Shimmer & Shine

Hi!  The team at The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave is inspiring us this time around with the Christmas Tim Holtz Idea-Ology!  This is where my inspiration led me!

 

 There was so much beautiful shimmer and shine between the deco papers, droplets, and bells!  I decided to use the beautiful droplets to create a Christmas wreath.

I used a circle die cut to trace a circle in the center of the card and then I applied tape in the circle.  I then pulled out the color combination of droplets I wanted to use in various sizes. (light blue, silver, white).  

I placed the largest droplet size in one color and place them equally spaced around the circle.    I repeated the process with the next color until all the large sized droplets were placed.  I then repeated the process with the next size down.  I ended up having to shift some of them at the end with the smallest ones. 

To finish off the card I stamped a sentiment in gray ink and sprayed a shimmery ribbon with mica stain spray to blend with the colors of the wreath.

Next I started to play with the deco sheets.  I wanted to cut some snowflakes and stars from the shimmery paper.

I used some parchment paper and a metal shim to get a clean cut.  The thinlets required the extra pressure to help keep the edges cut with all the details.  I also ran them back and forth a few times to get the best cut. 

I used two different sized stars laid together on the cutting board to get my star outline.  I then cut a piece of deco as the background layer of my tag.  I accented with a few droplets and the sentiment.  I finished it off with some died ribbon and a shiny bell!  

My final tag highlights the shimmery snowflakes. 

The background was stamped with a silver ink using the beautiful renaissance stamp.  Then heat set the ink before adding an edge of silver embossing and a sentiment embossed in gold.  The snowflakes were cut and added with a touch of bling using the droplets.  

The ribbon was embossed using silver tinsel embossing powder.  I used versamark ink  to sponge the ribbon and then dipped it in embossing powder and heat set the embossing powder.  

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Metallic Droplets
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Christmas Droplets
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Winter Deco Sheets
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Adornments Snowflakes
• Idea-Ology Tiny Bells Christmas
• Ranger Tim Holtz Seasonal Mica Stain Sprays #4
  
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Embossing Powder - Gold
• Ranger Embossing Powder Silver
• Stampers Anonymous - Tiny Text
• Stampers Anonymous - Renaissance
• Stampers Anonymous - Christmas Time 3 
  
• Ranger Distress Ink - Hickory Smoke
  
• Ranger Archival Ink - Paradise Teal

Yuletide Delights

 Happy Wednesday!  The new challenge is available for The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  The challenge is called Yuletide Delights and  hosted by Janna! Here is how she describes the challenge: 

"Let's get festive and create some Vintage Yuletide magic. Perhaps use some holiday distress colors or go full glitz with sparkles and falling snow. It is getting cold and we are thinking of sugarplums, candy canes, and holiday cheer. Create holiday cards, décor, or ornaments to show your Yuletide Delights. Have fun with your make and create some holiday magic! Happy crafting!"

I was inspired by some vintage mittens online and thought it would be fun to create a set of mittens.  My mittens will make a great decoration on a package.

 I drew free hand the mitten shapes.  I traced it out and replicated it.  I then used the stencil and alternated the colors on the stencil to add the knitted pattern. 

I added cuffs which were also stenciled with alternating colors.  I then decided to accent with some die cuts along with a few stamped items including the snowman. 

Come join us and show your yuletide delight!  The overall winner will be offered the 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 drawing for the chance to win a $25.00 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: (From the Funkie Junkie Boutique) 

• Stampers Anonymous - Layering Stencil - Shifter Mint
• Stampers Anonymous - Cozy Christmas
  
• Stampers Anonymous - Mini Layering Stencil Set #18
  
• Ranger Distress Oxide - Broken China,  Antique Linen
• Ranger Distress Ink - Festive Berries, Crushed Olive
  
• Idea-Ology - Snowflakes 
•  Sizzix Chapter 3 Tim Holtz - Festive Bouquet
• Sizzix Festive Stems 
• Idea-ology Adornments Snowflakes 
  

Merry Christmas & a Blessed New Year!

 I want to wish you all a very happy holiday!  I am wishing a blessed New Year to everyone in hopes that 2021 will bring us only better times. 

I have had the beautiful poinsettia stamp from Stampers Anonymous and couldn't wait to play with it.  This is a simple embossed image painted with some inky sprays and splattered with some lovely gold spray and white paint. 

In celebration of the babe born long ago.... Merry Christmas! 

Suzz

Deck The Halls

 Happy December to you all!  We are celebrating the holidays at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog!  Sara Emily is challenging us to Deck the Halls! 

Here is how she describes the challenge: 

"For this challenge, we would like to see those vintage or shabby chic Christmas decorations! This is not about Christmas cards this time, but think about tree ornaments, wreathes, vignettes, mantle or table decorations, etc. with a Christmas theme."

