Chipboard Branch with Leaves & Chipboard Clock Iridescent Sequins

Saturday Showcase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog - Big Flower Tag

This week all the gals on the Design Team are sharing the Saturday Showcase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog and creating tags with a flower theme for your inspiration.

I have made a tag with a BIG pink flower and here is how to create one like it:

• Cover both sides of a large tag with White Gesso (Dina Wakley).

• With a cheap bristle brush add lots of rough brush strokes using Peacock, Tangerine, Lime, Lemon and Magenta Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley).

• Add markings in random areas using Watering Can Archival Ink (Wendy Vecchi) and Border Lines and Faded Fragments stamp sets (Seth Apter) and #THMM101 set (Tim Holtz).

• In random areas add Crackled Texture Paste (Wendy Vecchi) through a Harlequin stencil (Tim Holtz)
• Once dry, replace the stencil and dry brush more Lime, Peacock and Magenta Acrylic Paint over top

• Using Jet Black Archival Ink, stamp the large flower from the Daisy Elegance set (AALL & Create) onto some card stock three times
• Fussy cut all three images and then remove a few outer petals from one of the images
• Ink both sides of each image with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
• Use a fine brush and Carnation Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley) paint the inside of the petals on the smaller image

• Colour the centre of the smaller image with a White Gelly Roll pen (Sakura) followed by a Yellow Glaze Pen (Sakura)

• Ink the edges of the tag with Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
• Mount a Small Talk sticker (Tim Holtz) on a scrap of card stock, fussy cut and ink with Cracked Pistachio DI
• Dye a piece of seam binding with Picked Raspberry DI

• Use the Detailed Butterflies Mini die set (Tim Holtz) and cut a butterfly from scrap paper - I used some leftover paper that was made with Cracked Pistachio Distress Paint (Tim Holtz) on my gel plate
• Punch some tiny butterflies from more of that leftover paper
• Layer the three flower images using dimensional foam between the layers and add to the card
• Glue some little dewdrops on the flower
• Adhere the butterflies and then add the seam binding to the top

Please check out all the wonderful tags from the rest of the Design Team.  There is an abundance of lovely flowers.

Supplies list with links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

AALL & Create A4 Stamp Set - Daisy Elegance #266
Tim Holtz Etcetera Small Tag Thickboards THETC-003
Dina Wakley Media Mediums - White Gesso MDM41689
Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint - Carnation - 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Lemon, 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Lime, 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Magenta, 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Tangerine, 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Peacock
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Cracked Pistachio TIM43218
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Picked Raspberry TIM34995
Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Jet Black AIP31468
Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Watering Can AID39006
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Texture Paste - Crackled WVPASTECRA
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Harlequin THS016
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Detailed Butterflies, Mini by Tim Holtz
Seth Apter Faded Fragments Stamp Set
Scor Tape
TIM HOLTZ 5 INCH/ 12.3CM TITANIUM BLACK SNIP 816E
Rayon Seam Binding
Seth Apter Border Lines Stamps
Tim Holtz #THMM101 Stamps
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Small Talk Sickers
Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen
Sakura Yellow Glaze Pen
Marvy Uchida Mini Butterfly Punch
Dew Drops

Saturday Showcase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog

I am presenting the Saturday Showcase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog today and am featuring two of Seth Apter's new products - Izink Pigment and Izink Ice.  Check out the blog HERE for all the details.

Zig Zag Mini Album - Again

It is time for the new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog and Sara Emily, our hostess for the challenge, is calling it 'Let's Do It Again'.  Here is what she has to say about it:

Have you ever made something that you wish you could do over? Perhaps it was a technique you tried and didn't get the results you were hoping for. Maybe you didn't have just the right product you wanted to make your project just perfect. Or maybe a friend asked you to make something like it for them. Now's your chance for a do-over. Choose one of your own posted vintage or shabby chic projects and do it over with a bit of a twist. Be sure to link back to the post of the project you are making over and tell us why you wanted to do it a second time and what's different about it this time. We like to see your entry be in the vintage or shabby chic style we prefer.

I am constantly wishing I had done a project differently so when I started to think about which project I would do over, I was overwhelmed. In the end I decided I would remake this small zig zag mini album I made for a Saturday Showcase some time ago and then I got completely carried away.

This time the plan was to make a larger album with fabric covers and use one paper collection from Stamperia for the inside.  I had intended to make it so that photo mats for 4" x 6" photos would fit but I miscalculated my measurements for the zig zag base by 1/4" on both the long and short side and of course I didn't discover that until it was put together with all the pockets, etc. and I made the first photo mat.  All was not lost though because I found out that Walmart will print 3" x 4" photos so I made mats for that size as well as some smaller sizes they print, such as 2" x 3" and 1.3" x 2".

Here are the measurements and instructions for the base album that I should have made to accommodate 4" x 6" prints and then I will walk you through the album - be prepared for a long post.

