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

Trashy Love Story Vignette for Frilly and Funkie

Hello friends! Here we are again on the second week of the current challenge eat Frilly and Funkie , 'Re-Purpose, Re-Use, Recycle' and the Funkie girls are revealing their projects. I'm here today with a tutorial featuring Seth Apter's Baked Velvet powders and a slew of Tim Holtz products (of course!). The super talented Kathy is our hostess this time, and this is how she describes her chosen theme:

Earth Day is April 22nd, so let's honor the day with a vintage or shabby chic project that includes an item that would normally land in the recycle or trash bin. You can use an old jar, glass bottle, packaging material or other bits and bobs to create your upcycled masterpiece. Be sure to tell us in your post what your recycled item is and how you used it, as it may not be apparent in the photo.

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 remember, as a child, on Earth Day my brothers and sisters would spend the day collecting trash along the road that ran from our farm down to the New York state line. Even though the filled bags were thrown in the trash when we got to New York, I think this ingrained in me habits of keeping my eyes peeled for trash that I might be able to use again. In fact, about 2 months ago, on a rainy walk, I found two soggy, crumpled dollar bills-- a $50 and a $10. I sure can use that again! It certainly pays to keep your patch of the road clean!

 Kathy's theme is right up my alley! Can you spot the 'trash' in this vignette I made for my husband's and my next wedding anniversary? It's not 'til September, but it's always good to be prepared.

Let's get making, and I'll share my trashy secrets!

I started with this wooden box frame I got on clearance at a local craft store. I turned it over and saw it would make a perfect shadow box. I checked my stash for a set of the larger Idea-ology Vignette Finials, and was sad to see only the top finial of the set. I must have used the bottom on another project. After auditioning several possibilities from my stash including a candle stick and an egg cup, I found this wooden piece to use as the bottom. It's the perfect size to go along with the Idea-ology top finial, and it actually looks like Tim's--just hollowed out.

I gave the box frame a coat or two of gesso inside and out and smeared Wendy Vecchi Crackle Texture Paste over the (now) front edges.  The finials were painted with Distress paints; Ground Espresso undercoat, followed by DecoArt crackle medium, then Weathered Wood. In the end, I smeared with Picket Fence Distress Crayon.

While the wood was drying, I cut panels from a Sweet and Low box and embossed them with Botanical and Mini Scallop 3D Texture Fades. I save these boxes, because the inside is white, and the packaging is the perfect thickness to use with the embossing folders and even Thinlits dies.  

I trimmed and adhered the embossed panels for each outer edge of the box using Distress Collage Medium Matte and then smeared on Crazing medium. After it dried, I painted these edges and back with a wash of Weathered Wood paint, dried and then scribbled and blended the box with Antiqued Bronze Distress Crayon to highlight all the texture.  

I trimmed the Mini Scallop 3D embossed die cut to fit the box and swiped it with Prima Brushed Iron Metallique Wax to highlight the amazing detail.

 I cut panels of Idea-ology Halloween Collage Paper and Textile surfaces to line the box, and adhered them with collage medium. I swiped on Vintage Collage Medium just around the edges of the collage paper, where it would be seen behind the Baseboard Frame. Not much of this will be seen when the box is photographed, but these details are important to me.

Now that the box is prepared, it's time to work on the details. I altered two of Tim Holtz old Idea-ology Baseboard Frames, one with Seth Apter Eclipse (and Versamark ink pad) and the other with Desert Baked Velvet embossing powders. I love the leather-like finish of the melted black powder! 

After giving the oval frame a coat of gesso, I stamped and embossed Lattice of Tim Holtz Lattice & Flourish set.  After heating the powder, I smeared with Brushed Iron Prima Wax, which gives the Baked Velvet embossing the look of copper. I chose a happy couple from the new Idea-ology Found Relatives pack and mounted it in the frame. I used stacked waste pieces of foam core to bring the frame forward in the box.

The Large Funky Floral and Funky Floral #3 Thinlet flowers are cut from scraps of Parchment paper I save after cutting circles to fit in my cake pans. Another good re-cycling substitute for white flowers would be coffee filters, but I think these are better used for filtering coffee.

I cut the Large Funky Floral greenery from green wax paper that came in a fruit gift box we received as a Christmas gift from my nephew and his wife.

