Create Love

Today is the start of a new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.  Sara Emily, our hostess for this one is calling it A Mother's Love.  Here is how she describes it:

A mother's love can mean so many different things to different people. With this challenge I invite you to take some time to reflect on what it means for you and create a vintage or shabby chic project for your mother or a special woman in your life to let them know how much you love them. Be sure your project has the word "love" somewhere on it where it will be noticed.

Sadly my Mom passed away 27 years ago but I can still honour her with this project because it speaks to something she loved to do and passed on to me - creativity.  In turn I have passed the "creativity gene" on to to my Daughter and she has passed it on to her Daughter.  My Mom did all sorts of fiber crafts (petit point, smocking, knitting to name a few) but she also painted and once I was in the dentist's chair and commented that the paintings on the ceiling looked like something my Mom would do and he said that she did.  Apparently she got bored counting the little holes in the ceiling tiles so she brought him some art.

In addition to what you have seen me do, I too have done some fiber crafts however the ability to draw skipped me but both my Daughter and Granddaughter have it and both can look at something really tiny and draw it really large and it will be perfectly to scale.  My Granddaughter paints and just auditioned for the Advanced Visual Arts program in high school.  She was accepted so next year when she starts high school she will have the opportunity to take a number of great arts courses in addition to lots of maths and sciences, which she will need in order to earn money.

Considering what we are all experiencing right now, I am sure you will understand when I tell you that I don't focus well these days so there are no process photos.  I will explain how this came together and since I have done a similar project before HERE is a link to the post so you can see some process photos.

• Cover an 8" x 10" canvas with tissue paper that was crumpled up tightly and then carefully opened back up, making sure to pat it down rather than rub it on so it doesn't tear
• Glue a panel of burlap to the centre of the canvas
• Adhere a variety of elements around an old paint brush (metal & paper flowers, lace, charms, buttons, wooden shapes and text, gems, filigree shapes)
• Cover everything with a coat of white gesso (Dina Wakley) and when dry add a coat of Blackberry Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley)
• Spray the canvas with Milled Lavender Distress Spray Stain (Tim Holtz), Violicious Violet Moonshadow Mist (Lindy's) and Crushed Grape Spray Ink (Dylusions)
• Add some watered down Rosy Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley) randomly over the canvas
• Rub some Amethyst Magic Art Brilliance and Rose Gold Metallique (Prima) wax pastes over all the raised areas

This is such an easy way to create a fun canvas so I hope you will give it a try.  By the way, in case you are wondering if the colour purple has any significance, well sort of.  My Mom loved blue but I have done so many projects in blue that I wanted something different this time.  I don't really have a favourite colur and I don't know what my Daughter's is so I went with one of my Granddaughter's - at least I think it is because she decorated her room in purple, grey and white but she is 13 so things change at warp speed. 😀

The challenge runs through 11:55 pm EST on Tuesday, April 28th and one randomly chosen entrant will receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique while 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.

Supplies list:

Dina Wakley Media Mediums - White Gesso MDM41689
Natural Jute Mesh (Burlap)
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Blackberry, 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Rosy, 1oz Bottle
Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Ink Spray - Crushed Grape DYC33851
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Milled Lavender TSS42334
Prima Art Alchemy by Finnabair - Antique Brilliance - Amethyst Magic
Antiqued Bronze Filigree Pieces - Set of 4
Antique Bronze Filigree Flower Wraps - set of 3
Bronze Metal Daisies for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments Floral TH93789
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments - Arrows TH93127
Tissue Paper (Dollarama)
Violicious Violet Moonshadow Mist (Lindy's)
Rose Gold Metallique Wax Paste (Prima Marketing)
Paint Brush, Charms, Buttons, Wood Shapes, Text, Paper Flowers, Gems, Beads, Lace (My Stash)

Embellishments, Trinkets & Trims

The new challenge at Frilly and Funkie begins today and Jenny is the hostess this time.  She calls it Embellishments, Trinkets and Trims and here is what she has to say about it:

Linda sells a huge array of beautiful embellishments, trinkets and trims in her store, from metal filigree pieces and charms to buttons, laces and ribbons. They can be the important focal point on a project or the final finishing touches that complete it. However you wish to use them lets see those embellishments, trinkets and trims in action on your vintage or shabby chic entries.

I decided to alter a very inexpensive composition notebook and make the embellishments the focal point.

I gave the cover a coat of White Gesso (Dina Wakley) and then added a layer of torn strips of Melange Tissue Wrap (Tim Holtz) using Collage Medium (Tim Holtz) to adhere it.

