Beauty in Simplicity

Hello, friends! First off, I want to thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post. I am looking forward to some extra time to return the visit and catch up with your lovely creations. I hope you are doing well and continue to stay safe, sane and healthy wherever you are in the world. Our state continues to be on stay at home orders, and I have to admit I'm itching to get back to some sense of normalcy and routine. But we are still keeping our routine at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog, and today we start a new challenge. Cec is our hostess this time, and she has chosen the theme, Sew Sweet. Here's what she says about the challenge:

Create a shabby chic or vintage project with a sewing theme incorporating items and/or images related to sewing - think rubber stamps of sewing machines or dress forms e.g., fabric, pattern tissue and even notions such as buttons, zippers, thread, etc.

 As always, 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. Please see the blog for details.

I chose to make a card for my Mom using some of the beautiful papers from Stamperia's Old Lace 12 x 12 collection. The prints on these are amazingly detailed and give a real dimensional look to whatever you choose to use them on. I had some fun using my sewing machine to add details. My Mom tried so hard to teach me to sew, so I think she will appreciate the wonky stitches.

Here are some closeups, and following I have a few process shots and a brief outline of what I did. The heart is fussy cut from the collection's cover and I added Distress Antique Linen and Weathered Wood Embossing Glazes to add even more dimension.

Using the lacy print from the pack and one of the darker prints, as well as a scrap of chipboard, I die cut three mannequins using Tim Holtz old Sewing Room Bigz die. I embossed the dark paper dress form with Walnut Stain Embossing Glaze. I cut off the 'wood' top and bottom and layered them over the lacy die cut. I glued this to the chipboard die cut to create a sturdy piece which I later popped up using cardboard scraps. I used a snip of seam binding colored with Tattered Rose Oxide and a bow shaped button (shank removed) from my stash for the belt and a piece of trim to embellish the skirt.

In both photos above and below you can see that I've tucked in a couple of dress pattern scraps. I had to find a Simplicity pattern in my stash to go with the stamped (Tiny Text) quote.

  I did some stitching with my machine around the edge of the background panel as well as the brown Stacked Postage die cut. I cut the postage piece from a scrap of really thick paper that's almost like felt, and it didn't cut through all the way at the top. I decided to embrace imperfection and pretend it was a plan, to borrow a few Tim Holtz quotes.

Here's some shots to show what I did. These gorgeous oxide colors add just the right amount of pink to the otherwise neutral background. Almost too pretty to cover up!

I cut a square of fabric and stamped it with an old Boundless Flight Tim Holtz image, since my new Baroque stamps haven't made it to my doorstep yet. (I'll link to the new set in my product list below.) I added some faux stitching with the Stitches set in Archival ink. Lastly, I frayed the edges before adhering with Distress Collage Medium Matte.

Not one to let even a 1/2 inch of paper go to waste, I used the front cover from the Old Lace collection to stamp the quote on. I cut up the quote and edged with Ground Espresso Archival ink.

That's all for me today! Be sure to stop over to the blog to see what my talented teammates have sewn up for you. Then it's over to you! I can't wait to see what you will create for our Sew Sweet challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog. Take care of yourselves! Big hugs! 

Happy crafting!

Sara Emily

The following products were used and can be purchased at  The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Distress Embossing Glaze - Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Walnut Stain
Distress Embossing Dabber
Distress Embossing Pen
Distress Archival Ink -Ground Espresso
Distress Oxide - Tattered Rose, Aged Mahogany
Distress Collage Medium Matte
Stamperia Old Lace
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Tiny Text
Tim Holtz Cling Stamps - Stitches
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Baroque
Rayon Seam Binding
Tim Holtz Stamp Platform

A Card For Mom

Hello friends! I hope that you are staying safe and healthy where ever you are in the world. With all that's unpredictable in the world, you can be certain that it's time for a new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog. As this challenge's host, I've chosen the theme, 'A Mother's Love'.

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.

As always, 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. Please see the blog for details.

My Mom is almost 90 and lives independently in her own home hundreds of miles from me. I am concerned about her staying safe, engaged and healthy, so I call her each day to help relieve her isolation and check in on her. She says she looks forward to my calls; although she gets lots of text messages throughout the day, she loves hearing a real voice. I'm learning so much about my Mom, and I always enjoy our chats. Recently, she voiced her concern that she might never get to see her family or hug them again.  At her age, it's a valid concern, but to encourage her, I decided to make her this card.

If you saw this past Saturday's Showcase featuring Distress Embossing Glaze, you might recognize the cup and saucer (Tim Holtz Tea Time Bigz die) from that post. I thought it worked perfectly with the Tim Holtz quote and these papers from Prima's Pretty Mosaic. The Butterfly is from the Pretty Mosaic Ephemera pack, and the flowers/centers are from my stash. I colored the flower petals with Spun Sugar and Seedless Preserves Distress inks.