 I am currently in the midst of a little home renovation which put my supplies in quite a disarray so I was limited in what I could get my hands on! :) 

It involved a few pads of pattern paper, my big shot and the beautiful elegant poinsettia die.  I sat and cut many many rounds of flowers to create this shabby chic Christmas tree. 

Here is a close up of a few of the flowers.  What you can't see very well is that they are all frosted around the edges with glitter.

The centers are all white buttons from a very big jar of vintage and current buttons.

 The tree was too tall for my regular photo box so outside we went to try to get a picture that showed the tree in it's full glory. 

Please come join in and share your crafted decorations with us in the challenge!  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: 

• Sizzix Chapter 3 Elegant Poinsettia
• Sizzix Fine Glitter Fest
• Wendy Vecchi Perfect Card Adhesive
• Stamperia Pink Christmas  
• Prima Marketing Sugar Cookie (I have linked to with Love as we are sold our of Sugar Cookie)
  

Saturday Showcase - Christmas Tags

Happy Saturday to you!  Christmas is rapidly approaching so the team over at The Funkie Junkie Challenge decided to do a special Saturday Showcase and everyone created a tag!  You need to pop over there to see what wonderful designs they cooked up for this very special showcase!

I was inspired by a cooking challenge that asked the contestants to do a white on white baked display.  It had me thinking about what I could create with layers and dimension all in white!

I decided to start with an stamped and embossed background to give a layer of soft texture before I even layered on the die cut bits and pieces.

The hardest part of this tag was getting a photo. :)  The white on white is hard to capture the beauty of the shimmer, glimmer and softness.

I stamped the background with Versamark and heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder.

I die cut all the various pieces and then covered them with versamark and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder.

It gave them a lovely sheen.  I then assembled my poinsettias with pop dots between the centers and when I attached them to the tag.

I took a few of the metallic droplets and painted them white and then sprinkled them with distress crystal glitter.

 I finished the tag with a white bow and painted a charm white to coordinate.

I wish you and all your loved ones a very blessed and happy holiday!

Suzz

Products:
Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Festive Greens 
Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Christmas Ribbon
Stampers Anonymous - Yuletide Greetings 
Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Metallic Droplets
Prima Art Basics - White Gesso
Distress Stickles Dry Glitter Clear Rock Candy
Ranger Clear Embossing Powder 
Rayon Seam Binding 
Idea-Ology Tokens Christmas

Merry Mail

Hi!  Who doesn't love getting mail from someone?  We all get excited when we get real mail in the mail box not just junk, bills or advertisements.    The new Darkroom Door stamp set Merry Mail has a beautiful mix of Christmas and mail images. 

This had me inspired to create a variety of projects inspired by Christmas tags, Envelopes and a Postcard template.

My first tag started with a leftover star from playing with the new Small Stencil.  I had brushed onto white cardstock this star using gold paint.  I cut that out into a shape of a tag.  (I actually mounted the tag onto a tag card base made from red cardstock.

I stamped the post mark onto white cardstock and cut it out to place in the center of the start.  I stamped the No.25 in red ink on the tag.  I added a stamped joy and a few more stars sponged on in gold paint.

A quick and easy tag/card to attach to a gift.  That had me thinking of other tags that I could whip up with a few different stamps. 

On this tag I went with a soft silver ink for Santa and a few other background stamps.  I then added a pop of red with the sentiment and the No. 25.  Framed it out with a red background and added some fun red and white striped twine.  Another sweet tag to put on one of the gifts under the tree!

Next up another tag but this time I wanted to switch to non-traditional colors and decided to go pink and green.  I stamped the sleigh first onto the tag.  I stamped the sleigh onto a second piece of scrap paper. I cut it out to use as a mask.  I placed the mask over the sleigh and stamped the tree in green.  It left a little outline But I liked how it made the sleigh pop! 

Next I cut a slit into the top of the sleigh.  I stamped santa onto another piece of cardstock.  I cut him out. I actually cut the top half of santa from his legs.  I did this so I could put pop dots under the top half and have santas belly hanging over his legs.  I stuck his legs into the slit on the sleigh. 

This would be really cute with one of those pop ups that move.  :)   I then sponged a background tag and mounted the stamped image onto the sponged background and added a coordinating bow.

After my tags I decided to make some envelope art.  I took some plain white envelopes and stamped and stenciled them. 

First I stamped santa in the corner with red ink.  I then stamped the sentiment along the left side of the envelope.  I finished by tracing the star stencil around santa.  

 Next I stamped Santa again in a corner of a white envelope.  I stamped a second Santa and cut him out to use as a mask.  He turned very yellow very quickly. :)  I placed the mask over Santa first.  I then placed the star stencil over the masked Santa.  I sponged all around Santa and into the star yellow dye ink.