The next step was to add some texture in random areas on the front and back with a stencil called Gothic (Tim Holtz) and texture paste (Ranger).  Once the paste was dry I gave it another coat of White Gesso.

Then I used Gel Medium to adhere all sorts of embellishments on the front cover - venise lace, buttons, metals and gems (some seed beads were added later).

A good coat of White Gesso was added next.  Tip:  Insert a piece of waxed or parchment paper inside the front and back cover to keep the paint from seeping inside.

Now it was time for lots of paint layers.  I used Cracked Pistachio and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Paint (Tim Holtz) along with Lime and Peacock Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley).  More lime was added after the photo was taken.

I used some Garden Patina Archival Ink (Wendy Vecchi) and two stencils, Checkmate and Dots and Stripes Borders (Wendy Vecchi) to add some random stenciling on the front and back.

Once the paints were dry I rubbed wax paste on all the raised areas.  I used some from my stash but will link to some in the shop that would work well.  Then I splattered some watered down White Gesso over the outside.

Since the inside covers had text on them, I carefully covered them with White Gesso and then used Collage Medium to add some turquoise tissue (Dollarama) that I crumpled up and then carefully opened up again.

I hope you will dig into your stash and create something to share with us.  The Design Team will choose their top picks with the overall winner receiving an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date.  One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to go shopping at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments Floral TH93789

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Gothic THS026	Dina Wakley Media Mediums - White Gesso MDM41689	Ranger Texture Paste Opaque Matte INK44444	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Cracked Pistachio TDF50179	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Mermaid Lagoon TDF50193	Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Lime, 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Peacock	Gun Metal Keys Scrapbooking	Bronze Metal Daisies for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Word Bands TH93000	4 Piece Antiqued Silver Tone Floral Corners	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Typed Tokens TH93203
Floral Decorated Wooden Buttons - 1.18"	4 Piece Antique Bronze Branch Heart	15 Piece Ivory Acrylic Imitation Pearl Clusters	Venise Lace Trim - 3/4 Inch Wide (1-1)	6 Piece Bronze Leaf Embellishments	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Countdown Brads

Jazzed Up Notebook

Today is the start of a new challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  Sara is our hostess and has titled it Read Any Good Books Lately?  Here is what she has to say about it:

Reading a good book on the beach or on the porch is a simple summer pleasure. For this challenge, please create a vintage or shabby chic project that depicts a favorite book or use book pages on your project, alter a book or even make a journal or journal page! Just be sure it's in the vintage or shabby chic style that we are looking for!

I was at the dollar store and saw this notebook with a textured vinyl cover and an elastic closure.  It was actually $3.00 - so much for being the dollar store.  I thought it might be fun to alter the cover so despite the price, I picked it up and brought it home.

I changed my mind and decided not to try to pull it apart since the cover was quite nice but whatever I did would have to tie in the chocolate brown colour so I settled on adding an assemblage panel that would have some brown on it.

I took a piece of chipboard from Linda's shop and cut it to size and then gave it a coat of clear Gesso before gluing on all sorts of bits and pieces.  There are pieces from The Funkie Junkie Boutique, my husband's workshop and my stash - lace, flowers, buttons, charms, pop caps, screws washers, etc.

To unify the colour I gave everything a coat of white Gesso.

Then I added the colour starting with a coat of Khaki Acrylic Paint (Craftsmart) followed by a dry brushed coat of Poodleskirt Pink Acrylic Paint (DecoArt).  I sponged on some Espresso (Craftsmart and some Rich Espresso Metallic (DecoArt).  Then I sprayed on some Worn Lipstick and Gathered Twigs Distress Spray Stain.

To finish the cover off, I distressed the edges and added some tiny chocolate brown seed beads in random clusters before I glued it to the notebook cover.  Once it was dry I discovered that my distressing had left enough lift on the edges for the elastic closure to slide underneath - bonus because it doesn't hide any of my bits and pieces like I expected.

I hope you will join us for this challenge.  The Design Team will choose their top pick who will have a Guest Designer opportunity with us and also their next top three who will receive a badge to display on their blog.  A random winner will also be chosen to receive a $25 shopping spree in The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays is the name of the new challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  The super talented Kathy is our hostess this time and describes it this way:

"Let's get ready to Deck the Halls by creating some home decor for the holiday season.  You can make centerpieces, wreaths, banners, ornaments, wall hangings, or little vignettes  ...basically anything BUT a card for this challenge. If you don't celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, then just make some home decor with a wintry theme."