I cut the teabag freehand  from a scrap of the same Pretty Mosaic paper as the oval to accommodate the size of a portion of a Wendy Vecchi quote from an old release Messages for Art. I stamped just the word 'love' from the quote in Ground Espresso Distress Archival ink and used the Distress bullet embossing pen and Cracked Pistachio embossing glaze to 'color' it in. I used my splatter brush and Seedless Preserves Distress Paint to add a bit more interest to the back and oval panels.

The quote from Tim Holtz Ponderings is stamped on a Stitched Oval die cut from one of the papers from the collection in Ground Espresso archival ink, then embossing dabber using the Stamp Platform. It's heat embossed in clear ultra fine detail powder. I blended the die cut with Evergreen Bough ink and Cracked Pistachio oxide before splattering with paint.

To make the quote fit, I stamped a portion of it on a tag (Gift Tags). I tucked a bundle of string dyed with Frayed Burlap ink under the inked butterfly. A panel from an old Tim Holtz paper stash provides contrast behind that beautiful mauve paper from Pretty Mosaic.

That's it for me! Now it's over to you! I hope you'll take some time to make a card, tag or other vintage/shabby chic project to show your mother/mother figure how much you love her. We'd love to see you play along with our challenge to be in for a chance to win one of the prizes. Don't forget to add the word LOVE somewhere where it can be clearly seen!

Happy crafting and stay safe!

 Sara Emily

I support these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday ‘E’ is for? Encouragement and embossing

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Spring Moodboard

We Love 2 Create at Polkadoodles Challenge #4 - Anything Goes Mixed Media Creative Challenge

Creative Artiste Challenge #59

Artistic Stamper April's Creative Challenge - In The Garden
Dies R Us DRU Challenge #143 - Spring Flowers I used 2 Sizzix dies.

These products were used on my card and can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:
Prima Marketing Pretty Mosaic -  A4 Paper Stash, 6 x 6 Paper Stash, Ephemera
Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glaze - Cracked Pistachio
Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Dabber
Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Pen 2pk
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 12PK Gift Tags by Tim Holtz
Distress Archival Ink - Ground Espresso
Distress Ink -Frayed Burlap, Ground Espresso, Weathered Wood, Spun Sugar, Seedless Preserves, Evergreen Bough
Distress Oxide - Cracked Pistachio
Distress Paint - Seedless Preserves
Distress Crayon - Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Ranger Embossing Powder - Clear - Super Fine Detail
Tim Holtz Distress Splatter Brush
Tim Holtz Stamp Platform by Tonic Studios

An Easter Message and Distress Embossing Glaze Tutorial Alert

Hello friends! Where ever you are in the world, I pray you are safe and healthy! Moreover, I pray you are feeling God's love among all the craziness around the globe right now. With Easter being tomorrow, I'm bringing you message of renewal today in the form of a card using Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glazes. If you get a chance to pop over, I hope you'll join me over at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog where I'm showcasing these powders on numerous samples, including the grungy masculine card shown below.

Sending wishes and prayers for you on Easter and in the days ahead.

Sara Emily

Supporting these challenges:

SanDee&amelie's March 2020 Steampunk Challenge Masculine card only

Simon Says Stamp Monday Add Some Texture Masculine card only

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Spring Moodboard Easter card only

Country View Challenges April 2020 - Animal Magic Easter card only

Crafty Cardmakers #254 Easter Easter card only

Bleeding Art March Challenge - Anything Goes Masculine card only

We Love 2 Create at Polkadoodles Challenge #4 - Anything Goes Mixed Media Creative Challenge Both cards

Creative Artiste Challenge #59 Both cards

Finding Joy With Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glazes

Hello friends! I'm praying you and your loved ones are all staying healthy and making the most of your stay at home time where ever you are in the world.

It's time for our newest challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog and the talented Maggi is our hostess. She calls her challenge theme 'April Showers Bring May Flowers',  and her description follows:

 Design a vintage or shabby chic project that incorporates a wet "something" with flowers. Examples: Stenciled or doodled raindrops, water distressed or crumpled paper,  Tim Holtz's Umbrella Man, you get the idea, just have something that represents wet. Then, add some flowers to your project.

Sounds simple enough, but I can tell you this is one of those projects that was headed to the scrap bin more than once. The background just wasn't coming together, but I'm not one to give up. I decided to embrace the creative journey. In the end, I'm not displeased with it, and I think this card might bring a smile to my daughter's face when she receives it.

First, here are some additional close ups, and following I will outline my steps. Sorry, I didn't take photos, but my steps are pretty straight forward.