Pages:

• Cut 7 pieces 4 1/2" x 7" out of heavy card stock
• Score the 7 pieces on the long side at 3/8" and 1/2" (This will give you a little 1/8" gusset to accommodate thickness created with pockets, inserts and embellishments)
• Fold all the score lines and go over them with a bone folder (I found it easiest to fold the 1/2" line first and then the 3/8" line next)\
• Cut both ends of the 3/8" strip on a slight angle on each of the 7 pieces (optional)
• Cut 1 piece 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" out of heavy card stock

• Join each of the pieces together by adhering the inside of the 3/8" strip to the plain edge of another piece making sure you are creating a zig zag as you go along.  You will end with the 8th piece that has no scored lines.  NOTE:  the outside pieces on each end will not be decorated as they are the pieces that will be glued to the cover insides
• Ink the zig zag along the edges and in the gussets on both sides (I used Frayed Burlap Distress Ink for all inking)

Covers:

• Cut 2 pieces of chipboard or mat board 5" x 7"
• Cut 2 pieces of quilt batting 5" x 7"
• Glue the quilt batting to each cover
• Cut 2 pieces of fabric 7" x 9"

• Centre the batting side of the cover on the wrong side of the fabric and glue the excess fabric to the cover making sure to pull tight so the finished cover will be smooth and make sure to tuck the corners so they will be neat
• Set the covers aside until the inside is done
• Cut 2 strips of ribbon long enough to make bows that will accommodate the thickness of the finished inside (optional if you think your album will stay closed on its own - it turns out mine would have so I could have left the ribbon out)
• Glue one strip of ribbon across the inside of each cover
• Cut 2 pieces of card stock 4 3/4" x 6 3/4" and ink the edges
• Glue a piece to the inside of each cover over the ribbon

To finish the album glue the unfinished cards stock pages to each cover inside.  You will end up with 8 pages on the front and 6 pages on the back.

Here is a look at the album with peeks at the mats and journaling cards.  In addition to the Stamperia paper, I did use a bit of coffee dyed paper that I made and then over inked with Distress Inks. 

Starting with the floral cover and flipping to the left . . . .

Left side - pocket decorated with piece die cut from Rose Gold Metallic Kraft Stock and inked with a blend of Mushroom and Copper Mixative Alcohol Ink - includes folded photo mat

Right Side - pocket decorated with little postage stamps that have been stamped with a tiny bee using Watering Can Archival Ink - includes 2 tri-fold photo mats

Left side - pocket decorated with a belly band with text from the paper collection - includes tabbed photo mat and small photo mat/journaling card

Right Side - two corner pockets decorated with punched flowers and leaves die cut from Rose Gold Metallic Kraft Stock and the Garden Greens die - includes two tags

Left Side - pocket decorated with border punched strip - includes folded photo mat

Right Side - tuck spot made from die cut postage stamp shape cut in half and decorated with a smaller version - includes journaling card and tag

Left Side - pocket decorated with a tuck spot with rounded corners and a die cut flourish heat embossed with Patina Oxide Baked Texture - includes tabbed photo mat and small photo mat/journaling card

Right Side - vertical band decorated with part of a circle element cut from the paper collection - includes 2 journaling cards

Back cover - not decorated so the album will lie flat on a table

Left Side - corner pocket with overlay embossed with French Script Texture Fade and filigree metal corner altered with mixture of Mushroom and Clover Alcohol Ink - includes large photo mat

Right Side - pocket decorated with punched border strip - includes folded photo mat

Left Side - two pockets decorated with punched flowers - includes tiny photo mats/journaling cards

Right Side - pocket decorated with filigree metal heat embossed with Patina Oxide Baked Texture - includes folded photo mat

Left Side - postage stamp tuck spot - includes journaling card and tag

Right Side - band decorated with piece die cut from Turquoise Metallic Kraft Stock and inked with mixture of Mushroom and Copper Mixative Alcohol Inks - includes 2 journaling cards

The front again - decorated with lace, layered flowers, die cut leaves cut from the Fall Foliage die set and Rose Gold Metallic Kraft Stock inked with a mixture of Mushroom and Copper Mixative Alcohol inks, a dragonfly die cut using the Geo Insects die set and heat embossed with Aegean Sea Baked Velvet (from the Mediterranean set) and finally some text from the paper collection

I had intended to take a picture of the album spread open all the way but because it is 51 1/2" long, I could not get it all in the camera view and if I could have it probably would have been so tiny you would have needed a magnifying glass to see it.

If you managed to stay with me, I hope you will join in on the challenge and share your remake.  One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and the Design Team will their top picks with the overall winner receiving a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date.

Supplies list with links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Flower Punch - EK Success
Small Circle Punch - EK Success
Venetian Motifs Die Set - Spellbinders
Postage Stamps Die Set - Spellbinders
French Script Texture Fade - Tim Holtz
Flower Petals - Recollections
Tiny Roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
3/8" Cream Satin Ribbon - Kate's Paperie
1/4" Cream Satin Ribbon - Fabricland
Fabric and Batting - Fabricland
Border Punches - Martha Stewart
Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic 2 Kraft Stock - Rose Gold & Copper TH93780
Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Jewels Kraft Stock
Seth Apter Baked Velvet - Mediterranean Kit
Sizzix Chapter 2 Tim Holtz Thinlits Geo Insects 664180

Stamperia - Dream 12x12 Paper Pack	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Peeled Paint TIM20233	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Iced Spruce TIM32878	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Antique Linen TIM19497	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Gathered Twigs TIM32823	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tattered Rose TIM20240
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Victorian Velvet TIM27195	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap TIM21469	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Evergreen Bough TIM32854	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Clover TAB25467	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Mushroom	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Copper Mixative TIM21988
Seth Apter Baked Texture - Patina Oxide	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Watering Can AID39006	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Entomology	Antiqued Bronze Corner Filigree Metal Pieces - Scrapbooking - Mixed Media	4 Piece Antiqued Bronze Tone Filigree Pieces	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 14PK - Fall Foliage by Tim Holtz 660955
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 9PK - Garden Greens by Tim Holtz 661206	Venise Lace Trim - 2 inches	Scor-Pal Scor-Tape 3/8" x 27 Yards	Scor-Pal Scor-Tape 1/4" x 27 Yards	Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965	Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Mini Applicator Tool
VersaMark Watermark Ink Stamp Pad