I colored the centers with Dried Marigold crayon and made stamen for them out of old cheepo paint brushes. I swiped the brushes with Ranger Emboss It and dipped them in White Cloud Baked Velvet powder. After heating them, I pushed them onto my craft mat to splay the hairs.

I found a ring shaped piece of copper while I was out walking the other day, and thought I would make a set of wedding rings to add to the vignette. I found the perfect sized 'man's ring' in my drawer of washers and gaskets to pair with the found one. This crusty, rusty set of drawers is filled with random goodies a good family friend saved in case he might need them. Beloved Lawton is enjoying his eternal life in Heaven with God and his sweet wife, and he no longer needs them. I think he would be happy to know I enjoy admiring his rusty stash box on my desk and use the treasures inside all the time.

I used collage medium to adhere Desert Baked Velvet powder to the rings. After melting and while still molten, I sprinkled with  Emerald Creek Burnt Copper Leaves and repeated the process using Ranger Liquid Platinum. I used the first two powders to give it texture and the last for the color. The photo below shows the copper 'ring' in it's original state.

I colored an Idea-ology Mirrored Heart with Picket Fence paint, wiped it off a bit after it was almost dry and added a drop of Mushroom Alcohol ink. I adhered it to an Idea-ology Memo Pin and tucked it into my arrangement. You can see my vintage earring (small yellowish pearls) I clustered with a few altered Idea-ology Baubles.  I just popped them in a small cup and swirled them around with a drop or two of Smolder Alcohol  Pearls--instant age. There are some snippets of Linen Ribbon in the arrangement as well.

I cut the word Love from black card using the newly released Alphanumeric Label Thinlit set and heat embossed with Eclipse powder. I tied on a Picket Fence-paint-smudged Idea-ology Story Stick to complete my sentiment and added some altered 1/2 pearls to the corners of the frame (Brushed Pewter paint and Mushroom alcohol ink). I could have dropped them in with the Baubles, but I did these early on before I discovered how easy it was to use Smolder for a one and done alteration.

I hope you are inspired to see your trash with creative eyes or dig through your recycle box and find a new life for something using your art supplies. Then link up your completed vintage or shabby chic project using one of your recycled treasures to our Re-Purpose, Re-Use, Recycle challenge. Wishing you a great day! Sara Emily

Challenge shares:
Scrapy Land Challenge #112 Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Beautiful Blooms
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday No Designer Paper
Country View Challenges April 2019 - Easter and/or Spring
Southern Girls Frame It
Creative Moments Challenge 166 Anything Goes Optional Spring/Easter
Allsorts Week 515/516 - Blossoms, Butterflies, Bugs
Mix It Up MIUCB #24 - Anything Goes + Black & White Plus One Color
Artistic Stamper April Creative Challenge -New Growth  I used Lattice and Flourish stamp set to emboss my frame.

The following products used are available at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Sizzix Chapter 2 Tim Holtz Thinlits Alphanumeric Label 
Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits Funky Floral Large
Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Pearls - Smolder
Tim Holtz Tim Holtz Idea-ology Found Relatives
Seth Apter Baked Velvet Neutral Kit

Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Botanical	Sizzix Thinlits Set - Funky Floral #3 by Tim Holtz	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Lattice and Flourish CMS257	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Memo Pins TH92833	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mirrored Hearts
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Textile Surfaces	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vignette Finial Set Structures	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Story Sticks	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Baubles	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Baseboards - Frames
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collage Paper, Halloween	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Mushroom	Ranger Embossing Powder - Liquid Platinum EPJ37484	Emerald Creek Alure Powders - Burnt Copper Leaves	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot TDF52937
Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Brushed Pewter TDF52968	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Picket Fence TDF53170	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Weathered Wood TDF53378	Ranger Tim Holtz Ground Espresso Distress Paint TDF50605	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayons - 6PC Set #5 TDBK51756
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 Vintage TDA47940	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte TDA47933	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Crazing TDA47957
Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Texture Paste - Crackled WVPASTECRA	Prima Art Alchemy by Finnabair - Metallique Wax - Brushed Iron	Sizzix 3-D Impresslits Embossing Folder - Mini Scallop