I then took the small stars stencil and sponged a mix of stars all over the front of the envelope.  I stamped the Merry Mail and Deliver to using archival ink and drew a few lines for the address.

I like this so much I made a second envelope only using black ink for Santa.

My final project was to make a postcard.  I set up the mailing side of the post card: 

 Just stamped Santa in silver added a happy Merry Mail in red ink. I stamped the Carte Postale along the top and drew a dividing line. 

I stamped the front of the postcard just like the envelope but used silver for the stars. 

I also created two more tags from a background I created with a mix of silver and gold ink.

 I started by creating the front of what I thought was going to be a postcard.  But when I added the deer and the sentiment I was inspired to cut them down and use them as tags. 

 I mounted the tags on a background created by sponging versamark around the edges and heat embossing with the gold embossing powder.

Well I hope this has you thinking of fun mail or tags you can create for the holidays!

Suzz

Products: (Linked to Darkroom Door)
Darkroom Door Merry Mail 
Darkroom Door Brushed Christmas Vol 1
Darkroom Door Christmas Reindeer
Darkroom Door Festive Ornaments
Darkroom Door Small Stencil Star
Darkroom Door Small Stencil Starry Night
Tsukeniko Delicata Silver & Gold Inks
Ranger Embossing Powder Gold
Ranger Embossing Powder Gold Tinsel
Versamark Watermark Ink
Ranger Distress Ink - Fossilized Amber
Ranger Archival Ink - Vermillion, Leaf Green,  Magenta Hue, Jet Black
Gold Paint

I'm Seeing Stars

Hi!  I am back to share a post highlighting the new Darkroom Door Star Small Stencil!

 I had some linen material on my desk from my last project and reached out to that first.  I applied gesso to the linen and  had to wait until that dried.  While that was drying I spent some time making stars with the stencil on paper with embossing paste.   After the painted linen dried I created stars on the painted linen with embossing paste. 

I waited for a few to dry and stamped on the star by placing the stencil back in place and stamping over the stencil with script.

I added a hint of stamping in the background with a gold ink and a music stamp.   I stamped the believe stamp onto a piece of leftover linen and embossed with gold embossing powder.  It is a little difficult to see on this angle but looks beautiful IRL.

I sewed the golden star onto the center of the embossed star.  It actually worked really well with the embossing paste. It was like sewing through a soft batting. :)

I added a stamped No. 25 from the Merry Mail stamp set.

On my next linen background I used a few different sprays to add some color to the background and star.

While the embossed star is wet I sprayed a variety of brown, ivory and gold inky sprays.  After it dried the script was stamped over the star.  Then I stamped the Believe onto a scrap of painted linen with Versamark.  I heat embossed using gold embossing powder.  I then inked up the edges with the brown inky spray.

The rest were fun embellishments that were painted with gold metallic paint and attached to the linen background.

While everything was drying at different times I spent some time using the stencil with distress inks.

I started with yellow stars sponged on a white background.  I then pulled out the cobalt blue ink and started to add accents to the background.

Then I accented with some splatters in the background and some stars and accents from different sets.
 

My final card mixed the sunshine stencil with the star mask/stencil.  I placed the star mask under the sunshine stencil on a piece of white cardstock. 

I sponged over the entire layered stencils with a yellow die ink.  I then removed both stencils and placed the star stencil over the white star and sponged in the ink. It leaves a little white line around the star which I highlighted with white gel pen to accent. 

I added a few coordinating stars and sentiment in a soft orange ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: (Links to Darkroom Door)
Darkroom Door Small Stencil Star
Darkroom Door Small Stencil Sunshine 
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Merry Mail 
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Christmas Reindeer
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set New York Vol 1
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Stars 
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Simple Sayings Vol 1
Ranger Distress Inks - Fossilized Amber, Ground Espresso, Wild Honey
Ranger Archival Ink - Cobalt
Dylusions Shimmer Spray - Melted Chocolate
Ranger Distress Stain Sprays - Antique Linen, Ground Espresso, Fossilized Amber, Tarnished Brass
Versamark Watermark Ink
Ranger Wendy Vecchi - Embossing Paste
Tsukeniko Delicata Gold Ink
Ranger Gold Embossing Powder 
Dina Wakely White Gesso
Prima Alchemy Gold Metallique Paint

Christmas Cookies

Alas! Today is the day before Christmas Eve and nary a homemade Christmas cookie to be found in the house.   Instead I have been funneling my decorating into some Stars for the Vintage Journey "Star Light Star Bright Challenge".

My stars a mix of styles and designs because I had originally just started playing with stamps that I haven't played with in awhile to create a variety of star tags.