I decided to make another ornament for my tree and as those who have been following me for a while know it has a red and gold theme with some touches of white so this will fit right in.  The photos have been taken over a few days when the weather outside couldn't make up its mind whether it wanted to be sunny or grey so they are all over the map this time but the photo above is the best of the lot.

I started with a wooden circle that my husband cut for me on the laser machine and gave it a coat of Gesso.  Next I added crumpled tissue for a first layer of texture and then added some texture paste through a Tim Holtz Harlequin stencil.

The next step was to add lots of little bits and pieces, coat it with more Gesso to help unify the colour and then a layer of my favourite gold paint called Champagne Gold from DecoArt.  By the way, Linda has a number of the new Christmas Idea-ology products from Tim Holtz in her shop and I got some to use but they arrived too late for me to use on this ornament.  I encourage you to pop over to The Funkie Junie Boutique and check them out because there are lots of fun things for you to create with.

Next I added some Barn Door and Aged Mahogany Distress Sprays and then dabbed on some FW Crimson Acrylic Ink followed by some Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold mixed with water.  I made a bead topper for a hanger and thought it was done.  Note:  The pearl headed stick pin shown in the first photo is not part of the ornament - I just used it to hang the ornament so I could take its picture.  I wire all my ornaments to my tree so the little gold loop at the top is where the wire will be attached.

I was sitting looking at the ornament on Su day and decided it needed a touch of white so I blended some Gold Mixative and Snow Cap Mixative Alcohol Ink and dabbed that on.  Now it was done and just in time too because we put the tree up on Monday.

Every year I think I have lots of ornaments but then I finish decorating the tree and there are holes that need filling so I guess next year I will have to come up with some more.  They are fun to do so I won't mind - as long as I have mojo when it comes time to create.

I am going to enter this project in the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - Anything But A Card
We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes
Allsorts Challenge - Anything Christmas
Open-Minded Crafting - Christmas/Hanukkah

The following products used to create this ornament came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Broken Silver and Gold

I decided I wanted to make something just for fun, especially after I saw the fabulous canvas created by my friend Jenny of Pushing the Right Buttons. 

To get a closer look at my canvas click on the photo to bring up a larger view.

My Mother-in-Law passed away earlier this year and when we were cleaning out her room at the nursing home I decided to bring all her costume jewelry home with me just in case I could use it for something.  Well this is the first something and the butterfly brooch was the jumping off point.  The gold on the outside was too bright so I altered it a bit but more about the altering later.

I started with a canvas and coated it with Gesso.  Next I covered it with a coat of acrylic paint called Country Twill, allowed it to dry and added a coat of crackle medium and after that was dry added a coat of Silver Gray acrylic paint.  Then I dry brushed it with Tapioca acrylic paint and Champagne Gold metallic acrylic paint.  Finally I spritzed it with some Tarnished Brass and Brushed Pewter Distress Spray Stain.

I collected a variety of metal pieces, beads, a broken watch face gifted by my neighbour, a wee flower and some buttons and dabbed on some Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink and Silver Mixative Alcohol Ink to alter them and tie the colour together.

I added some silver crochet ribbon and some lace horizontally and then a strip of burlap vertically.  Then I hung a large bead and a key from some crinkly yarn meant to be doll hair, added a couple more pieces and adhered that to the burlap.  Then I added all the bits and pieces with little bunches of large silver and gold seed beads tucked here and there.

I didn't have much time to create so there isn't as much texture as I would have liked to add but I had fun and it was a great break from the design team commitments I am finishing up.

Canvas: Dollarama
Paints: Country Twill Acrylic Paint (Folk Art), Silver Gray Acrylic Paint (Craftsmart), Tapioca Acrylic Paint (Folk Art), Champagne Gold Metallic Acrylic Paint (DecoArt), Crackle Medium (Folk Art)
Inks: Burnished Brass Distress Spray Stain (Tim Holtz, Brushed Pewter Distress Spray Stain (Tim Holtz), Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink (Tim Holtz), Silver Mixative Alcohol Ink (Tim Holtz)
Fibres: Silver Crochet Ribbon (May Arts), White Burlap (The Funkie Junkie Boutique), Lace (Fancy Gap Warehouse), Cream Yarn Doll Hair (Michaels)
Other: Gesso (Liquitex), Super Thick Slap it On Adhesive (IndigoBlu), Metal Charms, Buttons, Filgree Medallion, Beads (My Stash)

I am going to enter this canvas into the following challenges:

Anything But Cute - Rustic Glam

A Vintage Journey - Cracking Up

Creative Artiste  - Anything Mixed Media Goes
Mixed Media World  - Assemblage/Altered Art
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Altered/Repurposed