The Heart of the Home

It is time for the next challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Jenny is hosting this one, calls it Home is Where the Heart is! and describes it this way:

What does 'home' mean to you? Maybe it's a place of safety, somewhere you live with family or friends, or a place that holds treasured memories. It may be somewhere you can be yourself or a place from where you can grow and thrive. Whatever 'home' means to you create a project of your choice that represents it.

When you ask me to think about home, I always gravitate to the kitchen. When we entertain, it is usually by giving a dinner party since I love to cook. When our guests come, they invariably park themselves on the stools at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. When she was younger I spent hours with my Daughter as she learned to cook and that bonding happened with both my Grandchildren once they got old enough to cook with me. To me the kitchen is the heart of the home and it has my heart.

With Christmas approaching I thought it might be fun to make a recipe mini album, which would make a nice little stocking stuffer, especially if I were to fill it with recipes. This time I only added a couple and a bunch of blank recipe cards.

I used heavy black card stock to create my album. For the cover I cut two pieces 7" x 4 1/2" and scored both on the long side of each at 1 1/2". Once the score lines were folded and burnished with a bone folder, the 1 1/2" sections were overlapped and glued together to create the spine.

I also cut two pieces 5 3/4" x 4 1/4" and scored them on the long side at 1/2" to make two pages. The 1/2" sections were folded and burnished with a bone folder and then adhered to the inside of the spine centred from top to bottom with one 1/2" section facing to the left and lining up against the fold of the spine and the other adhered with the 1/2" section facing to the right and lining up against the fold of the spine. This will give you a 1/2" space between each page and the covers.

Next I covered the inside of the cover and all the pages with patterned paper that was cut 1/8" smaller on each side and then inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I used a variety of papers primarily from Graphic 45 Christmas Time along with a few from my stash, including some leftovers from Graphic 45 St. Nicholas.

I created a variety of pockets. For the inside of the front cover I made an angled corner pocket and decorated it with an image from the paper collection and some greenery die cut using Metallic Kraft Stock Jewels and Holiday Greens die set, both from Tim Holtz.

The front of the first page has two pockets. The little narrow one is simple decorated with a strip of mini stamps cut from the St. Nicholas paper collection while the larger pocket has no embellishment.

The angled pocket is filled with some journaling cards that I made with images of retro Christmas cookbook covers. The narrow pocket on the front of the first page has more journaling cards made from kitchen word art while the large pocket contains a few blank recipe cards.

The back of the first page has a horizontal pocket decorated with some ephemera cut from the St. Nicholas paper. I also made a tabbed divider for the pocket. In front of the divider I have included a recipe and behind there are some blank recipe cards.

The front of the second page has been created the same way as the front of the first page but this time I decorated the narrow pocket with a Crochet die cut from Tim Holtz. The narrow pocket has more journaling cards and the larger pockets has more blank recipe cards.

The back of the second page has been created the same way as the back of the first while on the inside back cover I added a simple band decorated with some fussy cut ephemera. The band holds a recipe wallet style folder with blank cards.

To keep the wallet folder closed I used some tiny clear self adhesive Velcro dots. I just inked them with Vintage Photo DI to make them blend in.

All of the pocket fillers were removed temporarily while I decorated the outside. The first step was to add a length of ribbon across the middle of the whole cover, including the spine. Then I covered the front, spine and back with patterned paper and embellished the front.

I started with a piece of word art that I inked and embellished with a couple of metallic punched hearts. I added a row of stamps cut from the Christmas Time paper collection and then used the Holiday Greens and Festive Greens die sets (Tim Holtz) to cut poinsettias and greenery from plain papers from the Graphic 45 paper collections and some Metallic Kraft Stock.

The final step was to make a bead chain for the spine out of beads and a little Christmas Tree charm that I altered with Meadow and Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink (Tim Holtz).

We would like to see how your artist vision of what home means to you. The challenge runs until 11:55 pm EST on Tuesday, November 10th. One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and the Design Team will select their four Top Picks with the overall winner receiving an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date.

Supplies list:

Graphic 45 - Christmas Time - 8x8 Collection 4502118
Sizzix Alternations Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies - Holiday Greens 658759
Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Crochet 664178
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo TIM19527
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Meadow
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Gold Mixative TIM22053
Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Blending Solution
Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Jewels Kraft Stock
Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965
Scor Tape
Graphic 45 St. Nicholas Paper Pad 8"x8"
Tim Holtz Festive Greens Thinlets Die Set
The Paper Studio Old World Winter Paper Pad
The Paper Studio Black Gem Flourish
My Stash Plaid Ribbon. Gold Chain, Gold Jump Rings, Gold Head Pins, Beads
Recollections Heavy Card Stock - Black, Cream

Sew Sweet

The new challenge begins today at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog and I am the hostess for this one.  I am calling it Sew Sweet and here is what I have to say about it:

Create a shabby chic or vintage project with a sewing theme incorporating items and/or images related to sewing - think rubber stamps of sewing machines or dress forms e.g., fabric, pattern tissue and even notions such as buttons, zippers, thread, etc.