I then realized I only had a few days to wish all of you a beautiful Christmas. I decided to create a few stars to use as decoration on my Christmas dinner plates.

 I love this Artistic Outpost Santa and used him with a glaze of Seth Apter's Vintage Beeswax.   He is stamped on some very old ledger pages from a ledger book and glitzed up with some sparkle and gold bells.

I then pulled out one of my favorite Madonna and Child Stamps.  I have two which are both retired stamps.  This one is from Hero Arts.  I adore this stamp and the original artwork it replicates.

I created the same star with some slight variations. I colored them differently and added a different sticker. Both were glazed with the vintage beeswax and edged with gold krylon pen.

I started with this star just playing with the juxtaposition of the stamps and words.   The funny black strips of cardstock are there because I made this a two sided star with this funny fellow on the front:

The next one is just a mix of stamps highlighting happy memories.

 My last star is all about the twinkling and shining our on lights.  I love the look of joy on the little girl's face:

 My wish for you and your family is to have a blessed holiday with someone you love.  A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Suzz

Tis the Season of Gift Giving

Hello and welcome back!  Today I am sharing my latest creations for the Frilly and Funkie Challenge called 'Tis the Season for Gift Giving'.  The challenge is hosted by the amazing Maggi!  She describes the challenge as:

"Because it's that time of the year when we're all thinking about the perfect gift for our friends and families, let's combine our crafting passion with our "to do" list by creating a vintage or shabby chic gift for a special someone in your life. Your gift could be as simple as a handmade card or tag, or an elaborate piece of home decor. Maybe you like to place your gifts in handmade boxes? Your imagination is the only limit on this challenge!"

Well when I saw creating a tag I thought of Artist Trading Coins and how they make a perfect size for a gift tag.

I started by cutting out circles about 2 3/4" across.  I cut out white cardstock and cardboard to back my tags with some sturdy materials. 

 For my first tag I decided to use the layering stencil and emboss with crackle paste a series of snowflakes.  I let those dry and then misted the circle with blue distress stain spray.  After that I had to think awhile about how to dress it up.  First I decided to cover the surface of the circle and the surrounding snowflakes with a clear coat of versamark and then heat emboss them with the frosted embossing powder.  (This turned out beautifully and you can't get the full effect from the photo but it added a gorgeous sheen)   I found some smaller snowflake dies and cut about 5 extra snowflakes.  They all got gussied up in blue ink too and then I cut them into pieces to frame out the circle.  The final step was to stamp the sentiment on acetate and heat emboss with white embossing powder.  (Let's just say this step took about 5 times as the acetate tends to gather powder and I had the brilliant idea to moisturize my hands before I sat down to craft)

Next up was the plaid stencil!

 I really love the plaid stencil and the black with red is so pretty!  I paired it with the Tim Holtz Trophy antler and some fun holly trim.  Quick and easy!

 The next tag used a mix of the pretty bird stamp with the music background.  I colored the bird with watercolor pencils and added a few highlights with a white gel pen.  The tag is again framed out with the same holly trim. 

For my last tag of this series I used the fun St. Nick from the festive overlay set and the advertisement stamp in the background.

 I did a little whitewash after stamping the background to soften the print.  I added some foam behind santa to give him some depth.  The trim was some pretty silver tinsel with a touch of white paint.  Santa also has some frosty highlights with glitter but just not showing up in the photo!

Now I have a series of tags for my presents ready to be added to the packages!




I hope you are inspired to play along in the challenge!  The winner will earn the chance of a Guest Designer spot at Frilly and Funkie, 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. In addition, the Design Team will select three further outstanding entries and those creators will receive a Top Pick badge to display on their blogs!

Thanks for stopping over!

Suzz
Products:

Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Broken China TSS42174	Prima Art Extravagance: Texture Paste White Crackle 8.5 fl. oz.	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Snowflakes THS050	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Plaid	Sizzix Alternations Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies - Paper Snowflakes 660059
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Flurry #2 by Tim Holtz 663106	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Flurry #3 by Tim Holtz 663114	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Festive Overlay	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Music & Advert	Prima Marketing Vintage Lover Watercolor Pencils
Prima Watercolor Brush-Pen Set	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - Black	Ranger Embossing Powder - White Super Fine Detail EPJ36678	VersaMark Watermark Ink Stamp Pad	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Fired Brick TSS42280
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Aged Mahogany TSS42129	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Trophy Antlers	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Trimmings Metallic TH93338	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Jute String TH93139	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Aged Mahogany TIM21407
Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Jet Black AIP31468	Tim Holtz Distress Mixed Media Heavystock 4.25 x 5.5, 20PK TDA53835	Ranger Embossing Antiquities - Frosted Crystal 1.5 oz. EPL44963	Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Dry Glitter Clear Rock Candy 3oz TDR35879