Chalk it Up!

It's Shelly back with you today, which means a second week of fun with my first Frilly and Funkie challenge! I thought it would be fun to experiment with chalk techniques - whether it's stamping with chalk inks, using a faux chalkboard technique, coloring with chalks, or even dabbling in your art journal with sticks of chalk - we want to see what you can create using chalk as a theme!

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot here at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

The guidelines for entering are simple; create a new vintage or shabby chic project following the challenge theme, link it below to your post (not just your blog) and also include a link back to this challenge in your post. You can combine our challenge with up to 10 challenges (including this one) to be in with a chance of winning. Make sure you follow these rules as unfortunately we have had to eliminate entrants from the prize draws in the past when they have entered too many other challenges. If you are entering through a public forum please use keyword F&F. Also, please be sure to turn off your Word Verification so our Design Team can leave comments on your blogs.

This week we have some amazing inspiration from our Funkie team (click on each image for a closer look!)

Jenny Marples - Pushing The Right Buttons

Sue Carrington - Stamping Sue Style 

Shelly Hickox - Stamptramp

Zoe Hillman - iGirlZoe

And now, we have some wonderful inspiration from our Frilly team (click on each image for a closer look)!

Pamellia - My Little Craft Things

Cec Wintonyk - CW Card Creations

Georgie - Little Blue Craft Box

Nancy Dynes - Tattered Treasures

I love all the different ways our talented designers used chalk! Are you inspired? We can't wait to see what you create!

Have a great week!

Shelly

Wanderlust Travel Journal

Hi all! Hope your weekend is off to a great start. It's Shelly with you today, sharing my first StepxStep for Frilly and Funkie!  For my project, I've combined some of my favorite techniques and dies to create a grungy vintage travel journal. It's nice and compact so you can tuck it in a bag or pocket to jot down your travel notes and add ephemera and photos as well. Let's get started!

Begin by cutting three pieces of medium weight chipboard in the following sizes: 2 panels at 4" x 6" and 1 panel at 1 1/4" x 6". Stamp the front and back of the larger pieces with Tim Holz's Linen stamp using Gathered Twigs Distress ink. Round the outer edges slightly and ink all outer edges with the same color. Using an idea-ology Large Ring Binder, mark the location for the holes in the center panel and punch.

Next, we'll make the spine covering. Cut two pieces of Natural Sticky Back Canvas - one measuring 3" x 5" and one measuring 3" x 11". Mist with Vintage Photo Distress Spray Stain. Set aside to dry.

To make the front panel for the book, cut a piece of Ranger Manila Cardstock to 3 1/2" x 5 7/8". Spritz a non-stick craft sheet with Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, and Tumbled Glass Distress Spray Stains. Lay the paper into the stains and lift off. Dry with a heat tool and continue pressing into the ink until you get the desired look.

When the stained panel is dry, cover with the Traveler stencil and spray with Vintage Photo Distress Spray Stain. Let dry.

Using the Sizzix Mixed Media die, cut the bottom right corner as shown. Adhere panel to one of the book covers.

Stamp the wanderlust definition from the Life Quotes stamp set onto manila cardstock using Jet Black Archival ink. Cut out with label die. Set aside.

To create the belt for the book, cut a strip of Grungepaper to 1/2" x 11". Ink both sides with Gathered Twigs Distress ink. Using your finger, apply a coating of Glossy Accents to the front. When dry, attach an idea-ology Buckle and punch holes.

Finally we can start assembling our book! With the panels lined up as shown (making sure the cover panel is in the correct position), remove the backing and adhere the short piece of stained canvas, connecting the covers. Punch holes and attach ring binder.

Carefully line up the longer piece of canvas, starting just below the ring binder (to make placement easier, peel back just a bit of the backing at a time). Flip the book over and adhere the canvas to the outside spine/cover. Trim to fit and fold the top into place as shown above. Using your fingers, press down along the edges and grooves in canvas to make sure it's completely adhered to the chipboard.

To create pages for the book, cut lightweight white cardstock to 4 1/2" x 5 1/2". Spray randomly with Vintage Photo Distress Stain Spray and saturate with water. This will give the pages a worn, handmade look. Let the pages dry completely, punch holes and add to journal.

To finish the book, adhere the stamped panel with adhesive foam and embellish with an idea-ology Pen Nib and Philosophy Tag. Tie a length of Jute String around the front cover and add a Word Key. Finally, wrap the journal with your handmade belt and you're done!

I love how worn and rustic this journal looks - you'd never know it was brand new! I have two upcoming trips and I can't wait to fill my book with journaling and photos. I hope you're inspired to make one of your own!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a fantastic, creative weekend!