Inspired by Stacy's (Tattered Nest Designs) tag here, I got out my inks, Oxide Sprays, Tim Holtz Florals and Prima's raindrop stencils and Distress MicroGlaze and started to play. I didn't follow Stacy's wonderful tutorial to the letter, preferring just to play and see what happens. I guess I didn't use enough of the microglaze through the drops stencil in places, and I would guess that stencils with bigger openings function better with this technique. My raindrops lost their form or got lost completely once I sprayed with Oxides. But I was quite happy with the flowers, so here are the steps I took to salvage the panel and to complete my card.

 Background:
1. Dip a panel of water color paper into watery puddle of Tattered Rose Distress Oxide, drying and re dipping until happy with color.
2. Place Floral stencil over bottom and blend microglaze with blending tool. Place raindrops stencil over top portion and repeat blending. (I did not layer mine like Stacy did.)
3. Spritz with water and then Broken China Oxide spray. Dry. This is when I realized I wasn't happy with the raindrops.
4. Blend the sky portion with Stormy Sky ink.
5. Blend a darker blue ink (Chipped Sapphire) through the drops stencil.
6. Spray a scrap of bubble wrap with Victorian Velvet Oxide spray. Spray card with water and tap inked bubble wrap randomly. Dry.
6. Flick the top portion of the panel with water, sprinkle with Glistening Glass Molten Dimensions powder and heat to melt, forming little raindrops. 
7. Smudge Picket Fence crayon over 'drops'. (I know it looks more like a hail storm, but that is something that represents wet, right?)
8. Stamp images from Field Notes and Distinguished using Ground Espresso Archival ink. I did manage to snap a shot before I added my details.

Move onto the details:

1. Alter an older Baseboard frame with Cracked Pistachio and Peeled Paint Distress Embossing Glazes, Crackle Paste and crayon. (I plan to have a tutorial on Distress Embossing Glazes in a couple of weeks time for our Saturday Showcase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, so be sure to check back for details on how I altered this.)
2. Repeat using the glaze powder on edges of a card blank.
3. Die cut a bunny (Bunny Hop) from white card, color him with Worn Lipstick and Walnut Stain inks and doodle a bit.
4. Die cut some tiny flowers from a scrap of pink Oxide sprayed card and embossed some 'grass' with Cracked Pistachio Distress Embossing Glaze.
5. Stamp the umbrella from Distinguished stamps set in Black Soot Archival also on the pink scrap and fussy cut.
6. Using the Distress Embossing Pen, scribble to 'wet' the umbrella and heat emboss with Weathered Wood Embossing Glaze.
7. Paint a portion of a used cotton swap stick (we do NOT want to waste our supplies!) with Black Soot paint, heat emboss with more Weathered Wood Glaze powder and smudge with Picket Fence crayon.
8. Attach umbrella image to stick with Distress Collage Medium Matte.
9. Stamp quote from Tiny Text on white card scrap in Ground Espresso Archival ink and adhere to scrap of chip board.
10.Heat emboss quote with Weathered Wood Embossing Glaze and add more color with Chipped Sapphire crayon.

Assemble card:

1. Trim chip board from a canned cat food box and adhere to panel to provide dimension.
2. Adhere panel to prepared card blank.
3. Adhere embellishments to card with collage medium.

That's it for me today. I'm off to try Stacy's technique this time following her directions! LOL! I hope you will dig into your supplies and create a project for our April Showers Bring May Flowers challenge.  I can't wait to see what you'll make!

As always, 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. Please see the blog for details.

Sending out big virtual hugs! Stay safe, stay in, stay healthy!

Sara Emily

Challenges I'd like to play along with:
Country View Challenges April 2020 - Animal Magic

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Spring Mood Board -Inspired by flowers and pastel eggs.

Crafty Cardmakers #253 Spring

Bleeding Art March Challenge - Anything Goes

The following products were used and can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Sizzix Chapter 1 Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies - Bunny Hop
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Floral
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Field Notes
Tim Holtz Cling Stamps - Distinguished
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Tiny Text
Tim Holtz Distress Texture Paste 3oz Crackle
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte
Ranger Distress Micro Glaze
Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Dabber
Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Pen 2pk
Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glaze - Cracked Pistachio, Weathered Wood, Peeled Paint
Tim Holtz Distress Crayons -  Walnut stain, Picket Fence, Chipped Sapphire
Distress Oxide Pads - Tattered Rose
Distress Oxide Spray -  Victorian Velvet, Broken China
Distress Paint - Black Soot
Distress Ink  - Walnut Stain, Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Shabby Shutters, Cracked Pistachio, StormySky, Chipped Sapphire
Distress Archival Ink - Black Soot, Ground Espresso
Eileen Hull Molten Dimensions -Glistening Glass