A Touch of Gold--Frilly and Funkie Guest Designer

Hello everyone!

I am thrilled to join the  super talented Design Team at Frilly and Funkie as Guest Designer for Georgie's fun challenge "A Touch of Gold"!  This couldn't be a better theme for me, as I still have plenty of sparkly products out on my desk from a previous project.  I am just loving using gold on my projects!

I didn't have any particular design in mind when I went about making this little wall hanging.  I just knew I wanted to use some embossing folders and gold embossing powder sitting unopened within easy reach on my work table. My sentiment says it all, so I kept the design very simple. While it looks simple in design, each layer is home made paper, and required some time for drying, experimenting, etc. Oh, so much fun!  I love to experiment with texture, and what a great opportunity to do so for Mixed Media World's challenge "Gorgeous Texture".

The very back layer is made with a Lifecrafts embossing folder and white card.  I used Versamark embossing ink, Ranger Sticky embossing powder, Perfect Pearls powder and Frayed Burlap Distress ink to color it. This has a nice sandy gritty texture as the powders melt into the sticky embossing powder when heated. The sandy grit feel and the incredible shimmer can only be realized in person; you'll have to trust me on this!.

Next layer is River Rock and Sandstone acrylic paints and Crackle medium, distressed and edged with Frayed Burlap, and given a couple of swipes of gold metallic rubs. The crackle is just so fun, and I really felt bad covering it up and forgetting to take in process photos.  Hopefully you will see a little of the crackle texture peeking out, but sadly I couldn't pick up the shimmer of that layer on the camera.

The embossed  tan layer is white card with texture paste slathered through Tim Holtz' Gothic Layering stencil and allowed to dry. I blended on Frayed Burlap ink and smeared some metallic gold Gelatos over the raised areas. Again, the  luxurious creamy shimmer just really isn't justified on camera. If you click on any photo you will get a bit of a better view.

The embossed turquoise layer is embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder, then blended with Evergreen Bough Distress ink, followed by Perfect Pearls Powder in gold. Two turquoise layering  panels are just Evergreen Bough Distress ink blended over white card and distressed with Frayed Burlap on the edges.

For my focal point I chose Tim Holtz Perspective butterfly, and part of a sentiment from the same set.  I die cut a Tim Holtz Label after stamping and edged with Wow Gold Sparkle embossing powder.  I heat embossed the butterfly with the same embossing powder and painted the wings with Evergreen Bough distress ink and a water brush pen using one of Tim's techniques from his Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3. When done, I fussy cut the butterfly and popped him off my background. I added some Stickles for the body and and antennae. When writing this post (I always try to bring the piece to my desk with me, so I can give accurate details of the process.) I decided the butterfly would look better if his wings were curled, so some of the photos look "flat" and a few are curled.  Please forgive me for not retaking every shot--I'm not supposed to be on my feet much right now.

This hanging really sparkles and shimmers in real life, and as you know the camera (especially my little phone camera) just doesn't do it justice.

I would like to thank Sue and the Design Team at Frilly and Funkie for inviting me to join them as Guest Designer this time. Sue was a real sweet heart to accommodate me to allow a little extra recuperation time from my surgery. Thank you, Sue!  This was so much fun!

 I hope you are inspired to gather up your own touches of gold and join in the fun at  Frilly and Funkie for their challenge " A Touch of Gold"! Be sure to stop by the blog and see all the wonderful makes from the talented Design Team--you will be so happy you did! Most of the products I used can be found at  The Funkie Junkie Boutique, where Linda's huge art and craft inventory is always 20% off retail. When you participate in the challenge you may win your chance to be Guest Designer or be a lucky winner of  a generous shopping spree to The Funkie Junkie Boutique. So get out your gold and get playing!

I would like to enter this into the following inspiring challenges:

Mixed Media World MMW #6 "Gorgeous Textures"

A Vintage Journey "Things With Wings"  I hope Tim's influence is obvious here with his Perspective Butterfly and sentiment and his Gothic Layering Stencil, but I did bring in a lot of glitz, so uncharacteristic of Tim's style.

Vintage Utfordring Challenge #106 "Butterfly"

Country View Challenges "Summertime" Summer equals butterflies!

That Craft Place "Blue"
Stamping Sensations August Challenge Anything Goes with a Stamp and a Die

Our Creative Corner "Mexico Moods" I went with the textures and colors of the first photo in the mood board and the caning of the chair below it (at least that's the look I was going for!).

The Artistic Stamper August's Creative Challenge "Anything Goes" Stamps used by Tim Holtz Perspective.

Aurora Wings Challenge #17 "Anything With Wings"

Thank you for visiting today and for all your lovely comments!  I read and appreciate each and every one! Hugs!

Sara Emily