Welcome! It's time for a new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and today it's Suzz's turn to host. You can always rest assured, she is going to come up with the most creative challenge theme. She titles her challenge, '
Positively Pensive' and here's her description:
Today is Ballpoint Pen day! The challenge is to thoughtfully use a ballpoint pen on your project. You can doodle, journal, sketch or trace an outline using any color ballpoint pen on your art. Create a vintage or shabby chic project with some form of ink from a ballpoint pen and if it isn't obvious how it was used make sure to tell us in your post!
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 tried many different ways to use my ball point pens, and had so much fun with Suzz's challenge. But in the end, I decided on a penned background panel for my project. It seems I'm in a butterfly rut right now, although I've see very few in my garden (odd!). When I started, I visualized something a bit more bright and sun-shiney, but it just didn't work out that way. Perhaps it was the pensive mood I was in.
Let's get started. My first matter of business was to go through my pens to find one that didn't work. You can see by my scribbling it required quite a bit of trials before coming up with one.
First I'll share some close ups, then I'll share a bit of the making.
I did some Field Notes stamping in Archival ink on the background at the top and bottom. I wish my penmanship was that graceful and elegant and my lettering that precise.
So where did I use a ball point pen? I removed the spring from the pen, pulled it apart a bit and used it for my butterfly's body. Before dismantling it, I also used my non working pen in another way, but I can't give all the details yet. Since Suzz directs that we tell how we used our pens, I'll give you a hint: I traced a design onto my background. I'll share all the details on how I made my background and Decor Frame that backs the butterfly in my June 20 Saturday Showcase.
I've finished the back with some old Tim Holtz paper stash.
Here's a bit on how I altered the frame and quote chip, and made the butterfly:
I chose a Vignette Frame and painted it with my finger and Distress Weathered Wood paint. You can see I didn't do a thorough job, and this is intentional. ;)
Next I dribbled on some Mushroom Alcohol ink and spritzed it with water to disperse the ink into the cracks. I used my heat tool to chase around the thinned color and dry.
Last, I scribbled with Distress crayon and blended with a dampened finger.
Now I move onto the Scribbly Butterfly cut from Rose Gold Metallic Kraft Stock, and painted with a bit of Picket Fence paint and more of the Mushroom Alcohol ink, just around the wing tips (not pictured). I want my butterfly to shine. The spring is adhered with Distress Collage Medium Matte.
I altered one of the old Quote Chips (I've linked to the newer ones below) with Embossing Glaze and crayon. Swipe the chip with Embossing Dabber, sprinkle with the glaze, tap off excess, and heat to melt. When it's cool, scribble and blend with crayon.
So that wraps up my copper penned panel. I hope you will hop on over to the blog to see what amazing projects my talented teammates created with their ball point pens. And then, it's your turn to show and tell us how you've used your own pens to create a vintage or shabby chic project; I can't wait to see what you will make! Happy crafting! Sara Emily
Challenge shares:
