For the Love of Birds--A Vintage Card for Frilly and Funkie

 Hello! The Funkie side of the Frilly and Funkie Design Team are unveiling their inspiration for the current theme, 'I Love It Because'. The very talented Jenny is our hostess, and here's how she describes her challenge:

How often do you create something just for you that makes your heart sing? Doesn't it feel great when you do! My challenge to you is to make a vintage or shabby chic piece of art, be it a journal page, a tag, a card, a home decor project etc, that fills you with happiness and makes you smile - don't forget to tell us why you love it so much.

As always, the Design Team will choose their top four picks, and the winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie. The next three will receive Top 3 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.

I had actually started to make this card as a just-for-fun project that I planned on submitting to a favorite challenge blog, but when I started to realize just how happy I was when I was pulling together the elements (Yes, I actually had a plan!), I realized this would be perfect for Jenny's challenge. Any time I used Tim Hotlz products, I'm one happy crafter.

 This is my only process shot, and one of the main reasons I love this project--it allowed me to develop more confidence in and a love of using my Distress Oxide sprays. I adhered Typograpy Collage Wrap to a piece of card with Distress Collage Medium Matte, sanded the edges and gave it a second coat of collage medium. I left it to sit for a couple days while I worked on another project. Then I sprayed with Iced Spruce oxide spray and wiped it off at the center as a test area. (I knew it would be covered.) Sadly, it wiped completely off, so I baked the color on with my heat tool, and this time when I wiped some of the color remained. Another layer of collage medium was applied and this time, when dry just to touch, I spritzed with Faded Jeans oxide, and heated. This was more of the look I was going for. The trick is to NOT let your collage medium cure too long, or it will resist the sprays. Lastly, I used a piece of card to swipe on some gesso in random areas to shabby it up a bit.  In the photo, you can see I've adhered the completed panel to my card blank.

In the end, I decided to blend the edges of my card with Frayed Burlap ink.  I chose to make an elongated card so I could use a scrap of card I had on the top of my pile of 'I may use this later' bits. It had been embossed from both ends with the Botanical 3D Texture Fade as a test. I tore the edges, swiped with Crazing medium and when dry scribbled the raised areas with Antique Bronze Distress crayon. I blended with a slightly dampened finger and then lightly painted on more crayon , this time Walnut Stain. So that's another thing I love--using up those bits that seem they will never have a purpose.

 The ephemera is from Idea-ology Botanical Layers and Keepsakes Ephemera packs. The birds and daisies are colored with Vintage Photo crayon and the library card with Frayed Burlap and Ground Espresso inks. The edges needed more definition, so I edged all my pieces with Black Soot paint.

Several other reasons why I love it...the subject matter! I love birds, daisies and books! And did I mention, I love it when a project comes together so effortlessly?

 I tied some green cord into a bow and added an Iea-ology Clippings Sticker for my sentiment.

I hope you will visit the blog to see what makes my Frilly and Funkie teammate's hearts sing, too!

So what is it that makes you smile and fills you with happiness? I can't wait to see what you create! Be sure to tell us what that thing is. Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and Blessings, Sara Emily.

Challenge shares:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Happy Hour Like Kath, my happy hour is in the morning, spent on my porch with a big mug of coffee, reading and  just watching the birds in my back yard.
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday For A Special Lady I made this to thank my next door neighbor for a kind deed. She loves feeding, watching and reading about birds, like I do.
A Inky Mess Anything Goes
Try It on Tuesday Let's Party! I couldn't not help to celebrate 10 years for this wonderful blog!

These products were used and can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique;

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Pack, Keepsakes
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collage Paper - Typography
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Spray - Iced Spruce
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Spray - Faded Jeans

Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Botanical	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Botanical Layers	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Clippings Stickers	Tim Holtz Distress Crayons Set- Metallics (Antique Bronze/Brushed Pewter/Tarnished Brass)	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayons - 6PC Set #3 TDBK47926
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte TDA47933	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Crazing TDA47957	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot TDF52937	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap TIM21469	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Ground Espresso TIM43270