Shelly

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Pen Nibs	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Traveler	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Vintage Photo	Sizzix® Thinlits™ Die Set 4PK - Mixed Media by Tim Holtz®	Ranger Inkssentials Manila Card Stock 8.5x11
Sizzix Alternations Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies - Labels	$23.95 Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Life Quotes	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Word Keys	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Jute Twine	Ranger ADHESIVE - BLACK FOAM ROLL 1/2" X 1/16"x 2.1 YDS.
Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool-With 2 Blending Foams	Ranger Tim Holtz Seasonal Distress Ink Pad - Gathered Twigs	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Loop Pins	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Buckles
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Grunge Paper	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents	Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings Philosophy Tags

Friday Focus - Sizzix Dies

Happy Friday, everyone! It's Shelly here to share my Friday Focus project with you. Friday Focus is a time when we highlight a particular product from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. As an extra bonus, customers receive 15% off of the product for the next two weeks - nice! Today, we're exploring Sizzix dies and all the wonderful things you can do with them. This post is just the tip of the iceberg - Sizzix dies are incredibly versatile and I could seriously write a book about the different ways I like to create with them!

I love cooking shows like Top Chef and, when I was thinking about what I'd do, I remembered how chefs love to make one item in three different ways. I thought that was a great idea for a focus! I wanted to show how a steel rule die can cut many different materials, and also how it can look different depending on how you style it. Let's get started with our 'One Die, Three Ways', featuring the Bird Silhouette die from Sizzix!

First up, we have a steampunk-style tag. To create the base of the tag, I used Tim Holtz's Eroded Metal technique. When it was dry, I added black inking around the edges. You can find this technique in Tim's book - Compendium of Curiosities Volume 3.

Next, I covered a piece of Grungeboard with Ranger's Foil Tape and die cut the bird using the Sizzix Bird Silhouette die. After it was die cut, I embossed it with the Gears Texture Fade.

To grunge up the bird, I covered it with Black Soot Distress paint and wiped it off, leave some in the cracks.

I added Tissue Tape and Remnant Rubs, and tied the tag with a bit of Jute String.

I finished my steampunk bird with a winder, a Mini Gear eye, and a fitting sentiment. One tag down - perfect for all you grunge lovers!

Next, we'll make a pretty, artsy tag. Begin by covering a piece of Grungeboard with Sticky Back Canvas. Die cut the bird. Using Tim Holtz's Flourish stencil apply Texture Paste to bird. Set aside to dry.

While the Texture Paste is drying, cover a manila tag with Tissue Wrap. Paint with Picket Fence Distress paint and let dry completely.

When the Texture Paste on the bird is completely dry, spritz a nonstick craft sheet with Tumbled Glass and Cracked Pistachio Distress Stain Sprays. Place the bird face down into the ink and drag through. You may have to spritz with more water and/or ink to get the color you want (sorry I don't have a pic of the actual bird in this step!). Set aside to dry, or dry with a heat tool.

To finish the background, I added some circles of paint made with the lid of the Distress Dabber (handy!), plus some strips of Tissue Tape.

Here's our pretty little bird tag all done! I added a ribbon made with seam binding and more of the same Distress Stain Spray colors, plus a Word Band. This one just might be my favorite!

And now for our final tag - which is definitely the easiest for those of you in a hurry. Begin by cutting the bird from burlap paper. Ink the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

Next, cover a tag with paper from Tim's Menagerie Paper Stash. Add bits and piece of ephemera and Design Tape. Sand the edges and tie with a length of Jute String. Apply a sentiment from the Life Quotes Remnant Rubs to the bird and add a brad for an eye.

To embellish the tag, I added an idea-ology Pen Nib, Heirloom Roses, and tied the top with a ribbon, Loop Pin, and Philosophy Tag. I love the femininity of this one - so shabby!

I hope I've shown you a few different ways you can use your Sizzix dies today. There is no end to the variety of materials you can cut and ways you can embellish them - you could even mix and match the techniques shown above and come up with three (or) more totally unique tags!

Don't forget - for the next two weeks you'll save 15% on all Sizzix products at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. What a perfect time to build your stash!

Sizzix® Bigz™ Die - Bird Silhouette by Tim Holtz®	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Sticky-Back Canvas - Natural	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Textured Surfaces	Ranger Inkssentials Surfaces Tags - #8Tags - Manila	Ranger Inkssentials Foil Tape Sheets 6x12"
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Grungeboard Basics Plain	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Flourish	Ranger Texture Paste	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rubs Numbers	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rubs Words
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rub Tool	Tim Holtz Sixxiz Texture Fades - Blueprint & Gears Set	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears	Tim Holtz Mini Clock Key and Pocket Watch Set Sizzix Alterations Movers and Shapers Dies	Tim Holtz idea-ology Tissue Wrap - Postale
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tissue Tape, Laboratorie	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Design Tape, Passport	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Loop Pins	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Heirloom Roses	Rayon Seam Binding
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Jute Twine	Ranger Glue n’ Seal Matte 1 oz.	Ranger Inkssentials Collage Glue Stick	Ranger ADHESIVE - BLACK FOAM ROLL 1/2" X 1/16"x 2.1 YDS.	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Cracked Pistachio
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Tumbled Glass	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Evergreen Bough	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Antique Bronze	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Salty Ocean	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Picket Fence
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Broken China	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Cracked Pistachio	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Tumbled Glass	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings Philosophy Tags
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Mini Stash Menagerie	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Pack - Thrift Shop	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Pack - Expedition