I have created a little mini album full of lots of sewing images and notions.  I used the Stamperia Old Lace paper collection along with a few pieces of paper from the Tim Holtz Dapper pad and my scrap stash.  The album measures 4 1/4" x 5" with a 1" spine.  When I first made it the spine was only 1/2" and it would not close properly so I performed surgery on it and expanded it - holding my breath the whole time since it was already decorated.

The front was decorated with some ruler paper, image from the paper collection, stamped sign, layered flower, buttons, metal hanger, lace and a little pair of metal scissors.  All the paper and card stock used both inside and outside has been distressed and inked with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

When you untie the ribbon closure I added you will see a single flip out on the left and an accordion flip out on the right

The left has a tuck spot decorated with lace that hold two cards that could be used for journaling or as photo mounts.  One card is covered with patterned paper and one with pattern tissue.  The right has a ruler belly band that holds two folded cards.  The images on the cards came from a vintage catalogue from J. Rotherham & Co. Ltd. that I found online at archive.org.

When the left flip-out is opened there are two pages with pockets.  The one on the left (back of the flip-out) is decorated with some lace dyed with Antique Linen Distress Ink and contains three cards, two of which have patterned paper and one is a quote I found online.

The right pocket is decorated with a stamped image and contains a little needle book, which has felt inserts.

When the right flip-out is opened there is a centre panel with a flip-up and a flip-down using magnets to ensure they stay closed.  The flip up is decorated with a ribbon holder and has patterned paper on the back for using as a photo mount.  The flip-down can also be used for photos.  Inside this section is a belly band with two tags cut from the paper collection.

To the right of this section is a pocket page containing a notions book that has been created in the same way as the needle book.

The back of the right flip-out has a tuck spot decorated with some vintage sewing tickets and contains another quote card (upside down in the top photo - dah)..

The right side is another pocket page and it holds a vintage button card.

I imagined  this little album would be used to hold information and photos of some favourite sewing projects both as work in process or once finished.  I hope you will join us for the challenge.

The challenge runs through 11:55 pm on Tuesday, May 12th and you have a chance to be the randomly chosen winner of a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique or you could be one of the top picks chosen by the Design Team.  The overall pick will receive an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date.

Supplies list with links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Stamperia - Old Lace 12x12 Paper Pack SBBL32
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap TIM21469
Venise Lace Trim - 5/8 inch
Bronze Scissor Charms - Set of 5
Scor Tape
Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965
Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Jet Black AIP31468
Magnetic Snaps, Large MET522
Tim Holtz Dapper Paper Collection
Mini Hanger Charm
Paper Artsy Sewing Room Stamp

You Are My Sunshine

The new challenge begins today at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.  Jenny, our hostess for this one calls it Little Things and describes it this way:

Sometimes it can be the littlest of things that can mean the most. For this challenge create a small vintage or shabby chic project (or if you're feeling adventurous even a set!) It could be an Artist Trading Card/Coin, a tag or a little card for example, or you may have something else in mind - we can't wait to see them.

I decided to make a micro photo album for this one with a box to hold it. The Sicilia paper from Ciao Bella is very cheerful so I used that to create this little accordion style album. It is 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and will hold lots of wallet sized photos so it would make a great place to store all the school photos of your child or grandchild.

The construction is simple and here is how to do it:

• Cut pages from heavy card stock to measure 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" - I cut a total of nine
• Cut gussets from heavy card stock to measure 3" x 1 1/4" and score them on the long side at 1/2" and 3/4" leaving a 1/2" flap on each side - I cut a toal of eight
• Adhere the gussets to the pages on the 1/2" flaps alternating the pages between the top and bottom of the gussets to create an accordion

Decorate each page, inking with Faded Jeans Distress Ink (Tim Holtz) as follows:

• Cover both sides of each page with patterned paper
• Add a variety of pockets, tuck spots and belly bands to each page except the cover
• Add a variety of elements to act as journaling spots and photo mats, cutting some from the paper collection

Decorate the Cover as follows:

• Cut a border from Crochet die (Tim Holtz) and ink with Faded Jeans
• Punch flowers from the patterned paper and ink with Wild Honey Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
• Layer petals and add buttons for centres
• Cut leaves out of card stock using the Garden Greens die (Tim Holtz)
• Create a computer-generated sentiment
• Add all the embellishments to the cover and finish with some adhesive pearls

Make the box as follows:

• Cut box and lid from heavy black card stock using box maker
• Add patterned paper to top and sides of lid
• Create embellishments for the lid in same manner as the cover using elements from the paper collection for the sentiment and the flower centres

As this has so many pages, I haven't taken individual photos of each page but here are a few close-ups to give you some idea of what is on the pages.

This little album is simply decorated on purpose as I wanted to keep it as thin as possible with room for the photos.

I hope you will join us and create something little.for the challenge.  One randomly chosen entry will receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  The Design Team will choose their Top Picks and the overall winner will receive an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date.  Three picks will receive badges to display on their blogs.

Supplies list with links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Ciao Bella - Sicilia A4 Paper Pad CBCL033
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Faded Jeans TIM21452
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Wild Honey TIM27201
Sizzix Chapter 2 Tim Holtz Thinlits Crochet 664178
Yellow Dotted Resin Buttons - 18mm
Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965
Scor Tape
Tim Holtz Garden Greens Thinlets Die

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